Business is business, private matters are private

Tao Zhiyan's heart raced, his mind a muddle. In the end, as though he simply couldn't take it anymore, he looked away first.

The man before him stood there a little longer, then turned toward the cake and walked over. "When did you buy it?"

"This afternoon."

Feng Ze sat on the sofa and pulled loose the black ribbon tied around the box, asking casually, "Custom-made?"

"Yes."

"They did a pretty good job."

"I showed the bakery a photo."

On the surface, Tao Zhiyan answered every question promptly. Inside, he was already a complete mess, silently protesting what Feng Ze had just done.

I was clearly the one who started flirting. How did it end up like this?

Tao Zhiyan thought about it.

It seemed he was always the one who teased Feng Ze first, only to end up defeated.

Damn it... Tao Zhiyan, why are you such a pushover?

"Butler Tao."

The man's voice came from behind him, and Tao Zhiyan instantly straightened.

He turned to look at Feng Ze on the sofa.

Feng Ze was looking at him, too.

The cool light fell across his face, making him look particularly calm and aloof. He lowered his voice, gentle yet commanding. "Come here."

Tao Zhiyan licked his lips.

Then he obediently walked over.

Dressed in his suit, Feng Ze leaned back on the sofa with his long legs casually spread, watching Tao Zhiyan with the unmistakable bearing of someone in command.

Once Tao Zhiyan stood before him, the man lowered his eyes.

He said nothing else, making only that one gesture.

Tao Zhiyan pressed his lips together, looking a little conflicted. After a moment, he obediently crouched in front of Feng Ze and looked up at him.

Feng Ze visibly froze for a moment at that, then said, "I meant for you to sit down."

Realizing he had misunderstood, Tao Zhiyan's face instantly turned bright red!

His heartbeat, which had finally settled, started racing again.

Then say so if you want me to sit down!

Why were you looking at the floor?

Tao Zhiyan shot to his feet, walked to the side, and sat down, not daring to look at Feng Ze once.

Looking at Tao Zhiyan's scarlet ears, Feng Ze couldn't help letting out a low chuckle. "How are you going to take control of me when you're this obedient?"

Then Tao Zhiyan's ears grew even redder.

Fortunately, Feng Ze wasn't quite that merciless. Seeing how thoroughly flustered Tao Zhiyan was, he let him off.

Feng Ze turned back, opened the cake box, cut the cake, and handed Tao Zhiyan a slice.

Tao Zhiyan quite liked cake, but he didn't buy it often.

Too much cake got cloying, and buying one for himself meant he wouldn't finish it, which was a bit wasteful.

But now he had Feng Ze to eat it with him. If they couldn't finish it, he could feed the leftovers to Feng Yiqian tomorrow.

Feeling thoroughly pleased, Butler Tao accepted the cake from Feng Ze, forked up a bite, and put it in his mouth.

Feng Ze didn't eat right away. He simply stared at the cake.

His black fringe fell over his eyes as he lowered his head, his gaze deep and unreadable. There was no telling what he was thinking.

Finally, he picked up his fork, carefully cut off a small bite, and put it in his mouth.

Noticing the change in Feng Ze's mood, Tao Zhiyan asked tentatively, "Is it good?"

"Mm." Feng Ze's voice was muffled. "It's good."

Although it was an affirmative answer, Tao Zhiyan couldn't hear any satisfaction in his tone.

Instead, he felt that Feng Ze looked unbearably lonely in that moment.

"This cake..." Tao Zhiyan wasn't sure whether he should ask. He hesitated, but couldn't help voicing the question. "Does it have some special meaning for you?"

Whatever had come to Feng Ze's mind, he paused for a long time before quietly answering, "Mm."

Tao Zhiyan understood.

So his earlier guess had been right. This cake had something to do with Feng Ze's unattainable love.

Of course. Every domineering CEO novel has a villain pining for someone he can't have!

Tao Zhiyan looked at Feng Ze. "Someone very important gave it to you, didn't they?"

At those words, Feng Ze's eyes suddenly shifted.

He lifted his eyelids and looked intently at Tao Zhiyan. "He promised me."

That gaze pinned Tao Zhiyan in place.

