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“Everyone, put your peripherals down in your rooms. We are going out for dinner in half an hour,” Yu Wenzhou suddenly announced as their team’s bus pulled up to the hotel they were staying at.
Team Blue Rain was currently in H City, and had just finished playing a league match against Happy. They had barely managed to win, with only Lu Hanwen standing left with a sliver of health in the team battle. When they went up to shake hands, Bao Rongxing promised that the next time they’d definitely win.
Huang Shaotian had laughed, responding, “in your dreams!” The two teams never had any particular rivalry, and were on quite familiar terms. They went their separate ways, smiles on their faces as they departed.
On the way back, Huang Shaotian felt like he wanted to say something, but ended up chatting about other things with Yu Wenzhou. He soon forgot about it, and talked about whatever came to mind. So when Yu Wenzhou told them that they would be going out to eat, all Huang Shaotian thought was a congratulatory meal for winning their game.
Yu Wenzhou lightly touched Huang Shaotian’s hand as they entered the elevator. “Dress a little nicer,” he said softly.
Huang Shaotian tilted his head like a confused puppy, blinking at him before agreeing with it anyway. It wasn’t like there was anything wrong with what Yu Wenzhou had said. After returning to his hotel room, he decided to flop onto his bed and scroll on his phone for a while before getting dressed.
Half an hour passed fairly quickly, and the team gathered again in the lobby. Since the location wasn’t too far, they were just going to directly walk there. It was already dark outside, and there weren’t too many people, so it was easy for them to get to their destination.
As they walked, Huang Shaotian took in the night view of the city. “Where are we going?” Huang Shaotian asked curiously.
“Secret,” Yu Wenzhou smiled, tugging on his arm to turn the corner.
“Give me a hint?”
“We’re almost there, there’s no need for one.”
Huang Shaotian pouted but walked forward obediently, looking for possible restaurants. In the end, Yu Wenzhou pulled the team into a restaurant with a modest exterior. He spoke in a low voice with the girl who was standing behind the counter, and she nodded, typing something into the computer before leading them toward one of the banquet rooms.
“Do we really need such a big room?” Huang Shaotian looked at the size of their team. “We don’t have that many people, do we?”
Yu Wenzhou didn’t respond as he pulled open the door, Huang Shaotian naturally following behind him.
Unexpectedly, the room was dark. But the rest of the team still pushed in, forcing Huang Shaotian to stumble forward before he crashed into Yu Wenzhou’s back. Yu Wenzhou steadied him with an arm, their eyes meeting in the dark before the room suddenly lit up.
“Surprise! Happy birthday!”
A mix of cheers reached his ears as Huang Shaotian turned to see the players from Happy also standing around the table. Su Mucheng and Tang Rou were holding streamers, and Bao Rongxing had produced thunder sticks out of who knows where.
“You guys- how are you guys here?” Huang Shaotian stumbled over his words.
“Your Captain Yu so kindly informed us that today was your birthday in advance,” Ye Xiu said as Chen Guo got everyone seated. “Our team is a big advocate for friendship, so we decided to give him some face.”
“What’s that supposed to mean!” Huang Shaotian pressed his palms against the table but was held back by Yu Wenzhou.
“No, no, we all came willingly,” Su Mucheng laughed. “It’s not just for reputation, we’re your friends too! Of course we’d come.”
“And you’ve helped our boss before,” Bao Rongxing’s thunder sticks were taken away by Luo Ji and placed in a corner. “I’ve never forgotten!”
The rest of Blue Rain looked at him suspiciously, and Huang Shaotian turned away to avoid their gazes.
“It’s your birthday,” Tang Rou smiled.
“It’s never a proper birthday without some kind of celebration!” Fang Rui agreed.
“Did you think we’d really forget?” Song Xiao quipped. “You’re our vice captain. How could we forget?”
“Even if it’s a hassle,” Zheng Xuan placed his elbow on the table, resting his palm against his cheek.
