On the day of his birthday, Shen Huaiyun inexplicably woke up very early.
He glanced at the time and turned onto his side, facing Shen Tangmo. The steady sound of the other’s breathing beside him was enough to lull him back into a dreamless slumber.
He slept until two long-absent family members quietly opened the door and entered the room, placing gifts they had brought for them on the bedside table. Not birthday presents just some souvenirs and local snacks picked up along the way.
“Time to get up, birthday boy ” Shen Yue’an ruffled Shen Huaiyun’s hair and playfully pinched his cheek.
The sound of the door opening was enough to rouse both of them from sleep, so it didn’t startle them. Still, the birthday boy was now reluctant to leave the warm comfort of the blankets, mumbling and groaning as he refused to get up.
Shen Tangmo sat up, extending a mental tentacle to Shen Huaiyun’s cheek and giving it a gentle poke.
Seeing that both were awake, their parents left the room to prepare lunch.
Only then did Shen Huaiyun reach out, press the tentacle against his face, and nuzzle into it. His lips brushed against it as if he hadn’t noticed, before he slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
The mental tentacle boldly followed, loosely wrapping around his shoulders and neck like a chest chain. Shen Tangmo trailed closely behind, squeezing into the space beside Shen Huaiyun’s arm, picking up his own toothbrush and cup to begin washing up.
The two crowded in front of the mirror one brushing his teeth unhurriedly, the other absentmindedly. Shen Huaiyun, mouth full of toothpaste foam, let his gaze drift to the mirror, landing on the little fox earring on Shen Tangmo’s earlobe before shifting away.
Shen Tangmo caught that glance in the mirror but said nothing, only smiling with his eyes.
After washing up and changing clothes, the two left the room. The familiar aroma of cooking already wafted from the kitchen. Shen Yue’an was busy at the stove, with Yuan Qing’an assisting nearby, chopping vegetables with the same unhurried precision as always.
Shen Huaiyun peeked into the kitchen, about to speak, when he saw his mother turn to grab some seasoning, her sleeve slipping down to reveal a section of her forearm.
A scar, startlingly long, stretched from her wrist to the middle of her forearm. Though healed, the newly formed pinkish-white skin stood out starkly against her well-trained frame.
He froze for a moment.
Sensing his gaze, Shen Yue’an instinctively pulled her hand back, then casually tugged her sleeve down. “What are you looking at? Go wait outside for the meal. The birthday boy doesn’t need to cook today.”
Shen Huaiyun didn’t move.
Shen Tangmo walked over, placed a hand on his shoulder, and gently pulled him back. He had seen it too.
Shen Huaiyun’s eyes lingered on the now-covered forearm for a second before shifting to his father. Yuan Qing’an was still chopping vegetables, his movements as deft as ever, but near the collar of his shirt, a slender scar was faintly visible on the back of his neck.
The kitchen fell silent, save for the sizzle of oil in the pan.
“Alright, alright, don’t just stand there,” Shen Yue’an waved her chopsticks, shooing them away. “Out, out. It’ll be ready soon.”
Shen Huaiyun was ushered out of the kitchen, with Shen Tangmo following behind. They sat down at the dining table, neither speaking.
After a moment, Shen Huaiyun whispered, “Did you see it?”
“Mm.”
“The one on Mom’s arm it’s quite long.”
Shen Tangmo didn’t reply, only reached out and gently stroked the back of Shen Huaiyun’s hand with his thumb.
Shen Huaiyun turned to look at the kitchen and noticed several psychic tentacles trailing on the floor, stretching all the way to the kitchen doorway. Their ends were raised high, constantly seeking opportunities to transmit healing psychic energy to his parents.
Lunch was far more lavish than usual, covering the entire table. The cake they had made together last night was placed in the center. Shen Yue’an praised their craftsmanship, and Yuan Qing’an echoed the compliment while adding more food to his wife’s bowl.
Shen Huaiyun kept his head down as he ate, but his peripheral vision kept drifting toward his parents.
His mother had grown thinner. The line of her jaw was sharper than before, and her cheekbones protruded slightly. His father, too though his shoulders remained broad, his entire frame had thinned, as if something had shaved away a layer.
Scars could be hidden beneath clothing, but a gaunt figure could not be concealed.
“What are you looking at?” Shen Yue’an placed a piece of spare rib in his bowl. “Focus on your meal.”
