I immediately stood up, only to see Dongyu suddenly walk onto the stage. He hugged me tightly amidst the applause and cheers.

  At the time, I felt that even with so many people in the auditorium, the applause was not as warm as his hug.

  After the recital, I was just about to pack up and go home with Dongyu, who was waiting for me at the school gate with Su Qi, when I thought that maybe this occasion would be the best time for me to reconcile with him.

  Just as I reached the gate, I saw Su Qi waving at me. I smiled as I walked over, only to be greeted by a couple of my fellow students. They stopped me excitedly when they saw me.

  “Xiachun! Was that your boyfriend who hugged you on stage just now?”


  I was startled and followed their gaze to Dongyu. I heard them whispering excitedly, “He’s so dashing! Xiachun, what’s your boyfriend’s name?”


  “He…”


  Hearing their discussion, Su Qi immediately walked over and said unhappily, “Have you guys misunderstood? His name is Yin Dongyu, he’s not Yin Xiachun’s boyfriend. They are siblings, can’t you see that?”


  “Ah…”


  “Sheesh! I thought he was Yin Xiachun’s boyfriend, but it turns out they’re siblings!”


  “Hahaha! Xiachun, don’t mind us!”


  Hearing this, Dong Yu turned his face away expressionlessly.

  I didn’t feel good hearing that either. I had no idea what Dongyu thought, but on the way home, Su Qi was talking and laughing, while he only walked along by the side in silence.

  Until we got home, he had not said much to me. Instead, he went back to his room and locked the door.

  I stood in a daze outside his room for a long time before returning to my room in a state of distraction.

  Initially, I had been expecting the tension between us to ease over time.

  However, time did not bring much changes to our tensed relationship. Instead, it brought a strange girl.

  The first time I saw that girl was during Dongyu’s 16th birthday.

  During that winter vacation, the weather was especially cold. It was so cold that it could freeze a person’s heartbeat.

  In those days, birthdays would usually involve booking a table and inviting a few good friends and classmates for a meal. After dinner, we would go to the karaoke. Most of the time, parents would be more indulgent on that special occasion, so we would get home late.

  Dongyu’s birthdays had always been celebrated at home because he didn’t like too many people and crowded environments.

  He said that he wanted to have hotpot at home for his birthday.

  Early in the morning, I excitedly climbed out of bed and reached for the piggy bank on my desk. I smashed it and picked up the change inside. Among the notes and coins were two ten-dollar bills.

  I thought to myself, having saved my pocket money for a year, I finally had a use for it!

  When Dongyu celebrated his birthday as a child, I never remembered to give him presents. In my opinion, birthdays were meaningful as long as the family celebrated it together.

  However, in junior high school, the concept of birthday presents was gradually impressed upon me.

  After lunch, I took my bag of money and went to the cake shop. I ordered a 10-inch birthday cake and repeatedly reminded the shop to have “Happy Birthday to Dongyu!”written on it!

  I wasn’t in a hurry to leave the store. I waited all afternoon for the cake to be ready. After counting the candles, I carried the cake home.

  At the door, I saw Dongyu—and an unfamiliar girl.