Chapter 18: Please Release the Birthday Boy

Lin Chuji felt enveloped by that citrus scent, floating as if on a cloud, soothing all the churning discomfort in his stomach.

And at that moment, he vaguely recalled some fragmented images, scenes he had never seen before.

In a dimly lit corridor, he was sitting on a bench, soaking wet as if just pulled from the water, looking like he was crying.

Then another boy walked over, holding a very ugly doll in his arms—one eye big, one eye small, crooked and misshapen, looking hand-sewn, very similar to the one that slept with him.

“I’ll give you this.

When you want to cry, you can hug it,” the other said, crouching to look at him.

“My little sister is like that too.

Cries easily.”

“It’s so ugly, it looks…” he couldn’t help complaining.

Yet he let the other stuff that huge doll into his arms, burying his entire face in it.

Dimly, as if across time and space, he smelled the scent clinging to that doll—fresh, clean.

Just like right now.

Very, very similar.

 

Lin Chuji felt a bit dazed.

This was the first time he had this memory, and it was hard to tell if it was real.

He shook his head, his head hurting, unwilling to think further, wanting only to get closer to Xie Yan.

He said softly, “Don’t move.

Let me… smell it again.”

 

Xie Yan, however, was still stuck on the words just spoken, not having heard the second half clearly.

His mind was filled with that one sentence echoing in his heart.

Lin Chuji recognized him and said, “I really like you.”

For someone like Xie Yan, who had been receiving confessions from girls since childhood, the impact was overwhelming.

They say drunken words are true words—at this moment, what he said couldn’t be a lie.

So had Lin Chuji gradually transformed him from an insignificant substitute into a new crush?

 

Xie Yan looked down at him and pressed for an answer: “What do you like about me?”

Lin Chuji’s lips were pressed against his palm, his words muffled.

Xie Yan was truly going up and down with this fragmented speech.

Not being able to hear the second half was agonizing, so he reached out to steady him and asked again, “Lin Chuji, what do you like about me?”

 

Lin Chuji smiled at him.

With the last ten-thousandth of his rationality burning in the alcohol, he thought, No, he’s a guy, and Xie Yan is also a guy.

Mom said guys can’t like guys, not even that kind of friendly liking.

He grew more serious.

“I don’t like you.

Really, I don’t.”

Afraid of being misunderstood, he repeated it to make sure Xie Yan heard clearly.

 

Xie Yan: “…….”

He resisted the urge to spank him, lowered his gaze, and suppressed his exasperation.

“Lin Chuji, are you playing with me?”

 

Lin Chuji stared at him without blinking.

“I’m not.

When did I?

Tell me, and I’ll change.”

 

Xie Yan felt a throbbing in his temples.

He thought he must be crazy to take a drunk person seriously, expecting to hear anything heartfelt from him.

He steadied Lin Chuji and asked, “If you don’t like it here, do you want to go back?”

Lin Chuji checked the time on his phone—it was fifty-five minutes past the hour, almost midnight.

He shook his head.

“I want to finish my birthday before going back.

I’ve never celebrated my birthday with anyone other than my parents.”

 

Usually, he would be too shy to say such things.

But today, having drunk alcohol and being bolder, and because Xie Yan was good-natured and wouldn’t laugh at him, he carefully voiced his thoughts.

 

Xie Yan looked thoughtful.

“You want everyone to celebrate your birthday?”

 

Lin Chuji nodded.

“I specifically told my mom today that I didn’t need them to celebrate for me this year.

I said I would celebrate with friends.”

Of course, at that time, he hadn’t known he would run into Xie Yan again—it was just an excuse to escape that hollow birthday party.

 

Xie Yan understood instantly.

He grabbed Lin Chuji’s wrist and opened the bathroom door.

Lin Chuji, being pulled along, was bewildered.

“What are you doing?”

Xie Yan didn’t answer, just smiled with confidence and led him back into that garish, bizarre world.

All around were noisy conversations, the lights overhead flashing intensely, swaying back and forth, making the brief moment of clarity blur again.

“Hey, where did you two go?”

Zhao Heng saw them, staggered over, and put an arm around each.

“Anyone would think Boss Xie was trying to skip out on the bill.”

 

Xie Yan was succinct.

“We went to the bathroom.”

 

The Shen brothers heard the commotion and looked over, instantly beaming.

“Oh, going to the bathroom holding hands?

Are you two kindergarteners?”

“Bro, what’s wrong with you?

Didn’t we agree not to tease them anymore?”

Shen Yibei looked serious.

“Boss Xie, even though you’re an adult, doing things against public order and good morals in the bathroom is also very inappropriate.”

 

Xie Yan turned to look at Lin Chuji, slightly vindictive, with a half-smile.

