cake

cake

Perhaps it was because the feeling of being constantly watched that always made me uneasy and suffocated had suddenly lessened. Or perhaps it was because I learned that Jiang Mingzhuo was still hospitalized after being hit by a car.

My previously heavy heart suddenly felt much lighter. I was no longer so afraid and helpless.

Faced with Lin Jindong's suggestion, I mustered up my courage and shook my head at him. I told him, "I can't keep troubling you. Besides, if my treatment isn't effective, I can't live with you forever."

I could feel his scrutinizing gaze, and the distance between us was very subtle. I was almost cornered. Lin Jindong was much taller than me, which made it impossible for me to retreat, but I dared not advance either.

Lin Jindong didn't speak, but his gaze was incredibly sharp. He had a handsome and outstanding appearance, and he was an elite prosecutor who had achieved high status and power at a young age. Even without speaking, he exuded a cold aura, and I subconsciously shrank back.

He seemed to be thinking, his brow furrowed slightly, his gaze intensely probing. I knew he had a tiny bit of interest in me; perhaps he was still figuring out how to interact with me. Thinking this, I quickly raised my hand. "Lin, brother, you're a good person."

Finally, Lin Jindong let out a deep, low laugh.

He lowered his voice, with a hint of flippancy, "Who told you I'm a good person?"

Regardless, he was the only one who still cared about Yu Xu, even coming to visit him. I gently bit my lip, unable to tell him the truth about my relationship with Yu Xu. My fingers trembled slightly in the air as I told him, "You're very kind. You took me in that house that day and even introduced my classmate to an internship opportunity..."

Before the sign language gestures had even stopped, he suddenly grabbed my hand firmly.

"..." My brain suddenly went blank, and I stared at him in a daze.

Lin Jindong's smile grew increasingly deep, yet it was utterly devoid of warmth.

"What kind of good person would handcuff you as soon as they see you? Why don't you ask me why I always carry handcuffs with me?"

The red marks on my wrist are still there.

The man's grip was incredibly strong. He only used a little force to hold my wrist and slowly raise it. I struggled a bit, but it seemed to him more like he was playing hard to get. Lin Jindong's face, which was already filled with a sense of oppression, suddenly became expressionless.

He raised an eyebrow. "If you're so timid, then you should refrain from provoking men."

As soon as he finished speaking, he let go of my hand. I took a few steps back. I didn't know what I had done to offend him. I felt a little wronged, and my vision seemed to be blurred. I couldn't help but want to cry.

Lin Jindong's expression, which had been quite patient just a dozen minutes ago, had now turned extremely cold, and even his voice had become low, cold, and unapproachable. "Stop crying, hold it in. If you cry, it will only make people want to bully you more."

I was stunned.

"Brother Jin Dong, how come I didn't know your hobby had turned into bullying girls?" A cold, almost emotionless voice came from the side.

My emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, soaring to the peak in an instant, and then suddenly plummeting wildly because of Xie Yong's appearance, my heart pounding nonstop.

Xie Yong stood in the corridor for what seemed like an eternity before finally interrupting us. His eyes and brows radiated arrogance and displeasure, and he held his own against a social elite like Lin Jindong.

"Why haven't you left yet? Can you bear to see your old father shoveling snow alone in the central square?" Lin Jindong remained calm and even smiled, but there was no friendliness in his smile, only a deep sense of suppression and aggression.

Only then did I understand why Lin Jindong persuaded Xie Yong to leave.

In order to win more votes in his mayoral campaign, Xie Yong's father led his campaign team to help vulnerable elderly citizens by shoveling snow and clearing obstacles on the roads in front of their apartments after a blizzard hit the Empire State. He also called on more people to join in.

This move has been quite effective, and Mr. Xie is not just putting on a show. Over the years, he has done a lot for the citizens, but he still does not slack off. I can see him on the morning news almost every day, and the number of volunteers is also increasing.

Upon hearing Lin Jindong's words, Xie Yong nodded slightly and smiled, "Brother Jindong, you're the one who's been working yourself to the bone lately. Didn't you just have a car accident last night? You should be urging those guys at the police station to find some evidence for you as soon as possible, instead of loitering around the hospital."

