The night before his birthday, Qin Fang didn't have any plans. He hadn't even thought about where to go for dinner, intending to make a last-minute decision in the afternoon.

But this was a bit naive. If Qin Fang didn't have classes, he would normally sleep in a bit later, but on this day, his two roommates woke him up early in the morning.

Shen Dengke stood at the foot of Qin Fang's bed, reaching out and patting his pillow, "Young master... young master..."

His hand was patting right next to Qin Fang's ear. Qin Fang turned his head to look at him, his eyes barely able to open, "...What's the matter?"

"You're awake?" Shen Dengke's face bloomed into a sunny sunflower-like smile, "Happy birthday!"

Qin Fang couldn't believe it, "You patted my pillow just to say happy birthday?"

"Yep," Shen Dengke nodded, "Happy birthday, young master."

Qin Fang propped himself up and looked around, searching for his other roommate. Just then, Chen Ke pushed the door open, carrying a large pile of breakfast, "Happy birthday, Fang."

"How can Fang be happy," Qin Fang collapsed back onto the bed, grabbed his phone to check the time, "At seven thirty, Ke'er patted my pillow, how can this be happy."

"What's happy about sleeping," Shen Dengke bounced up to grab Qin Fang's arm, "Come on, don't sleep anymore, come down and have breakfast."

The roommates were too enthusiastic, not giving Qin Fang the chance to continue sleeping. He sighed, jumped out of bed, and yawned, "How are you two so energetic every day."

Actually, the roommates knew that Qin Fang's time would definitely be packed today, so they took the opportunity to drag him up early to have breakfast together. Chen Ke had specifically taken a taxi to buy Cantonese dim sum and also bought an egg downstairs in the dorm building.

As soon as Qin Fang came out after washing up, Shen Dengke grabbed him and rolled the egg on his face*. Qin Fang was quite cooperative, saying, "So ceremonious."

*T/N: Custom to roll an egg over someone's body, from head to toe, for their birthday, to roll away any bad luck or negativity from the past year.

Actually, Qin Fang usually couldn't eat much this early, but he still tried hard to eat a lot. None of the food that was bought was left over, the three of them finished it all.

He ate too much, and by the time he went to find Xing Yan at noon, he still felt bloated. Xing Yan had a backpack with him. After getting in the car, he put the bag on the back seat. The two of them were too familiar with each other and didn't even bother greeting each other when they met.

Qin Fang had to go back to the Jian family first to get the gift from his younger brother.

On the way, he looked at Xing Yan and asked, "Why didn't you say happy birthday to me?"

Xing Yan was fiddling with a small ornament in Qin Fang's car. The wheel had just hit a pothole, shaking the ornament loose. Xing Yan lowered his head, trying to fix it, "You shouldn't be lacking my one sentence. You'll be tired of hearing this sentence today."

"How can I not be lacking," Qin Fang didn't accept his reasoning, "No matter how much others say it, that's them."

Xing Yan laughed and continued to lower his head to fix the small ornament.

When they arrived at the Jian family, Xing Yan didn't get out of the car and waited inside. Qin Fang went in by himself.

The gift that Jian Muyang prepared for Qin Fang was a Lego sneaker that he had assembled himself. Without instructions, he had just kept trying to assemble it based on pictures, which was definitely a big project for a child.

"Do you like it, brother?" Jian Muyang asked carefully.

"I like it," Qin Fang squatted beside him, his eyes very serious, "I especially like it."

"Hey, as long as you like it." Jian Muyang scratched his forehead, smiling a bit shyly, "I worked on it for a long time."

"Thank you, I like it very, very much," Qin Fang kissed him on the head, "You worked hard, Yangyang."

"No, it wasn't tiring," Jian Muyang handed the box to Qin Fang and asked him, "Are you going to take it to school? Or leave it at home?"

Qin Fang thought for a moment and asked him, "Where do you hope I put it?"

Jian Muyang said, "I hope you leave it at home, in your room."

"Okay." Qin Fang nodded and, together with Jian Muyang, placed the box in the cabinet in his bedroom.

