Chapter 9

The next evening, a gathering with friends.

I was absent-minded and lost several games.

Unable to drink anymore, I compromised and chose truth.

A friend asked me:

“What was your wish on your 18th birthday?”

I lowered my eyes, picked up the bottle, and filled my glass again.

I tilted my head back to gulp it down, but a friend snatched it away:

“Hey, hey, hey, no more drinking. You already chose truth.”

“You have to tell the truth, or else you’ll be struck by lightning.”

In the private room, nostalgic Cantonese songs softly crooned:

“Expecting you to stay with me, even if mismatched, it’s still interesting”

“Just while you’re happy, ask you who you like”

“But you say, is it referring to a romantic partner”

“If it’s that kind, I’m afraid of the burden”

Suddenly, my tears broke free.

I remembered those three years in high school when I chased after his shadow.

I recalled the year in college when he started dating someone in another city.

After that, every time I saw a silhouette resembling his on campus, my eyes inexplicably welled up.

His silhouette became my long-lasting affliction.

When we met again later, I finally mustered the courage to approach him.

That day, I deliberately walked into the wrong private room.

Because in my heart, he was the right one.

I had secretly loved him for so many years, and I knew his preferences inside out.

I intentionally catered to him.

The second blind date, an uncle from the same hospital and department as him enthusiastically introduced me to a potential match.

He asked what kind of person I was looking for.

I aimed all my criteria at one person.

So that day, the only one who could appear before me was him, would be him.

I finally heard my own shattered sobs:

“My wish on my eighteenth birthday was…”

“To have Xu Siyan look at me.”

Later, Xu Siyan did look at me.

But there was no me in his eyes.