I was not oblivious to the confrontation between the two men.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling that this had nothing to do with me. I wanted to go see the professor again, but Xie Yong grabbed my hand from behind.

He looked at Lin Jindong and said sarcastically, "Brother, go back to work early. Leave the rest to me."

Lin Jindong subtly curved the corners of his lips.

His dark eyes locked onto me, a hint of sinister intent in them. Perhaps he didn't want to argue with Xie Yong, who was younger than him, and turned to leave with a flourish.

My hand hurts so much. @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

Looking down, I realized that Xie Yong was gripping my hand tightly, his grip becoming increasingly firm.

I couldn't help but push him, and he hurt me.

Xie Yong noticed my resistance and turned around. His handsome and refined face still carried a hint of anger. My mind was pounding. After struggling for a moment, Xie Yong finally let go of me.

"Wait a minute, I'll go with you to see the doctor." He regained his usual calm and composed demeanor. "Don't wander off again, I won't be able to find you."

I could tell he was determined to stay by my side, so I turned slightly to the side to avoid his gaze.

Xie Yong was waiting for me on the bench in the corridor, and I walked into the consultation room alone.

The doctor briefly examined me and found that I did not have the common difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, and writing that are common in patients with aphasia. She also noticed that my vocal organs were intact, and she concluded that my condition was caused by psychological issues.

"I...I really want to talk, what should I do?" I was a little nervous.

She looked at me and asked, "Do you usually make noise when you're in a hurry?"

I instinctively touched my throat and shook my head in frustration.

“Don’t worry,” the doctor reassured me. “Now, think of yourself as a child just learning to speak. Try buying some fairy tale picture books and reading them to your family. I will prepare some simple lessons for you. Come to the hospital every day for rehabilitation training. First, learn to say some simple words, and then slowly put them into sentences.”

I nodded, and the other person told me that I should always try to express my thoughts with my voice, even if I can't speak them out.

Outside the door, I saw Xie Yong.

Remembering the doctor's words, I mustered my strength and managed to make a sound: "Mmm..."

Like a kitten, it breathed weakly and listlessly, and I fell silent in disappointment.

Xie Yong heard it.

His eyebrows twitched slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips as he looked at me. "What do you want to say? Don't rush me."

I quickly shook my head, thinking that our meeting for today was over. I gestured to my phone and told him, "I'm going to see Ye Fenglin. Didn't Prosecutor Lin just say that you need to help your father? You should go too."

Xie Yong was very unhappy with my obvious attempt to drive him away. He walked up to me and said, "If you just go to see Ye Zi like this and don't give him any gifts, he will definitely be angry."

"You ate it..." I felt a little wronged.

Xie Yong chuckled to himself.

I suddenly realized it was a spoiled cake, so I quickly took out the stomach medicine from my bag and handed it to him. "Take your medicine quickly, or your stomach will hurt."

Xie Yong looked at it for a while and asked me, "Why don't we make a new cake and send it to Ye Zi? I know what flavor he likes."

I thought about it and agreed, but I don't understand what "we" means.

A dozen minutes later, as I stepped out of Xie Yong's black G-Wagon, I looked at the magnificent storefront and windows before me. This was a high-end chain dessert shop with operations almost throughout the state. The interior was as simple and beautiful as a jewelry store, using pure white and blue-gray marble to highlight a sense of understated luxury and sophistication.

The store is surprisingly large and beautifully decorated.

The desserts were displayed like works of art in bright, clean glass showcases, and the sweet aroma of cream was delightful.

Romantic and gentle music flowed down the first floor, where well-dressed people sat at small French-style round tables, enjoying afternoon tea and snacks.

"This is a shop my mother invested in. There's a baking classroom upstairs for customers to make cakes," Xie Yong said to me in a low voice.

I looked at him; he had an air of refined elegance and composure, waiting for the store manager to come out and greet him.

"Mr. Xie." The person in charge was very gentle and friendly. "I've already made arrangements. You and this young lady can go upstairs directly, and the people upstairs will explain how to make the cake."

Xie Yong smiled.

I was curiously looking at the beautiful mirrored staircase in the store when I followed Xie Yong upstairs. The upstairs space was more spacious and more beautifully decorated, with sapphire blue velvet chairs, pure white tables, and delicate lilies on them.

