’til next weekend

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Jiang Cheng arrives in his usual time, on his usual afternoon routine. There’s a familiar chime of bells as he steps inside the warm and cozy bakery-cafe and is greeted by the also familiar voices of staff he knows well. He allows a cordial nod and a hint of a smile for the teenage part-timer working the counter, and the man busy preparing several coffee orders behind her.

Today, everything looks like business as usual. There’s only a few tables occupied by customers reading a book or working on their laptops. There’s also a young couple in line, paying for their box of pastries.

Jiang Cheng knows from experience that in an hour or two, it will start to get busier, and there will be students from the nearby high school and university coming in for coffee or a spot to do homework in, couples meeting up for an after-work date, and office workers dropping by for bread and pastries to take home.

It’s been two decades since the Lotus Pier Bakery first opened its doors at the heart of the market district. He remembers that day well – he was there, after all. By now it’s a beloved staple of the neighborhood. There might be slow days, but it is never empty.

He takes his time, eyeing the various pastries and bread on display. As usual it’s almost impossible to pick one, knowing they’d all taste amazing, what with his sister being the genius who came up with the recipes for each of them. As he contemplates, he hears the bells chime once, twice. There. Business is slowly, slowly picking up…

When he gets to the counter, he is greeted by a teenage girl with pale gray eyes and a bright smile. “Good afternoon, Mr. Jiang! Your usual coffee order, and today’s cupcake?”

Jiang Cheng spares a quick glance at the little standee on top of the display. The Cupcake of the Day is lemon drizzle. He likes that one.

“Yes, that will do.” he says, taking his wallet out. He pauses for a quick moment, then adds, “A-Qing, make it a box of the cupcakes, will you?”

“Sure!” A-Qing says as she starts punching in his order. “Ah, your staff and customers are always so lucky, getting free cupcakes…”

He chuckles and shakes his head, used to the girl’s small talk – there’s a reason she’s one of the bakery regulars’ favorite employees. He hands his payment over. “Is jiejie in today?”

“She was here this morning, but she left just an hour ago, with Mr. Jin. I think Yan-Yan has a school thing.”

“Hm. Well, let her know I dropped by as usual.”

“Of course!” She hands him some change. “Jin Ling is out back, though. He just came in.”

Jiang Cheng knows his nephew’s schedule. Jin Ling is early today. Oh, well. “I guess I’ll drop in and check on him for a bit. Just leave my order on the counter, alright?”

“Okay!” A-Qing chimes in that sing-song way of hers, already busy assembling the box of cupcakes.

Jiang Cheng turns to go head off to the staff area-

-and narrowly avoids getting hit in the face with… something.

He is grateful for quick reflexes as he manages to step back and not get blinded by what looks like a thick roll of fabric, one of three bolts tucked in a huge tote bag being carried on someone’s shoulder. Must be a newly-arrived customer, as Jiang Cheng surely would have noticed the bright and colorful patterns earlier.

Jiang Cheng opens his mouth to speak, then stops when he notices that the stranger hasn’t noticed him at all, and is all-too busy with their phone lifted up, taking a video of the bread and pastries on display.

When Jiang Cheng listens, he hears excited but hushed whispers, as the person talks into their phone.

“Look, look! Some of these look familiar, right? But so many new stuff too! They all look yummy! I wonder if Yanli-jie still makes all of them? Ah, I don’t know which one to try first… Let’s see…”

Now that is not part of Jiang Cheng’s usual afternoon, and he couldn’t help but tilt his head just slightly, just to try to get a better look at this colorful, bouncy stranger who almost took his eye out, but more importantly, who calls his sister in a very familiar manner-

The person looks up, now pointing their camera further up the display.

“And they have a Cupcake of the Day now! Oh, that looks so good! Maybe I should just get that?”

