Chapter 14: “And an Extra Kiss as a Bonus.”

The young man’s voice was low and cold. Even before opening the door, Sheng Li could vividly imagine how stern his expression must be. She pulled open the door and locked eyes with Yu Chi outside. Arching an eyebrow with a playful smile, she silently mouthed, “Come in.”

Yu Chi stared at her emotionlessly. Sure enough, he had been right not to trust her. The stomachache, the concern about affecting the shoot, the reluctance to bother Yuan Yuan—all lies.

He shoved the bag of medicine into her arms and turned to leave.

Sheng Li swiftly grabbed his hand, whispering a threat: “If you don’t come in, I’ll shout and let everyone know you came to see me in the middle of the night. Tomorrow, we’ll both be on the front page.”

Yu Chi glared at her incredulously.

Suddenly, a faint “ding” echoed from the distant corner.

The sound of the elevator doors slowly opening in the silent corridor of the night was unmistakable. With quick reflexes, Yu Chi spun around, gripping her hand and pulling her inside. Caught off guard, Sheng Li dropped the bag of medicine. Yu Chi pressed his back against the door, and with a soft thud, it closed behind him.

Room 1029 was a suite, but the entrance light was off, casting dim shadows throughout. Their bodies were close, their heartbeats racing, creating an illicit, secretive atmosphere. Yu Chi had likely showered recently; his body carried a refreshing scent, tinged with a hint of mint.

Sheng Li had worked with many male actors, including popular idols, all undeniably handsome. She had filmed countless kissing and embrace scenes, but never before—outside of acting—had she felt such palpitations or a thundering heartbeat for someone.

Yu Chi released her hand, crossing his arms over his chest. His tall, lean figure leaned against the door as he looked down at Sheng Li with a cold smirk. “In the dead of night, sister dressed like this, going through so much trouble to lure me to your hotel room—are you planning to give me a ‘coming-of-age’ gift?”

Sheng Li’s heartbeat hadn’t yet settled when his sudden flirtatious remark shocked her again.

She looked up at him, her pulse quickening, her throat suddenly dry.

Their gazes locked, neither willing to look away first—it felt as if whoever broke eye contact would lose.

Sheng Li raised an eyebrow, bending down to pick up the fallen bag.

Yu Chi’s gaze lingered for a moment before he subtly turned his head.

As Sheng Li straightened up, she noticed his eyes shift toward the bathroom door. She smiled faintly. “If you dare accept such a gift, I have no objections.”

Yu Chi paused, lifting his gaze to meet hers, sneering. “What is there to fear? Who loses out isn’t certain yet.”

Sheng Li quirked an eyebrow. “Then go ahead.”

She picked up the bag, her waist-length black hair swaying with the movement of her dress. Her slender, alluring silhouette exuded a captivating charm.

Yu Chi swallowed hard, remaining rooted against the door, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he idly twirled his phone.

A few seconds later, he stepped forward.

Sheng Li placed the medicine on the counter, opened the bag, and peeked inside. There were several types of pills. Turning to him, she said smugly, “From the time I called you until you arrived at the hotel with all these medicines, it took less than twenty minutes. That speed suggests you were genuinely worried about me.”

Yu Chi glanced down at her, his tone indifferent. “Just normal speed.”

“Alright,” Sheng Li walked to the fridge, opened it, and retrieved the birthday cake. Turning to him with a smile, she asked, “Since you’ve shown so much concern for your older sister, how about I keep you company for your eighteenth birthday? Sound good?”

Yu Chi froze, his dark eyes fixed on her.

Sheng Li placed the cake on the coffee table, looking up at him with a bright smile. “Or do you not want cake and prefer the ‘coming-of-age’ gift instead?”

Yu Chi: “...”

His ears reddened slightly, though his expression remained stoic as he stared at her.

Is teasing me really that fun?

Yu Chi averted his gaze, his tall, lean frame settling onto the sofa. He stretched out his long legs and began untying the ribbon on the cake box, removing the lid.

Sheng Li chuckled, sitting beside him. She unpacked the candles and, with great ceremony, inserted an “18” into the cake.

“Don’t tell me you lured me here just to eat cake,” he muttered, leaning back and eyeing her skeptically.

Sheng Li rummaged through the bag but found no lighter or matches.

“Hand me a lighter,” she demanded.

Yu Chi had left in such a hurry that he only brought his phone and keys. “I didn’t bring one.”

Without a lighter, how could they light the candles? Sheng Li stood up to search for one, wondering if it had been overlooked or simply wasn’t included. She messaged Yuan Yuan on WeChat: [Yuan Yuan, where’s the lighter?]

Yuan Yuan had spent the entire night on edge, fearing something might happen. She replied almost instantly: [Is Yu Chi in your room now? Isn’t there a lighter in the bag?]

Yuan Yuan: [I don’t have one either. Should I go downstairs and buy one?]

Sheng Li: [Did you do this on purpose?]

Yuan Yuan was usually sharp and meticulous—it was unlike her to make such a small oversight as forgetting a lighter in the birthday cake bag.

Yuan Yuan: [There really isn’t one! I’ll go buy one right now.]

Watching Sheng Li struggle to find a lighter, Yu Chi nonchalantly unpacked the bag, taking out a knife and fork. “It doesn’t matter if we don’t have one. I never blew out candles anyway, and I rarely ate birthday cakes.”

When Yu Manqi was still unmarried to Jiang Dongmin, she used to buy him a small cake on his birthday. After marrying Jiang Dongmin and having another son, Yu Chi’s birthdays were almost entirely forgotten.

