Birthday

At the end of January, Fang Chi received a birthday invitation from Xing Jiayan.

The birthday party was held at Xing Jiayan's house. When Fang arrived, the living room was already bustling with activity. There were more people than he had expected. Besides the familiar He Chen and Tan Si, there were several classmates, as well as some unfamiliar faces who seemed to know Xing Jiayan well, probably junior high school classmates or sports buddies. Music was playing, not too loudly, and the coffee table was piled high with snacks and drinks, with a rather exquisite cake in the middle.

Xing Jiayan, wearing a black sweater that made his skin appear even whiter, was standing by the dining table talking to He Chen. Seeing Fang Chi enter, he turned his gaze, smiled faintly, and gestured for him to come over.

Fang Chi changed his shoes and walked over, handing over the wrapped gift: "Happy birthday."

"Thanks." Xing Jiayan took it, his fingers inadvertently brushing against Fang Chi's hand, which was a little cool. He didn't open it immediately, but casually put it aside. "Find a place to sit, the drinks are over there."

His tone was casual, as if he were talking to any ordinary friend. Fang Chi hummed in response, but felt a little awkward inside. Although their relationship wasn't public, Xing Jiayan's deliberately normal attitude in this setting made Fang Chi feel a bit forced.

As he was thinking, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning around, he saw Tan Si. Tan Si was wearing a light gray turtleneck sweater today, which made his usually expressionless face look even more handsome. He was holding a can of cola in his hand.

"You've arrived?" Tan Si asked, his voice as calm as ever.

"Mm." Fang Chi nodded and followed Tan Si to the sofa near the balcony, where they sat down. It was relatively quiet there.

"How did you add the auxiliary lines for the last math problem on the final exam?" Tan Si asked, immediately launching into a study session. Fang Chi, used to this, grabbed a tissue from the side and roughly sketched it out with his pen. The two huddled together and discussed it in hushed tones.

Just then, an unfamiliar voice interrupted: "Hey, Tan Si, Fang Chi, are you two studying hard here? It's Jia Yan's birthday today, relax a bit."

Fang Chi looked up and saw a tall boy walking over with a drink, a smile on his face, his eyes scanning Fang Chi. Fang Chi vaguely remembered this boy; his name was Zhu Xun, he was from the next class, on the basketball team, and he seemed to have played basketball with Xing Jiayan a few times.

"Just chatting," Tan Si replied, his attitude neither warm nor cold.

Zhu Xun sat down directly on the armrest of the sofa next to Fang Chi, which was quite close. Fang Chi subconsciously moved closer to Tan Si.

"Fang Chi, right? I've heard so much about you. You're amazing in physics competitions." Zhu Xun smiled and handed me a drink. "Want some? Juice, no alcohol."

"Thank you, but no need," Fang Chi shook his head.

"Don't be so polite." Zhu Xun leaned forward a little more, almost touching Fang Chi's shoulder. "I heard you're pretty good at basketball? You had a one-on-one game with Jia Yan last time? How about we play sometime?"

His breath brushed against Fang Chi's ear as he spoke, carrying a slightly sweet, cloying scent of beverage. Fang Chi frowned, about to stand up abruptly, when a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhu Xun's wrist as he was about to slap Fang Chi's shoulder.

It was quite powerful.

Zhu Xun hissed and turned his head. Xing Jiayan had arrived at some point and was standing behind the sofa, his face expressionless but his eyes somewhat somber.

“Zhu Xun,” Xing Jiayan said in a low voice, “I still have some beer in my kitchen fridge, could you bring me a few cans? They’re in the freezer.”

The words sounded like a request for help, but the tone was cold, more like an order. Zhu Xun's smile froze for a moment. He looked at Xing Jiayan, then at Fang Chi, and forced a smile: "Alright, the birthday person is the most important."

He pulled his wrist back and turned to go to the kitchen.

Xing Jiayan's gaze lingered on Fang Chi's face for two seconds, but he said nothing. He turned around and walked back into the crowd, continuing to talk to people as if what had just happened was just a minor incident.

Fang Chi could sense that Xing Jiayan's mood had clearly worsened. Although his expression didn't change, the oppressive atmosphere around him was noticeable even to Tan Si, who glanced at Fang Chi.

"You two?" Tan Si mouthed the question silently.

Fang Chi shook his head and remained silent. He felt a little annoyed. Annoyed by Zhu Xun's inexplicable approach, and even more annoyed by Xing Jiayan's subtle yet possessive behavior. He knew Xing Jiayan was jealous, but the way he did it made him uncomfortable.

The party continued. After cutting the cake, a group of people egged Xing Jiayan on to make a wish. Xing Jiayan stood in front of the cake, the candlelight flickering on his face. He closed his eyes, and a few seconds later blew out the candles. Everyone applauded and cheered.