Jian Muyang had just gotten a younger brother and was thinking about his little brother every day, so he wasn't as clingy to Qin Fang as before. After giving the gift, he was anxious to leave and asked Qin Fang to take him to his brother.

Before getting in the car, Jian Muyang saw that someone was sitting in the front. He thought it was Hua Tong and nimbly called out as he got into the car, "Hello, Tong-ge! Why didn't you come in?"

Qin Fang laughed and said to Xing Yan, "This is Yan-ge."

Xing Yan turned around and greeted Jian Muyang. Jian Muyang had never met him before and obediently called him "Yan-ge".

"You two look quite alike." Xing Yan said to Qin Fang.

"Yeah, a bit alike," Qin Fang said, "My childhood photos do look like him now."

Jian Muyang wasn't shy. Even with someone in the car, he still kept chatting with Qin Fang. The brothers talked the whole way, with Jian Muyang mostly talking about his younger brother. He kept saying "our younger bro", which sounded quite interesting.

After dropping him off, Qin Fang asked Xing Yan, "My brother is quite lively, isn't he?"

"No." Xing Yan said, "He's quite well-behaved."

"More well-behaved than me. I was naughty when I was little," Qin Fang thought of his childhood and shook his head with a smile, "My grandfather was given headaches by me every day. He couldn't bear to hit me, so I was unruly."

As he said this, Xing Yan's expression was very gentle. He asked, "Did you live with your grandfather when you were little?"

"Yeah." Qin Fang nodded, the corners of his mouth curled in a soft smile, "At that time, I was really a little young master. My grandfather couldn't bear to discipline me. Apart from him, there was no one else to control me. No matter how naughty I was, he wouldn't get angry. At most, he would just put on a stern face and shout Xing..."

Halfway through his words, Qin Fang paused for a moment before continuing, "Shout my name to scare me."

When he was little, his grandfather wished he could offer the whole world to his little grandson. Every time he had a birthday, it was very lively, with endless gifts. At that time, he had so many toys that even a toy room couldn't hold them all.

Afterwards, the car was quiet for a good while. Qin Fang didn't try to control his emotions, letting his thoughts wander to miss that best old man in the world. Xing Yan also didn't speak to disturb him, giving him space.

It wasn't until Hua Tong called to ask where they were, after Qin Fang had hung up the phone with him, he cleared his throat, saying, "So actually, I'm not very willing to celebrate my birthday every year. In the past, when my birthday came around, I would think, when will I finally grow up. Later, I found that even after growing up, it was still the same, so... there was nothing to look forward to."

Xing Yan didn't speak, quietly waiting for him to finish. After a moment, he raised his hand, cradling the back of Qin Fang's head, his thumb gently scraping. Qin Fang looked over at him and smiled, leaning his head back.

Xing Yan's warm palm was pressed against his scalp, the dry and comfortable warmth spreading down through his cranial nerves, making his whole body feel warm.

The place was chosen by Feng Zhe. His dad had just opened a new club with someone, quite high-end. Feng Zhe had informed them in advance. There were people waiting for them downstairs. When they arrived, they were sent directly up. The elevator required someone to swipe a card to go up.

As Qin Fang walked, he said to Xing Yan, "They might be a bit rowdy, but they're not bad people, just a little boisterous."

"Mm." Xing Yan was always indifferent to such things.

Feng Zhe and the others were on the 22nd floor, which was divided into several areas where they could play anything. Only their group was on this floor. After the manager brought them up, he left. Qin Fang said, "Sometimes they say pretty silly things, anyway if you want to laugh, just laugh."

Instead, Xing Yan made Qin Fang laugh first, "If I laugh when they talk, won't they start fighting?"

Qin Fang told him, "No, they're used to it."

This group wasn't very exclusive, people often brought friends, and Hua Tong wasn't originally part of this circle either, but later they all became familiar with him. From far away, their noisy chatter could be heard. As the two walked over, Hua Tong said, "I told you, he definitely wouldn't come alone."

Hua Tong was playing pool with someone else. He walked over holding his cue and stood beside Xing Yan, saying, "Let me introduce, Xing Yan, my Fang's Yan-ge."

"Get lost," Qin Fang laughed and scolded him, "Does he need your introduction?"