At first, it hurt deeply. Each year, he secretly hoped his mother would remember, but eventually, he stopped caring.

After being sold off, he became completely numb.

Middle school was the peak of his rebellious phase. He had few close friends, and girls rarely approached him. In high school, some girls left small cakes and gifts in his desk, but no one had ever gone to such lengths to deceive him into celebrating a birthday, let alone blowing out candles.

“For now, don’t move.”

Sheng Li snatched the knife and fork from him. Turning to look at him, she said, “I knew you rarely celebrated your birthday. But your eighteenth is special. It deserves some ceremony.” She arched an eyebrow. “Wishes made on your eighteenth birthday are said to come true.”

Yu Chi paused, looking down at her. “So, did the wish you made on your eighteenth come true?”

Sheng Li nodded. “Of course. I wished to become famous, and here I am.”

“Superstition,” he muttered.

Yu Chi’s phone buzzed a few times in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw birthday greetings from Zhao Shutong and the others in their group chat.

Zhao Shutong: [@Yu Chi, Happy Birthday.]

Hu Yi Yang: [Brother Chi, shall we come over tomorrow to celebrate your birthday? What do you think?]

Xu Yang: [Yi Pang, I think you’re not trying to celebrate Brother Chi’s birthday—you just want to visit the set and see the goddess, right?]

Hu Yi Yang: [Why wouldn’t I be serious?]

Xu Yang: [Last year on Brother Chi’s birthday, I didn’t hear you say anything about celebrating.]

Hu Yi Yang: [That’s because we weren’t close then, and you know it...]

After their argument, Yu Chi and Xu Yang had barely spoken for a long time. Even during the school meeting, they ignored each other. Now, Xu Yang calling him “Brother Chi” repeatedly was clearly an attempt to mend their relationship.

Xu Yang had already signed the contract. No matter what Yu Chi said, it wouldn’t change anything. Xu Yang wasn’t from a wealthy family, just slightly better off than average. For an art student, breaking the contract was out of the question—they couldn’t afford the penalty fee.

Pointing it out would only crush Xu Yang’s confidence.

Perhaps things weren’t as bad as Yu Chi imagined.

Leaning forward, elbows on his knees, Yu Chi responded briefly in the group chat and declined their plans.

Sheng Li glanced casually. “Your classmates want to celebrate your birthday? Let them come.”

“Troublesome,” Yu Chi said indifferently, finishing his message and locking his phone.

Knock, knock, knock—

The door was tapped hesitantly.

Sheng Li chuckled and went to open it.

Outside, Yuan Yuan peeked nervously. Sheng Li pushed her gently. “Don’t you have a keycard? Why knock?”

“I didn’t want to accidentally see something inappropriate!” Yuan Yuan whispered, half-complaining. Then, hopefully, she asked, “Can I come in and have a piece of cake?”

Sheng Li smiled, taking the lighter from her. “You can buy yourself a cake tomorrow—however many you want. I’ll cover it.” With that, she mercilessly shut the door.

All the main lights in the suite were turned off, leaving only a dim yellow wall lamp. The candle marked “18” flickered softly, casting dancing shadows on their faces. Under Sheng Li’s watchful gaze, Yu Chi half-heartedly closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle.

Sheng Li didn’t ask what he wished for. She cut the cake and said, “The last time I ate cake at night was three months ago, on my father’s birthday. The last time I ate cake at midnight was on my own birthday last year.”

She handed a slice to Yu Chi.

Yu Chi didn’t have a sweet tooth. Finishing the large piece of cake was almost painful, his brows furrowed.

After disposing of the trash, he picked up his phone from the table and stood up, clearly unwilling to stay a moment longer. “The cake’s finished. I’m leaving.”

“Wait a second,” Sheng Li grabbed his hand, frowning slightly as she looked up at him, displeased. “Are you really leaving just after eating the cake? This is the first time I’ve put so much effort into celebrating someone’s birthday. Your attitude… it hurts.”

Yu Chi glanced at her bare shoulders and arms, which were almost blindingly pale under the dim yellow light. Suddenly, he felt a surge of irritation. “Then what else do you want to do? Do you really want me to stay overnight?”

“If you want to, no problem at all,” Sheng Li said brightly, bending down to retrieve a computer box from under the coffee table. It was fairly heavy. She shoved it into his arms. “Here, a birthday present.”

Yu Chi glanced down at it briefly before setting it aside.

“You don’t like this? Then let’s switch.”

Sheng Li didn’t stop him. Instead, she pulled out a stack of papers with four bold words written across them: “Sponsorship Contract.” Crossing her arms, she watched Yu Chi’s cold expression with amusement, raising an eyebrow. “There’s another option—date your older sister.”

In truth, Yu Chi could have chosen to reject everything or simply walk away.

No matter how domineering Sheng Li was, as a woman, she couldn’t physically stop him.

Yu Chi stared at her coldly for a long moment before picking up the computer box and turning to leave.

Sheng Li clicked her tongue, following him.

As Yu Chi reached for the doorknob, he paused, glancing back at her. In a low voice, he said, “Next time, don’t use such an outrageous secret code. Others might not...” He trailed off, swallowing his words, and turned back.

“Wait.”

Sheng Li suddenly called out to him. Like a nimble cat, she slipped between him and the door. Instinctively, Yu Chi took a step back. But Sheng Li hooked her arms around his neck, pressing her body forward and standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips.

Yu Chi’s body stiffened as he looked down at her in surprise.

Sheng Li, still clinging to his neck, tilted her head back and smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling. “Happy birthday, Yu Chi. And an extra kiss as a bonus.”