Ever since her mother passed away, Ning Chuchu hadn’t celebrated her birthday in years. This time, with five people gathered around her in a lively atmosphere, she finally lowered her head, her mood a little complicated, not knowing what to make of the situation.
In the past, her birthdays had been spent as a simple girl, but now, she was no longer a little girl. This year’s birthday felt like the start of something more mature.
It felt as if she was transforming into someone different, like a beautiful enchantress who was coming into her own...
However, in her heart, there were still knots she couldn’t untangle. She couldn’t help but think, would the next time she celebrated her birthday be as a mother of several children?
“Ning Chuchu! Don’t you dare mess with me today!” someone suddenly shouted, pulling her back to reality.
Ning Chuchu turned her head, her expression blank, her thoughts interrupted by the loud voice.
The lively laughter and cheers filled the room, and Zhang Gongzi’s (Young Master Zhang’s) face showed a hint of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such excitement on this day.
“We should all join in! Let’s celebrate! Everyone, let’s make this a day to remember!”
“Let’s kill off a few rounds and start the festivities!” Zhang Gongzi shouted with great enthusiasm.
“Why am I the one getting involved now?” someone groaned.
The birthday gathering was originally supposed to be a small and casual get-together. Zhang Gongzi had made sure that everyone would pitch in equally. The birthday cake was something that Li Li had picked out herself, a small yet delicate creation.
The party originally started out with the intention of just celebrating the birthday, but before long, it transformed into something much larger. People who weren't even expected began showing up.
Zhang Gongzi’s face was full of excitement as more people began joining in the fun. Ning Chuchu, meanwhile, sat off to the side, feeling a bit out of place as everything unfolded around her. She found herself reflecting on how quickly things had escalated and how it all began as just a simple birthday celebration.
Meanwhile, Wen Yang’s presence became more prominent. His usual demeanor of aloofness faded as he seemed to enjoy the ongoing festivities more than usual, mingling with everyone.
“I’m going to grab something!” Wen Yang suddenly said, standing up to go retrieve another dish from the food counter.
People were continuing to arrive as more food was brought out to the guests.
“I didn’t expect so many people to show up!” Ning Chuchu muttered to herself.
"Ning Chuchu, how's your birthday going today? Zhang Gongzi cares about you a lot!" someone joked.
"You've had quite a day, huh? Why don't you go and rest for a bit?" they continued with a teasing tone.
"I can't drink anymore..." Ning Chuchu replied weakly.
"Don't be so uptight! Just relax and enjoy!" they urged, laughing as they filled her glass.
Ning Chuchu glanced over at Wen Yang, who had been watching her quietly. He gave her a slight nod, indicating that she should ease up a bit.
She lowered her head and sighed softly. The atmosphere around her was festive, and although she wasn’t in the mood, she didn’t want to spoil the fun for everyone else.
Zhou Huai came over to her side and whispered, "Li Li is handling things. You don't need to worry about it."
Knowing that Li Li was taking care of the social aspects, Ning Chuchu felt slightly more at ease. At least she didn’t have to bear all the responsibility.
She grabbed the bottle of wine that was being passed around and poured herself a drink.
The social pressure of the situation was real, but Ning Chuchu played her part well, despite not really wanting to continue.
As the night progressed, Ning Chuchu began to feel the effects of the alcohol, but she managed to hold herself together. Zhang Gongzi and the others remained jovial, and the night seemed far from over.
It was clear that things weren’t going to end anytime soon, but Ning Chuchu had already reached her limit. She had no choice but to continue drinking in order to keep up appearances.
"How much longer will this go on?" she thought to herself.
"Ning Chuchu, quickly deliver this gift!" Zhang Gongzi said, gesturing for her to move along. His expression was calm and composed as he took the package and handed it to her.
"Wait, no one is moving yet. What’s happening?" someone asked, confused.
"What is it? Is there a secret to this?" Another voice chimed in.
The little wolf’s voice was soft as it added, "Inside..."
Ning Chuchu glanced at the package and hesitated for a moment but ultimately took it, her curiosity piqued.
"What’s inside?" Ning Chuchu asked cautiously, her fingers brushing the surface of the package.
“You’ll find out once you open it, right? But I didn’t expect this," Zhang Gongzi said with a knowing smile. He had thought the gift was going to be something simple, but it turned out to be quite different from what he'd imagined.
"Does it have to be delivered immediately, or can I wait until later?" Ning Chuchu inquired, feeling a bit hesitant to complete the task right away.
Wang Jie interrupted, grinning, "Is it a gift for a special occasion? Looks like the kids will be getting quite a surprise." His voice was full of amusement, clearly enjoying the situation.
Ning Chuchu wasn’t sure what to think. She shifted nervously, trying to figure out why everyone was making such a big deal about the gift.
"What is this gift from Wen Yang, really?" she asked herself, still holding onto the package.
"What?" Ning Chuchu asked herself, still holding the package, unsure of what to expect. She didn’t even know what she wanted or why she was hesitating.
Wen Yang approached her, calmly asking, "Do you know what’s inside?" His expression was unreadable.
Ning Chuchu felt herself tense up slightly as she replied, "I have no idea what’s inside the package. I wasn’t expecting anything like this."
"Would you like me to open it for you?" Wen Yang asked, his tone neutral, though his gaze was fixed intently on her.
Before Ning Chuchu could respond, Zhang Gongzi interjected, “Hold on! Are we really going to focus on the cake? Shouldn't we at least talk about it first?”
