Renjun is running late. He was supposed to pick up Chenle’s basketball themed birthday cake ten minutes ago and it’s ten minutes past. Granted, he’s jittering his leg inside the cab that’s painstakingly traversing down the block at a snails pace because of sudden traffic. He’s never going to make it to the surprise party at this pace. So, Renjun quickly hops out of the car, drops a dozen bills into the cab’s cupholder, and /dashes/ to the bakery.

If he was late, Kun was going to whoop
his ass. The older man had already told him to leave the apartment ten minutes early but was it Renjun’s fault that his client kept yapping over the Teams call?

Renjun really hates to sweat in his nice YSL silk shirt but he can just dry clean it after. Friendship first, clothes second. Renjun skids to a stop and all but whirls into the bakery with heaving breaths and shaking legs. He really needed to go to the gym more. He hurriedly walks up to the counter, Chenle’s gift bag hanging off his arm, and catches the attention of one of the owners who quickly deduces his order.

“Cake for Renjun?”

Renjun hurriedly pays for everything, hands shaking out of frazzle yet trying to carefully balance it in his arms, he turns to speed out of the bakery to catch another cab when BAM!

The gutwrenching sound of a cake on a pavement registers in his head. /Fuck, fuck fuck-/ Renjun is about to yell at the stranger who wasn’t looking and flusters when he comes face to face with a handsome man with bright (and apologetic) eyes and sharp cheeks. If Renjun wasn’t in a dire situation he’d stare forever but the frustration comes creeping back in and before he can get a word out the man quickly stoops down to pick up the cake box (with the smashed cake).

“I’m so sorry! Is there a way to make up for this? Can I order you another cake?” the man says frantically with worry, eyes becoming impossibly round.

It must be the reflection of the sun because they almost /sparkle/ but Renjun pulls himself together before he loses it. He’s /already/ fifteen minutes late now.

“Well I was about to deliver this to my friend for his surprise birthday party but now that its been smashed I have no fucking clue,” Renjun confesses in frustration.

“Well… is your friend a fan of other types of desserts?” the man asks.

/Huh??/

“If you will allow me to make it up to you and your friend… I can offer some of the dessert trays I prepared. Please take it as an apology and no I won’t accept no as an answer. I’m the head baker there so I absolutely do not mind,” he smiled.

So… when Renjun arrived /30/ minutes late, Kun’s annoyance and yelling slowly melded into shock when he saw the amount of cakes, pastries, and cookies that Renjun carried in (thankfully without dropping any of the four boxes). And Renjun’s worry quickly turned into great relief when he found out that Chenle himself was going to be late to his own “surprise party” because he got caught up playing basketball. Of course.

As everything got set up, Renjun realized there was a slip of paper wedged in one of the boxes lids and took it out to inspect it. On the paper read /I’m sorry about turning your day upside down. But, I couldn’t help but think of how cute you were the whole time… XXX-XXX-XXXX here’s my number… text me if you need anything sweet :) - Jaemin/

Although Renjun wasn’t good with throwing balls around in sports, maybe this time Renjun would shoot his shot, too.

*wow this was kinda mediocre help