Chapter Twenty-Eight
After returning to Hong Kong, Su Xian only visited Lin Zhiyuan's house once. When she saw the nightgown and clothes he had prepared for her in the closet, she felt both ashamed and embarrassed, and insisted on not changing into them. Later, she was unwilling to stay overnight at the hillside mansion, so Lin Zhiyuan spent most of his time in Su Xian's courtyard.
The port city turned cold earlier this year. September had just passed when a sudden storm dragged the city into autumn.
The mall was still very cold. Su Xian, wearing a little black dress, attended a skincare product endorsement event. She stood for more than an hour and started sneezing as soon as she got back to her car.
Qingqing quickly draped the golden-brown velvet blanket over Su Xuan, wrapping it around her cold arms. The undyed lavender under her fingers was soft and delicate, warming her body.
This fleece blanket was brought by Su Xian from Lin Zhiyuan's house. The two of them had been fooling around in the study that day, and their clothes were scattered all over the floor. Lin Zhiyuan grabbed the fleece blanket that was draped over the executive chair, wrapped it around her, and carried her into the bathroom.
She liked the fleece blanket, so Lin Zhiyuan said he would give her another one another day, but Su Xian insisted on having this one, simply because he had used it and it had his scent.
Su Xian grabbed the two sides of the blanket and wrapped it tighter, then lifted a corner and held it under her nose. She smelled the faint scent of cedar and couldn't help but smile.
After taking a hot shower that evening, Su Xian lay in bed reading. The trash can was half full of used paper balls when Lin Zhiyuan called.
"Hello." Su Xian's voice was heavily nasal.
"How did you catch a cold? Did you not wear enough clothes because of the temperature drop?" Lin Zhiyuan asked with concern.
"It was at an event at the mall this afternoon; I was in air conditioning for too long." Su Xian quickly changed the subject, afraid he would nag her. "How were things in Paris?"
"Missing me?"
"It's only been a few days, you must have missed me."
Lin Zhiyuan chuckled, "The board meeting is over, but we're not done yet; it'll take a while. But I'll definitely be back before your birthday. Is there anything I wish for?"
"You're all grown up now, how could you still act like a child and look forward to your birthday so much?"
"No matter how old you are, birthdays are very important, and this year you can celebrate your birthday however you want."
Su Xian laughed out loud, "Then can I go to the moon to celebrate my birthday?"
"Maybe when you become an old lady, you can fulfill this wish."
"Okay, then you'd better remember that."
Lin Zhiyuan hummed in agreement. Su Xian thought for a moment and then said, "My birthday has always been simple. Actually, as long as you are by my side and we have a meal together, that's enough."
For her, a simple and ordinary life is enough to make her happy.
"Okay, I understand. If you have a cold, get some rest and wait for me to come back."
Su Xian agreed, hung up the phone, put away her book and phone, turned off the light, and went to bed early.
After finishing the post-production dubbing for "Dark Tide," Su Xian had nothing much to do. Unable to find a script she liked, she simply decided to wait. However, she never wasted time. Taking advantage of her rare free time, besides exercising and reading, Su Xian also found an instructor to continue learning to ride horses. She enjoyed the freedom of riding a horse with a gentle breeze on her face.
On the afternoon of her birthday, Su Xian went to the cemetery alone to visit her mother. She squatted down, took out a tissue from her trench coat pocket, and gently wiped her mother's photo.
"His... father passed away last week and was buried in the north of the city."
When the hospital staff informed her of the news, Su Xian felt no emotion; she simply instructed Bai Lin to find someone to help handle it. Later, when Bai Lin asked her where she wanted her mother buried, Su Xian unhesitatingly chose Beicheng. If souls truly existed, she didn't want her mother to be troubled by them after death.
"I'm doing pretty well lately. Work is going smoothly. I've just been resting for a while and I'm a little bored."
"But there aren't any good scripts I want to act in. I had a chance to act in a movie, but it was snatched away."
"But it's okay, we'll have another chance eventually."
