Brother Toy got a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, priced at three hundred thousand…Three hundred thousand, every penny saved by his own little boyfriend, 100%.
The lingering feeling of regret slowly faded. The good values he had been taught brought a quiet sense of pride he had helped make his lover's dream come true. Who would have thought that a lower-level employee, earning daily wages, could pay the down payment on a luxury car for a boyfriend with a decent salary?
"Start over… save again…" That thought came naturally. Slowly, he would begin again, saving every bit he could, hoping that one day things would be better. His parents always said that true partners support each other and never let the other suffer alone, especially when it comes to money.
All his savings went to Toy, with the hope that his lover would find joy in something he had longed for. And just seeing him smile, looking back with delight that alone was enough to fill his heart with happiness.
"Thank you, Star, my dearest. I promise I'll love only you, my one and only," Toy whispered, his words dripping with sweetness. His gaze was tender, his embrace warm a perfect response to such pure, devoted love.
Toy had gone alone to pick up the car, leaving his little boyfriend busy with household chores and other work. All with the hope of saving money faster.
Really?
Ever since his lover got the Mercedes-Benz he had dreamed of, the first ones to sit in it were friends, parents, and relatives. The hardworking boyfriend, the one who barely slept, had never even gotten the chance to sit in it himself.
Weeks passed.
Ten days.
Half a month…
And he still didn't come home often. Maybe… he was just too excited, too carried away.
They barely spoke. Calls never lasted more than a few seconds before one of them hung up. "Staying at a friend's place," he'd say. "No parking here," he'd add. And Toy wouldn't come stay with him anymore.
Hollow, tired eyes under dark circles scanned pictures of his lover on social media, traveling to exotic spots with his beloved gray Benz.
Status: single.
Same old status, never changed. No couple photos. No sign of being in a relationship. Everything looked perfect, flawless.
Handsome, high-profile, successful, driving a luxury car, checking in at fancy places, using brand-name products…
Everything his lover didn't have.
The small figure sat down, eating instant noodles in front of a convenience store, scrolling through a cracked four-year-old phone during a break between part-time jobs, feeling dazed and empty.
A broad-shouldered man stood with arms crossed, wearing tinted glasses, looking camera-ready like a model. The caption read:
"My handsome, beloved car"
The next photo was a selfie in the car, a cool half-smile on his face, captioned:
"Finally, I own my little Benz"
And countless clips of driving around to luxurious spots, live-streamed daily, checking into fancy destinations, surrounded by a new group of friends richer, more social, more polished.
Yet none of it included the one who had professed so much love. Not once in a single place. No couple photos. Not a single shot together.
As the new month approached, the lover who had been absent returned, sitting on the old sofa, forehead in hands, looking troubled.
"I have to pay forty thousand a month for the car… Star, can you help me?"
He knew all too well the weak spot of his partner. Love had the power to soften even the most steadfast hearts. The small figure sat beside him, holding his hands quietly, feeling his own irritation melt away at the sight of the older one's downcast face. Any previous feelings of being overlooked vanished caring for him now mattered more than caring for herself.
Even when weary at hearing about money and the car again, she couldn't say no when wrapped in his embrace and hearing his heartfelt declaration of love.
Now, with no savings left, living only on daily wages, scraping together just enough for the rent, water, and electricity, the poor lover still returned, asking for help… again.
"I only have this. Is it enough, big brother?"
Giving everything she had, there were no words that could ever define the depth of Star's love more perfectly.
Thump!
The tall figure pulled her into a tight embrace, burying himself against her small but strong frame. Who else could be so kind, hardworking, patient, honest, and living such a simple life eating instant noodles for three meals straight for days just to help the one they loved, without complaint or demand? Such a devoted lover simply didn't exist anywhere else.
"I love you, Star…"
Those words of love had become a natural reward after every small sacrifice, embedded deep in the heart with the understanding that true love demanded patience, endurance, and selflessness… to be reciprocated.
"Big brother, I'm not feeling well today. Can I leave early?" The soft, distinctive voice of the fragile one spoke to a coworker.
"What's wrong? You don't sound well " the colleague asked, surprised. Normally, this small figure would work tirelessly, trading extra effort for a little food and water from the small eatery.
"N-nothing… probably just overworked," the slender figure mumbled, moving like a ghost, lifeless, reaching for the water beside the faucet, slipping it into an old canvas bag, and nodding politely to a senior, as always.
Her frail, disheveled appearance hair unkempt, voice barely audible gave no impression of someone who could endure such hard work. She had no confidence, no striking qualities only diligence and innocence.
"Drinking tap water isn't good for you. You've gotten too thin. I heard you've been running around so much… Is there trouble at home with money?" The colleague's concern was persistent, unable to understand why someone so small had to work so hard.
"No… I have to go now," she replied, brushing it off, lowering her head, and quietly leaving.