Something about this person’s soft, melodic way of speaking brings back specific, almost-forgotten memories in Jiang Cheng’s mind. He takes in the person’s shoulder-length dark brown hair, half-gathered in a messy bun, stray strands kept in place with glittery-gold bobby pins. A pair of warm-colored eyes that glinted hazel-brown-gold in the afternoon light. Jiang Cheng feels that he’s seen these features before, on someone he knew-

“Do you want any of these, da-ge? I don’t know when, but I’ll try to bring some when I come back home, so just let me know-”

Jiang Cheng knows that address, in that tone of voice, although he hasn’t heard it in a long, long time. *Could it be-

“Nie Huaisang?” he blurts out, before he can stop himself.

Because he is mostly positive that this is Nie Huaisang. Right? Nie Huaisang from high school – which, now that Jiang Cheng thinks about it, is… 20 years ago, give or take.

That’s a long time to not see someone, but Jiang Cheng has an excellent memory, and he likes to think that he would recognize the boy who always tagged along with him and Wei Ying to the market district after school. Jiang Cheng and his brother always went straight to jiejie’s bakery, because the business was still very new, and she could use the extra hands. Nie Huaisang would wave bye at them, and he’d be at the meat shop right next to the bakery, to help out his da-ge, on their small family business.

They had shared many hours of sitting together and simply hanging out on the empty alley in between the two shops, whenever they took a break from helping out their older siblings. That’s something Jiang Cheng would definitely remember, even just a tiny bit.

Now in hindsight, Jiang Cheng should have known better than to startle this familiar stranger, because this time when the man whirls around to turn to him, Jiang Cheng is unable to avoid a bolt of fabric to the face.

“Ow-! The hell-”

There’s a terrified gasp. “Oh gods-! Sorry! Are you okay, sir?! I didn’t see you- I’m so sorry–”

It hurts – a lot – and Jiang Cheng has enough presence of mind to rub his nose and check-… Good. At least it’s not bleeding. Just… hurting like hell.

“J-Jiang Cheng?”

He looks up to see a face he hasn’t seen in years – hell, decades? – blinking up at him in a mix of apology, worry and recognition.

“Is that… you?”

Jiang Cheng rubs his nose one last time and tries not to grimace as he says, very awkwardly, “Uh. Hey.”

Nie Huaisang – wow, it really is him, holy shit – gasps again, this time in delight, and then-

Then he launches himself at Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Cheng is too surprised to do anything else as he suddenly has Nie Huaisang’s arms around his neck, and Nie Huaisang’s screech directly at his poor ear.

“Ah, it’s really you! I can’t believe it!!! It’s so nice to see you!!!”

He is practically bouncing. Okay.

Also, Jiang Cheng hasn’t… hugged anyone who isn’t family for a while….

Despite his shock, he finds it in himself to chuckle as he doesn’t quite return the hug, but does pat the other man’s back. “Y-Yeah… It’s been a while-”

Then as fast as Nie Huaisang was on him, he peels off, this time only to examine Jiang Cheng’s face, specifically his nose. “Wait, oh no- I hit you! I’m so so so sorry, I didn’t even notice there was someone- Are you okay? Does it hurt???”

“I- Uh- Yeah, but that’s fine-”

“No, it’s not! Do you need to get that looked at-”

“No, really-”

They both stop when someone coughs right beside them.

An elderly woman stands with her bag of groceries and tray of bread, looking at them disapprovingly like they’re children making too much noise in the library.

Oh. Right.

They’re right there by the counter, and they’re holding up the line.

Jiang Cheng whips his head to turn to A-Qing, who is looking at him and his… companion… with wide, curious eyes. He can tell that the only thing keeping her from asking him what in the world is happening is the other customer behind him.

“Let’s… go over there.” he tells Nie Huaisang, gingerly beckoning towards… somewhere. Anywhere. Not by the counter. Just… away. He bows slightly at the other customer. “S-Sorry, madam.”

Nie Huaisang, catching up quickly, also smiles apologetically and bows at the woman as he follows Jiang Cheng’s lead. And of course, he’s much less awkward about it. “We’re sorry, auntie! You know how it is, friends, right? Oh, your dress looks lovely on you!”

