The so-called belated birthday celebration was perhaps just an excuse. After buying a cake of a suitable size and some ingredients for dinner, the two returned home.
There were no ribbons, no gift boxes, and of course, no decorations. It was a very simple birthday celebration, probably the simplest one Chen Bing and her partner had ever had.
Oh wait, there was still a birthday present. While Shang Yunmiao was preparing dinner, Chen Bing went to her bedroom and found the gift she had hidden there before.
There were two small gifts in total. Chen Bing wasn't in a hurry to take one out; he wanted to wait for a more suitable opportunity later.
Returning to the dining table with an open and honest demeanor, Chen Bing began to anticipate Xiao Shang's reaction.
Just then, the last dish, garlic-roasted oysters, was also ready. Shang Yunmiao, wearing thick gloves, carried the entire plate to the dining table.
Food, as a necessity of life, has long been a part of culture throughout the history of civilization.
We eat to celebrate happy occasions, we eat to celebrate important moments, we eat when we're in a bad mood, and we eat when we're in a good mood.
Besides the food itself, the way the platter is arranged, the method of eating it, and the time of the meal are also very important.
In other words, what we eat is not only what we put in our stomachs, but also what we feel emotionally.
This dinner, at this moment, is both a celebration of a happy occasion and a welcome to an important moment. Given its dual nature, Chen Bing felt she should approach it with a dual mindset as well.
The first purpose is to celebrate, and the second is to welcome.
So how do we skillfully integrate these two mindsets and act under their guidance?
Chen Bing rested her elbows on the dining table, propped her chin on her hand, and smiled as she said, "Let's celebrate our twenty-second year of life, and also the eighteenth year we've known each other. On this important occasion, I have a gift I'd like to give to my family's Xiao Shang."
Shang Yunmiao paused slightly as she took off her gloves, then complained with a hint of delight, "Isn't it a bit too straightforward to say that? I thought the gift-exchanging part would be more romantic."
"I think it's better to be more direct, after all, we've been married for a long time."
She wasn't surprised by Shang Yunmiao's use of the word "exchange," after all, she herself was secretly thinking about preparing a gift for Xiao Shang, and Shang Yunmiao, being a dutiful wife, naturally did the same.
"Then... I'll go first?" Before Shang Yunmiao could nod in agreement, Chen Bing reached behind her back as if to grab something.
Midway through, he suddenly paused, glanced at Shang Yunmiao, and then Chen Bing suddenly suggested, "Why don't you go first?"
"What? Chen Bing, you must have made a mistake." Although she complained like that, Shang Yunmiao still got up and went to her room without any trouble.
Judging from the looks of it, she's probably planning to give herself over as a birthday present.
While Chen Bing was speculating in his mind, his hands were not idle either.
After confirming that Xiao Shang wouldn't be back anytime soon, he took out his second gift from his pocket and then turned his gaze to the cake in the center of the table...
About five minutes later, Shang Yunmiao returned to Chen Bing's sight.
Looking around, Chen Bing discovered that Shang Yunmiao hadn't changed at all since she left.
Shouldn't the gift be you wearing a pretty little dress, carrying a gorgeous sash, coming over to sit on my lap, and then saying shyly and seductively, "The gift is myself"?
Chen Bing looked completely bewildered.
After glancing at the girl's still flushed cheeks, Chen Bing tentatively asked, "Are you really that embarrassed to sit on my lap in such a pretty dress and say that the gift is yourself?"
Seeing the girl's face flush instantly and her involuntarily halting steps, Chen Bing knew he had guessed correctly, very correctly. He guessed that Shang Yunmiao had originally planned to do just that, but had become shy on the way back and thus postponed the plan.
What? You're asking how I knew her plan was postponed at the last minute? Well, that's thanks to my keen observation skills and my deep understanding of Shang Yunmiao, of course. What else could it be? Should I force her to do this just because she doesn't comply?
After enjoying Xiao Shang's stunned expression for a while, Chen Bing took the initiative to change the subject.
"Since you're too embarrassed to offer yourself as a gift, what kind of gift has my little Shang prepared on short notice?"
Coming to her senses, Xiao Shang sat on Chen Bing's lap like a shy young wife, looked up with a pair of panicked eyes, and retorted without any credibility, "I...I...I never thought like that before, Chen, Chen Bing, don't talk nonsense...okay?"
Chen Bing readily agreed to this small request. He put his arm around Shang Yunmiao's shoulder and turned his gaze to the delicate little wooden box in the girl's hand.
"So, this is the birthday present prepared for me?"
"Hmm...do you want to watch it now?"
"Open it and let me see."
At this moment, Chen Bing had a guess about what was in the box. He remembered that a long time ago, when he helped tidy up Xiao Shang's room, he accidentally discovered the treasures that the girl had collected since childhood about him and her.
However, because he hadn't quite grasped the situation at the time, and because Shang Yunmiao immediately appeared and stopped him, he still doesn't really understand what's going on.
Now, is the answer finally going to be revealed for this question that has been lingering in my mind for several years?
While listening to Xiao Shang's words, Chen Bing kept a close eye on the things she was doing and admired the contents of the box.
"Zhi, when you showed me your diary before, I was really happy because I wasn't the only one secretly recording things between us. So, to be fair, I think you should be happy too."
As they were talking, a pair of silver-white wristwatches came into Chen Bing's view.
A pair of slender, delicate hands picked up the watch and gently put it on his wrist.
"This...this is a gift I originally wanted to give you for your birthday. But I had to cancel it at the last minute, so now, I'm giving it to you..."
"Such a thing actually happened?! How outrageous! How dare they embezzle my birthday present for so long! Looks like this will have to be added to my list of favors." After making a casual joke, Chen Bing raised her wrist to examine the watch.
The clever man concluded that if it were just an ordinary watch, Shang Yunmiao would not have kept it until now before giving it away.
Sure enough, Chen Bing found a hidden compartment below the watch face. When he opened it, a photo of him and Xiao Shang came into view.
However, he had absolutely no recollection of this group photo, and the content of the photo was indeed somewhat...
"When did you take this photo?!" Chen Bing looked at Xiao Shang with disbelief, his expression one of utter disbelief.
Being publicly shamed, Shang Yunmiao was naturally extremely embarrassed. She stammered and stammered, "It's just... just... just once... um... during a trip..."
When the girl mentioned it, Chen Bing remembered which time it happened, and guessed that Xiao Shang had taken the photos secretly at that time.
After marveling at it for a while, Chen Bing turned her attention to another watch in the box.
"What about this one? Is it also this photo?"
(Second to last chapter of the main text)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com