“Happy birthday Huang Shao!” Lu Hanwen clapped his hands together. “You’re the best swordsman!”
Yu Wenzhou turned to look at him, a smile in his eyes. Huang Shaotian looked back at him before turning toward everyone at the table. “Heh, you guys sure are awesome. Thank you, now let’s eat! I’m starving!”
The whole room erupted into laughter before breaking off into small conversation, people sharing menus to choose what they wanted to eat. Huang Shaotian leaned over Yu Wenzhou’s shoulder to look at the menu, choosing a bowl of longevity noodles according to tradition.
“Happy birthday, Shaotian,” Yu Wenzhou turned to look at Huang Shaotian, the distance between their faces barely more than a few centimeters.
His voice was low, but Huang Shaotian still caught it. Huang Shaotian grinned, quickly taking the chance while everyone was distracted to brush his lips against Yu Wenzhou’s. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “You’re the best.”
Yu Wenzhou chuckled in response, putting the menu down to signify that they were finished looking at the menu.
Everyone ordered their food after a few minutes, their dishes arriving fairly quickly. There were some dishes that were shared and placed on the rotating glass table, and some that people ordered for themselves.
As they ate, Huang Shaotian suddenly stared in Ye Xiu’s direction. “You guys didn’t go easy on us today because it’s my birthday, right? If you guys did, then I’d go ask for a rematch!”
“You still have energy to play?” Ye Xiu raised an eyebrow as he put a mouthful of rice into his mouth. “Ah, young people.”
“I’m only a few years younger than you!” Huang Shaotian retorted.
Ye Xiu shrugged, spinning the table to grab a few bites of a random meat dish.
“Of course we didn’t,” Su Mucheng leaned forward to pour herself a cup of hot tea. “That would be quite disrespectful. Besides, I don’t think anyone on either team would’ve liked that.”
“That’s right!” Huang Shaotian nodded. “If we ever fight on any of your guys’s birthdays, don’t expect us to go easy on you!”
“We’ll give it our all!” Qiao Yifan said resolutely.
The rest of the meal passed fairly uneventfully, the two teams singing a happy birthday for Huang Shaotian before splitting a small cake. It was already quite late by the time they bid their goodbyes. Su Mucheng and Fang Rui stuffed small gifts into his hands, Ye Xiu saying that he was too lazy to get him one so he could just count Su Mucheng’s as his too.
They walked back toward the hotel, Huang Shaotian lingering at the back of the group. Since it was a short walk, most of the team was able to find their way back. Yu Wenzhou dismissed them, noticing that Huang Shaotian had something he wanted to say.
“What is it?” Yu Wenzhou turned and adjusted the collar of Huang Shaotian’s jacket.
Huang Shaotian paused for a moment before deciding to just go forward and hug his captain, putting his arms around the other’s waist. “Nothing,” he mumbled into Yu Wenzhou’s jacket. “Just… thank you… really.”
Yu Wenzhou brought his hand up, letting his fingers run through the latter’s hair. “You’re not just my vice captain,” he murmured. “Your birthday is not something that I’d forget.”
For some time, Huang Shaotian hadn’t really celebrated his birthday, whether it was because he was too busy, or he simply forgot. He had been particularly individualistic in school, so no one really remembered his birthday either. It was only when he saw others celebrating that he remembered he too had one.
But since coming to Blue Rain, that had all faded into the past. He knew everyone’s birthdays and everyone knew his; it gave him the feeling of a true family. Those years he spent with Blue Rain could easily be said to be the best ones of his life. Who knew what it would be like once he retired…
As if Yu Wenzhou could read his mind, he gently pressed the back of Huang Shaotian’s head against his shoulder. “In the future… we can celebrate your birthday together too.”
Huang Shaotian laughed, shooing away all those thoughts before. What was he worrying about? That was all in the future. For now, he’d live in the present, with Blue Rain, with Yu Wenzhou. It was a present he was willing to live in.