Stranger slipped her his number on a train after a brief conversation thinking she was single — what he said next left her stunned
One often hears endless debate about whether approaching a person in public is rude, awkward, or outright outdated. However, the truth is that it usually depends less on the setting and more on the way it is done. One such incident was shared by TikTok user Simone Grossman, who goes by @theinternetyenta, on March 20, 2026, when a stranger approached her and left his number. The encounter stood out, not because the stranger spoke to her, but because he managed to do it in a way many people rarely see anymore.
@theinternetyenta #datingadvice #datingtips #nyc #datingstorytime ♬ original sound - Simone Grossman💕
Grossman, who is not single, shared that the man did not jump in with a pickup line or make things awkward. Instead, he first noticed the book she was reading and casually said, “That’s an interesting cover, what’s it about?” They chatted for a moment, he mentioned the book he was reading too, and then he let the conversation fade naturally. There was no intention of "trying too hard." Then, right before his stop, he handed her a note with his number and said, “No pressure at all. It was really nice to meet you.” Before she could even respond, he stepped off the train and left the choice completely with her.
At a time when so many women share stories of being cornered or pressured by strangers, this man reminded people that showing interest can still come with basic respect. Grossman also pointed out that the interaction likely worked because the man paid attention to small signals. She had noticed his jacket first because it looked hand-painted and caught her eye, and she also was not wearing headphones, something many people now treat as an unspoken “do not disturb” sign on public transportation.
In her view, he may have read the moment and sensed she seemed open to a brief conversation. She also admitted that the same approach might feel awkward to someone else, even though she appreciated it. Still, for many people tired of dating apps and forced small talk online, this kind of old-school introduction can feel refreshing when handled with care.
The comment section was proof that many would still prefer to be asked out in public in a random setting when done respectfully. For example, @Alphacrybaby remarked, "Handwritten notes via public transit will always be my favorite," while @user5600062019070 recounted, "Just like when I grew up in the 80s. We wrote our phone number on a piece of paper. Love that!" However, @redhorizon343 also mentioned something realistic by saying, "This will only work if you’ve read a few books in the past six months." And yes, the man noticed that she was also a reader and took a chance.
Maybe shared interests matter more than people think when approaching strangers. The creator even admitted that while she has shared negative stories in the past about strangers approaching women in public, this encounter genuinely made her happy. For anyone hoping romance can still begin on an ordinary train ride or morning commute, her story was a reminder that the right approach can still open the door.
For more such videos, you can follow @theinternetyenta on TikTok.