clean

clean

The weekend sunshine is warmer than usual, so warm that it makes people feel sleepy.

"Nervous?" Zhao Yin's voice came from the side. He freed a hand and gently touched my wrist. "My mom video-called me yesterday and said she preheated the oven and even sifted the low-gluten flour three times."

I looked sideways at him, "I'm not nervous, I'm just afraid of messing up Auntie's kitchen."

I stuffed the oven gloves into my bag. "Last time, I was making cupcakes on a variety show and they almost turned into charcoal. It was the guest teacher who saved the day."

He chuckled as the car turned into a familiar neighborhood. "My mom said, even if it's roasted to charcoal, it can still be eaten with milk for breakfast."

He parked the car, got out, walked around to my side to open the door, and reached out to help me carry the bag. "Besides, I won't let you burn down the kitchen with me here."

I followed him to the corridor, and just as I reached the door, I heard brisk footsteps coming from inside.

As soon as the door opened, Zhao Yin's mother came over with a smile, holding a piece of un-kneaded dough in her hand: "Xiao Xi, are you here? Come in quickly. It's sunny outside, right?"

She took my hand and led me into the house. "I told Lao Zhao not to go pick me up, but he insisted on going because he was worried you wouldn't be able to find your apartment building."

Zhao Yin followed behind and closed the door, smiling helplessly: "Mom, I was worried that you would be so anxious to teach me how to make cakes that you would forget the time."

"How could I be so unstable?" Zhao Yin's mother pulled me into the kitchen. The countertop was neatly arranged. Stainless steel basins were arranged by size. The whipped cream and butter were softened at room temperature. Even the piping bags were pre-cut. "Look, I'm ready. I've been waiting for you."

She picked up a sieve and handed it to me. "First, I'll teach you how to make a basic chiffon cake. This is the easiest. If you fail, you can always make a soufflé."

Zhao Yin moved a chair and sat at the kitchen door, holding an apple in her hand, but she didn't eat it. She just looked at us. "Mom, don't just focus on teaching. Let Xiaoxi rest for a while."

He took a bite of the apple and said in a slurred voice, "Last time he fried an egg, the oil splashed all over his face. You have to keep an eye on him."

"How dare you say that?" Zhao Yin's mother turned around and glared at him. "Last time, when you were learning to make dumplings with me, you made the filling into glutinous rice balls. How dare you say that, Xiaoxi?" She turned back and handed me another silicone spatula. "Xiaoxi, ignore him. Let's get started. First, beat the egg whites. Remember to use a bowl without any water or oil, otherwise they won't rise."

I did as she said and poured the egg whites into the bowl, the electric whisk making a buzzing sound.

Zhao Yin's mother stood by, helping me adjust the angle from time to time. "Yes, that's it. Add sugar when fish-eye bubbles appear. Add it in three batches. Don't rush." ​​She suddenly smiled. "You're just like Ah Yin. You're very serious when making things, and you don't even blink."

I looked up at Zhao Yin, who was looking back at me, his lips curled up, and a half-eaten apple still in his hand. "Brother Yin, can you make cakes?" I asked, the whisk still stirring as the egg whites began to become smooth.

"He only knows how to make lava chocolate. He learned it from a video. The first time he made it, the chocolate paste flowed all over the baking tray." Zhao Yin's mother said with a smile, reaching out to help me move the bowl to the middle. "Okay, the egg whites are almost done, now mix the egg yolk paste."

The entire morning passed with the hum of a whisk and laughter. As the cake base went into the oven, I watched the numbers on the timer with a touch of trepidation. Zhao Yin's mother handed me a glass of juice: "Don't stare at me anymore. Let's go to the living room and wait. It'll make a buzzing sound when it's done." She pulled me to sit on the sofa. Zhao Yin had already cut up the fruit and placed it on the coffee table, inserting toothpicks.

"Xiaoxi, I've watched the trailer for 'A Thousand Years' Letter', the film you and Ayin starred in, three times." Zhao Yin's mother handed me a strawberry. "You look so beautiful in Hanfu in it. Although Ayin's character is cold, I can tell from your eyes that I like her."

I took the strawberry. Zhao Yin was drinking juice beside me. He didn't say anything, but he couldn't hide the smile in the corner of his eyes!

"Auntie, that's because the director directed it well, and Brother Yin acted naturally." I quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Auntie, what kind of desserts do you like to make?"

