Actually, the guard at the school gate doesn't care who comes in or out. 404 was just looking for an excuse.
The school's management is very loose. Compared to the 82 Middle School he attended before, it's like no one is in charge at all. They've had two fights in the dorm and the teachers didn't even know, not even the dorm manager.
Even the girls' side has had fights, though not on a large scale, but it seems to happen even more often than the boys' side. Each of them is quite fierce.
They first went to the school store to drink water. They would come here to drink water after every PE class. At first, Chu Yi brought a drink bottle from the dorm to drink water, but then he found that Zhou Chunyang would treat them to water every time, so he stopped bringing it.
"Next time I'll treat the water," Gao Xiaoyang said. "It's not good for Chunyang to always treat."
"Forget it," Zhou Chunyang said. "How much allowance do you get per month?"
Gao Xiaoyang thought for a moment and was about to speak when Zhou Chunyang said, "I have no limit."
"Get out of here." Gao Xiaoyang laughed.
"I'll say if I don't want to treat," Zhou Chunyang said. "This is my only pleasure, I like having a group of people making a lively scene together."
After drinking water, the group sauntered out the school gate. Zhou Chunyang led the way towards the hot pot place. Chu Yi and Yan Hang took a taxi to the city center.
"Happy birthday," Chu Yi said to Yan Hang after getting in the car.
He really had no experience celebrating birthdays and was always afraid he would miss some step. From the moment he saw Yan Hang, he kept reminding himself to say happy birthday later.
"Thank you," Yan Hang smiled and leaned over to ask in a low voice, "Did you bring a gift?"
"Yeah," Chu Yi nodded, then thought about it and sighed. "Do normal people chase after others demanding gifts like this?"
"I'm a normal person who chases after people demanding gifts," Yan Hang clicked his tongue. "I'm collecting protection fees."
Chu Yi smiled, patted his bag and lowered his voice, "It's in here."
"You still have to say it secretly," the taxi driver said. "Afraid I'll rob you?"
Chu Yi smiled a bit embarrassedly.
The small box in the bag was beautifully packaged. The box itself originally had to be bought separately for 15 yuan each. He couldn't haggle clearly, so Zhou Chunyang helped him.
Afterwards, Zhou Chunyang said as a rich young master, he had never worked so hard to bargain in his life and was afraid if they walked too slowly, someone would chase them out and beat them.
After getting out of the car, Yan Hang went directly to a famous cake shop to pick up a birthday cake he had ordered for himself.
It was a very large chocolate cake with many small chocolate flowers on top.
"It's really beautiful," Chu Yi said, carrying the cake. "Is it tasty?"
"Have you never had birthday cake before?" Yan Hang asked.
"Ah," Chu Yi smiled. "No, I haven't."
"Me neither." Yan Hang looked down at the cake box.
"Where are we going to eat later?" Chu Yi asked. He had brought a few hundred yuan, ready to see where they would eat. If it wasn't too extravagant, he could treat.
"Seafood," Yan Hang said. "I reserved a table right by the sea. We can eat while watching the sea all evening until you've seen enough."
"Is it fancy?" Chu Yi asked again.
"It's alright, just a normal small restaurant with a bit of style. There are many like that here," Yan Hang said.
"I'll treat," Chu Yi said.
Yan Hang glanced at him and turned his head away, laughing for a long time.
"What are you laughing at?" Chu Yi said.
"It's my birthday, so I have to treat," Yan Hang said. "If you want to treat, do it another day."
"...Oh." Chu Yi thought about it. It seemed to be true. Every time a classmate celebrated a birthday, it was either at home or their family would reserve a few tables at a restaurant.
The small restaurant Yan Hang chose was indeed right by the sea, and the table he reserved was on the second floor platform where they could feel the sea breeze and watch the sea.
It was great.
When Chu Yi sat down, he looked around. Besides the two of them and a family of three next to them, the other tables were all couples.
This city where everyone loves to date, indeed.
Yan Hang had already ordered the dishes before arriving. Not long after they sat down, the food started being served.
