Qu Jia started promoting Ye Kai's 18th birthday party before the New Year. The preparations took a long time, and the venue layout alone was rejected by more than a hundred versions. Before the New Year, champagne-colored gold-stamped invitations were sent by special personnel to the upper circles of Ning and Ping cities, as well as other close business partners in Hong Kong, Macau, and the mainland.
The largest and most luxurious European-style spire castle in Ning City, Lining Mansion, is a product left over from the past and has now become the darling of high society parties. The lawn in the front yard is maintained to be brighter and cleaner than the wool carpets of rich people, and it is large enough for horse racing. The three Roman-style sculptures and musical fountains are more magnificent than one another. On the two-meter-wide walkway paved with blue bricks, Qu Jia sent people to build a long flower path, and the orchestras on both sides played melodious string music. Passing through these, you will see the heavy carved main entrance of the villa. Waiters in evening gowns pushed open the door for the guests, and the colorful splendor bloomed like fireworks before your eyes.
The birthday party lasted from noon to late at night. The main banquet had to be eaten at noon, and it was arranged at the St. Regis, and then moved to the Lining Mansion. In order to facilitate the guests to enjoy themselves, the largest A8 fleet in the history of many people's memory appeared in Ning City that day. All the A8s in Ning City and Ping City car dealerships merged into a traffic flow of several kilometers, and this was just the reception car arranged by Qu Jia.
For this coming-of-age ceremony, Qu Jia spared no expense.
All roses were airlifted from Kenya. These delicate and luxurious flowers were in their most beautiful state on the day, but withered and died the next day. Three top flower art teams dispatched more than 200 florists to work from late at night the day before yesterday to complete the flower sea arrangement in the main banquet hall. The sweetness of white lychee, the elegance of pearl snow mountain, the mystery of the song of the sea, and the magnificence of menta, together interweave into a dream that makes people feel like they are in the clouds.
The Ye family is the most low-key. There is no trace of extravagance in their private life style. They are almost synonymous with "moderation" in the upper circle. However, Qu Jia intends to use this ultimate luxury that will only happen once in his life to proudly announce Ye Kai's adulthood.
Chen Youhan pushed open the door of the dressing room. Ye Kai closed his eyes and the makeup lady was applying eyeshadow on him. When he opened his eyes, he saw Chen Youhan in the mirror.
He never made mistakes in his attire. For an occasion like today, he chose the most classic black tuxedo, a black silk tie, and only a light blue star pattern pocket square on his chest as an embellishment. Ye Kai looked at him quietly in the mirror for a few seconds, and then he lowered his eyes hastily. The makeup artist gently lifted his chin: "Xiao Kai, don't look down, look forward."
Chen Youhan had a faint smile on his lips, his hands in his trouser pockets, his eyes casually fixed on Ye Kai's face in the mirror.
Just don't let him go.
Ye Kai's cheeks gradually became hot.
Makeup artist Maggie is the exclusive partner of the Ye family for major events and is already very familiar with them. She joked, "What's going on? Did I put on blush just now?"
Chen Youhan then whistled softly and said lazily, "Happy 18th birthday, handsome boy."
Ye Kai's long feather eyelashes drooped unconsciously again, and she replied in a cold voice: "...Thank you, Brother Youhan."
Maggie shaded the side of his nose and said with a smile, "Xiao Kai is so good. If you are so good, you will be liked by many sisters."
Chen Youhan immediately laughed, and Ye Kai glared at him. Maggie looked at Chen Youhan and joked, "Brother Chen looks handsome today, too. Did he fall in love with some rich girl?"
Chen Youhan said elegantly, "I like her. I don't know if she's worth a fortune, but she's definitely the most beautiful one today."
Ye Jin opened the door of the dressing room and came out. She was wearing a burgundy sequined suspender dress, with flat shoulders, a thin waist and long legs. Her body, which was highlighted, exuded a high-end luster under the light, and her carefully groomed curly hair was lazily scattered. She raised her arm, brushed her long hair with her backhand, and said with a smile: "I was wondering why my heart was pounding today. It turns out that you fell in love with me."
Chen Youhan was speechless. He raised his leg and wanted to leave. He made a sound that seemed to have some hidden meaning. "It's crowded when there are too many people. I'll go out for a walk first--"
"——Stop." Ye Jin called him slowly, biting a hairpin in her mouth, holding her cloud-like black hair with one hand, and ordered: "Excuse me, help me fix my hair."
