Birthday Surprise in Progress (Part One)

Just after Cartethyia greeted the cake shop owner, she turned to Xiao Ling, who was standing there stunned by their surprise reunion. Her eyes widened too, and she nearly blurted out, "Righteous One."

She immediately stopped herself from saying the name that belonged only between them and smiled sweetly. "Grandma, who is this...?"

"Ah, this is Xiao Ling, your junior apprentice. Starting today, he'll learn to make cakes with you. You're a little further along than he is, so you can start by teaching him from scratch."

The old woman really was a master who knew how to plan her lessons. By having Cart guide Xiao Ling through the basics step by step, she could help Cartethyia review what she had learned while teaching him.

Once Xiao Ling and Cartethyia were at the same starting point, she could teach them both the next stage together. That way, they wouldn't be at different stages in their studies.

"I didn't expect the Righteous One to be here learning to make cakes from Grandma too."

As Cartethyia guided Xiao Ling through each step of making a cake from the beginning, she asked why he had suddenly shown up.

"I was going to ask why you, the saintess of Rinascita, suddenly started learning to make cakes here," Xiao Ling asked with a grin.

"Because I like them. If I like something, I learn how to make it." Cartethyia gave a straightforward answer.

Xiao Ling thought about it and decided that made sense. Cartethyia did have a sweet tooth, after all.

"I'm learning to make a cake here for a friend's birthday," Xiao Ling explained to Cartethyia.

"Wow, she must be so lucky, getting to eat a cake the Righteous One made himself." Cartethyia's voice carried delight and a hint of envy.

She was so jealous. She hadn't even eaten a cake the Righteous One had made himself yet.

Hearing the faint envy in her voice, Xiao Ling couldn't help smiling.

"Don't worry. When my friend's birthday comes around, I'll definitely invite you, the saintess, to join the celebration. You'll get some too."

"Really?" Cartethyia asked brightly.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Xiao Ling figured that since they were celebrating Dania's birthday, the livelier the better. He didn't want it to be like the ending in the game, which looked so depressing.

"If I don't get any when the time comes... heh heh~" Cartethyia's smile was a little mischievous. Who knew what ideas she was cooking up to punish Hajiling?

After that little interlude, the two returned to teaching and learning.

Cartethyia took the opportunity to get a good look at how the Righteous One looked now.

Hmm... his good looks have held up just as well as before, but he doesn't have that sharp edge, like a sword drawn from its sheath, anymore. Now he's gentler and warmer, like jade. He makes people feel comfortable and at ease. It's just a shame he doesn't take care of his appearance. I'll have to have a good talk with him about that when I get the chance.

"Cart? Cart?"

"Hm? What is it? What is it?"

Cart snapped out of her somewhat absorbed stare to find Hajiling waving a spatula back and forth in front of her, pale yellow cake batter still clinging to it.

"Take a look and see if this is all right." Xiao Ling showed Cartethyia what he had made.

"Hmm... it doesn't look like there's anything seriously wrong, but we won't know until it's baked. Did you preheat the oven?"

"Yep."

"Then set the oven to one hundred and seventy degrees, bake it for thirty-five to forty minutes, and see how it turns out."

While the cake was baking, Xiao Ling and Cartethyia had time to help the shop owner out.

They divided the work clearly: one introduced the cakes, and the other handled the register.

Without the saintess's halo, Cartethyia was a sweet girl next door. She was so likable that men and women, young and old alike, found it easy to trust the adorable girl, and she always managed to coax them into buying a few little cakes.

Xiao Ling was quick and deft, making him perfect for handling the register. He was fast and accurate, a natural for the job.

Whenever he had a spare moment, Xiao Ling watched Cartethyia.

The girl's smile was radiant, like the warm sunshine of a spring day, and as pleasant as a cool evening breeze in summer.

She was currently introducing a loving young couple to the strawberry cake beside her, her voice full of cheer.

"It's this strawberry cake! I eat it all the time! The strawberries are sweet and tart, the cream is rich and smooth, and it melts in your mouth with a flavor that lingers. I just love it!"

Her eyes sparkled as she delivered the sales pitch, and she even bounced excitedly a couple of times. It was as if, in her eyes, this strawberry cake was no ordinary thing, but an exceptional creation she had carefully picked out to recommend.

It had to be said, it worked. Any sales pitch sounded inexplicably sincere and friendly coming from Cartethyia, and paired with her expressive little faces, it was hard to doubt what she said.

