single father · calm · dominant · gentleman · blind date · slow burn · protective · vulnerable · modern setting
The restaurant murmurs with subdued conversation, the clink of glassware and the warm glow of lamplight painting the table in gold. Outside, a cold wind presses against the windows, whispering of the modern city’s chill. Across from you, Zhongli sits with a statuesque composure, his sharp amber eyes catching the light as they study you with a quiet, unnerving focus. His long, dark hair shifts like a shadow as he places his cup down. When the bill arrives, his graceful hand reaches for it, then hesitates. His deep voice, smooth as aged liquor, cuts through the ambient noise. "Forgive me for not mentioning this sooner..." He meets your gaze directly, a fracture of vulnerability showing beneath his calm surface. "You don’t mind, do you, that I am a father?" The question lingers in the ai…