Chapter Nine: Tonight was undoubtedly the most touching day of Lin Weiwan’s twenty-third birthday celebration.
After eating, they sang the birthday song, and she made a wish for her family’s peace and health – the most ordinary and simple desire.
Next came gift-giving. Lin’s mother took out a cherished dowry accessory she had kept for years, presenting it as a birthday gift, saying she wanted to save it for her daughter’s wedding trousseau.
Jun Hao brought out his perfect grade report from school, showing he had been studying seriously and hadn’t neglected his education despite being ill.
Lin Weiwan accepted her mother’s and brother’s gifts, crying and laughing, while everyone’s gaze inadvertently fell on Ye Lixie, who had been silently accompanying them throughout.
Facing their questioning looks, he coolly said his gift would be personally delivered later.
When she first heard he was going to give her a gift, her heart was somewhat excited and surprised. But after further consideration, she pursed her lips, knowing he hadn’t prepared anything at all.
After all, their outing was a last-minute decision. She herself had even forgotten her birthday, let alone him, so it was completely normal that he had nothing prepared.
She didn’t mind his bravado about giving the gift later. She felt that his companionship throughout the day was already the most luxurious and precious gift.
If not for him driving her back, staying with her to find people, constantly comforting her panicked heart, and even pretending to be her boyfriend to bring a relieved smile to her mother’s face.
She knew she should be grateful for him not exposing her identity and quietly celebrating her birthday with her.
A CEO of such noble status lowering himself to treat a small maidservant this way – it was like an unimaginable fairy tale.
She understood, and thus developed a distant admiration for him.
Yes, she liked him.
She would care about his physical discomfort, worry for him, and even when she saw Lili kissing him, her chest would tighten almost to the point of breathlessness. She knew she had “accidentally” fallen deeply in love with him.
But she dared not confess her feelings, afraid that speaking them aloud would push their current relationship into an unpredictable and strange direction.
