Jingle Jingle Jingle

Streets bustling with crowds, hawkers selling different items enthusiastically. Friends, families, couples, so many people gathering here and there, moving and spending time together. Wang Yiheng stood in front of the wide window glass in his office. It was as big as an entire wall. He just stood there with his right hand in his pocket and left hand on the glass, nonchalantly looking at the crowd on the streets.

Xu Ying entered the room after knocking on the door. A wide 3000 square feet room, decorated with elegant pieces of furniture and a wide Maplewood made dark brown office desk. Seeing Yiheng looking outside the window, Xu Ying carefully called, "Master, it's time to go home for the dinner. Madam is waiting for you."

Yiheng didn't move his eyes and kept looking in one direction, "Hmm. Ready the car."

Xu Ying bow-ed and replied, "Yes, master."

But, as he was twisting the doorknob, he heard Yiheng say, "Wait, tell the driver to delay for 15 minutes. I need to drop by somewhere."

Xu Ying knew where Yiheng was planning to go. He nodded and went outside the room to let the driver know.

Yiheng looked at the newly opened pastry shop one last time and then with long sturdy steps moved towards his chair where his coat was hung. He put it on and looked in the mirror. A clean image of handsome wealthy CEO flashed in front of him. Any person could go blind because of his golden aura. But he felt something doesn't fit right. Will he become uncomfortable if I go dressed like this?

He thought for some time and then picked up the intercom. The other side received the call and Yiheng just ordered, "Bring me your scarf and overcoat."

Soon Xu Ying knocked on the door and entered with his overcoat and scarf. He looked at his boss with confusion and handed over the clothes, "Here they are, Master."

"Thanks, you can keep mine." Saying so he tossed his coat over to Xu Ying. Xu Ying hurriedly caught the coat. His hands trembled slightly, "But, Master, how can I?!" Yeah, how was he supposed to wear a coat which was worth his salary per month?

"Think of it as compensation for your coat and scarf," Yiheng replied while he put on the coat and adjusted the scarf on his neck,

Yes, now I look good.

Xu Ying dumbfoundedly looked at his boss and then at the coat, "T-Thank you so much, Master!"

***

In the pastry shop

All the tables were full and more and more people were coming. A young man with shiny black hair and azure eyes smiled brightly and shouted at the person in the cashier, "Boss, looks like we need more tables here!"

A short elderly man who was calculating the money in the cash box smiled at him and nodded in response. They were so happy with the new pastry shop's sales rate and why won't it rise, it was Christmas eve. Everyone nearby came here to celebrate and buy cakes for their friends and families. The boss called the young man, "Ah-Yuan, come here for a minute. I'm going to hang the 'sold out' board outside."

"Ah, that's sad. Well, I'm coming.

Bai Yuan went to the cashier and took a few remaining orders then closed the counter so that people won't come to make an order. All their cakes and pastries were sold out for that day and so he had no other choices.

He was locking the cash box when a girl came to him, "Excuse me."

Yuan replied in a gentle voice, "Oh, sorry ma'am, we're out of cakes and pastries."

The girl's face seemed red and she was nervously looking at him, "No, not that, Um- can I have your number?"

Bai Yuan was startled, but it was not the first time. The boss even jokes around saying his sales went up because of Bai Yuan's handsomeness. Bai Yuan scratched his hand in awkwardness and replied, "Sorry, miss. I'm not available."

The girl went back to her friends with a sad expression and Bai Yuan saw the others consoling her and trying to cheer her up. A gentle smile appeared on his lips, as he sighed.

"Excuse me."

Bai Yuan turned his head to look at the customer and he heard a jingle on the bells of the door. A tall man entered wearing a brown overcoat with a scarf around his neck. Bai Yuan replied, "Good evening, Sir. You came again! "

Yiheng's lips curved into a smile seeing the bright azure eyes.

"Hmm"

"Sorry, sir. Only coffee is available, everything is sold out."

Yiheng pretended to be sad," Ah, I was looking forward to buying the caramel cream cheesecake."

Bai Yuan said helplessly, "I'm so sorry."

Yiheng pretended to think for a moment, "Do you perhaps take home deliveries?"

Bai Yuan's face lit up a little. He stole a glance at the shop owner and then replied in a soft voice, " We usually don't do home deliveries but since today is Christmas eve, we can make an exception for our customers."

Wang Yiheng's eyes shimmered, "That'd be great."

His deep voice softly pulled strings on Bai Yuan's heart. This was not the first time. This customer had been coming to their shop quite a lot recently. Bai Yuan thought,

Bai Yuan pulled out a notebook and took a pen to write, "So, please tell me the order and your address, sir."