“Tell them.

What did we just do in there?”

 

Lin Chuji blinked slowly and answered truthfully, “Hugged.”

 

Shen Yibei nearly pinched his brother’s arm purple, his face full of excitement.

“And then?

And then?”

 

Lin Chuji said seriously, “Then he asked if I liked him, and I said I didn’t.”

 

Xie Yan: “…….”

I’m so f*cking done.

 

The Shen brothers exchanged glances, both full of sorrow.

Ah, such a simple, blunt, on-the-spot rejection of a confession.

So tragic.

 

Xie Yan grabbed the back of Lin Chuji’s neck like a puppy and said flatly, “Can you believe the words of a drunkard?”

 

Shen Yinan shook his head cooperatively.

“Of course not.

But I’m just curious, why were you two ‘straight’ guys talking about liking or not liking in a bathroom?”

Xie Yan had no comeback.

 

Seeing the clock about to strike twelve, he remembered the real matter at hand.

“Lin Chuji wants everyone to wish him a happy birthday.

Two minutes left.

Can someone arrange it?

I’ll cover the cost.”

“Even after being rejected, you still help celebrate.

Touching,” Shen Yinan said with a pained expression.

“We will definitely fulfill your wish.”

“Are you having another episode?”

Xie Yan rolled his eyes.

“Then it’s my time to shine as the nightlife king.”

Shen Yibei puffed out his chest, pushed through the crowd, and rushed to the control booth.

 

Soon, he was holding a microphone and jumping onto the center of the stage, drawing out his words to build the atmosphere: “Friends, at this very moment, a young man in the prime of his life will turn eighteen in one minute.

Ready, lights, music, everyone—get—ready—!

When the midnight bell rings, let’s all shout together: Happy—birthday—to—Lin—Chuji—!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of pure white light tracked down.

Lin Chuji, cheeks flushed, was frozen in the center, becoming the focus of all eyes.

He sobered up by more than half, his back trembling, fingers curled at his sides, head lowered, wanting to hide.

His wrist was then grasped by another, warmer hand—a bit rough, with no hint of desire, just patting the back of his hand soothingly.

Lin Chuji turned his head and looked at Xie Yan.

“With the lights flashing like this, they can’t see your expression clearly.

Just enjoy it,” Xie Yan said, tightening his grip around Lin Chuji’s slender wrist.

“Don’t be afraid.

I’ll stay with you.”

 

Miraculously, Lin Chuji’s chaotic, anxious heart seemed to tremble less, slowly turning into a bit of excitement.

“Aaaaah, he’s so good-looking, and only eighteen?

So young!!!”

“Whoa, I just tried to chat him up, thought he was that cool, aloof type, but he’s not.”

“Is that cold-faced handsome guy next to him his boyfriend?

What an attractive couple.”

“Sigh, all the good-looking boys end up with each other…”

All around were voices talking over each other, but Lin Chuji couldn’t hear anything.

His gaze was fixed on the slowly moving hands.

One second, one second, one second, ticking methodically until it hit midnight.

“Little friend Lin Chuji, happy birthday!

Happy adulthood!”

Starting with Shen Yibei on the microphone, his brother and Zhao Heng shouted with the loudest voices, driving everyone to send down a synchronized blessing.

The large screen displayed a few flashing words: “Happy Birthday Lin Chuji.”

Then, after the huge shout, the golden confetti used for creating a dance atmosphere fluttered down in abundance.

 

Lin Chuji felt like his heart was about to explode.

He couldn’t help but reach back to grab Xie Yan’s arm and look up at the ceiling.

A piece of confetti drifted slowly, gently, and finally landed on the tip of his nose.

It seemed to herald that from this day on, the road ahead was wide open.

 

Xie Yan observed his expression carefully.

His face was still flushed from the alcohol, but gone was the helpless, timid shyness he’d had before when standing in front of so many people.

Instead, there was a slight glistening in his eyes.

Xie Yan took his phone and captured that moment.

Then he asked seriously, “Happy birthday, Lin Chuji.

Are you happy today?”

 

Lin Chuji nodded emphatically.

“Happy.”

 

If it weren’t for Xie Yan, he probably would never in his life have dared or been able to be watched by so many people, blessed by so many unfamiliar faces.

Although he was still timid, still scared, often feeling socially dead, at this moment, everyone’s attention was likely genuine.

Many people came over to clink glasses with him.

 

Lin Chuji didn’t want to drink anymore, but couldn’t resist the enthusiasm around him.

He said “thank you” softly while drinking heavily.

 

Shen Yibei jumped off the stage and smugly ran to Xie Yan to take credit.

“So?

Pretty grand, right?”

