.

Ji Su had originally thought a qipao couldn't be anything elaborate, but after Gu Zhao smiled like that, his confidence wavered again: 'Let me see what the qipao looks like first.'

'No rush.' Gu Zhao withdrew his hand, pulled the wardrobe door shut, concealing the cabinet full of dresses of every style. 'Since it's a surprise, of course we have to save the reveal for the birthday.'

Ji Su: '...'

A surprise for Gu Zhao — but for him, wouldn't it be more of a fright?

'It's getting late.' Gu Zhao draped an arm around his shoulder, turned him gently around. 'Go take a shower first.'

'All right.' Ji Su decided to set his worries aside for now, gathered his clothes, and went to shower.

When he came out of the shower, he heard his phone on the table buzzing, and walked over while toweling his hair.

Ji Su glanced at the screen, set down the white towel, and tapped to accept the video call: 'Hello, Mama.'

'Susu.' This time only Su Yuelan appeared on the other end of the video, her expression faintly solemn, looking rather serious.

Ji Su sat down in the chair: 'Did something happen?'

Su Yuelan cut straight to the point: 'Susu, I've heard about your father's company matter.'

Ji Su's brows drew together slightly: 'Mama, are you here to blame me too?'

'Of course not.' Su Yuelan denied it. 'I gave birth to you — no one knows your temper better than I do. If Ji Zhenghai hadn't done something you couldn't bear, you would never have done something like this.'

Ji Su's lashes trembled. He pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Su Yuelan softened her voice: 'Susu, tell Mama — what exactly has happened all these years?'

After a few seconds of silence, Ji Su replied lightly: 'It's nothing, really. I just felt like an outsider in the Ji Family, so I left.'

'Sigh...' Su Yuelan let out a long breath. 'I should have realized it long ago. A stepmother means a stepfather — you must have suffered so much in that house.'

Ji Su shook his head and turned to comfort her instead: 'It's all over now, Mama.'

'When I divorced Ji Zhenghai back then, he wanted to spite me — he fought the custody case just to win you.' A thin film of tears gradually surfaced in Su Yuelan's eyes. 'My finances were so poor then, I couldn't compete with him at all. But I thought that once he had you, he would treat you well...'

Toward the end, her voice gradually choked until she couldn't speak, and she could only raise a hand to cover her face, her shoulders heaving along with it.

Ji Su's nose stung. He could only tilt his face up slightly, unwilling to weep in front of his mother.

In truth, he had resented Su Yuelan once before — resented her for bringing him into this world, and then abandoning him.

But as he grew older, he slowly came to understand that Su Yuelan, still young back then, had truly been in an impossible position.

To give birth to him, Su Yuelan had stepped down from the peak of her career to become a full-time mother, everything dependent on her husband.

But when the marriage suddenly collapsed, the proud woman took nothing — she left almost empty-handed, returned to her profession in disgrace, and spent years of effort to climb back onto the international snooker stage. The hardships of it were not something outsiders could know.

Su Yuelan was his mother, but she was also an independent, free woman. She should have been free to pursue her career and ideals, to have a husband who loved her and a lovely daughter — not to have swallowed her grievances for a lifetime on his account.

'Mama, I've sometimes wondered — if you had taken me with you back then...' Ji Su's vision blurred before him. 'Would I have grown up better?'

After saying this, he lifted his eyes as if by some instinct, and met the gaze of Gu Zhao, who was quietly leaning against the doorframe.

Su Yuelan lowered her head, tears rolling down through her fingers: 'I'm sorry... Susu, Mama is sorry...'

'But I don't think that way anymore, Mama.' Ji Su smiled through his tears. 'If I hadn't stayed, I wouldn't have met Gu Zhao.'

Gu Zhao straightened up and strode toward him.

Su Yuelan, on the other end of the screen, raised her face, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with her finger: 'Who is Gu Zhao?'

'Gu Zhao.' Ji Su looked at the lover standing before him. 'Come say hello to my mama.'

Gu Zhao's spine stiffened instantly, and an unmistakable nervousness crossed his face.

He had just showered, his muscular upper body bare, wearing only a loose pair of sweatpants — this lazy yet sensual state was clearly not appropriate for meeting the parents.

With lightning speed, Gu Zhao opened the wardrobe, grabbed a black T-shirt and pulled it on, then roughly tousled his hair a couple of times.

It was the first time Ji Su had ever seen him in such a flustered state, and he couldn't help laughing, the curve of his lips spreading wider and wider.