"I just like making small cookies. When Ah Yin was little, he loved the butter cookies I made. He would eat a whole box every time." She looked at Zhao Yin with a smile. "Later, he got into this business and was afraid of getting fat, so he didn't dare to eat more. I felt really sorry for him."

As I was talking, the oven dinged. I stood up immediately, but Zhao Yin was even quicker, having already walked into the kitchen to get oven gloves.

"Be careful of the heat." He took out the cake base and placed it on the cooling rack. The golden yellow cake base was fluffy and soft, much better than the one I made on the variety show last time.

"Not bad, not bad. You did it so well on your first try." Zhao Yin's mother came over to take a look and nodded with satisfaction. "Next, spread the cream. Xiaoxi, what pattern do you want to frame?"

I looked at the piping nozzle on the table and hesitated.

Zhao Yin picked up a star-shaped piping nozzle and handed it to me: "Use this one, it's simple and looks good." He stood next to me and reached out to help me hold the piping bag. "Take your time, don't worry, I'll help you hold it steady."

The cream is whipped in advance, light pink, and has a hint of strawberry scent.

Zhao Yin's hand covered mine, and the piping bag drew smooth arcs on the cake base.

"Okay, look, isn't it simple?" He released his hand and looked at the star-shaped pattern on the cake with a smile in his eyes. "It's much better than what you did on the variety show last time."

I looked at the cake, and my heart warmed. Zhao Yin's mother took out her phone to take a picture: "I need to post it on WeChat Moments, so that Old Zhao can see how amazing Xiaoxi is at baking a cake for the first time."

After taking the photo, she cut another piece of cake and handed it to me, "Try it and see how it tastes."

I took a bite, the cream was neither sweet nor greasy, the cake base was soft, and it had a light vanilla flavor.

"Delicious!" My eyes lit up and I took another bite. "Auntie, you taught me well, and Brother Yin also helped me a lot."

Zhao Yin also picked up a piece and ate it slowly.

Zhao Yin's mother looked at us and smiled until her eyes narrowed. "Come over when you have time. I'll teach you how to make other things, like cookies or egg tarts."

When we left in the afternoon, Zhao Yin's mother packed a box full of cakes for us and also stuffed a bag of butter cookies: "This is for Xiaoxi. Ah Yin, you should eat less. Don't get fat and affect the filming."

"I know, Mom." Zhao Yin took the bag and helped me carry it. "We'll come see you next weekend."

As we drove out of the complex, I looked at the cake box on the passenger seat and couldn't help but grab another piece. "Auntie is so nice," I mumbled.

"She's been looking forward to your arrival. She even asked me what you like to eat and learned several of your favorite dishes."

My heart warmed and I turned to look at him. "Brother Yin," I said softly, "Thank you."

"Thank you again?" He smiled helplessly. "How many times have I told you not to be so polite with me?" He paused, then added, "By the way, there's a book signing event next weekend to promote 'A Thousand Autumns' Letters. Sister Ling wants us to go together."

"Okay," I nodded, feeling a bit excited. My last fan meeting was at the end of a variety show, so I think he'd be really happy to be at a signing event with me now.

The next week passed quickly. Every day, apart from taking a few promotional photos, I rehearsed the lines for "A Thousand Years of Letters" with Zhao Yin.

On the day of the autograph session, the weather was great and the venue was packed with fans holding up signs that read "Xi You Yin". Some even held up posters we had taken last time and shouted "Xi Xi, come on!" when they saw us.

"Come on, Brother Yin."

"Don't be nervous, I'm here for you." Zhao Yin held my hand and walked into the venue, which was already full of fans. The host greeted us with a smile: "Welcome Teacher Wen Xi and Teacher Zhao Yin! The fans here today are really enthusiastic."

After the autograph session started, fans lined up to get autographs. Everyone was very polite. Some handed over letters, some gave small gifts, and some said, "Teacher Xixi, I saw the photo of the cake last time. It looks delicious!"

I took the letter with a smile and signed my name: "Thank you, I will share the recipe with you next time I have the chance."

Zhao Yin was also smiling beside me, and occasionally helped me accept gifts from fans, and would say to the fans: "Thank you for supporting Xiaoxi."

Just as the autograph session was about to end, a girl suddenly rushed up to me, holding a CD in her hand and yelling at me, "Wenxi! You plagiarized! The song 'Not Enough' you sang five years ago was a copy of our brother Jinze's!"

The whole place fell silent instantly, and the fans were stunned. The host quickly stepped forward and said, "Hey fan, please calm down and talk things over nicely."

