just picking up on this one - it's hilarious - precisely because as men we miss 99% of the signals girls send us!!!

heck, I even had a situation where a girl said "please fuck me" three times before I got the message ...

... OK she said it in chinese, but that's no excuse!!

If a girl looks at you, it's a signal.  If she looks away from you and then looks back, it's a signal.  
The rest is in how you respond
and whether you pass the test she's setting, to see if you're the confident but sensitive guy she wants to be seduced by

There isn't a girl alive who doesn't want a guy she noticed to walk up to her and sweep her off her feet
the catch is, you have to do it the way she's been imagining in her mind
and avoid triggering her "creep" and "wuss" rejections

Lots of great comments here

Key thing I want to underline is that you're setting yourself up for failure, by worrying about it and overthinking it.  As soon as you start trying to plan a contrived situation, to get her to do what you want, you're lost.  You're especially lost the moment you begin to try to avoid her rejection.  

Much better to assume it's going nowhere

and then take the shot.  

As Wander says, test her out - next time you see her just walk up to her, and say something like "You work so hard here!  I wish I could meet you some time you're not so busy!" and give her (no more than) three seconds to take the hook.  

If you want to get proficient, best thing I can think of is for you to study and master the art of flirting - of saying something that can be understood two ways, and of giving a compliment while seeming to talk about something totally mundane.  

There are lots of other things you can do, but this one - flirting - seems to be enough on its own.  Girls love the game, and end up taking the lead.

Thanks for the tip, yesterday stopped at a crossover and a pretty girl stood next to me and I thought lets try this out but need to be sure not to keep looking at her like a creep so I kinda look in off into the distance so she still in a the corner of my eye and if she looked my direction I look also look towards her, kinda worked as she looked at me then I looked at her as our eyes met and looked at each other for few seconds and then she looked away. Forgot to give a bigger smile during the those seconds and she didnt look again but kept looking forward. And then the light went green and walked different directions.

Actually there were few other occasions where a girl kept looking at me but the situation be odd cause there were not alone, litterally one was with their parents and she kept giving signals but I am like not going to approach you with your whole family there, that be equal arkward for me and them.

I think you're still over thinking from how you wrote this post, but as said by previous bros just say something friendly that has no connotations of going beyond that. If she takes the bait and responds, then continue with the conversation, again with no intention of doing anything more than having a meaningless conversation. If she stays to talk then you can proceed slowly.

You might want to try imagining you already have a girlfriend and you're just having a innocent conversation with some random girl you meet. No intentions of asking her on a date or trying to ask her on a date, and just see where the conversation takes you.

full marks for noticing the body language

you may have stared too long ... that's where a girl might decide you're a needy creep

the natural rhythm in social interaction is to connect and disconnect, and you signal interest nonverbally by lingering for a little longer than normal (and you can notice this in her also).  But a stare is threatening in any circumstances, and you should only hold eye-contact while she's talking.  

and as vinny says, you do need to practice thinking of something neutral to say, as if you were talking to a mate... something that could credibly be followed with "hey, I'm not trying to chat you up!" as a well-constructed flirting comment.

I was out to a local bar last weekend.  The band was playing.., I know a few other locals and we chat.  The crowd is mixed on weekends between the older "regulars", like me, and the young party-crowd that only comes on weekends.

I head for smoke on the terrace.  A young beauty is out there, maybe 20 or 21.  (I dont chase gals this young). Anyway, she was super cute, quite tipsy, and was surrounded by 3 guys her age desperately trying to pick her up.  I was close enough to hear their conversation and it was almost comical how hard they were trying to engage her in conversation and impress her.  She sees me smoking and comes over to ask for one.  I give her one, light it for her, and mention that I've never seen her here before.

And that was all it took.  She proceeded to tell me way more than I wanted to know about how she ended up in this particular bar, how she got her name, what her plans in LA are, and that she loves to dance and hopes I will dance with her tonite.  (!!)  I told her "maybe later, come find me if you want".  The 3 guys hovered the whole time, getting fucking steamed about the whole thing.  I couldnt help but laugh to myself.  Anyway, they leave and go inside.

