Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 515: First Wish

Staring at the round and beautiful cake, Mu Yuze’s pupils trembled. "Y–You still remember?" he asked with faint disbelief in his tone.

"What kind of question is that?" He Juan regarded him with not so little amusement. "Of course, I do. Don’t you?"

Mu Yuze clicked his jaws shut, his ears flushing with warmth. He had really forgotten about his birthday. How could he not, when every single day he was fraught with anxiety by the news on the TV? There was a time when they were close enough that Mu Yuze could see him every waking day, but now he had to resort to watching the news just to know how He Juan was doing. He was torn between wanting to hear more about He Juan, and fearing that it would be terrible news like the police had finally apprehended the wanted criminal XIU...

Given these circumstances, how could he still have the time to remember his own birthday?

On the other hand, He Juan...

"Come, let’s sit."

Mu Yuze walked dazedly to the table, shed off his coat and scarf, and settled on the carpeted floor. He couldn’t keep his eyes off the cake before him, and thus he failed to notice the tension on He Juan’s jaws when he had to bend his body to sit.

That single movement had rendered He Juan’s lips devoid of color, though his expression quickly softened when he caught sight of Mu Yuze’s endearingly bewildered expression.

Enduring the sharp discomfort on his body, he reached out a hand to ruffle the boy’s hair. His fingertips trembled at the soft and silken sensation, and his heart burst out with a force of yearning so intense that his nose prickled with emotions.

In the months He Juan had been apart from him, he had grown up very well. Almost all traces of childishness had faded from his face, replaced by the visage of a young man. His features had become more refined and delicate, and He Juan couldn’t pinpoint the aspect he liked the most – whether it was Mu Yuze’s dark and glossy eyes, his cute little nose, his thin eyebrows, his fluffy hair, or his soft lips.

Perhaps in a year or two, he would mature into a stunning omega. When that time came, could He Juan still sit together with him and celebrate his birthday like this? He truly hoped so.

Yet for now, he suppressed the maelstrom of emotions within him and showed a casual smile. His hand lingered for a second too long before he reluctantly withdrew it. It was the most indulgence he allowed himself.

"Do you like it? The cake?"

Despite asking that, He Juan already knew the answer from the way Mu Yuze’s eyes sparkled. And sure enough, the boy nodded, "It’s beautiful. I haven’t seen anything like this before." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"It’s called a mirror glazed cake," He Juan explained gently. Just like the name implied, the cake possessed a round shape and a glazed surface. At first glance, it resembled an ocean wave with its various shades of blue, just like the color of Mu Yuze’s eyes when light was reflected on it. "I had it custom made. It’s matcha flavored. You like it, don’t you?"

"En," Mu Yuze nodded again.

It was the most exquisite birthday cake he had ever laid eyes on, not that he had many to compare to when this was the second cake he had all his life. He was almost reluctant to mar its perfection with birthday candles, but recalling something, his eyes gleamed with determination and he quietly declared, "I want to make a birthday wish."

He Juan was taken aback for a second before he burst into a fit of soft chuckles. "Can’t wait anymore huh?" he teased, causing the boy’s ears to turn crimson. "Okay, if that’s what you want, let’s do it."

Being with Mu Yuze was too relaxing, too comforting that He Juan momentarily forgot about the wounds on his body. He reached a hand across the table, intending to help Mu Yuze light the candles, but the sudden movement nearly made him gasp in pain. Fortunately, he gritted his teeth in time before any sounds could leak out of his lips.

However, it was already too late to hide his momentary pause from Mu Yuze’s observant eyes. "Gege...?" he sounded nervous when he asked. "Is there something wrong?"

He Juan could feel his back throbbing and pulsing in pain, and the layer of sweat that formed on his skin only made it all the more agonizing. It was as though the sensitive nerves on his body were being frayed with electricity. Alas, how could he possibly make Mu Yuze worry, especially on his birthday celebration? Thus he breathed in and out through his mouth before reaching for the candles and lighter with casual movements as though nothing had happened at all.

"Hmm?" He pretended to be oblivious, offering a light chuckle. "Nothing, Gege just remembered something."

He could see that Mu Yuze was skeptical, his eyes scrutinizing him closely. And the way he looked right now only made He Juan’s chest swell with fondness. This time, his laughter was genuine as he arranged the candles on the cake and lit them up.

He smiled tenderly, "Make a wish, little bunny."

Mu Yuze’s eyes flew wide at the familiar endearment, and a light flush graced his cheeks. Bathed in the warm glow of the flickering candlelight, he looked so adorable that He Juan would do anything to take the boy into his arms, even if just for a moment. Mu Yuze was truly the best remedy there was in the world. Just being in his presence, He Juan felt like he could forget everything that had occurred these past few months, even the searing pain coursing through his body.

"... Hmph," Mu Yuze turned his head away with a huff. "It’s an old nickname. I’m no longer ’little’."

"Yes, yes, my big bunny who’s turning seventeen tomorrow. Will you do me the honor of making a wish and blowing out the candles?"

Mu Yuze shot him a glare, and everything was so familiar – this back and forth banter, the peace, the serenity. So much that He Juan was awashed with a rare calmness that had long been absent. His lips curved into tender smiles when he watched Mu Yuze close his eyes, mutter a quiet wish and blow the candles.

"What did you wish for?" he couldn’t help but inquire, curiosity getting the best of him.

After all, this was a boy who had never asked him for anything. For him to make a wish upon his birthday cake, it must have been something he truly desired. If He Juan knew what it was, he would definitely go to great lengths to fulfill that wish, even if he had to pluck the stars from the sky.

"It’s a secret," Mu Yuze murmured under his breath, unable to bring himself to meet He Juan’s eyes. Then, afraid that He Juan would misunderstand, he quickly added, "You’re not supposed to share your wish with anyone, or it won’t come true."

"Really?" He Juan was surprised. He had never heard something like this before. Now that Mu Yuze put it like this, there was nothing more he could say except, "Then I hope Xiao Ze’s wish will come true. Have your wishes come true in the past?"

"Let’s see..." Mu Yuze considered for a moment.

The first time he had ever had a birthday cake was two years ago, but back then he had asked for nothing, fearing that he might be too greedy. Last year, without He Juan by his side, he was all miserable and skipped celebrating his birthday entirely. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever made a wish, and he heard that wishes made on one’s birthday held special power. Thus, Mu Yuze staked everything on it.

Mu Yuze raised his gaze to meet He Juan’s, his tone slightly wistful, "I don’t know, but... I really hope it will come true this time."

He did not wish for much – only for this person to remain safe and sound, no matter what kind of hardships he was facing right now.