On the side, there are transparent glass windows where small groups of young couples are making handmade cakes.

Xie Yong took off his coat and handed it to the person who was already waiting beside him. People like him, who grew up at the top of high society, were used to being served wherever they went. I, on the other hand, hesitated. I held my coat and placed it on the seat.

The dessert shop provided couples with light blue and light pink matching aprons, and even the men's arm sleeves and the women's hairbands were in the same color scheme—the service was excellent. I tied my apron myself and then gestured for Xie Yong to turn around so I could tie his.

My hand went through his waist.

It must be said that the man's physique is extremely superior, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

Even in a simple shirt, I could see the outline of his abs. Strong, powerful, and captivating.

His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, making him look handsome and dashing.

"..." He smiled when he saw my hand pause.

I tied my long hair up with that light pink satin headband, picked up my phone and asked him, "What flavors does Ye Fenglin like to eat?"

Xie Yong looked at me, and something seemed to flow through his usually arrogant and calm eyes. His gaze lingered on my face, then on my lips, and finally on my fingers.

I blinked, wondering what he was seeing that made him so lost in thought.

“Strawberry.” He lowered his voice, deep and magnetic, “This one is the best, very sweet.”

I was a little confused, but I still followed his instructions, lowered my head, and asked for a sponge cake base.

In reality, "handmade cakes" is just a gimmick to entice customers to make cakes more easily. The difficult recipes and cake base preparation processes are simplified; customers only need to whip the cream and assemble the cake.

Xie Yong was brushing jam onto the sponge cake, and even a full layer wasn't enough; he seemed to want to pour it all out before he was satisfied.

Seeing him like this, I quickly put down the bowl of cheese I was making, stopped him, and shook my head.

It's better for this pampered young master, who never lifts a finger, to stay away from the kitchen and avoid touching anything here.

He can just help me out; all he needs to do is stir things up.

I had Xie Yong stand beside me, carefully scraped off the jam, then added a layer of pink cheesecake, spread cream around the edges with a spatula, and finally sprinkled the crushed cheese on the cake. It looked fluffy, perfect for winter, and very cute.

I placed the berries one by one on top, and my hands were filled with the sweet scent of berries. Looking at my finished product, I was quite satisfied.

"That girl is so pretty... How come her lips are so beautiful, pink and tender, like flower petals, and also like berries. So sweet."

"Her eyelashes are so long, and her skin is so fair, she looks like a princess from a fairy tale."

"Her boyfriend was watching her the whole time, did you notice? His gaze and expression were so intense, it felt like they were watching a magazine photoshoot, so romantic."

The glass wasn't sealed, and I immediately heard the voices of the customers outside. I looked at the cake on the counter and then subconsciously turned to look at Xie Yong.

Just like those people said, he kept looking at me.

I couldn't help but raise my hand and wave it in front of his eyes. Xie Yong's lips curved into a smile, and he lowered his head to grasp my hand. "Look at what's in your hands." @Unlimited good stories, all at Literary City

What? I blinked. Xie Yong lifted my hand and wiped the cheese cream from my palm.

Why does he like eating dirty things so much...? I felt a little flustered. Xie Yong wouldn't let go of me. He gently kissed my palm. The action was very gentle, but his desire to control and his sense of determination were very obvious. I felt like a small animal that had fallen into the mouth of a beast, just waiting to be devoured by him.

I avoided Xie Yong's gaze and struggled fiercely.

Xie Yong tucked his long, slender fingers together and picked up a handkerchief from the side, slowly and meticulously wiping my hands clean.

That overstepping action just now felt like my imagination.

After wrapping the cake, I was afraid of making things awkward in the passenger seat, so I simply sat in the back of the car.

I was holding the cake, but when I looked up, I could see the man looking at me in the rearview mirror. His gaze was very possessive, and for a moment I felt as if I had returned to the time when we were alone together.

"..." This man is acting so strangely now, so clingy.

I simply lowered my head and heard his soft laughter.

There was a mix of arrogance and confidence in him; perhaps he never imagined that any girl would reject his advances.

But I really don't understand. He could easily attract a lot of girls with just a wave of his hand. There are so many girls who are smarter and more outstanding than me.

Why is he staring at me like that?

