Toto is one of his regulars and one of his first customers since he opens the coffee shop. The man is a professor at the town university and he might be the reason why this place has become quite popular with the university's staff and students. However, Guanyu has never been able to catch the man's full name even with his frequent visits, it was only when George called his business administrative professor as Toto when he came in one day, that the name stuck since.

Despite his cold and intimidating exterior, the tall professor has a massive sweet tooth, and he makes an honest dessert critic. He and George would often become Guanyu testers for his new recipes before he put them on the menu.

(And no, George doesn't know that his most feared professor is the other tester, as Toto had claimed that he still has a reputation to uphold, thank you very much.)

Today, when the man comes over to grab his usual cup of hot coffee with at least three sugar and cream in it, along with his daily intake of morning pastries, a croissant and a blackberry jam-filled Danish. Guanyu has also given him a small moon cake.

The full moon festival is only around the corner, he's testing some traditional and non-traditional fillings for the cake. It sits in a small white paper box, and the simple line "white flower" decorates it.

'Your new creation, Zhou?' The professor asked, eyeing the box curiously. Peaking a bit into the box, inside is a round cake that has a golden and glossy, thin and soft crust with a delicate pattern on top of it. The faint fragrant of the cake sneaks itself out of the small gap, making his lip curve up unconsciously.

'Yep, that's lotus seed paste mooncake, it's one of the fillings I want to try for the full moon fest. There will be both savoury and sweet kinds, yours is a sweet one. Would you also want to try a savoury one?' He replied while making Toto coffee and packing his pastries. Guanyu wonders whether the man would accept his recommendation or not, as he has never seen him lay his fingers on the savoury pies or any other than things that could bring him one heck of a sugar high.

'Mooncake and full moon festival? Are these from your country?'

'That's right, the festival is on the 15th of August based on the Lunar calendar, this year falling on the 10th of September, so about another month to go? On this day, the moon will be at its fullest and brightest. In the past, it was that time of the year people celebrate the autumn full moon harvest, now it's more about the reunion, spending time with families and loved ones to celebrate and appreciate the moon, lanterns and enjoy these lovely treats.' Guanyu said with a smile on his face, he truly relishes this time of the year as it reminds him of his mother's cakes and the lanterns his father used to make for him, aside from the Lunar New Year. Speaking of lanterns, he needs to decorate the shop for this event, he thought.

Toto seemed to think about the offer for a bit, and then he asked for the other one too.

'Families and loved ones, you said.' He heard the professor mumble softly.

Interesting. Guanyu thought with his eyebrow slightly shot up.

'Give me a sec, I had put them at the back, so let me just go and grab them.' Guanyu rushed into the kitchen at the back, then he heard Toto's phone ring.

'Hello, darling. You say won't be able to be back today? Ah.. that's alright, don't worry. No need to apologise, I understand and what've we agreed? There's no need for those two words. I'm fine with it, yes, don't worry. Yeah, yeah, miss you and hope to see you soon, miss you. Bye-bye, love you." His voice is so soft and assuring to whoever ever on the other side, telling them that everything is fine and he isn't mad at them. He ends the call and lets out a small sigh when the phone is disconnected.

'Zhou, I'm sorry and thank you for your offer but it seems like it would be impossible for me to finish all of these cakes alone, so can I leave the savoury one for another day?' Guanyu heard him say when he returned with an identical white box. Now when he can see Toto's expressions, it's clear that he is quite upset about whatever is happening with the other person, but he's trying to hide it and act like nothing with a mix of adoration and sorrow on his face.

'Ah, okay, no big deal. There's still plenty of time until then before I need to come up with the final recipe for the festival, therefore you can taste testing my next batch. And, is there anything else you want?' Guanyu replies.

'No, these are enough, thank you. Sorry for this, but I'm looking forward to having a taste of one of those.' Toto says and pays for his orders. Taking his coffee, his pastries and the moon cake box with him to the university and start a day of constantly questioning his life choice of becoming a lecturer as he had once told Guanyu about his job (Toto truly loves it and wouldn't trade it for anything else, but sometimes he swears that the students are trying to push his limit).

Guanyu watches the professor walks out of his shop and wonders.

When the lunchtime rush has over, the little coffee shop is finally back to its quiet and peaceful self, the owner takes his time to stretch his body for a bit and let out a satisfied groan. Then he hears soft jingles as someone push through the shop's door. A middle-aged, quite handsome man walks in, he doesn't come to the counter to order immediately but slowly observes his surrounding, looking around the coffee shop for a bit.

'Hello, welcome to White Flower. What can I get for you?' The man only gives out an acknowledged nod as Guanyu greets him, and continues to wander around the little shop. He stops in front of the bookshelf Gunayu had installed along the right side wall, where his book collection is on the display in perfect order and very aesthetically pleasing to look at.

