The night had fallen, cold and silent, though the city below still hummed with restless lights. Stars glimmered in the dark sky, indifferent to the tiny dramas unfolding far beneath them.
Ning Wen sat at the dining table, body rigid, hands clasped loosely in his lap, fingers fidgeting with a nervous rhythm. At first glance, he appeared composed, calm, even but beneath that mask, a storm raged. His mind raced with unspoken worries, his chest tightening with a mixture of anticipation and dread, and a subtle tremor ran through him as his eyes lingered on the steaming dishes laid out before him. Every plate smelled warm and inviting, but he could hardly taste them.
He drew in a slow, deliberate breath and let his gaze drift to the wall clock. The night was nearly over, the day giving way to the next—but there was still no sign of the one he had been waiting for so desperately.
When the clock struck midnight, a quiet chime marking the start of a new day, the emptiness pressed down on him like a weight. Another day had begun, and once again, all that remained for Ning Wen was the hollow ache of longing—and the bitter taste of sorrow.
The food had long gone cold.
As expected, Jiang Kaishan hadn't arrived—yet again missing Ning Wen's birthday.
It was the third year in a row. Or perhaps it wasn't that he missed it… but that he simply didn't care enough to show up.
Ning Wen knew it. Deep down, he had known it all along. And yet, he still allowed himself to hope, to wait. He had taken the early hours off from the hospital, rushing home to cook a few of their favorite dishes, preparing the meal with care and anticipation, imagining a quiet celebration just the two of them. He knew Jiang Kaishan wouldn't lift a finger for his special day—but Ning Wen had been content to cook, content to share the table, content to simply be close to the one he loved so dearly for so many years.
And yet, today was another painful reminder that their love—fragile, uneven, and one-sided—was teetering on the edge of collapse. Still, he clung to the smallest fragments of hope, desperately wishing that maybe, just maybe, he could mend what had been breaking for far too long.
From high school to the present, Ning Wen had always loved Jiang Kaishan. He had chased him relentlessly from the age of seventeen, pouring his heart into every glance, every word, every small moment, until finally, on Ning Wen's nineteenth birthday, Jiang Kaishan had accepted his confession. That day had become sacred in Ning Wen's mind—a birthday, an anniversary, a symbol of the love he had dreamed of for years.
But the truth had always been one-sided.
Ning Wen had wanted this birthday to be different, to be filled with shared joy, laughter, and warmth with Jiang Kaishan, especially since he would soon leave for the medical camp in a week. He had held onto that hope, however fragile, only for it to shatter once again.
His eyes began to sting, the threat of tears hovering on the edge. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay composed, and gripped his phone tightly as it rang. Hope flickered again, and without checking the ID, he picked up.
"Hello, Wen Wen?"
It wasn't Jiang Kaishan.
It was Liang Yue.
Before Ning Wen could speak, Liang Yue's voice cut through the line, a mix of anger, worry, and exasperation. "Don't even say a word—I know you. You were expecting that idiot to call, weren't you? But sorry to burst your bubble… it's me calling, your one and only best friend, not that jerk you run to ignoring me!"
Ning Wen bit his bottom lip, striving for calm. "Don't speak like that," he murmured.
"Oh, please. You know me. I'm just exercising a little self-control… because I know you hate it when I bad-mouth him. Otherwise, you'd see just how many curses I've learned in seventeen-plus languages—all for that jerk." Liang Yue exclaimed.
Ning Wen stayed silent, fingers tightening on the phone, the other hand clutching his shirt as if it could anchor him. He felt tears threatening to spill any second.
Liang Yue's voice softened, tinged with guilt, though his frustration slipped through. "You knew he wouldn't show up, and still you turned down my idea to go out and celebrate. You stayed home… cooking for that jerk. Whose birthday is it again? I've always told you I don't like him. He's not good for you. Do you ever listen?"
Ning Wen remained silent, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him.
Then Liang Yue heard it: the faint, shaky sound of Ning Wen's breathing. His heart clenched.
"Alright, darling… don't start sulking already. There's more to life than moping over him. I know your birthday's past, but you can still enjoy it. Eat something if you haven't, then get some rest. Later, we'll go out and celebrate properly—my treat this time." Liang Yue's voice was desperate, full of care.
Ning Wen didn't want to worry him. "Don't… worry. I'm fine. Really. I ate. I'll shower and then sleep."
"A shower… at this hour?" Liang Yue asked, incredulous.
"Yeah… got my clothes dirty while cooking. Don't worry about me," Ning Wen said softly.
"Hmm… okay. But don't take too long. Don't get sick on me. Remember the camp is coming soon, and I'm excited for it!" Liang Yue said, voice brightening with his usual playful energy. "A new camp, a new place… maybe I'll finally find myself a lover. Who knows? Maybe a knight in shining armor will appear, riding a royal horse to carry me off to his beautiful kingdom and make me his queen!"
Ning Wen's lips twitched, a soft chuckle escaping him. "A knight marrying you won't make you a queen… plus, you're a guy."
