BTMDY Chapter 106

“Happy birthday.”

 

That same clear, gentle voice rang right by his ear, no static, no trace of distance—so clean it felt untouched, like it had slipped straight into his heart.

 

The moment Lin Wangye met Shi Yuan’s eyes, he forgot how to breathe.

 

It was like someone had hit pause on a movie screen.

 

The whole world went silent, every color drained into black and white, leaving only that close-up shot of the person standing center stage.

 

This was the man who had left two years ago, back in August after the college entrance exams.

 

Now, more than eight hundred days had passed—over a hundred weeks, twenty-six months.

 

No matter how hard those years had been, when he looked back, they seemed to have vanished in the blink of an eye. But if he stopped and really counted, the sheer weight of that time apart was enough to crush him.

 

Staring at the scene that had haunted his dreams countless times, Lin Wangye’s mind buzzed, thoughts gone blank, leaving him with a hollow, unreal feeling he couldn’t shake.

 

He couldn’t tell if this was real or just another cruel dream.

 

So he chose to move, desperate like a man terrified he’d wake in the next second. Heart racing, he leapt up, reckless like an arrow loosed from a bow, and threw himself forward.

 

And the person right in front of him caught him without a single stumble.

 

Their warmth collided, hearts pounding against each other in a tight, perfect embrace, both of them feeling that wild rhythm echoing in their chests. The dream’s edges shattered, breaking open into the real world, scattering like stardust into nothing.

 

The sound of waves and sea breeze slowly returned, washing over them.

 

Lin Wangye clung to him, tears spilling despite his best effort to hold them back. Overwhelmed with joy, he buried his face against Shi Yuan’s neck and broke down in sobs.

 

All those years of pain and longing couldn’t be released in an instant—they needed time to bleed out.

 

Shi Yuan understood. He didn’t rush to speak, didn’t try to force comfort. One arm held Lin Wangye steady so he wouldn’t slip, while the other hand gently stroked the back of his head, showering him with nothing but tenderness and quiet indulgence.

 

The beach was wide open, with no real cover, and the tables weren’t far apart.

 

It didn’t take long before their sudden scene caught the attention of nearby diners. People glanced over while eating, leaning toward each other to whisper.

 

But Lin Wangye didn’t care at all. He hung onto Shi Yuan like a koala, refusing to let go. Shi Yuan didn’t mind either, holding him close like he was soothing a child.

 

As for the others, Lu Chengxuan sat calm and unshaken, not moving a muscle.

 

Only Lin Shen looked like he was sitting on needles, not knowing where to put his eyes. He shifted again and again in his seat, every position feeling wrong. At last, he gave up completely—whatever, let it be—and pulled out his phone, aiming the camera straight ahead to record the scene with giddy excitement.

 

After all, he was nearly one meter eighty, a grown man.

 

It didn’t take long before Lin Wangye’s arms started to ache. He finally loosened his legs from around Shi Yuan’s waist, dropped down onto the sand on tiptoe, and let his arms fall too.

 

But he still couldn’t bear to let go. Just a second later, he wrapped himself right back around Shi Yuan’s waist.

 

Shi Yuan glanced at the two people sitting across from them, looking helpless as he pulled Lin Wangye into his arms again, rubbing his hair gently. He lowered his head and whispered by his ear, “Alright, enough, no more crying.”

 

Lin Wangye wiped his tears on Shi Yuan’s chest, sniffled, and muttered, “You came back without telling me first. I didn’t even wear my best outfit…”

 

All this time overseas, Shi Yuan had been worrying day and night about whether Lin Wangye could take care of himself. He was always afraid he’d be cold, or hungry, or kicking off the blanket in the middle of the night.

 

After missing him so badly for so long, no matter what words he heard now, Shi Yuan’s heart melted instantly.

 

Especially when that thick, nasal voice carried such raw hurt.