"Then you introduce him," Hua Tong stretched out his hand, gesturing for him to come over, "Introduce your new love, the old flame will automatically exit."

Qin Fang wanted to kick him, Hua Tong quickly walked away with his cue.

Qin Fang roughly told Xing Yan who these people were, they nodded at each other and considered greetings done.

"The birthday boy is here?" Feng Zhe had just finished a call, seeing Qin Fang arrive he quickly ran over, "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks." Qin Fang patted Feng Zhe's shoulder, then whispered beside Xing Yan, "Feng Zhe the little madman, a bit crazy."

"Fuck," Feng Zhe laughed and asked Xing Yan, "Bro, what can you play? After a couple rounds we'll all be familiar."

Xing Yan could play a bit of everything, there was nothing he was completely clueless about.

It was just as Qin Fang said, this little gang was too boisterous, but they were much more normal than Xing Yan expected, not much different from regular guys their age, at most they just had an air of rich boys about them.

In the middle, Xing Yan played pool with Hua Tong for a while. Feng Zhe was making a racket on the side, "The ex and current are going to have a match! Place your bets, brothers!"

"Shut up," Qin Fang kicked him, and sat down beside Feng Zhe, asking, "Where's Xiao Fan?"

The smile on Feng Zhe's face disappeared, he frowned, "Who the fuck knows."

"He's not coming?" Qin Fang raised an eyebrow, "He's not even coming for my birthday?"

"Idiot, don't mind him." Feng Zhe lit a cigarette and held it in his mouth, "Come or not as he pleases."

Qin Fang was a bit surprised and asked him, "Don't tell me you two still haven't gotten over that fight?"

Feng Zhe exhaled smoke and didn't speak.

Qin Fang laughed, "Really?"

Feng Zhe and Fan Linyi went to the same school, usually inseparable, but because of a fight last time, the two were basically in a state of severing ties.

Fan Linyi also remembered Qin Fang's birthday and sent him a WeChat message: Happy birthday Fang-ge.

Qin Fang was about to look for him and directly sent a voice message. Fan Linyi answered, Qin Fang asked, "Where are you?"

Fan Linyi said, "Out, got something to do."

"Don't make excuses, hurry and come over." Qin Fang told him, "Giving you twenty minutes."

Fan Linyi said, "Really got something Fang-ge, when I have time I'll make it up to you."

"Fuck." Before Qin Fang could speak, Feng Zhe cursed first, "Acting all high and mighty."

"Shut up." Qin Fang pointed at Feng Zhe, then said to Fan Linyi, "Haven't gotten together for a while, want me to pick you up?"

"No need," Fan Linyi definitely heard Feng Zhe cursing just now, his tone was quite stiff, "I'm not going."

"If you're not coming then forget it, who's begging you," Feng Zhe stood up, "I can't stand hearing him talk, hearing him talk makes me want to curse."

Qin Fang frowned and clicked his tongue, "Then don't listen."

Fan Linyi was probably annoyed enough by Feng Zhe too, he didn't even want to speak anymore. But Fan Linyi indeed hadn't come out for a long time, ever since fighting with Feng Zhe last time he never showed up again, this really wasn't right.

Qin Fang said a few more words to him, Fan Linyi later said, "No need to pick me up Fang-ge, I'll drive myself, it's not far."

"Mm, then I'll wait for you." Qin Fang told him.

Feng Zhe cursed the guy out a couple times on the phone, he was still angry and squatted on the side chain-smoking two cigarettes. Qin Fang went over and kicked him in the butt, telling him, "Later when Xiao Fan comes, don't let your mouth go off like a machine gun non-stop."

Feng Zhe said, "I'm afraid I can't control myself."

"If you can't control it then you two can fight again." Qin Fang said.

"I fucking won't fight him, stupid shit hitting my face, even fighting wars outside you know not to hit the face." Feng Zhe got angry just thinking about it, "What kind of thing is he."

These two were like mortal enemies now, looking down on each other, all previous feelings gone. Hua Tong came over and said to Qin Fang, "Later if they start fighting, you just put on an angry face, today's your birthday so they won't dare go overboard."

Qin Fang shook his head and laughed, "They won't fight."

