Chapter 92

Chapter 92

In March, the night still carried a chill, and Li Yanchuan appeared at the door, the coolness still clinging to him.

Paying no attention to his shoulders damp from the drizzle, his gaze fell entirely on the person before him, his hands still full of gifts.

Seeing the gentleness in his lowered eyes, Song Nian felt his nose sting, and a fierce surge of emotion welled up inside him.

He almost never celebrated his birthday.

When he was a child, longing for his birthday to come, his parents were too busy with work to remember the day. There were no gifts, no celebrations—he couldn't even count on seeing them.

After too many disappointments, he gradually pushed it to the back of his mind. Especially as he grew up, he stopped caring altogether.

Even later, when he saw his parents celebrate his younger brother's birthday with elaborate gifts and a huge cream cake, his expression remained indifferent and calm.

He fooled himself so thoroughly that he even forgot that his own birthday could be a cause for celebration.

His throat tightened, Song Nian opened his mouth to speak, but his voice choked and failed him.

Until a cool, damp breeze blew past, giving him goosebumps and breaking the silence between them.

"It's cold outside. Come inside first."

Snapping back to reality, Song Nian set aside his thoughts and quickly pulled the man inside, helping him out of his damp clothes.

"How did you know today is my birthday?"

Looking at the cake and flowers quietly placed on the table, their sweet scent filling the air and warming his heart, he fidgeted with his fingers and asked tentatively, feeling at a loss for once.

Li Yanchuan ruffled the top of his head and answered calmly,

"You mentioned it before."

Mentioned it?

Suddenly recalling that he had mentioned it in passing back when his identity was outed.

It was just a casual mention, yet someone had remembered it and prepared a birthday surprise.

At that thought, Song Nian's heart swelled with a mix of sweetness and emotion, a wave filling his chest.

"I planned to get back as early as possible, but I got stuck in traffic and only just got home. I only had time to prepare these."

Li Yanchuan said apologetically.

His pre-arranged plans had been disrupted by a business trip, and the candlelit dinner he had booked had to be canceled due to the traffic jam. In the end, all he had to show for it was flowers and a cake.

Love means always feeling like you owe something. He thought such simple preparations were too simple, not good enough for him.

He wanted to make it up to him tomorrow, but Song Nian shook his head.

"No need. This is more than enough."

Gently stroking the rose petals, Song Nian lowered his head with a shy smile, eyes glistening with emotion.

The cake was opened and placed on the table. Li Yanchuan tried to recall the birthday routine he'd seen others do, then awkwardly inserted candles and lit them.

Even when Song Nian shyly resisted, he insisted on putting a little paper crown on his head himself.

The faint candlelight wasn't dazzling, but it was bright enough to cut through the darkness; the crown on his head wasn't heavy, but it carried the weight of what he'd lost long ago.

Having not enjoyed such treatment for years, Song Nian was stunned, flustered and at a loss, unsure of what to do next.

"Make a wish first."

Only when Li Yanchuan softly reminded him did he clasp his hands together and sincerely make a wish.

The flame at the top of the candle flickered, illuminating their close, leaning figures and also casting light on the hopes buried deep in their hearts.

Since childhood, there had been a dusty corner in his heart, storing all his "childish" wishes—so covered in dust and cobwebs, and even he had forgotten that he once yearned for these things.

Until one day, someone discovered that corner, brushed away the dust, set the wishes drifting like snowflakes, and told him that he would fulfill them all.

His chest felt full to bursting. Song Nian made his wish but didn't rush to blow out the candle.

"Blow it out with me."

He hugged Li Yanchuan's arm and shook it, begging him to join in, playfully.

Unable to say no, Li Yanchuan smiled indulgently and blew out the candle together with him.

The flame went out, replaced by the electric light.

They smiled at each other.

Unlike Li Yanchuan, who truly didn't like birthdays—finding such ceremonies boring and meaningless—Song Nian actually loved this kind of ritual, but he never had the chance to enjoy it.

But today, he had a cake and flowers all to himself.

This surprise caught him off guard, and the feeling of being valued was truly wonderful, just like that night when he was sick.

A wave of emotion washed over him, filling his heart and touching the most vulnerable part of him, making his nose sting again.

As a child, he had longed for every birthday to come. Even without cake or gifts, just a simple "Happy birthday" from his parents when they got home late at night could make him happy for a long time.

But later, even that simple greeting stopped coming, because his parents couldn't remember which day was his birthday.

Understanding that his parents were busy with work, he never brought it up. But every quiet night, disappointment would wash over him in waves.

This habit of being the mature one had persisted until now, but it had begun to negatively affect his intimate relationship.

"Babe."

Realizing the issue and knowing that he could ask for special treatment, Song Nian suddenly found the courage to hold Li Yanchuan's index finger and asked in a low voice,

"If I be a little more demanding, would you hate it?"

If I make unreasonable demands, complain, and demand things, would you think I'm a burden?

When he finished speaking, he saw Li Yanchuan shake his head, then cup his face and give him a tender kiss on the lips.

"Nothing would make me happier."

He heard Li Yanchuan say in a gentle voice.

————

As he sat on the man's lap, Song Nian took small bites of cake while telling stories from the past.

"When I was little, my parents were very busy making money, so I had to take care of myself."

