17

What a beautiful morning. Xie internally thought.

The bright and warm sunlight above them, the gentle breeze that soft caressed their skins, and the sweet scent wafted in the air. The flower's petals and dead leaves rustled above the ground, dancing wildly in the air before falling back like falling snow.

Their car smoothly drove across the road, and Xie witnessed the awe-inspiring scene from within his sedan.

Everything seemed breathtakingly phenomena, and he felt his gloomy mood from before dispersed instantly.

"Where are we going, madam?" Alaric curiously asked. Just a moment ago, his face was dread as if he was receiving the saddest news of his relative's death. But, once they left the mansion, madam's sour mood immediately brightened up.

"Meeting with a friend at the usual cafe. A secret meeting." He answered with a wink.

Alaric was perplexed once he heard that. A friend? Madam had a friend outside? A friend that not even he knew about and madam decided to meet him?

What a minute, why would he assume madam's friend as male? It could be female, but Alaric doubted it. Somehow, he felt suspicious about this secret rendezvous.

Madam's circle of friends was limited in their neighborhood only. No, those ladies cannot be called friends but rather a group of gossipy aunties.

Madam rarely went outside and disliked any interaction with another person. Had it not because he had a reputation to uphold, he might stay inside his home as a shut-in introvert. To think he has a friend while behaving like that. Isn't it impressive?

"Who?" Alaric probed.

"You will see soon."

They arrived at the same cafe they went to yesterday. Alaric was flabbergasted once they entered inside.

Someone had been waiting for them, and Alaric was somewhat suspicious of madam's purpose in meeting this handsome man. Perhaps, this man was madam's secret lover?!

Alaric discreetly sized up the stranger with a scrutiny look.

Hmm, not bad. Overall, this man's appearance is top-notch, and his body is beyond impressive. Those impressive muscles got perfectly outlined by his tight clothes giving their eyes a sumptuous feast.

Alaric's eyes trailed from his broad shoulders to his muscular chest down to his powerful thighs before his eyes returned to his handsome face. He was utterly the epitome of perfectness. And, he was perfectly suited madam's preference.

His casual yet expensive outfit is perfectly immaculate with his princely look. At one glance, everyone would know that this person is noble. He has this domineering aura that makes people feel the need to bow their heads in respect.

Huh? Why would his thinking derail from the correct path? They came here for another purpose, not to matchmaking his madam to his future husband!

"Good morning, Sir Isaac!" Xie's voice was energetic. It seemed like he had been looking forward to this meeting. His grin became wide and showed off his cute dimple smile.

Isaac? Alaric's eyes turned as wide as a saucer. Was this man Isaac Killian, his master's business partner? Since when did madam have this vague relationship with him and even meet behind Master Arthur's back?

He smelt something stinky just by looking at their interaction.

Isaac flusteredly returned Xie's smile. His face was burning, redder than a ripening tomato.

Alaric's eyebrows raised. Perhaps he got the wrong Isaac Killian? As far as he knows, Isaac Killian wouldn't be behaving like this. Like a love-stricken high school girl.

Regardless of whether his eyes played a trick on him or not, somewhere in the background, pink bubbles pop out and fill the place. Enough to make him feel ashamed to look at the person in question.

The one he heard was a man with an aloof and iceberg personality. The man appeared easy-going and easily approachable. But under the guise of his cheerful smile, he was far more ruthless and cold-blooded than anyone else. He was known as someone who despises liars more than anything in this world.

It's strange that someone like him decided to befriend his madam. Well, not because madam is a liar, but since he lived with Master Arthur, he had been kept a mask on his face. And truthfully, madam's personality sucks.

His attitude was not that terrible, but he made everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable.

When faced with his madam, who exuded a dark, gloomy aura out to his surrounding, even the most cheerful person could become despondent.

Most people are afraid to start a friendship with madam because of this.

Furthermore, he rarely speaks, is ignorant of someone's feelings, and dislikes to smile. He never pays attention to anything else except for master.

Once madam interrupted, the heated conversation ended faster than blinking your eyes. A grave-like silence soon followed, and no one dared to say something.

It just, this past two days, madam seemed to change.

Fortunately, the change was for the better, but his changes brought another side effect.

Firstly, he seemed to hate master Arthur. Every time master's name got mentioned, he would show his dislike toward the man.

