Liang Jingzhou’s silly smiling face appeared before her eyes. “Hehe, Sister Yue.”
She glanced to the side. Li Chen, Gu Huaiyu, and Cheng Lian were all there.
“You all came?” She smiled.
The night wind blew past. The girl’s faint fragrance drifted into the noses of the few boys.
Liang Jingzhou’s face instantly turned bright red. “H- Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
Gu Huaiyu stepped forward and handed over a red box. “A birthday present. I hope you like it.”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t worry, it’s not a fake snake. I would never do something like that.”
Liang Jingzhou, who had done such a thing: “?” You’re giving a gift, why drag me down? Got some kind of problem?!
Jiang Fuyue raised her hand to accept it. She opened it. It was a Cartier bracelet, priced between fifty to sixty thousand.
For someone like Gu Huaiyu, a second-generation heir, it wasn’t expensive.
Jiang Fuyue accepted it.
“Mine.” Cheng Lian casually handed over a box, slightly larger than Gu Huaiyu’s.
Opening it, she saw a platinum necklace, also Cartier, priced about the same as the bracelet.
She strongly suspected the two of them had gone to the Cartier counter to buy wholesale.
The remaining Liang Jingzhou and Li Chen looked at each other.
They didn’t know today was Jiang Fuyue’s birthday, nor that this banquet was for her. So they had prepared nothing.
Luckily, at this moment, Han Heng came over. “Yueyue, it’s time to cut the cake.”
“Okay.”
The group turned and went inside.
Jiang Fuyue and her little uncle walked in front.
Han Heng saw the small boxes in her hand and raised his brows slightly without expression. “Who gave them?”
“Gu Huaiyu and Cheng Lian.”
“Tsk. Those brats actually remembered to prepare gifts… But Yueyue, you’re still young. You don’t know how bad the men in this world can be. Don’t you dare be moved by one or two small gifts! If you like them, your little uncle will give you a whole pile tomorrow. We’re not short of money!”
Jiang Fuyue nodded obediently. “Okay.”
Han Heng instantly felt the comfort of an old father.
Sigh, raising a daughter is too hard. He should just have sons in the future, simple and worry-free.
If the old man were here and heard him say this, he would probably be speechless to the extreme: a single dog like you is fit to consider these issues? Who gave you the courage?
Li Chen and the other three lagged behind, falling some distance from Han Heng and Jiang Fuyue.
Liang Jingzhou seized the chance to complain loudly at Gu Huaiyu. “You and Old Cheng are too sneaky. Preparing gifts without telling us, are we even brothers?”
Gu Huaiyu’s head hurt from the nagging. “How many times have I said it? I didn’t know you guys didn’t prepare anything. Otherwise I would’ve reminded you!”
“Excuses! All excuses! Tell me, are you and Old Cheng trying to monopolize Sister Yue’s favor?”
Gu Huaiyu: “…” I don’t want to talk to this fool. Too exhausting.
“Oh! You admit it! You want to chase Sister Yue too?!”
Gu Huaiyu was stunned. “You really say anything that comes to your mind! Shut up already!”
Liang Jingzhou snorted and looked at him coolly. “Feeling guilty.”
Gu Huaiyu: “?” The h*ll?
“It’s just… why are you only biting onto me? Didn’t Cheng Lian also not remind you?”
Liang Jingzhou scratched his head. “That’s true. A person should be fair…”
Cheng Lian stumbled, scalp tingling.
He immediately escaped at light speed. He had been watching the drama, but now the pot had landed on him. If not run now, then when?
Gu Huaiyu also took the chance to slip away.
Liang Jingzhou glanced at Li Chen, then quietly let out a breath. “Good thing you’re the same as me, didn’t give anything. Hehe!”
Li Chen: “…”
It was like doing badly on a test, and your desk mate cheerfully says beside you: Yay~ you failed just like me.
That feeling… utterly dog-sh*t!
After Jiang Fuyue went inside, the cake was pushed out.
It was also purple.
