Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Li Zekai was in the toy room on the first floor. He called Doudou.
Doudou was happy to hear Li Zekaiâs voice. He assumed he was going to transfer schools with him. âJiejie, did your father agree? We can meet every Sunday from now on!â
Li Zekaiâs voice was very soft. âDoudou, I canât transfer schools. But I will definitely make time to play with you in the future.â
The children complained and talked on the phone for almost half an hour.
Li Yanchen kicked the door open in the master bedroom and placed Lin Wan on the bed. He brushed the hair away from her face and leaned in for a kiss. âItâs still early. You can do your live broadcast after we are done here.â
The time was just 7:00 p.m.
Lin Wan was aware of his intentions. âYou know you should talk about your emotions instead. My shoulders are strong. You can lean on me.â
âToo late for that now.â He smirked. âItâs risky staying up late, especially if you donât want to go bald. I will rest afterward. Letâs settle this now.â n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Lin Wan covered his lips with her hands. âThis isnât like a diary, you know. You donât have to do it every day. Arenât you tired?â
âIf you count the days I was away on a business trip, we already had a two-day break,â he said. âWanwanâ¦
His voice in her ear put her in a trance.
Later, Lin Wan applied a thick layer of foundation on her flushed cheeks and prepared for the livestream. She hurriedly looked for her half-finished script and headed to the livestream room.
Li Zekai talked to Auntie Huang. He still didnât understand much of what his father had said.
Auntie Huang explained to him that public schools were free depending upon the area of residence. So, Doudouâs school might not really offer him free education for nine years because his residence was at Royal Water Bay and not near Doudouâs place.
It was the last week of September. Yang Ruoxi video-called Lin Wan.
âWanwan, itâs almost your birthday! Itâs a pity I canât come there to celebrate it with you. But I always wish you well. The gift is already on the way. Please accept it. I hope you like it.â This was the first time in five years that Yang Ruoxi couldnât celebrate Lin Wanâs birthday with her.
âBirthday? I almost forgot!â
âMr. Li hasnât prepared for your birthday? Did you not tell him? Even if you didnât, the date should be on the marriage certificateâ¦,â said Yang Ruoxi.
âMaybe they are preparing for a surprise? They will be home for the National Day holiday, right?â
Lin Wan felt overwhelmed by so many questions.
âYou ask too many questions. Itâs almost the National Day holiday, everyone is busy. Mr. Li was just on a business trip. Xinxin is studying hard. Xuanxuan seems to have met a girl he likes. Jiejie is so young. Itâs only a birthday. They have too many things to worry about. I already feel happy that you remembered.â Lin Wan tried to convince herself.
Her birthday was only a few days away and nobody had remembered. They all had probably forgotten about it.
âAs long as you remember mine, and I remember yours, itâs fine, â said Yang Ruoxi. âI need to go now. David is having a barbecue with me. Bye!â
Yang Ruoxi was in a relationship again with someone overseas. She was always
in a hurry these days.
Before Lin Wan could say goodbye, the call ended. She was sitting on the balcony. She was a little disappointed. However, she tried to convince herself that everyone was busy with their career and their studies.
âEveryone has too much on their plate right now, so how will they remember a silly little birthday?â
Lin Wan knew that Li Yanchen hadnât even attended the birthdays of his three sons because of work in the past.
âBut why do I feel so disappointed?â
At Yun Xi High School, Li Zexuan carried his bag and went to the library. It was Wednesday! He had made an appointment to meet with Xie Wanyu. He had carefully noted down his doubts in a notebook to ask Xie Wanyu for her help.
When class ended, Xie Wanyu pulled at Luan Rongrongâs sleeves. âRongrong, come with me to the library.â
âSure,â said Luan Rongrong. She needed to go to the library anyway.
Li Zexuan was waiting at the entrance of the library. When he saw Xie Wanyu, he walked up to her happily.
âWhen did you guys make plans to meet?â said Luan Rongong. âOh⦠I understand. I will leave you alone.â
âRongrong, itâs not what you think,â said Xie Wanyu.
They found a corner with a table and sat down.
Xie Wanyu took out her notebook and a pen. âI am not sure how much of a help I can be. Let me see the questions.â
âWait⦠so, we are really here to study?â Luan Rongrong glanced at them. When they didnât respond, she took a seat on Xie Wanyuâs side.
âSo, what did you two decide?â asked Li Zexuan. He propped his chin on his hands and looked at Xie Wanyu. âWill you be coming to my house for the birthday party?â
âI am fine with anything,â said Luan Rongrong. âI will come if Wanyu agrees.â
Xie Wanyu looked conflicted. âI⦠donât think I should. There will be a lot of people at the party, right? I just donât think itâs appropriate.â
âFrom what I know of my father, he wonât invite anybody to the house. So, it will be just me, my brothers, and their friends. All little children, by the way. I donât think anyone else we know will be there. There wonât be anything inappropriate, I promise.â Li Zexuan really wanted Lin Wan to meet Xie Wanyu.
âBut⦠my grandmother used to say that a girl should never go to a guyâs house aloneâ¦
âYou wonât be alone. Luan Rongrong is coming, too. We can invite your grandmother, too. If you give me her address, I will send a car to fetch her.â Luan Rongrong was speechless. âCelebrities really are direct, arenât they?â
âWe are just friends,â said Li Zexuan. âYou are my friend that I want to invite to my house for a birthday party. There is nothing wrong with that. Besides, there will be Ms. Lin and Grandma Huang. They are nice.â
Xie Wanyu lowered her head. âI⦠still donât think itâs a good idea. Wish her a Happy Birthday from me.â
âButââ
âI have to go to the computer room after this. Hurry up if you have any questions,â said Xie Wanyu.
Luan Rongrong sighed inwardly. âItâs such a good opportunity to be friends with a celebrity, but Xie Wanyu outright rejected it! Such a pityâ¦â
She was aware that Li Zexuan only invited her so that Xie Wanyu wouldnât feel awkward. If Xie Wanyu didnât agree to the invitation, she couldnât go either.
Luan Rongrong felt disappointed, but she wanted to support her friend. âItâs alright. If we canât make it this time, we can plan something next time. Xie Wanyuâs birthday is in a month. We can celebrate at the cafeteria.â
âIs your birthday in October, too?â asked Li Zexuan. He felt as though he had found a big secret. He was elated. âAlright then! Letâs celebrate at that time.â
Xie Wanyu pulled at Lua Rongrong. âNo, my birthday is already over.â âNo, itâs not! Your birthday is on October 29th,â said Luan Rongrong.
âRongrong, how did you know that?â asked Xie Wanyu. She hadnât mentioned her birthday to anybody.
âWanyu, date of birth is public information,â said Luan Rongrong. âOh⦠itâs okay to tell Li Zexuan. He is a friend, isnât he?â
âYeah.â Li Zexuan nodded.
Xie Wanyu sighed. âHurry. Show me the questions you need help with.â She looked at Luan Rongrong. âRongrong, you listen carefully as well.â
Li Zexuan flipped open the notebook where he had jotted down the questions. A few pages were densely packed with scribbles.
âSo many?â Xie Wanyu asked.
âYeah⦠I am sorry. There are quite a few,â he said. âBut teacher, you donât need to feel pressured. You can just teach me as much as you can..â