Her birthday was approaching.

Chen Qingwu was organizing and labeling a recently fired batch of test tiles when she received a video call from Liao Shuman.

After exchanging updates, Liao Shuman got straight to the point. “What are your plans for your birthday? Last year we celebrated on your birthday, right? So this year we’ll follow the usual pattern and celebrate on Qiran’s day?”

Chen Qingwu paused her work, holding her phone in one hand while unconsciously twirling a black marker with the other. “Can I not celebrate with Qiran this year?”

“Why?”

“Our birthdays aren’t actually on the same day anyway… It feels like ever since I can remember, I’ve never had my own separate birthday.”

“If we celebrate Qiran’s birthday, the two families gather once; if we celebrate your birthday, the two families gather again. They’re so close together, same process both times—what’s the point? Birthdays are just a formality anyway.”

Chen Qingwu said, “Then let’s just celebrate Qiran’s this year.”

“Auntie Qi and the others will definitely prepare a cake and gifts for you anyway.”

“Then I’ll tell Auntie Qi myself…”

“Making such a big deal out of such a small thing—people will think they did something wrong to offend you.” Liao Shuman thought for a moment. “How about this—we’ll still do it the usual way, but on your actual birthday, I’ll take you shopping separately and celebrate with you then. How’s that?”

Liao Shuman owned beauty salons with three branches in Nancheng.

This kind of business especially required maintaining relationships and cultivating networks. A few times after school when Chen Qingwu had gone to the salon to find Liao Shuman, she’d been amazed by her methods and techniques for retaining regular customers—as if she could imperceptibly make people bloom with joy to the point they’d willingly hand over their wallets.

Perhaps Liao Shuman exhausted all her enthusiasm at work, which is why Chen Qingwu often felt that as a mother in family life, she had a kind of gentle dismissiveness toward both husband and daughter.

Sickly and weak as a child, Chen Qingwu often felt guilty about causing her parents trouble, so most of the time she fully accepted Liao Shuman’s arrangements without creating complications.

Previously, her own wishes had aligned with Liao Shuman’s desires, so it hadn’t seemed like a problem.

But now that the two were no longer aligned, the soft thorns in Liao Shuman’s personality always left her somewhat at a loss.

She wasn’t naturally as socially adept as Liao Shuman anyway.

“Mom, I don’t want to be tied to Qiran anymore. I told you last time—I really don’t like him anymore…”

“But didn’t the two families just travel together? Just because you don’t like Qiran doesn’t mean the two families should cut ties, does it?”

The friendship between the two families had originally begun with the business partnership between Chen Suiliang and Meng Chengyong.

Back when Qilin had gone into premature labor with Meng Fuyuan, Meng Chengyong had been on a business trip in West Africa and couldn’t get back immediately. It was Chen Suiliang and Liao Shuman who had rushed her to the hospital, contacted family members, and bustled about taking care of everything until she delivered successfully and both mother and child were safe.

Later, when Chen Suiliang’s company warehouse caught fire and he couldn’t deliver goods on time, leading to cash flow problems and being besieged by troubles, Meng Chengyong had extended a helping hand, providing assistance with both manpower and financial resources to help weather the crisis.

Over all these years since, the two families had helped each other through big and small matters—their relationship of mutual obligation was already impossible to sever.

Chen Qingwu only felt the powerlessness of punching cotton. “Then can I just not celebrate my birthday this year?”

“Didn’t I just say? Even if you don’t celebrate, Auntie Qi and the others will celebrate for you anyway.” Liao Shuman’s expression showed some impatience, as if she felt Chen Qingwu was making unnecessary trouble again. “Alright, alright, it’s settled—on your birthday, I’ll celebrate separately with you again.”

Chen Qingwu could only agree verbally.

She was planning to pay lip service while secretly standing them up on Qiran’s birthday, but a phone call from Qilin made her plan fall through.

Meng Chengyong’s cousin’s father had passed away and they needed to rush to another city for the funeral; the Import and Export Commodities Fair was about to be held, and Chen Suiliang also had to bring several people to attend.

Qilin discussed with Liao Shuman—with both fathers absent and unable to gather everyone if the kids returned home, why not have the two of them go to Dongcheng to help celebrate the birthdays?

