"Huang Tian" felt happy.
He had a steady job. He might not make ten thousand a month, but he made seven thousand, and that was more than enough for him.
He had no particular hobbies beyond playing games, and he never spent a penny on them. He neither smoked nor drank, and he wasn't dating anyone. He simply couldn't spend all his money.
Watching the balance on his phone grow month after month gave him a sense of satisfaction. He loved seeing it pile higher.
He also had a wonderful family: an easygoing father, a gentle mother, and an adorable younger sister. Apart from not having a girlfriend yet, he thought his life was just about perfect.
"Today's Huang Jia's birthday. I'll buy her a cake to take home."
After work, he rode his electric scooter home. A little over ten minutes later, he reached an aging apartment building. He parked his scooter and went into the cake shop beside it.
"Could you get me a cake? A pretty one," he said to the proprietress.
The proprietress was a plump woman in her thirties. She knew "Huang Tian" from living on the same street and teased him. "For a girl? Little Huang, you've got a girlfriend!"
He shook his head with a smile. "It's not for a girlfriend. It's my sister's birthday."
"Sister?"
The proprietress paused. Wasn't he an orphan?
The words rose to her lips, but she held them back. Saying that would hurt. Besides, Sister? I get it! I get it!
An amused, knowing smile appeared on her face. Young people these days liked calling each other brother and sister. That was hardly the strangest thing they got up to. Some even...
She shivered.
"I'll make you a six-inch, heart-shaped cream cake," she said with a cough. "Have