Chapter Thirty-Six Birthday Gifts
I rarely go to shopping malls, let alone the men's clothing section. I usually buy my clothes online or from small shops. At Huang Yanyan's urging, I came to the most upscale shopping mall in City A. The sales staff here were quite enthusiastic. They could probably estimate the price of Huang Yanyan's outfit with just a glance.
"Looking for clothes for your boyfriend, right? Take a look at this one, it's perfect for young people these days." The sales assistant smiled and picked up a suit, a light blue plaid one. It did look quite youthful, but it lacked a sense of maturity. I smiled and shook my head.
"How about this one?" The sales assistant picked up another navy blue set.
"I'll take a look myself!" It's not that I disrespect the sales assistant's profession, it's just that I really don't like having someone constantly giving advice while I'm choosing things.
I visited several stores, but honestly, none of them had a style I liked.
"I think Chu Zhen usually wears pretty much the same things. You're too picky!" Huang Yanyan said impatiently.
"I always feel that clothes are best tried on. They might look nice hanging here, but we don't know how they'll look on you. Let's look at the others!"
"Anything else? Do you have any ideas?"
"No, this is the first time I've given a gift to a guy, it's so brain-taxing." I really admire how couples manage to give each other so many gifts during holidays.
"If you ask me, I'd rather give you to him. That would definitely be the best gift." Huang Yanyan's enthusiasm for choosing a gift was completely extinguished.
"Good idea."
"I was just saying it casually, you're not serious, are you?" Yan Yan looked at me in astonishment, probably not expecting my answer.
"Hmm, that's a great idea." I smiled, ignoring Huang Yanyan's stunned expression.
Now that I'd decided on a gift and hadn't spent any money, Huang Yanyan insisted that I treat her to a big meal, because after her birthday I wouldn't belong to her anymore, but to another man. However, Yanyan still felt uneasy and kept asking me if I had made up my mind.
Chu Zhen's birthday is on a Friday, which happened to be a day when I had class. After class, I went straight to Chu Zhen's place.
I'm not a romantic person, but this time I wanted to give Chu Zhen a big surprise. Of course, I didn't tell Huang Yanyan what kind of gift it was. Right now, she's still messaging me to think it over carefully, since this is the most important thing in a woman's life. I didn't expect that she, who seems so carefree, is actually quite traditional.
One person's ability is indeed limited, and my hands-on skills are really not good. After arranging the room simply, Xiao Ai's text message came in: Chu Zhen has already set off.
I drew all the curtains. Winter nights fall especially early, and the room was pitch black. I lit a candle, and the flickering candlelight made the whole room feel exceptionally warm. I changed into a nude-colored long dress, which Chu Zhen had bought with me, but on the condition that I could only wear it in front of him. So, after buying it, I hardly ever wore it.
There was already some noise outside the door, so I held my breath and hid behind it.
I couldn't see Chu Zhen's expression when she entered the room. I only knew that after the door opened, there was no sound of her footsteps. She must have been stunned! After a while, Chu Zhen slowly walked into the living room. I had placed a cake on the coffee table with candles already lit!
"Lin Dang~" Chu Zhen called to me.
"Guess where I am?" I said, deliberately changing my voice. Chu Zhen followed the sound and saw me behind the door.
"Happy birthday~" I said with a smile, walking towards Chu Zhen.
"Thank you!" Chu Zhen opened his arms, and I strode over and threw myself into his embrace.
"You did all of this?"
"Well, how about it? Surprised? Unexpected?"
"I'm so surprised and happy, thank you, Lin Dang!" Chu Zhen hugged me even tighter, as if he wanted to embed himself into his body.
"Make a wish and blow out the candles!"
"Okay!" Chu Zhen held my hand, clasped his hands together, and my hand was enveloped by his large hands.
I don't know what he wished for, but I could feel his sincerity, and I had a feeling that I was definitely in his wish.
Just as Chu Zhen was about to blow out the candles, I immediately covered his mouth with my hand.
"Wait, I have something to say!"
"Hmm~"
"Chu Zhen, thank you for appearing in my life. Actually, I don't even know when I started to have feelings for you, and it seems I haven't confessed my feelings to you until today. But, Chu Zhen, I like you." The confession under the candlelight made me less afraid.
"Lin Dang, is it just liking her?"
"Yes, the kind I really like."
"Then you can't compare to me. I love you, I love you so much, it's ingrained in my bones," Chu Zhen said affectionately.
"Deep into the bones? You're exaggerating!" At that moment, I actually burst out laughing.
"Lin Dang, you're such a spoilsport, haven't you noticed? You were like this when I confessed my feelings, and you're doing it again today when I was giving my heartfelt confession. You really know how to ruin the atmosphere!"
"Okay, you blow out the candles now. I'm hungry, let's eat the cake!"
After blowing out the candles and turning on the light, Chu Zhen looked me up and down.
"What's wrong? Is it strange?" I asked somewhat uneasily.
"Lin Dang, do you know you're provoking me today?"
"What did I do to offend you? I'm celebrating your birthday."
I'm not stupid; Chu Zhen's eyes already revealed desire.
"I told you, you're a fairy, and in this dress, you're an even more captivating thousand-year-old fox spirit~" I really suspect that Chu Zhen has been walking around too much in the middle of the night and has bumped into a fairy, otherwise why would he keep calling me a fairy?
After cutting the cake, I scooped out a spoonful and fed it to Chu Zhen.
"Lin Dang, sometimes it feels so unreal." Chu Zhen looked at me, her hand still around my waist.
"What's unreal about it? Do you feel like you have a celestial beauty by your side and are afraid she'll suddenly disappear?" I looked at him with a smile, my smile full of allure in the dim candlelight.
"Yes, I'm twenty-nine this year, and I'll be thirty next year. All these feelings that have been buried for so many years have actually fallen for your charms." Chu Zhen rubbed his face against mine, his stubble prickling a little, but it made my heart flutter.
"Everyone is someone else's tribulation, and so are we. I am your tribulation." I don't know where these words came from, or if I just improvised, but I can't believe I said such sentimental things.
"I don't really have a concept of birthdays, but today, I'm filled with anticipation for it~ I'm grateful to my mother for giving birth to me 29 years ago today, allowing me to hold such a beautiful girl in my arms right now~"
On the sofa, Chu Zhen's arms were wrapped around my waist, and her head rested on my shoulder. We sat quietly, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.
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