Their expressions varied. Ye Mingxuan seemed confused, while Bai Yu finally found an opportunity to get back at Tan Sizhe. He deliberately said, “Mingxuan, your kindness is misplaced. Mr. Tan just mentioned he doesn’t like bubble tea.”
After saying this, Bai Yu caught Tan Sizhe’s warning glare. He turned his head and whistled, looking completely uninvolved.
Tan Sizhe, afraid Ye Mingxuan might overthink it, took the milk tea: “Don’t listen to Bai Yu’s nonsense. I’m actually thirsty. Thanks.”
He took the warm brown sugar bubble milk tea, immediately inserted the thick straw, and took several sips right in front of Ye Mingxuan. Swallowing the sweet, rich brown sugar flavor, he remarked, “First time trying milk tea. It’s delicious.”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes crinkled with amusement. He had deliberately chosen less sugar, worried Tan Sizhe might not like it.
“Oh, here’s another cup—it’s for Mr. Bai.” Ye Mingxuan pulled out another bag.
Bai Yu accepted it, flattered and surprised. “I have one too? Thanks, Mingxuan. But why did you suddenly come here? Just to bring us milk tea?”
Ye Mingxuan glanced at Tan Sizhe, hesitating. “I…”
His long lashes fluttered as he shot Tan Sizhe a sly glance, his voice unconsciously sweetening like black sugar bubbles. “When will you be off work, sir?”
Tan Sizhe felt a tingle in his heart: “In about an hour. Why?”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head: “Nothing.”
Tan Sizhe: “I have a few things to take care of. I’ll have Bai Yu show you around.”
Bai Yu, who had tactfully retreated to the window to drink his milk tea, turned at the sound of his name. “You called?”
Tan Sizhe instructed him to take Ye Mingxuan on a tour of the company. Ye Mingxuan asked if it would bother Mr. Bai.
Bai Yu downed his second milk tea of the day in a few gulps, tossing the empty cup into the trash. “Not at all. I’m bored out of my mind.”
Ye Mingxuan thanked Bai Yu and followed him out. Bai Yu took him on a tour of the company’s various departments. Seeing Bai Yu personally escorting someone around, the employees assumed it was another business partner visiting. They nodded politely upon seeing Ye Mingxuan.
Ye Mingxuan nervously greeted them in turn. Bai Yu then took him to the company cafeteria, where Ye Mingxuan noticed the warm, inviting decor and the appealing dishes displayed on the rotating menu.
The company also housed a coffee shop and a gym. As Ye Mingxuan toured the facilities, he exclaimed in admiration, “Your company is enormous!”
Bai Yu smiled. “Size is secondary. The main thing is the benefits—no forced overtime. Of course, the bar is high. We don’t hire anyone without a top-tier university degree, unless they have exceptional technical skills.”
Ye Mingxuan recalled Bai Yu attending the alumni gathering last time. “Mr. Bai, were you and Mr. Tan university classmates?”
Bai Yu nodded. “Yes, we were university classmates and have been close friends for years. Technically, I’m your senior.”
Ye Mingxuan asked, “So… what was he like in college?”
Bai Yu replied, “Him? He was constantly being confessed to wherever he went—people would slip him love letters and gifts. Oh, I remember once during a basketball game, someone even tried to break into the locker room just to see him!”
Ye Mingxuan gasped: “What?!”
Bai Yu chuckled teasingly: “Don’t worry, we stopped them at the door.”
Ye Mingxuan felt an inexplicable sense of relief wash over him. Suddenly it dawned on him—back when Tan Sizhe was in college, he himself was still preparing for middle school entrance exams.
What if the age gap between him and Tan Sizhe weren’t so wide? What if they’d gone to college together? But he studied civil engineering while Tan Sizhe pursued finance—even if they’d attended the same university, they probably wouldn’t have crossed paths.
Bai Yu led him around a few more times before Ye Mingxuan received a call from Tan Sizhe, instructing them to wait downstairs.