Indeed they wouldn't fight, these two wouldn't even sit together, wouldn't stay within ten meters of each other. When Fan Linyi arrived, he talked with Qin Fang for a while, then went to the other side to play cards. Feng Zhe sat on this side the whole time watching pool.

The two didn't say a single word to each other, if their eyes met they quickly looked away, there was no chance for a fight.

Ceremony was needed every year, a three-tier cake was placed in the center of the dining table. With over twenty people at the big table, Qin Fang looked at the cake in the middle and felt a bit helpless holding the knife, "Should I kneel on the table to cut it?"

At this distance, even bending to a ninety degree angle he couldn't reach.

In the end, it was dragged over by the edge. He made a few symbolic cuts, cut a piece for himself, cut a piece for Xing Yan, whoever else wanted to eat could cut it themselves.

Feng Zhe, either still angry or who knows what, ate several big pieces, basically finishing the entire top tier himself. Later he wanted to cut more, but Hua Tong stopped him, saying, "Watching you eat is scary."

"Pig." Fan Linyi spat out a word from the other side.

Feng Zhe immediately looked up at him, Fan Linyi didn't raise his head, acting nonchalant.

A group of half-grown boys, at the dividing line between maturity and childishness, such a dinner party was inevitably lively. The alcohol was mixed with several kinds, but in the end they had to chug big glasses of beer, knocking glasses on the table before raising their heads, drinking noisily, as if it wasn't atmospheric if they didn't drink this way, as if they hadn't grown up.

At the dinner table, topics diverged endlessly, anything that came to mind could be chatted about.

Qin Fang was the star of the day. Even if he usually never drank, today he couldn't refuse - these people wouldn't allow it. Since Xing Yan had known Qin Fang, he had never seen him drink. Before Qin Fang drank, Xing Yan turned his head to look at him, raising his eyebrows inquiringly.

Qin Fang said to him in a low voice, "It's okay, I'm not a complete lightweight, I just don't like drinking."

But Qin Fang really couldn't hold his liquor. With his low tolerance, drinking too much was a problem. He was self-aware, so he drank extremely slowly, never taking the initiative to drink when no one was watching.

Xing Yan watched from the side and laughed. The two exchanged glances, and Xing Yan reached over and drank Qin Fang's glass.

Qin Fang's empty glass sat there for a long time, he had to make sure others saw it, barely managing to finish one glass. Later, Xing Yan poured wine from Qin Fang's bottle, indirectly drinking for him.

Hua Tong, sitting across the table, saw their little moves and laughed without exposing them.

Feng Zhe was drinking heavily, downing a lot of alcohol without eating much.

Someone joked, "Our Zhe is really going for it today, huh?"

Feng Zhe snickered, "When have I ever been outdone by you guys in drinking?"

"Wasn't it that time you got drunk and acted up in the snow?" someone beside him teased, "Slapped Xiao Fan in the snow?"

The other person deliberately brought up the old incident, intending to ease the tension between the two.

But it seemed neither of the parties involved wanted to mention it. Fan Linyi said from a distance, "Goes crazy like a dog when drunk."

Having consumed so much alcohol, Feng Zhe couldn't tolerate this jab. He glared over and said, "I think you're the one most like a damn dog."

Others could see that Fan Linyi had no intention of clashing with him like last time, but kept needling him with words. Usually, he would poke once, but when Feng Zhe retorted, he wouldn't engage further. Feng Zhe was left with anger he couldn't vent, unable to even argue properly.

Qin Fang leaned back in his chair and said, "Enough, you two."

Neither of them spoke again, drinking on their own, not even raising their gazes.

Them being like this wasn't good. The people beside them couldn't stand it and urged them to drink together.

"You've been brothers for so many years, let it go. It's not like you haven't had fights before. No matter who's right or wrong this time, have a drink together and put it behind you."

Feng Zhe immediately said, "I'm not drinking with him."

Fan Linyi, on the other hand, didn't make a sound, not refusing to drink. Seeing this, it seemed there was hope, so they persuaded Feng Zhe more. Feng Zhe couldn't resist the persuasion. Seeing that Fan Linyi indeed didn't refuse, he finally gritted his teeth and stood up.

