Sheng Chengguang

Bai Yunsheng ordered a T-bone steak and a bowl of creamy corn chowder, then casually found a seat in a corner. Before he could even take a bite, he heard someone sit down across from him.

Bai Yunsheng ignored him and took a sip of soup. His phone vibrated again, and only then did he remember he had unread messages.

Meng [When are you free? Want to celebrate? My treat.]

Meng [If you're not free, forget it. I'll pick out a gift to congratulate you later.]

Less than five minutes had passed, yet Meng Shangzhi had cautiously given himself an out. As if to avoid making things awkward between them, he immediately sent another sticker.

A smiling face.

Bai Yunsheng chuckled softly, warmth filling his eyes. He put down his spoon and tapped out a reply on the screen.

A Patch of White Cloud [I was busy just now and didn't check my phone.]

A Patch of White Cloud [I'm free, but let me treat you. I'll decide the time and place, okay?]

Meng [You got first place, and you're treating me?]

A Patch of White Cloud [Mr. Meng, you've helped me so many times. I should be the one treating you.]

A Patch of White Cloud [No, I mean... big brother.]

It took a while before Meng Shangzhi replied.

Meng [Okay. Anything works.]

After sending the final message, Bai Yunsheng placed his phone face-down on the table.

The person seated across from him had far too much presence. The gaze fixed on him was rather heated, yet carried the teasing mockery Bai Yunsheng disliked.

Bai Yunsheng said, "Do you need something?"

Sheng Chengguang propped his chin on one hand while casually twirling noodles around his fork with the other. "I was wondering when our young master Bai would finally notice me."

Bai Yunsheng pressed his lips together, too lazy to let his gaze linger on Sheng Chengguang. He focused on cutting the steak before him.

Sheng Chengguang did not get angry at being ignored. His classic fox-like eyes remained fixed on Bai Yunsheng as his gaze traveled over him before finally settling on those slender, fair hands.

Bai Yunsheng cut his steak slowly and unhurriedly, as though handling something complicated. His fingertips held the knife and fork, the silver utensils making his fingers appear even more soft and pale.

Sheng Chengguang said, "Your fingertips are pink."

The frivolous remark slipped from Sheng Chengguang's mouth without warning. His gaze grew increasingly sticky and cloying, like the flick of a venomous snake's tongue against skin.

Bai Yunsheng closed his eyes, and the irritation in them vanished the instant he did. "There are plenty of seats on the third floor."

Sheng Chengguang said, "Yeah, but I just like sitting across from you."

Bai Yunsheng set down his fork. "So what exactly do you want from me?"

Sheng Chengguang let go, and his fork dropped straight onto the plate. He shifted into another position. "Nothing. I just thought you were interesting and pretty, so I came over to chat."

The moment Sheng Chengguang finished speaking, Bai Yunsheng picked up his plate, intending to eat somewhere else.

Sheng Chengguang said, "Next week is Gao Yan's birthday. You'll come, right?"

The moment Gao Yan was mentioned, unpleasant memories surged up. Bai Yunsheng turned around and said with certainty, "I'm not coming."

Sheng Chengguang rose and walked toward Bai Yunsheng. "Not coming? You've never missed Gao Yan's birthday, not once. He'll be sad if you don't come."

Bai Yunsheng laughed.

Gao Yan...

After he entered the Feng Household, Gao Yan had been the only person who had ever treated him well. Though that kindness had been shallow—perhaps only speaking up for him once, or giving him a hand when he fell—in those dark, hopeless days, even such insignificant help had been a tremendous gift to Bai Yunsheng.

It was just that...

Bai Yunsheng said, "What does it have to do with me whether he's sad or not?"

Sheng Chengguang's eyes widened slightly, excitement flashing in them that Bai Yunsheng could not understand. He stepped closer. "You don't like him anymore?"

Bai Yunsheng frowned and widened the distance between them. "Like him? When did I ever like him?"

