“Boys, let's eat.” Mrs. Wang called out happily after preparing the breakfast and set them on the dining table.

Xiao Zhan stares at the bowl with the seaweed soup.

It's seaweed soup?!

“Why are we having seaweed soup for today's breakfast?” Mrs. Wang asked pointing her finger to Wang Yibo who just came out from his room.

“Because of Birthday.” Wang Yibo answered impassively.

(It's a tradition in South Korea to eat seaweed soup on your birthday. Guys, please don't get confused, this story is from Korean comics so expect some Korean traditions here..haha)

“Correct answer! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZHAN!” Mrs. Wang clapped as she greeted Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan blushed and feeling touched as he stares at Mrs. Wang. Auntie...

The three happily eat breakfast.

“Thank you. Thank you for the meal.” Xiao Zhan said.

“Yeah. Eat a lot.”

Xiao Zhan gets back to his room and collects his school bag and wears it on his sweater.

He stands in front of his family photo.

Mom, Dad. Today is my birthday. So I miss you more. Are you doing okay? Don't worry about me, Auntie Carmen even cooked seaweed soup.

Xiao Zhan is busy talking to his parents in his thought when he heard a loud knock.

Knock! Knock!

“Yes, come in.” Xiao Zhan answered as he turns his body to face the person who knocked in his room. It's Mrs. Wang.

“It's a good thing that you still didn't leave.” Mrs. Wang said while smiling widely as she pushes the door and steps forward closer to Xiao Zhan.

“Are you looking at your parent's pictures?”

“Yes.” Xiao Zhan answered with a smile.

“Hey, Cici. Today is Xiao Zhan's 19th birthday. He looks great, huh?” Mrs. Wang stares at Xiao Zhan's family photo and talks to her best friend while embracing Xiao Zhan's shoulder.

“He will feel sad if he didn't get a present on his birthday!” Mrs. Wang said that made Xiao Zhan blushed and surprised.

“Take a good look. I'm so confident that can even give it in front of you. Here!” Mrs. Wang smiling brightly as she showed the brown envelope with the sum of money inside and give it to Xiao Zhan.

I don't think it's a letter. It is so thick.

Xiao Zhan opened the envelope, he gasps and as expected, it's a sum of money.

“It is okay even you don't give me a present.” Xiao Zhan blushed as he is not expecting any present.

“The correct answer is thank you.” Mrs. Wang said.

“I just did as I liked and chose the present before this. This time you can buy anything that you want.” Mrs. Wang happily said.

“Thank you so much...” Xiao Zhan bows his head as he holds tight the brown envelope.

“I thank you too..” Mrs. Wang said, feeling contented and happy.

“Okay, you are going to be late. You need to hurry and go to school. See you later!” Mrs. Wang pushed Xiao Zhan out of the house as he turns his body.

In school. Xiao Zhan is feeling nervous and uncomfortable.

Omg, I came with money.
I'm gonna be okay, right?
I'll be okay...

“Oi! Why are you that uneasy like a dog that needs to drop a deuce. Go, do it if you have to?” He Peng calls Xiao Zhan's attention.

“No, I-I'm okay...” Xiao Zhan feels nervous seeing He Peng.

Did he know I have a sum of money?

“What a boring bastard.” He Peng said to his friend and when Xiao Zhan looks away, Feng Mingjing whispers to He Peng.

“Ah, really?” He Peng said as he stands up and pick up Xiao Zhan's backpack.

“What ate you doing?”  Xiao Zhan asked with shock.

“Hang on you, bastard.” He Peng open Xiao Zhan's bag and rummage inside it.

From a distance, Wang Yibo and his friends are witnessing what is happening between Xiao Zhan and He Peng and his friend.

“What are they doing there, to be noisy?” Ji Li asked.

“I know right?” Zou Cheng said.

“Oh yeah! What is this?” He Peng asked as he holds the brown envelope and lifted it.

“Not that one, please...” Xiao Zhan lowers his head.

“Fuck! Crazy! This is a lot of money.” He Peng exclaimed in shock.

“I'm begging you, give it back.” Xiao Zhan said as he clenched his fist.

“I don't want to. I can't believe you foolishly bring this amount of money to school. Therefore, I'll seize this.” He Peng took the envelope.

“GIVE IT BACK!” Xiao Zhan shouted and call the attention of the other students.
But to his surprise, He Peng punched Xiao Zhan in his face.

“Omg!” Ji Li exclaimed and was shocked together with Wang Yibo and Zou Cheng.

“Do you wanna die? How dare you shout!” He Peng said.

Xiao Zhan just became quiet after the hurtful punch.

“Oi, Xiao Zhan. Aren't you going to answer me? Hey, no way...Are you crying?” He Peng keep asking Xiao Zhan who is not saying any word at all.

Wang Yibo and his friends witnessed everything.

“Wow, how can a man cry after being punched once?”

Xiao Zhan just turn away and left He Peng.

“Oh, Oi! I'll use this well.” He Peng waved the envelope while grinning.

The people around them murmurs while He Peng is smirking as he thought.

Did you see that? I'm this scary?

“He Peng, can you divide that with me?” Feng Mingjing said.

“What do you mean to divide? I'll hold it and buy anything for you. Let's go to the snack bar. I'll treat you with this.” He Peng said as he lifted the brown envelope. But to He Peng's surprise, someone grabbed the envelope from his hand.

“Ah? What?” He Peng exclaimed.

As soon as He Peng turn turns body, he was surprised to see Wang Yibo holding the brown envelope.

“Yibo?” Ji Li said. Meng Ziyi was surprised too.

“What a surprise, it was you Wang Yibo. Don't play around and..no way...” He Peng gladly said.

“You're not telling me to give this, right?”

Wang Yibo said with a smile showing the envelope to He Peng.

🍒🌸

It would be nice if you will read the original story in TappyToon by Bamwoo.