Everyone was having a blast. Some were singing with microphones, others were dancing hand-in-hand, and a few were engaged in a cake-smearing battle.
Only at Shen Chi Yan’s side was it quiet, desolate, and melancholic.
It wasn't that no one approached Shen Chi Yan, but that they dared not.
Shen Chi Yan was naturally aloof. Because he rarely smiled, his face was perpetually cold. Coupled with his unattainable status and severe潔癖 (jiépǐ - obsessive cleanliness), even if others harbored mischievous intentions, they lacked the courage to joke around with him.
Lin Qiu Tong, however, was devoted. She didn't join the others in their revelries, but quietly stayed by Shen Chi Yan’s side.
Yet, Shen Chi Yan’s thoughts were clearly not with her.
Gong Yu Qi, seeing Shen Chi Yan’s eagerness to join in but his hesitance, sidled up to him and chuckled, "It's your birthday today, rare occasion. Won't you join the dance to liven things up?"
Shen Chi Yan's expression darkened further. "No."
Having been brothers for so many years, Gong Yu Qi knew Shen Chi Yan was being insincere. Ignoring Shen Chi Yan's murderous glare, he pulled him up and led him towards the bonfire. "You always keep people at arm's length. How are they supposed to get close to you?"
Gong Yu Qi wasn't a fool; he could see the unspoken tension between Shen Chi Yan and Song Qi Nian. He directly pushed Shen Chi Yan towards Song Qi Nian.
Song Qi Nian, with cake on her fingertips, was chasing Qi Miao Miao and Shen Ke Qin. She suddenly bumped into someone and, with a smile, instinctively reached out to smear cake on the person. Her hand, however, stopped abruptly just as it was about to touch Shen Chi Yan.
Ah… Did Qin Qin grow this tall so quickly?
She dazedly looked up at Shen Chi Yan and then their eyes met.
Shen Chi Yan's arm was around Song Qi Nian's waist. His dark eyes flickered from the cake on her finger to her face. "You dare smear this stuff on me, try it!"
Despite his words, he subconsciously leaned down, as if to make it easier for Song Qi Nian to smear cake on his face.
The next second, he was pushed by Song Qi Nian’s arm. Before he could react, Song Qi Nian stumbled away to find Shen Ke Qin.
Shen Chi Yan: "..."
"Hahaha…"
Gong Yu Qi unashamedly slapped his thighs, roaring with laughter. "I never thought I'd live to see the day when I witness the great Fifth Master Shen being bested."
Shen Chi Yan shot Gong Yu Qi a cold glare, but Gong Yu Qi’s laughter was irrepressible. "Serves you right! Playing hard to get, clearly wanting to play with Song Qi Nian, but saying such things."
Shen Chi Yan's face turned black with anger. "Which eye of yours saw me wanting to play with that woman?"
"Both eyes saw it! Hey, do you know what you look like right now?"
Before Shen Chi Yan could reply, Gong Yu Qi exaggeratedly mimicked a sulky expression. He poked his index fingers together, pouting. "So angry! Song Qi Nian is having so much fun with others and isn't coming to play with me."
Shen Chi Yan: "..."
"I really want to go play with Song Qi Nian, but I'm too embarrassed. Can't lose face."
Shen Chi Yan, unable to bear it any longer, delivered a fierce kick to Gong Yu Qi, but Gong Yu Qi dodged it.
His display made it seem as though Gong Yu Qi had hit the nail on the head about his true feelings, making him seem flustered.
Gong Yu Qi grabbed a handful of cream and smeared it onto Shen Chi Yan. Seeing the sweet cream all over his cuffs, Shen Chi Yan sneered, "Gong Yu Qi, this time next year will be your death anniversary."
He grabbed a large plate of cream and chased Gong Yu Qi, who immediately ran behind Song Qi Nian to hide. He then called out to the tipsy Song Qi Nian, "Nian Nian, the bad guy is coming! You have to protect me!"
Shen Chi Yan looked at the hand Gong Yu Qi had placed on Song Qi Nian’s shoulder, his dark eyes glinting with coldness. "Get out of there! What kind of man hides behind a woman?"
