Quick Transmigration: Stolen Fate

"Can I get an iced espresso and a slice of vanilla cake?" the man in the face mask said, his voice deep—muffled but striking.

"Huhhhhh..."

Xiao Yu's brain did a full system shutdown.

The man tilted his head slightly. "Excuse me?"

Xiao Yu still didn't move, frozen in place, lips parted like a fish out of water. It wasn't until the man snapped his fingers—twice—that he jolted back to life.

"S-Sorry!" he stammered, eyes blinking rapidly. "What did you say you wanted?"

"Iced espresso. Vanilla cake. To go."

Xiao Yu swallowed thickly and nodded so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. "Right—yes. Please take a seat at table five. You'll be called when your order is ready."

The man nodded once, polite but distant. "Thank you."

And then he turned, walking across the café like a dark prince descending from the heavens. Xiao Yu barely held himself upright.

The moment Rong Xichen sat down, Xiao Yu exploded—silently, internally.

He snatched his phone from his apron pocket and hammered out a post on social media.

"I can finally die now. This old man's dream has come true. Xi-ge is HERE!!! #Immortalized #SignedMyLifeAway #RONGXICHENINMYCAFE 😭😭😭"

His face was crimson. His hands were shaking.

"YuYu! Table five's order is ready!" someone shouted from the kitchen. "Give it to Luo Yi!"

Luo Yi reached out to take the tray, but Xiao Yu stopped her with wide, pleading eyes.

"Luo Yi... Can you cover the counter for me?" he begged, already grabbing the boxed cake and drink without waiting for her reply. "You're the best, mwah!"

He spun on his heel and headed straight for table five, heart pounding like he'd just won the lottery and was about to faint from the taxes.

"Sir, here's your order," he said, trying very, very hard to sound professional and not like a hyperventilating fangirl in disguise.

Rong Xichen looked up from his phone.

Their eyes met.

A glacier would've felt warm in comparison.

"...Thanks," Rong Xichen said, taking the tray from his hands. His voice was soft but cool, like velvet on ice. Not unfriendly—just distant. Controlled. As if emotions were beneath him.

Xiao Yu stood there. Just stood.

His mouth opened before his brain caught up.

"Xi-ge..."

Rong Xichen's brows twitched subtly beneath the brim of his cap. He didn't deny the name—just tilted his head slightly.

"...Do you need something?" he asked, gaze unreadable.

"An autograph," Xiao Yu whispered, already pulling a pink glitter pen from his pocket like a dagger of destiny.

Xichen blinked. "Where do I sign?"

Xiao Yu, nearly vibrating, extended his forearm.

"Here."

Without a word, Rong Xichen took the pen, signed cleanly—god, even his handwriting was handsome—then handed it back. He gave a polite nod and stood.

And then—

The café erupted.

Gasps. Phones. Whispers. One girl dropped her croissant.

"Did he just—? Wait, is he a celebrity?"

"OMG was that Rong Xichen?!"

"Who the hell signs someone's arm like it's a movie?!"

Xiao Yu ignored them all. He was holding his forearm like it had been kissed by a deity.

"I'm never washing this sleeve," he whispered. "Ever."

Behind the counter, Luo Yi shook her head.

"YuYu," she muttered, "you're hopeless."

Xiao Yu practically floated back, still in a daze. Behind him, the café door chimed as Rong Xichen exited—leaving only stunned silence, caffeine, and chaos in his wake.

Xiao Yu walked through the door of their small apartment, tired but practically glowing. His steps were sluggish, but his smile could have powered a small city.

"Chen!" he called, kicking off his shoes and tossing his pink bag onto the sofa.

"What is it?" Zhao Chen's voice came from the kitchen, flat as ever.

"I saw Xi-ge today," Xiao Yu sighed dramatically, collapsing onto the couch like a swooning heroine. "It was… beautiful. I think I'm in love."

"You saw your idol?" Zhao Chen asked, finally emerging. "How come there's no news?"

"He was wearing a face mask and cap, blending in—but I could tell, Chen-ge. I just knew it was him." Xiao Yu pressed a hand to his chest, eyes dreamy. "He looked like an ice god descending from the clouds… my poor heart didn't stand a chance."

Zhao Chen raised a brow. "You really need help."

