Special

Their mid term exams are finally over. Bai Yutang was relieved, it seems that his hard work paid well. He is studying hard for these exams, and he thinks he will get a good score. His project is also going well.

This Saturday he promised Jian Ge to watch movies and have dinner, just both of them. They haven't met for two weeks, because Jian Ge said he doesn't want to disturb his mid term exams preparation.

After shower, Bai Yutang brushes his hair. Looking at the mirror, he complained inside. No matter what haircut he has, he'll never have half of Jian Ge's charm. Bai Yutang sighed, and took his wallet. Ready to go to the theatre, Yu Dong who sat in front of his computer suddenly asked him.

"What do you think about Xiaoya?" Yu Dong's voice mumbled.

Bai Yutang turns his head, and teases him, "What do i think about Xiaoya? She's a good player. She played well with us, a good teammate. Our dungeon clearing with her always gives us good results."

Yu Dong still glued his eyes to the computer, but Bai Yutang could see his ears turn red, "I mean, as a girl..."

Bai Yutang laughed, he knows very well what Yu Dong means with that question. Since he needed to go right now, he didn't tease him anymore. 

"I think she's a good girl, and well matched with you. I know you like her, especially because she's a gamer too. Why don't you try to approach her?"

This time Yu Dong turns his head to look at him. "I tried, but i don't know how to start. I only know how to ask her in games and accompany her hunting or doing dungeons together even if you're not online." He paused, then continued in a very low voice, "I think she likes you.."

Bai Yutang was surprised to hear that, "From which part of your brain produces that kind of imagination?"

Yu Dong bowed his head, didn't dare to look at his roommate. He was ashamed to sound like a jealous man with his own best friend. But the truth is, he is really jealous, and envies Bai Yutang everytime Mu Xiaoya asks about him. 

"She sometimes asks about you.. It seems she approached us that time because of you."

Bai Yutang sits next to Yu Dong. "First of all, i don't like her in that way. Second, are you sure she asks about me? Not Tang Yuxuan or Liu Xiang? I don't think she's that kind of girl and definitely she won't like me as per your imagination. We never even met or interacted before. And third, you haven't tried to approach her in real life. Like last time we met her in the cafeteria, you don't want to sit together with her even though the seat next to her is empty. Next time, let's just try. I'll support you."

Yu Dong silenced for a moment, then said, "I really like her.. You know I can't talk to a girl except about games or nerdy things we always talk about. I don't know how to start normal conversation, or what they like. But i can talk to her about these things. Do you think i have a chance?"

"You like her, then you have to show her. I'm not the one you can talk about this, my love life and experience is at the same level as you."

It means both of them are single from birth until this moment. What Yu Dong expect with asking him for love advice? It was like asking a blind man which colour suits you better.

Seeing Yu Dong find difficulty to express his further feelings, Bai Yutang sighed and said, "How about this. You know our birthday is coming. As usual, we'll celebrate it together. This time let's invite Jian Ge and her too. But it must be you who invited her. Is that okay with you?"

Yu Dong pondered for a while, and he agreed with that idea. "Okay, i think that's a great idea. I'll invite her tonight. We planned to raid the dungeon together. Better we treat them at Huxiang or the usual cafe?"

"For girls, maybe cafes are better. Jian Ge also never tried that cafe. Then you book the cafe as usual, and invite her. I'll also invite Jian Ge tonight."

Bai Yutang then stood up and waved his hand, said goodbye to Yu Dong. He's going to be late if he didn't go right now.

His birthday is next week, and Yu Dong's birthday is only separated by three days with his own. So usually they celebrate together. For the last two years, they treat Tang Yuxuan and Liu Xiang on the next Saturday after Yu Dong's birthday. Only on that day they usually drank alcohol a little bit.

Today's movie is a car racing action movie. The ladies at the VIP auditorium now already know Bai Yutang well and sometimes tease Jian Ge, by saying since the first time he took Bai Yutang now they never see him watching movies alone again.

That sentence makes Bai Yutang realise, he has known Jian Ge for more than 6 months now. He knows what is his hobby, his preferences, his favourite food and movies, and it increases Bai Yutang's admiration for him each day.

But he never sees Jian Ge angry. He also never sees Jian Ge in a bad mood, except that one time on Sunday. He is curious, then he asks Jian Ge when they are waiting for their dinner dishes.

"Jian Ge, I never saw you mad or sad. You've seen me mad before, when I accidentally deleted my files and was in a foul mood all day before you teach me how to prevent that in the future. Or when on that particular day when someone cut queuing our lines. But I never saw you mad. What will make you mad?"

Jian Ge raised his eyebrow in amused face, "You never saw me angry because going out with you makes me happy, and eases my hard day. But I do get mad and angry a lot. You can ask my resident about that."

