He couldn’t just forget the pain after the wound had healed. “I have something to do, so I can’t go.”

“What is it?” Gu Xinchuan shot him a glance.

Song Yi smiled. “It’s none of your business.”

Gu Xinchuan reached out from the car window, gently tugging on the sleeve of Song Yi’s shirt like a playful puppy. He blinked a few times, looking at him. “How is it not my business?”

Song Yi glanced down at Gu Xinchuan’s hand, which was strikingly beautiful, with long, clean fingers. His heart softened slightly. “Stop it. I’ll go home if I have nothing to do.”

“No way.” Gu Xinchuan tightened his grip on Song Yi’s sleeve, giving it a gentle shake with an inexplicable, affectionate tone. “You have to come with me. I want to celebrate your birthday.”

“You want to celebrate my birthday?” Song Yi felt a flicker of surprise. Why would Gu Xinchuan want to celebrate his birthday?

Gu Xinchuan nodded slightly, glancing at him with a hint of shyness before quickly turning his head away. “Hurry up and get in the car; don’t dawdle.”

Song Yi felt a bit touched. If he had known earlier that Gu Xinchuan wanted to celebrate his birthday, he would have been happy to oblige.

He opened the passenger door and hadn’t even settled in when Gu Xinchuan, sounding displeased, said. “Go home and change into something nicer.”

He couldn’t stop thinking about how Song Yi had dressed so beautifully for Shen Li’s birthday, making all eyes in the room practically glued to him.

Song Yi looked down at his outfit—he was wearing casual home clothes: loose shorts and a comfortable T-shirt. While it wasn’t suitable for a formal occasion, it was more than enough for a boat ride.

“Forget it; just wear that.” Gu Xinchuan said, changing his mind again. He let out a soft hum, clearly expressing his disdain.

Song Yi ignored him, his mind painting a picture of the boat ride: the wind blowing, the water shimmering, and it would be even better with a lovely omega by his side.

The car sped along, leaving the city behind as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow.

It didn’t seem like they were heading to a park, and Song Yi’s dream of rowing slowly began to fade. “Where are we actually going?”

“You’ll find out soon.” Gu Xinchuan replied mysteriously.

As the sky darkened and streetlights flickered on one by one, they arrived at Beidaihe.

When Song Yi pushed open the car door and got out, he spotted a small white cruise boat. He followed Gu Xinchuan as they walked toward the boat’s cabin.

As soon as he opened the door, the sight inside took him by surprise. The room was filled with balloons and streamers—white and mint-green balloons hung from the ceiling, while fairy lights twinkled around the room. Glow sticks covered the floor, and in the center, a plaster sculpture read “Happy Birthday.” The atmosphere was wonderfully romantic.

Song Yi stood frozen for a few seconds, turning his head to look at Gu Xinchuan with a puzzled expression. Was this really necessary?

Seeing Song Yi’s expression, Gu Xinchuan shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling a bit embarrassed, and tried to play it cool. “When I booked the cruise, I mentioned that a friend was having a birthday and asked them to add some decorations. I didn’t expect them to go all out like this.”

Song Yi let out a long “oh,” tilting his head to take in the details. The wallpaper on the walls had all been redone, suggesting it was a major undertaking. The color scheme and overall decor had a stylish aesthetic; it was clear that everything had been carefully chosen. It would be hard for someone without an eye for design to achieve this effect.

“Make sure to tip the staff generously when you settle the final payment. They worked hard for this.”

Gu Xinchuan crossed his arms and shot him a glance. “Do you like it?”

“Yeah, it looks amazing.” Song Yi’s tone was sincere; he had never had such an elaborate celebration for his birthday before.

>>