Chapter 35: Lu Yuanqiu: If I’m not mistaken, were you just about to hug me? [First Update]

In the pitch-black supermarket, the flicker of a flashlight mingled with the gentle glow of birthday candles.

Lu Tian approached from behind, gently placing a paper birthday hat atop the girl's head.

“Not bad, looks good,” he commented with a smile, only to notice suddenly that the girl’s shoulders were quivering. Circling around, he found Bai Qingxia sobbing, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Was she truly so moved? Lu Tian was a little surprised.

His son had indeed put thought into the birthday surprise; to coordinate, the supermarket closed early, sacrificing thousands in sales, but Lu Tian didn’t mind. Though Bai Qingxia had only worked for him half a month, the fact that she’d mended his son’s trousers made Lu Tian feel she was well worth it.

That was why he had also contributed a lavish two-tier fruit cake to the occasion.

Ah, a bit of pocket change—nothing to the likes of Boss Lu.

“You rascal, this much romance will be the death of you. Look at the girl, you’ve made her cry,” Lu Tian chided his son.

Hearing this, Bai Qingxia quickly shook her head, turning away and hurriedly wiping her tears, as if to prove she hadn’t been crying.

Her innocence made Lu Tian chuckle, and he handed her a tissue. “Just joking, I wasn’t scolding him. But look at you, tears on such a happy day.”

Lu Yuanqiu felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t expected Bai Qingxia to cry so hard. The more she wept, the more it showed she remembered today was her birthday.

“Make a wish,” Lu Yuanqiu prompted gently.

Bai Qingxia stepped forward, her face conflicted. “I… I already made one.”

Lu Yuanqiu didn’t press her. “Then blow out the candles. Wishes only count after the candles are out.”

She nodded immediately, hurried up, and tried to blow out the candles in one breath—but failed. Embarrassed, she glanced at Lu Yuanqiu, and just as she was about to try again, Lu Tian called from behind, “Both of you, blow them out together.”

Lu Yuanqiu smiled at her. “You don’t mind me sharing your wish, do you?”

Bai Qingxia shook her head so vigorously it was almost comical.

The two leaned in, cheeks puffed, and together sent the candle flames dancing before extinguishing them in a wisp of white smoke.

The supermarket lights flickered on at that moment.

Brightness flooded the room.

Lu Yuanqiu used a free hand to switch off the surrounding flashlights, giving Bai Qingxia an apologetic smile. Rarely did she meet his gaze, but now her tear-bright, reddened eyes seemed to burn into his, intense and unwavering.

It was Lu Tian’s call of “Let’s eat cake!” that finally broke her reverie. Bai Qingxia snapped back to herself, hurriedly looking away and taking a step back, watching as Lu Yuanqiu brought the cake to the counter.

“You older folks should have less cake at night—just a few slices for the gesture. The rest should go home with our birthday girl; her family hasn’t had any yet.”

Bai Qingxia quickly waved her hands. “That’s too much, really, you all eat, please…”

Her voice faded, unable to fathom how much such a large and beautiful cake might have cost.

Lu Yuanqiu began to slice the cake, handing the first piece directly to Bai Qingxia, and with a playful swipe, dabbed a bit of cream on her nose.

Seeing her standing there, nose tipped with white cream, blinking shyly, Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t help but laugh.

“Go ahead, eat up, what are you waiting for?”

Bai Qingxia lowered her head, taking small bites, savoring the creamy sweetness melting in her mouth. Nervously, she whispered, “How much did this cake cost…?”

Lu Tian was about to answer when Lu Yuanqiu cut in, “It was free. The bakery had a promotion—on September 19th, anyone buying a birthday cake could enter a raffle. I gave it a go and won a two-tier one.”

Bai Qingxia listened in a daze, amazed that there were such ways to get things for free. She asked, “Which bakery was it?”

Lu Yuanqiu glanced at her. Was she planning to try her luck for a free cake on her own birthday on the 20th?

“I forgot the name,” he replied casually.

Lu Tian ate his cake, a mysterious smile gracing his lips, but he didn’t expose his son’s fib.

They leaned against the counter, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

“How does it taste?” Lu Yuanqiu asked.

Bai Qingxia was absorbed in licking cream from her spoon like a kitten. Seeing him look her way, she quickly withdrew her pink tongue, lowered her head, and gently tapped her paper plate with the spoon, her ears flushing red. “It’s delicious.”

“Xia, you can head home early today,” Lu Tian said kindly.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Bai Qingxia replied, smiling without a hint of reservation.

Night had fallen.

Carrying the remainder of the cake, Lu Yuanqiu escorted Bai Qingxia to the crossroads.

“Take this home to your uncle,” he said, handing her the cake.

She accepted it, and when she saw Lu Yuanqiu didn’t hurry off, she brought her backpack in front of her. As he unzipped it, he paused suddenly, pointing behind her. “What the—what’s that?”

Bai Qingxia quickly turned to look, but saw nothing. Confused, she turned back—only to see before her a pair of shiny, black low-heeled shoes.

“Ta-da! Birthday present, heh heh.”

Lu Yuanqiu swayed his head, proud of himself.

She stared, stunned.

The size 36 on the sole was clear, and she recalled his odd behavior in the supermarket days ago.

The moon shone bright, stars dazzling overhead.

By the crossroads, traffic streamed ceaselessly.

The streetlight’s glow was hazy and warm, enveloping the pair in gentle light.

Lu Yuanqiu’s smile froze as he saw tears well in Bai Qingxia’s eyes. He hurried to her, wiping away her tears with his thumb.

“Are you made of tears or what?” he asked, half exasperated, half amused.

But in truth, Bai Qingxia rarely cried. It seemed all her tears these past years had been shed just in this half-month, all because of this boy who had entered her life so unexpectedly.

“How much… did these cost?” she choked out, barely managing the words.

“Just a dozen or so yuan, street vendor stuff. I saw them and picked them up,” Lu Yuanqiu replied.

Red-eyed, Bai Qingxia lifted her gaze. “I don’t believe you.”

He couldn’t possibly tell her they’d cost five hundred.

So he said, “Since it’s a birthday gift, don’t be polite. You’ll have to give me a present on my birthday too—”

He stopped abruptly.

For he’d noticed Bai Qingxia’s hands lift ever-so-slightly at her sides, only to drop back down as if nothing happened.

Squinting, Lu Yuanqiu teased, “If I’m not mistaken… were you about to hug me?”

Bai Qingxia’s head snapped up, startled, scattering crystal tears into the air.

“I… I wasn’t,” she stammered, shaking her head, retreating a few steps, awkwardness written across her face.

Lu Yuanqiu grinned wickedly, spreading his arms and wiggling his shoulders, advancing with a mischievous “Come here, come here, let’s have a hug of love.”

Bai Qingxia, flustered, backed away.