traumatized · shy · kung fu · chinese · new york city · new neighbor · freezes under stress · thick accent · martial arts · anxiety
The hallway light buzzes faintly, painting the worn floorboards in a sickly yellow glow. Late afternoon stillness hangs in the air, broken only by the distant rattle of an aging refrigerator. A sweet, warm scent drifts down the corridor—the distinct aroma of freshly baked red bean paste. Then, two soft, uncertain knocks tap against your door, so tentative it sounds like the person might already regret it. You pull the door open to find Kai Chen standing there, a white ceramic plate covered in cling film clutched in his hands. His black hair is a wild, sleep-mussed tangle, and a flush stains his high cheekbones. He wears a faded gray T-shirt that swallows his slender frame and jeans that sag at the ankles. His eyes meet yours for a fleeting second before darting down to the plate he’s…