The old man passed her the knife. As she took it, she also held Han Qishan’s hand, then called Han Shen, Han Ke, and Han Heng. “Together.”
Three generations of the Han family cut the first slice together. The atmosphere reached its peak, applause rising without end.
With that, Jiang Fuyue’s tasks were all completed. After greeting the old man, she left.
The Han Shen brothers handled the guests afterward. She didn’t need to be present.
…
Moonlight was like water, the night deep.
In the back garden, Jiang Fuyue brought dog food to feed Xiao Mang, and also opened a can of meat. The child jumped around excitedly, wagging its tail rapidly.
“Eat.”
At her command, Xiao Mang finally began.
It ate with snorts and grunts. No wonder Han Ting called it “Wild Pig.”
Jiang Fuyue squatted beside it, not minding her skirt dragging on the ground.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her.
She jerked her head up. Before she could see who it was, a pair of iron arms wrapped around her, her back pressed to a warm chest.
Jiang Fuyue instinctively bent her elbow, ready to strike.
“Yueyue, it’s me.” A familiar voice, hot breath brushing her ear.
Her whole body froze. She turned back in disbelief, meeting a man’s smiling eyes.
Xie Dingyuan tightened his arms, pressing them even closer. “Scared stupid?”
Jiang Fuyue finally reacted. It really was him!
“Why did you come back?!”
“My girlfriend’s birthday. If I, her boyfriend, weren’t here, that’d be too negligent.”
“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?” She had no preparation at all. She almost thought it was a thug just now and was ready to fight.
Xie Dingyuan: “If I told you, would it still be a surprise?”
Jiang Fuyue: “More like a scare.”
“Really scared?” He turned her shoulders so they faced each other. “Let me check.”
Her dress was off-shoulder, almost half her back exposed. His hot palm pressed directly against her shoulder blade, like two iron locks trapping her.
Thin and strong. Delicate and forceful. A jarring contrast.
Jiang Fuyue felt the touch between their skin as if fire was spreading.
Burning her heartbeat faster, her breath quickened.
“You—”
“Don’t move.” His voice was low and deep.
Jiang Fuyue looked up at him.
The next second, she was pulled into his arms. “What are you afraid of? It’s not like I’ll do anything.”
Jiang Fuyue let him hold her. “Your hands won’t. But your mouth is slick.”
“How am I slick?” He refused to admit it.
“Who said you needed to ‘check’?”
“Ahem… looking twice is checking. I didn’t say I would use my hands…”
Jiang Fuyue said leisurely, “Okay, then let go now.”
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
“Weren’t you not going to use your hands?”
“…”
At this time, Xiao Mang, having finished eating, noticed an extra person holding Jiang Fuyue!
“Woof! Woof woof—” What are you doing? Even I haven’t hugged her!
It barked while baring its teeth. Its muscles tensed instantly. Its front legs bent slightly, weight shifting back, ready to attack and bite.
Jiang Fuyue smirked. “See? Even he wants you to let go.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Dingyuan not only didn’t let go, he held her tighter and taunted the dog. “I won’t.”
“Woof woof woof—” Xiao Mang panicked.
But without Jiang Fuyue’s order, it didn’t dare to attack rashly. All four legs bounced in place restlessly, baring teeth again and again, eyes fierce.
Xie Dingyuan was completely unafraid. Not only hugging her, he even lowered his head and kissed Jiang Fuyue’s cheek right in front of Xiao Mang.
Xiao Mang: “?!” I’m not the dog here, you are!
“Woof woof woof!” I’ll bite you! Bite you!
Xie Dingyuan: Kiss again. Kiss again. I’ll keep kissing!
Jiang Fuyue, who suffered the continuous attacks: “?”
“All right, all right.” She finally patted the dog’s head soothingly. “It’s okay. He’s not a bad person.”
“Whine…” Xiao Mang rubbed its head against her palm, then lay down obediently.
Jiang Fuyue turned to Xie Dingyuan. “And you too. Why are you competing with a dog?”
Professor Xie touched his nose and muttered softly, “Who told it not to let me hug you…”
Jiang Fuyue opened a pack of treats for Xiao Mang. The child was appeased for now.