 

Softly, patiently, Shi Yuan explained, “I wanted to surprise you, that’s why I didn’t say anything. My plane only landed not long ago. On the way here from the airport, you guys had just left the company. I only got here about ten minutes earlier.”

 

These past years, Lin Wangye had studied Sigweil’s flight schedules more than anything else. He knew the patterns of which flights arrived at what times better than anyone.

 

So the moment Shi Yuan mentioned his plane just landed, a set of flight numbers instantly flashed across his mind.

 

While Shi Yuan was talking, Lin Wangye tilted his head up, staring at him without blinking. He didn’t continue the conversation—just leaned closer, pressed his face against Shi Yuan’s chest, and breathed him in before rubbing against him. “You smell so good.”

 

Shi Yuan reached up, pinched his cheek, and chuckled.

 

“Morning after the rain. The perfume you picked.”

 

“Knew it would fit you.” Lin Wangye took in another deep breath, voice sticky with longing. “It’s hard to get it here. Did you bring me one back?”

 

“Can’t bring a big bottle, not allowed in checked baggage. But I brought samples.” Shi Yuan replied.

 

Lin Wangye leaned in for another sniff, then lifted his head again. His dark eyes caught the shimmer of the lights as he placed his hands on Shi Yuan’s shoulders, rising on tiptoe, about to kiss him.

 

“Ahem, ahem, ahem!”

 

Lin Shen hacked loudly, breaking them apart. He stopped recording and jabbed his finger at them, complaining, “Alright already, can you two quit it? Flirting out in public like this, aren’t you embarrassed?”

 

Fresh from crying, Lin Wangye’s eyes were still rimmed red. Forced to stop, he turned reluctantly to glare at his dad, then unwillingly straightened up.

 

Just as he was about to call a waiter over for another chair, someone suddenly lifted his chin. Before he even realized what was happening, something soft brushed against his lips, fleeting and light.

 

Lin Wangye froze for a moment. Then, as Shi Yuan straightened up, he quickly leaned forward and kissed him back, finally getting what he wanted. His eyes curved happily into a smile.

 

“Oh, for crying out loud…”

 

Lin Shen rolled his eyes so hard it was like he was staring at the sky, then turned to jab a finger at Lu Chengxuan.

 

“Why isn’t the food here yet? Hurry it up! I can’t take this anymore, bring it out already!”

 

Every table had a waiter nearby watching, and the moment he spoke up, one of the young waitresses came over, added another chair, and said the food was already on the grill and would be served soon.

 

Before long, Lin Wangye and Shi Yuan finally sat down at the table.

 

But Lin Shen still couldn’t stand it—because just moving the chair closer, Lin Wangye had done it three times already, until the armrests were pressed together and he couldn’t possibly get any nearer.

 

And the two of them hadn’t looked away from each other once. Not a word spoken, just staring, their eyes locked like some sappy movie scene. Then, before long, their hands linked together too.

 

Lin Shen suddenly understood why the Queen Mother had to build the Milky Way to separate the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

 

Right now, he wished he could build a wall straight between them.

 

Sure enough, the same thing that drove him crazy years ago hadn’t changed one bit. He hadn’t changed either—watching the two of them being sickeningly sweet right in front of him still made his head spin.

 

“Are you eating the cake or not?” Lin Shen finally broke the silence, blurting out, “If you’re not, I’ll take it away. When the skewers come up, there won’t be space.”

 

“Eat, of course we’ll eat.”

 

Lin Wangye finally tore his gaze away from Shi Yuan and picked up the knife and plates to cut the cake.

 

No one else at the table really liked sweets, so when Lin Shen ordered, he had only gotten the smallest six-inch cake. Lin Wangye gave everyone a piece, small slices just for the birthday ritual.

 

As soon as he finished cutting, the skewers arrived hot off the grill.

 

Lin Shen had been craving this all day, so he waved for the waiters to clear away the cake. He took one token bite, then shoved his plate to Lu Chengxuan and immediately dug into the skewers.

