#seeky

Back in our distant youth, I don’t recall Gao Tu ever celebrating his birthday. He rarely made wishes, either.

I only saw him do it once, and it wasn’t on his birthday. It was after a routine evening study session in high school; we were leaning against the railing of the school building, lost in thought.

He pointed at the sky and said to me, “Shen Wenlang, is that a shooting star?” Before I could answer, he had already closed his eyes devoutly, his fingers interlaced beneath his chin.

I didn’t see a shooting star, but I hoped his wish would come true. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂 Gaotu, this marks our first year together.

You’ve been working odd jobs here and there, working hard to scrape together your tuition. I’m giving you a little lime because the corners of your mouth are so dry they’re peeling—you forget to drink water when you’re working. You’re such a goofball.

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂 Gaotu, this is our second year together.

You earned a scholarship from the foundation thanks to your outstanding grades. The paper airplane is resting at your feet.

Happy birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂 Gaotu, this is our third year together.

Congratulations on getting into the best universities in Jiangsu and Shanghai. I saw your name on the scholarship list. By the way, how come you’re still so skinny? ​​​

Happy birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂 Gaotu, this is our fourth year together.

Gaotu, don’t let any other Omegas get close to me, and you’re not allowed to get close to any other Omegas either.

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Gaotu, this is our fifth year together.

Why won’t you accept the phone I gave you???

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Gaotu, this is our sixth year together.

It’s one thing not to save my number on your phone, but why is the contact info section in the yearbook left blank too??

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Gaotu, this is our seventh year together.

What brand is the fountain pen you gave me? I need to get the nib repaired. ​​​

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Gaotu, this marks our eighth year together.

Gaotu, how did your photo end up on the wall at my office? ​​​

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Mr. Gaotu, this marks our ninth year together.

I will not allow you to take on a part-time job at a place like that! Within one day, I will ensure that every employee at HS Group receives a copy of the “Notice Regarding the Prohibition of HS Group Employees from Holding Outside Part-Time Jobs.”

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Mr. Gaotu, this marks our tenth year together.

Why do you only dare to hold my hand when I’m asleep?

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Mr. Gaotu, this marks the eleventh year since we met.

Where are you?

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Mr. Gaotu, this marks our twelfth year together.

The old man still won’t let me out.

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Mr. Gaotu, this marks our thirteenth year of knowing each other.

We’ve entered into a licensing partnership with Novartis for the pheromone-encrypted formula. Will you be using our new product?

Happy Birthday, Gaotu! 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Mr. Gaotu, this marks our fourteenth year together.

Will you marry me?

“Happy birthday.” “Happy birthday.” “Happy birthday.” “Happy birthday.”

Today is Gaotu’s birthday, and we’re celebrating at home. Leilei tried his best to stand on tiptoe and put a birthday hat on him. Gaotu looked a little shy, but he still bent down so Leilei could put it on properly. It was a bit crooked, so I helped him straighten it out. He pressed his palms together and bowed his head to make a wish. The candles on the cake were lit. The candlelight illuminated his forehead, his eyelashes, and glided over the bridge of his nose. His mouth moved as he spoke, and the light flickered with the air he exhaled.

“I hope Le Le grows up healthy and happy.” “I hope everything goes well for Xiao Qing in the future.” “I hope we all stay safe and keep getting better and better.”

Gaotu opened his eyes and looked at me. Those round, 17-year-old eyes. Sunlight, wind, and a paper airplane lingered there. Looking at me.

Gaotu’s eyes are very beautiful. When he looks at someone, he focuses intently on the speaker’s eyes, making it easy for anyone to feel loved. I was just too stupid.

What countless people spend their entire lives searching for is nothing more than a pair of eyes that shed tears when they look at you. I had them too soon, yet realized it too late.

“Dad, blow out the candles!” Le Le clapped her hands to remind him.

There was a second of darkness as the candles went out, and then the lights came on.

Gaotu, it’s the last minute of May 19th. Happy birthday to you today! 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

In just a minute, it’ll be May 20th—I’m going to give you a kiss 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 ​​​

–--------- Gaotu's weibo:

Mom, I’m doing great now.

Don’t worry about Xiaoqing either—she’s fully recovered and is enjoying her wonderful college life. She called me on video this morning to wish me a happy birthday, and she also complained that the food at school is terrible. She’s sharing an off-campus apartment with friends and is learning to cook on her own, honing her culinary skills. I’m confident she’ll gradually become the person she wants to be.

Now I have a job I love, a lovely child, and a partner who loves me deeply.

Sometimes I wonder, if you could meet him, what would that be like? How would you judge us? I imagine you’d be very worried. Worried that we aren’t a good match. I used to think that way, too.

But he has always been part of my life’s blueprint, part of those unrealistic teenage dreams. He was there in that summer of cicadas and gentle breezes, on that night when I saw a shooting star. I closed my eyes and made a wish, summoning all my courage: “I am Gao Tu, and my wish is to get into the same university as Shen Wenlang.” The gods were merciful; they granted all my wishes—and then some.

LeLe always says I’m the bravest and most radiant person in the world. But, Mom, you must know that I have my fears and my moments of timidity.

Yet, life is so fleeting. Raindrops don’t stay in the clouds forever; even if I close my eyes and fall from the sky, I must plunge forward without hesitation toward the earth I love. As I fell, he reached out and caught me. How lucky I am.

Right now, Le Le is finishing the homework his kindergarten teacher assigned. He’s wrapping up his work for the day, while I sit beside them writing this letter to you.

Mom, I am very happy. Thank you for giving me life.