They took the elevator down to the first floor. Soon, Tan Sizhe emerged from his private elevator. His expression softened when he saw Ye Mingxuan. He wrapped an arm around his waist. “Finished browsing?”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head. “This place is huge. We only made it through two floors.”
Tan Sizhe shrugged. “No worries. We can come back another time.”
He led Ye Mingxuan outside. It was rush hour, and people streamed down the elevators and stairs. Seeing their boss holding a young man, they all gasped in surprise.
Everyone passing by turned back three times, staring at them with wide eyes.
“Who is that? The boss’s boyfriend?”
“Is Mr. Tan really dating?”
“His boyfriend looks so young—is he even legal?”
Under the intense scrutiny, Ye Mingxuan instinctively tried to hide. Tan Sizhe straightened his posture: “Stand tall and walk. It’s no big deal.”
Ye Mingxuan bit his lip, gathering his courage for a moment before lifting his chest and facing the employees with composure.
Tan Sizhe smiled, ruffling his hair.
This sent the onlookers into a tizzy.
“Holy crap, did Tan just pat his head?”
“Holy crap, Tan actually smiled! I’ll die before I see that again!”
“They’re definitely dating, I’m sure of it!”
Ye Mingxuan straightened his back and climbed into the Maybach with a clumsy mix of arms and legs. Only when he sat down on the leather seat did he breathe a sigh of relief: “Phew—”
He’d never imagined his first visit to Tan Sizhe’s company would draw such attention. If they knew he was married to Tan Sizhe, they’d probably be so shocked their jaws would drop.
After a moment, the tense, secretive feeling finally faded. Ye Mingxuan propped himself up with a soft pillow behind his back, resting his hands lightly on his stomach.
“Why did you suddenly come find me today?” Tan Sizhe asked.
Ye Mingxuan blinked. “Mr. Bai will understand once he gets home—Mr. Bai, would you like to join us for dinner tonight?”
Bai Yu, sitting in the passenger seat, turned his head. “Sure, sure! Since you’re inviting me, I’ll gladly tag along for dinner.”
Tan Sizhe stared at Ye Mingxuan, raising one eyebrow.
During rush hour, traffic was heavy. What was usually a ten-minute drive took them half an hour to get home today.
But good things come to those who wait. As Ye Mingxuan pushed open the door, Aunt Fu greeted them with the aroma of dinner: “You’re back!”
Only then did Tan Sizhe notice the living room had been decorated—a large golden “Happy Birthday” banner hung prominently, surrounded by colorful balloons. The dining table was laden with dishes, crowned by an exquisite birthday cake.
Bai Yu: “Wow—!”
Aunt Fu: “We’re celebrating the master’s birthday today! Everyone, eat heartily!”
Amidst Bai Yu and Aunt Fu’s laughter, Tan Sizhe turned his gaze toward Ye Mingxuan, fixing him with a steady stare. Ye Mingxuan met his bright eyes, his heart skipping a beat as he rubbed his palms together. “Today is the master’s birthday, so I asked Aunt Fu to prepare a little something.”
Aunt Fu approached: “It wasn’t all my doing. I just cooked the dishes. The cake was personally chosen by Mr. Mingxuan, and the decorations in the living room were also arranged by him.”
Hearing this, Tan Sizhe’s eyes flickered. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked Ye Mingxuan, “Really?”
Ye Mingxuan swayed slightly. “…Yeah.”
Bai Yu nudged Tan Sizhe’s shoulder. “Oh my, how thoughtful.”
Tan Sizhe looked at Ye Mingxuan and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
He didn’t really place much importance on his own birthday. When he was young, Old Master Tan and his parents would throw banquets for his birthdays. But calling them banquets was a euphemism—the real purpose was to invite business partners over to discuss deals.
His parents weren’t unloving—they’d wish him a happy birthday, sing “Happy Birthday,” and dine with him. But what Tan Sizhe truly craved was a pure birthday celebration, untouched by business interests or any impurities. Sadly, his parents couldn’t fully give him that.
So he’d always felt birthdays were all the same—until today.