Although Su Yuelan couldn't see what was happening on the other side, from this scene she could roughly understand.

Gu Zhao cleared his throat, walked behind Ji Su, bent down, and greeted her: 'Auntie, good evening.'

A handsome, sculpted face appeared in the frame, hair slightly disheveled, the T-shirt collar askew — but still breathtakingly handsome.

Su Yuelan clearly hadn't expected the other party to look so good, and it took her a moment to recover: 'Hello, I'm Susu's mama.'

Gu Zhao replied politely: 'Hello, I'm Susu's partner.'

Ji Su's face flushed red, and he jabbed backward with his elbow.

'I didn't say anything wrong.' Gu Zhao looked down at him, his tone innocent. 'Didn't you want to introduce me to Auntie?'

Ji Su pushed him away with a backhanded shove: 'That's enough, you can go now...'

'All right.' Gu Zhao responded, behaving more politely than he ever had. 'Goodbye, Auntie.'

Ji Su tilted the phone screen downward, forcibly moving that handsome face out of the frame.

Even through the phone screen, Su Yuelan could feel the love flowing between the two young people.

The person standing behind him finally left, and Ji Su looked at the camera with a flushed face.

Su Yuelan couldn't help but smile: 'How long have you two been together?'

'A few months now...' Ji Su asked in a small voice. 'Mama, you don't think it's strange, do you?'

'What's so strange about that?' Su Yuelan's reaction was very calm. 'Whether it's a man or a woman, as long as you like them, that's fine.'

'Mm.' Ji Su nodded. 'Mama, I feel especially happy right now.'

'Susu, if you can feel happy, Mama is very glad too.' Su Yuelan's voice caught again, and she quickly changed the subject. 'Bring your partner to Mama's place for a few days during winter break — your sister misses you too.'

Ji Su responded: 'Okay, Mama.'

After chatting a few more sentences, they finally hung up.

Gu Zhao was already lying on the bed, beckoning to him with a curled finger: 'Come here.'

Ji Su set down his phone, climbed up from the foot of the bed, obediently crawled into his arms, and nuzzled against his chest like an affectionate little cat.

Gu Zhao raised a hand to stroke along the slender back, and said softly: 'Baby, I'm very happy.'

Ji Su rested his chin on the firm chest: 'Happy about what?'

'Happy that you introduced me to Auntie.' Gu Zhao's eyes held a smile. 'I can tell you care about her.'

'Yeah, maybe because she left me very early, so my memories of her have always stayed from when I was little.' Ji Su recalled. 'I remember she was very gentle, and every night she would read me bedtime stories and coax me to sleep.'

Gu Zhao replied: 'I can read you bedtime stories too.'

Ji Su curved his lips: 'I've grown up now — I don't need bedtime stories anymore.'

Gu Zhao's voice was low and magnetic as he said slowly: 'You'll always be my baby.'

Ji Su was completely unable to resist this kind of sweet talk. He propped up his upper body and planted a 'mwah' on the thin lips.

Gu Zhao's dark eyes narrowed slightly, and his large hand gripped the impossibly slender waist: 'But before reading bedtime stories, let's do a little warm-up first.'

Ji Su sensed danger and tried to escape, but it was already too late...

*

A new week began, and for Gu Zhao, time passed especially slowly.

He had never looked forward to his own birthday so much — every day he counted down.

Ji Su noticed that his boyfriend's gaze toward him grew increasingly obscure day by day, and he couldn't help feeling nervous.

The day before Gu Zhao's Birthday happened to be a Friday.

After finishing afternoon classes, Ji Su went to the parcel center to pick up the Co-branded Sneakers he'd bought from the official website, and carried the package back to the Dormitory.

Although he'd agreed to wear a qipao for Gu Zhao, he still had to give a birthday gift.

Qiao Jin looked at his complexion: 'Susu, what's wrong with you?'

'Nothing.' Ji Su found it a bit hard to voice his inner worries. 'Maybe I didn't sleep well last night.'

'All right.' Qiao Jin didn't think much of it. 'By the way, Gu the campus heartthrob's birthday is tomorrow, right? How are you planning to celebrate it for him?'

'The gift is already in hand.' Ji Su indicated. 'The Birthday Cake and restaurant were booked in advance.'

'How about we throw a birthday party for Gu Zhao together?' Qiao Jin looked eager. 'More people, more fun!'

