Chapter 224 Sense of Oppression
Ji Wanqing opened the cake box, inside was a small but exquisitely made starry sky cake, the same color as her fountain pen.
Pei Yu even included a small birthday candle and matches.
"It's a bit simple, but we still need to have a sense of ritual." Pei Yu struck a match and lit the small candle.
The small flames danced stubbornly in the night wind, illuminating the faces of the two people.
"Happy birthday, Wanqing." Pei Yu looked at her, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses gentle and focused, as if filled with all the starlight of the night. "In the new year, may all your wishes come true and may your path be smooth."
There was no grand ceremony, no noisy celebration, only Pei Yu, exhausted from surgery, rushing over under the night sky to accompany her for a walk and light a small candle for her.
This tranquil, readily available warmth stood in stark contrast to the grand blessing that had captivated the entire city during the day, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
Ji Wanqing looked at the flickering candlelight, then at the still pen in her hand, and finally at Pei Yu's gentle smiling face. An indescribable bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart.
She closed her eyes and made a wish.
I hope for a peaceful life, I hope my mother is healthy, I hope... I can see the road ahead clearly.
Then, she gently blew out the candle.
"Thank you..." Her voice was slightly hoarse, "I really like it, really."
Whether it's a gift or simply spending time with you tonight.
The two shared the small piece of cake, which was sweet but not cloying.
Pei Yu didn't ask her much about what had happened that day. He just chatted about some interesting things at the hospital and her mother's recent recovery. His tone was calm, which effectively distracted her.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and the night deepened.
Pei Yu carefully and efficiently tidied up the cake box and match remnants.
The two walked back side by side along the path they had come from.
As the night deepened, the streetlights in the neighborhood cast round halos of light on the ground, and the surroundings became increasingly quiet, with only the soft sound of their footsteps and the occasional chirping of insects being heard.
Unlike the slightly heavy mood she had when she arrived, Ji Wanqing felt much more relaxed now. The sluggish feeling in her chest caused by Zhou Xubai seemed to have been washed away by the night breeze and the gentle breath of the person beside her.
"Are you planning to start live streaming again tomorrow?" Pei Yu asked, choosing a safe topic. His voice sounded particularly clear and gentle in the quiet night.
"Hmm...it should be." Ji Wanqing nodded, then paused, turned to look at him, and changed the subject, "That surgery today...it must have been complicated, right? I stood there for so long."
"It's alright, I'm used to it." Pei Yu pushed up his glasses, his tone calm, as if those few hours were just ordinary. "Seeing the child safely wheeled out of the operating room, and the look of relief and joy in the family's eyes, made it all worthwhile."
He changed the subject, adding with a hint of sarcasm, "But it's true that I can't match the hand speed and energy you young people have when playing games."
Ji Wanqing was amused by him, "Brother Pei, you're not that much older than us, are you? Don't always act like you're some kind of senior."
"Really?" Pei Yu smiled, his eyes behind his glasses curving into a gentle arc. "Maybe it's because I've been in the hospital for so long, I always feel like I'm mature beyond my years, but..."
He looked at her, his tone serious, "It feels good to make you feel that I'm still young."
These words carried a subtle implication, causing Ji Wanqing's heart to skip a beat. She awkwardly shifted her gaze to the shadows of the bushes swaying in the night breeze by the roadside.
Fortunately, the apartment building is already in sight.
As you enter the building, the motion-sensor lights turn on immediately, illuminating the narrow space.
"We're here." Ji Wanqing stepped out of the elevator, stopped at her door, and turned to Pei Yu.
"Hmm." Pei Yu stood opposite her, a step or two away. His tall figure cast a faint shadow under the light, enveloping her.
He didn't immediately open his own door next door; he just looked at her, his gaze still gentle, but with a greater focus than when they were in the park.
"Thank you for tonight..." Ji Wanqing thanked her again, her fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on the velvet box containing the fountain pen. "The cake was delicious, and the gift... I really like it too."
"If I can make you a little happier on your birthday, then I've achieved my goal." Pei Yu's voice deepened, echoing in the quiet hallway.
"Get some rest and don't stay up late." He habitually advised, like a doctor instructing a patient, but also like a gesture of affectionate care.
"You too, you've had a hard day, go back and rest." Ji Wanqing felt a little guilty looking at the faint dark circles under his eyes.
Pei Yu nodded and finally prepared to open the door.
Just as Ji Wanqing was about to open the door and enter the house, Pei Yu suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Wanqing".
"Hmm?" Ji Wanqing responded subconsciously and turned to look at him.
Pei Yu stood at his own door, his hand still on the doorknob. Warm yellow light shone down from above him, making him look warm and real.
He looked at her, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses deep and gentle, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, it all boiled down to a simple yet solemn sentence.
"Everything will be alright in the new year."
His tone was so confident, with a calming magic that made Ji Wanqing believe what he said without even realizing it.
As she looked at him, that warm feeling welled up in her heart again, more intense than ever before.
She nodded vigorously, a genuine smile spreading across her lips.
"Yes! I believe it."
Pei Yu smiled too, this time with obvious ease and joy in his smile.
"good evening."
Goodnight, Pei Yu.
This time, Ji Wanqing watched him open the door and go inside.
The warmth in her heart hadn't yet dissipated, and a faint smile, unnoticed even by herself, played on her lips as she turned to open the door.
Suddenly hearing abrupt footsteps coming from the fire escape stairs, Ji Wanqing instinctively turned her head to look.
Xie Chi.
Xie Chi emerged from the shadows of the fire escape staircase.
His gaze instantly fell on Ji Wanqing, who was standing at the door of her house. His eyes lingered on her face for a second before naturally moving down to the dark blue velvet box in her hand, which was clearly wrapped as a gift, and... the gentle smile on her lips that had not yet completely faded because of Pei Yu.
His narrow eyes narrowed slightly, then he gave a cold smile, his voice hoarse as if he had just woken up, yet unusually clear.
"Oh, the birthday boy is back? Did you have a great birthday?"
His tone was casual, even carrying a hint of familiarity between neighbors, but his dark eyes captured every subtle change in her emotions.
Finally, that gaze lingered for a moment, seemingly casually, on the door of Pei Yu's house next door.
Ji Wanqing's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
Xie Chi always gives off this feeling: seemingly casual, yet exuding an invisible sense of oppression.
She gripped the pen case in her hand tightly and answered as naturally as possible, "Yes, I just got back."
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