Ailin smoothed down the fabric of her emerald dress, She curled her hair carefully, hoping tonight would be special. Today was her twenty-third birthday.
She sat in the corner of the restaurant, On the chair beside her sat a white bakery box tied with ribbon. Inside was strawberry shortcake, his favorite. She could already picture the look on his face when he saw it. Her fingers tapped the plate, betraying the excitement fluttering in her chest.
An hour passed.
Her blue eyes swept the room again and again, searching for him among the clinking glasses and soft laughter of other couples, still no sign.
Biting her lip, she unlocked her phone and typed quickly on WeChat.
Hey, are you on your way?
Delivered. Not read.
I'm at the restaurant, the one we talked about.
Delivered.
Is everything okay?
Delivered.
The message sent. No reply.
Another hour slipped away. Each time the door chimed, her heart leapt, then sank when it wasn't him. The candle on the cake flickered, casting a lonely glow.
By the third hour, her hope was crumbling. The cake she'd chosen so carefully, imagining his smile when she shared it with him, sat untouched.
The waiter approached gently. "Miss… would you like to cut the cake now?"
Her throat tightened. She almost said no. But the staff had been watching her wait for hours. Forcing a smile, she nodded.
"Yes. Please bring a knife."
Her hands trembled as she lit the candle herself. Closing her eyes, she whispered a wish no one heard. Then she blew it out, the smoke curling upward like her fading hope.
She cut a small piece, tasted the sweetness but it was bitter on her tongue. Forcing it down, she pushed the plate away and stood.
The staff exchanged glances, some pitying, some curious but no one spoke.
She kept her chin high. She wouldn't cry here. Not in front of strangers.
Outside, the evening air was cool against her skin. The sky glowed orange and pink beautiful, mocking.
~~~
The bar was dim, hazy with music and laughter. Ailin sat at the counter, a glass of something strong in her hand. She tipped it back, the bitter burn sliding down her throat, spreading like fire in her chest. A faint smile curved her lips but it wasn't joy. It was the kind of smile that tried to hide pain.
Another glass. Then another.
A man slid onto the stool beside her, smirking. "Pretty girl like you shouldn't be drinking alone. Let me buy you the next one?"
Ailin glanced at him, her blue eyes cool. "Thanks, but no."
He shrugged and left, disappearing into the crowd. She stayed in her corner of solitude.
Her thoughts betrayed her, circling back to Lu Feng. Three years of late-night talks, quiet promises, timid kisses that never went further. She did told herself he was being respectful. Traditional. That he wanted to wait for the right time.
She had given him everything, her trust, her loyalty, her heart. He wasn't just her boyfriend, he was her only friend, her comfort, her safe place. Tonight her birthday, she had been ready to give him the last piece of herself. But he hadn't shown.
The ache in her chest sharpened. She tilted back her glass, drowning it in liquor.
A bitter laugh slipped out.
Across the bar, a couple kissed like they'd die if they stopped. The girl's fingers tangled in the man's hair, his hands roaming like he owned her. Ailin's chest tightened, she envied them, the ease, the affection, the closeness she had longed for but never felt. The feeling of being wanted.
Her gaze drifted across the bar, past the blur of strangers, until it caught on someone different.
A man sat alone in a back booth. He wore a tailored black suit, immaculate, tie only slightly loosened. A glass of whiskey sat untouched in front of him.
Who wears a suit to a bar?
He sat alone, calm and still, yet his presence pulled at her like gravity.
Curiosity stirred. She slipped off her stool, heels clicking against the floor as she crossed the room.
Yichen swirled the last drop of wine in his glass, the crimson catching the dim light before he tipped it back and finished it. Calmly, he slipped his hands into his pockets and stepped into the elevator.
Just as the doors began to close, someone darted in, brushing past him. He arched a brow but said nothing, leaning lazily against the wall until the elevator reached his floor.
When the doors slid open, he strode down the quiet hallway, pulled out his keycard, and swiped it in one smooth motion. A soft beep. The lock clicked.
He didn't notice the girl following him.
Ailin's heart pounded as she slipped inside just before the door shut.
Yichen turned sharply, grey eyes narrowing. "You…"
Before he could finish, Ailin pushed him against the wall, her small hands gripping his shirt. She rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his in a desperate, trembling kiss.
Her hands shook as she tugged at her clothes, frantic, almost breaking. The air grew heavy with her ragged breaths, her heartbeat loud in the silence.
Yichen's hands closed around her wrists, holding her still. His breathing was uneven.
"Stop" he said coldly. "You're upset. Drunk. You'll regret this."
"I waited all night for someone who never came. Just… let me forget. Even if it's only tonight." Her voice trembled, but her gaze was steady, blue eyes locked on his. "I'm done with regrets."
Yichen's brows furrowed. His large hands closed firmly around her wrists, stopping her. His voice dropped, low and hoarse.
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
But she didn't stop.
The words hung between them, sharp and raw.
Yichen's gaze darkened, torn between restraint and the storm rising inside him.