Ji Su thought briefly, then politely declined: 'Let's not, Gu Zhao doesn't like crowds.'

'Fine, then you two go enjoy your world for two!' Qiao Jin leaned in. 'But you have to take care of your body, baby Susu.'

Ji Su: '...'

Not long after, he received a message from Gu Zhao saying he'd arrived downstairs at the Dormitory Building.

The two had just gotten in the car and were about to head home when Gu Zhao received a phone call.

The call was from Gu Chen, asking him to come home for dinner, and specifically instructing him to bring Ji Su along.

Ji Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief: 'In that case, we shouldn't refuse Big Brother's kind intention — we can just go back and see Grandfather.'

Gu Zhao glanced at him: 'All right.'

The Gu Family Manor was quite far away. By the time they arrived, the sky had already gone dark.

The manor was brightly lit. The two walked into the main hall side by side, where the entire Gu Family was gathered around the dining table waiting for them.

Gu Chen was the first to spot them and strode over: 'At last you're back!'

'Big Brother.' Ji Su obediently greeted him, then went around to greet each of the others.

It was a last-minute decision to come, so he'd only had time to buy some nutritional supplements and fruit, plus a small gold ornament for Gu Zhao's little niece Gu Lele.

Ji Su crouched on the ground, carefully fastening the little tiger gold bracelet onto Gu Lele's wrist.

Gu Lele had two little braids sticking up, a pair of bright grape-like eyes wide open, and stayed perfectly still as he held her small wrist.

'There.' Ji Su released her hand and asked with a smile. 'Does Lele like the little tiger?'

'Mm! Lele likes it!' Gu Lele nodded vigorously and replied in a crisp voice. 'Lele also likes the pretty gege!'

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly: 'What did you call him?'

'Hahahahaha!' Gu Xueyao nearly doubled over with laughter beside them. 'Lele, this isn't your gege — you have to call him little uncle.'

'No, no!' Gu Lele began to act spoiled, extending lotus-root-like little arms to ask for a hug. 'Pretty gege carry me!'

Ji Su picked up Lele and pointed at Gu Zhao as he asked: 'Lele calls me gege, so what does she call him?'

Gu Lele didn't hesitate at all: 'Little uncle!'

Gu Zhao pretended to darken his face: 'You're not allowed to call him gege — call him little auntie.'

Ji Su's cheeks warmed slightly. He glared at him, signaling him not to talk nonsense.

But who would have guessed that Gu Lele took to the name at once — she threw her arms around Ji Su's neck and called out in delighted succession, 'Little auntie! Pretty auntie!'

Ji Su's face went redder still. There was no way to explain it to a child, so he could only bow his head — though the flushed tips of his ears refused to be hidden.

A ripple of laughter gathered at the bottom of Gu Zhao's eyes. He spoke unhurriedly: 'Lele, next time little auntie will buy you a big golden tiger.'

'Yay! A big golden tiger!' Gu Lele crowed, and leaned her face in of her own accord. 'Pretty auntie, give me a kiss!'

Ji Su's heart nearly melted. He pressed a light kiss to the powder-pink little cheek.

'That's enough.' Gu Zhao reached over, lifted Gu Lele from his arms, and passed her to Gu Chen, who had been standing aside enjoying the show.

Gu Chen took his daughter and burst out laughing: 'No way, little five — are you really jealous of a little girl who's not even five?'

Gu Zhao's face gave nothing away: 'If Lele lets some other little boy kiss her at kindergarten, it'll be her father's fault.'

At this, Gu Chen hurriedly began to educate the daughter in his arms: 'Lele, a girl's face isn't something you let just anyone kiss. Understand?'

'Daddy, I know!' Gu Lele patted her small chest. 'I only let the pretty gege kiss me!'

Gu Chen's face changed dramatically: 'No! No matter how pretty the gege is, he doesn't get to kiss you either!'

At this point Madam Gu came over too, helping her husband educate their daughter on the importance of protecting herself.

Gu Zhao seized the chance to draw Ji Su into his arms and steer them toward the door: 'Come on, back to the room to rest.'

Ji Su quietly reached out and pinched his waist.

'Sss…' Gu Zhao glanced sideways at him. 'A man's waist isn't meant to be pinched.'

Ji Su pouted: 'But you pinch my waist all the time.'

Gu Zhao returned the question with a half-smile: 'If I didn't pinch your waist, could you kneel?'

Ji Su pinched him again, harder: 'Say that one more time!'

