Volume One, Chapter 72: Dullard’s Birthday Approaches

After Wei Shi’an finished recording, Chi Xingwan picked her up and they headed together to the Xiao family home.

Today, Xiao Rui was hosting a gathering.

Though he hadn’t formally debuted yet, he was already training alongside the other members of the team. Not long ago, they played a friendly match against another team, and Xiao Rui was in the starting lineup, leading them to a brilliant victory.

He was quite boastful—one win and he wanted the whole world to know. So recently, he announced he’d hold a barbecue at home.

Wei Shi’an had been visiting the Xiao family often lately, and everyone in the Xiao household knew her. At first, they were all curious why Grandma Xiao was so invested in the affairs of a stranger.

Later, Secretary He let slip, intentionally or otherwise, that Wei Shi’an was related to Lan Yan, Xiao Yue’s mother. The revelation made everything clear.

Grandma Xiao adored Lan Yan; in fact, some believed the reason she cherished Xiao Yue so much was largely because he was Lan Yan’s son.

Zhu Yaru was furious when she learned the truth.

“That wretched woman, dead for so many years, and she still manages to vex me.”

Though she cursed Lan Yan aloud, Zhu Yaru’s real resentment was directed at Grandma Xiao.

Xiao Peiyuan was equally unsettled. He too had his complaints about his own mother, but above all, he mourned Lan Yan.

He hadn’t loved Lan Yan; his pursuit of her had been motivated solely by his mother’s favor. He married Lan Yan to gain an advantage, and she indeed proved immensely helpful.

Unfortunately, Lan Yan died too soon.

Xiao Peiyuan couldn’t help but compare Lan Yan and Zhu Yaru in his mind. Lan Yan wasn’t as considerate as Zhu Yaru, nor as adept at pleasing him, nor as lively. But Zhu Yaru was of no help to his career—if anything, she was a burden.

At that moment, Xiao Peiyuan deeply regretted his insistence back then on marrying Zhu Yaru and bringing Xiao Duo home, even at the cost of angering his mother.

He looked at Zhu Yaru, her face twisted with rage, and felt a wave of revulsion.

But he still cautioned her, “Wei Shi’an is just an insignificant youngster. Don’t plot anything against her. Mother still doesn’t accept me or A Duo. If you stir up trouble again, our branch of the family could be completely cast aside.”

Zhu Yaru trembled inside; she had indeed been thinking of putting Wei Shi’an in her place.

“I have no interest in dealing with such a nobody.”

In the courtyard, the barbecue grill was set up. Since Xiao Rui’s gathering was a casual affair, the elders were absent; only peers attended.

Aside from Xiao Rui’s teammates and his friends, Zhang Shaodan, Qiao Qingyun, and Chen Qifan were also present.

Chen Qifan had already blended into Xiao Rui’s circle, eating barbecue while playing poker.

Wei Shi’an was pulled aside by Xiao Jin for a chat. Xiao Yu and Xiao Ming sat quietly nearby, listening; though usually poised and mature, these two were a bit gossipy as well.

Chi Xingwan sat with Zhang Shaodan and Qiao Qingyun, chatting.

Qiao Qingyun was in high spirits. “Xingwan, you’re amazing. Ever since last time, Tong Shijia—that fraud—hasn’t bothered me again.”

Tong Shijia was the rotten peach blossom who’d been pestering Qiao Qingyun.

Chi Xingwan recalled Xiao Jin mentioning that Chi Yueyao might be in love.

She thought she ought to find time to meet Chi Yueyao, to confirm whether she had picked up Tong Shijia as her rotten peach blossom.

As the barbecue ended, guests gradually departed, and Chi Xingwan prepared to return to school.

As usual, she looked for Dada in the manor.

Dada fluttered over, landing on Chi Xingwan’s shoulder.

“Sister, let’s go.”

“Alright.” Chi Xingwan responded, but then sensed something unusual.

“Dada, have you been different lately?” she asked.

She’d been busy with Wei Shi’an’s affairs and realized she’d neglected Dada; now that she thought about it, Dada’s personality seemed to have changed.

Xiao Yue tensed inwardly, doing his best to make his eyes look vacant as he tilted his head. “Huh?”

Chi Xingwan said, “Before, when it was time to leave, I had to call you hundreds of times before you’d come. Sometimes you’d even make a fuss and refuse to go. Recently, you’ve been much more obedient—usually you show up right away when called.”

“You seem steadier now, not as rambunctious or unreasonable as before,” she said with certainty.

Rambunctious. Unreasonable.

Xiao Yue wished he could crawl into a hole—so this was how Chi Xingwan saw him. Or rather, how she saw the bird.

He stammered, “I’ve grown up.”

Chi Xingwan teased, “So, are you nine years old now?”

Xiao Yue thought carefully—it was true.

When he was eight and arrived at the orphanage, he was amnesiac, unaware of his birthday, his age only an estimate.

By orphanage rules, January 1st was set as his birthday.

Now it was mid-January; naturally, he’d grown another year older.

Chi Xingwan was filled with guilt after hearing this. She hugged Dada and stroked his head. “Sister is sorry, I’ve been too slow lately and forgot to celebrate your birthday.”

Xiao Yue said timidly, “It’s alright, sister.”

“No, I must make it up to you. Tell me, who would you like to celebrate your birthday with?”

Xiao Yue replied instantly, “I want to celebrate with you.”

Chi Xingwan asked, “Anyone else? Do you have other friends? Or perhaps know other birds?”

Xiao Yue was both embarrassed and shy.

Without his memory, still as Dada, he played with other birds on campus when Chi Xingwan was in class.

Chi Xingwan must have known.

He bashfully said, “I only want to celebrate with you.”

Chi Xingwan agreed, “Alright, sister will take you to get a cake.”

At the cake shop, Chi Xingwan quietly asked Dada to choose a flavor.

Xiao Yue answered without hesitation, “Chocolate, but no dragon fruit in the fruit filling.”

Chi Xingwan ordered the cake according to his wishes, arranging to pick it up the next day.

Leaving the shop, Chi Xingwan felt a familiar sensation. As she neared the school, she finally remembered.

“No wonder it felt so familiar—your tastes are exactly the same as Xiao Yue’s. Grandma once said Xiao Yue likes chocolate cake and doesn’t like dragon fruit.”

Xiao Yue was startled, secretly watching Chi Xingwan’s expression, relieved to see she truly regarded it as mere coincidence and suspected nothing more.

He relaxed a bit.

He quickly steered the conversation elsewhere, and Chi Xingwan indeed didn’t dwell on the coincidence.

Still, Xiao Yue was quietly overjoyed. He never expected that Grandma’s casual remark would stick in Chi Xingwan’s mind.

Did this mean he was a little different in her heart?

Chi Xingwan’s kindness toward him wasn’t only because he was a descendant of the Nalan family—it must also be because of who he was.