Happy birthday
"Bang".
Zhou Qingchi calmly removed a ribbon from her head and looked at Zhou Qingyan at the door. "Is this why you knocked on my door so early in the morning?"
He shook his head, and colorful ribbons fell to the ground.
Zhou Qingchi looked up at Zhou Qingyan, "Making some household waste?"
Zhou Qingyan pouted helplessly, "Can't you be a little more romantic, bro?"
After saying that, he took out a box from behind his back and shoved it in front of Zhou Qingchi without any hesitation, "Happy birthday, this is a present."
Zhou Qingchi knew perfectly well what he was trying to do by throwing out the ribbons. After accepting the gift, he smiled and said, "Thank you."
The two brothers weren't particular about anything. Zhou Qingyan hadn't thought about what to give as a gift, but a couple of days ago he secretly rummaged through his brother's shopping cart and picked out a pair of shoes for him.
He raised an eyebrow. "So, it still hit the spot, didn't it?"
Zhou Qingchi nodded in agreement.
Zhou Qingyan waved his hand, "No need to thank me, hurry up and get ready, it's already eight o'clock."
Zhou Qingchi had a headache. "Why choose this day for the parent-teacher conference?"
"Do the school leaders even know it's your birthday today?" Zhou Qingyan urged. "Don't be late, okay? Xiaxia was never late for my parent-teacher conference last time."
Upon hearing Bai Yixia's name, Zhou Qingchi's heart skipped a beat. "How did you convince her to attend the meeting for you?"
He asked the question naturally, but Zhou Qingyan was thinking about other things. Should he say something nice to help Xiaxia's confession gain momentum, or should he just let things take their course...?
After hesitating for a while, Zhou Qingyan decided to say exactly what he had said to avoid any unforeseen consequences.
"I just mentioned it once, and then Sister Xiaxia went. She's a really nice person," Zhou Qingyan said sincerely, looking at Zhou Qingchi.
"..." So what use is the younger brother anyway? He can't provide any reliable information.
"Forget it, let's go." Zhou Qingchi sighed.
Zhou Qingyan was bewildered, but he still obediently followed him out. After watching Zhou Qingchi enter the underground parking garage, he quickly took out his phone and typed a message.
"My brother's already out the door! We can get moving now!"
The empty hallway was filled with soft noises. Bai Yixia opened her door and successfully met up with Nie Jiayuan, who was coming down from upstairs.
Nie Jiayuan quickly replied to Zhou Qingyan's message, somewhat speechless, "Is this year's theme some kind of spy movie?"
Bai Yixia looked at her with admiration.
Nie Jiayuan exclaimed in surprise, "What's the point?!"
Bai Yixia opened the door to the Zhou family's house. "Hey, isn't it just another ordinary year like this? It's so boring."
Nie Jiayuan held a pile of materials for her, saying, "To be honest, I think there's an 80% chance that Zhou Qingchi will guess this surprise."
"So what? He'll never guess I'm going to confess my feelings."
Nie Jiayuan fell silent. That was true, but it was hard to say whether it was a pleasant surprise or a shock.
Of course, in Nie Jiayuan's mind, this surprise and shock weren't directed at Zhou Qingchi, but at Bai Yixia. If it succeeded, it would be a wonderful surprise, but if Zhou Qingchi refused...
Nie Jiayuan looked around the living room, spotted the long-handled umbrella leaning against the corner, and thought with satisfaction: Great, this should be handy. I can use it to knock Zhou Qingchi's head later.
Bai Yixia's culinary skills are only evident in making cakes and pastries; she is completely clueless when it comes to home-style dishes where recipes mostly use "appropriate amount".
Fortunately, her aunt was at work today and was able to help her prepare a large meal.
Bai Yixia wanted to help in the kitchen, but all she could do was chop vegetables and wash knives before she was kicked out of the kitchen by the auntie.
She stood at the door with an awkward smile, then turned to look for Nie Jiayuan.
Nie Jiayuan was sprawled on the sofa inflating balloons when she heard footsteps. She muttered to herself, "The last time I celebrated my birthday this formally was probably in junior high, wasn't it?"
Bai Yixia thought for a moment, "It seems so."
However, the most enthusiastic ones at that time were the mothers of each family. Of the three of them, except for Bai Yixia, they were all listless.
"Oh my, I really don't know where you got this idea from." Nie Jiayuan leaned back on the sofa, turned her head to look at Bai Yixia, and asked with great interest, "What do you think, should I get one for Qiu Ting too?"
Bai Yixia shook her finger: "Plagiarism of my ideas is prohibited."
Nie Jiayuan was speechless. This idea of yours is something you can find everywhere on Xiaosweet Potatoes. It might even be criticized as tacky.
This job wasn't easy either. After Nie Jiayuan finished half of it, she absolutely refused to move anymore and stood aside directing Bai Yixia.
"To the left, a little to the left. Yes, yes, that's it!"