“After you and Qiran opened your studios, we still haven’t visited. This time we can celebrate both your birthdays and take the opportunity to tour the places.” Qilin said with a smile.

Chen Qingwu had no room to refuse and could only agree.

The day before Meng Qiran’s birthday, both mothers arrived in Dongcheng.

Meng Qiran drove, taking Chen Qingwu along to pick them up from the high-speed rail station.

Meng Fuyuan had already made reservations for both the hotel and dinner restaurant in advance. After arriving, they first checked into the hotel, then headed to the restaurant.

The two mothers often came to Dongcheng for shopping and were more familiar with the dining and entertainment scene than Chen Qingwu and Meng Qiran.

As soon as the restaurant was mentioned, Liao Shuman said with a smile, “Then Fuyuan will have to spend a lot today.”

Qilin said with a laugh, “Fuyuan has been in Dongcheng longer, so it’s appropriate for him to host.”

The four took their seats at the restaurant.

Qilin received a WeChat message from Meng Fuyuan, looked at it, and said, “Fuyuan says he’ll arrive a bit later and for us to order first.”

Liao Shuman said, “Then we’ll order for him too, so he can eat as soon as he arrives.”

The two mothers studied the menu. Chen Qingwu propped her chin on her hand, drinking lemon water, frequently lighting up her phone screen to check the time.

Meng Qiran suddenly leaned close. “What are you daydreaming about?”

“Nothing.” Chen Qingwu came to her senses. “…Just thinking about an order.”

Meng Qiran studied her. “You seem to be daydreaming a lot lately.”

“Do I?” Chen Qingwu was immediately alert.

“Mm.”

“…Really? I didn’t seem to notice myself.” Chen Qingwu played dumb. “Maybe I haven’t been sleeping well at night recently.”

Meng Qiran lowered his gaze, picked up his water glass, and took a sip.

It seemed that ever since Chen Qingwu had declared she no longer liked him, he could no longer understand her.

In their current interactions, her emotions were always light, as was her engagement with him.

Between them seemed to be a soft wall of air—he could see her, but whenever he tried to get closer, that wall would silently bounce him back.

This feeling was very uncomfortable. Like a pure-color two-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle missing the edge pieces, leaving no place to start.

After the two mothers finished ordering, Meng Qiran and Chen Qingwu each added one dish.

While waiting for their food and making small talk, Chen Qingwu kept unconsciously checking the time, not really paying attention to what everyone was discussing.

Until after 6:40, Chen Qingwu’s phone vibrated.

She unlocked it and saw a new WeChat message.

Meng Fuyuan: Look up.

Chen Qingwu immediately raised her head.

The restaurant was very quiet, with music flowing and only faint murmurs of conversation audible.

Ahead, Meng Fuyuan was walking over following a server, wearing a black long coat, his bearing refined. Under the dim, serene lighting, he was particularly captivating.

Chen Qingwu saw the phone in his hand and suddenly felt her heart leap.

Meng Fuyuan walked over with a natural expression and handed his coat to the server.

This was a table for six. Qilin and Liao Shuman sat on one side, Chen Qingwu and Meng Qiran on the other.

The outermost seats on both sides were left empty.

Meng Fuyuan sat down without hesitation on Qilin’s side, casually greeting both mothers. “It was hard for you two to come, Aunties.”

Liao Shuman said with a smile, “It’s just a few hours, not hard at all—did you just get off work, Fuyuan?”

“Had a meeting that ran long. Have you ordered?”

“Yes. The food should be out soon.”

Meng Fuyuan looked at the menu. “Should we add two more dishes?”

“No need. If it’s not enough we can add more, but ordering too much is wasteful.”

Meng Fuyuan nodded and accepted the water glass the server handed him, taking a sip.

Only then did his gaze pass over Chen Qingwu’s face, sitting in the middle across from him, light as a dragonfly touching water.

Though it was such a fleeting glance, light as cloud and smoke, Chen Qingwu felt a burning sensation behind her ears.

It seemed the more proper and serious he appeared in front of everyone, the more thrilling she found it.

Soon the dishes began arriving.

With the close relationship between the two families, everyone was relaxed.

