Yu Yihan didn’t ask Xiao Yufan who had called him—it was his privacy, and she didn’t want to interfere too much.
Still, Yu Yihan could sense the strange emotional fluctuation in Xiao Yufan after he hung up the phone. She felt curious—who could possibly stir such sadness in him?
Xiao Yufan then made several calls—to Fan Le, Ma Teng, Mu Qing, and Hu Yingluo. Everyone agreed to come to his birthday party. Thinking about it, in this somewhat lonely city, these were the only friends he had left.
…
The phone screen lit up, displaying a message from an unknown number, which immediately caught Xiao Yufan’s attention.
“Yufan, happy birthday… Cheng Ying!” The brief message leapt into his vision the moment he opened it. After a brief pause, a sharp pain pierced his heart.
“Still remembers my birthday, huh…” Xiao Yufan shook his head bitterly. Though the person remained the same, the relationship between Cheng Ying and him had undergone a dramatic change, a change that left him feeling powerless.
Xiao Yufan had never imagined he would stay in touch with his ex-girlfriend. In his eyes, Cheng Ying’s actions were no different from betrayal. Yet, he had to admit, it wasn’t her fault. They had simply lost to reality.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Xiao Yufan found himself completely lost in thought. He thought he had truly moved on, but when the past resurfaced, he felt the pain again—so intense that even breathing felt difficult.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Unable to hold back any longer, Yu Yihan finally spoke. Seeing his current state, she felt as though she were witnessing the same broken Xiao Yufan from a few days ago, a sight that made her heart ache.
“I’m fine. I’m not that fragile,” Xiao Yufan forced a smile. But as Mu Qing had once said, only he truly knew his own feelings. He simply didn’t want to appear too pitiful, that was all.
“Is that so…” Yu Yihan replied softly, her gaze drifting. She wasn’t insensitive—how could she not see that Xiao Yufan was clearly hiding his true feelings?
Silence doesn’t mean the absence of sorrow. Perhaps this phrase best described Xiao Yufan at that moment.
A cold breeze somehow slipped into the rented apartment, making Xiao Yufan shiver involuntarily. The chill snapped him back to reality. The past was the past. No matter how much one longed for it, it only left behind aching memories. What good would that do?
He had noticed lately how much more sentimental he had become. Perhaps it wasn’t just being overly emotional, but rather seeing through too much—finally understanding that some things were simply beyond his control.
The entire afternoon passed in a daze for Xiao Yufan. He hadn’t expected that a simple text from Cheng Ying could stir such a deep emotional storm within him.
Yu Yihan remained quietly by his side, acting as a loyal observer. She wasn’t the type to offer comfort, but there were probably fewer than three people in the entire city who could make her stay this long.
…
“Do you plan to host your birthday party like this? If you keep acting like this, it’ll only make those around you feel heartbroken…”
“What about you?”
“Huh?” Yu Yihan was momentarily stunned by Xiao Yufan’s response.
“Nothing. Let’s go first. We should get there early and prepare for the others,” Xiao Yufan suddenly stood up from the sofa, putting on a bright and cheerful expression, as if nothing had happened.
Nodding slightly, Yu Yihan couldn’t help but pout. Just moments ago, this guy had looked half-dead, yet now he seemed full of energy. She really couldn’t figure out what was going on in his mind. Still, despite her doubts, she followed him out.
The hotel wasn’t far from the apartment, so in no time they arrived in the Mercedes SLK sports car.
The familiar surroundings made Xiao Yufan take a deep breath involuntarily. It was as if he could feel the last traces of Cheng Ying lingering here, and the bittersweet sorrow of their parting still hung in the air.
Approaching the hotel reception, Xiao Yufan looked at one of the more attractive receptionists and said, “We’ve reserved a table by phone. May I ask if we can start preparing the banquet now?”
“Of course. May I know which price range you booked so I can confirm the details for you?” Anyone who came to host a banquet or party at such a hotel was undoubtedly part of the upper class, so the staff treated the matter with the utmost seriousness.
“We booked the business standard banquet seats at 1,888 RMB per person,” Xiao Yufan replied, checking the order on his phone. Though this wasn’t the most expensive option, it was still quite luxurious. Spending nearly 20,000 RMB at once made Xiao Yufan cringe a little inside—but fortunately, it wasn’t his own money.
Yu Yihan slightly furrowed her brows. She hadn’t been involved in the booking process, and with her background, she didn’t find 1,888 RMB per seat particularly expensive. However, for Xiao Yufan, who lived a modest life, this was quite a splurge.
“Here is your reservation confirmation. Please review it and pay the fee before we can proceed with your banquet arrangements,” the receptionist handed him the order form.
After a quick glance, Xiao Yufan smiled and signed the form. At the same time, he took out the golden credit card given to him by his master. This was the first time he had used a bank card for such a significant expense…
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