The evening birthday celebration consisted only of a small get together with the close families just as Ai wanted. Zhou Yichen and Xie Nuying had their eyes sparkling like gold upon seeing their daughter dolled up so breathtakingly.
Zhou Yichen cried and hugged her. "Ai-chan, are you leaving me already!?"
Ai blinked. "What do you mean? I am right here before you."
"But seeing you dressed up so beautifully makes me look like…makes it look as if it's your wedding! Even your birthday celebration is being held in the Liu villa."
She pursed her lips and pinched the tip of his nose. "It's just my birthday celebration, Dad."
For the first time, even Xie Nuying sided with Zhou Yichen. "These Liu men are very crafty. How are you living with them before you are married to Jun too? It's like they are hogging you to themselves."
"But I used to live with Jun in the condo before."
"That was then. This is now. Since we came to Beijing, shouldn't you be living with me?" She sternly asked.
Zhou Yichen hugged her harder. "Why you? Ai-chan should live with me!"
"She has always been living with me back in Xuanhua too. Is your memory failing with age, Yichen?"
He glared at her. "It's not my memory, it's your eyes that are failing because clearly, you cannot see how Ai-chan loves me more than you and prefers to live with me!"
Ai scolded both of them. "You are fighting even on my birthday."
They immediately quietened down at that.
"Didn't I tell you before that you two shouldn't waste your time fighting? But I see you don't listen to me."
Xie Nuying anxiously said, "No, no dear. How can we not listen to you? You are our sweetest daughter. I promise I won't fight with Yichen."
He nodded hard too. "I won't argue with her either."
She harrumphed. "It shouldn't be just for today."
They glared at each other.
"If your father stopped wearing bright clothes that don't suit his age and act like a normal middle-aged man, then I won't have to tire myself out so much."
His expression twisted. "Well excuse me and I am really sorry if you have such poor fashion sense. I pity your students who have to bear watching a plain old lady all year round."
"At least plain is better than blinding bright."
"Only someone who has lost their sense of colors would say that," he snorted.
Lightning crackled between them but they shuddered hard as soon as they saw the dark clouds of gloom on top of Ai's head as she held an extremely dry expression.
"I am sorry!"
"I am sorry!"
They immediately apologized.
"Fighting comes so naturally to you two. It would have been so peaceful if understanding would have come naturally instead."
They began to sweat.
"Now if you will fight again, I will cut the cake without you."
"No, no!" They hugged her from both sides and begged her. "We won't fight again! But don't throw us out of the party!"
They went outside like that, furiously sticking to Ai's side. As they opened the door, their gazes gawked at the figure of a handsome man dressed charmingly in a white shirt and black suit and the black trousers highlighting his tall and attractive stature.
Jun turned and smiled at Ai only to twitch his brow upon seeing the weird duo of parents clinging onto Ai for their dear life.
"Uncle, Aunt, Good evening."
Xie Nuying brightened with all praises for Jun. "Now, now Jun-cute, this is what I call to be looking appealing and dashing. You look wonderful," she nodded with pride.
Zhou Yichen's expression darkened. Even though she didn't directly point at him, her indirect sarcasm at him was pretty much evident.
"Thanks, Aunt. You look beautiful too. It's like there are two Ai's standing before me."
Zhou Yichen smirked. "Isn't my Ai-chan just perfect? Have you fallen for her all over again~?"
His loving gaze settled at the woman he gave his heart to. "I fall for her all over again every single day. She keeps messing up my heart beats without a break."
Ai's rose-tinted cheeks blushed further as she found herself unable to meet his passionate dark brown irises.
Xie Nuying coughed. "You are such a sweetheart, Jun. I am so happy that you two found your love in each other," she then cleared her throat, "Yichen and I will go ahead. You bring Ai down."
"Why?" Zhou Yichen whined. "I want to see them cuddling- ow, ow!!!"
Xie Nuying pinched his ear hard as she started pulling him away. "Have at least a bit of shame in you. Peeking at your daughter's private time like that…"
Jun breathed out as the duo left.
Ai asked expectantly, "How do I look?"
Jun raised his brow, stepping closer to her and with every inch of distance lessening between them, Ai felt her breaths growing shorter and shallower.
He curled a lock of her hair gently around the tip of his finger, smiling with a glint of mischief. "Beautiful."
With a light but an alluring pull, she stumbled into his arms and he bent to press his lips on hers. Ai felt as if her heart put a hard brake on its beats as his lips ventured deeper to capture hers. His unhurried pace made her even dizzier, and she found herself kissing him back with the same fervor.
As he pulled back, he whispered near her forehead, "So much so that I don't want to stop at just this kiss."
Jun chuckled as he could see the steam of shyness escaping from the top of her head. "You cannot fall weak already. The celebration has just started. Prepare your heart for my surprise and for the night to come to. I promise to leave you spellbound."
Ai stammered. "L-let's go! Everybody must be waiting for us..." She wanted to quickly leave and feel the air against her cheeks to cool down her heated face.
He raised his brow. "Sure if you don't mind others seeing your smudged lipstick."
"..."
Ai instantly touched the corner of her mouth that smudged the stain on her fingertips. Her nostrils flared in grievance. "It's all your fault that I will be late."
And she ran back to the room with lightning speed.
He sighed and muttered. "I was fine with it though."
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