This birthday was simpler than any he’d had before. Four people sat around a table, with Ye Mingxuan carrying another in his belly—five in total. They raised their glasses filled with wine and drinks and clinked them together.
“Cheers—!”
Ye Mingxuan sipped his lemonade, glancing at Tan Sizhe. Spotting the smile in his eyes, Ye Mingxuan felt like a little bird chirping inside his chest.
Bai Yu took a bite of sweet and sour spare ribs, praising, “Aunt Fu, your cooking has improved again. This is delicious!”
Aunt Fu beamed, “If you like it, eat more! It’s all yours!”
Ye Mingxuan lowered his head to eat, adding a few ribs to his bowl.
Tan Sizhe picked up dishes Ye Mingxuan couldn’t reach and placed them in his bowl. “Want some soup?”
Just as Ye Mingxuan was about to ask, Tan Sizhe offered. He nodded, and Tan Sizhe poured him a bowl of soup.
Bai Yu and Aunt Fu exchanged a knowing glance at this scene.
“Time to cut the cake. Let’s have Mr. Tan make a wish first,” Aunt Fu said.
Several lights in the restaurant dimmed, casting a soft glow around them. The next moment, bright flames flared up. Bai Yu played “Happy Birthday” through her phone’s speaker. It felt a bit childish for Tan Sizhe, but it was just right for Ye Mingxuan.
Ye Mingxuan hummed softly along, clapping to the beat, unaware that Tan Sizhe’s eyes were fixed on him, his pupils glistening like ripples in water.
After the birthday song, it was time to cut the cake. It wasn’t large—much smaller than Tan Sizhe’s usual birthday cakes—but the portion was just right for the four of them.
Ye Mingxuan, managing his pregnancy weight, cut himself a smaller slice. Aunt Fu, needing to control her blood sugar due to her age, also took a small piece. Though Tan Sizhe wasn’t fond of sweets, since Ye Mingxuan had bought it, he cut himself a large slice and let Bai Yu have the rest.
It was a rare gathering for a meal, and Tan Sizhe’s birthday at that—Bai Yu wasn’t about to leave so easily. He switched the TV to karaoke mode, grabbed the microphone, and started wailing like a banshee. Ye Mingxuan sat beside him, cheering him on with a clapper.
After Tan Sizhe helped Aunt Fu clear the table, he headed home. Tan Sizhe returned to the living room, sat beside Ye Mingxuan, and watched Bai Yu’s wild singing.
He’d had a bit to drink and felt warm, so he undid the top two buttons of his shirt and draped his arm over Ye Mingxuan’s back.
Ye Mingxuan waved his clapper, but his thoughts were stolen by the man’s scent, leaving him unable to catch a single word of Bai Yu’s song.
It wasn’t until nine o’clock that Bai Yu finally left, and the house fell silent. After seeing Bai Yu off, Ye Mingxuan turned around and nearly collided with the man’s chest.
Ye Mingxuan looked up to find Tan Sizhe tilting his head at him. “How did you know my birthday?”
“…” Ye Mingxuan clasped his hands behind his back and confessed, “I saw it when we signed the marriage agreement.”
That was half a year ago—back when they hadn’t even met face-to-face.
“So you cared about me that early?” Tan Sizhe remarked.
Ye Mingxuan’s ears flushed. “I saw it, so I remembered.”
Tan Sizhe lowered his head, shoulders trembling slightly. When he looked up again, his eyes sparkled with amusement. “Thank you.”
Seeing him so pleased, Ye Mingxuan thought his birthday act today had paid off. Then he heard Tan Sizhe add, “Tit for tat. This year, I’ll celebrate your birthday with you.”
Ye Mingxuan looked up. His birthdays were always simple—a mediocre little cake, two or three bowls of stir-fried dishes, and just him and Liu Yan squeezed around a small square table.
Year after year, it was the same. He never had any expectations for his birthday. But Tan Sizhe had said he’d be there for this year’s celebration.
Ye Mingxuan’s heart suddenly began pounding. He wanted to fast-forward to that day immediately.
With Tan Sizhe by his side, it seemed he could start looking forward to it again.
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