I don't think I have anything that attracts men other than a decent-looking face and a mediocre figure.

The creators didn't endow me with any outstanding qualities; I've been living in a daze all along.

By the way, maybe I'm pretty resilient to stress. I think I'm the kind of person who would never think of taking my own life no matter what happens. I like the feeling of being alive.

But this is not a likable trait at all... I only think it's a trait for my and Yu Xu's life in the stars.

Only Yu Xu said that I am kind, gentle, and the most adorable girl in the world.

I smelled the sweet, creamy aroma wafting from the packaging box. I don't have much talent for making cakes, but Yu Xu is quite good at it.

When will Xie Yong finally get tired of me? My head drooped limply; I was a little exhausted.

The car drove smoothly into the hospital's underground parking lot. I got out of the car with the cake in my arms, completely ignoring that my lipstick had fallen out of the gap in my small bag and into Xie Yong's car.

The elevator had only just reached the second floor.

I noticed that Xie Yong's phone kept ringing.

He always frowned, looked down, and hung up impatiently. I remembered what Lin Jindong had said, so I grabbed his sleeve and showed him my phone.

"Hurry up and go there, they must be waiting for you. I'll tell Ye Fenglin that you and I made the cake together." I assured him confidently.

Xie Yong hesitated for only a moment before the phone rang again.

"Hey, Xiao Yong, where are you? We'd like to have dinner with the minister and his family tonight."

The other person's voice was calm and mature, clearly Xie Yong's father. Although gentle, he habitually gave orders, leaving no room for refusal.

I looked at him.

“The minister’s son is also studying at Imperial University. You are his older brother. Have a good talk with him,” Xie’s father instructed. “The minister is a very important helper for me in this election. I think you should be able to distinguish between what is important and what is urgent.”

Although I didn't understand it very well, I knew the benefits of dealing with federal government ministers. It made it easier to become a federal official, or even a minister, or a future cabinet member. Xie Yong's father valued these opportunities very much.

Xie Yong hummed in agreement, "Understood."

Mr. Xie asked again, "By the way, what happened at your birthday party last night? I heard that someone got into a car accident after leaving the party and was seriously injured."

"I don't know him. He was probably brought in by someone last night. There were too many people, and I couldn't keep an eye on him," Xie Yong said succinctly.

I watched him quietly, not understanding why he was lying. Jiang Mingzhuo was clearly his "love rival," so how could he say he didn't know her?

Xie Yong pressed the button on his phone.

I smiled at him as a farewell, not noticing the slight somber expression on Xie Yong's face.

As I approached Ye Fenglin's ward around the corner in the corridor, I suddenly felt an urge to go upstairs to visit Yu Xu. I glanced at the security cameras in the corridor, lowered my eyes slightly, and followed the blind spots they couldn't monitor, entering the emergency exit and successfully reaching the third floor.

I quietly pushed open the door; it was eerily quiet, and the door creaked heavily. Just as I was about to step out, I suddenly heard voices talking, and I quickly hid behind the door.

"The patients on the third floor are really lucky. Although they haven't woken up yet, they've been taken very well in their care."

"You mean him? You mean he saved the young master of the Ye family's life?"

They must have been nurses who had just finished their rounds. I breathed a slight sigh of relief and prepared to visit Yu Xu after they left.

"However... Young Master Ye's injuries aren't serious, and he'll be discharged soon, while that person is still unconscious. Do you think the Ye family will still care about him so much?"

"I don't know about that, but we've seen far too many cases of people crossing the river and then burning the bridge. Let alone a savior, even one's own child might be abandoned here. With Mr. Ye's stingy and calculating nature, he might just abandon this person once his son is discharged from the hospital, haha."

The nurses' casual and relaxed conversation made my head buzz.

After Ye Fenglin recovered, did they no longer intend to care about Yu Xu's life or death? I raised my eyes in alarm and saw the nurses walking further and further away through the crack in the door. I couldn't help myself and, avoiding the camera, finally arrived at Yu Xu's ward.

He was still sleeping peacefully there, showing no sign of waking up.

The jasmine flowers I bought a few days ago have already withered. I stood there with my eyes downcast. I rarely confront illness or injury directly, but seeing those dying jasmine flowers, their weakness and pain were unbearable for me.

