The crystal slipper represents pure love, symbolizing you are my Cinderella, my princess.
For girls, high heels signify mature elegance, and as an 18th birthday gift, they carry even more special meaning.
With both combined, nothing could be more fitting.
Xia Nuannuan only understood part of the symbolism, but the intelligent Su Xia helped to fully interpret it.
Old Xia and her grandparents listened, feeling even more satisfied.
It appeared Qin Tian had not only prepared eighteen birthday gifts, but each one was thoughtfully crafted.
"Thank you, I really love this gift."
Xia Nuannuan’s beautiful eyes, gentle as water, looked at Qin Tian, her heart melting with emotion.
"I'm glad you like it."
Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
"Quick, open another one, and then we'll go eat. Otherwise, the food will get cold," Su Xia said with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan hummed in agreement, her eyes curved into crescents as she said, "Since I've opened the one for eighteen, let's open the one for one year old!"
"Good idea!" The old man heartily agreed with a chuckle.
The gifts were placed in order. After everyone helped pick up the gift boxes on top, Qin Tian took out the gift box with the "one year old" tag and handed it to Xia Nuannuan.
Xia Nuannuan eagerly opened the packaging and found a delicate picture frame inside.
When she picked up the frame and turned it over, her pretty face showed surprise.
Clearly, this was a painting by Qin Tian himself, depicting two small figures.
One small figure lay in a cradle, sucking its fingers, its big, dark eyes looking curiously at the little boy standing outside the cradle.
Xia Nuannuan immediately recognized the chubby little one in the cradle as herself at one year old.
And the slightly older little boy, having seen photos of Qin Tian as a child, Xia Nuannuan instantly recognized as Qin Tian himself.
"I'm a year older than you, so the painting is of me at two years old and you at one year old," Qin Tian explained.
"Oh my, Xiao Qin painted so well!" Grandma praised with a radiant smile.
"Indeed, it's very good. Xiao Qin is truly talented. He could be a painter with this skill!" The old man echoed with a smile.
"Xiao Qin, no wonder you asked me for Nuannuan’s photos from her first birthday before, it was for this!" Su Xia revealed a look of sudden realization.
"Yes," Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
"There was indeed a photo like that when Nuannuan was one year old, but it should have been me standing next to the cradle," Xia Zhengping said with a hint of sourness.
"Uh..." Qin Tian paused, then gave an awkward smile. "Uncle Xia, I apologize. I thought this photo was the best, so I used it as reference for the painting."
"Considering all the gifts you've prepared today, I'll let it slide," Old Xia said, glaring at him good-naturedly.
Hearing this, joyful laughter erupted from everyone in the room again.
"Brother, I really like this gift too. I'll treasure them all," Xia Nuannuan said with a sweet smile.
"You don't have to keep them hidden away. You can use them, like the shoes, they can be worn," Qin Tian said with a smile.
"No, I can't bear to wear them!" Xia Nuannuan immediately refused, shaking her head.
"Then should I have bought two pairs?" Qin Tian asked with mock seriousness.
The elders couldn't help but laugh again at this.
"You can collect them normally, but on important holidays or anniversaries, you can wear them," Su Xia suggested with amusement.
Xia Nuannuan thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Alright, let's go eat!" The old man announced.
Everyone agreed and went to the dining table to take their seats.
There would naturally be drinking today, and Old Xia had already prepared several bottles of expensive Feitian Maotai.
Qin Tian helped open a bottle, first pouring for his grandparents. Grandma could drink as well, and her capacity was no less than the old man's.
Then he poured a glass for Old Xia, and finally for himself.
Xia Nuannuan and Su Xia drank wine with a lower alcohol content, also a good quality product that Old Xia had specifically brought back from Jiangcheng.
"Come, come, let's toast first! Wishing our Nuannuan a happy 18th birthday. You're a young lady now," the old man cheered, raising his glass.
Everyone quickly raised their glasses, sending blessings to Xia Nuannuan.
"Thank you, Grandpa, Grandma, thank you, Mom and Dad, and thank you, brother," Xia Nuannuan said with a beaming smile, thanking each of them. "This is the happiest birthday I've ever had."
"We've always celebrated your birthday like this before. It seems Xiao Qin is the most important now!" The old man teased with a smile.
"Grandpa..." Xia Nuannuan's face turned red, and she shot her grandpa a playfully scolding look.
"Haha... Grandpa understands. Enough said, let's drink," the old man laughed and took a sip of his wine.
Everyone else also took a sip. When it's family drinking, it's naturally casual.
"Alright, let's start eating. Eat up," the old man said, picking up his chopsticks first and addressing Qin Tian, "Xiao Qin, help yourself to food. Don't be shy, eat more."
"Grandpa, don't worry, I've eaten here so many times. When have I ever been polite?" Qin Tian grinned.
The elders were amused again. Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began to enjoy the meal.
Qin Tian indeed did not hold back, eating large portions of food and occasionally putting some of Xia Nuannuan's favorite dishes into her bowl.
...
...
With Qin Tian's powerful appetite, the large table filled with good food and wine was not wasted. After eating and drinking their fill, Qin Tian, who was about to help clean up, was sent to the living room by Xia Nuannuan. She then stayed behind to clean up with her mother and grandmother.
Qin Tian sat on the sofa in the living room, chatting with his father-in-law and grandfather over tea. After the three diligent women finished their work and came over, everyone began to share the cake. Although they were already quite full, the custom-made cake was indeed delicious, and they ate a fair amount of it. The remaining half of the cake was re-packaged by Su Xia and given to Qin Tian to take back to his mother later.
"Brother, can you help me move this to my room?" Xia Nuannuan asked, standing next to the large cardboard box.
"Okay, I'll do it!" Qin Tian responded, walking over, picking up the box, and following her into the room.
As instructed by Xia Nuannuan, he placed the box filled with gifts down. Just as he straightened up, he was hugged from behind by Xia Nuannuan, a comfortable pressure felt against his back. At this moment, through his peripheral vision, he noticed that the girl had actually closed the room door.
"Nuannuan?" Qin Tian's throat bobbed, and he called out her name with a hint of confusion.
"Brother, don't move. Let me hug you," Xia Nuannuan said softly.
Qin Tian was momentarily speechless and could only remain still.
In the living room, the elders also noticed the room door had been closed.
"Is this kid getting too big for his boots? Why is he closing the door to help move a box?" Old Xia put down his teacup, frowning with displeasure.
The old man next to him glanced at him indifferently.
"They're a young couple. What's wrong with them closing the door to whisper a few words? What's it to you? Stop worrying!"
"Dad is right." Su Xia nodded in agreement with a gentle smile, looking at her husband to comfort him. "Don't worry, Xiao Qin isn't as mischievous as you think. Perhaps Nuannuan has something she wants to tell him."
"Yes, I saw Nuannuan close the door," Grandma added.
Old Xia looked at his three closest family members with a speechless expression. He wanted to say something but stopped, finally lifting his teacup and taking a sip of tea, suppressing the grumbling and grievances in his heart.