SDVPP Chapter 17

Since the lights came on, Rong Xu hasn’t said a word, not even a hint of reaction to Chi Han’s arrival.

Like an empty shell, unable to be filled by anything.

Chi Han gritted his teeth. He knew he had to explain why he didn’t come today; otherwise, Rong Xu would never open up to him as before.

“Rong Xu… I really didn’t mean to deceive you. I got sick! I had a fever and just woke up!” Chi Han drooped his face. Seeing that Rong Xu still ignored him, he simply sat on the carpet, stretching out his hand in a pitiful gesture. “Don’t believe me? Look, I still have the needle marks!”

Rong Xu’s dark eyes moved slightly, but in the next moment, they were stung by the dark bruises on the fair back of his hand. He wanted to reach out and touch, but the pain in his legs from the night made his nerves numb and sluggish.

Chi Han tightened his mask and scooted forward, trying to catch Rong Xu’s attention.

“I dreamt that I attended your birthday party just now! So, as soon as I woke up, I came to find you, luckily before midnight.” Worried that Rong Xu might not believe him, Chi Han eagerly recounted the dream, almost swearing on his finger to the sky.

Rong Xu, looking at Chi Han’s pitiful appearance and those eyes tinted with water and a faint redness, began to regain his senses, numbed by pain.

During the day, he had been waiting for three o’clock in the afternoon.

But at three, he didn’t see the person he wanted to meet.

He thought Chi Han might have been held up by something and would arrive in another five minutes.

So he waited until four, five, six…

If he waited any longer, he wouldn’t make it to the store, Rong Xu silently thought, gazing outside the window.

He had given the housekeeper triple the travel expenses to buy balloons, ribbons, and paper, all of which Chi Han had planned to purchase together yesterday.

But these were all trivial matters; anyone could do them.

Yet, after Rong Xu pasted all the colorful paper and inflated all the balloons, the only thing that had escalated was the intensifying pain in his legs.

Rong Xu tightly gripped his knee, his dark pupils staring at the tightly closed door. He finally realized that he had to endure this night alone again.

Trembling, he reached for the ceiling light switch. His eyes burned fiercely. He would never expose his vulnerability to others, so when the pain became unbearable, he would retreat into the darkness.

This way, no one would see.

The instant the light dimmed, a short and suppressed whisper escaped his lips:

“Chi Han…”

As if this could alleviate some of the pain.

Time in the darkness felt exceptionally long. Rong Xu gradually gave up resisting the waves of pain that came like tides. He even thought, why not endure a bit more pain? Perhaps fainting would be more bearable than the current state.

In a daze, his hand seemed to knock over something. The crisp sound momentarily sobered his senses but quickly dissipated.

In the confusion, he seemed to hear Chi Han’s voice.

Rong Xu tugged at the corner of his lips with effort, coldly saying to himself:

Self-deception.

However, the voice so much like Chi Han’s was getting closer and more real.

Until he heard Chi Han’s “afraid,” Rong Xu instinctively turned on the light. In the bright moment, he saw a figure standing amidst various colored balloons, approaching him.

Struggling in pain for so long, he couldn’t distinguish whether this was real or an illusion for a moment.

He stared at Chi Han without blinking, as if the person before him would vanish with a blink.

“Rong Xu… Happy Birthday!”

In a trance, Rong Xu heard this slightly trembling voice. He remembered Chi Han once asking him what gift he wanted.

He thought, this sentence was enough.

***

Chi Han sat on the floor, looking up into Rong Xu’s eyes. He tentatively tugged at the blanket on the other’s knee. When that naturally cool gaze fell upon him, he deliberately pulled harder.

Like a little cat extending its claws to attract attention, he scratched a couple of times. When he saw that the person wasn’t angry, his actions became even more unrestrained.

Rong Xu’s leg pain gradually subsided, and his heart warmed a bit. Seeing Chi Han sitting on the carpet, still extremely pale, he furrowed his brows.

“Get up.”

Chi Han coughed, reaching for a balloon stubbornly. “No! We agreed to blow the balloons together. No, I’m going to inflate all of them!”

Saying that, Chi Han untied one balloon, and in the moment he let go, the balloon screamed and bounced around the room.

Finally, it audaciously landed on Rong Xu’s head.

Chi Han: “…”

He endured, endured again, but couldn’t hold it anymore. “Pfft hahaha!”

The bright red balloon hanging on Rong Xu’s black hair, combined with his expressionless face, created a strangely cute contrast.

Rong Xu’s cool eyes showed a hint of helplessness. He reached up, took the balloon off his head, and placed it aside. For the second time, he said, “Get up.”

This time, Chi Han didn’t say anything more. He stood up, adjusted his clothes, and said softly, “I really wanted to celebrate your birthday with you.”

Rong Xu nodded, and the corners of his lips slightly downturned. “I know.”

He added, “But you’re sick and need rest.”

Chi Han looked at Rong Xu, whose expression was light, but his tone was very serious. He lowered his eyes slightly and smiled, “Okay, then I’ll make it up to you tomorrow for your birthday. But there’s one thing I can’t make up for.”

Rong Xu looked at him in confusion, the warm light casting a clear reflection in his eyes.

Chi Han clasped his hands together as if holding something inside. He reached out to Rong Xu, urging, “Quick, stretch out your hand!”

The white porcelain-like skin had a faint glow, and even at a distance, one could feel the warmth emanating from it.

Rong Xu’s throat rolled, and he slowly opened his palm.

A round and warm object landed in his palm, seemingly still carrying the warmth of the other person.

It was a small peace bracelet.

He looked up at Chi Han, his eyes deep.

Chi Han chuckled somewhat embarrassedly. “I don’t know if you like it or not, but I’ve always felt that jade has a spiritual aura. So, I wanted to give it to you, Rong Xu… I hope you have a peaceful and smooth year in the coming age, with joy in all seasons.”

“Uh, but honestly, it’s just a little trinket. You don’t have to wear it. Just put it anywhere…” Chi Han felt a bit shy after saying this, as it was his first time giving someone a gift in such a serious manner. He quickly added, “I’ll give you a better one next year!”

Rong Xu remained silent. He pinched the red string and wound it around his wrist, carefully fastening the clasp. His thumb brushed the surface of the peace bracelet, the gesture gentle and affectionate.

Chi Han looked at the hint of blue disappearing into the sleeve, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t suppress the smile on his lips.

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