An hour or so later.  I go inside to watch the band, I'm standing by the bar and tapping my foot.  I spot her on the dancer-floor (mmm, good god she's a hottie.  She cant dance for shit though...).  Anyway, all 3 of the guys are out there dancing with her.  Good lord, I thought..., that looks fuckin pathetic.  Anyway, she spots me, and I smile with a small wave.  She leaves the dance floor and comes to me (leaving the 3 guys to dance with themselves -- fuckn hell, it was embarrassing watching them).  She joins me and says "You promised to dance with me...".  I told her she "has way more guys dancing with her than she needs".  She lingers for a drink, and I slowly watch as the gay-threesome on the dancefloor finally breaks up and they separately creep off the floor.   I tell her that "your posse seems to have abandoned you".  She turns and drunkenly says, "Good.  A break from them.  They'll be back as soon as I smile at one".  Yep.  Ugly.  She's happy to tease these guys all nite.. free drinks, adoring compliments, and can act anyway she pleases with instant forgiveness.  

Then the waitress (who I know every well, this is my local hangout afterall, so I do act like a "good boy" here) came by and says in my ear with a smirk "What are you doing, Wander?  She's half your age".  I smile, "Yeah, I know..., just flirting, it's fun..., but dont worry, July, my love for you remains strong and pure".  She swats me.   Hehe... flirting with both concurrently now.   

I told this tale for a reason.  Know when to bail-out.  Gals LOVE the attention and some will tease it out of men they have absolutely ZERO intention of screwing or dating.  It was pathetic how she had those 3 guys on her beck-and-call and yet would just abandon them on a whim to go flirt and drink with someone else.  They were too damn stupid to see it.  Anyway, she insists on putting her number into my phone.  A sloppy prolonged affair where my waitress raised on eyebrow and I had to simply shrug my shoulders and mimic a "silly-drunk-girl" motion.   So, in the end, her attention cost me a cigarette -- and ended up getting a waitress that I DO like to boldly show her interest.  Awesome.

It is easy to get numbers.  Much harder to convert a number into an instant one-nite-stand.  So dont fall for those tutorials that seem to think getting a phone number is the end-result of "picking up girls".

Wow guys so many tips haha =) have to take notes and learn lol

Wander's little instructional tale suddenly jolted a memory from Las Vegas last week...

I was seated by myself at a bar, waiting for a certain girl to show.  It was getting towards the end of the night, and the bar/restaurant was in the early stages of closing down.  I'm texting friends, when suddenly, out of the blue, a cute waitress stops and asks me if I'm in here often and was I at that table (pointing over my shoulder) last week?  I'm caught slightly off guard, but see she's awefully cute, and immediately look directly into her eyes and went into autopilot knowing/confident smile mode. (Note: I'm in LV once, maybe twice a year, so no I wasn't there.)  

After replying, "I'm not sure, do you owe me money?", we both have a laugh, make small talk and I'm teasing her for the mistaken identity.  Then she's playfully slapping my shoulder when I tease her about some sloppiness in her uniform/apron. She's summoned by the Mgr. and is off with a smile and wink.  If I had stuck around getting her number was a given.  But, my date shows up moments later.  Sheesh, when it rains it pours.  The waitress did scamper by again a minute or two later...and in a deliberate, jestful, LOL-tone says directly to my date, "careful, he was hitting on me."  

Whoa!  Huh?  Who was hitting on who?  And, really?  Was that necessary?  Okay, so maybe not a 100% clear who was hitting on who--but the opportunity was was definitely initiated by the waitress--who never did explain her original inquiry to me.  Also, I'm not sure if the waitress meant to boost me, or torpedo me in front of my date...because why even comment, right?  Maybe a little of both.  Girls are not rational creatures.  

I suppose the point of the story, for lazytjai, is you've got to be ready to roll with it at a moment's notice.  And more often than not, if you give off the vibe of "already taken", that attracts ladies more than anything else...So, even if you're not taken, learn to give off that vibe.  In one of the universe's crazy twists, once you stop looking, that's when they find you.