Chen Youhan was silent for a second, then walked towards her with the mood of visiting a grave. He stretched out a hand lazily and held up the long hair not very gently.
Ye Jin put on a U-shaped clip at the back of her head and looked at Chen Youhan in the mirror, her tone slightly annoyed: "What's with that expression? I'm not the prettiest today, am I?"
Chen Youhan had no intention of flirting with her, so he answered half-heartedly, "She is extremely beautiful, but just a little bit inferior to Xiaokai."
Ye Jin glanced at Ye Kai at this time. Maggie was styling his hair, and he remained silent. Men's makeup is just to look less pale under the crystal chandelier, it has no effect of adding icing on the cake, let alone a magical transformation. He was born like this, as cold as an ice peak, as delicate as a rose, like a flower under the moonlight, distant and well-behaved.
Ye Jin retracted his gaze and glanced at Chen Youhan with a half-smile: "I'm warning you, don't lead our Xiaokai astray."
After that, she lowered her head and clasped the expensive diamond necklace behind her neck. Chen Youhan ran out of patience, let down her hair, took a step back, and said coldly and unceremoniously: "What's your business?"
The door opened and closed in the blink of an eye. Ye Jin was puzzled: "What did I say wrong?"
Ye Kai did not answer this question. He laughed and said, "He is angry." The cold boy's voice carried a little unspeakable joy.
Ye Jin pulled off the necklace, furious, gnashing her teeth and acting like a spoiled child: "Asshole."
The main venue is like a vast galaxy. The cloud top is a multi-layered constellation line made of crystal. The main background is like the undulating mountains and rivers, and like the rolling waves, with a sense of water-like flow. The haze blue hydrangea, astilbe, hollyhock and cymbidium hide condensed smoke, and the silver fan grass reflects the pearly light like mother-of-pearl. The light and shadow flow on the silk gauze curtain, and the crystal lamp is hung upside down. It is not bright, but only uses the scattered atmosphere lights to illuminate it with a cold light.
The entire venue is like the starry sky at the end of winter. When the cold winter is over, the stars rise, the Milky Way is always bright, the flowers are always in full bloom, and the vast mountains and rivers and the fireworks of the world are all rushing for you under the starry night.
The atrium was nearly ten meters high. Under the ambiguous lights like the Milky Way, there were people dressed in fine clothes, champagne reflecting the luxurious light of jewelry, and noisy voices floating in the orchestral accompaniment of the band. Chen Youhan took a glass of whiskey from the waiter's tray, raised his eyes, and fixed his eyes, and saw Ye Kai appear on the spiral staircase without knowing when.
His glance was like ripples, and the girls in their dresses all raised their heads. In the transparent and pure champagne glass, the light golden liquid was bubbling with tiny bubbles.
Chen Youhan curled the corners of his lips and raised his glass slightly to Ye Kai.
I don't know who started the applause, the applause surged towards him like a tide, someone whistled with their fingers, and then there was a booing. Before Ye Kai even walked onto the stage, he couldn't help but lower his head and smiled, it was as if he had done nothing, like a bubble being lightly popped. Qu Jia took two steps forward, hugged Ye Kai in front of everyone, and kissed his cheek: "Happy birthday, baby." She choked up and said, holding Ye Kai's back and walking with him through the last few steps.
The LED screen surrounded by flowers began to play Ye Kai's growth record, including videos and photos. Fortunately, he was very cute when he was young, and he grew up to be as elegant as a jade tree. People didn't feel sleepy after watching it for nearly fifteen minutes. Seeing him racing with a corgi when he was young, everyone laughed and asked who was so mean to record this. Who else could be the culprit? Chen Youhan stood on the periphery and reduced his presence to zero.
As usual, there was a speech. He was serious and restrained, his tone was light, and he occasionally made fun of himself to liven up the atmosphere. It was a very mature public speaking style, and everything was just right. Qu Jia's high profile made him helpless. He tried to restrain himself, but he didn't know that such alienation was the most fatal trait. Chen Youhan saw several young girls whispering in each other's ears, you twisted me and I slapped you, I don't know what they talked about, but they laughed together. When Ye Kai left the stage, the dance had already been booked for the fifteenth dance.
The lights in Lining Mansion were on until late at night.
