Marriage (IV)
After being scolded by Ruan Qi, Nie Heng finally calmed down and continued to eat peaches quietly.
After finishing the seventh peach, he burped painfully and said, "I really can't eat any more. I'll take a box to the store tomorrow and share it with everyone. Senior sister, how are you planning my brother-in-law's birthday surprise? There are only three days left, so don't let me down."
Ruan Qi took a bite of peach flesh, glanced at him, and said confidently, "Don't worry. Everything is ready, and I will definitely give Jiujiu a most unforgettable 30th birthday!"
…
Wow—another page of the calendar has turned.
There are less than four hours left until my birthday.
Xi Jiu looked at 'April 7' on the perpetual calendar, and for the first time, felt a sense of loss on such a happy day.
Ruan Qi might really not remember his birthday.
She has been very busy with work these days. For some reason, Shen Wenqian suddenly gave her several notices. Ruan Qi went out early and came back late every day. After returning at night, she was so tired that she fell asleep immediately and didn't even have time to say a few words to Xi Jiu.
Xi Jiu felt sorry for Ruan Qi, so he never mentioned that his birthday was coming up.
Until today, with less than four hours left until his birthday, Xi Jiu still hasn't found a chance to say it.
At this time, it was already late, and the hour hand of the clock hanging on the wall slowly passed eight o'clock.
Ruan Qi came home early today, a rare occasion. She was taking a shower, the sound of water splashing in the bathroom was loud.
Xi Jiu sat on the sofa in the bedroom, listening to the sound of water by his ears, his dark eyes were heavy, and there was an unconcealable loss in his eyes.
Only three hours and eleven minutes left until my birthday.
Ruan Qi still couldn't remember.
Xi Jiu didn't necessarily want to celebrate his birthday. Before he was with Ruan Qi, he never cared about it. Bai Yuchen and Gu Feiyang would offer to host a birthday party for him every year, but Xi Jiu thought it was too much trouble and refused them all.
For Xi Jiu in the past, his birthday was no different from any other day. He wasn't even bothered to eat a bowl of longevity noodles.
However, Xi Jiu was later spoiled by Ruan Qi.
After being with Ruan Qi, every birthday of Xi Jiu was full of surprises. Ruan Qi paid attention to everyone's birthday in the family, especially Xi Jiu's, and would start preparing for it a month in advance.
Flowers, cakes, delicious food... these standard birthday items are of course all there. Besides these, Ruan Qi will also prepare many small gifts that will surprise Xi Jiu.
For example, last year, Ruan Qi specially learned how to knit a sweater from Grandma Ruan. Then she spent a month secretly knitting a couple's outfit for Xi Jiu and herself as a birthday gift.
Xi Jiu's hands were shaking when he received this couple's sweater.
On the second day of his birthday, regardless of the bright April weather, he put on the thick red sweater and went shopping at Xi's with a proud look on his face.
Then, at noon that day, #熙玖戴雪衣# became a hot search.
…
In addition to this sweater, Ruan Qi also gave Xi Jiu many other birthday gifts.
A portrait she drew for him, a love song named "Him", a 30,000-word handwritten love letter... Every birthday gift Ruan Qi prepared was full of sincerity and love, and never disappointed anyone.
Xi Jiu fell deeper and deeper into this gentle love, and at the same time, he became more and more greedy.
Until now——
He had been spoiled to the point where he couldn't accept the fact that Ruan Qi ignored his birthday.
So, the man who was once as cold as an iceberg and had no emotional fluctuations began to feel lost, sad, and worried.
He sat on the sofa with his eyes drooping slightly, feeling lost and trying to find various excuses for Ruan Qi to forget his birthday.
Maybe the baby has been too busy recently and forgot.
We have been together for more than five years, so what if I forget my birthday occasionally?
Baby, you just didn't remember it this time. Just think of it as if tomorrow isn't your birthday.
Bao Bao is a big star, yet you still bother her with so much work. How can a man this old be so ignorant?
Xi Jiu activated his love brain skill, frantically finding excuses for Ruan Qi in his heart, while also constantly comforting himself.
However, the tight corners of his mouth and slightly drooped shoulders revealed all his emotions.
——He is unhappy.
Even a little sad.
Just then, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.
After taking a shower, Ruan Qi pushed the door open and walked out with wet long hair.
Xi Jiu, who had been immersed in sorrow just a second ago, instantly stood up from the sofa. His steps towards Ruan Qi were filled with eagerness and desire, without a trace of sadness.
"Why did you come out without blow-drying your hair?" Looking at Ruan Qi's wet long hair, Xi Jiu frowned.
He walked quickly into the bathroom and came out with a towel.
"Even though it's getting warmer now, the wind is still a bit strong. My hair is so wet, what if it gets caught in the wind?"
Xi Jiu criticized Ruan Qi while wiping her hair with a towel.
When the water stopped dripping from Ruan Qi's hair, he pulled her to the dressing table and pressed her into the chair.
"Baby, play with your phone for a while. I'll help you blow dry your hair."
Before Ruan Qi could say anything, a cell phone was stuffed into her hand.
Then the hair dryer started to hum.
…
Xi Jiu's blow-drying skills were excellent. In less than fifteen minutes, Ruan Qi's waist-length hair was blown smooth and sleek.
