Chapter 14 Happy Birthday
"Okay..." Shi Banxia drawled out the last syllable, with a hint of slyness in her voice, as she buried her face back in that comforting warmth and muttered softly.
"What if it's still not fixed by tomorrow?"
Ji Rendong did not answer immediately. Shi Banxia could only feel her breath brushing against her hair, as if she was silently responding to this audacious assumption.
This made Shi Banxia overjoyed, and her courage swelled up again like an inflated balloon.
Shi Banxia tilted her head back, trying to make out Ji Rendong's expression in the dim light of the desk lamp.
Ji Rendong had her eyes closed, her expression seemingly calm, but her slightly reddened earlobes and rapid breathing betrayed her inner thoughts.
"Sister Rendong..." Shi Banxia chuckled softly, "Your ears are so red..."
Ji Rendong's eyelashes trembled slightly. She didn't open her eyes, but simply replied, "...Sleep."
"Oh," Shi Banxia replied obediently, but she didn't behave herself.
She remained in Ji Rendong's gentle embrace, quietly raising her hand and lightly touching Ji Rendong's burning earlobe with her fingertips.
In that instant, Shi Banxia felt Ji Rendong suddenly catch his breath.
Shi Banxia, as if she had successfully pulled off a prank, had a sly glint in her eyes, but feigned innocence as she said, "Is the electric heater too hot? I feel a little warm..."
Ji Rendong finally opened his eyes and looked down at the "culprit" in his arms. Shi Banxia immediately put on an innocent expression and even blinked her eyes in a feigned aggrieved manner.
That expression seemed to say: I'm just stating the facts, I don't mean anything else!
Their eyes met, and a warm, sticky atmosphere filled the air.
Ji Rendong looked into Shi Banxia's bright, smiling eyes, the heat within them almost scalding through her efforts to maintain her composure.
Ji Rendong found herself helpless against the young photographer's "taking an inch and then a mile" approach, and even... a strange, indulgent feeling was spreading in her heart.
Ji Rendong took a soft breath, reached out her other hand, and gently covered Shi Banxia's eyes.
"Stop fooling around." Ji Rendong's voice was a little hoarse, and the touch of her eyelashes brushing against her palm made her heart flutter. "If you don't go to sleep, I'm really going back to my room."
Deprived of sight, other senses are amplified in the darkness. Shi Banxia could clearly feel Ji Rendong's warm breath and the warmth of her embrace…
And that lingering, subtle fragrance is more moving than any words.
"Okay, time to sleep!"
Shi Banxia smiled and, as she spoke, found a comfortable position in Ji Rendong's arms and closed her eyes.
Ji Rendong felt the person in his arms breathe more evenly, and then carefully removed his hand from her eyes. The light fell on Shi Banxia's face, illuminating the girl's gentle and soft smile.
She looked at Shi Banxia for a very long time.
The next morning.
Her biological clock caused Ji Rendong to wake up at a fixed time, and the first thing she felt was the unusual temperature and weight in her arms.
Shi Banxia had somehow already crawled into Ji Rendong's bed and was now curled up in her arms, her cheek pressed against her neck, fast asleep.
Soft strands of hair brushed against Ji Rendong's chin, causing a slight tickle.
Ji Rendong's body stiffened slightly as her memories returned. She looked down at Shi Banxia's sleeping face—unlike her usual lively and mischievous self, Shi Banxia was exceptionally well-behaved when asleep.
Ji Rendong did not get up immediately. She remained in that position, feeling the warmth in her arms, and a strange emotion flowed through her heart.
She discovered that she didn't dislike this feeling...
After a moment, she tried very slowly to pull her arm, which was being used as a pillow by Shi Banxia.
Shi Banxia mumbled something in her sleep, then snuggled even closer to Ji Rendong, her arm unconsciously draped over Ji Rendong's waist.
Ji Rendong paused, looking at the face so close to hers, and sighed helplessly, giving up the idea of getting up immediately.
She readjusted her position, letting Shi Banxia continue to nestle in her arms…
Time flowed quietly until the alarm clock on the bedside table rang, and Shi Banxia slowly woke up.
She blinked in confusion at first, then her eyes fell on Ji Rendong's pajamas and her beautiful collarbone...
