SDS: Chapter 56
"It’s You or No One"
[He doesn’t just love me—he’s obsessively clingy!]
[It’s all Qin Zhiyan’s fault for having such a deceptively cold face! Everyone assumes he’s frigid!]
Qin Zhiyan’s rhythmic patting soon lulled Tang Keyi into drowsiness, and he drifted off to sleep.
"They’ll know."
"I’ll make sure they understand—it’s you I can’t live without."
"Sweet Tang."
——
New Year’s Eve
Tang Keyi slept in, waking to a barrage of notifications—birthday wishes and bank transfer alerts (a Tang family tradition: cash over gifts). After lazily replying to messages, he shuffled downstairs, where Grandma Tang engulfed him in a hug.
"Happy birthday, my dear!"
"Thanks for the fortune, Grandma!" Tang Keyi beamed.
"There’s a New Year’s red envelope for you tonight,"
she said, steering him toward the dining room.
"Eat up! Oh, and it’s Valentine’s Day—any plans after dinner?"
"Qin Zhiyan’s busy with family stuff, so I’m hanging out with Han Qiuqiu."
"What a shame," Grandma sighed, genuinely disappointed.
——
Dinner Drama
As the family gathered around the table, Tang Keyi’s brothers pounced:
"So… is Qin Zhiyan treating you well?" Tang Kexing asked pointedly.
"If he’s not, tell us," Tang Keping added, cracking his knuckles.
"The Tang family has your back!" Tang Keli declared.
Tang Keyi blinked. They’ve heard rumors.
"Qin Zhiyan’s amazing," he insisted. "Gentle, attentive, and super clingy!"
The table fell silent.
Gentle? Attentive? Clingy?
This is Qin Zhiyan we’re talking about?
Really? Prove it.
Grandma Tang coughed diplomatically. "When will you bring him home to meet us?"
"We’ve only been dating a month! Too soon!" Tang Keyi flushed.
"Fair enough," she conceded, while the brothers exchanged skeptical glances.
Tang Kexing changed tactics. "What’s Qin Zhiyan’s birthday gift for you? Surely you’ve got Valentine’s plans?"
"Well… he doesn’t know it’s my birthday," Tang Keyi admitted. "The Qins are busy tonight, so I didn’t mention it."
The family’s faces darkened.
Too busy for his boyfriend’s birthday?
Or just indifferent?
Tang Kexing frowned. The Qins aren’t hosting anything tonight. Was Tang Keyi covering for Qin Zhiyan’s neglect?
——
The Surprise
At 7 PM, as Tang Keyi prepared to meet Han Qiuqiu, a text arrived:
[Come to Imperial Tower.]
Is the Qin family gathering there? Does he want me to meet his parents?!
Before panic set in, another message followed:
[I can’t leave. Picked up a Valentine’s gift for you. Come get it.]
Tang Keyi’s mood skyrocketed. So he remembered Valentine’s Day! He called Han Qiuqiu to delay their plans and sped to the tower.
A waiter greeted him at the entrance. "This way, Young Master Tang."
The elevator ascended. What’s on this floor? A restaurant? Is Qin Zhiyan there? Or—god forbid—a crowd of Qins?
"Are you taking me to Qin Zhiyan?" Tang Keyi asked nervously.
"Mr. Qin only instructed me to bring you here," the waiter replied.
The doors slid open.
Tang Keyi’s breath caught.
The entire hall had been cleared—except for a single table by the floor-to-ceiling windows. The space between was a sea of red roses (whole blooms, not petals), with a narrow path winding through. Candy-shaped balloons floated overhead, and soft music played.
No dimmed lights for "surprise drama"—Qin Zhiyan knew Tang Keyi hated the dark.
But Tang Keyi barely registered the decor. His gaze locked onto the tall figure by the window.
Their eyes met. Electricity crackled.
Qin Zhiyan extended a hand.
"Young Master Tang," the waiter prompted. "He’s waiting."
Tang Keyi stepped forward, heart pounding.
As he approached, Qin Zhiyan’s mind echoed with Tang Keyi’s thoughts:
[Qin Zhiyan planned all this?! AHHH!]
[Best. First. Valentine’s. EVER.]
[I’m not crying—you’re crying!]
"So Imperial Tower closed… for me?" Tang Keyi demanded, clutching Qin Zhiyan’s hand. "There’s no Qin family event?"
Qin Zhiyan’s smile was molten gold. "Sweet Tang, it’s our first Valentine’s."
"You should’ve warned me! I barely ate at dinner!" Tang Keyi giggled, eyes crinkling.
"We’ll take our time," Qin Zhiyan murmured, leading him to the window. "But first—your gift."
Standing behind Tang Keyi, Qin Zhiyan covered his eyes.
"Don’t be afraid. I’m here," he whispered. "Count down from ten."
Tang Keyi’s voice trembled with excitement. "Ten, nine, eight… three, two, one!"
Qin Zhiyan dropped his hands—
Darkness.
The skyscrapers across the river had gone black.
"What—?"
Then—
Explosions of light.
Fireworks burst overhead in candy and heart shapes, while the buildings lit up in sync:
"Sweet Tang"
"Tang Keyi"
"Happy Birthday"
Qin Zhiyan’s lips brushed Tang Keyi’s ear, his voice a velvet rumble:
"Happy birthday, my love."
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