Chu Yi propped his chin in his hand, turning his head to look at the sea.
It was already past sunset, so they couldn't see the scene of the sun sinking into the sea, but the clouds where the sea and sky met in the distance were still tinged with a dark red light, looking very magnificent and beautiful.
Chu Yi took out his phone and snapped a few photos. He hesitated for a moment before posting them to his Moments.
This was the first time since he started using WeChat that he posted photos to Moments without setting it so only he could see them.
"I'll livestream," Yan Hang suddenly said.
"Do you need to announce it first?" Chu Yi watched him take out his phone.
"I'll just say it on Weibo and start. What's there to announce?" Yan Hang tapped on his phone.
"You're so washed up now," Chu Yi said. "If you don't announce it, no one will watch. How sad."
"If you say a few words less, I won't be sad at all," Yan Hang glanced at him. "Doggy bro."
Before Chu Yi could say anything, he suddenly laughed again, sprawling on the table laughing for a good while before speaking, "Hey, I asked two girls about Chu Yi today."
Chu Yi sighed. He already knew what Yan Hang was laughing about.
"They told me, Mutt ah, he's at the back of the field," Yan Hang said, laughing. "I almost burst out laughing. For the sake of your face, I gritted my teeth and held it in."
"I'm touched," Chu Yi said.
"You're welcome," Yan Hang said with a smile. He started the livestream, first pointing the phone at the sea. "This is where I am now. There are mountains, sea, beer, barbecue..."
Chu Yi leaned over to look at the screen. He always said Yan Hang was washed up, but in just these few minutes, more than 40 people had already joined.
Guess he's not completely washed up.
- Brother Xiao Tian finally appeared before I graduated college
- Hugging my phone and squealing like a pig
- Where is this? Can anyone tell?
- The sea! So beautiful!
"I'm eating. Those who haven't eaten can take a look," Yan Hang picked up a plate of clams that had just been served. "This is my favorite. Although it's very common, I love eating it..."
Yan Hang was still pointing the camera at the sea, probably wanting to hold the plate up to the lens with the sea as the background. Chu Yi reached out to take the plate, holding it for him.
"I'll help you eat one." Yan Hang reached out and took a clam from the plate, bringing it to Chu Yi's mouth.
Chu Yi held the plate and froze for a moment, then opened his mouth and bit the clam.
- Hand hand hand hand hand hand
- Never get tired of looking at those hands...
- Beautiful hands! Take another one
- Wait a minute!
- Who's holding the plate?
- ... Damn, that's right! Who's holding the plate?
- I'm holding it, thank you
"The one holding the plate," Yan Hang took a clam and put it in his own mouth, lowering the camera angle to focus on Chu Yi's hand holding the plate, "To be honest, I have four hands."
Chu Yi laughed so hard his hands were shaking a little.
The comments on the screen were scrolling very quickly, interspersed with gifts. It was a bit hard for him to see clearly, but he noticed several lines asking to see his face.
The waiter continued serving dishes, bringing out a fish, quite a large one.
Chu Yi put down the plate of clams, ready to hold up the fish plate.
Yan Hang pressed down on his hand, with the camera first focusing on his hand, then slowly moving up along his arm.
- This angle
- Brother Xiao Tian's four hands are actually growing face-to-face
- I already know who's across from him
- Me too
- Handsome boy! Handsome boy!
- Must be the handsome baby!
When the camera focused on Chu Yi's face, he suddenly felt a little shy and raised his hand to cover it for a moment.
"Chu Yi," Yan Hang smiled, "Say hello to the ladies."
"Hello everyone." Chu Yi said.
The screen instantly filled with comments, so fast that Yan Hang could barely read them.
He knew how these young ladies felt. In just one year's time, that slightly timid and shy little handsome boy had grown into a dashing young man.
Perhaps traces of that former caution and shyness still remained deep inside him. Things etched by time cannot be easily discarded. But Chu Yi now had the courage and ability to push those marks into the corners.
Yan Hang looked at Chu Yi through the camera lens.
It felt a bit different than looking at Chu Yi directly. This way, it gave him a clearer sense.
