Why Is His Face Red?

In the morning, Su Ran followed his usual routine and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Jiang Yi hadn’t come back last night, probably due to some late-night socializing. He had likely checked into a hotel and stayed out.

This morning, Su Ran didn’t plan on making anything elaborate. He decided to cook some porridge and eggs, with a couple of small side dishes to go with it.

While he was cutting the vegetables, he heard some movement from the living room. Turning around, he saw Ye Qiao coming out and sitting down on the sofa.

“Did you sleep well last night?” Su Ran asked, then continued cutting the vegetables.

Ye Qiao had a drawing board on his lap, holding a pencil and gesturing at Su Ran with it. “Not bad. The bed was pretty comfortable,” he replied.

“That’s good. If you’re hungry, there are boiled eggs ready to eat. The meal will be done soon,” Su Ran said.

Ye Qiao started sketching, sweetly saying, “Thanks, Ran Ran. I’ll eat with you in a bit.”

Su Ran worked quickly, and before long, the side dishes were ready. He peeked at Ye Qiao on the sofa and saw that he was looking down at something, seemingly focused on his drawing.

Su Ran walked over and, as he got closer, saw the drawing board on Ye Qiao’s lap. “What are you drawing?” he asked.

Ye Qiao looked up at him, “Can you tell? I’m drawing you.”

“Me?” Su Ran pointed at himself, surprised.

Ye Qiao, noticing the shock on his face, widened his eyes slightly. Su Ran’s pupils were amber-colored, clear and bright, with slightly drooping corners and long, upward-curved lashes. His eyes were beautiful—like a pair of puppy-dog eyes that made people want to protect him.

“Yeah, it’s you. You’re perfect to be drawn,” Ye Qiao said.

Su Ran didn’t know much about drawing, but looking at the sketch, it did resemble him. It was a simple outline of his back while he was busy in the kitchen. There weren’t many details, so it was hard to make out much.

He was surprised, though—he never would’ve imagined Ye Qiao would draw him. He had assumed that if Ye Qiao were going to draw anyone, it would be Jiang Yi.

“Let’s eat first, and you can continue drawing after,” Su Ran said cheerfully. The compliment about being “perfect to be drawn” felt like a praise, which made him feel good.

They both brought the dishes to the table. As Su Ran moved, he said, “I need to go to the shop later to help out. If you get hungry at lunchtime, there’s food in the fridge. Just heat it up in the microwave.”

“Don’t worry, Ran Ran,” Ye Qiao replied. “Actually, my right hand should be better soon. The splint will come off by the end of the month. Then I’ll help you out with cooking, so you won’t be so tired.”

Su Ran smiled at Ye Qiao’s words. “Take care of yourself too.”

•

Today, the shop was very busy. Someone had ordered a birthday cake and snacks for a party, so Su Ran had been working non-stop all day.

By the afternoon, he was finally done, though his back felt a little sore from all the work. It was dusk when he glanced at the time and instructed two employees to help him load the car with the orders. Soon, the vehicle was filled with the sweet, fragrant aroma of freshly baked goods.

The drive was about forty minutes. Su Ran drove smoothly, while the two employees in the backseat chatted excitedly.

“This is the rich district, huh? First time coming here.”

“I can’t believe someone living here would choose our shop’s cake for their birthday party.”

Su Ran was in a good mood. Their shop didn’t usually get catering orders, and this high-end birthday party was their first one. He remembered the customer well—she was a young woman who always dressed impeccably and often came to buy cakes. She had once praised his pastries, saying they were some of the best in the country. Su Ran had been flattered by the high praise. He hadn’t expected her to pick their cake for such an important occasion.

The van, guided by the butler, parked in the villa’s garage, surrounded by luxury cars, making a stark contrast.

The employees quickly took the birthday cake into the kitchen, while Su Ran went to set up the snack table, arranging the pastries on trays. Just as he was focusing on the display, a long hand reached over and took a piece of cake.

Su Ran instinctively moved aside and straightened up, then froze. “Mr. Lu?”

Lu Jin was about to speak but stopped himself. It wouldn’t be polite to address Su Ran casually, especially since he wasn’t close to him yet, and even Jiang Yi hadn’t fully integrated into their circle.