While eating, Qilin said with a laugh, “This year Qingwu and Qiran will be twenty-six. Time really flies. I still always feel like they’re children.”

Qilin looked at Meng Fuyuan with a smile. “Fuyuan, do you remember when Qingwu and Qiran were little? We deliberately bought them matching clothes in different colors, and when we went out people would ask if they were twins.”

Meng Fuyuan’s tone was extremely calm. “I remember.”

Liao Shuman: “When they were little, they wanted everything to be the same.”

Qilin: “Yes. Remember that time we took them shoe shopping? The boys’ and girls’ styles were different, but Qingwu wouldn’t have it—she insisted on wearing the same ones, so in the end we had to buy her boys’ shoes too.”

Once adults fell into reminiscing, they became unstoppable.

Before, Chen Qingwu had always listened with relish, because these memories were undoubtedly proof of her connection with Meng Qiran.

Hearing them now, she only felt a faint embarrassment as if things had changed.

Qilin continued recounting “anecdotes”: “And there was that year—I forget which birthday it was—Qingwu wasn’t feeling well and didn’t go out, right? Qiran went out to play with Zhan Yining, and Qingwu sulked about it…”

Chen Qingwu couldn’t help but look up at Meng Fuyuan.

He caught this glance from her, their eyes meeting briefly, then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Chen Qingwu really couldn’t continue listening and changed the subject. “How is Yining doing lately?”

Qilin said, “Oh, we had dinner with her parents a while ago. She’s doing well, preparing to join her father’s company to help out.”

Liao Shuman said, “She studied business administration in university, right?”

“I think so…”

The topic finally veered away.

After a while, the server came to refill everyone’s water.

Chen Qingwu took the opportunity to pick up her phone, propping her chin with her left hand, looking down as if checking for new messages. With her right hand, she scrolled for a moment, clicked on Meng Fuyuan’s profile picture, and typed with one hand, sending a message to the person across from her: You didn’t even help me change the subject!

After sending it, she tucked her phone into her hoodie pocket.

Meng Fuyuan’s phone screen lit up beside him, but he seemed not to notice and continued participating in the conversation at appropriate moments. Only after nearly two minutes did he pick up his phone, saying “Let me reply to a work message.”

Chen Qingwu raised her chopsticks to pick up food and saw Meng Fuyuan put down his phone.

Her phone in her hoodie pocket immediately vibrated with a muffled sound.

She also acted as if she hadn’t noticed and continued eating.

Only after quite a while did she take out her phone.

Meng Fuyuan: Why change the subject? Your past with Qiran is so interesting.

Text messages lacked tonal assistance, but anyone not lacking in perception could read how loaded with sarcasm this sentence was.

Chen Qingwu couldn’t help but curl her lips.

At this moment, Qilin was saying to Meng Fuyuan, “In a while we’ll do a deep clean at home. Your study windows need cleaning too. I’m letting you know in advance.”

Chen Qingwu’s gaze dropped, sweeping under the table, seeing Meng Fuyuan’s black leather shoes diagonally across from her.

Very slowly, she moved her left foot toward the upper left, while lowering her head to eat, and lightly kicked his shoe.

As if telling him he was petty.

Her foot didn’t immediately withdraw but stayed lightly touching his shoe tip.

Meng Fuyuan’s expression didn’t change at all, and his tone replying to Qilin remained very calm. “Alright. Please remind the cleaning staff not to touch anything in my study.”

Qilin said, “Don’t worry.”

After a while, the topic turned to Christmas plans. Qilin asked Meng Qiran whether he planned to spend it in Dongcheng or return to Nancheng.

Meng Qiran said he couldn’t say for certain yet.

At this moment, Chen Qingwu saw Meng Fuyuan pick up his glass and take a sip of water.

At the same time, she felt his shoe tip move, pushing her foot back by an inch.

Yet his facial expression still showed no change whatsoever.

Chen Qingwu immediately withdrew her foot.

She didn’t dare continue—a few more times and even the most obtuse person would notice.

Eating, chatting, drinking water…

Occasionally looking up, their eyes occasionally catching each other’s, entangling for a second before separating.

That increasingly intense anxiety somehow became fuel for the thrill.

She felt she was so bad.

