Birthday
Shi Yen and Yuan Shun returned to a pitch-dark beach house.
"Do you think everyone went to sleep?" Shi Yen questioned, pretending to be out of the loop.
Yuan Shun arched a brow. He opened the sliding doors when the lights turned on immediately, and his friends jumped out with streamers, shouting his name.
Yuan Shun's eyes widened. He glanced at Shi Yen, who shot him a smug smile. "Happy birthday," she greeted. He then stole a kiss as punishment for keeping this from him. But it didn't feel like a punishment to her at all.
Luo Wanting, Luo Tian, and Fang Qi then stole him away from her, patting his back, pushing him around playfully. Yuan Shun smiled broadly.
"You didn't think we wouldn't celebrate this year? It's your 30th, my brother," Fang Qi said.
Yuan Shun hung an arm around his shoulder, nudging a hand over his head. "I suppose you're right."
He wasn't one to celebrate his birthday, for many reasons, but he felt that since those he cared about were with him, he wanted to cave in. He followed his friends, who poured drinks in his name. He got swayed into their revelry, drinking indulgently until their faces flushed.
Fang Qi turned up the music and the guests that attended partnered with each other, dancing their heart outs.
Yuan Shun went to search for Shi Yen, finding her with his sister. He snaked an arm around her waist from behind, and she instinctively twisted out of his grip, nearly about to break his hand when she realized it was him.
"Shun! I'm sorry, I thought you were one of the other guys trying to hit on me!" she said.
Yuan Shun furrowed his brows. "Who's trying to hit on you?"
Shi Yen smiled, coiling her arms around his shoulders. She pecked him on the lips. "Jealous?" she said smugly.
His anger dissipated. "Hm," he mouthed, "do you want to join me for a dance?"
Shi Yen's widened her smile. She then let him guide her to a dance, and their bodies found a rhythm, similar to the first time, only now, they were less reserved about it. Yuan Shun danced behind her as Shi Yen ground her hips against him. He had one hand on her waist, following the way she swayed.
Her hands were on him, coiling up to his neck as he remained behind her. They didn't care who was watching; they only immersed themselves in this dance, in each other.
Many of the other partners were doing the same, following what they were doing.
Shi Yen turned to shower him with kisses. "Happy birthday," she said again and again.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Fang Qi then came to their side, interrupting then. "We are going to toast to your name. Come with me." Yuan Shun and Shi Yen followed him outside to find their small group of friends waiting for them, away from the rest of the crowd. Yuan Shun sat down on a bench, pulling Shi Yen onto his lap. Shi Yen flushed, embarrassed.
Yuan Shun brushed her hair over her shoulder to whisper in her ear, "You weren't this shy when your mouth was wrapped around my cock."
Shi Yen pinched his leg, glaring at him, looking around to see if anyone had heard. No one had.
"Behave," she told him.
Yuan Shun chuckled, embracing her. He was very tipsy. "I'm happy you're with me…" he slurred.
Shi Yen grinned, wrapping an arm around him. "Me too," she replied.
Fang Qi poured glass after glass for the toast. Afterward, he made a short speech, and he sketched a bow before they downed the alcohol, swirling the drink in their mouths.
"Blegh," Shi Ailin winced. "That was way too strong."
Fang Qi looked at the bottle. "It's only 40%."
"Only 40%?" she replied sarcastically. "Are you insane?"
Fang Qi laughed, and she drunkenly laughed, too.
Luo Wanting had pulled out a cigarette, placing it between his teeth, lighting it carefully. He carelessly blew out the smoke into the air, and Shi Ailin stared at him, fixated
He smiled at her, devilish and handsome, as he tilted his head back, taking another drag. Shi Ailin sucked in a sharp breath.
Luo Wanting then offered it to the others, who declined, before he offered it to her last. Shi Ailin's eyes widened.
"She doesn't smoke," Luo Tian and Shi Yen responded for her simultaneously.
Shi Ailin lifted her chin. "I only want to try it," she said.
Luo Tian gaped at her, and her sister smiled.
Shi Ailin stood up, approaching Luo Wanting. He gave her a new one, lighting it for her.
She placed it between her fingers, as she'd seen others do it. "Now what?"
"Take a drag," Luo Wanting's honeyed voice instructed.
Shi Ailin took a deep drag. When she blew it out, she coughed harshly, patting her chest. "Oh my goodness," she said. "That was horrible." She coughed again and her head felt dizzy. "How do you guys do it?"
Her friends chuckled.
"Don't worry, Ai," said Shi Yen. "It's not all fun, but it does bring a certain poise and nonchalance that fits certain people."
Shi Ailin scowled.
"At least you've tried it," Luo Wanting said. "Now you know if you like it or not. You took two things off your list."
Shi Ailin furrowed her brows, not understanding what he meant.
He leaned down to whisper, his breath warming her ear, "Drink, smoke, and fuck. That's what you wanted."
Shi Ailin blushed, and Luo Wanting laughed.
He was teasing her!
She puffed up her cheeks, crossing her arms when she noticed from the corner of her eyes that Luo Tian had stood up and left. She released a deep breath, reaching out to steal Fang Qi's drink, downing it.
Fang Qi glared at her, realizing that his drink had gone, and Shi Ailin stuck out her tongue at him. He rolled his eyes and stood, "Let's go back inside for the cake."
Shi Ailin stood immediately and bolted inside, excited to be eating something sweet.
The others trailed after her.