Lu Jin looked at him in surprise, then paused, still chewing the cake. “You work here?”

Su Ran nodded. “Yes. Are you here for Miss Lu’s birthday party?”

Lu Jin was taller than Su Ran by half a head, and his gaze lingered on Su Ran’s face, slowly drifting down. He noticed Su Ran was dressed in white work clothes with a pale pink apron that had the shop’s logo on it. He looked almost like a delicious dessert himself.

“Lu Wan is my sister,” Lu Jin said, then looked at the cake in his hand, which had already been bitten into. “This cake’s good. Did you make it?”

Su Ran smiled, feeling proud of the compliment. “I sometimes help with the baking. I adjust the ingredients myself, so it’s not as sweet as cakes from regular shops.”

“It’s just right.” Lu Jin said, his voice softening slightly. No wonder Su Ran smelled faintly of baked goods, combined with his own body scent, creating a perfect fragrance.

As more people began to arrive, the place grew lively. Groups of children were running around and playing, making the atmosphere a little chaotic.

Suddenly, a voice called out, “Hey? Su Ran?”

Su Ran looked over and saw Yan Ze and Lu Wan walking toward him. He had only met Yan Ze once before at the bar, and he didn’t expect him to remember his name.

Yan Ze stared at Su Ran, scanning him up and down. “You… work at the dessert shop?”

Lu Wan squeezed around the long table to the other side, pushing Lu Jin aside, and immediately hooked her arm around Su Ran’s. “This is the manager of the dessert shop I always tell you about. His pastries are really delicious.”

Su Ran stiffened when she hooked his arm, standing awkwardly in place. Lu Wan had grown up abroad and was very enthusiastic, wearing an off-shoulder dress that showed off her curvy figure, which made Su Ran—who wasn’t used to interacting with women—feel quite shy.

Before Su Ran could say anything, Lu Wan added, “Ran Ran, thanks for coming to my birthday party. Have fun here later.”

Su Ran froze. When did he say he was coming to her birthday party? But seeing the birthday girl so happy, it would be rude to correct her. He felt like he had no choice but to go along with it.

“Welcome, welcome,” Yan Ze said with a smile, casually grabbing a piece of cake and taking a bite. “Mmm, it’s really good.”

Lu Jin, watching Su Ran’s embarrassed expression, seemed to smirk inwardly. Despite how uncomfortable he looked, he would go along with it. Su Ran really was easy to push around.

As the evening went on, the lights dimmed, balloons and flowers decorated the venue, and the place became more lively. Su Ran, in his work clothes, felt out of place among the elegantly dressed guests.

Luckily, Lu Wan was kind to him, pulling him to sit with others of her age. Su Ran sat quietly next to her, sipping on juice while they chatted about things he couldn’t quite engage with. People around him occasionally threw curious glances his way. Though they had been introduced, they were still interested. He looked gentle, the type of person who grew more attractive the longer you looked.

Yan Ze kept glancing at him too. When they met at the bar, the lighting was dim, but now, in the natural light outside, Su Ran seemed to be just his type.

Just then, someone nudged Yan Ze and whispered in his ear, “Ze-ge, do you know… Su Ran? Is he single?”

Yan Ze froze for a moment, then elbowed the person away. “Forget it, he’s married.”

The person looked shocked. “Doesn’t seem like it…”

At that moment, Lu Wan handed Su Ran a glass of wine. She was the center of attention, and clearly, she liked Su Ran a lot, as she had placed him by her side.

“Come on, let’s have a drink to celebrate my birthday!” Lu Wan said, raising her glass.

Su Ran immediately replied, “Sorry, I need to drive back later. I’ll have a drink instead.”

Lu Wan smiled and said, “It’s fine. I’ll have someone drive you later. You can relax and have fun here tonight.”

Su Ran really didn’t want to drink. After making the cakes all day, he was exhausted and didn’t feel like having alcohol. “I’m not feeling well…”

Before he could finish, someone tried to pressure him into drinking, but just then, Lu Jin, who had been quiet, spoke up. “If you’re not feeling well, just have juice. It’s the same.”

Su Ran looked at him gratefully, while everyone around seemed surprised. The usually silent Lu Jin was speaking up for him. Even Lu Wan shot her brother a curious glance, but she wasn’t the type to force others, so she let Su Ran substitute the drink for juice.

