By Zephyria 
Li Daoyang’s heart tightened instantly, suspecting he’d misheard as tension rose: “To Yancheng? Right now?”
Jing Mian: “Right now.”
A storm of thoughts swept through Li Daoyang’s mind.
Holy shit.
The kid’s finally having an epiphany!!
He asked: “When’s the earliest flight?”
Jing Mian was already purchasing tickets: “Eleven o’clock.”
Li Daoyang checked his watch: “Two hours left.”
After booking the ticket, Jing Mian rushed upstairs to pack his backpack. Though the distance was considerable, he didn’t need much, some cash, ID card, charger, pajamas, and headphones… He wasn’t sure if he’d need to stay overnight since Mr. Ren’s birthday was tomorrow.
When Jing Mian ran downstairs, Li Daoyang also stood up: “Order a ride on your phone. Why aren’t there any drivers accepting rides in Maple Leaf area? Time’s too tight, and it’ll take a while just to get through airport security.”
Most residents in Maple Leaf had their own drivers, so taxis rarely picked up passengers here. Just as Jing Mian was about to call Master Ye, the doorbell rang.
Peering through the small window, he saw it was Yu Nian.
Yu Nian, who had just entered carrying two boxes of soup dumplings, froze when he saw Jing Mian dressed and ready with a backpack: “MianMian… are you going somewhere?”
“To Yancheng.”
“Yancheng!?”
Yu Nian set down the bags, astonished: “Why there?”
“To celebrate his husband’s birthday.”
Only when Li Daoyang opened the door did he realize how cold it was outside. The temperature had plummeted these past two days, and the boy’s outfit was too thin. He grabbed a scarf and a thicker coat from the entryway, handing them to Yu Nian without time for explanation: “Linjia Airport. The nearest flight leaves in two hours.”
Yu Nian only hesitated for a few seconds before snapping back to attention.
Grabbing car keys, Yu Nian chased after them, saying: “I’ll drive Mr. Jing to the airport!”
Once in the car,
Jing Mian, now wearing the thick coat and scarf, grew quiet.
Though his expression remained calm, he could still hear his own heartbeat pounding against his chest.
“Yancheng’s temperatures dropped these past two days. What you were wearing earlier wouldn’t keep you warm, and catching another cold would make Brother Ren blame me…”
Yu Nian clearly stepped on the gas, hovering at the speed limit, more excited than the person involved. Though he’d been Brother Ren’s assistant for the shortest time, he still considered things more thoroughly than most. Yu Nian asked: “MianMian, how are you planning to celebrate Brother Ren’s birthday? Should I contact someone there to clear his schedule tonight?”
Jing Mian quickly shook his head: “No need to clear it. Mr. Ren’s work is more important.”
Yu Nian thought to himself, no, you’re more important, Mr. Jing.
He asked: “Are you planning to surprise him then?”
Jing Mian paused, as if only now beginning to consider this. Hesitantly, he asked: “Would a surprise be better?”
Yu Nian smiled: “Of course.”
Thus, the boy’s most pressing and troublesome dilemma became how to create a surprise for Mr. Ren.
Watching the boy stare silently out the car window, then soon after take out his phone to search online—
Even resorting to Baidu.
Yu Nian couldn’t help but chuckle, clearing his throat.
“Chen Ke’s hometown is Yancheng,” Yu Nian said. “He’s full of ideas and knows the city inside out—hotels, homestays, restaurants, entertainment, there’s nothing he doesn’t know. He’s also familiar with Brother Ren’s specific itinerary. Once we arrive, you can discuss plans with Chen Ke beforehand.”
Jing Mian nodded, committing this to heart.
Upon arriving at the airport, Jing Mian, wrapped in a scarf and carrying his luggage, hurried toward the boarding gate. Yu Nian watched the young man’s retreating figure and waved goodbye.
Wishing MianMian a smooth journey.
After boarding the plane, Jing Mian easily found his seat.
The distance between Yancheng and Lincheng wasn’t short, a two-hour flight. Jing Mian took the last moments to reply to two messages from his club, but his gaze unconsciously lingered on the chat interface with Mr. Ren.
Just then, a flight attendant reminded passengers to switch off their phones or enable airplane mode. Jing Mian silently exited the app and turned on airplane mode.
Staring out the window for a while, Jing Mian found himself restless, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the birthday surprise.
The cabin was quiet, and before long, Jing Mian’s eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.
Yet unease lingered.
When he woke, his hands and feet were still cold.
Upon landing in Yancheng, Jing Mian realized Yu Nian had been right. The city was several degrees colder, the early winter chill seeping through every gap in his collar and sleeves. Passengers shivered as they disembarked, unaccustomed to the sudden drop in temperature.
In comparison, Lincheng instantly felt like a warm little town.
Following the crowd out of the airport, Jing Mian checked his phone, planning to find a hotel first. Mr. Ren’s birthday was at midnight, and with most of the day still ahead, he had nowhere to go for the time being.
Unexpectedly, someone was already waiting for him shortly after he stepped off the plane.
“Mr. Jing?”