The two walked to a nearby pavilion and sat down.
“When did you arrive?”
“In the evening.”
After landing, he went home to change clothes, then rushed over immediately.
“Tired?” Jiang Fuyue tilted her head, leaning on his shoulder, her voice soft and murmuring.
“Not tired.”
As expected.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t believe it. Though he covered the fatigue on his face, the bloodshot eyes couldn’t lie.
But she didn’t expose him. She only smiled and asked, “Are you made of iron?”
He thought for a moment. “…Mm, made of iron. So lean on me safely. I won’t drop you.”
Jiang Fuyue’s smile bloomed.
The night wind blew. The lights were dim.
Suddenly, Xie Dingyuan sat upright and, like performing magic, pulled a small cake from his arms, along with a candle—
“Happy birthday, Yueyue.”
The cake was palm-sized. Blueberries ringed the edge. In the center was a little girl wearing a princess dress, dancing gracefully, made of sugar and colored.
Xie Dingyuan put in the candle, held the cake, and took out a lighter from his pocket, handing it to Jiang Fuyue.
She reached out and took it. Click—
Lit.
Unfortunately, before it touched the candle, the wind blew it out.
She tried again. Same result.
Jiang Fuyue used her other hand to shield the flame, but it still went out.
“You hold this.” Xie Dingyuan gestured for her to take the cake.
Jiang Fuyue obeyed.
Then he unbuttoned his coat, pulled it open to both sides, then leaned toward the cake, using his body and clothing to block the wind from behind. “Try again.”
Snap—
The flame jumped up, steady and unmoving.
The light illuminated the man’s face. The burning candle reflected in his pupils like falling stars.
His originally cold brows and eyes were tinged with a bit of warmth.
Jiang Fuyue: “Thank you.”
“Hm?”
“Thank you for coming back to spend my birthday with me. I’m very happy.”
During the joint training of the seven schools, he had said he didn’t want to miss her growth.
Jiang Fuyue had only listened casually. She didn’t take it seriously.
Now he was proving with his actions that it wasn’t just talk.
When she had military training, he returned to the country overnight.
On her birthday, he appeared as a surprise.
This man was silently fulfilling his promise.
“With the birthday candle lit, how can there be no birthday song?”
Xie Dingyuan was stunned.
Jiang Fuyue urged him softly: “Sing…”
Who could resist that?
“I… don’t sing well.”
“It’s okay. I won’t laugh at you.”
“But…”
“If you don’t sing, the candle will burn out.”
Then—
Professor Xie, who had lived for thirty years, for the first time since “Haunted Heart,” displayed his singing voice again: “Happy birthday to you…”
Jiang Fuyue: “There’s also the English version.”
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
When the song ended, the man’s face was completely red.
“I didn’t sing well. You’ll have to make do…”
“Who said that?” Jiang Fuyue held the small cake, leaned close to his ear, and enunciated each word, “I think it was very good. From now on you’re only allowed to sing it for me.”
“Okay.” Xie Dingyuan turned his head and lightly brushed her lips.
Jiang Fuyue’s gaze rippled. She kissed him back once. When the man tried to lean in for more, she avoided slightly and reminded with a smile: “I should blow out the candle.”
Xie Dingyuan had no choice but to give up. He met the girl’s mischievous eyes and sighed helplessly.
She did it on purpose.
“You should make a wish before blowing out the candle.”
Jiang Fuyue thought for a moment. “I wish you peace and safety, free from illness and disaster.”
Xie Dingyuan froze. “Me?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Do I need to say your full name? Then I’ll say it again, I wish Xie Dingyuan peace—”
“Wait!”
“Hm?”
The man’s Adam’s apple rolled lightly. “…Why don’t you make a wish for yourself?”
“No need. Because everything I want can be gained through effort.”
But your safety and fate are beyond my control.
Jiang Fuyue lifted her eyes and stared at him intently. “You can save lives and help the wounded, serve the country and the people. But promise me, don’t carelessly expose yourself to danger, okay?”