Su Xian crumpled the tissue she used to wipe the tombstone into a ball and held it in her hand. After clearing away the weeds in front of the tombstone, she stood up to say goodbye and saw a tall, slender figure not far away.
She raised her hand and waved, standing still as Lin Zhiyuan approached. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me outside?"
Lin Zhiyuan put the carnations he was holding on the ground. "What? Don't you want to introduce me to your mother-in-law?"
"It's not proper."
Lin Zhiyuan stood up, took Su Xian's hand, and kissed it. He looked at the tombstone and said, "Auntie, I will be by Xiao Xian's side, accompanying her and taking care of her. You don't need to worry about her being alone."
The simple promise he uttered so solemnly struck Su Xian's heart like a blow. She turned her head away, not wanting him to see her true feelings.
"Let's go." Su Xian tugged at his hand.
Lin Zhiyuan followed her for only a few steps before suddenly pulling her back to her mother's grave. Su Xian staggered, and then heard him speak again, "By the way, Auntie, my name is Lin Zhiyuan. Now and in the future, Xiao Xian will only have me. You must remember that."
"Always talking nonsense and never serious!" Su Xian was both embarrassed and annoyed. She shook off his hand and walked out without looking back, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.
Lin Zhiyuan caught up with her and held her hand tightly.
“Your aunt has already accepted me, so you can’t escape now.”
Su Xian turned her head away and said reluctantly, "I haven't admitted it yet."
The black Phantom stopped at the roadside, the doors opened automatically, and Su Xuan and Lin Zhiyuan got in.
"Happy birthday."
Su Xian fastened her seatbelt and turned around, only to be met with Lin Zhiyuan's smiling face.
She pursed her lips, took out her phone, and scrolled to the picture Bai Lin had sent her that afternoon, holding it up in front of Lin Zhiyuan. Today, all the shopping malls in Shangcheng District were displaying Holmes jewelry advertisements on their large screens. In the picture, she was wearing a diamond necklace, looking noble and elegant.
"Isn't this considered using public office for private gain?"
“It can be considered mutually beneficial.” A sly glint flashed in Lin Zhiyuan’s eyes.
Su Xian snorted lightly, "No sincerity."
"I'll take you somewhere first."
In late autumn, darkness fell earlier and earlier. When Su Xian saw the road outside the car window leading to the familiar Leeds Hills, she almost thought Lin Zhiyuan was going to take her back to the hillside mansion.
However, the phantom didn't stop midway, but continued upwards, stopping at a viewing platform. Unlike the mountaintop platform, which is always crowded with tourists watching the night view, this platform offered a similar angle, but was completely deserted.
"This is the club's premises; no one will come here."
Su Xian nodded. Actually, there was no need to ask. He knew she didn't want to be photographed and always arranged these kinds of things perfectly.
Su Xian leaned against the railing, puzzled, and asked, "Why did you bring me here?"
Lin Zhiyuan hugged her from behind, raising his right hand; the hands of his watch pointed to 18:59.
"30, 29, 28..."
Lin Zhiyuan wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to her cheek, "25, 24, 23..."
He counted down one number at a time, his calm voice reaching Su Xuan's ears, and her heart pounded with each countdown.
"5,4,3,2,1".
As soon as the words were spoken, the most beautiful port city night view at the foot of Leeds Hill, with all kinds of neon lights on the exterior walls of towering office buildings, all turned into "Happy Birthday Su Xian" in red letters on a black background in that instant.
Su Xian stared wide-eyed, her mouth agape in astonishment.
The words on the building's exterior wall sometimes scrolled upwards, sometimes flashed, constantly reminding everyone that today is her birthday.
"This isn't about using public office for private gain," Lin Zhiyuan said with a smile.
His voice was gentle, and Su Xian's heart softened suddenly. She turned around and hugged Lin Zhiyuan. In the darkness, Su Xian's eyelashes fluttered up and down like butterflies, trying to drive away the moisture.
"Thank you." Su Xian's voice trembled slightly.
"I'll be waiting for you to thank me properly tonight."
