The cake shop was tucked away just to the side of the first department store Zaria had entered after arriving at City C, where she bumped into Gu Cheng and spilled her camping supplies across the floor. At midday on a Saturday, it was full of people, and they were lucky to get a seat, but it did not feel cramped thanks to the spacious planning of the tables. Bright pink and white striped wallpaper lined the upper half of each wall, simple white wainscotting below. The tables were small and round with light yellow table clothes that made her think of baby ducks. They sat across from each other and looked over the ribbon trimmed menus.

Zaria swallowed hard, drool filling her mouth at the delicious looking pictures. "It all looks so amazing, but that opera cake is singing to me..."

Gu Heping chuckled and flagged down a cute young girl dressed in a frilly apron. "That was my wife's favorite as well. She loved coffee from the first cup that she had when we arrived in the city from the countryside." He placed their order and sent the girl on her way.

"Is your wife...is she gone?" Zaria stumbled over the words, unsure of what was considered impolite as far as deceased relatives went.

"Cancer. She made me promise not to follow her, so I come here every month and order that cake for her. She would like it that I have found someone else to eat it with me. You said your family is dead, too?"

Zaria smiled at his blunt phrasing. "Yes. My dad this last winter, and my grandmother a couple of years ago."

"What about your mother or other grandparents?" Gu Heping really didn't care if this girl came from a prominent family, but it was still good to know the background of the person he was trying to bring into the family. So far, his workers found nothing, not a single bit of information about her, before she showed up in one of the family's hotels by the west beach. There was very little his grandson could cover up without him being able to find it out. Gu Cheng's agents usually shared their information with him for the good of the family.

"My mother died when I was a few years old. Car accident, other driver slid on a patch of ice. My dad's father never had anything to do with us. My grandmother kicked him out when my dad was young. My mother's family didn't want anything to do with me from the minute my mom found out she was pregnant. They didn't like that she got married and pregnant by someone from outside of the reserve." Sadness passed through her eyes, but she blinked it away and smiled at the old man. "It's really just me, Mr. Gu. But it is okay."

Gu Heping patted her hand resting on top of the table. "You call me grandpa. Ah Cheng and I will be your family. My other kids and grandkids will like you as well."

Zaria smiled shyly at his easy acceptance. After meeting Auntie Wang she knew that calling older people auntie and grandpa was somewhat normal if they were close and that it was a compliment to be told to do so by this man. Her smile turned teasing, and she asked, "Would they really like such a vixen?"

He had the good grace to look contrite. " I shouldn't have said that to you. I was worried about my grandson, that he was being tricked by some woman who just wanted his money."

" I have no doubt that there are a lot of those out there," she replied, snorting softly. "Even in my village growing up, there were plenty of boys and girls who just wanted someone to take care of them financially. There is nothing wrong with that, I guess, if the other party is okay with it."

Two small plates were set down in front of them, and they stopped talking for a moment to enjoy their desserts. Zaria closed her eyes as she savored the mix of coffee, chocolate, and cream. "Oh my goodness, this is so good."

"Mmm," Gu Heping agreed. "They do a good job here. Sweets are this old man's one vice, but not every place makes them well."

Far too quickly, the plates were empty, and both people leaned back in their chairs with a happy sigh. The scene was repeated at every table, and no unhappy customers were present that day. "My grandson," Gu Heping started once the glow brought on by chocolate, and too much sugar had a chance to settle in. "My grandson will take good care of his wife. No matter what she wants to do, he will support her. He is a good man and will make a good husband."

"I can believe that," she agreed, her eyes still closed and her mind calm. "I have not known him for all that long, but I have seen how fairly he treats everyone. Sometimes we butt heads, but he has been exceptionally kind and helpful to me when he didn't have to. I would be living in a tent somewhere if he had not bullied me into staying in one of his empty properties."

"And you like him?" Gu Heping cracked one eye open and peaked out her from beneath its lashes.

"Yes," she answered immediately. Her eyes opened, and she sat upright. "I mean not like that, we are friends. I wouldn't think of...I mean I don't..."

Stolen story; please report.

The old man chuckled and opened his eyes. The young woman opposite him looked thoroughly flustered. While she was stewing in her embarrassment, he called over the attendant and ordered two cakes to go.

"I'm sorry, that all came out very wrong, and I don't want to have any misunderstandings. CEO Gu is just kind to me because of something that happened when we first met. He has given me a lot, and I am trying to help as well as I can before it is time for me to leave. I can assure you that you don't have to worry about me messing up his future marriage." Zaria took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

"My birthday is next weekend," Gu Heping said to change the topic. "I will have a party downtown at one of our hotels and I would like you to come as my guest."

"Oh, Mr. Gu-"

"I told you to call me grandpa," he interrupted with a smile.