After a few seconds of stunned silence, memories of last night flooded her mind, and Shi Banxia's face instantly turned bright red. She abruptly raised her head, meeting Ji Rendong's calm gaze.
"Awake?" Ji Rendong's voice was hoarse from just waking up, and a bit more languid than usual.
"Good morning, Sister Rendong!" Shi Banxia hurriedly retreated from her embrace, almost rolling off the bed, but luckily Ji Rendong caught her shoulder in time.
"Be careful." Ji Rendong released her hand, sat up with a normal expression, and resumed her usual cold and serious demeanor. "It's time to get up. Breakfast is in twenty minutes."
"Oh... okay, sure!" Shi Banxia's heart was still racing. She watched as Ji Rendong casually got up, made the bed, and then headed towards the bathroom...
This calm only made Shi Banxia's emotions more turbulent.
She hugged the quilt, which still retained Ji Rendong's body temperature and fragrance, and secretly chuckled for a while before jumping off the bed and slowly folding the spare bedding she had used the night before.
After they finished washing up, they prepared to go to the restaurant.
Shi Banxia followed closely behind Ji Rendong, her mind already racing with calculations.
She quickened her pace to walk alongside Ji Rendong, then casually touched Ji Rendong's hand, which was hanging by her side, with her finger.
Ji Rendong continued walking, her eyes fixed ahead, seemingly unaware of what was happening.
Shi Banxia grew a little bolder and touched it again.
Just as she made her third attempt, and her fingertips were about to touch that cool skin again, Ji Rendong suddenly twisted his wrist and precisely grabbed her mischievous fingers.
Ji Rendong still didn't look at her, but a faint blush crept up his ears. He didn't let go of her hand, but instead adjusted his posture, making it a more natural and closer hand-holding.
"Walk properly."
Ji Rendong looked ahead, his tone calm, but he took Shi Banxia's hand and led her through the corridor of the research station.
"Okay!" Shi Banxia's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded quickly, like a puppy afraid of being abandoned by its owner, obediently following Ji Rendong's footsteps.
On the way to the restaurant, we occasionally encountered other members of the scientific expedition team.
When everyone saw that Ji Rendong, who always went his own way, was accompanied by Shi Banxia, they were a little curious, but they just nodded slightly in greeting.
Shi Banxia was in a great mood, completely forgetting the embarrassment she had felt when she first woke up. She chatted with Ji Rendong all the way with a smile on her face.
While picking up their food at the restaurant, Shi Banxia naturally followed behind Ji Rendong.
Shi Banxia noticed that she didn't like the fried egg on her plate and was picking it out as usual when she saw Ji Rendong's gaze sweep over her.
"Don't be picky about food, make sure your nutrition is balanced," Ji Rendong said softly.
Shi Banxia froze, looked up at Ji Rendong, who had already lowered his head and started eating his breakfast.
These words, which carried a slightly controlling tone, did not elicit any resistance from Shi Banxia; instead, they brought a touch of sweetness to her heart.
She said "Oh" and obediently put the fried egg into her mouth.
Breakfast ended in a subtle and harmonious atmosphere.
After the meal, the two had to part ways due to their respective work commitments. As they walked out of the restaurant, Mu Xueqing saw them appear together and greeted them with a smile: "Good morning, Ren Dong and Ban Xia. Hey, Ren Dong, happy birthday! Your second birthday in the Arctic!"
Birthday?
Shi Banxia stopped abruptly, looking at Ji Rendong beside her in surprise.
Ji Rendong paused for a moment before nodding slightly to Mu Xueqing, "Thank you, Xueqing." His expression remained unchanged, as if it were just an ordinary day.
But a storm was brewing in Shi Banxia's heart.
Today is Honeysuckle Sister's birthday?! She had no idea!
There was absolutely no preparation, not even a simple "Happy Birthday" had been said!
A wave of regret and anxiety washed over her. How could she miss such an important day!
At work, Shi Banxia would occasionally be absent-minded, her mind racing.
At polar research stations, conditions are limited, making it impossible to celebrate as grandly as one would outdoors.
As she passed through the office area, she secretly observed Ji Rendong—he was still working quietly, processing data on the equipment, as if the word "birthday" had made no difference.
But Shi Banxia knew that this was different.
