As soon as the door to the karaoke room opened, the sound of noisy music and laughter rushed out with a gust of cold breeze, provoking a s.h.i.+ver from Jian Sui Ying. He looked up and saw a room of no less than twenty to thirty people who started to shout as they walked in.

“Woo, woo, the birthday boy is here!”

“Birthday boy, you’re very handsome today!”

A few people walked over and surrounded them—someone threw his arm over Jian Sui Lin’s shoulder while another shoved a beer into his hand before the volume of the television was quickly lowered.

Wearing a bright smile, Jian Sui Lin’s tone carried a bit of pride as he spoke. “Let me introduce to everyone, this is my brother.”

Jian Sui Ying smiled and greeted the group of teens.

Suddenly, a bunch of girls shrieked with excitement, “Your brother is so handsome!”

Jian Sui Ying’s eyes unconsciously leaped to Li Yu and remained there for some time.

Li Yu was completely unaware of him as he hung his hand on Jian Sui Lin’s arm and faintly smiled. “First down first.”

But, Jian Sui Lin rushed to Jian Sui Ying instead. “Ge, sit down first. What do you want to drink?”

“Water is fine.” Jian Sui Ying’s brows pleated as he looked at the people in the room only to see that the young ladies’ expressions were particularly frightening. Aside from his brother and Li Yu, there were no other that was up to par with his standards. For a moment, he actually didn’t know where he could sit.

He looked at Li Yu and decided that wherever Li Yu sat, he will sit there. Since he only came into the karaoke room because of Li Yu, if he didn’t take the chance to get close to him, it wouldn’t be worthwhile.

At that moment, a very lovely young lady placed a box on a big table and opened it, revealing a birthday cake.

Normally, Li Yu doesn’t look like a very lively person at all, but right now, he placed the candles on the cake, arranged for everyone to sit down, instructed people to turn the lights off and even took the lead to sing ‘Happy Birthday’.

Jian Sui Ying discovered that Li Yu has great organizational leaders.h.i.+p skills. Although, he did not talk much, but when he did, everyone consciously moved according to his plan. The noisy KTV room immediately became quiet as everyone surrounded Jian Sui Lin and sang to him.

Under the glow of the feeble light from the candles, Jian Sui Lin’s face appeared especially soft and elegant. Li Yu quietly looked at him and found that he could not s.h.i.+ft his eyes away at all. Fortunately, the light was not bright enough, so no one took notice of his strangeness.

After Jian Sui Lin made a wish and blew out the candles, he cut the cake and gave the first piece to Jian Sui Ying.

Having never been fond of those kinds of sweets, Jian Sui Ying slightly frowned and glanced at it for a second before he reluctantly took it.

Jian Sui Lin smiled and gave Li Yu the piece with a large strawberry on it. “Come on, brother.”[1]

A gentle smile appeared on Li Yu’s face lips—that smile was caught by Jian Sui Ying who drooled internally.

Seeing that it was Jian Sui Lin’s birthday, Jian Sui Ying forced himself to eat a few bites of the cake before placing it down. Being around a group of teens that were around eight or nine years younger than him was weird and awkward. He was not a kindergarten teacher, how could he sit still and enjoy anything. He sighed, feeling a bit regretful for coming in.

After they all finished their cake, they started to give the birthday boy presents one by one—it seemed like Jian Sui Lin has a pretty good relations.h.i.+p with everyone at school.

Taking the chance that the seats were empty, a courageous young lady sat down beside Jian Sui Ying and strike a conversation with him.

Jian Sui Ying didn’t really pay attention to her, but rather, he wanted to see what Li Yu’s gift to Jian Sui Lin was. Glancing at the case, he thought that it might be a cellphone. When the case was opened, Jian Sui Ying leaned in closer, and as expected it was a cellphone.

Looking at Li Yu, Jian Sui Lin laughed, “Hey, this is the same as yours.”

Li Yu also laughed, “Didn’t you say mine was easy to use?”

Jian Sui Lin cheerfully placed it in his hand, “Thanks.”

Jian Sui Ying had thought that someone with a pretty astute mind like Li Yu would get something more creative, but in the end, he was somewhat disappointed. Even the last thing that made him interested pa.s.sed by so simply. By now, Jian Sui Yin does not want to stay even a second longer.

It was already the wrong decision for him to come in—if he doesn’t quickly leave, it would be an even graver mistake.

As a result, Jian Sui Ying stood up and walk to Jian Sui Lin who was singing, “Xiao Lin Zi, I’m heading out first.”