The atmosphere grew livelier again. People were chatting and laughing, and Su Ran relaxed a little. He just quietly listened, not interrupting, though he noticed people’s eyes lingering on him now and then.

Su Ran’s fair skin and soft lips looked beautiful as he sipped his juice, his lips slightly parted. He wasn’t someone who immediately stood out, but the more you looked, the more you realized he had a kind of beauty that outshone even celebrities.

Yan Ze couldn’t help but be drawn to him. Su Ran’s long, slender fingers wrapped around the glass, and when he tilted his head slightly, the curve of his neck was elegant.

Unable to resist, Yan Ze leaned closer to Lu Jin, his voice low. “You’re not interested in Su Ran, are you?”

Lu Jin froze for a moment, and then a wave of anger surged through him. He coldly looked at Yan Ze. “Do you think I’m like you?”

Yan Ze was stunned. This was the first time he had ever heard Lu Jin speak so aggressively. He pointed at himself in disbelief. “Me? I’m the one you’re calling dirty?”

Lu Jin didn’t respond, his gaze flicking to Su Ran before quickly turning away.

As the night continued, the time came for the birthday cake. Lu Wan, now clearly a bit tipsy, stood up to cut the cake. The butler rolled it out, and everyone gathered around. Many children swarmed the cake as well. Lu Wan steadied herself, grabbed the knife, and sliced through it. The crowd cheered and clapped.

Suddenly, someone started a cake fight, and before Su Ran could react, he was the first target, cream splattering across his face. Moments later, the whole area was filled with flying frosting. His clothes were covered in several big dollops.

Just as Su Ran tried to dodge, someone’s body collided with his, and Lu Wan, now drunk, threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him. “Oh, darling, now you’re as sweet as the cake.”

Su Ran froze, his face turning bright red in an instant. His eyes were wide, and he stood still, unsure of how to react to the intimate gesture. The chaos around them continued, but Lu Jin, watching from the side, saw Su Ran’s embarrassed, pleading expression and furrowed his brow. He had to help him again.

Lu Jin knew Yan Ze was interested in Su Ran, and didn’t want him to do anything out of line. The last thing Su Ran needed was another complication. He was already caught in an awkward situation.

Before Su Ran knew it, Lu Jin grabbed him, leading him away. Su Ran followed quickly, occasionally glancing up at his face, sensing his anger.

“I’ll take you upstairs to change,” Lu Jin said, his voice calm. Su Ran, grateful for the help, followed along. The night was full of tension, but he knew one thing for sure—he needed to thank Lu Jin for helping him twice already.

At this moment, he still had to help him change clothes. Su Ran was covered in white cake, looking pitiful.

“Thank you for helping me out tonight,” Su Ran said, walking closer to him. Lu Jin had long strides, so Su Ran had to jog to keep up.

Lu Jin didn’t look at him, but the sweet scent from Su Ran’s body had already drifted into his nose. This time, there was a lot more cream smell, and it really made him look like he had dressed himself up as a cake. He was once again mesmerized by this scent.

“Mr. Lu, could you… walk a little slower?” Su Ran muttered quietly.

His voice was soft, and Lu Jin glanced at him. He saw Su Ran facing him, with a pair of moist eyes looking up at him. It suddenly reminded him of the little puppy his family had raised. Whenever it didn’t get attention, it would stare at him with those innocent eyes, as if wondering why he was ignoring it.

Unconsciously, Lu Jin slowed his pace. “Sorry, I was lost in thought. You don’t have to thank me. My sister might have caused you some trouble, but I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, no,” Su Ran quickly waved his hand. “Miss Lu is really nice. She really likes the pastries I make and often helps me with my business. I should thank her as well.”

Hearing this, Lu Jin nodded and said, “The pastries are really delicious.”

When he heard the compliment, Su Ran couldn’t help but smile a little.

In the master bedroom on the third floor, Lu Jin took out a set of his own clothes from the wardrobe and handed them to Su Ran. “You can change into these. The cut is a bit more fitted, so they might be a little big on you, but you should still be able to wear them.”

“Go ahead and change. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Lu Jin closed the door behind him.