There were people everywhere, such as the swimming pool, fountain, lawn, long table with exquisite desserts, and terrace garden shaded by branches. The heavy jacquard wool carpet was silent when stepped on, the lights in the corridor were bright and gorgeous, and the continuous mint-colored twined flower wallpaper stretched from the first floor to the fourth floor. There were more than 40 rooms, and Ye Kai opened them one by one. If there were uncles and aunts tasting cigars inside, he said "sorry", if there were couples cuddling on the sofa, he closed his eyes and said "sorry", if there were children playing mobile games together, he would coax them to be "good" like an older brother.
He staggered after drinking a little and bumped into the sideboard, almost breaking a whole set of Minton china. He laughed and hurriedly caught it. The carved Baroque oval mirror inlaid in the corridor reflected his black hair that was wet with sweat but still flying.
He twisted the gilded doorknob with his hand, and the door was pushed open like a gust of wind. He breathed slightly, and the moment he raised his eyes, he saw Chen Youhan sitting on the windowsill smoking.
Calm your mind.
This is room 42.
Chen Youhan looked back, a casual glance against the dark blue night sky outside the window.
The noise from the pool downstairs was like dust floating in the light column, becoming blurred and insignificant. Ye Kai pursed his lips and took a small breath. The door was closed with a click. He held the handle backwards, his back tensed, and then relaxed, leaning against the door, his hands hanging down, looking at Chen Youhan and smiling.
The cigarette between his fingers burned quietly, and there was a subtle scent of blue wind chimes and nicotine in the room. Chen Youhan walked towards him step by step.
They were so close that Ye Kai bent one knee and raised his head slightly, watching Chen Youhan raise her hand to hold his chin.
"Two hundred and nineteen days, do you still miss your sister?" Chen Youhan looked down at her, his voice hoarse from drinking.
Ye Kai closed his eyes slightly, and his gaze fell from Chen Youhan's eyes to his lips.
"No." He heard his own answer.
"So do you like me?"
Chen Youhan asked softly, leaning closer and slightly turning his face. Almost kissing.
His eyes were so indifferent, so relaxed and indifferent, so determined and pressing.
Ye Kai raised his hand and hooked it around him, running his fingers through his black hair.
"Brother Youhan..."
He called him with a sigh, four words, all four words were filled with heartbeat and trembling.
"...One thousand points, I like you the most."
His lips were sealed, it was Chen Youhan who kissed him.
Powerfully, irresistibly, gently, and affectionately.
Ye Kai opened his eyes wide for a moment, his back pressed tightly against the door, his heart seemed to make a "thump!" in his ears, and then he obediently closed his eyes, his whole body softened, and both hands circled Chen Youhan's neck.
A long stream of ash fell onto the carpet, leaving a burnt red mark on it.
Chen Youhan put one hand around Ye Kai's waist, and held his back firmly with his palm. His slightly sweaty shirt was wrinkled, in the shape of his five fingers, and it was his doing.
Ye Kai was panting so hard that he couldn't breathe, and his heart was beating so hard that it seemed like it was about to jump out. When their lips parted, his eyes, as dark as the starry night, were full of confusion, and his lips were slightly swollen.
Chen Youhan kissed him.
Chen Youhan kissed him.
He didn't know how many days and nights he had spent with this hopeless crush. It was like a mad boy running barefoot through mountains, rivers, wind, and fields, just running madly with a tattered secret. There was no end to the world, and his secret would never bear fruit.
But Chen Youhan kissed him.
Ye Kai swept the back of his hand across his right cheek, which was wet.
Chen Youhan also gently swept his fingers over it, teasing him gently: "Why do you cry so much?"
He threw himself completely into Chen Youhan's arms, standing on tiptoe, hugging him hard and desperately, and making him take a step back. The cigarette butt that had long been burned was hastily thrown away, and Chen Youhan kissed the top of his head lightly and raised her hand to turn off the main light.
The only thing left in the gorgeous room was the warm yellow glow of a floor lamp. He easily picked up Ye Kai and put him on the desk, where the ornaments and books were scattered all over the place. He held his waist and asked knowingly, "Do you like me being so embarrassed? Why are you crying?"
The corners of Ye Kai's eyes were red. He wasn't crying, he just shed tears easily.
"How embarrassing," he whispered.
Chen Youhan couldn't help laughing: "I'm so bad, it's unfair that you like me."
He didn't even try to coax him properly, but leaned in to kiss him, holding Ye Kai's head with his palms and pressing his forearms and elbows against his back, squeezing him so hard that it almost hurt.
This time the kiss was not so forceful, but very gentle and innocent, sucking his lips.
