Behind The Red Curtain | YiZhan ✓

77-An Old Face He Had Once Forgotten

The sun was shining rather brutally as its rays dug into his skin. He knew he should've applied more sunscreen after having worn a t-shirt in this excruciatingly hot weather. Upon entering Pengfei's bakery, his face got slapped with the cold air inside, making his lips curl up in relief. "Come in- it's a surprise to see you out and about after all the things i've seen on the media." 

Zhan simply sighed as he walked forward to lean on the counter, his body famished from the heat. "I couldn't just stay at home. And besides, it should be all fixed now. Yibo went to talk it over with Shun so.. ah, he's a detective at the PD." Pengfei hummed, his face showing slight worry. "I see. Are you okay?" Zhan simply shrugged while his eyes glanced at the glass showcase with the cakes. "I am. After all i have Yi-..... i have friends." Pengfei raised his brow, refraining himself to ask any further while walking behind the stand. 

"Well, your wellbeing is all that matters. So, what would you like to get, are you going somewhere?" Zhan hummed. "Yeah i'm visiting the hospital, so maybe these small cakes will do?" Just then Suyin walked out from the back with an apron tied around her waist. "It better not be to visit that shitty manager of yours." 

Zhan shook his head. "So you all watched the press meeting... but no, it's for a doctor. He helped me through this whole case so i wanted to get him something as a thanks." Suyin crossed her arms, curious. "But why? It's only natural for a doctor to tend to his patient's wounds." 

Zhan smiled, somehow playful. "They're dating my company's president. And he's not so fond of me, so..." 

"Ah, you're catching two birds with one stone. I like thaaaat!" Zhan smiled while Pengfei rolled his eyes at her. "If you have time for gossip, go do the dishes instead." Suyin then waved at Zhan and went to the back before she got scolded more. 

Meanwhile, Pengfei was quick to pack some bite sized cakes in a tiny box, before wrapping them to give to Zhan. "Here you go- the biscuits are my gift. Hope they cheer you up a lot more like Yi.... your friends." The latter smiled while the door behind him opened to let another person in. 

As they came forth, Zhan happened to turn around just then and ended up crashing into whoever had walked in. 

He was stable enough to keep the box from falling, but with his concentration pointed only at his hands only, he ended up forgetting his upper half and hit his head against that person's chin, causing them both to step back in pain. 

"Aaahh... fuck-" Zhan sucked in his breath, swearing to himself soon after. "Shit- i'm so sorry-" 

"No please, it should be me who should apologise- i wasn't looking and thought you'd just walk the other way-....." While talking, he abruptly stopped halfway and stood there just staring at Zhan in complete shock. 

The latter wasn't sure on what he was staring at and decided to take a glimpse, only to be pulled in with shock after. "Zhan." Zhan swallowed at the way he said his name, shaking his head at the old memories that came flooding in to his head after. 

"...Sile." Fang Sile. He was the man who had taught him of the pleasures of this world, a man of great power with a dark past. He was also the first man who had been able to intrigue Zhan's heart. But also the first one to break it. 

He was the last person he wanted to see after his father, yet here he was now, seated on the chair across from him. His hands held the coffee mug rather tightly, wondering what he would say after. "I... didn't think that i'd see you again. I mean, i've been watching your shows and all but... ahem.." But he had certainly not expected him to be nice of all things, that was for sure.