Fang Chi stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching Xing Jiayan surrounded by people, receiving their blessings and jokes. At that moment, Xing Jiayan seemed somewhat unfamiliar; she was the center of the crowd, yet there seemed to be something separating her from it.

When it came time to cut the cake, Xing Jiayan cut the first piece, but instead of eating it herself, she carried the plate through the crowd and went straight to Fang Chi, handing it to him.

"Try it, my mom ordered it specially, it's not too sweet," he said, his voice clearly heard amidst the surrounding noise.

A brief silence fell over the area, and several pairs of eyes turned to him. Fang Chi could feel the scrutiny in those gazes. He took the plate and whispered, "Thank you."

Xing Jiayan hummed in agreement and went back to cutting the cake. This action, however, undoubtedly added fuel to the fire of what had just happened with Zhu Xun. Fang Chi saw Zhu Xun standing not far away, his gaze shifting between them, then he pursed his lips and turned to talk to someone else.

Fang Chi held the cake and took a bite. It wasn't too sweet, and the cream was very smooth. But he couldn't really taste it.

He Chen suddenly appeared out of nowhere, holding a can of beer, leaning against the balcony door frame, and looked at Fang Chi with a smile: "Not bad treatment, the first piece of cake."

Fang Chi ignored him.

He Chen didn't mind, took a sip of beer, and glanced around the room before finally settling on Tan Si, who was sitting alone in the corner. Tan Si was looking down at his phone, his profile appearing somewhat aloof under the light.

He Chen stared for a few seconds, then suddenly asked Fang Chi, "Tan Si...does he have someone he likes?"

Fang Chi was taken aback by the question and turned to look at He Chen. He Chen still had that carefree smile on his face, but there was something else in his eyes.

"I don't know," Fang Chi answered truthfully. "He never said that."

"Oh," He Chen responded, took another sip of wine, and didn't ask any more questions.

In the second half, the atmosphere became more relaxed. Some people started karaoke and sang their hearts out. Others gathered to play video games. Xing Jiayan was pulled into drinking by several boys, drinking both beer and foreign liquor, accepting whatever was offered.

Fang Chi didn't like this kind of commotion, so he told Tan Si and got up to go to the bathroom. He had just reached the corridor when footsteps followed him. He turned around; it was Zhu Xun.

"Fang Chi, want to chat?" Zhu Xun asked with a smile, but his eyes held a hint of determination.

"There's nothing to talk about." Fang Chi didn't want to get entangled with him and turned to leave.

Zhu Xun stepped forward, blocking his path. "Don't be so cold. I'm just curious, what exactly is your relationship with Xing Jiayan?" He lowered his voice, "His feelings for you are quite special."

"It's none of your business," Fang Chi said coldly.

"How is it unrelated?" Zhu Xun laughed, with a hint of provocation. "I quite like you too. You're good-looking and smart, much more interesting than Xing Jiayan's cold demeanor."

As he spoke, he actually reached out to touch Fang Chi's face.

Fang Chi stumbled backward, his back slamming against the wall. Just as he was about to lash out, a figure swiftly cut in, separating him from Zhu Xun.

It's Xing Jiayan.

Xing Jiayan had clearly drunk quite a bit; his eyes were red, and he reeked of alcohol. He grabbed Zhu Xun's outstretched hand with such force that Zhu Xun's face changed color.

"What the hell are you doing?" Xing Jiayan's voice was very low, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, and every word was cold.

"Jiayan, it was just a joke..." Zhu Xun tried to pull his hand back, but failed.

"A joke?" Xing Jiayan sneered, abruptly shaking off Zhu Xun's hand with such force that Zhu Xun staggered. "Get lost."

Zhu Xun's face flushed red and then turned pale. He looked at Xing Jiayan, then at Fang Chi behind him, and finally gave a forced laugh: "Fine, fine, I'm leaving." He turned and went back to the living room.

Only the two of them remained in the corridor. Music and noise seeped in through the crack in the door, making the place seem even quieter.

Xing Jiayan turned to face Fang Chi. He was drunk, his breathing was heavy, and the heat from the alcohol hit him. But his eyes were clear, even frighteningly so, staring straight at Fang Chi.

"Where did he touch you?" Xing Jiayan asked, his voice hoarse.

"No." Fang Chi turned her head away, not wanting to see him like this.

"No?" Xing Jiayan took a step forward, almost trapping Fang Chi between the wall and his body. "I saw it. He tried to touch your face."

He raised his fingers and touched Fang Chi's cheek; his fingertips were icy cold and trembled slightly from the alcohol.

"Xing Jiayan, you've had too much to drink." Fang Chi tried to push him away, but her wrist was grabbed and pressed against the wall.

