Behind The Red Curtain | YiZhan ✓

28-The Sweet Taste Of Betrayal

Winter. He loved winter. It was his favourite season. But he also liked spring, summer, and autumn too. Because all of those seasons had one thing in common. At the beginning of each and every one of them, him and Yibo would meet and eat cake.

They weren't celebrating anything nor were they happy about something. They just did it because it was decided so in their minds.

There was this one pastry chef they were both friends with and would go to his bakery each and every time. And when they came, he would whip out a special cake, for this special season. It would be extravagantly beautiful every time, making it hard to devour such art.

And this year, just like every season, winter was about to end. Zhan had been a little too early to come eat the cake, yet couldn't hold himself back either. He just had to see it. He had to see the cake so that he would know that his memories were real and not fake.

The exterior was the same as ever, nothing had changed. On top of the entrance doors stood the name "La Frey" in all caps, while the logo itself was extravagantly painted as a blue bird holding a purple rose with its beak. Aside from the cakes, the place was also famous for its logo, making it the more attractive to the eye.

"Well, well. If it isn't my most famous costumer. Although, it's quite odd to see you without your other half." Zhan's heart stung at the mention, as he came forward.

Dai Pengfei. He was the same as ever with his kind face. Despite being huge and muscular, he was a gentle soul. He was liked by many for that. "I... came alone today."

Pengfei crossed his big arms that barely fit in his shirt and made a saddened face. "And early. We are months away from spring you know. I must apologise that i can't start baking the cake now-" But the latter shook his head. "I didn't come for that. I just wanted to ask... those cakes you baked for us... they were real right?"

Pengfei stood there for a while to understand his question. Yet when he saw Zhan's desperate face, he flashed him a warm smile and answered without hesitation. "Of course they were. They were the realest things i have baked in my kitchen!"

Zhan's lips softly curled up in relief, yet one could not call that a smile. "That's..."

"The first one i baked was filled with uncertainty because Yibo had just brought you in. And i was nervous to bake. Yet when i saw you two eating it... baking became my passion once more." Zhan blinked with wide eyes. "H-how so..?"

Pengfei's face then suddenly brightened. "You know that he was my regular before you came. And every time he would eat my sweets, he'd make this bitter face. I know that it's just his character- but back then, that hurt." The latter bit his lip. "But the day he brought you in, i had never seen him smile like that. It did something to my heart and your cake was born."

Just then, his manager who was walking by smacked him in the leg before walking around the counter. "Stop talking nonsense! You kept saying birth and passion the other day and scared the costumers away!" Zhan looked down and remembered this nostalgic aura, mixed with the smell of newly brewed coffee, which led him to sigh. He was glad that this place hadn't changed, that they hadn't changed.

"Hey there... it's been some time since you came. But.. i can't really see Yibo laoshi here. Is he busy?" Zhan snapped back to reality and glanced at her small face. He Suyin was still as pretty as ever, her eyes big and flirty. Zhan had been fond of her because of her honest personality, but didn't think much of the rest as he had been busy with Yibo every time he came. "Suyin... you haven't changed either."