"Look!" Xiao Yu sat up and thrust out his forearm. "He signed my hand! Isn't his handwriting perfect? So refined, so elegant, so manly—"

"YuYu, just go marry him already."

"I wish, Chenchen… I wish," Xiao Yu murmured, stars in his eyes, before his expression crumpled into a dramatic sigh.

Without a word, Zhao Chen walked over and set a tray in his lap—a plate of dumplings and a small dish of soy sauce.

Xiao Yu gasped. "Chen-ge, you're so caring!"

"Eat. You burn too many brain cells fantasizing."

Xiao Yu was already stuffing a dumpling in his mouth. "You're just jealous my fantasy is hot."

Outside the quiet apartment building, under the dim wash of moonlight, something not quite of this world hovered soundlessly.

A small white creature floated midair—fluffy as a snowball, with velvety ears that twitched at the slightest sound. Its oversized eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the stars above, and a soft pink nose twitched like it could smell fate itself. Two stubby arms and legs dangled beneath its round form, swaying gently in the breeze.

It looked cute—harmless, even. Like a plush toy caught in a dream.

But then a ripple of energy shimmered around it.

A symbol lit up between its ears, pulsing once, twice.

"Target located," the creature whispered in a tone far too calm for comfort. "System pull: standby."

In a quiet burst of light, a bow appeared in its tiny hands—sleek, ethereal, made of something that wasn't quite metal, wasn't quite magic. An arrow followed, floating gently into place, the string drawing itself taut with no sound at all.

It aimed.

Eyes narrowed.

But then—

The arrow froze in place.

The creature tilted its head, as if listening to something far away. Then slowly, it let the string relax. The bow dissolved into glittering particles that vanished into the night.

"Not yet," it murmured, voice barely a breath on the wind.

Xiao Yu and Zhao Chen sat on the couch, eyes fixed on the TV, the soft flicker of a drama episode washing across their faces. Neither of them noticed the faint rustle beyond the window, nor the quiet stillness settling outside like a held breath.

Xiao Yu stood and stretched, yawning as he took his empty plate to the kitchen. When he returned, he clutched his phone and flopped back down beside Zhao Chen, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Chen-ge," he said sweetly, blinking up at him like a cartoon character, "can you please help me film my new video? It's the latest dance challenge! I need to post it on my CaoCao account."

Zhao Chen sighed, the kind of long-suffering sound only a best friend could master. "It's not like I can say no," he muttered, already taking the phone from Xiao Yu's outstretched hands.

He stood, positioned the camera, and said dryly, "Recording in... 3... 2... 1…"

Xiao Yu instantly transformed.

The moment the upbeat K-pop beat started—bubbly synths, a sprinkle of finger snaps, and a beat drop sweeter than bubble tea—he came alive.

His steps were light and bouncy as he hit the first pose: fingers making a heart above his head. Then came the side-step shuffle, his hoodie sleeves flapping slightly as he twirled on his heel and did a cutesy wink at the camera.

"Pop, pop, boom-boom—shine like the moon-moon!" the chorus rang out.

He danced to the rhythm, mimicking the viral moves: hip sways, playful finger guns, and a signature "bunny hop" into a spin, ending with a V-sign near his cheek and a kiss blown toward the lens.

Zhao Chen huffed a laugh. "You're ridiculous."

"I'm adorable," Xiao Yu corrected, striking a final pose with glittering eyes and a tongue-in-cheek peace sign. He bounced over to check the video with a satisfied squeal.

Neither of them noticed the subtle shift in air outside the building.

The wind had stilled.

The night had gone too quiet.

And somewhere beyond the walls, something watched—unseen, undisturbed—for now.

Outside, the white fluffy ball hovered in midair, bow raised, arrow nocked. Its oversized ears twitched. Big round eyes narrowed.

It stared silently through the window, watching.

The arrow trembled slightly in the air, charged with a light that pulsed like a heartbeat. This wasn't just any shot—it was the shot. Miss, and the consequences could unravel everything.

"Target confirmed," it said, voice unusually calm for something so squishy. "Initiating system pull."

The wind whispered.

The fluffy creature exhaled and—

Fwip.

The arrow released.

A single streak of light flew through the night sky and disappeared into the house.

And then—

Silence.