The closer it gets to year-end, the busier life becomes—a truth Mei Fang, now a business owner, understands all too well. Between reviewing the past, managing the present, and planning for the future at work, he also has to negotiate with major investors.

After all, “Uncle” is ultimately just his top executive. When it comes to major financial decisions, it’s still up to Mei Fang, the high school senior, to handle them personally over the phone.

And beyond work, personal matters demand equal attention. While visiting relatives is routine, maintaining good relations with Xia Yuan’s parents (after last time’s awkward hosting) and the long-unseen Lin family has been a priority since returning to Baimei County.

By Lunar December 29th—Mei Fang’s actual birthday—the trio had barely spent time together (defined as “hours together < hours apart”), but at least all work was finally completed before the big day.

January 29, 2014
Lunar December 29th

Having overthought everything the night before, Mei Fang slept poorly and woke exhausted.

“Gege! Wake up! The sun’s scorching your butt! Birthday time!”

Compared to her former “mad scientist” persona, Mei Ya’s wake-up methods had gentled considerably—

She simply yanked the blanket off. Mei Fang bolted upright, complaining, “Let me sleep more!”

“Gege’s gotten so weak against the cold. You never used to be like this.”

Mei Ya planted her hands on her hips. “Did you buy your birthday cake yet?”

“No idea… Yuan Yuan and Youxi told me not to worry, that they’d handle it.”

“Ah-ha!”

Mei Ya scratched her head. “There’ll be tons of good food today, right?”

“Actually, no.”

Mei Fang pulled on his jacket. “You’re not invited to my party.”

“What?! You three are hoarding the feast? I’ll be a quiet third wheel—why no food?!”

“This time… it’s special.”

Mei Fang ruffled her hair. “Turning eighteen—they might have unique plans.”

“Ohhh, grown-up stuff!” Mei Ya tilted her head. “I thought after living together so long, you’d have done it all already.”

“What do you know at your age?!”

“Know what? Little Ya knows nothing~”

After wrestling his sister into submission, Mei Ya suddenly stood on tiptoe to pat his head, beaming.

“Anyway—happy birthday, onii-chan!”

Mei Fang: “??? Don’t call me that. Creepy.”

“Whaaat? Don’t otaku love little sisters saying that? As C-Site’s boss, how can you not be into this? Fake Webmaster alert! I’ll cry!”

“Haha… just kidding.”

Mei Fang pinched her cheeks. “Gege’s just tsundere. No way I’d admit liking it outright.”

“If I post this on C-Site, will I gain a million followers overnight?”

“In your dreams… Wait, you use C-Site now?”

“Of course!”

Mei Ya nodded seriously. “But I keep my identity secret—that’d ruin the fun. I’ll hit a million subs on my own, not as ‘the boss’s little sister.’”

“Up to you… Though I never supported your dabbling in everything. Don’t forget your aerospace dreams.”

“Pfft—my C-site ID is literally [Aerospace Girl Mei Xiaoya]! I’d never abandon my original dream!”

Staying true to your original dream, huh…

After bidding farewell at home, Mei Fang was about to ride his e-bike to meet Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi when her call came through.

“Ah Fang, you up yet?”

“Just woke up. About to contact you. At home? I’ll bike over.”

“I am, but no need—just walk. I’m with Youxi at my old place across from yours.”

“Oh… You still keep that place?”

“Cleaned it recently to move Grandma back after New Year’s. Just come!”

“Got it.”

Mei Fang headed toward Xia Yuan’s childhood home.

The villa, once the height of luxury, now seemed dated, its iron gate rusted. Memories surfaced of his first visit years ago, listening to Xia Yuan play piano.

Twelve years—gone in the blink of an eye…

Speaking of which, Hao Ge’s song “In the Blink of an Eye” could be adapted for Yuan Yuan’s album!

This brat was hellbent on milking his idol dry.

Knocking on the door, Mei Fang was greeted by a rare sight—Xia Yuan wearing makeup, her eyes shimmering, lips a tempting crimson.

“……”

“D-do I… look weird?”

“Not at all. Gorgeous.”

Mei Fang smiled. “Best birthday gift ever.”

“W-who said I’m gifting myself?! This is just practice makeup! Get inside!”

Even mature makeup couldn’t stop Xia Yuan from blushing into her usual sweet self.

Inside, Lin Youxi was setting the dining table. Apparently, their hotel plans had shifted to Xia Yuan’s old home.

Well… cozy enough.

“Preparing this early—brunch?”

Lin Youxi nodded. “We’re going home tonight.”

“Ah… really?”

“You want me to stay over?” She tilted her head.