"You're being indecent again." Su Xian gently pinched his waist.
"Let's go eat."
Su Xian tugged at his sleeve, "How long will this last? I want to see for a while longer."
Lin Zhiyuan chuckled softly and pulled her close to his trench coat. "Then let's watch for a while longer."
Fifteen minutes later, the neon lights returned to normal, and Su Xian reluctantly got into the car with Lin Zhiyuan.
After driving for a while, Su Xian suddenly remembered, "I forgot to take pictures!" She was a little annoyed.
"It's okay." Lin Zhiyuan took her hand. "We'll film again next year."
Su Xian couldn't help but smile.
The Phantom had been driving for a long time without stopping, and Su Xian asked, puzzled, "Where are we going to eat?"
"Look out the window."
Su Xian did as instructed and pulled back the car curtain to look out. On the blue road sign, several arrows pointing in different directions pointed to "Disneyland Resort" and "Disneyland Hotel".
"We'll go in after 8 o'clock and help you make up for the regrets from your childhood."
Su Xian stared at him without blinking.
He still remembered the silly question she asked him that night. Even though she never mentioned it again, and even though she said she didn't have any birthday wishes, he didn't forget what she had said. Not only did he remember, but he also silently helped her fulfill it.
Lin Zhiyuan raised his hand and patted the top of her head. "Don't think about anything else. Today is your birthday. The only thing you need to do is be happy."
Hong Kong Disneyland isn't very big. All evening, Su Xian held Lin Zhiyuan's hand and walked around, playing every single ride. When they were scared, they screamed together, and when they were happy, they laughed together.
The dazzling fireworks exploded for the second time tonight over the castle, just for two important guests. Su Xian looked up with wide eyes, feeling her face ache from smiling so much.
"Make a wish quickly," Lin Zhiyuan reminded him.
Oh right, we didn't cut the cake today, so I haven't made a wish yet.
The last golden firework disappeared into the sky, and the castle bells rang out—once, twice, three times…
Su Xian clasped her hands together and closed her eyes; she didn't know what wish she could make.
"Thump," "Thump," "Thump"
As midnight approaches, I wonder if Cinderella and the prince were accompanied by the same chimes after their dance.
"Thump," "Thump," "Thump"
Is she Cinderella too? If so, then please let the prince stay with her a little longer, and don't let him disappear so quickly.
"Thump," "Thump," "Thump"
After the clock struck twelve, silence returned after the night's clamor.
Su Xian opened her eyes and met Lin Zhiyuan's gentle gaze. Su Xian took his hand.
Let's go.
"What did you wish for?"
"Isn't it forbidden to say it? If you say it, it won't work."
"But I can only help you achieve it if you tell me."
"No, no."
"Say it, say it."
Lin Zhiyuan tried his best to persuade Su Xian, but she just wouldn't tell him.
A black phantom was waiting at the park entrance. Su Xuan stopped and turned around. The smile in Lin Zhiyuan's eyes shone like starlight.
She smiled and said, "Come a little closer, and I'll tell you."
Lin Zhiyuan bent down as instructed, and Su Xian stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips.
This was the first time she had taken the initiative like this. Lin Zhiyuan was still in a daze, and Su Xian's smile deepened. Seeing that he wanted to reach out and hug her, Su Xian immediately took a step back.
Lin Zhiyuan, having missed his target, simply picked her up and carried her to the car, saying, "You little rascal, I'll deal with you when we get back."
"It's my birthday today, you can't punish me." Su Xian hugged his neck and laughed heartily in his arms.
"It's past midnight, the protest is invalid."
She couldn't escape this beating. Back in Su Xian's courtyard, Lin Zhiyuan pinned her down on the bed and tormented her for a while before letting her go.
Lin Zhiyuan's breathing gradually became steady. Su Xian leaned against Lin Zhiyuan's chest in the darkness and whispered, "Thank you, Lin Zhiyuan."
Thank you for the happiness you brought me.
At 29, this was her most unforgettable birthday.
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