Ye Kai's face turned even redder.
The night wind blew in through the half-open window, bringing a hint of coolness. He began to shiver, hugging Chen Youhan's thin and broad shoulders with his arms, pressing his chest against his, desperately trying to absorb the warmth.
When they separated, he dared not look directly at her, his thick black eyelashes drooping. Chen Youhan hugged him, his hands running down his back: "What should I do? I have never been in a relationship before, but I got someone so good."
Ye Kai had nothing to say, but still felt it was unreal.
Chen Youhan added: "I haven't kissed for almost a year. I'm so nervous."
The heartbeat in my ear was unnaturally fast, and I didn't know whose it was.
"…It's not that bad, is it?" He asked Ye Kai earnestly, his voice low and hoarse, close to his ear.
What are you talking about! Ye Kai pushed him away in panic, not knowing whether he was talking about people or kissing skills.
Hide, where can you hide in such a small house? Being forced to the window, the moon-white veil fluttered beautifully, but was messed up by the two people, tangled up in a mess. The figures were wrapped in the transparent moonlight, leaving only intimate silhouettes, one with deep eyebrows, the other with delicate curves, nose to nose, lips to lips. They separated, one was panting, the other was at ease, and they kissed again, why was the panting one taking the initiative to kiss the at ease one? The moonlight couldn't understand.
There was the sound of falling water in the pool. Everyone was having fun. The cello was deep, the violin was passionate, and the accordion was as melodious as the Scottish grasslands in the middle of the night. Amid the noise of the music, Ye Kai asked, "It was you who confessed your love to me, why did it take so much effort for me to find you?"
Chen Youhan said: "I was planning to go find you after I finish smoking this cigarette."
"Then what?"
"Press and kiss."
Ye Kai put his forehead against his chest without looking up, muttering, "Liar." Then he said, "Brother Youhan, is this just a dream?"
"If this is a dream, it should be better than it is now."
"I've been dreaming about you for a while. You held the bouquet of flowers you gave to grandma, purple, nephila, Edith, Rose, and handed it to me, then turned your face to kiss me. You always came at dusk, and left before the dusk was over. You came over and over again, but you didn't say anything."
Chen Youhan suddenly felt pain in his heart and kissed his hair: "I'm not good in the dream, don't dream about him anymore."
"So maybe I was just drunk and had a better dream."
He spoke in a daze, and there was a loud explosion in his ears. They both looked out the window. Golden fireworks filled the sky and fell like shooting stars. Screams came one after another, and the deep winter night dissipated in the scorching fireworks. Chen Youhan hugged him and said, "Xiao Kai, happy birthday, I hope your eighteenth year will be better than all the dreams you have ever dreamed."
There were voices coming from the corridor.
"I just saw him running upstairs, and then he disappeared again—"
The door was unlocked, and Ye Kai looked back from the window: "Sister."
"What are you two doing here?" Ye Jin looked at Ye Kai in confusion, then at Chen Youhan.
Chen Youhan raised a cigarette that he hadn't lit yet and smiled casually: "Teach adults some adult things."
Ye Jin's expression changed slightly: "No smoking, do you hear me?"
Ye Kai said "Oh", and for some reason, he added: "I have smoked."
Chen Youhan laughed muffledly.
"Is there anything wrong?" Ye Kai asked.
"Mommy asked you to go downstairs and cut the cake." Ye Jin came over and took his hand, and found it was very cold, and then touched his forehead, "Don't blow the wind, your hands are so cold."
He dragged the person away without any explanation.
Ye Kai looked back at Chen Youhan who was motionless and said, "Brother Youhan, come and eat some cake, okay?"
Only then did Chen Youhan pick up his suit jacket and slowly follow.
He walked lazily, with his suit on his shoulder and the other hand in his trouser pocket. He looked indifferent and didn't want to socialize, but when he went downstairs, he kept meeting people who invited him to go to another place for a drink later.
The three-layer cake was extremely exquisite, and Ye Kai cut it symbolically. He was not wearing a coat, and his tie was nowhere to be found. He had two buttons of his shirt unbuttoned and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. After cutting the cake, he looked up and met the gaze of a rich girl from an unknown family, who blushed. He put down the silver-glowing knife and handed it to the waiter, then stepped down and found Chen Youhan in the crowd.
