Chapter 21: Birthday
The next day early in the morning, the sky was overcast, stuffy hot all night but the rain still wouldn’t fall.
Su Ning, who woke up early, only felt an unexpectedly peaceful mood, just like the sword hanging over her head was finally about to fall, needing only to quietly await the result.
After she finished washing up and getting dressed, the one on the bed finally woke up.
“Morning, Sister Ning Ning, happy birthday~”
“Thanks, but it’s not early anymore, little lazy pig, get up quickly.”
Even Fu Ying herself found it unbelievable that she had slept through the night without dreams, not affected at all by what happened last night.
It must be because Sister Ning Ning was by her side, making her feel too reassured.
Fu Ying giggled foolishly at her stunning beauty with a face full of infatuation: Sure enough, there’s nothing that beauty can’t heal!
“Dong dong dong~”
“Ning Ning, Ying Ying, it’s not early anymore, are you all prepared?”
“Yeah, coming right away, Uncle Xu, we’ll be there~”
Sticking out her tongue, Fu Ying quickly got out of bed, put on her clothes, and with nimble fingers swiftly braided two braids.
She took out a small box prepared early from the schoolbag nearby and handed it to her, “Sister Ning Ning, this is the birthday gift I prepared for you. I hope my sister gets more and more beautiful, everything goes smoothly, and we can meet up in Xiangnan soon!”
Inside the small box were two pearl hairpins of different styles.
Closing the box, Su Ning carefully put it into the drawer under the vanity, then put her arm around the person and walked out of the bedroom. The moment the door closed, the vanity was taken into the space along with it.
Xu Zixin and Qian Huiru, who were waiting on the sofa, both looked to be in pretty good moods today.
Especially Qian Huiru in her Lenin-style outfit, the smile in her eyes couldn’t be hidden, and for the first time, she looked at her with genuine sincerity.
“Ning Ning looks so pretty today!”
“Thanks.”
It was as if he had waited a long time, but only then did Xu Zixin say nothing more, instead standing up, turning around, and quickly heading to the kitchen.
In no time, he brought over a bowl of brown sugar water with boiled eggs, just like every birthday in previous years, “Quick, Ning Ning, eat it while it’s hot, don’t let it cool and then complain it’s fishy.”
“Wow~ Uncle Xu is so nice. Sister Ning Ning, you eat first, I’m going to wash up!”
Fu Ying winked at her playfully, then bounced off toward the toilet.
Taking a deep breath and pinching her palm hard, Su Ning smiled and came to sit at the dining table.
The blue-patterned ceramic bowl, the dark red sugar water still steaming, with two boiled eggs inside as always.
This was a custom from her maternal grandfather’s hometown: on everyone’s birthday, eating sweet water boiled eggs made by the closest person would bring happiness and good luck for the whole year.
In the past, every birthday, her maternal grandfather would get up early to simmer a bowl… After he passed, Mom took over.
Until Mom was gone too, then Xu Zixin took it to heart, cooking it all these years without forgetting once.
During this time, she would wonder, even if it’s fake acting turning real, does he… have even a little bit of sincerity?
“Ning Ning, why are you crying?”
Subconsciously touching her cheek, Su Ning suddenly realized tears were streaming down her face unknowingly.
“It’s nothing, thanks Dad.”
Wiping away the tears with the back of her hand, she lowered her head to eat the sugar water boiled eggs, not seeing the complexity in Xu Zixin’s eyes.
Until Qian Huiru silently stepped forward, he came back to his senses and murmured in a daze, “In the blink of an eye, Ning Ning has grown so big.”
“Exactly, she’s old enough to get married!”
“Nonsense, my Xu Zixin’s daughter won’t marry that early!”
“Look, I was just joking, Old Xu, and you’re already anxious. Ning Ning has such good grades and will go to university, of course she won’t marry that early.”
While the two bantered back and forth, Su Ning had already finished the eggs in the bowl and drunk all the sugar water.
Xu Shanshan, who had finally picked out satisfactory clothes after fussing for a long time, and Fu Ying, who had finished washing up, arrived in the living room one after the other.
The two had never gotten along since they met, their relationship so bad that they didn’t even bother pretending in front of the adults.
‘Peacock, dressing up is useless, in front of my Sister Ning Ning you’re still instantly turned to slag!’
‘Tomboy, sooner or later I’ll help you cut that hair off!’
Their eyes met in the air, as if sparks were crackling.
“Shanshan!”
Meeting her warning-filled gaze and remembering her mother and daughter’s conversation last night, Xu Shanshan suppressed her anger and forced a smile, saying, “Today is Sister Ning’s birthday, so I won’t argue with a little brat like you!”
“Hehe, as if you could do anything to me, I’m scared of you!”
Fu Ying played with her braids, retorting bluntly without holding back, though she remembered today was indeed special.
As she passed by her side, she whispered threateningly, “If you pull any tricks today, Xu Shanshan, I’ll make you relive the nightmare from four years ago.”
“You!”
“Xu Shanshan, remember, hair doesn’t grow that long easily~”
Xu Shanshan, so angry she was about to explode, was pulled back by Qian Huiru who noticed something wrong, “Ying Ying still loves joking so much, hehe, alright alright, you little sisters stop fooling around, we should head out too.”
“Sorry, Uncle Xu, she was just too annoying, I couldn’t help it!”
“You and your temperament!”
Xu Zixin was helpless against her straightforward nature; after all, she was his best friend’s most beloved daughter, so he could only shake his head helplessly, “Let your dad deal with your headaches.”
“Ying Ying is great like this.”
“Exactly, hehe, Sister Ning Ning has the best taste!”
“Alright alright, today the birthday girl is the biggest, you’re all right.”
Xu Zixin smiled indulgently and gently patted her back.
Seeing her no longer instinctively dodging, and thinking of her genuine emotion earlier that didn’t seem fake, his thick brows slightly raised, “Let’s go, time to head out, it’s not good to keep the guests waiting.”
……
Kyoto Grand Hotel.
Unlike the state-run restaurant, this place mostly received foreign guests and leaders and cadres on business trips from various places.
First floor lobby, second floor private rooms, third floor with a super large banquet hall.
Being able to book a private room, Xu Zixin’s position was sufficient, and with Old Master Fu, there was naturally no issue.
Those present besides the Xu and Fu families were two old friends of Su Ting, an elderly couple with all white hair and kind faces, and Su Ning’s homeroom teacher Teacher Quan who taught her for two years.
The large table was packed, very lively.
“Ning Ning, do you still remember us old folks?”
“Of course, Grandpa Zhao and Grandma Xin.”
Su Ning stood up with a sweet smile, bowed obediently in greeting, then stepped forward to pour tea for the two elders who had made the effort to arrive on time.
“Hahaha, as expected of little Su Ting’s kid, such a smart head on her shoulders, only met twice and after so many years she still remembers!”
The first time seeing the little one she was just a month old, the second time was when the old friend passed away…
Zhao Qian thought of his old friend’s entrustment before death and silently set down his teacup.
Having spent most of their lives together, one look and she knew what he was thinking.
Xin Yulan patted the back of his hand, “Ning Ning is still here.”
“Look at me, senile, hehe!”
Patting his forehead, Zhao Qian raised his smile again, “Ning Ning, sit down quick, we’ll talk about things later.”