He poured himself a full glass of wine and raised it to Fan Linyi, saying, "After we drink, let's go back to how we were before."

Fan Linyi didn't look up. Feng Zhe continued, "Still brothers."

After he said those two sentences, Fan Linyi didn't move at all, not even picking up his glass. Feng Zhe stared at him, his raised glass shaking, the full glass of wine starting to spill out with the trembling.

Fan Linyi looked at him and said faintly, "...I'm not drinking."

Too stubborn. The atmosphere instantly froze. The people around them wanted to persuade them but didn't know how.

Feng Zhe's face alternated between pale and flushed. Qin Fang couldn't quite bear to watch. Just as he was about to speak, Feng Zhe tossed back the wine himself. Then with a "smack", he slammed the glass on the ground, his eyes completely bloodshot.

"Then what the hell do you want?!" Feng Zhe raised his arm and rubbed his eyes hard, turning the corners red.

"You hit and cursed me because I was with someone, so what now that I've dumped them?!"

"If you don't want to see me, then don't come..." Feng Zhe's voice was hoarse. "You come and give me attitude, well I don't give a damn about your attitude. You won't drink my wine, that's just great. Then what's the point of being f**king brothers, let's cut ties."

Feng Zhe sniffled and rubbed his eyes fiercely with his arm again. Only then did he feel the pain, and others noticed his eye corner was bleeding.

When the glass shattered on the ground earlier, a shard must have ricocheted and hit his face. Rubbing with his arm left a long trail of blood from the outer corner of his eye. He glanced at the blood on his arm, not thinking much of it, then pointed at Fan Linyi, "I wasted my time being... friends with you all these years."

"Enough, don't rub your face." Fan Linyi stood up frowning, picked up the wine glass on the table, tossed it back.

Pouring too quickly caused some wine to spill on his clothes. Fan Linyi slammed the glass back on the table, wiped his face with his sleeve, and strode over to grab Feng Zhe's arm, trying to drag him away. A large teardrop still hung on Feng Zhe's face. He struggled but couldn't break free.

Fan Linyi dragged him out. Feng Zhe cursed and grumbled, while Fan Linyi kept frowning the whole time, not saying a word even as he pulled the other away.

After the two left, someone snickered and said, "These two f**king clowns."

Actually, almost everyone at the table had sensed something. There were plenty here who weren't straight. These two little brothers were too obvious - ordinary brothers don't fight like this. But everyone tactfully kept quiet, exchanging knowing glances.

Only one guy who loved to joke around said, "Zhe's woken up, huh? Back when I was together with someone, Zhe was still bewildered, wondering how two guys could fool around."

"Damn, it's you who corrupted Zhe," the person beside him said.

Qin Fang didn't really hear what they said. Frankly, he hadn't quite processed it. The alcohol had already made his mind a bit fuzzy, and then he witnessed that whole scene.

Qin Fang had known Feng Zhe and Fan Linyi for a long time. In his mind, they were all brothers, just like him and Hua Tong. Seeing them like that just now, even Qin Fang could tell something was off between them despite his slowness.

But for something to happen between the two of them, that was just too... unbelievable. It was no less shocking than if something happened between him and Hua Tong.

Qin Fang subconsciously glanced at Xing Yan beside him. Xing Yan happened to be looking at him too.

"Is being gay trendy now or what?" a straight little brother who brought his girlfriend swept his eyes over the people present. "How many of us straights are left? Half?"

Having said that, he started counting people one by one, starting from his left.

"These few aren't, I know Tong-er is straight, those two giggling over there have also fooled around, Xiao Peng is, Dong is too, Fang-ge..."

He got stuck when he got to Qin Fang, his eyes darting back and forth between Xing Yan and Qin Fang, "Is he... no... is he..."

Everyone at the table looked over and started hooting. Qin Fang felt his face heat up a bit after drinking and waved his hand, "Don't mess around."

"What's there to be embarrassed about," someone whistled, "It's legal on the other side of the strait, what do we have to be shy about."

"Hey Yan," the person sitting next to Xing Yan was a bit overly familiar. He smiled and asked Xing Yan, "Are you two together?"

