Twenty

[Earlier]

Jiang rubbed his temples, feeling the beginnings of a migraine creeping in. His eyes burned from staring at the computer screen for too long. Should he just shut down the computer and go back home? His gaze drifted toward the clock. Where the hell was Ma Ri? She was supposed to return ages ago. Did she go home without saying a word? The thought annoyed him more than the dull ache in his head.

Jiang closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair, letting them rest for a bit. He was just beginning to relax when a knock interrupted the quiet. Before he could respond, Ma Ri burst into the room.

"Sorry it took a while! You know, she's a bit weak and she has nobody else who'd take care of her." she said breathlessly. Her hair was damp with sweat, and her flushed face suggested she had run all the way.

Jiang studied her for a moment before speaking. "So, what's your plan?"

Ma Ri pulled out the chair opposite him and plopped down, still catching her breath. "When's her birthday again?"

"Tomorrow," Jiang replied, looking at his desk as he was looking through an important document.

"What?!" Ma Ri bolted upright.

"You should've told me sooner! Ah! I can't think of anything!" Ma Ri leaned her forehead against her hand in frustration, trying to think of a solution as soon as possible.

After a few seconds of silence, her face lit up.

"We should really go shopping!" She jerked up, startling Jiang as he was focused on his documents.

"What? Are you nuts? Why should we?" Jiang looked at her like she had just suggested jumping off a cliff.

"Just listen! You always brush me off before hearing me out!" Ma Ri raised her hand, motioning for him to calm down.

"Umm…Let's do that. Let's give her a surprise! Since we should work tomorrow as well, we'll need to celebrate her birthday tonight after 12. How does that sound?" Ma Ri added, she leaned in while grinning.

"I wanted to throw a party, but she didn't want one." Jiang replied, he was curious and confused as he couldn't get what Ma Ri was planning.

"Ey! Do all the rich people act like this?" Ma Ri rolled her eyes.

"Throwing parties isn't only a celebration! Celebration is what comes from your heart and you work hard, just to please the person you care for. Get it?" Ma Ri started lecturing all of a sudden.

"Then, what are you suggesting now?" He frowned, finally closing the file in front of him and leaning back in his chair.

"Let's make a cake for her. Decorate the house and celebrate after its past twelve. If you work hard by yourself, and aunty knows about it, she'd be delighted. I guarantee you! She'll be over the moon! So, what do you say?" Ma Ri raised her brow playfully, her eyes sparkled with expectations as she kept explaining.

"But…I don't know how to bake." Jiang tilted his head, clearly intrigued by Ma Ri's idea even though he had no such skills.

"I can help you with that! First of all…." Jiang kept listening and commenting on certain points where needed and giving his own ideas as they kept discussing.

A sudden knock interrupted them. Both of their attention went to Ryu Gil, who peeked in to check if his boss was available. He was there to report the next day's schedule. Seeing Jiang with a lady, he hesitated to come inside.

"Come in!" Jiang called, his tone curt.

Ryu Gil stepped inside, glancing nervously between his boss and Ma Ri.

"Oh my, perfect timing!" Ma Ri bounced up, giving the softest smile, holding his hand as if he just saved her. Ryu Gil looked utterly bewildered by Ma Ri's sudden action and tried to exceed himself.

"What does this have to do with him?" Jiang asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Let's go shopping together. The three of us! I have another perfect plan that's gonna help you guys! It'd be killing two birds with one stone!" Ma Ri giggled, stomping her feet slowly as she let go of his hand.

"Why are you dragging him into this?" Jiang sighed.

"Because teamwork makes the dream work," Ma Ri replied sweetly. She turned to Ryu Gil with puppy-dog eyes. "You don't mind, do you, Mr. Gil?"

Caught off guard, Ryu Gil stammered, "Uh…no, not at all."

Ma Ri smirked at Jiang triumphantly.

______________________________

[Present]

Jiang stepped into his home, scanning the living room to check whether his mother was at home. To his disappointment, she was present there. As soon as she noticed the two more figures behind Jiang, she was confused at first. But when she recognized them, she nearly ran towards them, almost crying out of happiness because she never expected them. As she rushed towards them, Jiang prepared himself for a hug, but to his dismay, she bypassed him entirely and threw her arms around Ma Ri.