But the girl didn't listen and handed the CD to me: "Look! This is 'Unspoken', which Jinze released five years ago. The melody is almost the same as your 'Not In Time'! You're clearly plagiarizing!"

My hand holding the pen paused and my mind went blank.

"Not In Time" is a song I wrote five years ago, one year after my debut. It was written for Zhao Yin. It talks about how I didn't have time to tell him that I liked him and how I didn't dare to get close to him because of my debut.

I only sang that song at a small fan meeting, and later I didn't release it because I felt it was too personal. How could it be related to Lin Jinze's song?

Zhao Yin immediately stood up, shielding me behind him. He looked at the girl and said coldly, "Dear fan, please provide evidence and stop slandering others."

"Evidence? This CD is the evidence!" the girl said excitedly, "Brother Jinze released this song three months before you, you're plagiarizing! You don't deserve to be the best actor!"

Fans around started talking about it. Some took out their phones to take pictures, while others whispered, "Is this true? Teacher Wenxi doesn't look like someone who would plagiarize."

Sister Ling quickly rushed over, took the girl aside, and said to the host, "Sorry, we need to deal with an emergency, so the autograph session will be temporarily suspended."

"Don't panic, I'm here." His firm eyes made me calm down a little.

We walked backstage, and Sister Ling's face was grim. "Xiao Xi, don't worry. I've asked the team to check. That Lin Jinze was from the same agency as you five years ago, but he later left for some reason. His "Unspoken" was indeed released three months earlier than your "Not in Time."

I sat on the chair, still holding the pen I had just signed with, "Impossible. I wrote 'Not In Time' myself, and I've never heard of Lin Jinze's 'Unspoken'."

Zhao Yin sat next to me and ruffled my hair. "I know. I trust you. The team will investigate this and won't let you suffer any injustice."

Just then, my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. I picked up the call and heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice: "Wenxi, long time no see."

It’s Lin Jinze.

"Lin Jinze?" I frowned. "What do you mean? Did you arrange that fan?"

He chuckled softly, his tone provocative: "Wenxi, don't say anything careless. My fans are just telling the truth. After all, my song was released earlier than yours. Everyone knows who plagiarized whom."

"You clearly plagiarized me!" I couldn't help but raise my voice. "I wrote 'Not In Time' five years ago. How could you have published it before me?"

I broke down.

"Oh? You said you wrote it?" His tone was full of sarcasm. "But the evidence is right in front of us. My song was released three months before yours. Do you think people will believe you or me? Wenxi, you are the best actor now, but you can't bully others with your fame."

I was so angry that my hands were shaking. Zhao Yin took my phone and said to the other end of the line, "Lin Jinze, you need to provide evidence when you speak. You'd better not go too far."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, and then Lin Jinze's voice came: "Teacher Zhao Yin? I didn't expect you to be here too. It seems Wenxi really can't live without you right now. However, I have already given the evidence. What happens next depends on Wenxi's luck."

He paused, then said, "By the way, Wenxi, I will hold a press conference tomorrow to talk to everyone about this matter. If you have the courage, you can come."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

I looked at Zhao Yin, my eyes reddened. "Brother Yin, I didn't plagiarize. I really didn't."

"I know." He returned the phone to me and hugged me. "I believe you. The team will find evidence as soon as possible to prove your innocence."

Sister Ling said from the side, "Xiao Xi, don't worry. We've already contacted your debut agency and the draft you wrote for 'Not Enough'. We should be able to find evidence. Lin Jinze must have a purpose for doing this, and we won't let him succeed."

The voices of fans could be heard outside, some shouting “Come on, Xixi” and “We believe in you”.

I pushed Zhao Yin away, walked to the backstage door, lifted the curtain and took a look. The fans were still standing there, holding up light signs, their eyes full of worry.

"Thank you." I smiled at them, my voice a little hoarse. "I didn't plagiarize. I will prove my innocence and won't let you down."

Fans immediately cheered, with some shouting, "Xixi, we believe in you! We're waiting for you!"

Zhao Yin walked over to me and held my hand. "Let's go. Let's go back first. The team is still waiting for us to discuss countermeasures."

I looked at the phone in my hand, and the call record was still on the screen. I felt a little panicked, but I felt a little calmer because of Zhao Yin's company.

Lin Jinze, do you think you can defeat me like this? I won't let you succeed. I will prove my innocence and protect the people I want to protect...

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