Gu Zhao laughed and tightened his arm around him: 'All right, I won't say any more.'

Back in the room, Ji Su showered first, then slid open the Balcony door and settled into the rattan chair to let the cool breeze wash over him as he admired the garden's night scenery.

Gu Zhao came out to the Balcony soon after, bent down to gather Ji Su into his arms, and sat down in the chair himself.

The moon was bright tonight. Countless stars pricked the deep blue vault of the sky, mirrored in the lake not far off as though a whole lake of pearls had been scattered across its surface.

Ji Su, curled in that warm and broad embrace, murmured: 'This is so nice…'

'Mm?' Gu Zhao looked down at him. 'What's so nice?'

'Nothing.' Ji Su tilted his face up, his eyes curving as he gazed at him. 'Everything is good. Having you is especially good.'

Something shifted in Gu Zhao's brow. He lowered his head and kissed him.

Ji Su was lifted to sit astride that firm waist — a posture that ought to have been the dominant one — and still he was kissed until he could barely breathe.

'Mm…' A low sound slipped out from between their tightly sealed lips. 'Here… we can't…'

The Gu Family Manor was large, but everyone lived in the building at the back; if they made too much noise, they were certain to be heard.

More importantly, tomorrow was Gu Zhao's Birthday — and he had no intention of being unable to get out of bed the next morning…

Gu Zhao drew back a little, his eyes very dark: 'Do you remember the gift you promised me?'

Ji Su drew a small, shaky breath: 'I remember…'

'Good.' Gu Zhao set his back teeth, rose, and carried him back into the room. 'Tonight, we'll rest up first.'

*

The next morning, Ji Su woke in the familiar embrace and lay quietly studying the handsome face still lost in sleep before him.

He watched until Gu Zhao's eyelids stirred, and his eyes opened.

'Good morning.' Ji Su pressed a kiss to his chin. 'Happy birthday, Gu Zhao.'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao answered low, and buried his face in the warm hollow of Ji Su's neck. 'Happy to you, too.'

Ji Su laughed: 'Today is your birthday, not mine.'

Gu Zhao nuzzled the soft side of that neck with the bridge of his high nose: 'You wish me happiness, and I give all of it back to you.'

Ji Su's heart went warm. He lifted both arms to hug him back: 'Then may we both be happy.'

They lingered in bed a while longer, then rose to wash and dress.

The Gu Family all knew that Gu Zhao disliked a fuss, so no grand birthday banquet had been arranged — only a family dinner, with only family members present.

Even so, Gu Zhao had received a great many expensive gifts; the Gu Family's generosity was truly jaw-dropping.

Take eldest brother Gu Chen, for instance — with a single wave of his hand, he had given Gu Zhao an entire Land Plot.

And then there was second sister Gu Nan, who had arrived bearing a Maserati.

Compared with gifts like those, the Co-branded Sneakers Ji Su had given might amount to nothing at all. In the past, he would certainly have felt inferior, felt himself unworthy of Gu Zhao.

But now he no longer thought that way at all, because he knew clearly in his heart that what Gu Zhao liked most would be the gift he had given.

After lunch, Gu Zhao sat for only a moment before he could no longer wait, and pulled Ji Su away with him.

Gu Chen teased: 'Little five, are you hiding some great treasure at home? Why the rush to get back?'

Gu Zhao laughed: 'That's right — a very great treasure.'

Ji Su could guess well enough why he was in such a hurry; the thought of what might await them once they were home made his legs go weak at the knees.

*

By evening, the two of them had stepped through the front door one after the other.

Ji Su slipped into his slippers and spoke first: 'I ordered you a Birthday Cake — it should be arriving any moment.'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao glanced at him. 'Then let's have the cake first.'

Some half an hour later, the Birthday Cake arrived.

Ji Su set the cake on the dining table, opened the beautifully packaged box, and revealed the cream cake within.

Gu Zhao reached out and picked up the figurine perched on top of the cake, turning it over to look at it.

A small crystal figure in judicial robes, expression solemn — it really did look the part.

Gu Zhao asked: 'Is this me?'

'It's you.' Ji Su nodded, slotted the candles in one by one, and lit them with his own hand.

'Happy birthday, Gu Zhao.' He lifted his gaze, his eyes bright as he looked at his lover. 'May everything you wish for come true, and every road you walk be smooth.'

