LAY

I was assigned to help with the food. Not that I was the best cook, because I wasn't, but because I guess papa wanted me to have experience working in the kitchen preparing for a big event. The head chef was my boss that day and I had to keep a close watch on the details of the preparation.

The menu had been pinned up on top of one of the kitchen counters. Everyone was busy even if it was hours before the main event.

I had woken up at 5AM and went down to eat breakfast in the kitchen. I shared the room with Chanyeol and Chen; they were still sleeping soundly when I got up and took a shower. I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. The resort staff were already busy and getting ready for the event. The kitchen staff were already prepping up for the party later that afternoon.

After I ate breakfast, I volunteered to wash the dishes. The staff refused to let me near the sink, so I just handed them my empty plate and glass. I started walking over to one of the cooks who was preparing breakfast for the family and I volunteered to help again. He hesitated at first, but I insisted, telling them that since I was part of the kitchen staff today, I should be given a task. So, he gave me a list of ingredients and asked me to get them from the pantry. I obliged.

I met Xiumin hyung on my way back to the kitchen. He was ready for his task today. He grinned at me as he greeted a good morning to everyone in the kitchen. He asked me what was for breakfast and peeked over my shoulder as I sliced some onions for the sautee.

Xiumin: I'll be eating breakfast ahead of the others. Papa's also already up and in his office. He asked me to relay that if he could have his breakfast brought to him there.

Me: Oh, sure hyung. Where do you wanna take your breakfast?

Xiumin: In the dining, please.

Me: Alright. One HL13 breakfast coming up for Xiumin hyung.

Xiumin: Haha, you're doing well with your task.

Me: I'm thinking of making something from grandpa Wu's recipes.

Xiumin: Fried cheesecake with strawberry filling?

Me: How'd you know?

Xiumin: Uhm....it's right there?

He pointed at a piece of paper I clipped on top of the menu. I had written down the ingredients for the recipe there. I was planning to make it for dessert later at the party. I looked at it and grinned at him.

Me: Ne, hyung. I'm going to try and make some after preparing breakfast. If I'll be successful, I'll make them for the dessert this afternoon.

Xiumin: Fighting!

Me: Kamsahamnida.

Xiumin: Hmm...Mind if I help a bit?

Me: No, no... This is my job. Just go and sit down at the dining. I'll have your breakfast in a few.

Xiumin: Alright.

And he patted my back before he walked out of the kitchen.

The head chef had walked behind me and peeked at what I was doing. He didn't say anything, but just nodded his head and went on his way to supervise the other cooks. After I prepared the dish I was making for the family's breakfast, I hesitantly walked up to the head chef to inform him about my cheesecake suggestion. He looked at me, wide-eyed, and contemplated for about a minute or two, before he nodded his head and told me to make a trial batch before we can actually produce more for the dessert later. I smiled happily and made a slight bow to him.

Happy that I got the go signal from the head chef, I went to deliver Xiumin hyung's breakfast in the dining. Some of the younger boys had showed up and were sitting there already. Chen, Tao and Kai were examining the plates and glasses on the table. The oldies were huddled in a corner of the table, discussing the plans for today. Xiumin hyung looked up at me and smiled as he saw me bringing the tray with his breakfast on it.

Kris and Luhan appeared as I was about to go back to the kitchen. They called me and told me that they had a special request for breakfast. I told them that not because I was assigned in the kitchens today, that they had the right to order me to cook whatever they wanted for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Kris: Awww.. Come one, Yixing. It's not always that we ask you to cook something special for us.

Luhan: It's not really an order. It's a special request.

Kris: I'm just craving for some croissant. You know, that burger croissant you made the other day?

Luhan: Apple strudel, Lay. Yumm...

Me: You do know that it would take time for me to be able to prepare those, right?

Luhan: Yes, we know. I'm kidding, Lay.

Kris: Just kidding. What do you have for breakfast?

Me: You'll have to do with mushroom soup and some pancakes.

Kris: You have apple syrup for the pancake?

Luhan: Yeah, apply syrup?

Me: No.

Luhan: Sheesh...

Kris: What kind of chef are you?

Lay: You will eat what I will serve, young master Yifan.

Kris: Haole, haole.

Luhan: Customer is always right.

Me: You're not paying me.

Kris: He has a point, Lu.

Luhan: Shut up.

My mouth formed a smile and a smirk at the same time. I told them to give me a few minutes for their breakfast. Chen, Tao and Kai just waited for the food and not bug me with requests. I was grateful for that. Sometimes, I'd like to give them the ingredients to the food they wanted to eat and just let them cook it for themselves.

*sighs*

Everyone was done with breakfast.

I was surprised to see mama Wu escorting Suho and Baek to the kitchens. I was busy with perfecting my fried cheesecake strawberry that I didn't even bother checking why I suddenly heard Baekhyun screaming. The other staff had rushed to see what was going on in the dining hall.

Then I heard mama Wu giving instructions to the kitchen staff that Suho and Baek would be assigned in here for the rest of the day as dishwashers.