The feeling that the little mutt had grown into a top dog.
"Let's eat," Yan Hang still had his old habit of not wasting words, "Turn it off."
He put down the phone and picked up a bottle of beer: "Let's have a toast."
Chu Yi picked up another bottle and clinked it against his: "Happy birthday, Yan Hang."
"Nice phrasing, sounds like you didn't stutter at all." Yan Hang raised an eyebrow.
"You're, you're not really afraid, afraid that one day, I won't, stutter anymore," Chu Yi took a big swig of beer, "You'll say, you can't, handle me anymore."
"I can't handle you now," Yan Hang also took a sip of beer, "Mainly I'm afraid with that smart mouth of yours, if you stop stuttering, people will beat you up."
"You'll protect, me." Chu Yi said with a smile.
"Don't worry," Yan Hang looked at him, "I said I'll protect you, and I mean it. I'm just afraid you won't need my protection anymore, top dog."
"Mutt." Chu Yi corrected him, picking up an abalone and eating it with gusto, the broth flowing down his fingers to his wrist without him noticing.
"Little mutt," Yan Hang pulled out a tissue and stuffed it over before the broth could flow to his cuff, "Roll up your sleeves, you're eating so savagely."
"Mm." Chu Yi smiled and only took the tissue to wipe his hands after finishing this one.
Then he grabbed his sleeves and tugged them up.
After two tugs, he suddenly stopped.
He pulled the sleeves back down a little.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yan Hang didn't move, probably not noticing the corner of gauze that had been exposed.
It wasn't a big deal of an injury. It should be fine to go without the gauze in a few more days. He didn't want to worry Yan Hang. After all, from Yan Hang's perspective, he had no memory of Chu Yi practicing martial arts or fighting. His memories were full of Chu Yi being bullied and beaten.
He fiddled with his cuffs, pretending the sleeves were rolled up just right, then reached out to take another abalone.
He had just slurped up a little broth when Yan Hang's hand reached over.
It was so fast he didn't have time to dodge. Yan Hang had already hooked a finger in his cuff and flipped it up.
"How did this happen?" Yan Hang asked.
"Door pinched, pinched it, our dorm, dorm door is, is, is..." Chu Yi had rarely lied before. Getting nervous, he stuttered so badly he couldn't continue. In the end, he could only stop and sigh, "Got it while, fighting."
Yan Hang tutted.
"It's almost healed." Chu Yi added.
"Did you wrap it yourself?" Yan Hang asked, "Let me see."
Chu Yi didn't move.
"Want me to smack you?" Yan Hang looked at him.
Chu Yi stretched his arm forward and rested it on the table.
Yan Hang pulled his sleeve up, pinched the corner of the gauze and peeled it back to look, furrowing his brow: "The cut looks quite deep?"
"It's okay." Chu Yi replied.
"It'll still take a while to heal," Yan Hang said, glancing to the side, "Where's the waiter?"
"What for?" Chu Yi looked at him.
"To order some other dishes," Yan Hang said, "Seems you shouldn't eat seafood with an injury, it can get inflamed."
"Rumor." Chu Yi said.
Yan Hang looked at him.
"Rumor." Chu Yi said again.
"You sure?" Yan Hang narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Zhou Chunyang has, has a cut, this, this big on his, forehead," Chu Yi gestured, "At noon he still, went out and bought, two crabs, crabs to eat."
"What kind of ridiculous reason is that?" Yan Hang asked.
"He's a local." Chu Yi said.
Yan Hang didn't speak. He added: "Even if it's not a rumor, I still want to eat."
Yan Hang sighed, then thought about it and laughed: "Eat eat eat, worst case it heals a bit slower. Eat up."
Chu Yi immediately picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, eating with relish: "What, what fish is this?"
"I hear Old Cui and the others all call it 'village belle'," Yan Hang said, "It's perch."
"Ah," Chu Yi looked at it and put a piece in Yan Hang's bowl, "Why not, not call it 'town belle'?"
"Village sounds grander?" Yan Hang said, "Sounds more impressive?"