Sheng Chengguang stared at Bai Yunsheng for a long while. Once he was certain Bai Yunsheng was not lying, he laughed several times. "That's good." As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly reached out, his fingertips brushing the gem on Bai Yunsheng's school badge. Bai Yunsheng immediately raised a hand and slapped his hand away, his face full of wariness. "What are you doing?"

Sheng Chengguang rubbed his fingertips together, his eyes curving into crescents. "This color suits you."

Bai Yunsheng tossed out, "Stay away from me," then turned and went to the table farthest from Sheng Chengguang. Fortunately, Sheng Chengguang did not follow him this time.

Bai Yunsheng looked at the chowder on the distant table and no longer felt like retrieving it.

What a waste of soup, Bai Yunsheng thought silently.

He chewed the beef, his thoughts a mess.

In his previous life, because of Gao Yan's faint bit of kindness, he had regarded Gao Yan as his "savior." Sometimes, he had even kept hovering around Gao Yan. Gao Yan invited him to every birthday celebration, but every time he went, he was mocked. Though he had been hurt, he had never regretted it.

Because, in Bai Yunsheng's eyes, Gao Yan had been his only friend.

Until one time.

Bai Yunsheng had been half an hour late because he had gone to get the gift. Although his present had been cheap, every time he had carefully picked it out or made it himself.

When he got off the bus, it began to pour. Shielding the gift, he rushed into the hotel in a bedraggled state. He arrived at the private room full of anticipation, but before he could enter, he heard someone call his name from inside. Bai Yunsheng's heart instinctively skipped a beat.

"Why hasn't Bai Yunsheng come yet?"

Gao Yan said, "How would I know?"

"Why do you invite him to your birthday every time? Don't tell me..." The rest was swallowed by several laughs, lewd with unspoken implications.

Gao Yan's pleasant voice sounded. "Are you disgusting or what? I just invited him out of politeness. Who knew he'd actually come? I invited him the first year, so I couldn't exactly not invite him the second year."

Rainwater still dripped from Bai Yunsheng's hair as he stared blankly, wide-eyed, at the golden door handle.

"Don't you think it's a buzzkill every time he comes? He doesn't belong in our circle, yet he insists on forcing his way in. Just looking at him is funny."

Gao Yan said, "I think so too. I have no idea why, but I spoke up for him once and helped him up once, and he latched onto me. I get annoyed whenever I see him. I only wanted to make a good impression on the Feng family, but who knew they didn't like him? If I'd known, I would've looked into it first."

"You can't blame yourself for that. You were overseas before high school. By the way, why are you sucking up to the Feng family?"

Gao Yan said, "You know my dad always tells me to network with certain people. The Feng family is among them."

"By the way, is he coming or not?"

Gao Yan said, "Who cares whether he comes? He's just a dog. As long as we enjoy ourselves."

"Still, Gao Yan, don't you think Bai Yunsheng likes you? He smiles every time he sees you, and even when we bully him like this, he doesn't get angry." The person spoke in a sleazy tone. "Actually, his features aren't bad."

Gao Yan said, "I'm not interested in just anyone. If you say something that disgusting again, get out."

More unbearable insults toward Bai Yunsheng followed, and Gao Yan happily joined in.

Perhaps the rain was simply too cold, but Bai Yunsheng felt chilled to the bone. He clutched the gift tightly to his chest, gripping it so hard that red marks appeared in his palms.

Tears filled his eyes, and he raised a hand to wipe them away fiercely.

He was still too cowardly. After taking several deep breaths, he forced a smile and shamefully pushed open the banquet room door.

Even if it was fake, he still did not want to throw away that tiny scrap of warmth.

"Gao Yan."

Gao Yan looked over from within the crowd, still wearing that refined, gentle smile. He showed no concern for Bai Yunsheng's drenched clothes. "Why are you only here now? We've been waiting for you a long time."

Later, Bai Yunsheng died.

Until his soul found peace.

Gao Yan never came to look at his gravestone even once.