 

Since it was already sliced, wasting it would be a shame. Lu Chengxuan had no choice but to finish the cake.

 

Meanwhile, Lin Wangye was happily multitasking—fork in one hand for the cake, skewer in the other for the meat. He leaned his body against Shi Yuan, their arms pressed together, and turned to ask, “Do they have skewers in Sigwell?”

 

“They do.” Shi Yuan laughed softly, wiping the cream off the corner of his mouth with a fingertip. “Skewers taste about the same everywhere.”

 

“What doesn’t Sigwell have, then?”

 

Before Shi Yuan could answer, Lin Wangye jumped in, full of righteous fire.

 

“They don’t have your Xiao Lin who loves you the most! They don’t have your Xiao Lin who misses you so much he’s going crazy!”

 

Shi Yuan’s eyes softened, his voice slow and gentle.

 

“The Xiao Lin who loves me most better be careful not to stab himself with the skewer.”

 

As he said this, he reached over, pinching the sharp end of the metal skewer between his fingers, turning it away so Lin Wangye wouldn’t accidentally poke himself after finishing the bite.

 

Lin Wangye didn’t think much about it at first, but after Shi Yuan’s reminder, he twisted his wrist and adjusted the skewer, then hurriedly asked, “So… how long can you stay in the country with me?”

 

“The school’s on break. I don’t have to go back for the whole month.”

 

“For real?”

 

Lin Wangye’s eyes lit up in an instant, sparkling with disbelief.

 

“But don’t you usually have a ton of stuff? School, work, all kinds of things. You’re sure nothing urgent’s gonna pop up?”

 

“Mhm.” Shi Yuan nodded gently. “I take jobs on my own, not under the company, so everything’s already pushed back. Even if something comes up, nothing’s more important than you. I’ll handle it when I get back.”

 

Overjoyed, Lin Wangye smacked the table. “Perfect! Then I won’t go to school this month either!”

 

Shi Yuan’s eyes shimmered, just about to say something, but Lin Wangye cut him off, already guessing what was coming.

 

“I don’t care, I don’t care! No one’s allowed to nag me about school! You don’t go to work, I don’t go to class! You have no right to lecture me! Old Lin dropped out, he’s got no right either! And Brother Lu hardly ever goes to class, so he’s not allowed to say a word! None of you get to!”

 

When he finished, Shi Yuan blinked, a little surprised. Two years apart and Lin Wangye had somehow learned to twist words and argue his way out like this.

 

But such a small tantrum was nothing worth resisting. Shi Yuan had originally planned to tell him to study properly, but hearing him go on like this, he couldn’t help but laugh instead and let it slide. “Alright, fine. But once I leave, you have to make up the lessons you skipped.”

 

Eyes narrowing in a grin, Lin Wangye nodded.

 

“Deal. I’m always the most obedient!”

 

Shi Yuan wasn’t really hungry—he’d already eaten airplane food. And now, after finally seeing the person he’d been yearning for these past two years, he didn’t want to waste a second on eating anyway. Sitting by Lin Wangye, he held a tissue to wipe his mouth for him, occasionally taking a small bite of cake.

 

“Tonight, let’s stay at our hotel. I set up a couple’s suite just for us—doesn’t even open to the public!” Lin Wangye said excitedly, already planning things out.

 

Shi Yuan went along without hesitation. “Alright, whatever you say.”

 

Lin Wangye raised an eyebrow, lips curving with a hint of mischief.

 

“Really? You mean I can arrange you however I want?”

 

Shi Yuan lowered his eyes with a soft laugh and nodded.

 

Across the table, Lin Shen sat with a skewer of lamb kidneys in hand, grease smeared at the corners of his mouth. After hearing that last line, he nearly blacked out on the spot.

 

He turned to Lu Chengxuan, unable to hold back his outburst.

 

“Are we complete idiots or what? Do we really have to sit here and watch them flaunt their love?”

 

---

 

Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters.  (๑>ᴗ<๑)