And if none of that works, just try to look gay. All my girlfriends tell me "all the good ones are gay or taken", so take your pick and choose your look

Gherk

I actually 'receive' all the signals sent, but my problem is I am a typical guy who cannot multitask. Many times I hear/see the signal, but my brain does not process it immediately because I am mentally engage in another task. It is only after I had 'finished' the task, that it dawns on me what the message was and it is too late as that 'flirting potential window' has shut.

Here is an IT analogy:

It is like a Big Data dump from any girl that comes into my presence. If I have my 'I am in a bar/club app' on, then I can readily interpret those signals, but if I am using my 'I am reading book/pondering thoughts/helping girl solve problem app', I would most likely miss those signals. It is hard to keep my 'every girl is a potential flirt app' on all the time as it uses a lot of resources, tiring me out and distracting me from getting other tasks done.  

Wow Today had something else girl was litterally checking me out in winking and smiling at me while she was freaking hugging her boyfriend on the MTR. Seriously could probably had slip a paper with a number in her hand. But I aint keen on girls like that she probably have like already a guy for every day of the week, she looks cute and the dude she was hugging was freaking ugly.

I am no leonardo dicaprio but from girls I asked about my look I score 7/10. Seriously can't stand seeing often in HK fat, ugly or even nerdy guys with cute girls, but I have to say probably the girls be  playing them and having them pay for everything she want and they probably nevergone to second base with her.

I have been warned about these kind of girls and met few but I wouldn't mind a one night with them, but would never go clubbing with themas I know they make you pay not only her drink but her whole entourage of girls she would bring along.

Hmm. There is something to be said for having felt the bite of one's own mistakes. In your position, I'd be tempted to enroll in Pickup University, a school with only one student (you), but many professors (the girls). For a term's worth of tuition fees (ie: the costs of taking the girls out), you'll get an education from several of the professors, and will certainly graduate with a broad perspective on life

In other words, don't worry too much about making mistakes at this point. Even the mistakes will be educational, and will enhance the quality of your future relationships because you'll be able to tell the good ones from the bad ones so much quicker.

Once again: It isn't a failure if she says no (or if she spends your money or if she drops you like a rock), it's only a failure if you don't try.

Gherk

I can't tell if this is a joke account or not now.

1.) Don't assume the girl with her boyfriend on the MTR she was checking you out. Single guys tend to assume that any girl looking in their general direction is into them. Even if any girl really is, it makes no difference if you don't talk to her.

2.) Don't assume what the girl's attitude or personality is. Again, this is projecting an image of her before you've even gotten to know her. How would you like it if girls projected negative images of you and so in their heads they think you're a jerk before even meeting you?

3.) This whole "slip a paper with a number in her hand" business. I wasn't going to say it before but I guess I might as well. IT'S CREEPY! It demonstrates low self confidence from someone with a lack of social skills. If you want to talk to someone then you go up and talk to them. How will the girl know who you are if she's never seen you and only has a piece of paper with eight numbers on it? Do you pass around paper notes at work during meetings? It's a children's game. Ask your female friends what they think about being given paper notes from strangers.

Take this advice: If something is important to you then make the time for it. This applies to anything in life. Personal, work and family. If you want to talk to that girl at Tong Kee Boa (at this rate I'll probably talk to her before you do and I'm not returning to Hong Kong for a few more months ) then you figure out a way to get her attention and introduce yourself. If you pass her a note she's just going to show her co-workers and then they'll all laugh at you behind your back

4.) "Seriously can't stand seeing often in HK fat, ugly or even nerdy guys with cute girls, but I have to say probably the girls be  playing them and having them pay for everything she want" << Again, don't assume. I know that Hong Kong dating culture is predominantly based around guys who spend the most on women, but there are a million reasons why a girl would like a guy. Don't assume that it's all just looks and money.

To be honest, I might suggest that it's this attitude which is holding you back. Insulting other people can be seen as a sign of low self confidence. Women can see this in guys. Don't be that kind of guy!

Anyways, you've been given a lot of good advice in this thread so I hope you listen to it. And I look forward to when you tell us that you scored a date with the girl at Tong Kee Boa. At worst, I'll be your wingman and help you spot and chat up some girls. But you'll be paying for the drinks for me and my entourage

Not a joke, she was first looking at me checking me out giving a smile then the BF said something to her those two talk and she kept looking my direction from time to time. Think the guy notice she was watching my directions so and she started change attitude to the guy and gave him hug but in a way her that she could keep looking my direction so the guy wont see it.

