Hearing this, Shen Xi paused and looked at Xie Yifei, "Is today my birthday?"
"Yes. Did you forget?" Xie Yifei looked at her with a smile.
"What's the date today?"
"June 16th."
June 16th? It really was her birthday. No wonder, when she saw the room number earlier, her heart had subtly stirred, feeling a sense of familiarity with the numbers.
"I've been so busy these past few days that I completely forgot my own birthday. It's so thoughtful of you all to remember." Shen Xi's eyes reddened with emotion.
Mei Yun also stepped forward, took Shen Xi's hand, and led her to the table. "Xi Xi, all of this was specially prepared for you by Kai Cheng. Even the room number was booked in advance. Floor 6, room 616."
Shen Xi turned to look at Song Kai Cheng and gave him a grateful smile, "Thank you, Brother Kai Cheng. You're so thoughtful."
Song Kai Cheng didn't say anything, returning her smile warmly. He then gestured for everyone to sit down, informed the waiter that everyone had arrived, and requested them to start serving the dishes.
Gently opening the cake, Song Kai Cheng personally inserted two candles. After lighting them, everyone began singing the "Happy Birthday" song to her, a mix of Chinese and English.
Tears of emotion sparkled in Shen Xi's eyes.
"Xi Xi, make a wish," Song Kai Cheng said gently as the song ended, his gaze fixed on her.
"Okay." Shen Xi looked at the two numbers "26" on the candles, feeling a rush of emotions.
She was only twenty-one, a fourth-year university student, when she left K City. Five years had flown by, and now she was the mother of three children, back in this city and celebrating her birthday here.
It all felt like a dream.
Besides Xie Yifei, everyone else around her was a new face.
Her father was no longer around, and she had no idea where Ah Zhe was.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she softly closed them, Yin Zhe's image filling her mind.
Ah Zhe, where are you? When will you come back?
Sister really wants to see you right away.
A few minutes later, Shen Xi slowly opened her eyes. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she let out a sob, and two streams of tears quickly traced paths down her cheeks.
Xie Yifei quickly handed her a tissue.
Yan Yan, sitting beside her, nudged her arm and asked with a pout, "Mommy, it's your birthday, you should be happy. Why are you crying?"
"It's nothing, I'm just very touched," Shen Xi managed a faint smile, patting her little braid.
"Xi Xi, come, blow out the candles quickly," Mei Yun reminded her with a smile.
"Okay." Shen Xi leaned forward slightly and blew out the candles with all her might, extinguishing the two flames.
Everyone applauded and began presenting their birthday gifts. Only Song Kai Cheng remained impassive, cutting the cake.
Chen Chen and Shuo Shuo, engrossed in their tablets, were swiping at the screens, oblivious to their surroundings.
"Come, Chen Chen, Shuo Shuo, time for cake. What are you two doing, not saying anything, just playing on your tablets?" Mei Yun placed two slices of cake in front of them, asking curiously.
"Nothing, we're just playing a game," Chen Chen immediately turned off the screen and hid it behind him. "Time for cake, time for cake."
Just then, the waiter knocked and entered to serve the dishes. Jian Fan poured the red wine, and everyone ate and chatted lively.
Halfway through the meal, the waiter knocked again and entered, pushing a small cart with a bouquet of vibrant red roses.
Mei Yun's face lit up with a happy smile, while Xie Yifei and Jian Fan exchanged a surprised glance, their hearts skipping a beat.
Shen Xi, with her back to the door, hadn't noticed the waiter's entry.
Chen Chen immediately took out his tablet from behind him and quickly sent a WeChat message to Qin Si Ye.
"Uncle Qin, where are you? Hurry up. Uncle Song has already made his move."
Soon, Qin Si Ye replied, "I'm in the basement, coming up shortly."
It wasn't until Song Kai Cheng stood up, picked up the bouquet of roses, and spoke from behind Shen Xi that she finally realized the unusual expressions on everyone else's faces.
"Xi Xi, these flowers are for you. Happy birthday!"
Startled, Shen Xi stood up and turned around. The sight of the large bouquet of beautiful red roses left her stunned and flustered.
"Brother Kai Cheng, this..."
Seeing her frozen in shock and not taking the roses, Song Kai Cheng took a small box from his pocket, opened it, and presented it to her.
"Xi Xi, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"