4576 The Other Side 545
The man was inexplicably upset when he saw that there was no cake on his birthday. It felt that something was missing. It was as if without the cake, it didnât feel like a birthday. Every time he saw the cake, he would think of Mu Qingcheng and Yun Shishi. This way, he would not feel lonely even on his own birthday. However, without the cake, he would feel that his birthday was really a lonely one.
It was also from that time that Alice realized, the man could do without all but a cake on his birthday. Otherwise, she wouldnât have tried so hard to find a cake. And indeed, she did it.
âPerhaps, taste-wise, it leaves much to be desired. However, Iâve seen the production environment. Itâs considerably clean.â
Gong Jie walked up to the table and opened the box himself. The sight of an almost round cake greeted him.
!!
There was nothing novel about it. In China, it would have looked like something from the 1960s or 1970s.
The butter cream on the cake was dyed with cheap coloring. The words âHappy Birthdayâ were written out in cursive English. The handwriting was crooked and one wouldnât call it delicate.
âHappy birthday!â Alice smiled at him.
The man smiled back and gently wrapped his arms around the back of her neck, planting a kiss between her brows. âThank you.â
âWellâ¦â Hua Jin started.
Gong Jie turned to look at him and asked, âWhatâs up?â
âHappy birthday.â
âUh huh.â The man paused as a thought struck him. âThen⦠what about the gift you prepared?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
For some reason, Hua Jin looked a little guilty. âIâll give it to you later!â
âWhat sort of gift is that? Why are you being so mysterious?â Gong Jie did not probe further. He dipped his finger into the cream and put it in his mouth. Surprisingly, it was delicious. âItâs sweet.â
Although it was a cheap coloring, the cream was actually tasty.
The thing was⦠In a place like East Africa, the food had never been good. The cake was considered a luxury item as it were.
The actor took a bite as well. His palate was not as fussy as Gong Jieâs, but even he felt that the cake didnât taste all that great.
He didnât like butter cream.
âFor your birthday this year, Hua Jin and I are your only company.â Alice looked at the cake again. âBut weâre lucky, all things considered, we managed to get a cake.â
She actually remembered he couldnât do without a cake on his birthday. Touched, Gong Jie pursed his lips and prepared to cut the cake.
Hua Jin stopped him, however, saying, âArenât you going to light a candle and make a wish?â
Alice added, âYes, make a wish. Xiao Jie, make a wish!â
âI donât know what to wish for.â
âThink of one then!â As Alice spoke, she stuck the only candle the shop owner had given her onto the cake and lit it.
In the dim candlelight, the man closed his eyes and made a perfunctory wish. âThis yearâs birthday wish isâ¦â
Hua Jin and Alice looked at him seriously.
âWorld peace,â Gong Jie concluded.
Hua Jin was dumbstruck. Alice was rendered speechless. The two of them tacitly fell silent.
World peace!? Who was he kidding! For some reason, this wish of his was unconvincing!
The actor muttered, âThe world will never be peaceful with you around!â
Gong Jie shot him a cold glance, dipped his finger into some cream, and forced it into Hua JInâs mouth.
âEat your cake.â
âOoohâ¦â
With Gong Jieâs finger forcing its way into his mouth, the actor got a taste of the cream and turned away in disgust. âIâm just being truthful!â