Chapter 36

This time, it was Chen Ang who fell silent. Words like “keep it up” or “try your best” felt hollow. He wanted to ask Xu Heng to stay, to not leave, but even that felt like it had no ground to stand on. In his current mess of a state, what right did he have?

The two of them were still pressed together, skin against skin. Even the stickiness between their lower bodies hadn’t completely cooled, but the atmosphere already had.

It took a while before Chen Ang finally spoke, his throat painfully dry.

“My birthday’s on the weekend. Will you spend it with me?”

Xu Heng said, “I will.”

Chen Ang’s voice was light, like a man in love, excitedly making plans for a weekend getaway. “Do you want to go anywhere? They say it might snow. How about we go to a hot spring?”

Xu Heng thought for a moment and said, “I want to go to the beach.”

Chen Ang said yes without hesitation. “Alright.”

That night, they didn’t talk about the past or the future. They just held each other and fell asleep.

Chen Ang, naturally healthy, had mostly recovered by the next day. He still looked a bit worn, but there was no faking being sick anymore. Xu Heng no longer had an excuse to stay. Still, they didn’t slip back into that cold silence like before. Instead, they returned to normal. Chen Ang picked Xu Heng up after class even more frequently. They ate. They made love.

Xu Heng felt like Cinderella under a spell. He knew when midnight came, everything would vanish, but as long as he was at the ball, he would dance with the prince again and again, unwilling to stop, refusing to let it end.

The weekend of Chen Ang’s birthday arrived. It was already deep winter. The sky had been gloomy for days. The forecast kept teasing snow, but it never fell. Xu Heng’s classes were nearly finished, but he still asked for the weekend off. When he left his Japanese class on Friday, Chen Ang was already waiting by the car. He wore a long trench coat and a dark navy cashmere scarf, tall and broad-shouldered, looking like a model in a luxury brand window display. He politely opened the passenger door for Xu Heng.

Xu Heng had hidden the birthday gift he prepared deep inside his backpack, tucked far out of sight. He climbed in and buckled his seatbelt. Chen Ang’s phone buzzed with a call from his mother. Without thinking, he turned it off and tossed it aside. Then he cupped the back of Xu Heng’s head and kissed him quickly before starting the engine.

The place Chen Ang booked was further away than Xu Heng’s hometown, a quiet seaside spot. Normally it would be off-season in winter, but it was tough to book a room since the beach was popular for New Year’s fireworks. Many people booked oceanfront suites just to watch the show. It had taken Chen Ang some effort to secure it.

Xu Heng absentmindedly tugged at his seatbelt as he sat, fidgeting with it. There were a few snacks in the car that Chen Ang had packed for him. Xu Heng opened a pack of cheese sticks, munched through one quickly, and reached for another. He leaned over to offer it.

“Want one?”

“I want it.”

But instead of biting into the stick in Xu Heng’s hand, Chen Ang turned his head and licked the crumbs from the corner of Xu Heng’s mouth.

Even if he was kissed like this a million times, Xu Heng still couldn’t stop his face from flushing red.

The hotel Chen Ang booked had an incredible view. As soon as they walked in, they were greeted by a floor-to-ceiling window facing the sea. Right beside it was an open-concept bathtub. The sky had already turned dark. Chen Ang pulled the curtains open, revealing a gloomy, cloud-covered sky. The wind was strong, and the waves rolled in gently, then slowly receded, their sound soft and distant.

It was still early, so the two of them went out for a walk. Not far from the beach was a local market, with small stalls selling regional products and handicrafts. Xu Heng lit up with interest, strolling through the market while Chen Ang followed behind. Xu Heng picked up a lot of things, but ended up putting them all back. Every time Chen Ang reached for his wallet, Xu Heng would shake his head and pull him along to the next stall.

By the time midnight approached, the best spots to watch the fireworks were already packed with people. All the ocean-view rooms around them had their lights on.

Xu Heng loved fireworks and started getting impatient. He grabbed Chen Ang’s arm and pushed through the crowd, trying to hurry back to the hotel. Chen Ang instinctively moved his hand and laced their fingers together, their palms pressed tight. His warmth passed quietly into Xu Heng’s hand.

Xu Heng stopped walking for a second. Behind them, cheers erupted from the crowd.

With a deafening boom, the night sky suddenly lit up. Chen Ang turned just in time to see the first brilliant bloom burst across the sky. He quickly tugged at Xu Heng’s hand and said, “Look.”

But Xu Heng wasn’t looking at the fireworks. His eyes were fixed on the side of Chen Ang’s face, illuminated again and again by the flashes of light in the sky. Those sharp brows and dark eyes seemed to glow. Chen Ang turned to him, smiling.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“I…”

Boom.

The next firework swallowed his voice. Chen Ang only saw his lips moving but couldn’t hear a word. He leaned down, bringing his ear close. Xu Heng’s breath hit his skin, warm and fast, followed by a kiss placed right below his ear.

Everyone else stood with their backs to them, watching the sky light up and dim, stars blooming and disappearing into the dark.

Suddenly, Chen Ang pulled Xu Heng toward the hotel. Xu Heng followed, their steps growing quicker until they were nearly running. The door shut behind them just as they stumbled inside, lights flashing across the room from the explosions outside. Chen Ang grabbed him tight, their bodies knocking into each other as they moved. They stepped on each other’s feet, fumbled toward the glass window, and as the door clicked shut, the noise outside became distant. The room fell into an odd, weightless silence, broken only by their breathing.

Xu Heng leaned back against the glass, tilting his head up to meet Chen Ang’s kiss.

Five. Four.

The crowd’s countdown drifted in through the window. Chen Ang held him close, eyes locked on him. Xu Heng’s lips were swollen and wet, his half-lidded eyes dreamy, like he was tipsy on something only they shared.

Three. Two. One.

The final round of fireworks exploded all at once, lighting up the sky and the sea and the entire room like it was daylight.

Right then, Chen Ang lowered his head and kissed him again. It was light as the wind through early spring leaves. Xu Heng, lips pressed to his, whispered into the hush that followed the chaos.

“Happy birthday.”