Gu Zhao set the little figure down, drew him into his arms, and answered in a voice gone slightly hoarse: 'What I seek, what I wish for — it is only you.'

They held each other for a moment, until Ji Su gently reminded him: 'Time to blow out the candles.'

Gu Zhao released him, silently made his wish in his heart, and blew out the candles.

Ji Su cut a slice of cake with the knife and held it out to him: 'Try it — see if it's good.'

Gu Zhao took a bite: 'It's good.'

Ji Su cut himself a slice as well, and on the principle that nothing should be wasted, ate the whole thing.

Gu Zhao watched him and reminded him: 'You've got cream on your lip.'

'Mm?' Ji Su poked out the tip of his reddened tongue and licked the corner of his mouth.

Gu Zhao's eyes went dark. His large hand caught Ji Su's chin, helped him lick the cream from the edge of his lips clean, and used the moment to steal a kiss.

They had only just eaten cake, and both their mouths were full of its sweet, creamy fragrance. Ji Su was kissed until his head swam, his hands nearly pressing down into the cake itself.

Gu Zhao released his lips, his breathing somewhat rough: 'Are you hungry?'

'Not hungry…' Ji Su answered softly. 'We just had cake.'

'Good.' Gu Zhao wiped the dampness from his lips. 'Then it's time for me to collect my birthday gift.'

'The gift…' Ji Su came abruptly to his senses. 'Right now?'

'You'll have to wear it sooner or later.' Gu Zhao lifted him and began walking toward the bedroom, a low laugh in his voice. 'Tonight there's no escaping it.'

Hearing that, Ji Su grew only more nervous; the fingers he had looped over Gu Zhao's shoulder dug unconsciously into the firm muscles of his back.

Gu Zhao was utterly unmoved — as though he had only been lightly scratched by a kitten.

'Gu Zhao…' Ji Su confirmed with him once more. 'It's the qipao, right?'

Gu Zhao answered: 'Mm. The qipao.'

He carried him into the bedroom, set him down on the bed, opened the wardrobe himself, and drew out a single garment.

Ji Su sat on the bed, and the moment he saw clearly the style of that qipao, he went utterly still.

He had never seen a qipao like this — aside from the knot buttons and the exquisite embroidery, every other part of the fabric was a semi-transparent ice-silk, hollowed out at the sides, with only loose ties trailing down; the side slits of the qipao opened nearly to the waist.

Ji Su swallowed dryly: 'The one I saw before… doesn't seem to have been this one.'

'But this is the one I meant.' Gu Zhao held the qipao in his hand and walked unhurriedly toward him.

'No — not this one.' Ji Su instinctively scooted backward; his bare white heels dragged across the sheet, drawing up ripple after ripple of wrinkled fabric.

Gu Zhao stopped at the foot of the bed: 'You promised to give me a gift, baby.'

Ji Su felt his cheeks burning as though they were on fire: 'I know, but…'

He was beginning to regret it — he should never have trusted that Gu Zhao would produce any proper qipao for him to wear.

But today was Gu Zhao's Birthday; if this could give Gu Zhao a happy one, he was willing — after all, he had already worn even that shameful little kitten outfit…

Thinking of this, Ji Su scrambled up from the bed and reached for the qipao: 'I'll wear it.'

'Wait.' Gu Zhao did not hand the qipao over; his dark eyes fixed on Ji Su without wavering. 'I want to help you put it on.'

Ji Su refused outright: 'No — I'll put it on myself.'

Gu Zhao pressed the point once more: 'Today is my birthday.'

Ji Su bit his lip, his bottom line retreating yet again: 'Then… when you put it on me, you're not allowed to—'

Gu Zhao did not wait for him to finish before readily agreeing: 'All right.'

Ji Su had the immediate sense that he had been coaxed again; he wanted to take it back, but there was no longer any chance.

The pale green qipao set off his already fair skin until it looked snow-white and flawless — like a piece of fine jade, the whole of him radiating a warm, translucent glow.

Beneath the semi-transparent ice-silk, the color of his skin showed through faintly; the embroidery of the qipao grazed his chest, barely covering the two cherry-pink points beneath.

Long, bony fingers gathered the ties at either side of the qipao and crossed them over with patient, careful precision.

Ji Su had drawn himself entirely into that scalding embrace; the slightly rough pads of those fingers grazed his sensitive waist from time to time, sending tremors through his body that he could not control.

Once the ties at the waist were fastened, that large hand began to move slowly downward along the high slit at the qipao's side…