It was a long time before Xiao Feiran returned home after that day.

As Cheng Zhi helped her carry her things, she scolded her, "I'm starting to suspect you've forgotten about this family. You haven't been home for over twenty days!"

Xiao Feiran gently nudged Cheng Zhi with her shoulder, "I've been busy, don't be angry, I'll cook dinner tonight, okay?"

Cheng Zhi didn't stand on ceremony with her. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I want to eat beer-braised duck!"

After returning to the room, Cheng Zhi sat cross-legged on Xiao Feiran's bed.

Xiao Feiran looked at Cheng Zhi and suddenly remembered something, "Cheng Zhi, didn't Xiao Zhi do a fortune telling for me back then?"

Cheng Zhi tilted her head and thought for a moment, "We've had so many divinations over the years, which one are you referring to?"

Xiao Feiran said uncertainly, "It must have been when Xiao Zhi first arrived. I remember we asked him a question about relationships. Do you remember what the divination said?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhi vaguely remembered it. She thought about it carefully and said haltingly, "It seems to be saying that your other half has appeared and you will be very happy?"

At the time, no one took it seriously, but now that Xiao Feiran himself has suddenly asked, Cheng Zhi has also become interested, "So, who have you been meeting lately?"

Xiao Feiran smiled and shook her head. "No, I just suddenly remembered."

Cheng Zhi got out of bed, walked over and patted Xiao Feiran's head. "It's up to you whether you look for her or not. Just follow your heart. I will always support you."

Cheng Zhi said this to try and comfort her.

Xiao Feiran looked up at Cheng Zhi, swallowed the words she wanted to say, and softly replied, "Okay."

After dinner was ready, Cheng Zhi brought out the cake and placed it in the center.

Once everything was set out, Cheng Zhi invited Cheng Ye, the birthday celebrant, down from the table.

Wearing the paper crown, Cheng Ye was extremely unwilling. "I don't want to wear this thing!"

Cheng Zhi clicked her tongue, "Wearing this crown, which was given to us, is a beautiful tradition of China's five thousand years of history."

Cheng Ye: "..." That would be best!

Everyone sat together, singing, making wishes, and blowing out candles. From beginning to end, Cheng Ye didn't look at Xiao Feiran even once.

When it came to gift-giving, my parents were very practical.

Cheng's father simply took out a red envelope and said, "Go buy whatever you want. We don't know what you want, but don't spend it recklessly!"

Cheng Ye squeezed the red envelope, opened it on the spot, took out three or four bills, and gave the rest to Cheng's mother. "This is enough. I'll give the rest to my mother. It wasn't easy for her to give birth to me."

After Mom and Dad finished seeing off their children, it should be Cheng Zhi's turn next.

Seeing Cheng Zhi's eager expression, Cheng Ye gestured for her to begin, "Let's get started. What ugly things have you collected this year?"

Cheng Zhi patted the bag beside her and said proudly, "This one is definitely not ugly this year. I made it myself, and it's very exquisite!"

Upon hearing Cheng Zhi's words, Cheng Ye understood. "I get it. Ugliness has reached a new level."

Cheng Ye took the gift bag, opened it, and her face was full of questions.

He picked up the hollow felt doll that was broken in two, completely bewildered by what it was. "You...you made a witchcraft doll to curse me?"

"..."

Cheng Zhi rolled her eyes dramatically. "This is a penguin plushie's headphone cover!"

The remaining four people, with eight eyes, looked up, and after a long time, they finally managed to make out a vague outline of a penguin.

Cheng Ye gave his sister a thumbs up, "You did a great job, it has a very abstract beauty. I'm going to use it right now, and my earphones will never be stolen again."

Cheng Ye didn't give up his witty remarks, and Cheng Zhi, quite naturally, slapped him.

After everyone had given their gifts, Xiao Feiran took out a long, flat box and pushed it in front of Cheng Ye.

After seeing what it was, Cheng Ye wasn't excited, but Cheng Zhi was. "Is he your sister or am I your sister? How could you buy him something so expensive!"

Xiao Feiran held Cheng Zhi down and explained, "A birthday only comes once a year."

Cheng Ye looked at the keyboard he had wanted for a long time. On the surface, he showed no emotion, but in his heart he was overjoyed.

Fei Ran actually remembered what he wanted and actually bought it.

The gloom of the past few days vanished, and a smile finally appeared on Cheng Ye's face. Xiao Feiran was relieved to see that his mood had improved.

Everyone was happy, but Xiao Feiran felt a kind of indescribable sorrow in her heart.

Cheng Ye's words that day were like releasing a raging beast, leaving her terrified every day.

It wasn't that Cheng Ye was bad, but she was genuinely worried. Cheng Zhi and the others were the family she had finally managed to have, and she didn't want to lose another family.

After the meal, Cheng Zhi and Cheng Ye took the initiative to wash the dishes.

Xiao Feiran was already distracted, so she didn't refuse and went straight back to her room.

Only the two siblings remained in the kitchen. As Cheng Zhi washed the dishes, she suddenly sighed, "What's wrong with them lately? They're both in a bad mood."

Cheng Ye, who was in a good mood, didn't even think about it and asked, "Who is it?"

Cheng Zhi turned her head and said, "It was you a few days ago, and today it's Xiao. What's going on between you two?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ye's smile vanished, likely because what she had said that day had frightened Fei Ran.

He looked at the foam in his hands and said slowly, "Everyone has their troubles, more or less. How can you be happy every day?"

Cheng Zhi agreed with this statement, but she didn't think that keeping it to herself was the best solution.

"If you have any problems, you can just tell me, and I can help you share the burden."

Cheng Ye turned on the tap. "It's like when you got a 9 on your advanced math exam. There are some things you just don't dare tell everyone."

Cheng Zhi: "...Do you really have to use this example?"

Cheng Zhi paused for a moment, looked at the wall and said, "I don't know what Fei Ran's matter is yet, but you, let me put it this way, as long as you don't fall in love with the big chicken leg in the pot, whether it's a man or a woman, old or young, as long as it's not too outrageous and doesn't break the law, our parents and I can accept it."

Cheng Ye blinked, her mind racing, determined to be cheeky, "What if I said I liked Brother Yan?"

These words made Cheng Zhi laugh in anger, "There are so many people in the world, do you have to compete with your sister for a man?"

The two hadn't finished arguing when they heard a thud at the door, as if something had fallen.

The two siblings turned around and saw Qi Yanche standing at the door. They froze, and the apple they were holding fell to the ground.

"..."

What a coincidence!

Cheng Ye wanted to explain, but as soon as he took two steps out, Qi Yanche took five steps back.

As he returned it, he shouted, "This isn't appropriate! This really isn't appropriate!"