"I was drunk," Xing Jiayan admitted, lowering his head so that his forehead was almost touching Fang Chi's, their hot breaths mingling together. "Otherwise, I would have fucking beaten him up long ago."

Fang Chi could smell the strong scent of alcohol in his breath, and see the undisguised possessiveness and anger surging in his eyes. This Xing Jiayan was unfamiliar and domineering, making his heart pound, unable to tell whether it was fear or something else.

"Let me go first," Fang Chi tried to calm down.

"I won't let go." Xing Jiayan moved even closer, his lips almost brushing against Fang Chi's earlobe. His voice was extremely low, with a hoarse tone from the alcohol and a kind of fierce tenderness. "Fang Chi, listen carefully."

He paused, each word striking Fang Chi's eardrums:

"If you dare let that kind of person get close to you again, if you dare let him touch you again..."

His other hand stroked Fang Chi's nape, his calloused thumb pressing against the sensitive skin, causing a shiver to run through him.

"I wouldn't mind sleeping with you right now."

Fang Chi froze, as if the blood rushed to his head and then quickly receded. He stared at Xing Jiayan in disbelief; the darkness and seriousness in the other man's eyes told him that this was not drunken talk.

"Are you crazy..." Fang Chi's voice trembled slightly.

“Yes, I’ve gone mad.” Xing Jiayan twitched the corners of his mouth, but the smile was devoid of warmth. “I’ve been pretty much insane ever since I found out that the person on the forum was you.”

His thumb gently stroked Fang Chi's nape, as if to soothe him, or perhaps to mark ownership.

"On the forum, it's 'Yan,' but in real life, it's Xing Jiayan. But no matter which one, it's still you, fucking." Xing Jiayan's voice lowered, carrying an almost defeated frustration. "I've endured it long enough."

After saying that, he suddenly lowered his head and kissed Fang Chi's lips.

The kiss reeked of alcohol and possessed an irresistible force, almost a bite. Fang Chi was pinned against the wall, his wrist gripped tightly, unable to move. He could taste the alcohol on Xing Jiayan's tongue, feel the other's burning body temperature, and sense that almost desperate possessiveness.

He struggled at first, but Xing Jiayan's strength was astonishing. Gradually, the struggle took a different turn. Perhaps it was the smell of alcohol, perhaps the secluded corner gave him a certain illusion of indulgence, or perhaps it was the long-suppressed truth in Xing Jiayan's words that touched him... Fang Chi closed his eyes, stopped resisting, and even responded awkwardly.

This tiny response was like a spark splashed into an oil drum. Xing Jiayan's body stiffened, then his kiss deepened and intensified, as if he wanted to swallow Fang Chi whole. Only when Fang Chi struggled to breathe and let out a muffled groan did he loosen his grip slightly, pressing his forehead against Fang Chi's and panting heavily.

The two were extremely close, nose to nose, their breaths mingling. Fang Chi's cheeks were burning hot, and his lips were numb and painful, definitely swollen. He dared not look Xing Jiayan in the eye.

"Got it?" Xing Jiayan asked in a hoarse voice.

Fang Chi didn't speak.

Xing Jiayan didn't press him. He released his grip on Fang Chi's wrist, gently rubbing the red marks, and then pulled him into his arms. The hug was strong, so tight that Fang Chi felt a little pain, but he didn't move.

The motion-activated lights in the hallway went out, plunging the hallway into darkness. Only a faint sliver of light from the living room seeped in through the crack in the door.

In the darkness, Xing Jiayan's voice rang close to Fang Chi's ear, tinged with alcohol and carrying a rare, rarely revealed vulnerability:

"Fang Chi, don't provoke others. I can't stand it."

Fang Chi's heart clenched. He raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently hugged Xing Jiayan back.

"Mmm," he responded softly.

The two hugged in the darkness for a while until He Chen's voice rose from the living room, as if he were looking for someone. Xing Jiayan then let go of him and ruffled his hair.

"Go out," he said, his voice regaining some calm.

Back in the living room, the atmosphere was lively. He Chen was clearly drunk, his cheeks flushed, and he was belting out an old song off-key into the microphone. Tan Si was still sitting in the corner, but now he had an empty can of beer in his hand.

Seeing Xing Jiayan and Fang Chi come out one after the other, He Chen's eyes lit up. He threw down the microphone and staggered over, hooking his arm around Xing Jiayan's neck: "Damn it! I've been looking for you for ages! Where have you been hiding? You're going to get punished!"

Xing Jiayan pushed him away: "Go drink yours."

He Chen wasn't annoyed. He turned to Fang Chi with a grin and said, "Fang Chi, you come too! We're not leaving until we're drunk!" He then tried to pour the wine in his hand into Fang Chi's mouth.

