Pei Xin dragged his uncle Zhan to almost every place possible but he still couldn't decide which gift to get or rather which one not to skip. Zhan didn't mind, after all, whom else would he spent the money on? Clearly not on himself.

After torturing their feet and finally getting what Pei Xin wanted, they were having a lunch meal in a restaurant. Pei Xin told his uncle about his friend Guo Cheng and Cao Jun Xiang along with their antics.

"Is that why you bought 3 of everything?" Xiao Zhan pointed at the bags they were carrying. Qi Pei Xin had bought everything in the set of 3s. One for each of his friends he assumed.

"Mnn yes." Pei Xin looked down nervously a little. This doesn't go unnoticed by his uncle.

"What is it A-Xin? Did you have a fight with your friends?"

Pei Xin looked up, surprised by his uncle's observation. Xiao Zhan however thanked the lessons of his Physiatrist, who told him to look eye to eye.

Eyes are the gate to the Heart!

But Xiao Zhan himself held a little credit after all he was an Artist and he had ability to see what others couldn't but the sad part was, fate had always been cruel to him.

"Hmm? How did you fight?" Xiao Zhan waited for his reply. After contemplating for a while, Pei Xin decided to break the news.

"M-my friends are dating..."

"And?"

"They are dating each other."

"And?"

Pei Xin looked up, surprised by his Uncle's calmness. Maybe he didn't understand him properly so Pei Xin decided to me clear.

"They are both males!"

"And?"

There's no and, that's the climax! Flip the table!

But his uncle didn't even flinch a muscle.

Pei Xin was dumbfounded. Wasn't it the biggest crime to date someone with the opposite sex? That's how he had always believed or maybe it wasn't, his mother didn't seem any surprised either.

"Uncle Zhan, its forbidden to date same sex."

"Says who?"

Qi Pei Xin didn't know what else to say. Who did make It forbidden? The law? The government? The people?

"Aiya, A-Xin, you fought with them because they are dating each other?"

Pei Xin nodded in embarrassment. Suddenly he felt that he was the one who committed the crime.

But he trusted his friends. Why didn't they tell him? He only found out accidentally when he caught them kissing during their night over. He stormed off, mad at them, or maybe at himself. They approached him but he didn't dare to look them into their eyes. When his mother confronted him and comforted him, he decided to talk to them. But he felt ashamed, he had pushed them so many times, he had no right to be their friends. But still. They were his best friends and he would want to have them back and that's why he bought lots of games enough for everyone as an excuse to meet them.

"A-Xin love is not a crime."

As if he read his thought.

"I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but... no never mind."

"Tell me Uncle!"

Xiao Zhan smiled and ruffled the hair of his nephew.

"It's not my place to tell."

"Who should I ask then?"

"No body."

"That's not fair." Pei Xin pouted and Xiao Zhan only smiled at him pinching his cheeks. Pei Xin busied himself in eating his ice cream.

"Uncle?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you remember our promise?"

"Promise?"

Pei Xin's heart broke, it wasn't the first time his uncle had forgotten something. But it was really important for him. Although he was too young, He clearly remembered his 6th birthday. It was special because his Uncle Zhan had come. Back then, Xiao Zhan was already 20 and because of a terrible tragedy he had started to live with Wang Yibo. He would rarely return home.

It was after Wang Yibo's persuasion, did Xiao Zhan attend the party. He knitted socks with peony pattern, especially for him. And those socks became his most precious treasure, his lucky charm. The socks no longer fit him but he had kept them safe for years now.

"Nevermind."

"Aish! Is this revenge?" Xiao Zhan laughed and pinched his nose this time.

"If you don't remember then it means its not important right? So, forget it." There was clear hurt Qi Pei Xin's voice.

"A-Xin, go easy on this old man. Give me a hint at least, hmm?" Should he blame it on his injury or did he really forget?  The treasures he had lost, he could only wish to remember them.

Pei Xin didn't say anything and started stuffing his face with more ice cream.

"If you don't tell me then I'll just give the gift I bought from Beijin to your cousin, Liu Yin Jun." Xiao Zhan teased and Pei Xin's ear's rose up just hearing his cousin's name.

Liu Yin Jun was the son of Jin lu Ying and Zhu Zan Jin; brother of Cao Yu Chen. The two cousins fight whenever they see each other. It's like they are unleashed from the cellar just to devour the other. Of course, it didn't sit well with Qi Pei Xin and he was extremely possessive of his uncle.

"No! I'll tell you."

That was easy. Xiao Zhan chuckled.

"Do you remember the sock you knitted for me?"

"Yes? "

"You made me promise something, in exchange for my present."

He remembered the crystal balls decorating the halls, the chitter patter of adults and the crying sound of his cousin who wanted to have even bigger birthday party with more presents. Pei Xin and Xiao Zhan were both in the terrace away from all the chaos, looking through the night sky. Seeing the stars always calmed him down.

They pinky promised with the moon as a witness to their side.

"Did I?" Xiao Zhan awkwardly laughed; he really did forget a lot of things.

"Yes. You told me to watch over mom because she had been hurt a lot. I never understood why but I've been doing it all this time.

And then I made you, make a promise.

You promised to visit home more often, not just on birthdays...but..."

Xiao Zhan didn't need to be told what happened next, because he already knew. He never visited afterwards, not even once. This was his first visit in 6 years. 

"That was the last birthday we celebrated like a family." Tears fell from his cheeks giving the salty taste to his ice cream. Bitter sweet memories had invaded his heart.

Xiao Zhan couldn't say a world. How should he apologize to everyone? He had hurt so many people time and time again? Why can't he just die?

Death is easier but you lived on, that was brave of you.

The physiatrist words echoed in his mind. Xiao Zhan laughed without humor. He needs to get better he told himself.

"A-Xin, I'm sorry I broke our promise. But will you give your uncle another chance? Let's make another promise and lets celebrate all of your birthdays together from now on."

"Like a family?" Pei Xin looked up with doe eyes.

"Like a big happy family." Xiao Zhan wasn't sure on the happy part but he would not run away anymore. He would fix everything before returning to Beijing.

The two made a pinky promise with Sun as a witness by their side.

----------------------------

Sorry for Errors

Mental Health is considered a Taboo in a lot of places or families. It's okay to seek help, there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Zhu Zan Jin – Meng Yao

Cao Yu Chen – Jin Zixuan

Guo Cheng – Lan Jingyi

Cao Jun Xiang – Ouyang Zizhen

Liu Yin Jun – Jin chan

Jin Lu Ying – Qin Su