The hallway was covered with a dark red patterned carpet, soft and silent underfoot. Lu Jin walked around for a moment at the door before leaning against the wall. His black leather shoes made a slight indentation on the carpet.

After a short while, the door opened, and Su Ran came out holding a bag. Inside was his work uniform, and indeed, his clothes were a bit big. The round-neck sweater he wore allowed a glimpse of his collarbone, and the pants had been rolled up a large chunk.

Su Ran felt a little uncomfortable and looked at Lu Jin. “Does it look strange?”

Lu Jin’s gaze lingered on the neckline for a moment before he shifted his eyes away. “It’s fine. Not strange.”

With that, Lu Jin led Su Ran downstairs. The villa was decorated in a retro dark tone, and the atmosphere felt a little heavy when no one was speaking.

Su Ran didn’t know what to say. He was a pastry chef from a small town, and this was his first time interacting with someone like Lu Jin, a person from high society.

Unintentionally, Su Ran noticed a white spot on Lu Jin’s neck. “Mr. Lu, you have some cream here.”

Lu Jin looked at him and raised his hand to wipe it off, but Su Ran noticed he didn’t quite get it. So, Su Ran raised his own hand and gently wiped the white spot off. He then carefully rubbed his finger on the skin, making sure to remove all the remaining cream.

Lu Jin froze. The warmth at his neck spread rapidly. The soft touch made his eyelashes flutter for a moment, and the muscles in his body tensed up. His gaze towards Su Ran became darker, mixed with a hint of confusion.

Meanwhile, Su Ran was lowering his head, rubbing the cream from his hand onto the clothes in the bag. He thought, well, his work uniform already had a lot of cream on it, so adding a little more wouldn’t make a difference.

But when he looked up and met Lu Jin’s gaze again, he paused. He instinctively felt something was off. Lu Jin’s dark eyes were locked on him, making him feel like he had done something wrong.

For a moment, the atmosphere became stagnant. Su Ran replayed his actions in his mind and suddenly realized that maybe he had done something wrong…

It was like when he changed clothes in the room earlier. He subconsciously felt that Lu Jin’s actions of stepping out were a bit unnecessary. When he was in college, his roommate had walked around naked without a care. Men didn’t really pay attention to that kind of thing, but he had forgotten this was a danmei world. So, maybe his actions just now… were a bit too intimate for Lu Jin?

Moreover, he was now considered someone else’s wife. Perhaps his actions just now might have seemed like a woman flirting with a man…

Just thinking about it made Su Ran’s face flush again. It grew so hot that he didn’t even know what to say.

Lu Jin’s gaze became even darker. Seeing Su Ran’s flushed face, he wondered why Su Ran was blushing. The atmosphere had suddenly become strange, and even Lu Jin’s breath became a little unsteady.

“Thanks, I didn’t notice,” Lu Jin’s voice was slightly hoarse, but his expression returned to normal.

When Su Ran saw that Lu Jin had turned to continue walking, the warmth on his face gradually faded, and he let out a sigh of relief. Maybe he was just overthinking it. After all, they were both men. It wasn’t like they were that sensitive about these things.

At that moment, a ringtone suddenly rang. Su Ran quickly opened the bag and took out the phone from his work pants pocket.

The display showed Jiang Yi’s name. He rarely called him.

Su Ran answered the phone, and immediately, he was met with a cold question, “Where are you? Why aren’t you back yet?”

“I’m at the banquet, delivering the cake. I’ll be back soon,” Su Ran replied.

“I told you to leave the shop stuff while Ye Qiao is around. And why are you delivering a cake so late? Why aren’t you back yet?” Jiang Yi said.

Just as Su Ran was about to speak, he felt someone’s hand press on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Lu Jin motioning for him to give him the phone. Su Ran did as he was asked.

“Hello, I’m Lu Jin,” Lu Jin’s voice was cold and rigid. “Su Ran is with me. He’s in charge of my sister’s cake tonight.”

“He’ll be home safe soon. Don’t worry.”

At home, Jiang Yi heard Lu Jin’s voice, and his expression softened. He was about to speak when he realized the call had already been disconnected. He frowned, puzzled. Had he done something to offend Lu Jin recently?