Outside the window, a drizzling rain mixed with sparse snowflakes slid down the eaves, gathering into small puddles on the ground. Occasionally, a car would speed by, its tires kicking up water that splashed in all directions.
The vehicle came to a slow stop in front of Guiyu. The driver was about to get out to open the door and hold an umbrella for Wu Yan, but Wu Yan shook his head and said he would do it himself.
Stepping out of the car, Wu Yan held a black umbrella and stood at the curb, looking up at the storefront. The transparent glass facade was inlaid with the shop’s name in a minimalist font. Several strings of bells made of shells and conchs hung at the door.
When the door was pulled open, a crisp tinkling sound rang out. Wu Yan entered, looking at the staff in aprons and the few customers inside. His gaze settled on the girl standing behind the cashier.
The pink and blue-themed dessert shop felt very cozy. He slowly wandered through the shop, admiring the exquisite cakes. He pointed at a pistachio mousse in the display case. “One of these, please.”
The girl politely said “okay” and reached out to take the cake. As she prepared to package it, she looked up and saw his face.
“Boss! Why are you here?” the girl exclaimed in surprise.
Wu Yan froze for a moment. Combined with the key he had found at home, he quickly reached the conclusion: he was indeed the owner of this dessert shop. He looked at the name tag pinned to her chest.
“Jiang Xiaoxiao.”
“That’s me!” Jiang Xiaoxiao nimbly packaged the cake. “You haven’t been here in so long, Boss! If you wanted cake, why didn’t you call me? I could have delivered it to your house.”
“It’s too cold outside, so I came to buy it myself and look around,” Wu Yan replied concisely.
He hadn’t expected the original owner to have a dessert shop. It was a lucky break; Wu Yan was quite skilled at making desserts. Now he didn’t have to stay home all day; he could come here to help out. As if by instinct, related memories began to surface in his mind. The original owner had apparently bought a failing shop on a whim, renamed it, and rarely visited.
“All packed!” Jiang Xiaoxiao pushed the cake toward him. She glanced at the gray sky outside. “Boss, your health isn’t great. You should head back early.”
“Mhm,” Wu Yan replied. He watched her operate the screen, seemingly swiping a membership card. He saw a string of digits next to his name thousands of dollars’ worth of store credit.
“I’m leaving then.” With his suspicions confirmed, Wu Yan took the cake and turned to go.
Once Wu Yan left, a young employee named Xiao Xiu ran over to Jiang Xiaoxiao. “Sister Xiaoxiao, who was that?”
“Our boss,” Jiang Xiaoxiao replied calmly. Many employees were newer hires, and since Wu Yan rarely visited, it was normal they didn’t recognize him.
“He’s exactly my type… I wonder if he’s single,” Xiao Xiu murmured.
Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled while printing a receipt. “He has a fiancé, Xiao Xiu. Don’t overthink it.”
Xiao Xiu looked dejected. “Ah?”
The Luxury Mall
Back at the Jianglan Road villa, Wu Yan saw the servants preparing a lavish dinner. Looking at the mountain of food, he fell into thought. He was only one person; he couldn’t possibly finish it all, and he hated waste.
“Young Master is back. Dinner is almost ready,” Aunt Wang called out from the kitchen.
Wu Yan had no appetite. He looked at the cake in his hand. “I’m not hungry. You all eat.”
“If you don’t eat, it’s bad for your health. If the Madam finds out, we’ll be punished,” Aunt Wang called out as he headed upstairs, her voice rising.
Wu Yan frowned slightly, then sat at the table. Aunt Wang brought over a bowl of steaming corn and pork rib soup.
“Aunt Wang, you sit and eat too,” Wu Yan said after a few sips. “That’s against the rules, Young Master,” she replied, shocked.
“Do my words not count as rules?” Wu Yan asked, setting down his spoon. He knew that in this household, the servants were terrified of the original owner’s temper. “Let them all eat; it’s late.”
He finished some soup and went upstairs. He sampled the pistachio mousse; it was fragrant and sweet. The craftsmanship isn’t bad, he thought. He unlocked his phone and checked Pei Jin’s empty social media profile with a sigh. Pei Jin’s personality truly was that of a traditional “old cadre.”
The next day, a bright winter sun was out, though it offered little warmth.
Inside Yuyang City’s largest shopping mall, a massive crowd had gathered. Wu Yan, just coming out of a clothing store, looked down from the third floor at a stage being built in the central plaza. He squinted but couldn’t see clearly.
The shop diagonally opposite him happened to be a brand endorsed by Pei Jin. He walked in. A sales assistant greeted him warmly. “What can I get for you, sir? We have many new products suitable for sensitive skin.”
Wu Yan looked at the products, then at a life-size cardboard cutout of Pei Jin. He coughed. “Which product is Pei Jin endorsing?”
The assistant smiled knowingly and led him to a shelf. “This set. Movie Star Pei uses it himself. Would you like a set? It comes with a photo card and a chance to win a signed photo! We have a promotion today!”
Skincare endorsed by Pei Jin… Wu Yan looked at the set with a complex expression. “I’ll take one.”
The assistant quickly grabbed a set while chatting. “Are you a fan too? He’s actually having an event here in the mall today!”
“An event?” Wu Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Yes, look at the crowd downstairs!”
Wu Yan paid and walked out. What a coincidence, running into Pei Jin while just out for a stroll. If he sees me, will he think I came on purpose?
He got on the elevator, lost in thought. A few girls behind him were chatting excitedly. “Did you bring the posters?” “I even brought a handwritten letter! I hope I can give it to Brother Jin.” “I heard he’s filming a variety show in the next city after this movie wraps, is it true?”
Wu Yan listened, intrigued. A variety show? I haven’t heard about that.
The elevator door opened. He looked at the exit, which was blocked by a sea of people and security guards.
Can I even get out of here? He knew his physical limits; he couldn’t handle being squeezed in a crowd. If he fell, he might literally “end the script” right there. He decided to go to the second floor instead, finding a quiet corner by the railing to look down.
From here, he could clearly see the stage decorated with red roses and balloons. It looked suspiciously like a wedding venue. The mall was packed to the gills.
“Oh, it’s you again! I thought you left,” a voice said beside him. It was the girls from the elevator. They clearly couldn’t squeeze into the front row either.
“I can’t get out,” Wu Yan said concisely.
“I remember you! I saw you at the movie city before,” the girl with the bun hairstyle said. Her friend asked how she could remember someone among so many people. “Because he’s so handsome, I have a deep impression,” she whispered.
Wu Yan ignored them and focused on the floor below. Ten minutes later, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted.
“Let’s welcome the spokesperson for the Qingya brand—Pei Jin!” The host’s voice was enthusiastic.
Pei Jin stepped onto the stage, calm and professional despite the flashing lights and cameras. Wu Yan felt dizzy just looking at the camera flashes, yet Pei Jin didn’t even blink.
“Everyone stay behind the red line! Safety first!” the host shouted over the screams.
Wu Yan pulled out his phone, zoomed in the camera, and took a few photos of Pei Jin from his bird’s-eye view.
“Hello everyone, I am Pei Jin.” The voice was polite and steady.