Late at night, Cohen lay in bed, a faint glow leaking out from under the covers.
He was curled up under the blankets with his phone, the screen staying on the chat window with Baldur.
The last message was still the chibi image he had sent at noon.
Baldur had thanked him in person but hadn't sent any reply online.
As the time jumped to 00:00, Cohen typed out the words "Happy Birthday" in the chat box, his fingertip hovering over the send button,hesitating to press it.
After hesitating for a minute, he let out a very, very soft sigh, deleted the text, exited the WeChat, placed the phone on the nightstand, wrapped himself tightly in the quilt, and closed his eyes, but felt no sleepiness at all.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Cohen didn't know how long he had been lying there when he suddenly heard knocking.
Frowning, he got up and turned on the bedside lamp.
The cold wind from outside rushed in the moment the door opened, only to be blocked mostly by a tall figure.
Cohen stared blankly at Baldur standing at the door.
The early morning birthday banquet had just ended.
Baldur, wearing a black overcoat, carried a faint mix of smoke and alcohol.
A hint of drunkenness lingered between his brows, and the boundless dangerous aura hidden beneath his deep black eyes seemed to seep out, barely suppressed.
The main room light was off, and the corridor light was dim.
He gazed down at Cohen, who was tilting his porcelain-white face up, for a long moment before the corners of his lips quirked upward.
His sharp, intimidating presence retreated a bit as he held out a small, exquisitely packaged cake.
Cohen looked at the cake but didn't take it.
"Take it."
Baldur's voice was slightly hoarse.
"Offering you some birthday cake."
Finally, he reached out and took the cake.
"Thank you."
Baldur's gaze fell on the open collar of Cohen's thin pajamas, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Go back to sleep. Put the cake in the fridge and eat it after you wake up."
After saying this, he turned to go back to his room; the air conditioning had been fixed that afternoon.
Suddenly, Cohen took two steps out, reached out, and hooked his arm.
Baldur stopped, his eyes falling on the knuckles turned slightly white from the grip on his arm.
"Baldur."
Cohen called his name.
"Happy Birthday."
His thin voice trembled slightly, unsure if from the cold or nervousness.
Baldur turned back, withdrew his arm, and instead placed his hand on Cohen's shoulder, half-embracing, half-pushing him back into the warm room.
He then ruffled the fluffy hair and said in a low voice, "I am very happy, because I received a very, very good gift."
Cohen stared at him.
He sighed inwardly and covered those clear, straightforward eyes.
"Kid, you're being too blatant. Be more reserved."
Cohen's eyelashes fluttered, and his fair face gradually tinged with a light pink.
Had he been found out?
His palm tickled from the brush of eyelashes.
As Baldur withdrew his hand, he took the opportunity to stroke the soft cheek and said with a laugh, "A chance encounter in the elevator, a beauty just bathed, and the air conditioning conveniently broken... If this hotel and its staff weren't yours, I'd really think it was fate."
Cohen pressed his lips tightly together, looking at him somewhat uneasily.
Baldur placed his hand on the door handle.
"It's late. Go to sleep now. Good night."
"Good night..."
Cohen couldn't sleep all night.
When he got up the next morning, his complexion was even paler, but his spirits were fairly good.
After washing up and getting dressed, he left his room.
Passing by that tightly closed door, his steps paused for a moment.
He buried half his face in his scarf, lowered his head, and walked towards the elevator.
Going downstairs, he had just stepped out of the elevator when he saw the front desk lady frantically making eye signals at him, hurriedly pointing outside.
Cohen froze for two seconds, then quickly walked out.
Just outside the main entrance, he saw several expensive luxury cars driving away in a line.
Baldur got into the last one, a black Porsche.
Dave was saying goodbye to Kerry.
"Kerry, thanks for the hospitality. Let's meet up again when you're back in B City."
Kerry nodded.
"Alright. I won't see you off then. See you in B City."
"We're off. Bye."
Before getting in the car, Dave glanced at the figure standing motionless by the entrance and waved with a smile.
"Goodbye, Cohen."
Kerry turned around, his expression softening as he waved.
"Cohen, come here. See the two brothers off."
The rear window, which had been fully closed, was now half rolled down.
Baldur sat inside, his expression calm as he looked out.
Cohen didn't move, quietly meeting his gaze.
After a long moment, he turned and went back inside.
"Eh..."
Kerry shook his head helplessly.
"Sorry about that. He might have gotten up too early, is a bit cranky."
Dave pulled open the car door.
"Cohen is still shy around strangers, right? When you guys come back to B City, I'll take him out to have some fun, and we'll get familiar."
Kerry nodded, looking at Baldur in the car.
"Take care."
Baldur gave an "Mhm," the car window rolled up, and the car slowly drove away.
Cohen returned to the lobby expressionlessly.
The front desk staff, the guest relations manager, and a few other employees gathered around him.
Seeing his low spirits, they wanted to ask but didn't dare, only offering a few words of comfort in low voices.
Lucia patted his shoulder, playing the role of the understanding older sister.
"It's okay. In a while, when you go back to B City, there will be plenty of chances to meet."
"Yeah, yeah. Our little brother is so good-looking. If you actively pursue someone, isn't it a sure thing?"
"If it really doesn't work out, we don't have to hang ourselves on one tree. There are plenty of handsome guys in B City..."
Once, by chance, the front desk lady had glimpsed the portrait of a man on Cohen's tablet.
Under questioning, Cohen had openly admitted that he had been hiding feelings for someone for a very, very long time...
The ladies chattered,agreeing and comforting Cohen.
Spotting Kerry coming in, they scattered.
Kerry walked over to Cohen with a stern face, his tone not very good.
"Had breakfast?"
Cohen lowered his eyes.
"No."
"Come, have breakfast with me."
In the dining room, the two brothers sat facing each other.
Kerry took a sip of coffee, watching Cohen stir the porridge in his bowl.
His anger flared, and he put the cup down heavily.
Cohen glanced at him.
"What?"
Kerry laughed humorlessly.
"I should be asking you what you're doing! Letting the employees join you in your mischief? You know perfectly well who Baldur is. If you anger him, all my arrangements these past few days will be wasted."
Cohen put down his spoon, looking at him eagerly.
"Did I make him leave?"
Kerry felt a lump in his throat, but couldn't be too harsh.
He said irritably, "No. He was supposed to leave today anyway. There's another birthday banquet in B City tonight."
Cohen perked up a little, but within seconds, became downcast again.
"He didn't even say anything to me."
"Heh. This is your one-sided crush. Baldur doesn't even know who you are properly. Why would he have anything to say to you?"
"He knows. Last night..."
Kerry's ears perked up alertly.
"What about last night? What did you do again?"
Cohen pressed his lips together.
"Nothing."
Kerry softened his tone, but his words were sharp.
"Cohen, you can't handle Baldur. You've seen these past few days. He's the sole heir of the Morgan family in B City. Wherever he goes, he's the center of attention. The decadent, extravagant life is something you dislike, but it's his everyday reality."
"Don't be fooled by his refined and elegant appearance; he's actually aloof and detached. He's too dangerous. If you get too close, you'll get hurt, and the one who gets hurt will only be you."
"I don't know when you started liking him, but listen to your brother. Give up on him early."
Cohen put down his spoon, stood up, and left the dining room without a word.
Kerry sighed.
This is ridiculous.
He came to Y City right after turning 18 and never went back to B City.
When on earth did he start liking Baldur?
This kid is way too precocious?