That seemed to make the auntie soften up, looking down at her dress. She shakes the compliment off, but it is clear that she is flattered, even if just a tiny bit.

A-Qing, thankfully, catches her attention soon enough to take her order, so Jiang Cheng is able to quietly lead Nie Huaisang to an unoccupied spot in the bakery.

They end up right beside a shelf displaying various Lotus Pier Bakery-related merchandise.

Nie Huaisang is distracted for a moment. “Oh, what cute mugs! What is that, a dog with wings?”

“That’s Fairy, the family dog. Our mascot.” Jiang Cheng provides automatically.

“Adorable!”

“She is.” Jiang Cheng smiles, then remembers why they were here in the first place. “S-so… Hi?”

Nie Huaisang also snaps out of it and turns to him – thankfully slower this time, and minding where his big rolls of fabric are turned to. “Hi!” he grins, and perhaps the initial excitement of a surprise reunion has worn off, as this time he is calmer as he continues, “I’m… really sorry for hitting your face… Ah… That’s so embarrassing… Are you sure you’re fine?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll survive.” Jiang Cheng shakes his head. “I…- So. You’re… here? Like. Back here?”

“…I am.” Nie Huaisang nods slowly, considering his answer. He lets out a light, disbelieving laugh. “Oh, wow. It’s been… What? So long-… Is it 20 years?”

“More or less?” Jiang Cheng shrugs.

Nie Huaisang just shakes his head, like he almost can’t believe it. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Yeah, you too. Are you… back in town? Passing by?”

“Mm-hm. I’m-… I’m here for work…” Nie Huaisang says, and gestures sheepishly at his giant shopping bag with the giant rolls of cloth. “With the theater company. Doing, uh, costumes and stuff. We’re working on a show right now…”

Jiang Cheng takes that in. Huh. That makes sense.

He hasn’t seen Nie Huaisang in almost two decades.

The last time they saw each other, they were teenagers.

And somehow, “doing costumes and stuff with the theater company” does track with Jiang Cheng’s vague, scattered recollections about the boy he’d grown up with.

Nie Huaisang continues, “I don’t know if I should say I’m back or anything, but productions do take some time to… well… produce, so I think Yunmeng will be home again for the next few months. I’m renting a little place from a family friend.”

“That’s… nice.” Jiang Cheng nods. “Welcome back, then.”

“Thank you!” Nie Huaisang smiles. Jiang Cheng may have forgotten how effortlessly sweet those smiles were. “It’s good to be back! How ‘bout you? Wait, are those scrubs-”

“Yeah. Uh– I have a pet clinic just a few blocks down.” Jiang Cheng answers.

He doesn’t know why he feels… almost shy, sharing that fact.

Well. It’s probably because the first person he told about wanting to be a veterinarian, long long long ago, is standing before him. That… means something, to him, at least.

“Oh, that’s great!” Nie Huaisang looks genuinely happy for him. “You always did like working with animals, I remember you used to leave stuff out back for the strays…” He lets out a light laugh at the memory.

“Y-Yeah, I guess. Thanks.”

“And I’m glad to see the bakery doing so well! It’s so different from what I remember, but it looks amazing-”

That’s when his phone chimes with a message, and Nie Huaisang pauses quickly to check. “Oh, I have to run now, I think…” Then he pouts. “I didn’t even get to buy anything! There’s so much new stuff… Do you have a recommendation, A-Cheng?”

No one has called him “A-Cheng” besides his siblings in quite a while-

No one ever really called him “A-Cheng” besides his family and… well, Nie Huaisang.

Okay, so at least they’re consistent.

Jiang Cheng blinks, momentarily taken off guard, but he recovers quickly. “Alright, you know what, you can take this.” He crosses the short distance back to the counter and takes the box of cupcakes that A-Qing had just put down for him. He turns back and offers it to Nie Huaisang. “Lemon drizzle. One of our bestsellers.”

