When Tao Zhi said “see you on the weekend,” for Fu Si Heng, it was far more than just waiting until the weekend.
This weekend was different from the previous ones.
Because this weekend was Tao Zhi’s nineteenth birthday.
It conveniently fell on a Saturday, and Fu Si Heng had been thinking about it ever since the May Day holiday ended.
It wasn’t that planning a birthday party or gifts was particularly difficult for him; rather, Fu Si Heng wanted Tao Zhi to have a happy birthday, one that was truly different from the ones before.
He had missed the eighteenth, so the nineteenth—the first birthday after coming of age—held special significance.
Especially since this kid from his family had endured such hardships before.
Tao Zhi had never properly celebrated a birthday. In previous years, birthdays meant a bowl of longevity noodles, some pocket money to buy snacks—that was it. Cakes were situational; even then, they were only palm-sized ones, and not every year.
Not to mention throwing a birthday party or celebrating with everyone.
Although Tao Zhi never said it outright, the longing in his eyes was vivid and unconcealable whenever the topic came up, followed by a shy purse of his lips.
Boys at this age naturally wanted gifts and lively birthday parties too.
Tao Zhi yearned for experiences he had never had.
If Tao Zhi wanted it, Fu Si Heng would give it to him.
As long as Tao Zhi was happy.
The joy of receiving birthday gifts, of having a party.
The kind of happiness that let him know he was valued.
And the kind he didn’t even know about—the enjoyment of life’s kindnesses and good fortune.
Life had been too hard before; now, Fu Si Heng just wanted him to be a little sweeter.
Sweeter still.
These past few days, Fu Si Heng had been busy with this.
That Friday afternoon, Fu Si Heng had just signed a contract when he received a call from Tao Zhi.
At this time, Tao Zhi should have been out of class for about half an hour.
“Fu Ge!” As soon as the call connected, Tao Zhi’s excited voice came through. “Let me tell you, I just went to the school supermarket to buy stuff. When I was about to pay, the cashier suddenly told me I was their 100,000th customer since opening, so everything was free today!”
“Do you know how much stuff I bought?!” Tao Zhi was thrilled. On his way back to the dorm, he had been holding back his excitement until he saw the room was empty. Then, with trembling hands, he called Fu Si Heng to share his joy.
Fu Si Heng played along perfectly.
He set down his pen and asked, “Free? That lucky?”
“Yeah, yeah!” Tao Zhi nodded vigorously.
Fu Si Heng asked again, “How much was it?”
“Over three hundred!” Tao Zhi declared proudly.
He never spent that much at the supermarket usually. Today, he had gone to buy daily necessities—toilet paper, laundry detergent, toothpaste—plus some snacks he liked and fruit.
With his arms full, Tao Zhi had felt a pang of regret while waiting in line, thinking he had bought too much.
But when it was his turn, some doll on the counter suddenly shouted, announcing him as the 100,000th customer. It startled him, and he was dazed for a moment.
Then came the freebie. Tao Zhi was in a fog the whole time, dazedly taking photos and leaving.
Halfway there, it finally hit him. Suppressing his racing heart, he hurried back to the dorm to share the good news with Fu Si Heng.
“I’m so lucky. I don’t usually buy this much stuff,” Tao Zhi said, genuinely happy.
The peak of excitement had passed, and Tao Zhi had calmed a bit. He pulled out his chair, sat down, and chattered on to Fu Si Heng. “I just craved snacks today and bought a bit more than usual. I never expected something this amazing.”
A soft chuckle came through the earpiece.
Tao Zhi guessed what Fu Si Heng was laughing at, and his face reddened.
Whether to cover his embarrassment or sigh again, he repeated himself, adding interaction: “I’m really pretty lucky, right?”
“Of course you’re lucky,” Fu Si Heng agreed.
But then he shifted tone: “Got it. Next time I drive you to school, I’ll prepare snacks for you, little one.”
Tao Zhi: “?”
W-What?
Suddenly using that tone like coaxing a child… Tao Zhi’s face burned hotter, but his heart warmed, and he liked it: “That’s not what I meant. I’m not that greedy… Bringing snacks to school.”
His voice trailed off toward the end, but Fu Si Heng heard clearly and hummed in acknowledgment. Leaning back in his chair, his voice turned a bit lazy: “Mm, I know. You’re not greedy; I just want to prepare them for you.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
“I’m not joking with you,” Tao Zhi tried to steer the topic back. “Fu Ge, do you think I’ve been a bit too lucky this week?”
After the surprise faded, Tao Zhi started sensing something off.
Reflecting on the week’s events, he really had been overly lucky. Monday afternoon, buying milk tea, he won a special 0.1 yuan draw. Tuesday at the school cafeteria, arriving late, the auntie gave him the last small dish for free. Wednesday, an online draw netted him a 500-yuan mall shopping card.
Things like this happened 1-2 times a day, every day from Monday to Friday without break.
His roommates urged him to buy lottery tickets, and Tao Zhi hesitantly did.
120 yuan a ticket was a big gamble for him, but it paid off—he doubled his money, netting a 240-yuan profit.