"Great!" He rolled his eyes. Although he still couldn't understand why Ma Ri dragged Ryu Gil all the way here, he remained silent. Whatever she was pulling, he might need to bear with it, at least to make up for the rudeness he showed to his mom earlier.

After ushering them inside, Mrs. Ahn called out to her husband, who soon joined them in the living room.

"What do you want to eat? I'll have the staff prepare something," Mrs. Ahn offered with a warm smile.

"No-no, Auntie!" Ma Ri said quickly, glaring at Jiang for support. "We already ate together, didn't we?"

"Uh…yes, we did," Jiang replied, though the awkward lie made his stomach churn.

"Ah! Really? That's great! It's so nice to see you guys getting closer." She grinned, relieved by thinking that she shouldn't be worried now.

"Ah! Mr. Ahn said, you guys are going out. You don't have to wait. I just came to say hello." Ma Ri said, her gentle and sweet smile melted Mrs. Han's heart.

"That's not important right now." She replied smilingly and made everyone sit.

Jiang cleared his throat.

"No, mom! Do you know how hard it is to make a reservation for that restaurant? You and dad should go! We'll manage here. Don't worry!" Jiang glanced at Ma Ri, to confirm if he was doing it perfectly.

"Okay, okay! We'll take our leave. Don't be rude to her. And remember to drive her back." After instructing Jiang, she turned to Ryu Gil, who silently stood behind Jiang.

"You should send him back too! Look how exhausted you made him! He looks thinner than last time!"

"Alright! Alright!" Jiang replied impatiently and drove them outside as they had so many things to do within a couple of hours.

______________________________

In the kitchen, Jiang stared at his phone screen, trying his best to follow a cake recipe.

"First, Break the eggs," he read aloud. He picked up an egg and smashed it against the counter with far too much force. As soon as he hit it, the eggshell shattered and all the liquids spilled on the table.

"Sh1t!" Jiang groaned, glaring at the mess. As he got them on his shirt as well, he felt disgusted.

"Aw! Mommy's boy! Can't even crack an egg?" Ma Ri came to help, she was preparing the dry ingredients.

"It just broke like that! How am I suppose to do it better? Jiang shouted, he showed temper at the poor egg instead of Ma Ri, whose words made him annoyed even more.

"Just tap it twice…gently, like this. See the crack? Now, put a little force and part the eggshell kindly, get it? Pour the egg white into this bowl and separate the yolk like this. See? It's easy peasy! You can't do everything by implying force, get it, Mr. C.E.O!" while Ma Ri demonstrated how to crack an egg, she teased Jiang as seeing him failing was funny to her.

Jiang grumbled under his breath but copied her technique.

When Ma Ri went to preheat the oven, she gasped, remembering her second mission.

"I should've put them together earlier! Ugh, this goldfish brain of mine!" She slapped her forehead dramatically. Her first mission was to please Mrs. Ahn. And as for her second mission, it was to help Jiang and Ryu Gil to become even closer, so that she can witness them act lovey dovey.

"Put what together?" Jiang asked, eyeing her warily.

"Nothing!" she said quickly, waving him off.

Once the batter was ready, Jiang handed her the cake mold like an obedient child.

"Good job," Ma Ri said, patting his head mockingly. "I'll handle it and call you when the cake is done. Go and help Mr. Gil in the meantime."

Jiang found Ryu Gil in the living room, inflating balloons. His cheeks puffed out comically, and Jiang couldn't help but chuckle.

"Where should I tie these?" Ryu Gil asked, holding up a handful of balloons.

"Anywhere that doesn't look ridiculous," Jiang replied, smirking.

After about an hour, Ma Ri came to inform Jiang that the cake had been baked and they should prepare the topping to decorate it. But, the scenery in front of her, made her so stunned that she couldn't help screaming and stomping on the floor as she was completely whipped and forgot the reason she was there. She took out her phone to save the lovely scenery into her phone gallery.

Jiang was holding Ryu Gil's face in his hands, their eyes locked as if the world had faded away.