This was her first birthday spent with Sister Rendong, and she wanted to make the day meaningful.
During a break from filming, Shi Banxia slipped into the kitchen and, using the milk and biscuits she had brought with her, begged the chef for help, managing to make a small, not-so-appetizing "cake".
She ran back to her room and pulled out a brand-new roll of film with a snowflake pattern from her luggage—her favorite roll of film, which she planned to give as a special gift.
In the evening, after finishing work, Shi Banxia mysteriously stopped Ji Rendong, who was about to return to his room.
"Sister Honeysuckle, don't go back yet! Wait for me! Just a little while!"
Without waiting for Ji Rendong's reply, Shi Banxia dashed into Ji Rendong's room.
Ji Rendong was a little confused, but she still waited in the corridor for a while as instructed.
When Banxia opened the door again, poked her head out, and said "It's okay" with an excited and shy blush on her face, Ji Rendong's heart skipped a beat.
Ji Rendong entered the room, and the scene before her eyes stunned her.
The room lights were off, and on the desk sat an irregularly shaped "small cake" with a thin candle stuck in it.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating the crooked heart drawn on a sticky note with a marker, and the words "Happy Birthday, Honeysuckle Sister!" written below it.
Shi Banxia, holding a camera, was clearly ready.
"The conditions are limited..." Shi Banxia scratched her head a little embarrassedly, but her eyes shone brightly. "Sister Rendong, quickly make a wish and blow out the candles! This is something I worked very hard to make!"
As Ji Rendong looked at the small, weak flame that was burning so hard, and then at Shi Banxia's slightly flushed cheeks and expectant eyes, a warm feeling washed over her habitually closed heart.
She hadn't celebrated her birthday so formally in many years, especially in this harsh and cold place.
She closed her eyes in the candlelight, her long eyelashes casting shadows beneath them. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and blew out the candle.
The room plunged into darkness briefly, then Shi Banxia turned on the desk lamp and presented the gift, simply decorated with a film canister, like a treasure:
"This is for you! It's my favorite roll of film. I hope I can take lots and lots of beautiful photos for Sister Rendong in the future!"
Then, Shi Banxia picked up the cake again, scooped out a small piece with a spoon, and held it to Ji Rendong's lips, her eyes full of anticipation: "Try it? It may not look very pretty, but the taste should be alright!"
Ji Rendong looked at the chocolate in the spoon near her mouth, then at Shi Banxia. She hesitated for a moment, then finally opened her mouth slightly and ate it.
A rich, slightly bitter sweetness melts in your mouth.
“…Not bad.” Ji Rendong said softly, her ears turning slightly red.
"Great!" Shi Banxia cheered, then she raised her camera, her tone carrying an undeniable air of coquetry, "The birthday girl needs a birthday photo! Sister Rendong, look at me!"
Ji Rendong subconsciously looked up at Shi Banxia behind the camera.
At that very moment, Shi Banxia pressed the shutter.
The moment the flash went off, it captured the faint, yet incredibly gentle, smile on Ji Rendong's face, a smile that hadn't yet faded.
So beautiful...
Shi Banxia felt that Ji Rendong's eyes were filled with touching fragments of stars.
After taking the photos, Shi Banxia put down her camera, walked up to Ji Rendong, and suddenly opened her arms and hugged her tightly.
Happy birthday, Honeysuckle Sister.
Shi Banxia's voice, muffled on Ji Rendong's shoulder, was filled with sincerity and warmth: "Although it's cold here, I hope you can always be happy."
Ji Rendong's body stiffened at first, then slowly, slowly relaxed. She raised her hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently hugged Shi Banxia back.
This hug felt much more real and intimate than the embrace I had in bed last night.
"Thank you." Ji Rendong smiled, her voice soft but clear enough to reach Shi Banxia's ears.
Shi Banxia's heart stirred slightly. She looked up and met Ji Rendong's eyes, which were filled with tenderness...
A note from the author:
Happy birthday, Xiaodong, on November 5th!
I drew a congratulatory illustration, but unfortunately I can't post it on Jinjiang! (crying)
In their hearts, the other is already a special person.
It warmed Mommy's heart.
P.S.: The first 5 chapters weren't very well written! I'll rewrite them when I have more time!
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