Café. Waiting. Love (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Si-ying starts university life and works at a café

Si-ying is a university freshman who starts a part-time job at a café. This setting begins her social journey as she observes the regulars and the shop's quiet proprietor. The café becomes the hub where future friendships take shape.

When

Semester start

Where

Café

A Bu-si and the café’s skilled coffee maker

A Bu-si is a professional coffee maker who can craft any type of coffee to order. The shop's proprietor sits in a corner, quietly watching the customers and the interactions around her. These details establish the atmosphere of the café's world.

Where

Café

A-Tuo arrives with friends and gossip begins

Senior A-Tuo arrives at the café with his friends, and they tease him about a lesbian who stole his girlfriend—A Bu-si—by coincidence. The moment introduces the key social circle surrounding Si-ying. It hints at complex relationships to come.

Where

Café

Si-ying helps A-Tuo out of trouble

Si-ying steps in with her sense of justice to help A-Tuo navigate the awkward teasing. This act marks the first solid interaction between them. It lays the groundwork for a growing friendship.

Where

Café

Si-ying and A-Tuo become friends

After several encounters, Si-ying and A-Tuo become good friends. They start sharing daily experiences and building trust. The evolving friendship becomes a through-line for later events.

A-Tuo works at a roadside stall

In addition to his studies, A-Tuo takes on a part-time job at a roadside stall. The shift broadens his social circle and adds new contexts for his interactions. It also demonstrates his hardworking, easygoing nature.

Where

Roadside stall

A-Tuo cooks at Bao Ge’s restaurant and meets Aunt Jin-dao

A-Tuo also works as a cook at Bao Ge's restaurant, where he meets Aunt Jin-dao, Bao Ge’s wife. This introduces another set of relationships and future ties to Si-ying’s circle. The restaurant becomes a space for new encounters.

Where

Bao Ge's restaurant

Bao Ge and Aunt Jin-dao's petty argument

Bao Ge and Aunt Jin-dao have a petty argument that strains their relationship. The fallout influences the direction of the family dynamics and leads Aunt Jin-dao to seek a new venture. The tension adds layers to the characters’ lives.

Where

Bao Ge's restaurant

Aunt Jin-dao starts a dry-cleaning shop

Following the argument, Aunt Jin-dao starts her own dry-cleaning shop. This new business expands the setting and gives Si-ying a fresh place to encounter Aunt Jin-dao. It broadens the community network around the café's world.

Where

Dry-cleaning shop

Si-ying meets Aunt Jin-dao at the dry-cleaning shop

Si-ying first meets Aunt Jin-dao at her new dry-cleaning shop. The encounter links the café world with the dry-cleaning business and brings different lives into contact. It enriches the social tapestry around Si-ying.

Where

Dry-cleaning shop

Friendship deepens; A-Tuo’s feelings grow

Si-ying and A-Tuo continue to be close friends as their lives intersect in various settings. During this period, A-Tuo begins to harbor romantic feelings for Si-ying. Si-ying, meanwhile, remains focused on Ze-Yu, shaping the dynamic between them.

A-Tuo backpacks overseas; Si-ying realizes her feelings

A-Tuo travels overseas on a backpacking trip, stepping away from his usual routines. It is during this time that Si-ying realises A-Tuo is the person she has been waiting for all along. The journey acts as a catalyst for her emotional clarity.

When

Backpacking trip

Where

Overseas