"Grandpa," she corrected herself, fidgeting like an embarrassed child. "I wouldn't know what to bring or do, I don't want to embarrass you."

"You bring that grandson of mine along and visit me. We need more young people or the party will just be old people like me. He will take care of everything, just make sure he has company. Ah, and come take a picture with me! I like having pictures of all of my grandchildren."

Zaria agreed hesitantly, standing up and crouching down beside him as he turned his phone camera around. Her smile was genuine, her fondness for the old man a bit of a surprise after their disastrous first meeting. After the photo was taken, he showed it to her and laughed, "Not since my wife died have I had such a beautiful woman beside me. I want to show everyone this picture."

Gu Heping quickly shared the photo in his family group chat while she went back to her seat, captioning it 'Out with my granddaughter-in-law. Eating cake behind Gu Cheng's back'

The attendant came back with two small boxes and accepted the payment for their bill. Zaria accepted one of the boxes under protest. "No, no, I eat my wife's favorite when I come here, but it is tradition to take home a slice of my own favorite as well. You take one too, and next time you can tell me what you think!" He stood up and pushed his chair in. "Better yet, you give me your phone number, and you can message me!"

With a giggle, Zaria reached for her phone only to realize that she left it at home when she left in such a hurry. "I don't have my phone, I'm sorry! We left so suddenly I didn't go back into the living room to get it where I left it!"

"Ah, don't worry, I will get it later. I bet Gu Cheng has been trying to message you all this time. He will be so angry with me," he said gleefully.

"Oh no, I didn't tell him where I was going. He wanted to help me get to the grocery today!" Zaria exclaimed, dismay writ across her face.

"Let's get you back, then." The old man ushered her out of the store and to the waiting car, chattering the whole way back to the apartment building.

Gu Cheng was not waiting for her in the hallway, but her shoes were not yet untied when the doorbell rang next to her, causing her to jump with a shriek. She opened it to see a worried looking Gu Cheng, his finger raised to press the button again.

"I am so sorry, CEO Gu -"

"Gu Cheng," he interrupted with a sigh and a relieved smile.

"I am sorry, I left so quickly I didn't take my phone to let you know I was leaving. I should have told you that I was going in case you needed me." She stepped back to allow him to enter, slightly flustered by his gentle smile.

"Just remember to keep your phone on you when you leave in case something happens," he advised her. She nodded and bent down to remove her boots. He slipped out of his own and placed them in their spot in the cabinet before following her to the dining room.

The small box of cake was set down on the table on her way to the fridge. "Can I get you a glass of water? Or some orange juice? I just bought it yesterday..."

"I am alright, thank you." Gu Cheng eyed the small box. "What is that?"

"That? Oh, Grandpa sent a piece of cake with me. It turns out that my favorite was his wife's favorite as well, and we ate that one at the shop, but he wanted me to try his favorite as well and why are you smiling like that?" Zaria eyed him suspiciously.

His cold expression was transformed by the broad grin that pulled up the corners of his lips. He already knew that his grandfather had taken her to the cake shop. The photo in the group chat showed things he recognized in the background. The madness that came afterward from all the other members in the group was expected after such an explosive post. His phone was so loud with alerts both in group and through private messages that he set his phone down and walked away, but not before saving the picture.

Gu Cheng struggled to hide his rare smile. Hearing her call the old man Grandpa made a warm tingle spread through his chest, and he had not realized that a smile was spreading across his face. "It is nice that he found someone to accompany him. I didn't know you like sweets, Joseph Zaria."

"I don't eat them much, but I do have a sweet tooth." Zaria fiddled with the thin red string wrapped around the cake box. "Uhm, Grandpa asked me to call him that, but if it bothers you, I can stop..."

"If it doesn't bother you, then it certainly doesn't bother me," he answered, smoothing his expression out once more.

"And..." she hesitated, sneaking a look up at him to see if he looked upset. "He invited me to his birthday party next weekend and asked me to keep you company, but it is okay if you would be uncomfortable," she finished in a hurry, walking to the fridge and filling a glass with water. She took a long, slow drink before turning back to face him.

Gu Cheng studied her face, looking for any sign of interest in going with him. "I would enjoy having you go with me, but only if you are comfortable with that. We would need to get you a dress, of course, but that wouldn't be difficult." At her confused expression, he added, "It will be a formal event."

"Oh," she responded, staring down into her glass. "I really don't want to embarrass you..."

"It will be fine. I would enjoy it, and I can see that Grandpa would be happy having you there. He would not have invited you if he didn't want you there."

"If you are sure..."

"Joseph Zaria." Gu Cheng paused, waiting until she looked up before continuing. "Would you please accompany me to my grandfather's 70th birthday party next Saturday?"

Zaria smiled nervously but nodded her head in agreement.