Chu Yi laughed and ate a couple more bites.
It was indeed very delicious. This place prepared excellent seafood. Although it was all quite common fare, like oysters, razor clams, and various conches, the flavors were superb. Coupled with this relaxing and enjoyable environment.
Chu Yi ate a whole meal without even finishing a bottle of beer, but felt a little woozy.
"Still eating?" Yan Hang asked, "Do you like that big conch? Want another serving?"
"Leave some room for dessert..." Chu Yi turned his head and looked around, "Where's the cake?"
"I had the waiter put it in the fridge," Yan Hang said, "Do you want to eat it now?"
"Yes," Chu Yi grabbed his bag, "I also want to give you a gift."
"Okay," Yan Hang smiled and waved for the waiter to come over, "Let me see what you got me."
"It's a good thing," Chu Yi rubbed his nose, "But it was Zhou Chunyang who helped me pick it out. I've never given anyone a proper gift before."
"I'd be happy even if you gave me three pairs of ten yuan socks." Yan Hang said.
"Cheapskate," Chu Yi said, "You said it yourself."
"Holding grudges," Yan Hang started laughing, "But I really do want you to give me something more expensive."
"Don't worry, it's quite expensive." Chu Yi nodded.
The waiter brought over the cake and helped them insert and light the birthday candles.
Birthday candles nowadays are very convenient, just a 1 and a 9, no need to count while inserting them.
"Happy birthday!" Someone shouted from another table.
"Happy birthday!" A few more people echoed.
"Thank you!" Yan Hang responded with a smile, then said quietly to the waiter, "Later, please help me cut the cake and share it with those few tables."
"Okay." The waiter nodded.
"Sing a birthday song." Yan Hang lifted his chin at Chu Yi.
"I've never sung before..." Chu Yi was a bit hesitant. In all his life, besides the national anthem, he probably hadn't sung any other songs. He did know how to sing the birthday song, but was afraid he wouldn't sing it well.
"It's fine." Yan Hang said.
The corners of Yan Hang's mouth carried a smile, the flickering candlelight casting his face in a soft warm glow.
"Okay," Chu Yi looked at him, took a deep breath, then began singing very softly, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."
"You don't stutter when you sing?" Yan Hang raised his eyebrows in some surprise.
"Don't interrupt, okay?" Chu Yi stopped, "Listen carefully."
"Okay." Yan Hang nodded with a smile.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." Chu Yi started singing again, "Happy birthday to you..."
Halfway through, he saw Yan Hang's smile deepening at the corners of his mouth, spreading uncontrollably.
"Happy birthday to you..." He finished singing.
Yan Hang and the waiter beside him applauded.
"Blow out the candles now?" Yan Hang asked.
Chu Yi blanked for a moment, not knowing the procedure either.
"Make a wish first," the waiter reminded, "Close your eyes and make a silent wish, it won't come true if you say it out loud."
"Okay." Yan Hang curled his lips and closed his eyes.
Chu Yi propped his chin in his hand watching him, took out his phone and snapped a photo of Yan Hang and the 19-year-old birthday cake in front of him. After a while, Yan Hang opened his eyes, and Chu Yi saw his lashes were slightly damp.
"Come here." Yan Hang waved at him.
Chu Yi got up and sat next to him. Yan Hang put an arm around his shoulders and took out his phone to hand to the waiter, "Thanks for the trouble."
The waiter held up the phone, Yan Hang poked Chu Yi's face with his finger, and he tilted his head towards Yan Hang.
"One, two, three, razor clam!" The waiter said.
The two of them paused for a moment then laughed together as the waiter pressed the shutter.
After taking the photo, Yan Hang lowered his head and blew out the candles.
The waiter began helping them distribute the cake.
Yan Hang indeed lacked experience. If they didn't share this cake with the other tables and the waiters, there was no way the two of them could finish it. More than half was shared out, and the remainder could still be cut into four pieces.
After the waiter left, Chu Yi picked up a piece of cake and took a bite, chewing with his eyes closed in bliss, "It's so...so...so delicious."