Initially, he had absolutely no intention to showcase it like that, those are his treasure, but the collection has grown at a concerning pace after time and his apartment had run out of space to store them. So, he had to resort to installing a bookshelf against the shop's rather empty wall of his coffee, which is quite tall and has a glass door over it to prevent all of the dusks that can settle through time. After that, this addition has become one of his shop's signature things, you can borrow the books there as long as you can keep them safe from your drinks and return them in one piece. (or you'll face the shop owner's sad and disappointed look, which will make you feel bad for making him become like that. George's first-hand experience involved a book and his americano had guaranteed that's true and you probably don't want to deal with that look)

The man's eyes roam all over the shelf, and then he sees his smile when it settles down to a particular book, but he can't identify exactly which one. Then that man finally approaches the counter and takes a look at the menu, unhurriedly flipping through it. Then he suddenly speaks up.

'Do you have anything for an anniversary?' He asks.

'May I ask, which kind of anniversary is it?'

'It's my wedding anniversary, I've been away for some time and want to surprise my partner. He has always been a fan of this place, I've heard him talk about here a lot since he first came back home with a bag full of sugary treats, absolutely adores every single of them and makes it become his daily routine to grab some before heading to the university. However, I myself don't possess that big of a sweet tooth, so I don't really know what to give him.' The man exasperatedly confesses and shakes his head, but his face is also beaming at the mention of his partner.

Daily routine, check. An earnest for sugary things, check. Might be working at the university, check. Why does this remind him of a certain tall professor?

Speak of the devil, just right before Guanyu can open his mouth to answer, the door opens once again and he now has a speechless Toto.

'I thought you couldn't make it home today? Christian, a word please?' The newcomer walks toward where the man named Christian's standing in front of the counter. Guanyu sees there is quite a height difference between the two, he has never noticed how huge Toto truly is. Christian is already up on the scale, but the professor can easily towering him. Damn, he knows Toto is tall, but not that tall.

'Surprise?' The shorter man replies.

'It's true that I'm not supposed to come back today, but my client had an emergency and couldn't attend the meeting, so it has to be moved to next month. Thanks to that, I'm here, with you. Happy our seventh anniversary, love.' Christian says and comes up to Toto and they meet in the middle of the shop, takes both of his hands and gently kisses them on the palm. He then lifts his face up, the two pairs of brown irises drowning in the other's love.

'Yeah, happy to you too. However, why are you here and not heading home yet?' Toto cheerfully says, then looking puzzled by the fact that he's seeing his husband where he's currently standing.

'I'm trying to find a present for you.... And having it from your favourite place should do the trick, I'm supposed?' Uncertainty is painted all over his face, as he appears don't know how to explain his decision.

Toto lets out a hearty and deep rumbling laugh at that, brightening his whole face, it's the first time Guanyu heard something other than the man's low chuckle or just only smirking. He squeezes their joined hands tighter and leads both of them to the counter where Guanyu is witnessing their interaction with a small grin sheepishly, he's now used to all of this.

'Hello, Toto, Wellcome back, it's rare to see you at these hours. What can I get for you then?' The owner asks his loyal customer cheerfully.

'I thought I would be alone for today, so spending time here is a great choice, but seems like there are some changes to the plan. Do this morning's offer still stand, Zhou? I would like to take it if possible. I think I have another person to feed and he isn't fond of sweet like me.' Toto says, much to the other's confusion.

'Of course, I've noticed it too, I will grab that moon cake from the kitchen at the back and sir, would a Tiramisu be suitable for your partner?' Guanyu confirms and answers the previous question that he has yet to do so from Christian.

'Oh, yes, thank you. He will love this, a perfect dessert for a romantic date.' Christian says and the couple looks at each other and both chuckle at that.

Then Guanyu makes his way quickly to the kitchen to retrieve the same moon cake box from the morning and packs a box of Tiramisu for the couple's anniversary. Handing the two white boxes out and when Christian how much the cake is, Guanyu only tell him to consider this as a gift from a friend to them.

'You sure giving out a lot of gifts lately Zhou.' Toto comments as he now holds the bigger Tiramisu box and Christian with his little white moon cake one.

'You know?' Hmmm.....?

'I heard some this and that from George, the kid loves to talk about you.' He hates it when Toto is smirking because the man now how irritating he can get when he does that, and he's blushing like a teenager whenever his crush is mentioned. Great.

'Younglings, cute. I understand why this is your favourite place, dear, might come back for some time.' He then hears the shorter man says.

'You should. Now let's go home.'

'Yeah. Goodbye, thank you again for your gift.'

The pair then step out of his shop before he can say back anything with smiles on their face and cakes in their hands leaving a stunned and red-faced shop owner on his own.

(Does Zhou Guanyu has a crush on George Russell? Yes, he does. Does he know how to deal with it? Unfortunately, no, he doesn't)

Note: 

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival !!!!

(I've had like 3 moon cakes this season but still craving for more, just the sweet filling one tho)