They all turned to look at Li Li, who smiled and said, "Let's cut the cake!"
Ning Chuchu finally let go of the package, putting it down on the table. "I’ll take care of it later," she thought, now focusing on the task at hand.
A beautiful cake, circular in shape and covered in white cream, was placed delicately in front of her. A light layer of fruits was carefully arranged on top, adding a festive touch to the simple but elegant design. The words "Happy Birthday" were neatly written in icing.
"You did a great job with this!" Li Li praised as she examined the cake closely.
Ning Chuchu felt a sense of relief, her smile showing a hint of satisfaction as she stepped back. "I tried my best, but I'm not sure it’s perfect," she murmured softly.
“It’s already quite impressive!” the others responded, admiring the result.
Although the cake didn’t quite match the quality of the one in the shop window, it still had its own unique charm.
When everyone began singing the birthday song and blowing out the candles, Ning Chuchu couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. The joy of the moment was real, but it also carried an unexpected weight for her. Zhang Gongzi was already distributing the cake, ensuring everyone got an equal share.
Ning Chuchu let out a small sigh, feeling a bit of relief as the formalities were over. At least the tension she felt earlier was easing.
After blowing out the candles, she smiled, her face lighting up, and the awkwardness of the earlier ceremonial moment disappeared. Her heart lifted a little.
Everyone was now happily eating cake, the room filled with laughter and conversation. The atmosphere became warmer and more intimate.
Li Li sat close to Ning Chuchu, passing her a plate of cake and whispering, "Don't worry about anything; just enjoy the party."
Wen Yang, who had been watching from a distance, quietly approached. He smiled softly, his gaze resting on Ning Chuchu as she seemed more relaxed than before.
However, he soon noticed her leaning back against the table, her posture becoming a little too casual as she slowly sank into her chair, her hands supporting her as she gazed upward with a dazed expression.
“What’s wrong?” someone asked, seeing the change in her demeanor.
“Nothing, I’m fine," Ning Chuchu said, her voice sounding tired but still managing a faint smile.
Wen Yang gently pulled her back to her senses, his voice calm and steady. "You okay? You don't look too well."
Ning Chuchu lowered her gaze, looking a little embarrassed. "I think I need to use the restroom..."
“Where’s the bathroom again?” she asked, her tone still uncertain, though her voice was light.
“I’ll take you there,” Wen Yang offered immediately.
Wen Yang stood up and, with a small gesture, helped her out of her seat, carefully holding her arm. "Be careful, don't rush."
Ning Chuchu gave a slight nod, still a little dazed as Wen Yang led her towards the exit. As they passed through the tables, a few people glanced over, observing them briefly, but quickly resumed their conversations.
Wen Yang led Ning Chuchu to the hallway, where he pointed to a nearby door. “It’s just over there,” he said, his voice calm.
Ning Chuchu took two quick glances before she finally saw the door that led to the bathroom. She hesitated for a moment, looking back at Wen Yang.
“You go inside. Be careful,” Wen Yang reminded her.
“Okay...” Ning Chuchu replied softly as she slowly made her way to the door.
Before entering, she turned back once more and smiled at Wen Yang. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome," Wen Yang said gently, watching her disappear behind the door.
Once inside, Ning Chuchu felt a moment of relief. She leaned against the door, gathering her thoughts. "Did I forget something?" she wondered aloud. "Oh, my birthday gift..."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
She suddenly felt a bit anxious again. “Wen Yang didn’t give me my birthday gift yet, did he?”
Moments later, she walked out of the bathroom, feeling a little more composed, and Wen Yang was waiting patiently nearby.
“You didn’t forget, did you?” Ning Chuchu asked, her voice soft, but filled with curiosity.
Wen Yang smiled again and quietly pulled something out of his pocket—a small box.
His heart pounded as his gaze followed her down the hallway, suddenly blurting out, “Ning Chuchu, be my girlfriend!”
Ning Chuchu stopped, surprised by the sudden confession. She hadn’t expected this, especially during a casual bathroom break. Wasn’t this too much of a cliché, confessing feelings in a bathroom setting?
She turned back slowly to look at Wen Yang, who now seemed more nervous than ever. He was making an obvious effort to remember every detail of this moment, as if this was something he had been thinking about for a long time.
Wen Yang noticed her pause and took a step forward. Though the air between them was a bit awkward, Wen Yang still felt a sense of urgency to clarify his feelings.
The gentle tension between them lingered, and despite the bathroom being nearby, it seemed like the perfect moment to make such a declaration.
After the brief silence, Ning Chuchu couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t this the wrong place to confess?”
Wen Yang smiled, his expression soft. "Maybe, but it doesn't change how I feel."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box he had been holding earlier, offering it to her.
"This is for you," he said quietly.
Ning Chuchu looked at the gift, hesitant at first, but then reached out to accept it.
After a moment, she opened the small box to find a delicate ring inside. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the intricate design.
“This looks expensive,” she muttered, glancing at Wen Yang with a questioning look.
"Pure silver!" Wen Yang said with a smile.
"Oh... less than a hundred," he added nonchalantly.
Ning Chuchu’s gaze shifted away from the ring, and she looked back at Wen Yang with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, her brows slightly raised.
Her mind was racing as she processed the situation. She couldn’t help but think, "He’s really serious, isn’t he?"
She felt a sense of confusion. Wasn’t this a bit sudden? Her head spun with questions as she asked herself, “Is he really confessing to me right now? Why would he want to be my boyfriend?”
Her mind filled with question marks, as she tried to figure out what was happening.