The following few days of the holiday were relatively peaceful, aside from visiting Zhang Peng in the hospital, it was mostly resting at home.
Zhang Peng, that fellow, was recuperating comfortably in the hospital, enjoying good food and drink, with Tian Jiajia constantly by his side to take care of him. It could be said he was living quite a leisurely life.
Although the two still bickered often, Tian Jiajia, considering he was injured, intentionally gave way to him.
When Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan visited last time, he was leaning against the headboard, eating an apple that Tian Jiajia had peeled for him. He secretly winked at them, clearly feeling a bit too pleased with himself.
The seven-day National Day holiday was thus quickly drawing to a close.
On the seventh, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan called their counselor together, requesting a day off. They planned to celebrate Xia Nuannuan’s birthday tomorrow before driving back to school together.
The birthday banquet was scheduled for two o'clock in the afternoon on the eighth, to be held at Xia Nuannuan’s home.
There were no other guests, not even relatives were invited; it was just Xia Nuannuan's family and Qin Tian, a special member of the family.
His future mother-in-law had specifically asked him to come over early to make the household more lively.
At ten in the morning, Qin Tian loaded the gifts he and his mother had prepared into the car and set off directly.
As soon as he knew Xia Nuannuan's birthday, Qin Tian had started contemplating a gift for her eighteenth birthday.
He only began formally preparing it after the military training ended.
Of course, not counting the "major project" his mother mentioned, it had indeed taken a considerable amount of thought.
After parking the car in Xia Nuannuan's residential complex, Qin Tian didn't immediately take his gift, but first took out the gift his mother had prepared from the trunk.
Taking the elevator upstairs, he found that the door to Nuannuan's home was already open.
"Nuannuan, Auntie, I'm here," Qin Tian walked straight to the doorway and called out into the house.
"You're here! Just come in!" a voice called from the kitchen direction.
Immediately after, Xia Nuannuan, wearing a cartoon apron, walked to the entrance with a sweet smile.
"Oh? Is the birthday girl cooking today?" Qin Tian teased with mock surprise.
"No, I'm just helping out," Xia Nuannuan replied with a smile, looking expectantly at the gift in his hand.
"Mine is still in the car. This is what my mom prepared for you," Qin Tian handed over a beautifully packaged gift box and said with a smile, "I'm passing on her birthday wishes!"
They had been on the phone until late last night, and as soon as midnight struck, Qin Tian had already sent his blessings before saying goodnight and going to sleep.
"Hehe... Thanks!" Xia Nuannuan took it with her hands and thanked him happily, then asked curiously, "Why didn't you bring your gift up too?"
She was, of course, more eager for the birthday gift Qin Tian had prepared for her. The skin-nourishing cream he had given her and her mother a few days ago had already surprised them both.
After only two uses, she could clearly feel that her already well-maintained skin had become even fairer and smoother.
"What's the hurry? We'll talk about it during the gift-giving session later. Besides, the gift I prepared is quite large, I'll have to go down and move it later." Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Quite large?" Xia Nuannuan was taken aback.
"Literally!" Qin Tian smiled mysteriously.
"What is it?" Xia Nuannuan's heart felt as if it were being scratched by cat's claws.
"It's a secret for now!"
"Ahhh... I want to hit you!"
"Ahem... Stop messing around. Are Grandpa and Grandma here? My mom also prepared gifts for them."
"They're still at the neighbor's, haven't come over yet. Should I go call them?"
"No, no, let's talk about it later." Qin Tian hurriedly stopped her and then greeted Old Xia, who was sitting in the living room watching television.
"You're here! Come sit down!" Old Xia beckoned.
Qin Tian responded, walked over, and sat on the sofa as instructed.
"Here, have a cup of tea!" Old Xia picked up the freshly brewed tea and poured him a cup.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Qin Tian gratefully accepted the teacup with both hands and took a sip of the golden, clear tea soup, finding his mouth filled with lingering fragrance. Even though he didn't know much about tea, he could tell this was brewed from expensive, high-quality leaves.
"Your mother has taken great care," Old Xia said with a smile, glancing at the shopping bag containing gifts for the two elders.
Qin Tian quickly shook his head, saying, "It's nothing valuable, just a token of appreciation."
"That's enough," Old Xia nodded with a smile.
A moment later, the two elders arrived together. After Qin Tian greeted them, he presented the gifts from his mother. Knowing that the old man enjoyed chess and fishing, he gave the old man a chess set made of excellent material, and for Grandma, a set of warm winter clothing.
Upon receiving the gifts, the two elders complained that it was Nuannuan's birthday and why they prepared gifts for them, but their faces were beaming, clearly very pleased.
...
...
His future mother-in-law had clearly brought out her best culinary skills today. As the delicious dishes were served one by one, the entire house was filled with the enticing aroma of food. Once most of the dishes were on the table, everyone prepared to celebrate Xia Nuannuan's birthday first. The birthday cake had, of course, been prepared long in advance. The cake wasn't large, only one layer, but it was a high-priced custom order from Yu City's best cake shop. Qin Tian helped Old Xia with the decorations, and after they were done, Xia Nuannuan and Su Xia also came out of the kitchen. The family sat around the coffee table in the living room, and eighteen small candles were already lit on the cake. Su Xia clapped her hands rhythmically and began singing the birthday song with a gentle smile. Qin Tian and the others immediately joined in. Xia Nuannuan, with a happy and sweet smile on her face, cupped her hands and made her eighteenth birthday wish.
"Phew..." Xia Nuannuan opened her eyes and blew out the candles in one breath.
"Alright, we can eat the cake now."
"Nuannuan, what did you wish for?" Su Xia asked with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan's pretty face turned slightly red, and she feigned composure, saying, "It's a secret. If I say it, it won't come true."
"It seems to be related to Xiao Qin," Su Xia glanced meaningfully at Qin Tian.
"No, it's related to everyone. I made several wishes." Xia Nuannuan's face flushed even redder, and she refuted in a flustered manner.
"You can make several birthday wishes? Nuannuan, you're too greedy!" the old man teased with a chuckle.
"Why not? People say you can make three birthday wishes, and since it's my eighteenth birthday, not my first, I should be able to make eighteen wishes." Xia Nuannuan said righteously.
"Hahaha..." Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"There is indeed such a saying, that birthday wishes can be made three times. The first two can be spoken, but the last one cannot be said, and it is the most important." Qin Tian chimed in with a smile.
"Is that so? There's such a saying?" Old Xia's face showed surprise, and he smiled at his daughter, "Nuannuan, then tell us your first two wishes!"
"Alright!" Xia Nuannuan nodded her head, and with a smile, she slowly said, "My first wish is for Grandpa, Grandma, and everyone around me to be healthy and safe."
"Good!" The old man nodded with a face full of smiles.
Xia Nuannuan looked at her mother and continued, "Today I turn eighteen and become an adult. My second wish is that, like Mama and Aunt Tang, I can become more mature and excellent from today onwards, becoming an independent and strong woman."