“Er, we’ll see…”

“Ah Fang’s not that eager, huh?” Xia Yuan teased, earning a cheek pinch.

“I hold back for your sake. Don’t you know how considerate I am?”

“R-really?!” She looked genuinely shocked. “You’d… yield even on this?”

“See? He is thoughtful…”

Lin Youxi produced a wine bottle. “Yuan Yuan brought this from home—worth tens of thousands. Let’s try it later.”

Mei Fang considered. “Youxi and I can. Yuan Yuan—no.”

“My wine, and I can’t drink?!”

“After last time? No way.”

“I’ve improved!”

“Like hell.” Mei Fang sighed. “I’m not risking another… episode.”

“I’d love to see Yuan Yuan like that again…”

Lin Youxi set the wine aside. “Food first.”

“First meal here in ages.”

Xia Yuan pulled Mei Fang to the table. “Remember your first time eating here with Youxi…?”

At eighteen, the trio reminisced over twelve years of shared history during the birthday feast.

Had they truly grown?

Certainly, their past struggles paled next to current successes.

But must growth only come through hardship?

Perhaps for them, constant companionship had been the true foundation.

Post-meal, they played games, watched a long-neglected horror movie, then gathered in Xia Yuan’s room to flip through her treasured photo album of their memories.

“Ah Fang was this short?!”

“Youxi looked so tiny!”

“Wait—is this our only group sports day?”

“Arts festival! Our first and last trio performance! After that, just you and me.”

“Yuan Yuan hasn’t changed much… except—”

Mei Fang’s gaze turned suggestive. Xia Yuan just pouted playfully. “Except what? Too shy to say, coward.”

“Alright… enough nostalgia.”

Lin Youxi stood. “Time for wine. I’m curious.”

“I’ll get the opener!”

As Xia Yuan rose, Lin Youxi stopped her. “Let Ah Fang. We’ll wait.”

“Sure.”

Returning from the kitchen, Mei Fang found the room empty.

Hide-and-seek? Got it.

He checked the closet—nothing. Under the bed—still nothing.

Outside? Seriously?

Then—voices behind a closed door. Bursting in with a “Gotcha!”, he instead found Xia Yuan mid-bra change.

No way—the legendary—

“Wah?!”

Lin Youxi covered his eyes from behind.

“No peeking before your gift’s ready.”

“S-sorry! Thought you were hiding…”

“Shower first, Ah Fang.”

She whispered in his ear: “Then wait for us on Yuan Yuan’s bed.”

Agreeing, Mei Fang stepped out, leaning against the door to collect himself.

So they really are wrapping themselves as presents!

Yuan Yuan’s idea? Or Youxi’s?

Honestly… could be either.

Post-shower, Mei Fang realized he’d brought no change of clothes—just a bathrobe hanging in the bathroom.

This’ll do.

Xia Yuan’s room remained frozen in middle school: cartoon knickknacks, anime posters, the old guitar by the wall. Though only three years past, it already radiated nostalgia.

Sinking into her princess bed, Mei Fang marveled at its softness.

No wonder she’s so soft too…

Closing his eyes, he reflected.

There was a time he feared waking up—

Terrified that twelve years of happiness might just be a dying man’s hallucination.

If this is a dream—don’t let me wake.

Reaching for tissues, he opened the nightstand drawer—

And nearly combusted at its contents.

When Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi finally appeared in slinky black and red bustier dresses, they found Mei Fang already snoring.

“Asleep already?!” Xia Yuan huffed. “After all our planning…”

“So you’re really ready tonight? No more hesitation…?”

Xia Yuan nodded. “At this point… even if he chickens out, I won’t.”

“But you bought so much. He might faint seeing this arsenal.”

Gently stroking his cheek, her voice softened.

“Let him rest. We’ve got all night.”

“True… We played hard today. Wine can wait.”

Lying down on either side of Mei Fang, each placed a hand over his heart, gazing tenderly at the boy they’d loved for so long—

Though after tonight, he’d truly become their man.

“Happy birthday, eighteen-year-old Ah Fang.”

“Happy birthday, Ah Fang.”

They kissed his cheeks simultaneously before nestling against his shoulders, drifting off together.

……

Baimei County could never be called a beautiful town.

Its springs were fleeting;
Its summers, sweltering;
Its autumns, desolate;
Its winters, bleak.

Yet this modest town had witnessed countless partings and reunions.

But tonight, at least, would not be a story of separation.

The teenagers who’d grown up, grown close, and grown to love each other had finally concluded one youthful journey—

And together, they would embark on the next.

In the marathon of their shared lives, a decade was only the starting line…