Fireworks were still being set off outside, the crisp sound of cups clinking, and the lazy conversations of the crowd in the late night were drowned out. He didn't know where he got the courage from, but he grabbed Chen Youhan's hand in public and said, "Brother Youhan, take me to see my birthday present."
After saying that, he pulled Chen Youhan and ran. They stumbled and ran, through the magnificent banquet hall, through the long and crowded corridor, through the stairs at the end, bumped into countless waiters, bumped into a few unfamiliar peers, and laughed for some reason. They ran up to the second floor in one breath, turned back to the room at the end, pushed open the soft door covered with soundproof material, and found the dressing room specially reserved by the owner for the celebrities' ladies.
Row after row of gorgeous dresses, brocade hats and mink coats, rows of pearlescent high heels, and evening handbags covered with sequins. Ye Kai laughed so hard that he couldn't breathe, like a prankster. The palm of his hand holding Chen Youhan was sweaty. He looked at Chen Youhan, the air was silent for a moment, and then they stood on tiptoe to kiss each other.
Ye Kai held his face, kissing him frivolously, messily, without any rules, stumbling, losing balance, knocking over rows of hangers, and both of them fell into the overwhelming fluffy dresses, like falling into soft clouds. He hugged Chen Youhan, pressing on him, and was hugged tightly in his arms.
He liked Chen Youhan so much, but he didn't know how to express it.
No one will come here, all disturbances have disappeared, the night gradually sinks, someone drives away, the roar of the engine shakes the night sky, someone stays here, the gorgeous bedroom is equipped with brand new supplies of five-star hotel level. The sound of the corridor is sometimes close and sometimes far away, Ye Kai's heart is up and down, he sits next to Chen Youhan, his head resting on his shoulder, holding a cigarette awkwardly in his mouth, he can't smoke, just imitating. He takes a puff, puts it away, blows the smoke in Chen Youhan's face frivolously, and kisses him on the corner of his mouth.
She looks so beautiful when she smiles.
Alcohol, nicotine, and crazy love permeated his soul on the first night of his eighteenth year.
Chen Youhan was so annoyed that he didn't know what to do with him. He smiled and asked, "Hey, you don't like me because I'm rebellious, do you?"
"What if that's the case?" Ye Kai smiled.
Chen Youhan said: "As long as you are happy."
Ye Kai passed the cigarette to his lips. Chen Youhan took a puff, and then he took a puff. The damp cigarette holder and the increasingly shorter cigarette pipe were mixed with the smell of Davidoff or Chen Youhan's perfume. The white wispy smoke tangled and dispersed in the air. After smoking one, he kissed Chen Youhan again, sitting on his legs with his hands around his neck. Chen Youhan hugged his waist and his back.
They kissed and then stopped, their foreheads touching, and Ye Kai asked, "Where's my gift?"
What kind of occasion was this? Beautiful but old clothes, quiet but hot air, the clock pointed to twelve in the morning, and the two were sweating - what a rich playboy, his shirt was tattered. Chen Youhan took out a small box from his trouser pocket, a navy blue velvet jewelry box.
Ye Kai widened his eyes and said with a smile: "You are not going to propose to me just because you like me."
Chen Youhan pinched his waist and said, "The dreams are getting better and better."
It snapped open, revealing a square sapphire on the black velvet, with an extremely bright brilliance and without any diamonds inlaid.
There is nothing good about ordinary sapphires as gifts. Any sapphire that is worth giving away has a noble origin and history.
Ye Kai held his breath, moved away a little, and looked into Chen Youhan's eyes: "Are you serious?"
It was a seven-digit number, and the first digit was more than five. Chen Youhan said in a dandy tone, "Keep it for fun."
Ye Kai accepted it and held it in his palm: "Brother Youhan, you will lose everything if you fall in love like this."
Chen Youhan said: "Otherwise, I would only dare to talk about this once in all these years."
Ye Kai laughed out loud: "Have you liked me for a long time?"
"Didn't I count the two hundred and nineteen days for you?"
“Why do I feel like there’s more?”
"You're pushing it too far."
Ye Kai kissed him again, not a deep kiss, but very affectionate.
The air is very quiet.
The sound of breathing can be heard.
And the sound of kissing.
The phone vibrated, and Ye Kai picked it up: "Mom," he said calmly, "I'm with brother Youhan. I'm very happy. Thank you, Mom, and go to bed early."
Hang up and shut down.
Chen Youhan leaned against the wall, tilted his neck up, put one hand on his forehead, chuckled and said, "Qu Jia will kill me."
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