The man lowered his eyes, hiding the brief flash of moisture, and locking away all the heaviness in his heart.
After a long moment, he nodded. “Okay.”
With two seconds left before the candle burned out completely, Jiang Fuyue finished clearly—
“I wish Xie Dingyuan peace and safety, free from illness and disaster.”
When they blew out the candle together, Xie Dingyuan silently thought: If possible, I’d trade my peace and safety for her joy and smooth-sailing life.
The flame extinguished. The two looked at each other and smiled.
Jiang Fuyue prepared to cut the cake. Xie Dingyuan directly handed her a spoon. “No need to cut it. Just dig in.”
“You don’t want any?”
Xie Dingyuan: “Just feed me two bites.”
“…Fine.” Since he had traveled thousands of miles just to spend her birthday with her, this small request could be granted.
Three bites for Jiang Fuyue, one bite for Xie Dingyuan. Just like that, the two dug into the cake and finished it.
“How does it taste?”
“Not bad.”
The man smiled.
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. “…You made it?”
“Half.”
“?”
“Ahem… The cake base was bought, but I whipped the cream and spread it on.”
No wonder the cake looked as neat as a model, with even the distance between each blueberry exactly the same.
“Thank you.” Jiang Fuyue reached out and hugged his waist, resting her head against his chest.
Three seconds later, she pulled away.
The man had been about to hug her back, but ended up holding nothing. His expression was blank. “That’s it?”
“Otherwise?”
“Ahem…” He lightly coughed into his fist. “Shouldn’t there at least be a kiss?”
After saying that, he even nodded firmly to himself. “Yes, there should be a kiss.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
She told him to close his eyes.
“Why do men have to close their eyes when kissing?”
“Why can’t men close their eyes?”
Xie Dingyuan’s face reddened again. “But I want to see you.”
“…” Now it was Jiang Fuyue who felt shy.
In the end, Xie Dingyuan still closed his eyes.
Jiang Fuyue tilted her head up and kissed the man’s chin. He must have just shaved. There was still the scent of aftershave.
Even after traveling in haste, he still maintained his neatness.
This was Xie Dingyuan.
With his eyes closed, he couldn’t see, but his other senses became especially sharp.
He could feel the girl’s breath growing closer and closer, and his own heartbeat growing faster and faster.
They finally touched, but…
“Wrong spot.” The man opened his eyes, just in time to see her pulling away.
Instinctively, Xie Dingyuan raised a hand, hooked her back, and pressed her into his arms.
The whole movement flowed naturally.
Before Jiang Fuyue could react, she was already in his embrace. In the next second, the man’s warm lips pressed down, giving her no chance to dodge, tangling with hers.
If he had still been the composed and restrained Professor Xie a moment ago, now he was a full-fledged starving wolf.
Midway through, Jiang Fuyue couldn’t breathe and pushed his chest, only to be held even tighter.
No one knew how long it lasted before Xie Dingyuan finally let go.
Jiang Fuyue leaned against his chest, breathing lightly, cheeks flushed, eyes shimmering.
“You cheated.”
Xie Dingyuan caught the hand she swung at him and interlaced their fingers, his dark eyes smiling. “Who cheated? Hm?”
“…”
“Are you mad?”
Jiang Fuyue stayed silent.
He lowered his head toward her. His voice was deep, magnetic, sexy, yet tinged with indulgence. “Really mad? Then I’ll apologize.”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound like the Xie Dingyuan she knew.
The next second, he extended his hand, forming a fist before her. Then, palm facing up, he slowly opened it.
A small white square box lay quietly in his palm.
“Birthday present.”
“Haven’t I already gotten the cake?”
“That was the appetizer. This is the main course. Open it?”
Jiang Fuyue reached out and took it. Under the man’s expectant gaze, she opened the lid.
A brilliant light entered her eyes. Even though the pavilion was dim, its radiance was undiminished.
As if a shooting star had fallen into the box, dazzling and bright.
“This is…”
“Do you like it?”
The two spoke at the same time.
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