Chapter 36 is captivating.

"It's nothing, I just had a nightmare." Xu Jialan's voice was unusually low, like the heavy darkness outside the window.

Chen Yao'an sat down next to him. "Did something happen?"

"It's nothing," Xu Jialan said, not wanting to elaborate.

He kept his head slightly lowered, not wanting to look up at her, nor at the world.

His eyelashes kept fluttering, as if he was resisting something.

Tonight, they were both preoccupied with their own thoughts, and it was difficult for them to fall asleep.

After a long silence, Xu Jialan, probably feeling it was too quiet, asked her, "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I can't sleep."

"Me too."

Chen Yaoan looked at the sky outside, and it seemed as if moonlight had suddenly appeared.

"Then I'll take you somewhere."

She stood up, rummaged through a drawer for a flashlight, and then pulled him outside.

After leaving the Chen family's residence, there were two roads, one to the left and one to the right. Chen Yao'an led him away from the usual route and instead took the other road.

Xu Jialan had never been on this road before. It was all small, winding paths, but Chen Yaoan led the way, knowing the route well.

Finally, the two of them went down a small hill together. Xu Jialan heard the sound of flowing water, and the closer they got, the louder the sound of the water became.

Pushing aside the weeds, a small stream suddenly appeared before them. The bottom and sides of the stream were covered with pebbles of different sizes. The water flow was not strong, but it was very clear.

Chen Yaoan sat down on a smooth pebble, then reached out to pull him to sit on a pebble next to him.

Xu Jialan looked around and said, "You have places like this here?"

"Yeah, I used to come here often when I was a kid, but now hardly anyone comes. The grass on the bank has grown so tall. This is my secret base."

Xu Jialan raised an eyebrow. "Your secret base, bring me here?"

"Why not?"

The moon hung high in the sky, its silvery light pouring onto the water's surface like a layer of white gauze.

“I come here often now.”

"Why?"

"It comes when I'm in a bad mood."

As she spoke, she put down the flashlight in her hand, then bent down and put her hand into the water.

The water in this season absorbs the warmth of the sun, losing its chill, and gently caresses her palm, just like a mother's hand.

"It's very light and gentle, you should try it." She turned to look at Xu Jialan, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Xu Jialan followed her example, placing her hand flat into the water. Just as she had said, it was very light and gentle.

"Try closing your eyes and feeling the water gently flowing through your palms, letting your worries drift away with the water."

Xu Jialan smiled and closed his eyes as she instructed. He felt the water slowly flowing through his palms, felt the wind brushing through his hair, and felt his worries, repressions, and hatred being slowly peeled away like silk.

After a long while, Chen Yao'an opened her eyes, looked at him, and asked, "Are you feeling better?"

She knew this water wasn't a cure, but it would at least offer him some relief.

A low response rolled through Xu Jialan's throat.

He paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I heard that my father found an illegitimate child, and it has been verified that he is his biological son."

Chen Yao'an was somewhat taken aback. After so many years without my illegitimate child, it has suddenly come back at this time.

He has already compromised with his father, isn't that enough?

Chen Yao'an unconsciously clenched her fists, her nails leaving deep marks on her palms.

How disappointed he must be!

Do you hate him?

"I don't know either, maybe it's hatred," Xu Jialan said, her voice tinged with confusion.

Chen Yao'an didn't know what to say to comfort him; she was never good with words.

So, after thinking for a long time, she simply reached out and took his hand.

"Xu Jialan, everything will be alright." But as I said these words, I felt a sense of powerlessness.

Her hands were small and soft, and Xu Jialan couldn't help but squeeze them back. "And yours?"

What's wrong with me?

"Didn't you have trouble sleeping? Why did you bring me here in the middle of the night?"

"Nothing much." Chen Yaoan let go of his hand.

She stared at the water.

Xu Jialan's hand quickly followed, not grasping her hand, but pinching the sides of her chin, forcing her to look at him.

He narrowed his eyes and complained with some dissatisfaction, "Chen Yao'an, this is no fun. I've told you everything."

Chen Yao'an pushed his hand away, "It's really nothing, it's nothing at all."

She's already been through it once.

Xu Jialan changed her posture and said, "You must never bottle up your emotions, or you'll develop health problems."

He discovered that Chen Yao'an disliked showing her emotions in front of others and always pretended to be strong.

"And what about you? You didn't develop any problems from holding it in either."

“I’m not like you. I have a lot of friends, and sometimes when I’m having fun with them, I forget everything else.”

Chen Yaoan, however, thought it was not necessarily true. It was clear that he did not often confide in others. His troubles were actually rooted in his heart, but he had temporarily hidden them. Otherwise, those emotions would have overwhelmed him.

And what about her? Why did he tell her?

Chen Yao'an was lost in thought when Xu Jialan suddenly nudged her.

What is that?

He nodded and pointed to the air.

Small, glowing creatures hovered above the water's surface.

"Fireflies, haven't you ever seen them?"

"I've never seen a real one."

So Chen Yaoan stood up and, when the fireflies flew by, seized the opportunity to swat them away a few times.

After several failed attempts, he finally managed to trap one of them in her palm.

Xu Jialan raised an eyebrow. Her movements were skillful and nimble. For the first time, he caught a glimpse of a lively and agile girl in her, like an elf, making it impossible to look away.