Xing Yan leaned back in his chair, looking calm, and said, "If you think so, then we are."

"..." Qin Fang was stunned by what he said and quickly interjected, "Hey, hey, we can't admit that. If I explain later, they won't believe it."

"Even if you don't admit it, we still won't believe you," the whole table was teasing them. Even Hua Tong chimed in, "There's definitely something going on between them. As an ex, I can testify to that the most."

Qin Fang found their teasing amusing, but he was also a bit worried that Xing Yan would be unhappy. He leaned over and said to him, "Don't mind them. They're just joking around and it'll pass."

Xing Yan gently shook his head and said, "I don't mind."

"See, he doesn't even mind." Someone pushed Qin Fang and said, "Congratulations, Fang has turned too. Come on, you two have a drink."

With so many people making a fuss together, Qin Fang couldn't argue even if he wanted to. The drinks were poured for both of them, a full glass each. Xing Yan picked it up and drank without hesitation.

Since the drinks were already poured, Qin Fang had no choice but to drink too. He shook his head with a smile and was about to reach out when Xing Yan blocked his hand, took his glass, and downed it in one go.

Qin Fang covered half of his face, resigned to letting them make a scene. Instantly, the room was filled with whistles and cheers, and the atmosphere was about to explode. Xing Yan's move to block the drink was so dominant that it overshadowed Qin Fang's presence. Some people pushed the two together, and Qin Fang was shoved against Xing Yan, their bodies pressed close.

Xing Yan swished the last mouthful of alcohol in his mouth, his jawline strikingly handsome as his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Qin Fang's shoulders, his arm brushing against Qin Fang's neck.

Both of their body temperatures were a bit hot, and Qin Fang suddenly felt like he was going to sweat.

"Damn, Fang, where did you find such a brother? I fucking want one too!" a guy with an earring said to Qin Fang. "You guys always keep the good stuff to yourselves."

"Since it's like this, I won't hide it anymore," Qin Fang joked along with them. "Yan, should we go public?"

Xing Yan's arm was still draped over Qin Fang's shoulders. He said indifferently, "Up to you."

"Then it's settled." Qin Fang poured drinks for both of them, clinked their glasses, and said, "May we have a hundred years of happiness together."

Xing Yan drank, and Qin Fang drank too. After drinking, the two looked at each other. Xing Yan's skin was fair, and after drinking, the corners of his eyes were a bit red, looking very attractive. In the noisy environment, with the sound of cheers in his ears, he saw himself in Xing Yan's eyes.

Qin Fang licked his lips, feeling that things had gotten out of hand and he was a bit tipsy.

He was indeed tipsy, though it was unclear whether it was because of the drink or something else.

After that, Qin Fang drank a lot more. For his alcohol tolerance, he was already quite drunk. The group was making a big ruckus.

When Fan Linyi and Feng Zhe came back, the confrontational atmosphere from before was gone, much more peaceful. Feng Zhe had a transparent bandage on the corner of his eye.

As expected of the little madman, after making a scene, he could act as if nothing had happened, drinking and making a fuss as if unaffected.

Someone said to him, "Zhe, you don't know, but after you left, Fang came out."

"What the fuck?" Feng Zhe's eyes widened. "Really? With who?"

"Who do you think? Look around the room and see who could match him," the person said.

Feng Zhe leaned over to look at Qin Fang, then at Xing Yan. "Really? Fang, you turned?"

"Ah." Qin Fang laughed.

"...Oh my god," Feng Zhe asked Xing Yan, "Is it true, handsome? My Fang... only likes girls."

Xing Yan glanced at Qin Fang and nodded.

"Even you're playing along," Qin Fang shook his head and said to Xing Yan, "Crazy."

Xing Yan said, "I'm not playing along."

Qin Fang was a bit slow from the alcohol. "Hm?"

Xing Yan had been quietly watching him, but at a certain moment, he suddenly leaned in, his lips brushing Qin Fang's ear. He lowered his voice and said something that only Qin Fang could hear clearly. The words slipped into Qin Fang's ear, making half of his body go numb—

"When will you finally come around? I've been pursuing you for quite a while."