"I remember your birthday is coming up soon, right? Is there anything you'd like for your birthday?"
Ji Ye was taken aback, and awkwardly said, "Didn't we just give him a gift?"
"That's different. That watch was just randomly bought at an auction and can't be confused with a birthday gift."
It would be a lie to say he wasn't touched. Even though he knew the other person had done their homework, he still felt a pang of sadness that someone remembered his birthday. Over the years, besides his grandfather, who else had celebrated his birthday with him? But his grandfather was always busy and couldn't always be there for him on his birthday.
"How about a half-birthday party? Invite your best friends over? But I'm just suggesting, it's your birthday, so let's do it your way."
"I don't have many friends." It was rare for Ji Ye to confide in Song Xia.
Song Xia asked in surprise, "Grandpa told me before that you sometimes don't come home on weekends because you're with your friends, right?"
"There's only Han Jie left. He's just a friend, so let's not have a party!"
"Okay, then I'll cook you a big meal that day. Also, would you like to go to the amusement park?"
Ji Ye chuckled: "How old am I to still be going to an amusement park?"
Song Xia disagreed: "Who says grown-ups can't go to amusement parks? The rides there aren't just for adults. Go ahead, so you won't be clueless about how to get into an amusement park when you get married and have kids."
Ji Ye was speechless: "I'm only fifteen this year for my birthday, how did we get to such a far-fetched topic?"
"Then give me a straight answer, are you going or not?"
"Go."
"Don't make it sound so forced. Birthdays are meant to be happy."
"Go ahead, I'll ask Han Jie to come later."
Song Xia nodded in satisfaction. "He's still just a child. Why does he always keep his worries bottled up inside? Everyone needs an outlet."
The two agreed on how to celebrate their birthdays, but Song Xia still couldn't find out what kind of birthday present they liked. After thinking for a moment, she decided to make up for the previous fourteen years by giving them fifteen different gifts. Surely one of them would suit their taste? Song Xia praised herself for her cleverness.
It wasn't that she insisted on celebrating Ji Ye's birthday, and there was no need for her to be so attentive after promising to take care of him. It was just that Ji Ye's birthday was also the day she would meet the innocent-looking female lead, so she had to be careful.
Ji Ye said he didn't care and wasn't looking forward to it, but after returning to the villa, he contacted his friend Han Jie to ask if he had time that day.
"You finally thought about celebrating your birthday?" Han Jie was very surprised, but also very happy. His friend was great in every way, but because of family reasons, he was usually a bit gloomy and depressed. It was a good sign that he was willing to celebrate his birthday!
Ji Ye coughed and said, "It's not that I insist on celebrating, it's just that my stepmother said she wants to throw me a birthday party. I don't have many friends, so the party will only be with people from the family business, which will be even less fun. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes, of course I'll go," Han Jie readily agreed.
"Hmm." Having made the appointment, Ji Ye felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. Taking this step didn't seem so difficult after all.
After that, the two became busy with their own lives. As the heir to a large corporation, Ji Ye had to learn many other things in addition to his daily studies. Seeing that his health was deteriorating, the old master Ji was afraid that he would pass away at any time and his grandson would not be able to take over and fall into someone else's trap. Therefore, he also arranged courses on economics and management for him. Song Xia would explain the operation of Ji's business to him when she had time.
Before signing a contract with the old man, she was a secretary in the Ji family secretariat. She had worked in the Ji family for eight years since graduating, rising from a junior secretary to the head of the secret arts office. It was because of her excellent skills that she was noticed by the old man.
Ji's company offered good benefits, and she was considered a middle manager at the time. If it weren't for her gambling-addicted father, she wouldn't have been unable to afford medical treatment for her mother when she was sick. In order to get rid of her father and pay for her mother's medical treatment, and to send her younger brother to study abroad, she sold herself for three years. Therefore, she is still very clear about the company's affairs and is more than capable of teaching Ji Ye.
On the eve of Ji Ye's birthday, she was selected to attend the anniversary celebration of Ji's branch. She thought that Mei Xue would go to see Ji Ye because of what happened at the charity gala, but she didn't.
Could it be that Mei Xue is also waiting for Ji Ye's birthday?
With this lingering doubt, she set off early that morning with Ji Ye and Han Jie in her car.
Because there was no wedding ceremony, Han Jie was extremely curious about her. He was genuinely itching to know what was going on. Ji Ye, a person who should theoretically be at odds with his stepmother, seemed to be getting along very well with her. Moreover, his stepmother wasn't just putting on an act; she was genuinely chatting with them about what fun things to do later.
It's no wonder Ji Ye wasn't averse to her. This young and beautiful auntie was easy to talk to and had no airs. She was much better than Ji Ye's own mother. He didn't even know how to evaluate Ji Ye's own mother; it would have been better if she didn't exist!
"Aunt Song, what birthday present did you prepare for Ji Ye? Tell me secretly!"
"No, the surprise has to be saved for tonight."
To be honest, Ji Ye had been listening intently when Han Jie asked, and although he didn't hear an answer, he became even more eager to hear it.
"I had someone buy fast passes, so we won't have to queue when we play. We should be able to finish in about half a day. What are your plans for the afternoon?"
"No," Ji Ye answered truthfully. In recent years, he hadn't really looked forward to his birthday, so why would he make any arrangements?
Han Jie said playfully, "Aunt Song, you decide, we have no objections."
"Then let's go to the arcade. I'm sure Xiao Ye has never played there before. It'll be a good opportunity for him to experience it, so that when we have kids in the future, they won't be clueless about how to play."
Ji Ye sighed helplessly, "Why is it this excuse again?"
Han Jie chuckled to himself, it was rare to see so many expressions on his friend's face! He had thought that Grandpa Ji was just being stubborn, but he hadn't expected that Ji Ye would really start to change. This was good, Ji Ye was so lacking in affection. Regardless of whether Grandpa Ji had given him any conditions for Aunt Song's affection, it was enough for Ji Ye.
The three of them decided to go together, and Ji Ye was really looking forward to it. But today was Saturday, and when they arrived at the amusement park, he was still shocked by the huge crowds. So many people, is it really fun?
Song Xia was relieved: "Luckily I bought the express pass in advance, otherwise with this many people today, we wouldn't be able to do many rides in a day."
It's good to be rich. While others had to wait in long lines to get in, they quickly entered through another passage. As soon as they entered, she bought each of them an ice cream cone and a cartoon headband.
Ji Ye's expression wasn't pleasant: "Do I really have to wear this?"
Song Xia pointed around: "Everyone's wearing them, it's just for the atmosphere."
Han Jie kept laughing, put on the mask himself, and then put his arm around Ji Ye, asking Song Xia to take a picture. Song Xia quickly pressed the shutter, finally acting like a child. With such a heavy burden on his shoulders, he needed to relax occasionally so that he wouldn't be easily swayed by small favors.
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