Hmmm...

Suho being punished? Quite a surprise.

I curiously glanced at them as they went to work. Baek was making faces at Suho and the other was elbowing him. Bickering, huh?

I placed the bowl of butter cream in the freezer. I had to wait for about twenty minutes for it to set, before I add it to the mixture. I walked over to the two and poked them.

Suho: What?

Baek: Who?

Me: Hi.

Suho: Fine, laugh at us.

Me: Who's laughing?

Baek: He pinched me.

Suho: I already apologized.

Baek: My arm is numb, gege.

Me: What happened?

Suho: Setan.

Me: What did Sehun do?

Baek: Exorcised him.

Me: Oh.

Suho: Don't look at me like that, Yixing.

Me: Like what?

Suho: Like that.

Me: I look like what?

Baek: He's possessed.

Me: Me?

Baek: No. Him.

Suho: I'm not possessed. What even...

Me: Oh. I get it.

Suho: Shut up.

Me: Lu ge.

Suho: I said shut up.

Baek: Lu......ge......

Suho: I swear it. One more of that and I will be washing your face, Bai Xian.

Baek: What did I even do to you? It's between you and Setan.

Suho: I'm sorry, okay.

Me: Hmm...

Suho: What?

Me: I'm preparing something for later. How about if you taste test it?

Suho: Oh please.

Baek: As if we can get off this punishment.

Me: I'm not saying I'm rescuing you. I'm just suggesting why not you be taste testers too?

Baek: As long as it's not poison.

Suho: Yeah.

Me: Come on. Why would I poison my own brothers?

Suho: Yixing. I know you.

Me: Hmm?

Suho: Forget it.

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I raised a finger to excuse myself from the two and pulled out my phone.

1 notification from Facebook.

I clicked open my Facebook app and checked the notification.

Wu Zitao has tagged you in a post.

What post?

I checked the post. It was a Youtube video he uploaded just minutes ago. There have been about 300+ likes already and some comments. The video's thumbnail was the villa's dining room floor. I was curious, so I clicked the play button.

Now, I could see why.

I held my breath, because I didn't want to laugh.

Yep. Suho did look like he was possessed by Luhan's spirit. And it did look like Sehun was exorcising him.

Suho: What's that?

Me: Nothing.

Suho: Are you sure it's nothing?

Me: Yes.

Baek: Let me see.

Me: Hey! Watch your hands, Baixian. They're gonna soak my phone wet.

Baek: Let me see, come on.

Me: Promise me you won't laugh, first.

Baek: Okay. I promise.

Me: Okay, here it is.

Suho: Let me see.

Me: No, one at a time, juseyo.

Suho: *smirks*

I edged toward Baek's other side and hid the phonescreen from Suho's view. I let Baek see the video. I had muted the sound, so Suho won't suspect and grab my phone.

Baek: Pffffffftttttt....

Me: Shusssshhhh. I told you not to laugh.

Baek: Where did you get that?

Me: Tao.

Suho: What's that? Let me see!

Me: Hold on...don't touch my phone with your wet hands. Jeballllllllll...

I pulled away from Suho's slippery hands. I un-muted the video and showed it to him.

Suho: That panda will be dead meat.

Baek: Ge, you know it's death sentence for you if you kill a panda, right?

Suho: We're not in China.

Me: He has a point.

Baek: Good luck. Hahahaha.

Me: Oh! Look at that. It's more than 500 likes now.

Suho: I'm gonna murder that panda.

I snickered and giggled as I closed the app and pocketed my phone. I excused myself from the dishwashers and went on to my cheesecake mixture.

My cheesecake trial batch was a success, and the head chef had approved for me to add it to the dessert menu and I went to prepare more ingredients to produce enough for the party later. I had four hours to prepare and I was assigned some staff to help me with the preparation. I felt like an accomplished chef, telling them the steps in making the dough and the strawberry filling.

I could live doing this for the rest of my life.

I learned that Sehun was not exempted from the punishment. Instead of doing the dishes, he was confined to just the villa and not outside it. I saw him sit outside the porch, careful not to let a toe or hair outside the porch parameters. LOL. I had asked him to do the taste test of the trial batch of my cheesecake, just so he won't feel that bad that he wasn't allowed to enjoy the party outside.

Anyway, Kris ge didn't really lead the younger kids to the ceremony. Instead, he led them just outside by the pool to lounge and relax under the sun. There was another canopy tent setup just off the lawn for the younger generation to enjoy the party. Chanyeol and Chen were assigned to take care of the guests there. Most of the people on that tent were the participants of Tao and Baek's skateboard competition the next day. Some of the guests had kids with them too, and some of them joined the party at the other tent and some just strolled around the resort or by the pool.

Papa had raised his glass for a toast after the ribbon cutting and they drank to the success of the resort. That was my cue to return to the kitchens and inform the service crew to bring in the dessert. We were having buffet, but most of the food on the table were part of the hors d'oeuvres and main course.

