Chapter 1597: Chapter 1597 Witness
When Jun Yuan saw that Yiyi hadn’t come down for a long time, he went up personally to invite her down.
Yiyi opened the door, and Jun Yuan immediately sensed that her mood was off. Just a moment ago, she was brimming with excitement, and now she looked like a frost-bitten eggplant.
"What’s wrong? You’ve been crying. Who bullied you?" Jun Yuan’s fingers brushed against her reddened eyes, and he couldn’t help but feel angry.
Yiyi shook her head, harboring a great grievance in her heart, but not daring to speak it out.
Tonight was her and Brother’s birthday, and the whole family was so happy. How could she make them sad because of her issues? She couldn’t keep depending on their protection; otherwise, she’d feel even more like she had no self-respect.
"I was just thinking about things from when we were young, and it feels like I’ve suddenly grown up. It’s impossible to remain carefree and happy like we were back then. It’s a bit sad. We’ll all be adults from now on. Brother, I really don’t want to be an adult."
Yiyi leaned against his chest, her heart filled with a sour pain.
Growing up means facing so much sadness. She really wished she could always remain a child, that way she wouldn’t feel so heartbroken.
Jun Yuan gently patted her little head. "Silly girl, in our hearts, you’ll always be a kid. No matter what happens, you’ll always have me, Mom and Dad, and little brother standing behind you. You don’t need to be afraid."
"I know, you all love me very much." But precisely because you all are so good to me, it makes it even harder for me to be independent, to grow up.
Yiyi felt even worse. She thought that ten years of effort would have helped her escape the protective cage everyone placed around her. But in reality, the invisible cage still trapped her.
She could never truly have her own self, could never achieve what she wanted through her own efforts.
No matter how much she had, of what use was it?
Those things were never truly hers.
Was she supposed to be protected by them her entire life? She didn’t want to be such a little princess.
"Let’s go, Brother, let’s go cut the cake. After that, I have something to announce."
Jun Yuan smiled knowingly at her. "With such a serious expression, it seems my sister is really getting serious."
He thought what Yiyi was about to announce was her engagement to Brother Ling Kong.
Yiyi could clearly see his expression, but she didn’t explain anything.
She knew that Mom, Dad, and Brother all hoped she would marry Brother Ling Kong, because that way, someone could replace them in taking care of her, protect her for a lifetime. They always wished the best for her, but now, those hopes were no longer what she was looking forward to.
The two of them went downstairs. The guests saw she had changed into a new dress, one even more beautiful and enchanting than the previous one, her aura completely different.
Earlier, she was lively and spirited, like a bustling little angel, beautiful and full of charm.
But now, she exuded a faint tranquility, having lost that innocence, as if she had suddenly grown up a lot.
She and Jun Yuan walked to the small stage, and as the waiter wheeled in the multilayered cake, she and Jun Yuan together held the cake knife and cut a slice amidst the applause of the guests. Immediately, applause erupted, voices cheering for her coming of age.
Ling Kong watched her from below the stage, a gratified smile on his lips, his heart brimming with joy. The little girl was finally eighteen.
She had changed into a new dress, even more beautiful and charming than the last. Was it a special change just for him?
Ah, his Yiyi, truly an adorable girl, even knowing how to make him happy.
"Thank you all for coming to my birthday." After cutting the cake, Yiyi smiled faintly, "Tonight, I have something important to announce, something of lifelong significance to me, so I hope everyone can witness it."
