After putting down his phone, Xiao Yufan continued pondering over his master’s words. What could be so important in his master’s eyes…
He shook his head hard, trying to empty his mind. Xiao Yufan knew that when the time was right, his master would reveal everything he had kept hidden. It was a matter of trust—twenty years of trust.
“Was it someone secretly admiring you calling…?” Feeling the atmosphere in the space becoming heavy, Fan Le joked with Xiao Yufan.
“It was a call from Master; one of the cakes was a gift from him!” Still a bit dazed but partially clear-minded, Xiao Yufan wasn’t sure what state he was in at home right now. But in this moment, he felt really comfortable.
“What about the other cake…?” Fan Le was probably a bit groggy too. They exchanged sentences, one after another, keeping the mood in the private room from becoming too heavy.
Xiao Yufan hesitated. If one cake was from his master, who was the second one from? Could it be from Lin Pingle? But he didn’t even know it was Xiao Yufan’s birthday today.
“I think it should be Cheng Ying. She just called us this morning…” After a pause, Ma Teng quickly joined the conversation. Before he could finish, Mu Qing used a cake to block his mouth.
“It was her…” A strange tremor passed through Xiao Yufan’s heart. Even though he had long since given up all hopes, he still wished Cheng Ying could appear before him—at least so he could see that she was doing well. That would be enough. However, for the two of them now, even being friends seemed unrealistic.
With a bitter smile, apart from a slight emotional stir, hearing Cheng Ying’s name again left Xiao Yufan surprisingly calm. In his mind, their relationship had completely ended. No matter how much he missed it, there was no going back.
“I want to go singing. Anyone want to go crazy with me?” Xiao Yufan suddenly suggested. In that moment, he really wanted to go wild, to shout out the last bit of pressure in his heart—it might make things better.
“You’re the star today; personally, I have no objection!” Ma Teng was the first to speak up. After calming down a bit and sobering up, he realized he had probably said the wrong thing earlier, which made him feel apologetic. Because of his one sentence, the birthday party had turned gloomy.
After Ma Teng expressed his support, no one else refused, which surprised Xiao Yufan a little. Both Hu Yingluo and Yu Yihan were extremely busy people, yet they dared to go wild with him. He had to admit—he was truly moved.
…
Walking out of the hotel, a cold wind blew into their faces. Xiao Yufan couldn’t help shivering. He checked the time on his phone and found it was almost half past eleven.
The group of six walked toward a nearby KTV. A slightly tipsy Xiao Yufan, like a fool, walked silently ahead. At this moment, he felt alone…
The night wind, cold and biting, made his loneliness even more pronounced. Walking alone, in the eyes of the others behind him, he seemed like a drifting boat, easily lost in the wind.
Soon, they arrived at the KTV. Ma Teng had reserved a deluxe private room…
Entering the room, Ma Teng and Fan Le grabbed the microphones, humming the tune of “Happy Birthday.” Since it was Xiao Yufan’s birthday, they wanted their mutual friend to be happier.
Seeing their silly expressions, Xiao Yufan smiled—a genuine smile this time. Cheng Ying might have brought him a pain he couldn’t escape, but people like Ma Teng and Fan Le made him feel the warmth of friendship.
The atmosphere quickly heated up. Under the influence of alcohol and the rhythm of music, everyone sang enthusiastically. Music, after all, is the best comfort for the soul.
“Mr. Birthday, give us a song! Let’s see if you can attract the girls next door…” Ma Teng started stirring things up again. Though there were only six people in the large private room, the atmosphere was no less lively.
Xiao Yufan picked up the microphone and shot Ma Teng a look. “Alright, play ‘Bro, Let’s Hug’ for me, and let me show you how good my voice is…”
It must be said that Xiao Yufan didn’t really like singing in front of people. But that didn’t mean he sang poorly; it was just that he was used to singing alone. Only when he sang to himself did he not feel so lonely.
Ma Teng turned the music volume up to maximum. No one else minded; they all waited quietly. It seemed none of them had ever heard Xiao Yufan sing before…
Soon, everyone was stunned by Xiao Yufan’s voice. What a hoarse, emotional voice—right from the first note, it gave people an unusual feeling.
“Brother, you said you’d stop fighting from now on, just be a fool in love, just want a stable home…”
As he sang, Xiao Yufan’s voice became choked. He didn’t cry—he was just tired! Thinking about the passing days, he understood that nothing could ultimately withstand reality. What must be faced, no one else can carry for you…
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