Ming Yao had envisioned everything so perfectly.

But when night fell, and everything was ready, with the invited friends already gathered, Jiang Mianmian was still nowhere to be seen.

Ming Yao was convinced she would come. After all, she had loved him for over a decade. They had grown up as childhood sweethearts. How could she possibly miss his birthday?

Yet, even by 10 p.m., she had not shown up. The friends who had been invited began to grow impatient, as the banquet had not started because they were waiting for Jiang Mianmian.

But by this point, it was clear—if Jiang Mianmian wanted to come, she would have come already.

One of Ming Yao’s friends finally spoke up, “Bro, just let it go. Clearly, she’s made up her mind not to look back.”

“She’s really moved on from you…”

“Shut up!” Ming Yao barked suddenly, not wanting to hear these frustrating remarks.

“She’ll come! I’ll wait for her no matter how long it takes…”

But even when the clock struck midnight, his birthday had come and gone.

Jiang Mianmian never appeared.

The invited guests all left, and the once lively and celebratory atmosphere of the birthday party became cold and desolate.

At that moment, Ming Yao finally understood the pain Jiang Mianmian must have felt when she had painstakingly planned his birthday party in the past, only to be stood up by him.

It was a bitter chill to the heart.

No one would wait forever, endlessly giving without expecting anything in return. Once a person’s heart turns cold and completely loses hope, they will never look back.

As this frightening thought took root in his mind, Ming Yao had an overwhelming sense of dread—

Perhaps there was no more hope for him anymore…

He had liked Mianmian as a child. But as they grew older, why had he grown tired of her? Why had her constant affection started to irritate him? Why had he thought he didn’t like her or want to marry her?

Yet now, seeing her becoming better and better, and even falling for someone else without looking back, he realized—he did like her after all.

But she would never give him another chance.

And so, Ming Yao spent his birthday in dejection.

The next day, however, he behaved out of character by arriving at school early. He wanted to see Mianmian.

He wanted to ask her why she didn’t come to his birthday party.

Even if he knew it would be futile…

When he arrived at the classroom, Ming Yao, looking listless, didn’t nap on his desk like he usually did. Instead, he sat there absentmindedly, occasionally glancing toward Jiang Mianmian’s seat.

Next to him, Zhou Ling’er felt a surge of jealousy. She hadn’t expected that even after Jiang Mianmian shifted her affection to Zhou Nanye, Ming Yao would still be so fixated on her.

At that moment, Zhou Ling’er remembered something she overheard yesterday. Ming Yao’s birthday party had been yesterday, and Jiang Mianmian hadn’t attended.

Coincidentally, she also recalled—yesterday had been Zhou Nanye’s birthday. Jiang Mianmian must have spent it celebrating with him instead.

Feigning innocence, Zhou Ling’er brought it up, “Oh, so yesterday was your birthday, Ming Yao? And wasn’t it also Zhou Nanye’s birthday?”

“The birthday he set for himself at the orphanage is yesterday. I guess the reason Jiang Mianmian didn’t go to your party was that she was celebrating with Zhou Nanye instead…”

Ming Yao had been ignoring Zhou Ling’er, his only focus on waiting for Jiang Mianmian to arrive.

But when he heard what Zhou Ling’er said, he was stunned for a moment before anger surged within him.

He turned to look at Zhou Nanye, who was engrossed in his studies, his gaze filled with jealousy and fury.

So that was it. The reason Mianmian hadn’t come to his party last night was that she was celebrating this stuttering boy’s birthday!

It was him. He was the one who stole Mianmian away!

If Zhou Nanye hadn’t transferred to their school, Mianmian would never have changed her feelings. She would still be in love with him!

It was all because of him—Zhou Nanye!

The more Ming Yao thought about it, the angrier he became. Jealousy consumed him, and he stood up abruptly, charging straight toward Zhou Nanye.