Jing Mian nodded. “Yes.”
“Mr. Chen sent me to pick you up,” the driver said. “Your phone was unreachable, so I timed it and waited directly at the exit.”
Jing Mian asked, “Mr. Chen?”
“Yes, Chen Ke.”
So Brother Chen Ke already knew?
Did that mean Mr. Ren knew he was here too?
Still unsure of the situation, Jing Mian could only express his gratitude. “Thank you for your trouble.”
“Not at all, you’re too kind.”
Jing Mian got into the car, and the half-hour drive ended at a hotel.
Chen Ke recognized their vehicle and came forward, having clearly waited for some time. He held an extra coat but relaxed upon seeing Jing Mian bundled up in thick layers and a scarf.
“Did Yu Nian tell you?”
“Yeah.”
Led by a hotel attendant, the two entered the elevator and pressed the floor button.
Unable to hold back, Jing Mian asked, “Does Mr. Ren know I’m in Yancheng?”
“Don’t worry, Brother Ren has no idea.” Chen Ke mimed zipping his lips. “Mr. Jing wants to surprise him for his birthday, right? We won’t spoil it.”
Jing Mian’s tension eased slightly.
But the matter of the birthday surprise still weighed on him.
After a moment’s thought, Jing Mian said, “I should buy a birthday gift.”
Chen Ke asked, “Any ideas?”
Jing Mian fell silent, realizing another dilemma had surfaced. Softly, he admitted, “I haven’t decided yet.”
As the elevator doors opened, the attendant guided them to the room with a keycard before bowing and leaving. Chen Ke paused and suddenly smiled. “Actually, you don’t need to worry about the surprise.”
“You’re the best birthday gift he could ask for.”
Jing Mian froze.
Before he could respond, Chen Ke reconsidered and suggested, “But if you want something more romantic, you could visit Yantan.”
“That area is the most prosperous and magnificent part of Yancheng, adjacent to the sea. You can book fireworks to be set off on the beach, and there’s also a giant LED screen on the skyscraper that can be rented to display birthday wishes or confessions.”
Yan Beach?
Jing Mian had long heard of it—it was the most iconic landmark of Yancheng, famous worldwide for its dazzling nightscape.
If he could really see it there with Mr. Ren, whether it was a surprise or not, he would undoubtedly be indulging in some serious romance.
Jing Mian felt a flutter in his heart.
Chen Ke said, “I’ll contact someone right away and send you their number!”
The young man’s eyelashes lifted with excitement. “Okay.”
Back in his room, Jing Mian soon received a message from Chen Ke.
It detailed the pricing for the giant screen, including additional durations, and even listed the option of setting off fireworks on the beach.
Jing Mian scanned further down.
10,000 for one minute.
30,000 for five minutes.
300,000 for an hour.
…
So expensive.
Jing Mian lay on the bed, his hair sinking into the sheets, then sat up again. His competition prize money, combined with his recent livestream earnings, could not only cover the cost but also afford him a few extra minutes.
Fireworks and the giant screen.
Though a bit clichéd, romance wasn’t limited by method, and this was the most extravagant birthday surprise Jing Mian could currently think of.
Perhaps only such extravagance could match his Husband.
Following the contact information Chen Ke provided, Jing Mian called the staff responsible for the giant screen.
After a brief exchange, the woman on the other end awkwardly said, “Sorry, there are no available slots left for tomorrow.”
Jing Mian: “!?”
“Booked out already today?”
“Even earlier than today, every one-hour slot was reserved ten days in advance,” the staff explained. “It’s like this every year around this time. You need to book much earlier. Once you miss it… Wait…”
The woman paused, then suddenly said, “I just got a call, a lady canceled her reservation last minute. There’s now a five-minute slot available tomorrow at 5:15 PM. Would you like to take it?”
5:15 PM?
Jing Mian answered immediately, “Yes.”
“Alright, I’ve registered it for you,” the woman said. “Please arrive at the building at least six hours in advance to make the payment and confirm the screen content and fireworks style on-site. No extensions.”
Finally, Jing Mian added her on WeChat and received the exact address and floor.
All that remained was waiting and nervous anticipation.
Since the reservation was for after 5 PM the next day, Jing Mian had no choice but to spend the night at the hotel. He had left in such a hurry that he hadn’t even packed a change of clothes, so he took a shower and idly watched a movie in his room.
Without his equipment, he couldn’t go live.
Even if he could, Jing Mian wouldn’t have been able to focus right now.
Before nightfall, Jing Mian went to the building to make the payment and finalize the display content. Before leaving, the staff even gave him a few small handheld fireworks.
Jing Mian tucked them into his backpack.
At the same time, Chen Ke called to confirm that before 5:15 PM the next day, he would find a way to get Mr. Ren to pass by Yan Beach and stop the car so the man could witness the birthday surprise Jing Mian had prepared.
…
Even as he fell asleep, Jing Mian’s heart still raced.
Why was he so nervous?
What had Mr. Ren felt the night before confessing to him?
Had he been just as anxious?
Jing Mian couldn’t imagine it.