And this badness was tacitly permitted and indulged by Meng Fuyuan.

The meal finally ended, like a battle of wits in a spy thriller.

Meng Fuyuan paid the bill and everyone walked out of the restaurant together.

The elevator was crowded.

Chen Qingwu stood against the right wall of the car. Meng Qiran naturally stood to her left, shielding her from others.

Behind her stood Meng Fuyuan.

As the elevator descended, she heard the sound of Meng Fuyuan’s fingers lightly tapping the screen behind her.

A moment later, her phone vibrated in her hoodie pocket.

In this situation, she naturally didn’t dare move at all, only unconsciously stiffening her back a bit.

Finally reaching the basement level.

The two mothers would still ride in Qiran’s car back to the hotel, while Meng Fuyuan needed to drive back to the company.

Qilin: “Drive safely then. Don’t work too late—go back and rest early.”

Meng Fuyuan nodded.

After saying goodbye, he opened his car door. His gaze touched Chen Qingwu’s face briefly before moving away. “See you tomorrow.”

Qilin: “See you tomorrow.”

The hotel wasn’t far. After Meng Qiran dropped off both mothers, the car turned and headed toward the creative park.

Meng Qiran’s car always played songs from his favorite bands.

Chen Qingwu raised her hand to turn up the volume, rolled down the window halfway, turned her head, and listened to music while feeling the breeze.

Having worked with cars for years, Meng Qiran handled the steering wheel with a fluidity others couldn’t match. When turning, he glanced at Chen Qingwu—she was looking out the window, clearly daydreaming again.

“Wuwu.”

“Mm?” Chen Qingwu turned her head.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing… just spacing out.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

Meng Qiran was silent for a while in the music, then said, “Want to take a trip somewhere soon?”

“Didn’t we just travel during National Day?” Chen Qingwu said.

“I was thinking just the two of us this time. Last time in Switzerland, didn’t you catch a cold as soon as you landed? You didn’t really get to enjoy yourself. We could go again.”

That trip had been when she was studying in London. A heavy cold, coughing and runny nose—she hadn’t dared go out to challenge the wind and snow, so she’d stayed in the hotel room the whole time.

She hadn’t felt she hadn’t enjoyed herself, just felt she’d been a buzzkill. At the time she’d urged Meng Qiran to go skiing by himself and not worry about her. Though he’d gone, he’d clearly felt bad about leaving a sick person behind, so he’d stayed cooped up in the hotel with her for the following days, both of them bored out of their minds.

Chen Qingwu smiled and said, “I’m pretty busy lately with several orders waiting to be filled. I was never very good at skiing anyway. If you want to ski, you should find a more skilled friend.”

“Wuwu, you know very well I’m not interested in skiing.” Meng Qiran glanced at her.

Chen Qingwu smiled, her tone very light. “Things other than skiing—I can’t accompany you in those either anymore.”

Meng Qiran didn’t pursue this topic further, as if deliberately ignoring that sentence, casually asking about her plans for tomorrow.

After some idle chat, they arrived at the studio.

Meng Qiran stayed for his usual while before leaving.

Chen Qingwu locked the main door, turned off the lights in the work area, and walked toward the back, phone in hand.

Only then did she remember she still had an unread message.

It was the one Meng Fuyuan had sent her in the elevator earlier.

She quickly opened it.

Meng Fuyuan: The earrings look very nice.

As if she could still feel the heat of that gaze landing on her earlobe.

Chen Qingwu sat down on the sofa and typed back with a smile: Staring isn’t very appropriate, is it?

Meng Fuyuan quickly replied: Then please allow me to apologize to you in person.

Chen Qingwu: Now?

Meng Fuyuan: Now.

Chen Qingwu: But you already said “see you tomorrow.”

Meng Fuyuan: That wasn’t said to you.

Chen Qingwu: It’s already late. Are you sure you still want to come over?

Meng Fuyuan: I’m already on my way.

Meng Fuyuan: I didn’t really get to talk to you alone today. I’ll come over and stay a bit then leave.

Chen Qingwu realized she’d been smiling the whole time. She typed: Then I’ll reluctantly wait for you a bit longer.

In about twenty minutes, Meng Fuyuan arrived, even bringing her dessert along the way.