"It's all yours." Yan Hang pushed the two pieces of cake in front of him over to Chu Yi.
"No," Chu Yi smiled, "Together."
"Where's the gift?" Yan Hang asked as he picked up a piece of cake and ate.
Chu Yi opened his bag, took out the small gift box from inside, and placed it in the middle of the table, "For you."
The box was black, tied with a deep blue bow. One look and you could tell this color scheme definitely wasn't Chu Yi's doing. If Chu Yi had coordinated it himself, the box would probably be pink with a pastel yellow bow.
The box was exquisite, and Yan Hang felt it had some weight when he picked it up.
He gently lifted the box lid and immediately saw what was inside.
A lighter, with raised wings on it.
"Zippo?" He smiled as he took out the lighter.
"Yeah, angel wings," Chu Yi immediately leaned over the table to introduce it to him, "There are two types, black ice and antique silver, this is the antique silver one."
"This one looks good." Yan Hang nodded.
"I think so too," Chu Yi smiled, looking at him, "Do you like it?"
"I like it," Yan Hang flicked his nose, "I especially like it, thank you."
"Want to try it?" Chu Yi said, "I filled it with fuel."
Yan Hang flipped open the lighter cover and gave it a light flick. A small flame sprang up. He spun the lighter between his fingers a couple times, then closed the lid.
"You..." Chu Yi's eyes went wide, "You can play with it like that too."
"There are many more tricks. How else to pass the time?" Yan Hang smiled and extended his hand in front of Chu Yi. The lighter spun between his fingertips for a moment before the lid popped open with a clink and the small flame leapt out again, "Silly dog."
"If you played with this on your livestream," Chu Yi said, "You wouldn't need to rely on my face anymore."
"Get lost." Yan Hang started laughing.
Chu Yi looked at him, and after a while remembered to ask, "What were you laughing at when I was singing happy birthday just now?"
"Huh?" Yan Hang blanked for a moment, then suddenly turned his head to the side facing the sea and burst out laughing, laughing so hard he almost couldn't hold it in.
"Where are your manners!" Chu Yi was pulled into laughter too, even though he had no idea what Yan Hang was laughing about.
"You've never sung before, right?" Yan Hang asked, still laughing.
"The national anthem." Chu Yi said.
Yan Hang laughed even harder.
Chu Yi seemed to understand something and sighed, "Was I off-key?"
"No," Yan Hang shook his head, "I didn't even understand the first sentence, I only realized later that you weren't adjusting your tone at all, every sentence had the same tone."
"Like chanting scriptures?" Chu Yi asked.
"Pretty much." Yan Hang continued to laugh.
After a moment, Chu Yi also couldn't stop laughing.
"I didn't, didn't know." He felt a little embarrassed yet found it hilarious, and it took him a while to rub his face and sigh.
"Maybe it's because you don't sing often," Yan Hang laughed and patted his face, "When I have time, I'll take you to karaoke. Just learn a few songs, and we'll see if you still sing in the same tone."
"Can you sing?" Chu Yi looked at him.
"Me," Yan Hang thought for a moment, "I actually don't sing much either. I used to go with my dad a few times, just listening to him belt it out. I couldn't compete with him. In two hours, I'd only get one song, and that's only if he didn't know how to sing it."
"Then I'll treat, treat you to karaoke," Chu Yi said, "I won't fight you, for songs."
"If you fight me, I'll beat you up." Yan Hang said.
"Mm." Chu Yi nodded.
Yan Hang laughed and looked at him without saying anything.
Chu Yi also didn't speak, staring at him face to face. After a while, he opened his mouth and said again, "Happy birthday."
"Happy." Yan Hang said.
"Happy birthday," Chu Yi said, "Next, next year, be happy, too."
Yan Hang spun the lighter in his hand, lit it, and watched the flame, "Happy."
Author's note:
Let me tell you, I saw someone calculating Brother Dog's age. Brother Dog's birthday is obviously earlier than the Crown Prince's. The Crown Prince has already had two birthdays, so how could Brother Dog still be 15 years old ﹁_﹁.
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