A string of gold and silver oddly shaped balloons spelling "happy birthday" hung in front of the TV wall, while the coffee table was surrounded by off-white balloons, making it look like you had accidentally wandered into a ball pit.
Several gift boxes were stacked on the coffee table. Nie Jiayuan shook them curiously and found that the boxes were very light and had no weight at all.
She was taken aback: "Xiaxia, did you forget to pack something?"
Bai Yixia was hanging up the colorful lights when she heard this. She turned around and looked at them calmly, saying, "No, they were originally empty. They're just for decoration."
“…Okay.” Nie Jiayuan accepted this explanation, then looked at the half-person-high wooden sunflower sculpture next to her. “But what’s the deal with this?”
Bai Yixia patted the wood carving. "Isn't it beautiful? I had it custom-made."
Nie Jiayuan exclaimed in amazement: "Although Zhou Qingchi usually stays away from the internet, he's not this active."
"What are you thinking about?" Bai Yixia couldn't help but laugh. "He's not just away from the internet, he's completely immersed in it, okay? For a while, he was always sharing abstract videos of the animal and plant world with me."
Bai Yixia's gaze held a hint of resentment, "Sometimes I really want to crack open his head and see what's inside..."
Nie Jiayuan suddenly felt incredibly fortunate that her relationship with Zhou Qingchi remained superficial.
Listening to Bai Yixia's incessant chatter about Zhou Qingchi, Nie Jiayuan's previously troubled mind suddenly untied.
Although he and Zhou Qingchi grew up together, their relationship was nothing like his and Bai Yixia's. Perhaps it was because they were both strong-willed and couldn't force themselves to get along.
But Bai Yixia is different. Lin Shuyang has a free career and diverse, unconventional ideas. From childhood to adulthood, she has never been constrained by Lin Shuyang. She is a free sapling that grows wildly. Her trunk is firmly established under the protection of her family, but her branches and leaves grow without restraint according to her own heart.
Nie Jiayuan's family includes a forensic doctor and a lawyer. While their demands on her aren't overly strict, they certainly don't provide the same freedom as Bai Yixia's. Although Nie Jiayuan obeys her parents' demands, she occasionally rebels and acts against them, making her personality much more lively than Zhou Qingchi's.
Zhou Qingchi comes from a single-parent family and has to take care of his younger brother, so he has been much more mature than the two girls since childhood. Although he seems to be a very talkative person, Nie Jiayuan sometimes feels that his "liveliness" is a bit fake.
Thinking of this, Nie Jiayuan squeezed Bai Yixia's hand, genuinely feeling that the two of them were indeed a good match.
Bai Yixia is a blazing fire, while Zhou Qingchi is like a glass jar that, when reflected in the fire, will ignite.
"What's wrong?" Bai Yixia looked down at Nie Jiayuan, tilting her head in confusion.
Nie Jiayuan smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing. I was just thinking that maybe Zhou Qingchi really has liked you since childhood."
Bai Yixia smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
Seeing her smug look, Nie Jiayuan chuckled to herself and stopped shirking her duties, joining her in decorating the living room.
The two of them rushed around and managed to get everything sorted out before Zhou Qingchi returned.
After seeing the aunt off, Bai Yixia and Nie Jiayuan each held a firework tube and stood behind the door.
Not long after, the sound of the door lock unlocking was heard. Bai Yixia involuntarily held her breath and clenched the firework tube in her hand.
The next moment, the door was pushed open, and Bai Yixia set off the fireworks.
"Bang! Bang!"
"Happy birthday, Brother Zhou!"
Happy birthday, Zhou Qingchi!
The colorful ribbons splashed all over Zhou Qingchi. He stood frozen at the door, staring at Bai Yixia with wide, blinking eyes.
Bai Yixia thought he was startled by the sound of the fireworks, so she smiled and leaned closer, "Surprised, Brother Zhou?"
Zhou Qingchi then realized what was happening and nodded, both amused and exasperated. "I thought that after Xiao Yan pulled this stunt this morning, there wouldn't be any more."
Nie Jiayuan snorted lightly, "After all, he's a twenty-year-old man, so it's worth it to come again."
Zhou Qingchi, unusually, didn't argue with her, and thanked her with a smile, saying, "Thank you, I'm very happy."
Bai Yixia grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dining room, pressing him down into a chair. "Ta-da, this is a feast prepared for you, birthday star."
The auntie was great; she cooked several delicious dishes, such as squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, braised pork hock, and braised chicken with chestnuts. The aroma of the dishes filled the air as soon as you sat down.
Zhou Qingchi asked in surprise, "You did all of this?"
Bai Yixia: "..." This level is still a bit difficult for me.
Nie Jiayuan laughed without any politeness, "If it's Xiaxia, I can make you a fried egg."
Bai Yixia blushed.
Zhou Qingchi ignored her and turned to Bai Yixia, "It's okay, I just like fried eggs."
"..." Get lost, you hypocrite.