“O-Oh! Okay, yeah, I’m sure these will be delicious…” Nie Huaisang nods slowly, then starts rummaging through his bag. “Thanks, uh, how much–”

Jiang Cheng shakes his head and pushes the box closer. “Nope. It’s on me.”

Nie Huaisang looks back at him. “What? No! This is like, a whole box, you probably have a bunch of people to give these to-”

Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “It’s fine. Really. I can get another. My sister literally owns the shop. Sometimes she even scolds me when I pay.”

Nie Huaisang laughs, and when Jiang Cheng practically shoves the box into his arms, he gingerly takes it. “Fine, your treat, then. I appreciate it. But I’ll come back soon to try the other ones, and I’m paying those.”

Jiang Cheng only huffs in approval as he crosses his arms across his chest. “Thank you for your patronage.”

Nie Huaisang’s phone chimes again, and this time he sighs. “I think I really have to go…”

“Don’t let me hold you up.” Jiang Cheng looks at him again. Nie Huaisang is now carrying a box of cupcakes, a sizeable backpack and a big tote bag of fabric and various other stuff. That’s… a lot. “Here, let me get the door.”

“Ah, I’m so lucky today! I got treated to free cupcakes by a gentleman~” Nie Huaisang teases, as he follows Jiang Cheng and lets him open the bakery door for him. As soon as they both step out, he turns to Jiang Cheng. “I mean it. Thank you for the cupcakes. And it’s really nice seeing you.”

“Hey, same.” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “See you around.”

Nie Huaisang shifts the box of cupcakes in his arms and his bags on his shoulder, and sends Jiang Cheng another sweet smile before starting to walk off.

Jiang Cheng watches him go.

Nie Huaisang looks well. Happy and cheerful, like how Jiang Cheng remembers him. Confident, more than Jiang Cheng can recall. But his memory of the other is so vague now, almost forgotten – it simply has been so long.

Nie Huaisang had left Yunmeng with his brother when they were in high school. They’d been so young then, and it’s been two decades since – so in some ways, he really is a stranger to Jiang Cheng now.

A very familiar stranger.

A very familiar stranger who was very happy to see Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng finds himself surprised that he feels as happy as he does, actually. Then again, he also does remember Nie Huaisang having kind of the same infectious cheer that Wei Ying has. It’s why those two got along so well.

Maybe it’s also simply that however long it has been, almost every memory he can recall with Nie Huaisang in it were good, even fond ones.

And anyway, when was the last time Jiang Cheng had been happy to see an old friend?

“A-Sang.” he calls, the nickname slipping out without thinking. And it’s too late to pretend it didn’t happen, because Nie Huaisang definitely heard that, as he stops and turns to look back at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng hesitates, but doesn’t let it linger, as he jogs towards the other.

“Let’s catch up sometime?” he says, and offers Nie Huaisang his phone, unlocked.

Nie Huaisang looks at him, eyes wide. Then, before Jiang Cheng could worry that he may have been too forward, Nie Huaisang lets out a relieved sigh.

“Yes. I’m so glad you’re asking! I wanted to ask earlier but I thought it might be too much, you already gave me free cupcakes!” He takes the phone, as Jiang Cheng takes the box so he can free up his hands. “Yes, please, I’ll be happy to catch up! You’re the only one I know in this town right now. You, and my landlord, and the bakery!”

Jiang Cheng chuckles and watches as his friend taps in his number and saves it. He also sends a message for good measure. Jiang Cheng will check that later.

“I’m free this weekend.” he says, as they swap the phone and the cupcakes between them again.

“Noted.” Jiang Cheng nods, pocketing his phone. ”See you.”

”See you!”

And before he can feel awkward about it, he turns around and heads back to the bakery.

Jiang Cheng had never asked for someone’s number before.

So this afternoon is not his usual afternoon, after all.

And maybe his weekend will not be his usual weekend, either.

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to be continued!

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next time:
chapter two – chicken tea set