"Yes, but don't ruin my dream, Wen Wen! Nothing wrong with dreaming. And who knows… maybe while I find my knight, you'll find a prince—someone actually worthy of you." Liang Yue's tone was teasing but carried sincerity beneath it.
"Maybe… or maybe not. But I'm not interested. Now hang up—I need a shower. I'm sleepy."
"Fine, fine. Bye-bye, baby!" Liang Yue blew a kiss through the phone before hanging up.
Ning Wen smiled softly, warmth creeping into his chest despite the day's pain. If he thought about it, the best thing that had ever happened to him in his life wasn't a love affair—it was Liang Yue. Loyal, fierce, and impossibly devoted friend. He had always been grateful for him.
Letting out a soft sigh, Ning Wen rose from the table, carefully packing the cold dishes into the fridge before washing the leftover plates. Despite Liang Yue's warning not to linger too long, he stayed in the shower longer than usual, letting the cold water soak into his skin and wash over the knots of tension in his shoulders. The icy flow calmed his nerves, numbing the ache in his chest—though it could never fully erase it.
Afterwards, he pulled on a soft sweater, towel-drying his hair, and sat scrolling through his phone. The medical camp's old posts blinked at him: birthday wishes from clients, colleagues, and friends. Liang Yue's posts dominated the feed—dramatic declarations, memes, and playful reminders that Ning Wen had survived another year. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he liked each one, letting the warmth of friendship settle around him.
Then, the soft creak of the door made him freeze. He knew without turning.
"Kai Shan… where've you been?" His voice was calm, measured, but carried a subtle edge. The chill from the long shower lingered in his tone, brushing his words with a hint of distance.
Jiang Kaishan stumbled in, reeking faintly of alcohol. His hair was disheveled, necktie hanging loose, suit wrinkled. Tall and imposing, he moved lazily, bending slightly to remove his shoes before collapsing onto the couch. His perfect features, which Ning Wen had once adored without question, were flushed and annoyed, his brows furrowed as he unbuttoned his shirt carelessly.
"I had a meeting," Jiang Kaishan muttered, voice husky, indifferent. He didn't spare Ning Wen a glance.
Ning Wen's eyes lingered for a moment on the faint red marks on Jiang Kaishan's neck. Calm, composed, he spoke with practiced ease. "I understand. Meetings can be tiring." He moved toward the kitchen, expression neutral, posture relaxed, and poured a glass of water. Returning to the couch, he handed it to Jiang Kaishan with careful detachment, masking the flicker of hurt beneath his serene exterior.
Jiang Kaishan drained the glass of water, not sparing Ning Wen a glance. Ning Wen's voice, steady but heavy with quiet resolve, broke the silence. "I… have to attend the medical camp next week."
Jiang Kaishan's eyebrows drew together, frowning. "What? What camp?"
"A medical camp," Ning Wen replied evenly, his patience taut.
"And… what will you do there?" Jiang Kaishan pressed, the words laced with skepticism.
Ning Wen's frown deepened slightly. His reply was clipped, precise, like a reminder he had given countless times before. "I'm a doctor."
Being a doctor wasn't just a title—it was a responsibility. Did Jiang Kaishan really forget that?
Jiang Kaishan scoffed dismissively. "No need to do those things. Don't go."
Ning Wen kept his tone calm, but there was an edge of firmness. "I can't decide that. It's not my choice alone. The hospital organized it, and a group of doctors and nurses will attend. I've been asked to go, and… I want to go." Being one of the most respected and sought-after doctors in the hospital, his presence had been requested specifically.
Anger flared in Jiang Kaishan's eyes. "I said don't go. That means don't go. You think I don't see what you're doing? Using this camp to get away from me? Wrong. You can't ever get away from me, Ning Wen!"
Ning Wen let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh. "I'm not going anywhere. But I need to attend this camp. I want to. Please… let me go."
The words carried more weight than Jiang Kaishan realized. Even now, despite all his achievements and status, Ning Wen still felt the invisible chains of Jiang Kaishan's approval. Every choice, every action, had to pass through him—or else it felt meaningless, doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. The thought made Ning Wen shiver, and he shook his head slightly, trying to banish the memory of the unpleasant past.
Jiang Kaishan stared at him, irritation and fatigue mingling in his gaze. "How long is it?"
"Two weeks," Ning Wen replied calmly.
Jiang Kaishan's anger flared briefly at the thought, but he simply nodded. "Fine. But make sure you keep your distance from others… and call me every hour."
Only if you answer them, Ning Wen thought silently, suppressing the bitter sting.
"Okay… thank you," he said softly, his voice polite, measured. Without another word, he walked to his bedroom and lay down, staring at the ceiling. Thoughts swirled in his mind, a tangled mess of broken hopes, cold dishes, and a birthday that had felt more like a reminder of absence than celebration.
He didn't allow himself to linger on the hurt, not fully. With a soft sigh, he closed his eyes, trying to chase away the ache and whispering to himself a fragile hope for a warmer, better day ahead.