Xing Jiayan reached out to stop him: "He can't drink."

"Oh, so you're protecting him?" He Chen raised an eyebrow, his smile ambiguous, but he didn't insist any further. His gaze shifted to Tan Si in the corner, and his eyes suddenly brightened.

"Tan Si!" he shouted, staggered over, and plopped down next to Tan Si, almost pushing him off the sofa.

Tan Si frowned and moved to the side.

He Chen moved even closer, almost touching Tan Si's face: "Tan Si, I have a question that I've been holding back for a long time, and I have to ask it today!"

His voice wasn't quiet, and several people around looked over with amused smiles.

Tan Si looked at him coldly: "Speak."

He Chen stared at his handsome face, which remained expressionless under the light, for several seconds. Suddenly, he grinned, a silly grin tinged with drunkenness and a reckless abandon.

"Tan Si, I like you, I really like you. I've liked you since the beginning of high school. Could you... could you consider being my girlfriend?"

The entire venue fell silent instantly. Even the background music seemed to be paused.

Everyone was looking this way. Tan Si was clearly stunned as well. A rare crack appeared on his usually calm face, and his eyes widened slightly.

After He Chen finished speaking, he seemed to have used up all his courage, staring expectantly at Tan Si, waiting for the verdict.

A few seconds later, Tan Si looked away, picked up another unopened can of beer on the table, uncorked it, and took a big gulp. Then he spoke, his voice still flat:

"You've had too much to drink."

"I'm not drunk!" He Chen panicked, trying to grab Tan Si's hand, but Tan Si dodged him. "I'm perfectly sober! Tan Si, I'm serious! I..."

"He Chen." Tan Si interrupted him, looking at him with cold eyes, "When you sober up tomorrow, you won't want to remember what you said tonight."

These words were like a bucket of cold water. The eagerness and excitement on He Chen's face slowly faded, replaced by a sense of embarrassment and disappointment at being seen through. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't. He lowered his head, grabbed his can of wine, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

The atmosphere became a little awkward. Someone tried to smooth things over: "Oh dear, we've had too much to drink! Come on, let's keep singing!"

The music started again, and everyone looked away, but there was more subtle eye contact between them.

Fang Chi looked over there. Tan Si had already gotten up and walked to the balcony, his back to the living room. He Chen was still sitting on the sofa, head down, his expression unreadable. Xing Jiayan walked over, patted He Chen's shoulder, and whispered something.

Fang Chi suddenly felt that this birthday party contained a lot of information.

Later, everyone gradually dispersed. He Chen was helped away by two classmates; he was quite drunk and mumbled something incoherently. Tan Si left decisively, only saying "Happy Birthday" to Xing Jiayan, glancing at Fang Chi, nodding, and then departing.

In the end, only Fang Chi remained. He looked at the mess in the room, then at Xing Jiayan, who was sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed, and asked, "Shall I help you tidy up?"

Xing Jiayan opened her eyes, which were bloodshot but still clear-headed: "No need, the cleaning lady will come tomorrow. It's very late."

He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost twelve o'clock.

“You…” Fang Chi hesitated.

"Stay," Xing Jiayan said directly, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "The guest room is ready. If you go back too late, your mother will worry."

Fang Chi thought about it and agreed. Besides, he felt Xing Jiayan's emotions were somewhat unstable tonight, and he wasn't comfortable leaving him alone.

"Um."

Xing Jiayan got up and led him to the guest room. The room was very clean, the sheets and blankets were new, and there was a faint scent of laundry detergent.

"The bathroom is over there. There are new towels and toothbrushes in the cabinet," Xing Jiayan said, then stood at the door without leaving.

Fang Chi looked at him. After that commotion, there was a strange tension between them.

"Go to sleep early," Xing Jiayan said finally, her voice a little hoarse. "Goodnight."

"good evening."

Xing Jiayan closed the door. Fang Chi sat on the edge of the bed for a while before getting up to wash up. The hot water washed over him, but his mind was a jumbled mess, filled with fragments of the evening: Zhu Xun's approaching breath, Xing Jiayan's kiss in the dark corridor and those harsh words, He Chen's public confession, Tan Si's cold rejection…

He had just finished showering and lay down when his phone vibrated. It was a message from Xing Jiayan, containing only two words:

【Xing Jiayan】: Lock the door.

Fang Chi stared at those two words for a few seconds, his ears burning. He didn't reply, but he did get up and lock the door. It wasn't to guard against anything; it was just an instinctive reaction.

He lay down again, but couldn't fall asleep. He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard very light footsteps stop outside the door, linger for a moment, and then leave.

Fang Chi lay awake in the darkness, listening for the footsteps to disappear, and then the entire house fell completely silent.