Jian Sui Lin froze and hurriedly hand the microphone to the person beside him. “Ge, why are you leaving? You haven’t even sat down for ten minutes.”

Jian Sui Ying was somewhat impatient, “What would I do sitting here? Don’t waste my time.”

A sense of disappointment flashed through Jian Sui Lin’s eyes, “Then…then, I’ll walk you out.”

Jian Sui Ying simply waved his hand, “There’s no need to, you can stay.”

Just as Jian Sui Lin wanted to say something else, Li Yu spoke, “You should stay here. I’ll walk your brother out.”

It seemed, Jian Sui Ying got exactly wanted what he wanted with just a few words—more so because it did not come out of his mouth. He quickly added, “That’s right, don’t move. It doesn’t look good if you leave with everyone you invited here.”

When Li Yu made a gesture toward the door, Jian Sui Ying casually said his goodbyes to the teens and walked out without looking back.

On the way to the parking lot, Jian Sui Ying said, “Xiao Lin Zi has a pretty good relations.h.i.+p with everyone at school, huh? He invited so many people.”

Who knew what Li Yu was thinking when he carelessly answered, “Pretty good.”

“How long haven’t you seen each other? Seeing how good your relations.h.i.+p with him is, it seems like you’ve been with each other for more than ten years.”

“Since I left when I was in elementary school, we haven’t met in nearly a decade, but we’ve always kept in contact.”

“Oh, you two have been good since back then?”

“En, we used to play together often.”

“Really? How come I don’t have any impression of you?”

A hint of sarcasm settled at the corner of Li Yi’s lips, “The age difference it too big, and you never played with Sui Lin.”

“I see…”

As the two arrived at the parking lot, Jian Sui Ying looked around at the deserted place—there a ticklish sensation in his heart but he pushed it aside. He teased, “Even if I saw you, you were still a kid back then. Who would have known you would grow up to be such a handsome young man. Boys really do change when they hit eighteen. Ha, ha.”

Li Yu lightly smiled, lowered his head and put out the sparklingly cigarette b.u.t.t on the ground with his shoes before his voice sounded. “Jian Ge, you didn’t know today was Sui Lin’s birthday.”

“Ah, I didn’t remember.” Jian Sui Ying absent-mindedly said.

Li Yu lifted his head, his clear and dark eyes stared at Jian Sui Ying. “You didn’t even say happy birthdayto him today.”

“Oh, I didn’t say it?” Jian Sui Ying couldn’t recall whether he had said it or not. But, he came today and gave him a red envelope, so was it crucial for him to say it?

Looking at him, Li Yu indifferently said, “Sui Lin has always adored[2]you since he was a kid. Since you came, it would mean more than anything you gave him if you say happy birthday to him.”

Jian Sui Ying was not accustomed to that kind of warmhearted story. He had given him ¥180,000 of pocket money already, was there really a need to discuss a pragmatic nonsense? He felt that he had thought a bit too highly of Li Yu— those words were really like that of a child.

Chuckling, Jian Sui Ying simply said, “Adore? You… forget it, we don’t get along like you think we do.”

Li Yu opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed the accusation and persistently said, “Jian Ge, at least send him a message to say happy birthday.”

Jian Sui Ying felt that it was quite laughable. These two boys’ relations.h.i.+p is good. He couldn’t remember if he was that cute and innocent when he was 17 or 18 years old.

“Okay, okay, Jian Ge will listen to you.” Jian Sui Ying smiled and winked at Li Yi before he fished out his cell phone and sent Jian Sui Lin a message.

“Xiao Lin Zi, happy birthday – your Ge.”

After about ten seconds later, he received a reply that said, “Thank you Ge! I’m very happy that you were here today.”

Glancing down at the cell phone, Jian Sui Ying then looked up at Li Yu with a smile. “Satisfied?”

Li Yu nodded, “Thank you.”

Jian Sui Ying laughed while shaking his head. He opened the car door, but before he went in, he pulled his foot back out and rushed back to Li Yu. “Once you guys are done with exams, I’ll take you both out. When the time comes, give Jian Ge some face, ah.”

“Okay, no problem.” Li Yu replied, looking at him without hesitation.

Jian Sui Ying hummed a song and drove away.

—

Translator’s Note:

[1] brothers [兄弟xiōngdì] - a term used to describe brothers or close friends; in our case, close friends; it’s like calling someone ‘bro’

[2] adore [崇拜chóngbài] - to wors.h.i.+p/adoration