Shen Yuqing patted his shoulder. “Alright, wipe that tragic drama expression off your face. There’s one more thing I need to say before I head back.”
He had been out for quite a while. If he returned too late, Pei Yiyan would be displeased again.
Lately, he had exhausted all his words and tricks trying to placate Pei Yiyan.
Song Wangzhuo asked, “What is it?”
Shen Yuqing replied, “The day of the field trip happens to be your birthday, but we have to gather at the location early in the morning. So, I’ve prepared your birthday gift in advance.”
This time, Song Wangzhuo was genuinely stunned. “You… how did you…”
He stared at Shen Yuqing’s smiling face, momentarily at a loss for words.
Shen Yuqing, however, waited patiently for him to speak.
After steadying his emotions, Song Wangzhuo finally managed to voice his question. “How did you know it was my birthday?”
Shen Yuqing said, “Didn’t you tell me yourself?”
Song Wangzhuo froze. Had he?
Then he saw Shen Yuqing point toward the doorway, and realization dawned on him.
His ears tinged slightly red as he mumbled, “Oh… oh, I… I just set it as a random number that was easy to remember.”
It just happened to be his birthday.
Shen Yuqing waved it off. “That’s not important. What I wanted to say is, I’ve already left the gift on your bedside table. You can open it now, on your birthday, or after the field trip it’s up to you. I hope you’ll like it.”
Song Wangzhuo nodded solemnly. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”
Gazing at Shen Yuqing, he couldn’t help but smile, his emotions far more sincere now. “Yuqing, thank you.”
He had never really celebrated his birthday before. Just surviving each day had been hard enough.
But after meeting Shen Yuqing, he had discovered meaning in life.
This was also the first time he had ever received a birthday gift from a friend.
No matter what it was even if it were just a wildflower picked by the roadside he would treasure it.
Seeing his earnest expression, Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, I’ll head back now. Get some rest, and if anything comes up, just call or message me. I’ll come over.”
Song Wangzhuo nodded. “You rest well too. See you at the field trip.”
He hadn’t forgotten that Shen Yuqing had a fiancé. Though a vague sense of regret or reluctance lingered in his heart, if his dear friend Shen Yuqing was happy, then he would always support him.
After bidding farewell to Song Wangzhuo, Shen Yuqing headed downstairs.
Once Shen Yuqing was out of sight, Song Wangzhuo eagerly hurried into his bedroom.
Sure enough, an exquisitely wrapped gift sat on the bedside table.
He sat on the edge of the bed, carefully cradling the present in his hands, turning it over and examining it from every angle before finally placing it back where it had been.
This was a birthday gift.
He wanted to open it on his actual birthday.
But when was Shen Yuqing’s birthday?
Shen Yuqing had helped him in countless ways, both openly and discreetly, and now had even prepared a birthday gift for him. Shouldn’t he return the gesture?
Song Wangzhuo suddenly felt troubled.
After knowing Shen Yuqing for so long, he still had no idea what he liked.
Besides, Shen Yuqing lacked nothing.
His gaze drifted back to the beautifully wrapped gift, and a shy smile crept onto his lips.
Having a friend like this, it was truly wonderful.
Shen Yuqing stepped out of the elevator just as Nie Xiu was entering.
He said in surprise, “Auntie Nie.”
Had he known Nie Xiu would appear here at this time, he would have found an excuse to linger earlier maybe Song Wangzhuo and Nie Xiu could have even spoken.
What a perfect opportunity, wasted just like that.
Nie Xiu was equally surprised to see him. Didn’t Song Lejin say they lived in different complexes?
Nie Xiu asked, “Yuqing, do you live here too?”
Shen Yuqing shook his head. “No, Auntie, my friend lives here.”
He thought for a moment. “The one who was recently hospitalized he lives right above Song Lejin.”
Nie Xiu was genuinely taken aback this time. “Really? What a coincidence.”
Shen Yuqing nodded. “Yeah. Are you here to see Song Lejin, Auntie?”
Nie Xiu nodded. “Yes, I was passing by and thought I’d drop in.”
Shen Yuqing was about to say more when his neural communicator buzzed. He gave Nie Xiu an apologetic look before stepping aside to open the virtual screen it was a message from Xiao Zhao.
He was asking when Shen Yuqing would be back, mentioning that Pei Yiyan seemed a little displeased.
Shen Yuqing replied with “On my way,” then returned to Nie Xiu. “Auntie, I have something to take care of, so I’ll head out first. See you next time.”
Nie Xiu nodded. “Be careful on your way back. Do you need me to have the driver take you?”
Shen Yuqing declined politely, and the two parted ways. Only after Shen Yuqing’s figure disappeared from sight did Nie Xiu finally enter the elevator.
She pressed the button for Song Lejin’s floor, but her gaze lingered on the number beside it.
That child who looked so much like her also lived here which meant Song Lejin knew him too.
Yet she had never heard Song Lejin mention such a person.
Even outsiders could tell Song Wangzhuo bore a striking resemblance to his parents. As their son, Song Lejin should have been even more familiar with them.
Nie Xiu sensed something was off, but just then, the elevator doors opened. Shaking off her thoughts, she stepped out.
She entered Song Lejin’s apartment using the passcode, only to find only the housekeeper inside.
Nie Xiu frowned. “Where’s Lejin?”
The housekeeper replied, “The young master has been out these past couple of days. I’ll call him back right away.”
Nie Xiu considered it. “No, don’t bother him. I was just stopping by.”
She sat in the living room for a while until her assistant finally arrived.
He was carrying bags of gifts Nie Xiu had bought for Song Lejin. His birthday was approaching, but with the Song family’s current instability, and his birthday coinciding with the first day of the academy’s practical activities, his father had decided to postpone the celebration until things settled down.
The housekeeper took the items to the walk-in closet, but Nie Xiu, unusually free at the moment, said, “I’ll handle it.”
Once the housekeeper left, Nie Xiu began hanging the clothes one by one. As she finished and was about to close the wardrobe, she spotted a garment tucked in the corner one she had never seen Song Lejin wear before.
She pulled it out, frowning. It wasn’t particularly stylish, and the size didn’t match Song Lejin’s usual measurements.
Did it belong to someone else?
Nie Xiu thought for a moment. Song Lejin was nearly twenty it was perfectly normal for him to be dating or have a crush. Still, she would have to find time to talk to him.
Dating was fine, but he absolutely must not be marked.
She was about to hang the clothes back when her sharp eyes caught a small corner sticking out from the pocket.
It seemed to contain something.
Reaching in, she pulled out a photograph.
Nie Xiu initially thought it might be Song Lejin’s selfie, so she flipped it over to look only to freeze in place the next second.
The person in the photo wasn’t Song Lejin, but Song Wangzhuo, whom she had just met today the one who looked so much like her.
The photo had been taken secretly. Song Wangzhuo was walking along the school path in his uniform, seemingly deep in thought, his well-defined lips slightly pursed.
But that wasn’t the most striking part.
The most striking part was that his face had been marked with a large red “X.”
In the Song family, etiquette was instilled from childhood, and defacing someone’s face with a red “X” was extremely rude something no Song family member would ever do.
Yet here was an exception.
Why would Song Lejin do this? And why was this outfit, of all things, Song Wangzhuo’s?
Nie Xiu felt as if something was about to come to light when, just then, the voice of a servant called out from outside addressing the young master. Song Lejin must have returned.
Nie Xiu carefully returned the photo to its place, hung the clothes back up, and then took out another freshly hung outfit from the wardrobe, meticulously smoothing it out.
She heard quick footsteps approaching, followed by the voice of the newcomer calling out, “Mom, what are you doing here?”