"No! Come and hit me if you dare!"
Shen Chi Yan: "..."
Even though she was heavily intoxicated, seeing Shen Chi Yan made the ache in Song Qi Nian’s chest involuntarily flare up.
She didn't want to feel this pain, so she didn't want to see Shen Chi Yan. She simply walked away.
"Hey… Nian Nian…"
Seeing this, Shen Chi Yan threw the cream at Gong Yu Qi. Unexpectedly, Gong Yu Qi pulled Song Qi Nian in front of him as a shield. The entire plate of cream landed squarely on Song Qi Nian's face.
Song Qi Nian's eyes, nose, and mouth were completely covered in cream.
For that instant, all three were stunned.
Shen Chi Yan was the first to react. Just as he was about to reach out to wipe the cream from Song Qi Nian's face, he heard Shen Ke Qin's angry roar.
"Shen Chi Yan!"
Immediately after, Shen Ke Qin rushed over and pulled Song Qi Nian behind her. Seeing this, Qi Miao Miao also ran over with tissues to wipe Song Qi Nian's face.
"You're the one who made the mistake, and you dare hit Sister-in-law!"
Shen Ke Qin's words left those who didn't know the truth exchanging confused glances.
Sister-in-law?
Wasn't Song Qi Nian Shen Chi Yan's secretary?
How did she suddenly become Shen Ke Qin's sister-in-law?
If she were Shen Chi Yan's wife, then what was Lin Qiu Tong?
Gong Yu Qi, seeing Shen Ke Qin's misunderstanding, chuckled and explained, "It wasn't a hit, we were just playing around!"
"Hmph, playing around? Does Shen Chi Yan look like someone who plays around? He did it on purpose!"
It wasn't surprising that Shen Ke Qin misunderstood, as she had never seen Shen Chi Yan behaving like other boys, running around and having fun.
Lin Qiu Tong, seeing the scene, hurried over. Seeing the cream on Shen Chi Yan, she started to wipe it off him while saying, "Qin Qin, you've misunderstood Uncle Yan..."
"Shut up! I get annoyed just seeing you!"
Lin Qiu Tong's face instantly turned pale and ugly. Shen Chi Yan, seeing this, sternly reprimanded, "Shen Ke Qin, apologize to Qiu Qiu."
"I won't! Whoever wants to apologize can go ahead!"
Even though Song Qi Nian was quite drunk, she knew a fight was brewing. She tugged at Shen Ke Qin's clothes, intending to gesture something, but her head was too dizzy, and her legs gave way. She collapsed onto Shen Ke Qin's shoulder.
"Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law…"
Seeing how drunk Song Qi Nian was, Shen Ke Qin glared at Shen Chi Yan before helping Song Qi Nian towards the tent with Qi Miao Miao.
Gong Yu Qi looked at Shen Chi Yan, utterly bewildered. "By the way, what did you do wrong?"
Shen Chi Yan frowned, his expression looking extremely unpleasant.
...
Song Qi Nian had never drunk so much. As the alcohol took hold, she felt the entire world spinning.
She lay on the bed for a short while before falling asleep.
Shen Ke Qin was also quite drunk. After cursing her way back to the tent with Song Qi Nian, she lay down beside her.
Poor Qi Miao Miao, who had a better tolerance for alcohol, had to help both of them wash their faces and change their clothes.
She herself was sweating and utterly exhausted. She turned off the light and returned to her own tent.
After the commotion, others also began to retreat to their tents to rest.
Tents were scarce on the mountain, and Gong Yu Qi insisted on sharing a tent with Shen Chi Yan, even preemptively occupying Shen Chi Yan's bed.
Shen Chi Yan's already bad mood worsened.
He irritably checked the time and, seeing it was already half-past eleven, grabbed his clothes and walked out.
Gong Yu Qi, rolling his hips with a particularly seductive flourish, called out, "Fifth Master, come back early! Don't leave your concubine alone to guard the empty room~"