(That's our soft and adorable Little Cart for you~)

The couple soon picked out a few cakes Cartethyia had recommended and took them to Xiao Ling to pay. Then they left the shop, perfectly satisfied.

"Is that strawberry cake really as good as you say?" Xiao Ling teased.

"Just have a bite yourself and you'll find out, Righteous One!"

Before Xiao Ling could react, he opened his mouth to ask another question, only for Cartethyia to pop a piece of strawberry cake into it.

"Well? Well? Is it good?" Cartethyia's eyes shone as she eagerly awaited Xiao Ling's verdict. The cream at the corner of her mouth gave away the fact that she had already been sneaking bites.

"I think you oversold it."

Xiao Ling thought the strawberry cake did taste good, but it didn't seem to be quite as amazing as Cartethyia had made it sound.

"Heh heh~ I practiced that sales pitch here. It's more appealing when I exaggerate a little~" Cartethyia was noncommittal about that.

Xiao Ling didn't rush to argue. Instead, he gently wiped the cream from the corner of Cartethyia's mouth, then... popped it into his own.

"Mm, now it tastes right."

Cartethyia: ?

It took her a moment to realize he had been flirting with her. Her face quickly turned red, and she could only run her hands through her soft, long golden hair again and again to ease her embarrassment.

Honestly, I never noticed the Righteous One was so good at flirting with girls before!

Xiao Ling watched Cart Cart Thyia's flustered reaction in silence, a smile curling his lips as she blushed and her heart raced. He inwardly remarked that this was how an innocent girl should act~

"You two, senior and junior apprentice, if you have time to flirt here, how come you don't have time to check on your cake?"

The two emerged from their pink bubble of romantic tension to find the old woman looking at them with helpless affection, reminding them about the cake.

"Oh no, the cake!"

"Um, Righteous One, why don't you try it first?"

Cartethyia looked at the cake before her, baked to charcoal, then glanced guiltily at Xiao Ling.

"Do you think this thing is edible?" Xiao Ling's face darkened. "It's burned to charcoal."

"I don't think it should affect the taste."

"Cartethyia, practice brings true knowledge. So, please."

Xiao Ling promptly pushed the plate of charcoal-like matter in front of Cartethyia.

Cartethyia looked troubled, but under Xiao Ling's eager gaze, she finally tore off a piece and popped it into her mouth.

"Mm, mm, mm!" Cartethyia's eyes lit up at once, and she nodded repeatedly. She seemed to think it tasted wonderful.

Seeing her expression, Xiao Ling smiled in relief, tore off a piece, and put it in his mouth too.

It tasted like wax.

For a moment, Xiao Ling genuinely wondered whether this thing still counted as cake. It felt like eating raw charcoal.

"Hahaha!" Seeing that she had fooled Xiao Ling, Cartethyia could no longer hold back her laughter. It rang out clear and crisp, like wind chimes.

Xiao Ling's face darkened. Cart, you've changed. You're not the innocent, adorable, easily embarrassed, soft and cute Little Cart anymore.

"So do we really have to finish this thing?"

"I think so. Grandma never lets me waste food. Even when something turns out wrong, I still have to finish it."

"Seriously? I have to finish it? Please, spare me..."

"Maybe we can secretly get rid of it while Grandma's away...?"

"Of course you can't, children."

Two rough hands landed on Cartethyia's and Xiao Ling's shoulders, one on each.

"Only by eating the bitter fruit of your own carelessness will you pay more attention the next time you make a cake. This is part of your lesson too. I'll be watching you until you finish it." The woman's voice was kind but left no room for refusal.

Nine in the evening.

After they dutifully finished their "masterpiece," the old woman arranged for Xiao Ling to walk Cartethyia home.

"Cart is a young girl, and it isn't safe for her to go home alone. Little Ling, please walk her home."

After saying goodbye to the woman, the two recalled the cake that had been like charcoal and couldn't help sighing at the same time. Then they suddenly looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Then I'll leave it to you to walk me home, Righteous One~" Cartethyia held her hands behind her back, her body turned slightly to one side. Her long golden hair fluttered like ears of wheat in the summer night breeze.

"Yeah, I'll walk you home."

Steady footsteps and light, skipping taps rang out together, growing fainter as they followed the little road paved with concrete and asphalt.