I was standing by the entrance to the tent and I walked back to the villa to get to the kitchens. I met Jungkook on the way. I saw him walking back to the villa just a few minutes and was just returning to rejoin the party. I was almost near the door to the villa when I remembered I had to inform Chanyeol and Chen that the teens and kids who were in the other tent had a choice to pick a flavor of ice cream they wanted as dessert. I turned around to go back.

The moment I turned around, I saw my sister collide with Jungkook. It looked like she wasn't looking where she was going and was muttering under her breath. Then Jungkook said something I didn't quite hear. Xiao Yi answered him, but fainted just a few seconds after she spoke. Jungkook caught her and stood there, holding her, frozen. I half ran-half walked toward them and when I reached them, I grabbed hold of Xiao Yi's arm and felt her pulse. Even if I didn't touch her, I could hear her heart beating fast.

Me: What happened?!

I demanded Jungkook for an answer. He just opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He shook his head as if to say, "I don't know."

Me: Help me carry her back to the villa.

Jungkook nodded and we both heaved her up and went back to the villa. Once inside the lobby, we put her down on one of the couches and I told Jungkook to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. He nodded and hurried. I looked around for something I could use as fan. I saw a resort flyer on the table and I picked it up. I started fanning Xiao Yi. She stirred, but didn't open her eyes. I felt her cheeks. They were cold. Her heartbeat was about stable, though. I couldn't hear it beating loud as earlier. Good thing I had a handkerchief on my pocket and I used it to wipe the sweat running down her face. I also happened to have chewy chocolate candies in my pocket. I shrugged. I smuggled them from the kitchens earlier, before the ceremony began.

Xiao Yi stirred again, as I fanned her. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked. She saw my face and she closed her eyes again.

Me: Mei baobei. Are you okay?

Xiao Yi: Hmm...

Me: You fainted. What happened? Why?

Jungkook returned with the glass of water and handed it to me. He stood by the couch, as I crouched near Xiao Yi, who was lying down. Little sister opened her eyes again. She stared at Jungkook for about five seconds, then slapped her forehead and covered her face with her hands.

Me: What? Why?

Xiao Yi: Nothing.

At least she could talk again. I nudged her arm covering her face. She peeked at me from under her hand and saw that I was offering her the glass of water. She shook her head.

Me: You need to drink this to stabilize your pressure.

Xiao Yi: I...I'm okay.

Me: Wu Yinzi.

And she hesitantly got up and sipped from the glass of water. She handed me back the glass and she fixed her eyes on the floor. I looked up at Jungkook.

Me: What happened?

Jungkook: I don't know, hyung. I was just walking back to the party when she collided with me...

Ah, he found his voice again. Good.

Me: Xiao Yi, do you feel dizzy or something?

Xiao Yi: No.

Me: Tell me what happened.

Xiao Yi: I'm okay, gege. I think I was just hungry.

"Lay-ah! Papa is looking for you. You're supposed to bring the food out now."

It was Luhan ge.

At the sound of Luhan's voice, Xiao Yi somehow automatically acted as if nothing happened. Something was going on here.

Me: Duibuqi, Lu ge. I just had to attend to-

Xiao Yi: He was on his way back, Lu ge.

Luhan: Okay. Where is Kris?

Xiao Yi: Huh?

Luhan: Weren't you supposed to be with Kris?

Xiao Yi: I was. Yes...I mean...

Me: She fainted.

Luhan: What?

Xiao Yi: I'm just hungry.

Jungkook: Uhm...if you're hungry, then it's best you go and eat now.

Xiao Yi: Yeah. I'll go and eat now.

Me: You go with her, Jungkook.

Jungkook: Uh...arrasseo.

Xiao Yi glanced at me for a second before she bit her lower lip and turned around. Something told me that she was not that comfortable with Jungkook today. Luhan watched the two as they slowly walked toward the door going outside. I was about to call Xiao Yi back and have her just stay inside when Luhan snapped his fingers in front of my face.

Luhan: Focus, Yixing-ah. Let's not starve our guests.

Me: Oh. Yes. Let's not starve our guests. I'm on it, Lu ge.

Luhan: Do Chanyeol and Chen know about the ice cream options?

Me: I...forgot to tell them.

Luhan: Ah... *sighs* I'll go tell them. Go and have the food ready for the guests. Oh- and, save some of those fried cheesecake strawberry for me.

Me: On it.

Luhan: Hurry up.

I stood up from crouching on the floor and hurried to the kitchens to inform the staff that food should be served now.

Annyeonghaseyo! ^^  JungYi tension. Eheheh. Even Lay felt the tension. I decided to give this chapter to Lay, because he wasn't really mentioned much in the last one. Anyway, it's down to the few last chapters of this fic. Thanks for being with me and the Wu, Kim and Min on this journey of a fic. LOL.

I see most of you don't want this fic to end and want to see more JungYi, so I have decided to write a 3rd installment focusing on Jungkook and Xiao Yi. Thanks for supporting the #JungYi ship. 

I "might" be able to do a double update today. Wish me luck. LOL. → ♥♥♥  吳愛你們！我愛你們！