I am like standing with my back against those glass part next to the door in front of me is first a glass then short sitting section and then a short standing part for like someone in a wheelchair where those two are standing. They first started of with the guy leaning against the window and girl infront of him, unless she in winking at herself in the glass reflection. Because I know the difference between a smile I am happy with this guy, and giving a smile and a wink as flirt signal which she did. For me was just looking forward and slightly off into the distance so kinda could see everything whole time.

Have to say normally I am less aware of girls looking as I be playing games on my phone but have resetted my phone and only installed a few apps I really need and no games on my phone at all, so resort myself to look around whats happening to entertain myself in the mtr.

For those unfamiliar with it, Tong Kee Bao is a dim sum takeout chain with outlets in malls all over the city and suburbs. As a counter girl, Ms X will be very busy, and any attempts at a private chat would have to be conducted in direct proximity with her co-workers.

If she is indeed a plain jane as described, she will not be used to being hit on, as her prettier sisters might be, so too direct an approach runs a real danger of scaring her off immediately and permanently. Might be wiser to take your time, with just a brief comment on the weather the first time, then a very short exchange about work, e.g. how busy it is, the second time. Do not tell her how sweetly she smiles or how attracted you are to her. She will never live it down. Save it for when you actually go out with her and her colleagues are not around to tease her. So, during the third exchange, when she is already comfortable with chatting briefly with you, you could ask her when her day off is and whether she has anything planned. From observation, you should already know the answer to the first question, and you should have something planned if the answer to the second is no. The rest is up to you.

By the same token, if you succeed in getting something going, Ms X may not be very experienced in such matters. Be prepared with an exit strategy that leaves no one broken-hearted.

Looking forward to your report.

Pfff their collegues seem to be very protective of her when I am around lately, mainly the nerdy guys who works there keep her distracted. The old ladies there more keen on chatting about small things. But lately havent had time to drop by there as I am busy working till late at night and only go to have my dinner like after twelves while everything is closed except few small restaurant. But seriously that smile thing seem to be less working with me as I don't know it seem to me my face is more like, a polite smile back the girl as they look towards me than me giving a flirting smile.

My buddy who is foreigner showed me while walking he just straight stare at a girl when the girl look towards him, he gives a major flirt smile and get the girl attention like in no time. My face might be too polite looking, when I do it the girl just look that one sec and look away. Askedallot of girls they say my look is very Daan Sun, which is in cantonese polite or humble, that I look like a very nice innocent guy.

Well, too soon to tell how this particular girl is going to work out for you. How about if you defocus a bit, and refocus on making initial contacts with 6 girls per day, two on your way in to work, two at lunch time, and two after work. Just "hi" with a smile, or whatever else you want to try.

Let's get you over the awkwardness that you seem to feel.

Gherk

I had a similar situation with a super-cute Filipina girl who worked in my local McDonalds in London.
I asked my friends what I should do, and they said write her a card and put your number in it (it was almost Valentine's day so I waited for that as a good excuse to give her a card). They also said I should buy her a lottery ticket and put it in the card, and write 'take a gamble on me'. It was pretty cheesy but I did it anyway.
I went into McDonalds and waited in line patiently, nervous as hell. When I got to the front I just said "Hey, I don't want to order anything, I just wanted to give you this", gave her the card, smiled, and walked out.

Whaddya know... an hour later I got a text from her saying it was really sweet, and a few days later we started dating.

Just go for it man, start talking to her or give her a note with your number on it if you're too nervous to talk upfront.

*Edit: There's a heap of good advice above, but as ggherkin reiterates: 'It isn't a failure if she says no. It's only a failure if you don't try.'

Mate, don't be so quick to judge. Like in 'how I met your mother' some are just reachers and others are settlers. My ex wife was definitely a 7/10 and me? I was at most a 5/10. Relationships can be based on many things. Back then I was still a gentleman and that is what won her over.

You just sound bitter there. All I can say is if you don't at least try you definately won't get. Now get off your ass and do something.