Still watching Tao Zhiyan, Feng Ze clenched his back teeth and said coldly, "But he never gave it to me. He lied."

"...Oh."

The eldest young master is angry.

Tao Zhiyan quietly turned away, ready to end the conversation.

But Feng Ze was still staring at him. Tao Zhiyan could only set down his slice of cake and keep the conversation going. "Why didn't he give it to you? Where is he?"

Feng Ze watched Tao Zhiyan, trying to find something in his face.

Only a few centimeters separated them, close enough for Feng Ze to make out Tao Zhiyan's eyelashes. Even so, he still couldn't find what he wanted to see.

Only after a long moment did he look away, his voice very low. "I don't know. I can't find him anymore."

Tao Zhiyan could understand that.

An unattainable love was so unforgettable precisely because it ended abruptly at its most beautiful moment, leaving a person unable to let go.

But according to the conventions of melodramatic CEO novels, the villain would definitely meet his lost love again. It was only a matter of time.

"You'll find him eventually," Tao Zhiyan reassured Feng Ze. "If you met once, you can meet a second time."

At that, Feng Ze looked at Tao Zhiyan again.

Then he heard Tao Zhiyan say slowly but firmly, "Don't rush."

"For now, I'll make up for it." Tao Zhiyan picked up his cake from the table and gently tapped his plate against Feng Ze's as though clinking glasses, smiling as he said, "Have the one I'm giving you first."

Feng Ze felt his breathing grow faint, his heartbeat heavy.

The young man's eyes and brows were full of smiles, his tone light, and he looked gentle in the moonlight.

He said, "Once you find him, you can have his."

The knot in Feng Ze's heart seemed to loosen a little. He nodded and answered, "All right."

The cake really was delicious, filled with freshly cut fruit that was juicy and rich in flavor.

But an eight-inch cake was still a little too big for two people, and too much of it got cloying.

After two slices, neither of them could eat any more.

Tao Zhiyan put the remaining cake, still more than half of it, back in the box and placed it in the fridge.

He planned to share it with Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao tomorrow, as long as it hadn't spoiled, so they could try some too.

The moon hung high overhead, and the night had deepened.

Tao Zhiyan yawned, feeling a little sleepy.

He said good night to Feng Ze, then headed upstairs.

Halfway up, he seemed to suddenly remember something. He stopped and turned to Feng Ze. "Oh, eldest young master, could you have Assistant Wang start sending me your schedule again tomorrow?"

Tao Zhiyan explained, "Knowing your schedule makes it easier for me to arrange things."

A butler had plenty of things to arrange, such as contacting the driver, planning meals, or receiving guests.

The schedule was quite important to Tao Zhiyan.

Still sitting on the sofa, Feng Ze turned to look at Tao Zhiyan and said coldly, "I already told you. Business is business, private matters are private."

Apparently not expecting Feng Ze to refuse, Tao Zhiyan's eyes widened a little.

So that means no?

"..."

What do you mean, business is business and private matters are private? Didn't we just make up?

Tao Zhiyan scrunched up his face and said nothing, stomping up the stairs.

He pushed open his bedroom door and locked it with a click.

He washed up, changed, and got into bed.

Tao Zhiyan buried his face in his pillow.

CEOs really are hard to please.

Doesn't he know you're supposed to go easy on someone after eating their food?

You ate my cake!

Tao Zhiyan rolled over, pulled up the covers, and hid his head beneath them.

Hmph. I didn't even want it that badly. Send it or don't.

Ding-

His phone suddenly chimed. Without even lifting his head, Tao Zhiyan slowly felt around for it and lit up the screen.

The instant he saw the message, Tao Zhiyan shot upright in bed, his eyes wide.

[Feng: I have a meeting at eight tomorrow morning. Leaving at seven. Flying to the US in the evening. Won't be home.]

Reading the message, Tao Zhiyan tried hard to keep his lips straight, but still couldn't stop their corners from lifting a little.

[Peach: Didn't you say business is business and private matters are private?]

The reply came quickly:

[Feng: Mm. Private matters are private.]

[Feng: No need for Assistant Wang anymore. I'll send it myself.]