After drying her hair, Xi Jiu put down the hair dryer. He picked up the comb on the dressing table, lowered his eyes, and began to comb Ruan Qi's hair carefully.
Ruan Qi sat on the chair and looked at Xi Jiu through the mirror in front of her.
"Jiujiu," she blinked and suddenly said, "Tomorrow you..."
Xi Jiu, who was combing her hair, immediately raised her head when she heard the word "tomorrow".
"I have time tomorrow." He answered without being asked, very proactive. "I have time all day tomorrow. What are you going to do, baby?"
Meeting Xi Jiu's expectant gaze in the mirror, Ruan Qi's conscience pricked. She gritted her teeth and said cruelly, "Nothing. I just want to tell you that I have to get up early tomorrow to attend an announcement. You stay home and remember to eat on time."
Xi Jiu: "..."
The expectation in his eyes was instantly shattered into pieces.
Xi Jiu lowered his dull eyes and uttered a low "oh".
"I know. I'll eat on time. Don't be too tired, baby. Come home early."
At this moment, Boss Xi looked as aggrieved as a 200-pound dog.
Ruan Qi felt distressed and wanted to laugh at the same time. She rubbed her aching conscience, pretending not to notice Xi Jiu's sorrow, and nodded in a very aloof manner.
…
The next day, at half past six in the morning.
When Xi Jiu opened his eyes, Ruan Qi's bed had been cold for a long time.
Ruan Qi rarely gets up so early. Xi Jiu was a little unwilling to give up, so he sat on the bed and called "baby" a few times.
However, no one responded.
Ruan Qi really left.
This fact completely shattered the last shred of hope in Xi Jiu's heart. He sat on the bed in silence for a few seconds before he expressionlessly lifted the quilt and got out of bed.
Washing face, brushing teeth, showering... the mechanical process was as usual. Xi Jiu tried hard to smooth over the disappointment in his heart, and then treated today as an ordinary day, preparing to return to work at the company after his leave.
He went to the cloakroom and picked up a black shirt at random. Just as he was about to put it on, his cell phone in the bedroom suddenly rang.
Who could be calling at such an early hour?
Could it be that the baby was halfway there when he suddenly remembered that today was his birthday?
Xi Jiu's stagnant heart suddenly surged. He threw away his shirt, rushed out of the cloakroom, and grabbed the phone at the end of the bed.
Looking down at the caller ID——
【mom】
It turned out to be Duan Wei.
Xi Jiu's heart, pounding with emotion, suddenly fell to the ground. He answered the phone expressionlessly, then called out "Mom" without emotion.
Duan Wei's equally cold voice came from the other end of the phone: "Today is your birthday, happy birthday."
However, Xi Jiu was not happy.
He accepted Duan Wei's blessing in a very formal manner, and then thanked her in a very formal manner.
"Thanks, Mom. I'll come see you this afternoon."
Today is not only Xi Jiu's birthday, but also the day when Duan Wei suffered for giving birth to him.
Every year on this day, Ruan Qi would accompany Xi Jiu back to the old house and personally hand over the gift prepared for Duan Wei.
But this year, Ruan Qi forgot about it.
Without Ruan Qi as a link, Duan Wei and Xi Jiu, two icebergs, couldn't communicate at all. Mother and son exchanged a few awkward words on the phone, their cold tone sounding more like a vengeance than a birthday greeting.
In the end, Duan Wei couldn't stand this awkward conversation anymore and ended the call on her own initiative.
"I have something else to do here. Take care of yourself. You don't need to come this afternoon..."
Before he could finish his words, a buzzing sound suddenly came from Duan Wei's side.
Immediately afterwards, it seemed as if some pots and pans fell to the ground, accompanied by a woman's deliberately suppressed scream.
Xi Jiu vaguely felt that the exclamation sounded a bit like Ruan Qi's.
However, before he had time to think about it, Duan Wei interrupted his thoughts: "I'm in the kitchen making breakfast, so I'm a little busy. Let's not talk for now. Eat well, and I'm hanging up."
Duan Wei finished speaking and quickly hung up the phone.
When Xi Jiu heard that she was cooking in the kitchen, he immediately dismissed the idea that the exclamation was made by Ruan Qi.
After all, the whole world knows that Ruan Qi is a kitchen killer.
…
After finishing the call with Duan Wei, Xi Jiu returned to the cloakroom.
He picked up the black shirt that had fallen to the ground, dusted it off, and put it on.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, the cell phone in the bedroom rang again.
Xi Jiu had already given up on the hope that Ruan Qi would suddenly remember his birthday. With a cold expression and his shirt unbuttoned, he walked back to the bedroom, feeling completely depressed, and grabbed the phone.
Caller ID——【Bai Yuchen】
It turned out not to be Ruan Qi.
Xi Jiu's emotions lost control again.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the discomfort in his heart, and answered the phone coldly.
"explain."
It was a cold and hard word, frozen to the point of falling apart.
Bai Yuchen on the other end of the phone was startled by the coldness and almost forgot the purpose of his call.
Qin Qingdi, who was sitting next to him, poked him in time.
Bai Yuchen immediately came back to his senses and said to Xi Jiu in a very anxious tone, "Brother Jiu, come here quickly. Xiaodi and I are in trouble!"
Here we come!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
