After that, they also played the slot machine and the basketball arcade game.
Maybe it was because the birthday boy was there, but Zhao Pingchuan hit the jackpot on the slot machine. Before he could react, the machine rattled and shook, then spat out a huge pile of game tokens, drawing the attention of several guys nearby.
They whistled and tilted their chins at the pair. "Hey, buddy, nice luck!"
Now they had even more tokens than they could spend.
Ji Ran gathered all the tokens in his arms, looking as excited as if he were holding a pile of real gold coins. He showed them to Zhao Pingchuan with an exaggerated flourish. "Bro, we're rich."
Zhao Pingchuan tapped him on the forehead with his index finger. "Little money grubber."
To use up the tokens, the two moved on to the claw machines.
There wasn't much skill involved, really. As long as you spent enough tokens, you could win something.
Watching the mechanical claw move really tested a person's patience. Every time it was about to reach the chute, the claw would suddenly let go.
Watching a plushie he had caught fall back into the pile, Ji Ran widened his eyes in frustration.
How can he be so cute? Zhao Pingchuan watched him with a smile.
In the end, they managed to win a lot of plushies. They exchanged them for a pair of ceramic mugs at the service counter, which were easier to carry.
After they left the arcade, Ji Ran asked, "Bro, did you have fun?"
The air conditioning in the mall was strong, and Ji Ran had just been so excited that the flush still hadn't faded from his cheeks. He looked no different from a guy who had just started college.
Zhao Pingchuan took the bag with the mugs and carried it himself, nodding. "I did."
Ji Ran smiled. As long as Zhao Pingchuan was happy, that was enough.
When he had read the book, he had felt so sorry for this villain. He might have been the villain, but what had Zhao Pingchuan done wrong? Was it just because he had struggled to get ahead and stood in the protagonist's way?
Now that he had transmigrated here, he wanted to make up for everything Zhao Pingchuan had never received.
This morning had been a belated birthday celebration for Zhao Pingchuan's childhood.
"Where are we going next?" Zhao Pingchuan asked of his own accord.
Ji Ran took out his phone to check the route. "Lunch. I made a reservation at a really popular hot pot place. Let's go try it."
Since they had started living together, they had rarely eaten out, but since they were out having fun today, they ought to eat something different.
The hot pot restaurant wasn't far away. It was near the mall, only a ten-odd-minute walk.
It was the weekend and the lunch rush, so the restaurant was packed with customers.
Fortunately, Ji Ran had reserved a table in a small booth.
They sat facing each other as steam rose from the bubbling beef-tallow hot pot, filling the air with its spicy, numbing, savory aroma.
Ji Ran was determined to take good care of him. He carefully placed the cooked food on Zhao Pingchuan's plate to cool and mixed him a dipping sauce, keeping himself busy.
Zhao Pingchuan stopped him. "That's enough, Ranran. Eat something yourself first."
Ji Ran ate a slice of beef and gave a thumbs-up. "Delicious! No wonder this hot pot place has the best reviews."
The food really was excellent. Ji Ran's research had paid off.
They ate at a leisurely pace, discussing the games they had played that morning, which dishes had the best texture, and what had changed in Li City.
Before they knew it, two hours had passed.
Apart from business dinners, Zhao Pingchuan had never spent so long over a meal, but he hadn't felt bored in the slightest.
As long as he was with Ji Ran, anything became interesting.
After lunch, they went to see a movie together.
It was the hottest Marvel movie out at the moment. The visuals were as thrilling as ever, while the plot followed the same old formula of setbacks before triumph, with a twist at the end. It was a commercial film with no major flaws to pick at.
This was another experience Zhao Pingchuan had never had before.
It got dark early in winter. By the time they came out of the cinema, it was almost five, and the streetlights beside the mall had come on.
They had finished lunch late, so neither of them was hungry yet.
Ji Ran said, "Bro, we're getting ready to go home."
"Okay."
It had been a full birthday, and Zhao Pingchuan thought the day's plans were over. But when they got home, Ji Ran brought out an assortment of tools: an egg beater, a cake pan, a stainless steel bowl...
The things looked familiar, and Zhao Pingchuan's heart trembled slightly. "Are you making a cake?"
Ji Ran shook his head, his little canine teeth showing when he smiled. "We're making a cake together."
He took out flour, sugar, and eggs as he spoke without looking back. "How can you have a birthday without a birthday cake?"
His words echoed something Zhao Xiaoran had once said, and Zhao Pingchuan's vision blurred a little.
He took a small breath and smiled. "Okay. You teach me."
Ji Ran had him whip the egg whites while he mixed the yolks and flour. Finally, he stirred everything together, poured the mixture into the pan, and put it in the oven.
He was very familiar with the process, so it didn't take him long.
While they waited for the cake to bake, Ji Ran whipped some cream and washed some strawberries and blueberries, cooking half of them into jam.
The sweet smell of cake filled the entire room.
With a ding, the cake was done. Ji Ran took it out and inspected it, nodding in approval. It was fluffy and soft, perfectly baked.
He spread on the cream and jam, even piping a few simple decorations before adding the fruit. It really did look good.
When he was done, Ji Ran put the cake on the dining table, produced a box of birthday candles from somewhere, and stuck one right in the center.
Zhao Pingchuan sat at the table, seemingly calm, but his gaze was so intent.
Being treated with such care by someone brought a happiness and contentment beyond words.
Suddenly, a cake knife was pressed into his hand. Ji Ran's eyes curved into crescents. "Bro, what are you spacing out for?"
Zhao Pingchuan came back to himself and saw that the lights had been turned off. Only the candle on the cake gave off a faint, warm glow.
Ji Ran tapped out the rhythm as he sang, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you-"
He sang the whole song earnestly, then said, "Now, birthday boy, please make a wish!"
Zhao Pingchuan smiled and did as he was told, closing his eyes and making a sincere wish before blowing out the candle.
Ji Ran applauded and turned the lights back on. "Let's cut the cake and see how the one we made with our own hands tastes."
Zhao Pingchuan first cut a slice and put it on Ji Ran's plate, then cut one for himself.
He put the cake in his mouth. The cool, smooth cream, the sweet-and-tart jam, and the delicate, soft cake blended together just right, creating a simple, unpretentious delight.
"It's delicious," Zhao Pingchuan said, generous with his praise.
Ji Ran took a bite too and gave his verdict. "It really is delicious."
After they shared the whole cake, Ji Ran asked, "Bro, did you have a happy birthday today?"
Zhao Pingchuan said, "I did. Thank you, Ranran."
Ji Ran was very pleased. "Then I hope twenty-seven-year-old Zhao Pingchuan is happy every day. I'll celebrate every birthday with you from now on."
It was a weighty promise.
His sister had once said something like that too, but heaven had still taken her away from him.
The same thing must not happen a second time.
No matter what, he had to keep Ji Ran by his side.
He had once wanted to end his life when all hope was lost, but in his despair, he had seen a rose. Because of that rose, his drab, gray-and-white world had gained color.
Who could help loving a rose?