Xuye Cheng popped a cold dish into his mouth—a slice of sashimi, but not salmon. Hearing the guy’s comment, he poured a beer. He didn’t watch his breath, though. The wasabi hit him hard. A sharp, spicy wave flooded his nose. Tears instantly welled in his eyes.

Zheng Wenxuan froze at the sight of Xuye Cheng’s tear-filled eyes. “Baby Cheng, what’s wrong? Why… why are you crying…?”

As Zheng Wenxuan’s words faded, everyone’s gaze turned to Xuye Cheng.

“Got choked by wasabi,” Xuye Cheng muttered. His hand holding the beer bottle trembled slightly.

“You two are close, huh?” Liu Xianlin teased. “Calling Xuye Cheng ‘baby’ already.”

Zheng Wenxuan realized his slip. He coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness. “It’s a dad’s pet name for his son. Get it?”

“Oh, it’s fine!” the guy chimed in. “We all accept it. It’s not some old closed-off era anymore.”

“Yeah, totally…”

The girls at the table giggled along.

Xuye Cheng felt like dying of embarrassment.

He rarely ate wasabi. He had no experience with it.

Worse, he’d made a fool of himself in front of his ex. It really stung his pride.

Though no one here knew about their past—except Ji Qingying.

Everyone raised their glasses. Xuye Cheng stood too, downing his beer in one gulp.

To him, it tasted worse than that little green bottle drink. This beer was just too bitter.

The table overflowed with rare delicacies, but Xuye Cheng had no appetite.

“How did you and Xiao Ying get together, He-shen?” a girl beside Ji Qingying asked. She seemed like her roommate. “I wanna hear your story~”

Xuye Cheng watched He Xiaohan smile. He sipped his wine calmly, movements crisp and clean.

“Well,” He Xiaohan began, his voice softening. “Qingying must’ve told you in the dorm, right?”

As he spoke, Ji Qingying’s expression turned shy, as if he’d hit the mark.

He Xiaohan set his glass down. “It’s exactly as she described. Nothing more.”

“Oh, so that’s how it was~”

“I saw rumors about you, senior He, on the school forum,” another girl asked. “Are they true…?”

He Xiaohan smiled warmly. “Don’t call me senior. Just use my name.” He paused. “Yes, it’s true. That’s who I was.”

He took Ji Qingying’s hand. “But Xiao Ying deserved my change. She gave me a chance. I won’t let her down.”

His gaze shifted to the questioning girl—icy for a split second.

Xuye Cheng, sitting opposite, looked utterly confused.

Did this feel like a palace intrigue drama? Or was it just him?

Ji Qingying’s demeanor turned coy. Xuye Cheng’s eyes drifted to her face. Her cheeks flushed deep red—a look he’d never seen when they were together.

“Alright, alright! Wishing you 99 years together~” Zheng Wenxuan beside Xuye Cheng cheered.

He Xiaohan’s eyes flicked to Xuye Cheng’s face. They lingered briefly, then moved away.

“Yeah, 99~”

The group toasted them. Xuye Cheng followed suit.

“Thanks for the blessings,” He Xiaohan said politely, still smiling.

“What about the birthday boy’s love story?” Liu Xianlin asked after everyone sat. “I wanna hear it.”

Zheng Wenxuan’s face scrunched like a bulldog’s. “My love life’s a pile of crap… nothing to tell.”

“Oh, come on! Just share. We’re curious.”

Zheng Wenxuan sighed, his expression turning serious and tender.

“Back in kindergarten, a girl kissed me once.”

“Ooh~” The crowd whooped.

“What happened next? Did you end up together?”

Zheng Wenxuan sighed again, full of regret. “I was dumb back then. Thought she was gross. Slapped her back. Now I think… damn, I’m such an idiot…” He sighed heavily.

“You shattered a girl’s purest heart…” Liu Xianlin said mournfully, though his lips twitched upward.

“Don’t dwell on it, bro!” a guy raised his glass. “Live for today, hope for tomorrow! Cheers to you—may you find love soon.”

Xuye Cheng forced a stiff smile beside them. Listening, he felt out of place.

“My love story’s boring,” Zheng Wenxuan said, setting his glass down. He turned to Xuye Cheng. “How about yours, Yecheng? I’m curious.”

All eyes snapped to Xuye Cheng. He froze, his face flushing with embarrassment.

“My love story… no comment,” Xuye Cheng murmured.

He Xiaohan’s lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile. But Xuye Cheng kept his head down, missing it.

“Ah… well…” Zheng Wenxuan sensed Xuye Cheng’s discomfort. “Let’s skip it. Too sensitive a topic.”

Xuye Cheng stayed silent after that.

He barely ate during the meal. Everyone else seemed to have fun. After dinner, Zheng Wenxuan planned karaoke. Xuye Cheng hated noisy places. He told Zheng Wenxuan he felt sick from too much alcohol and left early.

Xuye Cheng grabbed a quick bowl of noodles at a nearby shop to fill his stomach. By the time he stepped out, it was around eight PM.

The restaurant was a bit far from campus. He decided to walk back—saving taxi fare, plus he needed exercise. Lately, he’d been feeling weak.

Walking the long stretch, he suddenly regretted not taking a cab.

He entered the school gate, turned left onto the small path through the woods. Then he heard it—a woman’s soft, muffled sobs.