Fresh egg tarts, seemingly just out of the oven, with slightly crispy shells.

Meng Fuyuan sat down on the sofa, unbuttoned one more button on his shirt, and leaned back.

Chen Qingwu was using a napkin to catch crumbs while eating an egg tart. She turned to glance at Meng Fuyuan—under the lights, his skin was pale, fatigue evident.

She asked, “Are you a bit tired?” She knew Meng Fuyuan had been working overtime almost every day recently.

Meng Fuyuan said, “Mm.”

“Then you should go back and rest early.”

“If I go back, I won’t be able to stop thinking about work. Being at your place helps me relax more.”

Chen Qingwu felt the same way. It seemed that being with Meng Fuyuan was when she felt most relaxed.

She finished the egg tart in her hand in two bites, pulled out a wet wipe to clean her hands, turned her body sideways to face Meng Fuyuan. “Do you want to sleep for a bit?”

Meng Fuyuan looked at her.

She reached out, her fingers pausing briefly in front of his nose bridge before removing his glasses.

Meng Fuyuan closed his eyes in that moment.

Chen Qingwu folded the glasses and placed them on the coffee table in front of them. “You can take a nap. I’ll wake you in a bit.”

“Just sleep like this?” Meng Fuyuan asked with a soft laugh.

Chen Qingwu paused, then moved closer to where he was sitting until their arms touched.

“I can lend you my shoulder.” She sat up straight, raising her shoulder, her voice extremely casual.

Meng Fuyuan looked at her. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll push my luck?”

Chen Qingwu immediately prepared to move away, but in that moment Meng Fuyuan leaned over, his head tilting slightly to rest on her shoulder.

Warm breath lingered near her ear. Chen Qingwu’s hands unconsciously gripped the edge of the sofa tightly.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Had he fallen asleep?

After quite a while, Chen Qingwu looked down.

Meng Fuyuan seemed to read her mind. “…Of course I can’t sleep.”

Chen Qingwu jumped, then said with a laugh, “Then sit up.”

“Am I heavy?”

“…Not really.”

“Then bear with me a bit longer.”

Chen Qingwu’s palms were so tense they’d broken out in a thin layer of sweat.

It seemed the longer they spent together, the more she discovered Meng Fuyuan was completely different from her fixed perception of him.

He could also let down his guard and depend on someone like this.

And that person was her.

“…You used to be so serious with me.” Chen Qingwu couldn’t help but say.

“Mm.” Meng Fuyuan said in a low voice. “Because you’re too smart. If I wasn’t serious, you would have immediately seen through my true thoughts.”

“…Would I?”

“Of course.”

“Have you peeked at me before?” Chen Qingwu thought of that time he’d picked them up at the airport—she’d felt eyes watching her in the car.

“Many times. Which time are you referring to?” Meng Fuyuan asked.

This excessively frank attitude left Chen Qingwu speechless.

It seemed that in the current atmosphere, whatever they talked about inevitably felt intimate.

“…Just go to sleep.” Chen Qingwu could only say this.

She heard Meng Fuyuan laugh softly and say, “I’ll try.”

The room fell silent.

But it seemed less than five minutes before Chen Qingwu felt the weight on her shoulder lighten.

She immediately turned to look.

Meng Fuyuan rubbed his brow. “I need to go, Qingwu.”

“Won’t you rest a bit more?”

Meng Fuyuan reached out to pick up his glasses from the coffee table. “Unless absolutely necessary, I generally don’t test myself lightly.”

This statement left Chen Qingwu unsure how to respond.

Meng Fuyuan put on his glasses and saw two egg tarts still left in the box. “Eat them while they’re hot. They don’t taste as good when cold.”

“…Mm.”

Meng Fuyuan stood up and straightened his sleeves.

Chen Qingwu also stood and walked him to the door.

Meng Fuyuan’s steps paused slightly as he looked at her. At night, his gaze always seemed somewhat deep, somewhat reluctant. “Lock the doors and windows. Rest early. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

…She’d never looked forward to tomorrow so much, even though it would just be an ordinary meeting.

—

Seating arrangement:

Older Brother | Qilin | Liao Shuman

Empty seat | Qingwu | Qiran