Chapter 6

"Is the owner worried about me?" Karl Jess avoided her gaze and teased playfully, "I'm fine—just maybe I can't make bread today."

Lenso Merrill immediately stepped forward, grabbed his left hand, and forcibly unfolded it. He noticed that his middle finger was wrapped in thick gauze, with faint red streaks visible along the edges—indicating a serious injury.

"What's wrong with your hand?" LenXiao·Merrill's voice instantly grew tense. "Is it serious? Go to the hospital immediately. As for the store matters, leave them to me—I can handle it!"

Carl Jess gently withdrew his hand and smiled nonchalantly, "It's not that serious. I was cutting fruit at home yesterday when I accidentally cut my finger; it's just preventing me from kneading the dough—a minor injury that doesn't require hospitalization.

"How could I possibly refuse? What if I contract tetanus?" Lunsiao Merrill frowned, his tone filled with determination. "You must go to the hospital immediately. I'm here; I once learned some bread-making skills from my mother. Although I can't create as many variations as you do, nor prepare meals as deliciously, I'm still capable of handling it adequately.

Seeing her serious expression, Carl Jess felt a warmth in his heart; a mix of complex emotions flashed through his eyes before being quickly concealed by a smile: "Alright, considering how worried you are about me, I won't go to the hospital. But would you like to learn how to make my signature bread? I'm in a good mood today and can teach you for free."

Lensoe Merrill was stunned. She had long wanted to learn it, but she always assumed Carl Jass wouldn't teach her—after all, it was his signature skill. To her surprise, he actually brought it up today. "You really want to teach me? Aren't you worried I'll learn it and end up taking your job?"

"I'm not afraid at all," Karl Jess said, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't teach you before because I was worried you wouldn't be able to endure the hardship. Making bread may seem simple, but it's actually very exhausting. Given your delicate appearance, I thought you wouldn't make it through."

"Who said I can't endure hardship?" Lunsiao Merrill pouted indignantly and dragged him toward the bakery. "Let me tell you—my explosive power is incredible. Once I master it, I'll definitely outperform you. Don't regret it later!"

Carl Jass was pulled along by her, the smile on his lips impossible to conceal. In truth, he had long wanted to teach her, but had never found the right opportunity—this injury finally provided that chance.

In the bakery, Len Xiao·Merrill donned an apron and began preparing the ingredients, mimicking Karl Jess's method. Standing beside her, Karl Jess patiently guided her; he noticed that LenXiao·Merrill was actually quite clever, mastering the exact proportions of each ingredient perfectly. However, when kneading the dough, she used too little force and moved too slowly, resulting in dough that lacked elasticity.

"Use more force, and even faster," Karl Jess said, bending down and gently placing his hands over LenXiao Merrill's to help knead the dough. "Your strength is too insufficient; the dough won't develop enough elasticity, resulting in a poor baked product."

A warm sensation spread from the tips of her fingers; LenXiao·Merrill's face flushed instantly, her heart raced involuntarily, and even her breathing grew cautious. She could distinctly feel the temperature in Karl Jess's palm as well as the thin calluses on his fingertips—marks left by years of bread-making.

"Focus a bit—what are you thinking?" Karl Jess's voice rang in her ears, tinged with a smile. A warm breath brushed against her ear, making her face flush even more.

Lensoe Merrill took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and began kneading the dough in sync with Karl Jess's rhythm. With his guidance, she gradually mastered the technique and her movements became far more proficient.

"Not bad at all—you're learning quite quickly," Karl Jass said, releasing her hand and looking at her serious expression with approval in his eyes. "I thought you had no redeeming qualities other than being aggressive, but I didn't expect you to have such talent for baking bread."

"That's only natural—great teachers produce great students, after all," Lun Xiao Merrill said in agreement, secretly pleased. She knew full well that Carl Jies was someone who would respond better to gentle encouragement than harsh criticism; praising him would surely work.

Carl Jess laughed even happier, reaching out to stroke her hair: "You really have good taste. Well, let's put the bread in the oven; once it's baked, we'll taste it."

While waiting for the bread to bake, the two leaned against the bakery's doorframe, exchanging brief banter whose laughter echoed throughout the entire bakery. As LenXiao Merrill looked at Karl Jess beside her, a sudden sense of reluctance welled up in her heart—she seemed to have grown increasingly accustomed to having him by her side.

Once the bread was ready, Carl Jess put on his gloves, carefully took it out, tore off a small piece, and offered it to LenXiao Merrill: "Try it."

Lensoe Merrill took a bite—it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Though not as impressive as Carl Jess's version, it was still delicious. She nodded: "Not bad, not bad, but it's still missing something."

"After just one day of study, you already want to surpass me?" Karl Jess said with a smile, tapping her forehead. "You're too ambitious. But you've done an excellent job; with more practice, you'll definitely catch up."

"Master, when will you teach me again?" LenXiao·Merrill looked at him with eager anticipation in his eyes.

"What's the rush?" Karl Jess raised an eyebrow. "First, master what you've learned today and perfect your dough-kneading skills—otherwise, even teaching you something new won't help."

"You mustn't be evasive!" Lunsiao Merrill pointed with his little finger. "We made a promise—we must teach you until you master it."

Seeing her childish demeanor, Karl Jies smiled helplessly, extended his little finger, and linked it with hers: "Don't be silly—keep your word."

At the moment their fingertips met, both froze for a moment before exchanging a smile. Inside the bakery, the aroma of bread filled the air, while sunlight streamed through the glass window, bathing them in warmth and beauty.

Time flew by; the two-month summer vacation had ended in the blink of an eye. Looking at everything familiar within the Bread Tree, LenXiao Merrill felt a deep sense of loss—the end of the vacation meant that Carl Jess's part-time job would also come to an end, and he would have to leave as well.

She had long grown accustomed to Karl Jass's presence, to daily banter with him, to the bread he baked, and to the warmth he brought. Unconsciously, these habits had quietly evolved into something more profound—a sentiment she herself hadn't yet realized.

"If you ever run out of money for bread, just come here—I'll provide it free of charge, unlimitedly," Lunschon Merrill said to Karl Jess with a forced calmness and a smile, using exactly the same tone as when he first visited the Bread Tree.

Carl Jass looked at her, suddenly putting aside his usual nonchalance and saying earnestly, "Madam, can you really not keep me—a young, handsome employee with excellent skills, a modest salary, and the ability to attract female customers?"

"I can't bear to give it up!" Lun Xiao Merrill argued stubbornly. "If you don't come, I could save a fortune on bread."

Carl Jies raised an eyebrow and approached her step by step, his tone tinged with resentment: "So heartless? If I can't find a job, I'll have to beg on the streets—don't feel sorry for me then."

Seeing his earnest gaze, Lensoe Merrill's heart softened. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Carl Jess burst out laughing: "Just kidding—I'd never leave!"

Lensoe Merrill was stunned; seeing his smile, the sense of loss in her heart vanished instantly, replaced entirely by joy. What she didn't know was that Carl Jess had stayed not only because he couldn't bear to part with her, but also because of a secret he had never spoken about.