Loving With My Mind

Before their conversation deepened, Brad Noveau came barging into the swinging doors.

"Ma-manager! I know you are still on vacation, but we need your help on something urgent!" He was panicking and wiping off sweat from his forehead.

Han Yixin immediately put down her glass of wine, and with a stern expression, she asked, "What happened?"

Zhao Mingzhe looked at his wife. This girl who had been childish and insecure most of the time had a serious expression.

"Manager, the Wen couple who booked our ballroom for their tomorrow hated the cake made by Chef Jeremy."

Han Yixin had a subtle frown. "What's wrong with it?"

"Well, it was their initial design. Truth was, Chef Jeremy did a great job in sticking to every detail of their design. However, it seemed that the bride wanted another design at the last minute and rejected the done cake at first sight." Brad Noveau explained.

"What happened to the cake then?" Han Yixin had glint in her eyes.

Brad Noveau pursed his lips to breathe in deeply. "They shoved Chef Jeremy towards the cake and everything toppled." He gulped.

"Did they sign the full package contract with us?" Han Yixin kept calm.

"Yes, Manager."

"Alright. Set up a meeting room for us. I'll make their new cake." Han Yixin had a domineering aura.

Zhao Mingzhe was observing her every expression. She looked like she can handle this on her own, as if it had happened before.

When she was about to walk away, he immediately got off his seat and chased after her.

"Hey, can I come?" he asked with a smile.

She turned to face him. "Can you make a cake?"

"No."

"Can you sketch a cake?"

"No."

"Can you protect me?"

"Certainly." he had no hesitation and immediately got what she was trying to imply. He has quick wits.

She sternly looked at him, then took a deep breath. "Let's go."

.

Brad Noveau led them to a meeting room. Seated before the table with freshly brewed tea is the couple in question.

Han Yixin flashed her professional smile. "Mr. and future Mrs. Wen..." She reached out her hand to shake with the lady first before the man. "I'm Chef Han. I just came back from an overseas business. Mr. Noveau here told us that you would be needing someone to build your dream wedding cake." She glanced at her subordinate.

"Indeed! Our cake was awful!" The lady with heavy eye makeup complete with wingtip pouted and complained like a small kid.

"I take it that you have a new inspiration as to how you would like the cake to look like. May I take a look at it?" Han Yixin did not recognize the complaint nor take the blame for the previous cake. She successfully diverted the topic to whatever type of cake they would want to have now.

"Oh yes! I have a lot of photos!" The lady excitedly browsed through her phone for the inspirations and showed each to Chef Han.

Han Yixin attentively looked over the photos, taking note of what the lady beside her excitedly tells about the details on each photo, what she liked about it and what she did not.

Zhao Mingzhe stood behind where his wife was seated. He definitely looked like a bodyguard with a handsome face. The lady had already stolen several glances at him, whenever her fiancé was not paying attention.

The man, Mr. Wen, was most of the appointmemt busy tapping on his phone. It was as if he does not care about a stupid cake but he cannot do anything about it because his fiancée looked like she could eat him alive if she gets mad.

As Zhao Mingzhe was observing the couple, he silently thanked heavens and his parents for choosing Han Yixin for him.

"Alright. Could you send these photos to Mr. Noveau. I like referring back-and-forth to the inspiration on a printed copy as I work on the cake. Y'know...I want it to be exactly as you want it to be."

Before the woman could object, Han Yixin added, "Of course, I cannot ensure that my phone or tablet won't be frosted if I keep these in them as I work."

"Just send it." Finally, Mr. Wen seemed impatient and ordered his fiancé to comply.

The lady twisted her lips and sent the photos.

Han Yixin nodded to dismiss Brad Noveau. He will print the photos and will include it in the contract.

Chef Han continued to sketch the cake according to the orders.

After 10 more minutes of changing her mind on the details, the appointment was over and the couple bid them goodbye. They put the pressure on the rushed cake that they will 'look forward' to see the following day at their reception.

After Han Yixin dismissed the couple, she strode back into her kitche, put on her apron and started mixing ingredients in her two automated mixers.

Zhao Mingzhe followed her like a shadow. However, she only noticed when her back bumped against his sturdy c.h.e.s.t as she moved about.

She looked up at him. "You're still here?"

"You didn't dismiss me." he smiled back.

"Are you a kid?"

"Anything I can do?" he brushed off the attempted insult.

"Are you good at physics?"

"Are you insulting me?"

She harrumphed. "Then make a supporting structure for the cake. Here is the outline." She gave him her sketch. "It should support a 4-feet tall mess of bread and sugar. The materials are over there." she pointed towards the workbench with wood, PVC pipes and an electric saw.

"Okay." he smiled and made his way to the workstation.

She went back into her own counter and continued adding ingredients into her batter. She has less than 24 hours to finish the huge cake and deliver it to the venue.

She put her different types of batter into several baking pans and started arranging them to all fit into the oven.

While her cakes bake, she mixed the buttercream filling as she made several fruit compotes. She also made white chocolate with a fondant-like consistency and set it aside for the sheeter later.

She then made another batter with different intensities of the blue food coloring and piped them into small round cookie-like shapes.

While connecting the pipes into each other, Zhao Mingzhe would stare at her from time-to-time. She looked cute even when serious.

'So this is her true prowess.' he thought. No wonder she preferred to stay here and work than live with him. Here, she is free.