 

Xie Yan watched Lin Chuji drink continuously, transferred the money to him, then said casually, “Good.

A bit too much.”

“Too much?

I was originally going to sing a song too, but I couldn’t find the backing track because of the time crunch, so I had to cancel,” Shen Yibei said, full of regret.

 

Xie Yan lifted his chin.

“Let’s wrap it up.

If this continues, I can’t manage him.”

 

Shen Yibei quickly went to gather the others.

Xie Yan pulled Lin Chuji out of the crowd and said flatly, “Thank you, everyone.

We have to go now.

Have a good time.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Lin Chuji nodded like a pecking chick, not even sure who he was talking to.

 

Xie Yan clicked his tongue, dragged and pulled him outside the door, and recalling how he had accepted every drink earlier, scolded him, “Idiot.

If you can’t drink, don’t.”

 

Lin Chuji, muddled, opened his mouth, bolder than when sober: “You’re the idiot.

Not only can I drink, I can also mix drinks.

So impressive.”

 

Good, he can still talk back.

Not too drunk.

“Can you walk on your own?”

Xie Yan asked.

“Yes.

I can walk forward in big, straight steps,” Lin Chuji said, then demonstrating along the tactile paving on the road for two steps.

On the third step, he stepped right into a flower bed.

 

Xie Yan: “…….”

 

He suddenly felt like he had brought this upon himself.

He had kindly helped Lin Chuji get a public celebration, and now look.

He had finally sobered up, only to get drunk again.

And now, he seemed really difficult to manage.

 

The others gradually came out.

Since the bar was near the university, Zhao Heng and his friends lived off-campus, while the Shen brothers’ dorm was at a side gate, so it was time to part ways.

 

Shen Yinan looked at Lin Chuji hugging the pom-pom bush in the flower bed and was also uncertain.

“Is he… that drunk?

Really wasted?”

 

Shen Yibei only realized now.

“Yeah, the celebration might have been a bit too grand.

We confused the birthday boy completely.

Boss Xie, he’s all yours.”

“Go ahead.

It’s late.

Everyone be safe,” Xie Yan said, then slowly walked over to his fate, pulling Lin Chuji up.

“Let’s go.

Time to go to sleep.”

 

Lin Chuji hugged the bush, looked up at him with a stubborn expression.

“No.

I want to stay with my friend.”

As he spoke, he shook its round branches.

“Right, Little Ball?”

 

Xie Yan: “…….”

Whoever ends up with Lin Chuji in the future is going to have terrible luck.

 

He crouched down, half-smiling, and said, “Then you stay here with this bush until morning.

When people go to work tomorrow and see Lin Chuji, now a legal adult, inseparable from a bush, entwined, it’ll be pretty interesting.

Then the photos of you and Little Tree will appear on everyone’s phones, endlessly mocked, flayed, socially dead.”

 

Xie Yan’s words gave Lin Chuji goosebumps.

Even drunk, his ingrained social phobia was instinctual.

“No, can’t laugh at me,” Lin Chuji slurred.

“Then will you come back with me?

I won’t laugh at you,” Xie Yan said, using all his patience.

 

Lin Chuji reluctantly let go of the bush, tried to stand up, but couldn’t move.

“Legs are asleep,” he said softly.

 

Always acting cute.

Who taught him?

Did he use this with his ex-boyfriend too?

The thought flashed through his mind, making Xie Yan’s heart jump.

He stood still and said quietly, “Get up.

Walk yourself.”

 

Lin Chuji stared at him with those misty eyes again, unblinking, and repeated, “Legs are asleep.”

 

Xie Yan sighed.

“Someone like you… what terrible thing could you have done to make someone heartless enough to dump you?”

He turned around, pulled Lin Chuji’s arm with a little skill, swung him onto his back, hooked his hands under his thighs, and stood up—a fluid motion.

 

Lin Chuji’s chest was pressed, making him feel sick, and he made a retching motion.

“If you dare throw up on me, I’ll post the photos of you and that bush on the forum,” Xie Yan said slowly.

 

Lin Chuji was immediately cowed.

He lowered his head, pressed his forehead against Xie Yan’s neck, and fell silent.

Xie Yan, ticklish from his soft hair, tilted his head slightly and reminded him, “Don’t lean on me.”

 

Lin Chuji lifted his chin a little, uncomfortable, then lowered his head back to the original comfortable spot.

He belatedly recalled what was said a minute ago and answered, “No one wants me.”

“It’s obvious your parents love you very much,” Xie Yan said calmly.

“Theirs… isn’t love.

It’s coercion.

Suffocating,” Lin Chuji said quietly, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing, then fell silent again.

 

Xie Yan felt his shoulder get a bit damp.

He couldn’t tell if Lin Chuji was crying or something else.