Bai Yixia smiled and said, "I can't possibly cook such a big meal, but I can cook other things."
After saying that, she walked into the kitchen under Zhou Qingchi's questioning gaze and brought out the results of yesterday's day.
It is an eight-inch cake surrounded by flowers, with vines entwining the main body of the cake and decorated with various small flowers. On top is a delicate little flower stand with clusters of small yellow flowers.
Zhou Qingchi subconsciously looked towards the balcony, and Bai Yixia nodded, "Yes, it's a climbing rose."
“You…” Zhou Qingchi’s gaze fell on Bai Yixia, unwilling to look away for even a moment. “Making something like this must have taken a lot of effort.”
Zhou Qingyan finally found a place to interject, "Yes, yes! Sister Xiaxia worked on it all day yesterday!"
"Yesterday?" Zhou Qingchi paused for a moment before understanding the reason. He chuckled and said, "No wonder Nie Jiayuan asked me to go shopping. So that's why."
He reached out and pinched Bai Yixia's cheek. "Thank you, Xia. I really like it. You've worked so hard." No wonder Bai Yixia was asleep so early when he came back yesterday.
Bai Yixia simply smiled, "I'm glad you like it." She clapped her hands, "Shall we eat the cake first?"
Zhou Qingchi hesitated for a moment, "It looks so good, I can't bear to eat it."
"It's nothing. If you like it, I'll make you another one later." Bai Yixia took out a candle and handed it to him, gesturing, "You have to make a wish on your birthday."
Zhou Qingchi nodded. "Okay."
The midday sun was perfect, far surpassing the light of a candle, but as Zhou Qingchi watched the slowly burning flame, Bai Yixia's image appeared before his eyes. He didn't close his eyes to make a wish, but instead turned to look at Bai Yixia.
Under Bai Yixia's questioning gaze, Zhou Qingchi silently thought, "I hope Bai Yixia will always be like this, always passionate, free from illness and disaster, and have a smooth life."
"Ah, he didn't even close his eyes!" Bai Yixia frowned when she saw him blow out the candles.
Zhou Qingchi didn't seem to care. "It's already been promised, so it's fine."
Since he said that, Bai Yixia had no choice but to let him have his way. The two smiled at each other, and Bai Yixia once again congratulated him with her eyes crinkling: "Happy birthday, may all your wishes come true."
As a result, the four of them didn't even have time to eat the feast on the table; instead, they each took a piece of cake.
After the meal, Nie Jiayuan and Zhou Qingyan took it upon themselves to clean up the dishes, leaving the two of them some time alone.
Nie Jiayuan secretly gave Bai Yixia a encouraging look, while Zhou Qingyan stared wide-eyed, blinking incessantly, his face flushed.
Bai Yixia was a little confused, wondering who was going to confess their feelings.
With no housework to do, Bai Yixia and Zhou Qingchi leaned over the balcony and chatted casually.
Perhaps because they were in a really good mood today, the roles of the two of them were reversed. Zhou Qingchi was doing all the talking, while Bai Yixia was listening on the side with her cheek propped up, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
Zhou Qingchi was probably quite annoyed by Nie Jiayuan yesterday, and she kept nagging Bai Yixia about Nie Jiayuan's annoying behavior.
Bai Yixia looked at him, her thoughts drifting away, her mind swirling with what she wanted to say. But she was still a little nervous, and several times when she tried to speak, her throat tightened.
Zhou Qingchi noticed her distraction and called out softly, "Xia Xia?"
Bai Yixia looked at him, let out a soft sigh, and slowly said, "Brother Zhou, I have—"
Just as she was about to begin her speech, a sound of breaking dishes came from the kitchen, followed by Nie Jiayuan's exclamation.
"Xiao Yan! Zhou Qingyan! What's wrong with you!"
Bai Yixia and Zhou Qingchi both felt a sudden emptiness in their hearts. They exchanged a glance and hurriedly ran into the room.
At first glance, Zhou Qingyan was kneeling on the ground, clutching his stomach, breathing rapidly, his face was frighteningly red, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Nie Jiayuan was also startled and looked at Zhou Qingchi in a panic, "Brother Zhou! Xiao Yan suddenly became like this!"
Zhou Qingchi frowned as he carried Zhou Qingyan on his back and looked up at Bai Yixia.
His face was expressionless, but Bai Yixia could see the panic in his eyes. She tried her best to calm herself down and said, "Brother Zhou, you take Xiao Yan and come with me. I'll go get the car. Jiajia, grab your documents. We'll wait for you at the door."
Zhou Qingchi nodded. "His things are all in the drawer of his desk; you should be able to see them at a glance."
Nie Jiayuan helped Zhou Qingyan up and nodded, "Okay."
Bai Yixia stepped forward and squeezed Zhou Qingyan's hand. "It's okay, we'll go to the hospital right away." After saying that, she patted Zhou Qingchi's shoulder reassuringly, then grabbed her keys and hurriedly went downstairs to get the car.
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