Wang Yiheng scratched the back of his hand nervously and then made something up, "Um- A 2-pound Caramel cream cheesecake and…what do you recommend?"

Bai Yuan thought for a while, " Our creamy mocha custard is my absolute favorite!"

"Please add that too."

"Yes Sir! And please tell me your address and Name to make the receipt."

"XX Road, Y Avenue. 13th floor. Name…Yiheng."

"Only Yiheng? Will that be okay?"

"Yes. When will the delivery be?"

Bai Yuan looked at the clock. 10 pm.

"Ah, it will be ready by 11:30. I'll surely deliver it to you before 12!"

Wang Yiheng's mood lit up upon hearing so. He really wanted Bai Yuan to be the one who'd deliver the cake. If it was someone else, he would just postpone the order. He replied, smiling, "Don't worry, take your time. I'll be waiting for you."

He'll be waiting for me? Hearing the last sentence, for God knows what reason, Bai Yuan's blood quickly rose to his face. Aaa, I'm sure he didn't mean anything! Stop it, A-Yuan!

Restoring his calmness, Bai Yuan again started to speak, as Wang Yiheng gave him his card to pay, "Thank you so much, Sir. You always help us so much. Did your boss make you do overtime like always? Why are you going home so late?"

Wang Yiheng was not surprised. He let out a small laugh, "Ah, it's not like that. I've no one waiting for me at home, so I was working willingly."

That's really sad "Here, have this. I kept it for myself. But since you too have no one waiting for you at home, I'm sharing mine with you. So, Merry Christmas! Don't be sad!"

Wang Yiheng was moved to suddenly receive a chocolate muffin with white frosting on it. It had a small Santa and sprinkles on it. "T-Thank you so much."

He also felt bad for lying. From childhood, everyone showed a distant behavior because he was the successor of Wang Corporation. His extra high-status life never let him have true friends. But, for the first time in his life, he wanted to be close to someone. That person thought that he was a simple office worker who came to the shop to escape the harsh work. That person was Bai Yuan. From sitting in one corner, he saw Bai Yuan's bright blue eyes smile whenever he got tipped or received large orders. Since then he had become addicted to that smile. Every Time he saw Bai Yuan, he felt his heart race. What a foolish heart.

Coming back to the shop, Bai Yuan handed him the receipt and thanked him. Wang Yiheng's phone vibrated and he got a text message from Xu Ying saying "Master, I'm waiting with the car outside."

Wang Yiheng put the receipt in his coat pocket and turned to exit. Let's hurry and be done with dinner.

***

Bai Yuan stopped in front of a gorgeous high-rise building and looked up. Is this the right place?

He again checked the note and looked up.

Reaching the 13th floor using an elevator, Bai Yuan saw only one unit.

He then mustered up the courage and finally rang the bell. A few minutes later, he heard some ruffling noise from inside. "Mr. Yiheng are you alright?"

*Beep* Suddenly the door opened and Wang Yiheng replied, "Yes, I'm absolutely fine."

Wang Yiheng was in casual clothes. A simple blue sweatshirt and a pair of black trousers. A few droplets of sweat could be seen on his neck but he swiftly wiped them off with his sleeves.

"Ah, you look handsome even in casual clothes!"

Wang Yiheng's eyes slightly widened hearing Bai Yuan say that. Bai Yuan immediately covered his mouth with his free hand, "Ack, did I say that out loud?"

Wang Yiheng chuckled and said, "Please come inside."

Bai Yuan quickly said, "It's absolutely alright, Sir. I just came to deliver."

Wang Yiheng stood beside the shoe rack, leaning on the wall, "I request. Please come in."

Bai Yuan felt something move inside him, being under the influx of those golden eyes. "Then, thank you so much for inviting me."

Bai Yuan was dumbfounded seeing the interior of the apartment from the inside. There was a huge chandelier on the ceiling, a duplex floor inside the apartment, an open kitchen in one corner, and a small bar beside that. Even the floor was so shiny that Bai Yuan could see his reflection on it. In short, it was simply not an apartment for normal office workers. Wang Yiheng told him to take a seat on the balcony and took the cake boxes inside.

Bai Yuan sat on the artificial grass, leaving the comfy sofas empty. He gazed up and saw the night full of stars. Ah, so beautiful. It's like a dream. Soon Wang Yiheng joined him, carrying two glasses and a bottle of wine.

He slowly spoke as he took a seat beside Bai Yuan, "You said there was no one waiting for you at home. Mind celebrating with me?"

Bai Yuan was so overwhelmed, should I accept?