At noon, Cecilia Ye made herself a bowl of little wontons. She'd been feeling sluggish these days, chest tight and uneasy, with no appetite for much of anything.
She was tired, but since Julian Jarvis said he'd be coming by in the afternoon, she forced herself to stay awake instead of taking a nap.
It wasn't long before Julian Jarvis arrived. Two cars pulled up, one of them carrying the new sign for her studio.
Brother Hua and Uncle Braid came too, helping carry the sign down from the car.
“Brother Hua, thank you so much for all your help.”
Cecilia Ye greeted them with a bright smile—she’d grown close to Brother Hua lately.
“Don’t mention it. It’s nothing.”
The two men went off to mount the sign, while Cecilia Ye and Julian Jarvis stepped inside.
The studio sign read simply: ‘Chí·Zǎo’—two white characters, unadorned and elegant, set above the second-floor eaves. At night, once the light was turned on, the name would be visible from afar.
“Julian Jarvis, let me make you some coffee.”
Cecilia Ye went to the drink station. The coffee machine had been installed by Julian Jarvis himself; she'd spent days learning how to use it, but after Yaoyao left, she couldn't bring herself to drink coffee alone. It'd been a while, but she was eager to try again.
Seeing the look of anticipation on her face, Julian Jarvis came over too, smiling. “Sure. Make me one.”
With his approval, Cecilia Ye washed her hands and got started. She put the beans into the hopper and locked the portafilter into the machine.
Focused on her task, stray wisps of hair brushing her cheek, her lashes looked extra long.
Julian Jarvis leaned against the drink counter, dressed in a soft beige sweater. Even though it was a gloomy day, the room felt filled with warmth when he watched her.
The rich aroma of coffee soon filled the air as the dark, glossy stream dripped into a porcelain-white cup.
Cecilia Ye’s face lit up—she’d done it perfectly this time, without making a mess everywhere.
The milk frothing was trickier. She hesitated, a little intimidated by the spurting steam wand, so she’d never dared try it herself.
Noticing her uncertainty, Julian Jarvis reached for the milk and offered gently, “Let me do it.”
He moved with practiced ease—long fingers pressing buttons, letting out a bit of steam before skillfully foaming the milk. He wiped the wand, then raised the pitcher, drawing the milk foam into the espresso, then lowering it to finish with a ginkgo leaf design on top.
Cecilia Ye felt her cheeks warm. She hadn’t realized Julian Jarvis was this good at making coffee; her own efforts paled in comparison.
He brought the cup to her with a smile. “Here you go.”
“No, you drink it—I really shouldn’t have coffee these days.”
Yet, even as she said it, her eyes lingered hungrily on the cup.
Julian Jarvis watched her in amusement, not pressing the issue.
He took a sip: the rich coffee and velvety milk foam were instantly soothing.
Remembering she needed to go to the hospital, Cecilia Ye asked, “Julian Jarvis, do you know anyone at a private hospital?”
Julian Jarvis looked up at her, concern in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Cecilia Ye suddenly remembered—she’d never told Julian Jarvis about the baby. She froze, embarrassed. She’d assumed if Mia Moore knew, Julian Jarvis must know too.
“I… I think I forgot to tell you. I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?”
The word burst out of Julian Jarvis; disbelief painted on his face as he stared at Cecilia Ye’s delicate features. A strange, undefinable emotion washed through him, his grip on the coffee cup tightening.
A tense silence settled between them, thick with the scent of coffee.
Cecilia Ye wondered if Julian Jarvis was angry… Was he upset she hadn’t told him sooner? Did he think she was stupid…?
Soon, Julian Jarvis’s shock shifted to anger.
Damn it—Fu Zhiyie is seriously the worst (literally: 'isn't even human').
Cecilia Ye had never seen Julian Jarvis truly angry. His gentle expression turned steely, jet-black eyes locking on her. She felt uneasy, unconsciously shielding her belly, long lashes quivering.
From the courtyard came the hammering of Brother Hua and Uncle Braid as they worked on the sign; the sound snapped Julian Jarvis back to himself. Seeing Cecilia Ye’s nervousness, any harsh words he’d meant to say died before reaching his lips.
Besides, what right did he have to blame her? It just hurt so much that she was going through all this—pregnant, dealing with so much, and still being bullied by Fu Zhiyie.
Julian Jarvis cursed Fu Zhiyie again, fiercely, in his heart.
“I’m sorry. I just thought… Yaoyao would have told you…”
Cecilia Ye faltered, voice barely above a whisper, anxious. It was her own matter, but Julian Jarvis had always cared about her, always treated her as a friend; he deserved to know.
“When did you find out? Does he know?”
Julian Jarvis wasn’t really angry at her—his face was still frosty, but when he spoke, his words were a little stiff.
“Not long ago. He… doesn’t know.”
“Alright. I know someone at a hospital, I’ll take you tomorrow?”
Cecilia Ye shook her head. She’d already troubled Julian Jarvis too much. “It’s fine. Just give me the address—I can go by myself.”
“No, I’ll take you. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
……
The more time Cecilia Ye spent around Julian Jarvis, the clearer it became—he wasn’t always the man she’d once thought he was. Not anymore, and not when he was with Brother Hua and the others.