She carefully raised her hand in front of him, then slowly opened it a crack.

She thought the firefly would struggle to fly out of her palm, but it just lay there obediently, its tail flashing.

Actually, apart from the fact that fireflies glow at their tails, they are quite ordinary-looking, but Xu Jialan still looked at them for a long time, and finally a smile appeared on her lips.

The firefly lingered for half a minute before flying away.

A group of fireflies hovered on the water's surface for a while, then flew downstream together.

The two watched them fly away together.

"Xu Jialan, do you think they'll fly over to the river?" There's a wider river there with plenty of water.

"Yes, I will." Xu Jialan's voice was firm.

—

The next morning, before leaving, Xu Jialan handed her something wrapped in paper and placed in a gift bag.

What is it?

"Birthday present."

Chen Yao'an then remembered that she had invited him to her birthday party a few days ago, but he hadn't replied to her messages.

"It's not my birthday yet."

"I'm giving you the gift in advance."

"Why?"

Xu Jialan seemed a little impatient with her question, "No reason."

As he spoke, he pulled another card from his pocket and handed it to her, his tone harsh and leaving her no room to refuse, "Try not to accept it this time."

It's the same bank card from last time.

Xu Jialan stared at her, her gaze intense and intimidating.

So Chen Yao'an reached out and took it, saying, "Thank you."

He then raised an eyebrow in satisfaction. "Let's go."

"Will you still come to my birthday party?"

He didn't turn around. "Come on."

—

Since I'll be celebrating my birthday at her house, there's a lot I need to prepare.

The day before, after leaving Yuno, she went to the market and bought a lot of things. After returning home, she took the things to the kitchen to organize them.

Zhou Yao appeared silently at the kitchen doorway without anyone noticing. "Yao'an."

Chen Yaoan turned to look at her, "Mom."

Zhou Yao waved to her.

She paused for a moment and walked over. "What's wrong, Mom?"

Zhou Yao suddenly touched her face, looking at her with loving eyes, "Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday, isn't it?"

Chen Yao'an's hand, hanging by her side, trembled slightly as she looked at her in surprise, "Mom, you..."

“I remember now, happy birthday, my daughter.”

Chen Yao'an's eyes welled up with tears. She grabbed Zhou Yi's hand and suddenly started crying. "That's wonderful, Mom."

Zhou Yao hadn't been this lucid in a long time.

She pulled Zhou Yao into the living room and happily shared with her, "Shi Xinyu and Gao Hou will be coming to celebrate my birthday tomorrow. We'll eat cake together, okay?"

Zhou Yao held her hand tightly, "Okay, everything's fine, it's just a pity..."

She didn't continue, but Chen Yao'an knew what she was regretting.

The mother and daughter seemed to have endless things to say, as if afraid they wouldn't have the chance to talk again in the next second, and they talked until late at night.

Chen Yao'an was worried that she was too tired, "Okay, it's too late, we can talk about it tomorrow."

Zhou Yao stared blankly for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Okay, it's your birthday tomorrow, you'll be busy, I'll help you prepare."

"good."

He took Zhou Yao to her room to sleep, and then went back to his own room.

Lying in bed, amidst her joy, a sudden sense of panic washed over Chen Yao'an.

Why did Zhou Yao suddenly wake up and look just like an ordinary person?

Her heart was like a balloon, floating on the clouds, never settling down.

After tossing and turning for a long time, Chen Yaoan suddenly sat up in bed and ran anxiously to Zhou Yao's room.

Just before pushing the door open, she stopped and knocked.

"Come in."

Chen Yaoan pushed open the door, but did not go in immediately. Instead, she stood at the door and looked at Zhou Yao.

Zhou Yao sat up in bed, looked at her, and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"

The expression on her face was exactly the same as it had been in the afternoon.

Chen Yaoan walked over quickly and hugged Zhou Yao tightly. She patted her blanket and asked her what was wrong, just like when they were little.

Chen Yaoan shook her head. "It's nothing, I just want to sleep with you."

Zhou Yao stroked Chen Yao'an's hair, "You're so big now, and you still want to sleep with your mother."

Chen Yao'an tightened his grip on her arms. "Yes, I want to sleep with you."

"Okay." The tone was indulgent.

The two lay down together, expecting they wouldn't be able to sleep, but surprisingly they slept very soundly.

The next day, Zhou Yao got up earlier than Chen Yaoan. When she got up, Zhou Yao had already prepared breakfast.

After breakfast, Chen Yaoan said she didn't want to go to Youye anymore.

"Why don't you go?" Zhou Yao asked her.

I want to stay home with you.

"I'm fine, I don't need you to keep me company."

Chen Yao'an said to her in a coquettish tone, "Mom, I'm a little tired and want to rest for a while. Besides, today is my birthday."

Zhou Yao looked at her with the same doting expression as before, but still scolded her a few times, and finally said to let her do as she pleased.

Just like before when she made a fuss about not wanting to go to school.

Zhou Yao yawned, looking a little tired. "I got up too early today. I'm going to go back to sleep for a while."

"good."

Zhou Yao went into the bedroom, and Chen Yao cleared away the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them.

She was somewhat absent-minded, and at one point she even dropped a bowl on the ground. The bowl shattered into pieces and lay scattered on the ground, startling her so much that her heart pounded for a long time.