Secondly, madam's appetite had increased tremendously. Of course, Alaric was glad that madam started to eat more, which was much better than before, but he was into snacks than nutritious food. Cakes, biscuits and any kinds of chocolates, variety kind of bread and pizzas, just named it.

The chef in the kitchen was flabbergasted when madam asked him to bake those fat-accumulating food.

Did you ask why?

Previously, madam exclaimed that he hated cream cheese. No, he literally hates anything that could spike up his cholesterol level. Anything that could induce fat to accumulate was his nemesis. He would never eat this kind of food unless necessary to do so.

Like on some occasions where he needed to taste a cake made by the daughter of an influential figure, madam forcibly stuffed half of the cake inside his mouth to keep his image and vomited everything once he reached home. That's how much madam hates dessert.

Was this the effect of his fainting scene from before? He never heard that someone would undergo a drastic change when he awoke from fainting. If they were half-dead, then he might have heard it.

------

Isaac places a file on the table after putting away his breakfast. He showed Xie several pictures of a two-story building. Its exterior got painted in light pastel color and surrounded by flowers.

The whole place appeared cozy and was pleasant to the eyes.

Xie's eyes twinkled. He was interested at the mere sight of the house.

"It's beautiful. Not too big and not too small. I would love to check the place first before purchasing this bakery."

Alaric's face showed confusion.

"Madam, you wanted to live inside a bakery?"

Xie glanced at Alaric and nodded.

"Actually, I wanted to open a bakery." He shyly confessed. "It's my long-forgotten dream."

In his old world, Wu Zhi had a certificate in baking. He learned how to bake when he was seven. At the orphanage, there was someone, a gentle-looking baker, an old lady who loved to indulge children with sweets and pastry. He got tempted to try one of her masterpieces and fell in love with the world of baking.

He decided to learn from her and eventually got a certificate for it. He even wanted to open his own bakery. That was his dream, something he wished to fulfill, but everything shattered into pieces after the coming of the apocalypse.

Presently, with his skill, albeit rusty, he could sustain his and Alaric's life as long as they maintained ordinary lives devoid of luxurious indulgence.

Alaric tilted his head, deep in thought. Long-forgotten dream?

"You can bake?" Before Alaric could ask anything, Isaac had beat his turn. Instead of a doubtful look, which should be questioning the authenticity of his baking skill, the man was amazed.

Xie grinned. He was glad that someone believed him.

"My skill is not bad. I assured you."

"Then, I should come to your shop once you open them. It's rare for a commoner like us to be able to taste a royal's handiwork."

"You can come before the opening, though. I have no one to be the guinea pig...I mean, the taster, so you are welcome to visit us."

"Really?" Isaac disregarded the suspicious word of guinea pig. Nonetheless, he seemed excited to be the first customer.

Alaric sighed. Was madam serious with his word? Or was this merely a joke? As far as he knows, madam had never once stepped into the kitchen after one devastating incident. The first time was horrible and had become an unforgettable memory, especially to the chef. He had to forbid madam's entrance if he wanted the kitchen to stay intact.

In the past, madam had burned down the kitchen when he decided to cook for their master. He served smoked salmon that resembled charcoal than food.

How suspicious. Since when did madam learn to bake? When did he do that? How come Alaric never knew about it even though madam had bravely learned something so trivial and owned a peculiar talent?

Just now, he almost slipped out the word guinea pig, right? What if his customer gets food poisoning?

It might be hard to believe, but maybe madam's baking edible when his cooking was devastating, deplorable, and unpalatable? Miracle does happen, Right?

Alaric glanced at Isaac. And then to his madam before settling his gazes on the table. He sighed.

It was rude to say this, but what's wrong with that man? He looked like a mentally-retarded kid.

He got enthralled by madam that he blindly agreed with anything madam said. As if he got brainwashed by madam or madam had talent in bewitching anyone with a single look.

It appeared that this man's heart got stolen by madam.

Poor man. I will silently light a row of candles for you.

"Madam, are you certain that you want to open a bakery? Can you manage such a hard feat alone? Besides, you're a newbie in this field." Alaric gave Xie a skeptical look.

Xie flicked his forehead.

"Oh, you. Put some trust in me, will you? I am not that useless."

Alaric rubbed his forehead. It's because you're unreliable that I needed to ask. If you're an expert, I wouldn't feel worried!