He paused, but didn’t ask further.

 

When they were almost at the dormitory entrance, he found that Lin Chuji had fallen asleep on his shoulder.

Overall, even though he’s childish, he’s still someone with good drinking manners, Xie Yan thought.

 

He carefully lowered Lin Chuji from his back onto the freshly made bed, took off his shoes, and pulled the blanket over him.

Standing by the bed, he looked down at his sleeping face.

His eyelashes were still wet, but his breathing had become even—already in a peaceful dream.

 

Xie Yan murmured to himself, “Is having parents really that hard?”

Lin Chuji was already asleep and couldn’t answer.

 

Xie Yan tucked him in, went into the bathroom, and quickly rinsed off.

He had also drunk a fair amount tonight.

Though not drunk, it stirred up many memories.

Thinking back and forth easily disrupted his emotions, leaving his chest tight and his head heavy.

Since Lin Chuji was already asleep, he wasn’t as careful as before and walked out shirtless, drying his hair with a towel.

The hairdryer would be too loud, so he planned to stand by the window and air-dry.

Just as he passed Lin Chuji’s bed, he saw the other sitting up groggily.

“What’s wrong?”

Xie Yan asked casually.

“Did I wake you?”

 

Lin Chuji didn’t answer.

He just closed his eyes, grabbed Xie Yan’s wrist, pulled him closer, and pressed his burning cheek against Xie Yan’s chest.

 

The feeling of skin touching skin sent a shiver through them.

Xie Yan paused and warned him quietly, “Today you said you don’t like me, and I don’t like you either.

Since you want to be my roommate, please stop doing such ambiguous things, okay?”

 

Lin Chuji couldn’t hear him speak.

But subconsciously, that wonderful scent was getting closer and closer, right in front of him.

He moved his face restlessly, shifting from its original position, moving toward the more concentrated source.

 

Xie Yan watched as Lin Chuji’s head moved toward his lower abdomen, his whole body tensing like a drawn bow.

At the moment of imminent contact, he hurriedly reached out to block his head.

“Don’t mess around.

What are you doing?

Your actions right now really cross the line, Lin Chuji.”

 

Annoyed at being interrupted, Lin Chuji muttered, “You’re so annoying.”

As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Xie Yan’s waist.

A drunk person has immense strength; with slight force, he made Xie Yan lose his balance.

Xie Yan didn’t have time to brace himself on the bed, couldn’t even retract his body’s strength, and tilted over.

Worried about Lin Chuji’s injured back, he used his last bit of strength to flip them over the moment they hit the bed.

 

He stared at the ceiling, feeling dizzy from the impact.

Lin Chuji flipped over and lay on top of him, sniffing down his chest like a puppy, getting closer and closer to the citrus scent on the fabric.

He couldn’t wait to find it.

 

Xie Yan was about to go crazy.

He slid his palm down from Lin Chuji’s messy hair, grabbed the back of his neck, and warned again, “Lin Chuji, enough.”

 

Propping himself up on his elbows was tiring.

Lin Chuji’s arms went soft, and he fell onto Xie Yan.

His lips landed on the lower abdomen—very light, very soft, very hot.

They didn’t move away, just stayed there, brushing against the skin with each breath.

“Found it,” he said, smiling with satisfaction.

 

Being touched so intimately, Xie Yan’s mind had only one thought: They’re both guys, so how can he be so soft?

Unconsciously, his fingers tightened, his breathing growing heavier.

 

Lin Chuji felt the palm tightly gripping the back of his neck and patted it, whimpering, “It hurts.”

 

But as he spoke, he turned his face again, brushing lightly, then again, against the string of Xie Yan’s sweatpants.

 

Suddenly, Xie Yan’s mind went completely blank, his whole body pinned down—though no one was holding him, he couldn’t move.

He only felt the alcohol in his blood ignite and burn, uncontrollably producing a very strong physical reaction.

The force in his palm tightened more and more.

He was hot, and Lin Chuji’s skin under his palm was also hot, burning them both into a haze.

 

Lin Chuji was still trying to escape the grip on his neck, displeased.

“Let go… let go…”

 

Time and again.

Lin Chuji always seduced him like this at night.

It was all his fault.

 

Gritting his molars, unable to take the rubbing anymore, Xie Yan closed his eyes, flipped nimbly, and pinned Lin Chuji down on the bed.

When he pinned his restless hands above his head, both of their breaths were uneven.

“Lin Chuji,” Xie Yan called his name hoarsely.

“Uncomfortable… let go…”

Lin Chuji kept his eyes closed, arching his waist, trying to break free.

 

Xie Yan, expressionless, slowly leaned down and warned close to his ear, “If you keep moving, I’m going to do something bad.”

 

---