He bit into a strawberry, and it tasted a bit sour.

After all, earning money was for a better life. Understanding why his parents were so busy, young Song Nian was very sensible, handling things on his own to avoid troubling them.

Even in elementary school, he could handle various household chores.

Even when he was sick, he didn't dare let his parents know, secretly going to the pharmacy to buy medicine.

Later, when he heard his parents praise him and saw their relaxed smiles, Song Nian became even more sensible, growing into a well-behaved and independent person.

He thought being sensible was the right thing to do, the way to put his parents at ease.

Until the birth of his younger brother.

The year his brother was born, Song Nian entered high school, and the family's financial situation improved; his parents no longer needed to work long hours.

At the same time, they realized that children needed companionship, and their past neglect had been wrong.

But by then, Song Nian had grown up, and getting close felt awkward, so they felt justified in lavishing the affection they had withheld on their second child.

They never missed a school event, kept a quiet watch when he was sick, and planned birthday gifts meticulously each year—all a stark contrast to their past behavior.

He saw it all, but Song Nian said nothing.

He was a sensible child; of course, he wouldn't blame his parents.

However, when he sat at the table, watching the birthday cake intended only for his brother, the dancing flames would always cast a shadow of loneliness in his eyes.

The red mark on his forehead was actually a scar from when he protected his brother.

When his parents' first instinct was to anxiously pick up his brother and check on him, Song Nian quietly used his hair to cover the wound on his forehead.

Unlike his crying and fussing brother, he forced a smile and said he was fine.

His brother, raised in love, could act spoiled and willful, effortlessly getting all their attention without having to do anything, and getting their praise without being well-behaved.

In contrast, sensible Song Nian was always the one overlooked.

"So, do you resent them?"

After listening to his story, Li Yanchuan's eyes filled with uncontrollable pity.

Resent them?

It wasn't exactly resentment, but there was definitely some bitterness—otherwise, why would he be unwilling to return to his original world and prefer to stay here?

But it had been so long; the past couldn't be changed, and there was no point in dwelling on it.

Song Nian smiled at him but didn't answer.

Sensible children always get the short end of the stick; his forlorn, unassertive expression pained Li Yanchuan deeply, and he pulled him tightly into his arms.

"From now on, you can be spoiled around me however you want, cause me trouble anytime you like."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"I love it when you're spoiled around me."

"Really..."

Hearing this, Song Nian instinctively tightened his grip on the man's clothes, his eyes glistening, seemingly moved.

"Mm, if you want any gifts or have any wishes, you can tell me, no need to hold back."

Li Yanchuan smiled softly and kissed the top of his head.

Every word was a solemn promise—if Song Nian spoke up, even if it was the moon in the sky, he would do it, wishing he could give him his whole heart.

Wrapped in this love, Song Nian's heart was filled to the brim, and he rubbed against the man's chest like a little critter.

So, since you like me so much, why do you never get jealous?

Suddenly recalling the awkward point from before, he mustered the courage to voice this doubt.

Hearing this question, Li Yanchuan paused, rubbed his nose awkwardly, and spoke a bit reluctantly:

"I'm afraid you'll dislike me."

He feared that his overwhelming possessiveness would hurt Song Nian, like thorns hidden beneath a rose, piercing the skin and causing tears.

"Of course not!"

Hearing this, Song Nian instinctively raised his voice in denial.

Rather than hate, it was more like I could accept it.

Even... I really like it.

"I'm scared that if you see my true side, you'll be scared away."

Li Yanchuan's lips pressed into a straight line, his voice low, as if he were laying his heart bare, reflecting seriously.

"The last few times, you cried from fear."

Those dark, possessive desires were like moss in the shadows—once exposed to sunlight, they would have nowhere to hide and would vanish.

People in love always put on a facade, wanting to show only their best side to strengthen affection and maintain their image.

Li Yanchuan was no different, always restraining his pathological possessiveness.

Recalling why he had cried those previous times, Song Nian was stunned for two seconds, and his face quickly turned red.

"I... I wasn't crying from fear."

He shyly lowered his head, fidgeting with his fingers, his murmuring voice barely audible, but when it reached the man's ears, it still carried a thunderous impact.

"Because it felt so good... I like it when you treat me like this..."

Li Yanchuan froze, then lowered his head, his half-lowered eyelids shading his eyes, his expression unreadable:

"No, if you truly saw my other side, you wouldn't like it."

"Huh?"

His body suddenly lifted into the air, and Song Nian was dazed for a moment, instinctively wrapping his arms around the man's neck to keep from falling.

Then, Li Yanchuan, taking advantage of the moment, lifted Song Nian from his lap and carried him upstairs without a word.

For some reason, Song Nian noticed the man's expression seemed a bit serious.

The master bedroom door was shoved open, and the next moment, his body sank into the soft bed. He blinked slowly, looking around in a daze.

Without any explanation, Li Yanchuan turned and went to the study, taking a box out of the safe.

"If you saw these things, would you still say you're not scared?"

His expression darkened as he dumped everything from the box onto the bed.

Something cold touched his skin, sending a chill through him. Song Nian turned his head in a daze, and when he saw what they were, his eyes flew open in shock.

What he'd dumped out was a full set of gold ankle chains, handcuffs, and a collar!