"You always tease me like that, Jian Ge. But I truly want to know what will make you angry."

Jian Ge's face thought for a while, then he said, "I'm angry if someone lied to me, or didn't fill their promises without legit reason. I am also angry if people do unreasonable things, like shifting their own mistakes to other people."

"Then what makes you sad, Jian Ge?"

"I'm sad when sometimes my patient's die at a young age. My patients are usually old age, or the late stage of disease. So we know what will happen in the end. But in a few cases, we got this 18 or 19 year old patient who had rapid kidney failure from infection. I think that happened also last year, when I asked you to watch movies on Sunday. He was the only child born when his parents were over thirty. We do everything we can, but somehow the treatment won't work and he's gone. His mother fainted and had to hospitalised for a few days after that. In cases like that, I feel like hitting the bottom and depressed all day. But going out with you that day truly helps me elevate my mood."

Bai Yutang listens to Jian Ge's explanation, and feels that being a doctor is really hard. Doctors had to deal with these kinds of things in their daily life. He suddenly thought about his sister, can she become a good doctor like the man beside him?

Jian Ge's eyes are always gentle. Sometimes Bai Yutang wants to ask why Jian Ge had a good mood when going out with him. He knows he was not someone special with much talent, he's not a funny person to make conversation lively. His sister also said that he was boring.

But Bai Yutang could never ask that. Because he also feels his mood brightened every time he meets Jian Ge. He could mention thousands of reasons why, since the other person is someone with a lot of talent.

It's just that Jian Ge once told him, every human is different. We can't judge other people's behaviour or decision by using our own standard. We never live by their shoes, so never assume about their act or think too much about it. As long as we happily live our own lives and they don't disturb us, we don't need to think or pry into their lives also.

They spent the dinner well. Bai Yutang always loved the calm atmosphere in every dinner he had with Jian Ge. It was relaxing. He could talk about anything, or sometimes he didn't need to talk at all. With Jian Ge, Bai Yutang always felt like he was protected, and understood. He doesn't need to please Jian Ge all the time, nor to be someone he was not.

Bai Yutang knows they will be going home soon, so he finally talks about his birthday. He was quite ashamed to announce that he would have a birthday. Will it make him look like he was asking for a birthday gift?

But he remembers he was disappointed when Jian Ge had his birthday without telling him. So he just thickened his face.

"Jian Ge, my birthday is next week. Yu Dong's birthday is also near to mine. So both of us want to invite you to our birthday dinner. Saturday, at the end of the month. It's only in a cafe near our dorm, but we'll be happy if you can come."

That cafe was nowhere near any restaurant Jian Ge took him to eat. But Bai Yutang somehow also wants to introduce places he often visits to Jian Ge. Don't know why, but he wants to share his pieces of life to this person.

Jian Ge's face didn't look surprised and just nodded. "Okay, of course i'll come. Do you need something as your birthday gift, or just want it to be a surprise?"

Bai Yutang hurriedly said, "No need, Jian Ge!! Your presence is already a gift! I didn't invite you to ask for gifts!"

Jian Ge just chuckled hearing his answer, but his next words surprised him, "Your birthday's dinner is on Saturday, but your actual birthday is on Monday next week. What are you going to do that day?"

"Me? I have class until lunch, nothing special in particular. It's only a birthday."

'How do Jian Ge knows his exact birthday? Did I ever tell him before?'

"Then, how about both of us celebrate your birthday with something we have never done before? We can't see the museum or palace, it's closed already at night. I also didn't think you're the one who enjoys bar hopping. So how about strolling at the night market and trying each snack sold by the food stall there?"

"Night market? Just both of us? But, didn't you have an afternoon schedule, Jian Ge?"

"Yes, both of us. If you don't mind. Strolling at the night market is better with two people. Too many people will be inconvenienced. I've tried strolling there with my friends, but in the end we separated into two groups."

Jian Ge then continued his words after drinking his wine. "And i can arrange my schedule. You said it's only your birthday. But your birthday only comes once a year, so it's special to me."

Bai Yutang never strolled in the night market here in B city. No one ever mentioned it to him, nor invited him. He truly feels Jian Ge is the one who opens his eyes to many things, many good things he never even thought to try before.

And in his life, not many people will say that he was special.

So he finally nodded his head and grinned, "Okay Jian Ge, let's stroll. You have to show me the best snacks there!"

After so many birthdays passed in his life, now Bai Yutang is really excited to welcome his birthday again. To celebrate the day where he was born into this world. To feel particularly special on this day every year. Just like when he used to be, once when he was still a kid. 

Before he grew up and finally realised that he was nothing special. Just an ordinary man, like everyone else.