I think I'm getting sick too... I'd rather be the one lying inside than let innocent Yu Xu suffer like this.

At this moment, I wish I could go back to that night, and hold Yu Xu back tightly to prevent him from rushing in front of Ye Fenglin to take the bullet.

I can't let the Ye family give up on Yu Xu; they have to wait for him to wake up!

Clutching the cake tightly in my arms, I took a few steps back to make sure the security cameras wouldn't capture me, and then quietly retraced my steps back to the second floor.

Compared to Yu Xu's quiet ward, Ye Fenglin's room was always warm.

He was reading a book in his hospital bed, looking extremely agitated.

I noticed that the splint used to stabilize his arm was gone. It seems he's almost fully recovered.

Hearing my footsteps, Ye Fenglin's prominent Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and a smile flashed in his dark eyes. He put down his book and said, "You're really late today."

I lowered my head and slowly approached him. Looking at his handsome and perfect face, I slowly unwrapped the cake and presented it to him.

"For me?" Ye Fenglin looked at the sweet-looking cake that smelled of cream. "I don't like berries."

He didn't finish his sentence.

I gently leaned closer to him, picked up a strawberry, bit it between my lips, and brought it to his lips. Ye Fenglin seemed to pause for a moment, but he didn't resist my initiative. He even let out a pleasant chuckle, "You know I'm going to settle accounts with you today, right? You're being so proactive... Never mind, I'll pretend that you and Brother Yong never happened."

I paused when I heard Ye Fenglin say that.

He was a little unhappy with my distraction, so he sealed my lips with his. The berry was instantly bitten open, and the sweet taste spread between my lips and teeth. Ye Fenglin picked up the cake and let me bite into it first, then he ate it. He was having a great time. I thought it was dirty and turned my head away. He then laid me down on the hospital bed and fed me the cake bite by bite.

@Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

Ye Fenglin kissed me deeply. I realized that he was very interested in my divine body. Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist. I looked up and met his dark eyes.

He looked me over and said in a deep voice, "Just as beautiful as I imagined."

"..." Stop looking.

I tried to raise my hand to cover my eyes, but Ye Fenglin wouldn't allow it. He even grabbed my hand and made me say hello to Xiao Yezi. I gasped in shock; both he and Xiao Yezi were terrifyingly frightening.

He no longer kissed me as eagerly as before, but instead pecked at my face gently, his cool lips pressing down on mine. "Do you like being... by me?"

I didn't want him to control the pace like that, so I simply reached out and shook hands with Xiao Yezi. I didn't expect Xiao Yezi to be so shy; she immediately choked and lowered her head.

Ye Fenglin? I didn't expect that. I laughed and wrote on his palm, "Size is good, but technique is terrible."

He was silent for three seconds, then suddenly spoke through gritted teeth in my ear, "You think it's bad? Then I'll let you experience it properly."

I looked at his arm; he was holding me, the muscles in his arm tensing instantly, incredibly powerful. Beneath the white bandage, red bloodstains were faintly visible in the wound. Not enough; I wanted him to be hurt even more deeply, to spend his entire winter break in the hospital. I raised my hand and hugged him tightly.

Two hours later, it was already dark.

As I washed my hands in the bathroom, getting rid of the sticky, uncomfortable feeling, I heard the doctor in the ward say to Ye Fenglin, "Young Master Ye, how could you be so careless? You haven't fully recovered yet, so be careful with the strength in your arm and try not to use this hand."

"Alright, alright, it's just that the wound has reopened. You can take care of it for me." Ye Fenglin's voice carried a hint of satisfaction. I silently walked out of the bathroom and stood to the side, seeing blood gushing from his arm, which was quite frightening.

The nurse bandaged his wound, and everyone ignored the faint, sweet, metallic smell in the ward. I watched him grit his teeth in pain, and a strange, terrifying sense of satisfaction welled up inside me.

I turned my head, wanting to go home, and as soon as I pushed open the door, I bumped into Xie Yong, who had returned at some point.

I felt uncomfortable under his gaze and was about to leave when Xie Yong stopped me.

"You left your things in my car." Xie Yong's lips curled into a deeper smile. "I was going to return them to you when I happened to see something quite amusing."