Shen Huaiyun lowered his head and shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice, but he couldn’t hold back any longer. “Mom… is it very tough over there?”
Shen Yue’an paused her chopsticks, then smiled lightly. “What’s tough about it? It’s just routine patrols and combat. We’re used to it.”
“But the wound on your arm”
“Just a scratch,” she said dismissively. “Got nicked while fighting an Aberrant. Superficial injury, nothing serious.”
Shen Huaiyun looked at her without speaking.
Yuan Qing’an set down his chopsticks and spoke reassuringly. “The frontline situation has stabilized now. It was indeed busier a while ago, but things are better now. Don’t worry.”
His voice remained as steady as ever, like a ballast stone, making one instinctively want to believe him.
Shen Tangmo ladled a large spoonful of soup into Shen Huaiyun’s bowl. “Eat first. Don’t overthink things.”
Shen Huaiyun lowered his head and drank the soup sip by sip.
The soup was flavorful, the same taste he had grown up with, yet today it felt somewhat off.
After the meal, Shen Yue’an pulled Shen Huaiyun onto the sofa, took out a small box from her bag, and handed it to him. “Here, your birthday gift.”
Shen Huaiyun opened it to find a wristwatch inside. The dial was simple, and the strap was made of soft, dark blue leather.
“Took a long time to pick this out,” Shen Yue’an said proudly, tilting her chin upward. “Your dad said this color suits you.”
Shen Huaiyun turned the watch over and over in his hands, then suddenly asked, “Mom, when will you two truly be able to step down?”
Shen Yue’an was taken aback for a moment before reaching out to ruffle his hair. “Soon, soon. Once this batch of new equipment is fully deployed, we can move to the rear.”
“How much longer will that take?”
“Another year or two.”
A year or two.
Shen Huaiyun didn’t ask further. He put the watch on his wrist it fit perfectly.
The afternoon sunlight was warm. Shen Yue’an took Yuan Qing’an out to buy groceries, saying she would prepare an even more lavish dinner for him that evening. Shen Huaiyun stood on the balcony, watching their figures disappear at the entrance of the residential complex.
Shen Tangmo walked over and stood beside him.
“They’ve lost so much weight,” Shen Huaiyun said.
“Mm.”
“And they have so many more scars.”
Shen Tangmo didn’t speak, only reached out and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
Shen Huaiyun leaned into him, resting his head against the crook of his shoulder, and murmured, “How much human DNA did those Aberrants absorb to evolve such higher intelligence? They say things are stable now, but they never tell us when things are at their worst.”
Shen Tangmo gently pinched the back of his neck. “Just keep it in mind. No need to say it out loud.”
“…”
“They don’t want you to worry.”
Shen Huaiyun fell silent for a long while before finally letting out a soft “Mm.”
As evening fell, their parents returned carrying large and small bags, and the kitchen once again echoed with the clatter of pots and pans. Shen Huaiyun leaned against the back of the sofa, watching their busy figures, and suddenly said, “Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“After I graduate, we’ll go to Borealia Tower together, right?”
Shen Tangmo tilted his head to look at him.
Shen Huaiyun’s gaze lingered on the two slightly slender figures in the kitchen. “The sooner we go, the sooner we can bring them back.”
Shen Tangmo looked at his earnest profile and curved his lips into a smile. “Okay.”
Dinner was even more lavish than lunch. Shen Yue’an even opened a bottle of wine, saying they should celebrate their son’s coming of age. Shen Huaiyun was coaxed into drinking two glasses, his cheeks flushed but his eyes bright and clear.
When it was time to cut the cake, Shen Tangmo carefully placed the candles and lit them. The flickering candlelight danced across Shen Huaiyun’s face.
“Make a wish,” Shen Tangmo’s voice carried a hint of laughter.
Shen Huaiyun stared at the dancing flame, then closed his eyes.
He made two wishes.
One was that his parents could retire safely and no longer have to go to such dangerous places.
The other was that everyone around him at this moment would remain by his side, not a single one missing.
He opened his eyes and blew out the candles.
Shen Yue’an and Yuan Qing’an clapped their hands in applause, while Shen Tangmo watched him from the side, his gaze gentler than the candlelight.
He handed over the red envelope he had prepared long ago. “Happy birthday.”