In the crowd, Ji Yu saw Tang Li stop in his tracks. The smile on his face—she remembered, that was the kind of smile he only ever showed her when she was still… male.
Come to think of it, ever since she had that dream and woke up in this new body, one thing after another had piled onto her. And Tang Li, since then, had almost never smiled at her like that again.
He used to like her?
Then… when did he start liking her?
Thinking back carefully, it must have been that day at noon, when he came to her to vent his troubles. Maybe that was when it started.
No—earlier than that!
And… what exactly had Tang Li said to her that day?
If that's true… then what on earth had she said to him at that time??
Ji Yu froze completely, while Yu Yuan could only sigh at how utterly clueless she was, never realizing Tang Li's feelings for her. Yu Yuan glanced back and noticed Tang Li had already turned around, searching the crowd for them. Anxious, he grabbed the still-dazed Ji Yu by the wrist and pulled her along, quickly weaving behind Tang Li.
"Where were you two? You looked so distracted."
Tang Li tilted his head, trying to peek behind to catch Ji Yu's expression.
"Today's my birthday. I just wanted to drag my junior along to get me a gift."
Yu Yuan chuckled, his smile giving away nothing. He clapped Tang Li on the shoulder, keeping him from turning around. "How about you, my good brother? Will you get me something too?"
At that, his grin widened. Greedy as ever, he rubbed his palms together and threw a polite smile at Gu Yu. Tang Li had no idea today happened to be Yu Yuan's birthday. Seeing him look so genuinely happy for once, he nodded despite himself.
"Your birthday, huh? What a coincidence. Don't tell me you showed up today just to squeeze a gift out of me?"
Though he joked, Tang Li still headed toward the nearest stall to pick something out. Yet every few steps, he couldn't help glancing back, uneasy.
Yu Yuan knew he had little time. Before Tang Li returned, he turned abruptly, held Ji Yu's face in both hands, and looked into her reddened eyes. His voice was faint yet impossibly gentle:
"Now… do you understand your own feelings?"
Ji Yu opened her mouth but couldn't form the words. Watching Tang Li and Gu Yu at the stall, her throat tightened. A whisper slipped out:
"H… happy birthday."
Disappointment flickered across Yu Yuan's face. He tapped her forehead firmly, then tugged her wrist, forcing her to look at Tang Li's back.
"Be honest. You still care about him, don't you?"
"…Yes."
"And seeing him with someone else—you hate it, don't you?"
"…Mm."
"Then confess. At least try. See if he'll choose you."
Ji Yu blinked in surprise. It felt strange that Yu Yuan, of all people, seemed to care so much about her heart. But the truth was undeniable…
That boy, standing with another girl at the stall, had once come to her. He had once laid his feelings bare. And she—she had foolishly convinced herself it was nothing but friendship.
Her eyes stung redder and redder. Across the crowd, Tang Li felt that burning gaze and turned, meeting her blue eyes from afar.
Seeing Ji Yu's silence, Yu Yuan's own face hardened. Coldness replaced the earlier gentleness.
"Say it, Ji Yu."
Her expression only infuriated him more—so timid, so spineless. He reached for her hand—
"…He once confessed to me."
Yu Yuan froze.
That was the truth. That was why she had no courage to face Tang Li now. Tears, warm despite the evening chill, slipped down her cheeks under the festival lights.
"When?"
Yu Yuan's tone wavered. He didn't know how to respond. But as her tears slid past her lips, Ji Yu's pupils suddenly gleamed, brighter than the stars above.
"…Forget it. I don't want to say."
She hugged herself, biting her lip, and forced a fragile smile at him.
Yu Yuan finally understood. He looked up sharply, scanning for Tang Li.
The street was loud and crowded, no one caring about the two who had stopped moving. Passersby filled the space between Ji Yu and Tang Li. Lights flickered through streamers, stretching Ji Yu's shadow long across the pavement until it was swallowed under countless feet.
Thump…
Tang Li picked up a gift from the stall.
Thump…
Gu Yu reached for it, and Tang Li gently slipped it onto her wrist.
Thump…
She rose on tiptoe, planting a kiss on his cheek.
Thump…
Yu Yuan's pupils shrank. Cold fury flickered in his gaze. Even in the festival heat, his breath was icy.
Quietly, he reached out, tidying Ji Yu's hair. She didn't resist—how could she, when this so-called playboy's moods swung between icy and tender? She let him.
He pulled out her red bow, unraveling the elaborate style until her hair fell naturally to her shoulders again. Amid the blaring music and laughter, only their heartbeats seemed to strike the rhythm of a drum.
"…Inhale… exhale…"
By the time Tang Li and Gu Yu turned back with their chosen gift, Yu Yuan had made up his mind.
"Since it's my birthday, why don't you stop here with Tang Li? Spend the rest of tonight with me instead."
Before Ji Yu could respond, he pulled her straight into the crowd, yawning and rubbing his eyes as if exhausted, steering them away from Tang Li.
But he looked back.
Across the throng, their eyes met.
Yu Yuan's gaze was cold, dismissive. Tang Li's was gentle, filled with quiet joy.
In Yu Yuan's eyes, Tang Li was simply a man who'd given a gift and been rewarded with a kiss. So happy for something so shallow.
And yet Yu Yuan still smiled, watching him. He noted the bracelet now on Gu Yu's wrist, then glanced down at the silent Ji Yu. Shrugging, he raised two fingers to his temple, giving Tang Li a mocking little salute.
"Too late tonight. I'll take her home."
Tang Li couldn't hear, but he saw the shape of the words. He didn't reply. Yu Yuan only smirked, then tugged Ji Yu with him toward the quieter streets.
By the time Tang Li looked around again, the little red bow was gone from sight.
All that remained in his hand—
a fidget cube, and a necklace.