Chapter 93: Birthday
Xia Qian Ge stood in front of the bathroom sink, cupping her hands and splashing cold water on her face, soothing the redness around her eyes. She tried her best to smile at her reflection, but her expression was as stiff as a paralyzed patient who had just learned to smile.
She walked out of the bathroom, telling herself that today was her birthday, the day of her great victory. She, Xia Qian Ge, would not lose, never.
The shops on the second floor of the shopping center were mostly fashion brands popular with young people. She often saw girls with their friends or boyfriends, lost in the dazzling array of cosmetics shops.
Xia Qian Ge carried the small basket the salesperson had given her and walked through the rows of cosmetics, occasionally trying on a lipstick or eyeshadow on the back of her hand, then wiping it with water to see if it would smudge. After choosing a few items, she used a cotton pad provided by the shop, dampened with water, to wipe off the lipstick and then apply it to her lips, checking the effect in the mirror.
She used the same method to try on the eyeshadow. In the end, Xia Qian Ge chose a few products she liked and put them in her basket.
The salesperson had noticed her the moment she walked into the shop. Her natural beauty, even without makeup, was already so stunning. With a little touch-up, she would be absolutely breathtaking.
The saleswoman enthusiastically recommended the newly launched lip gloss and blush to Xia Qian Ge. After a brief trial, she also chose a few that suited her.
When Xia Qian Ge went to pay, the saleswoman stopped her and asked if she would be willing to try their cosmetics and take a few user experience photos, offering a makeup tool kit as compensation.
Xia Qian Ge suddenly remembered that her eyebrow pencil in the dorm was not working well. Although she didn’t usually wear makeup, having a new set of tools would be nice, so she readily agreed to the saleswoman’s request.
Xia Qian Ge didn’t have to do her own makeup. A more professional makeup artist did it for her. Since Xia Qian Ge had expressed that she was in a hurry, and her natural features were already very good, the makeup process didn’t take long, but it attracted many other customers in the store.
They were amazed at how her beauty intensified as the makeup became more mature, like a pearl nurtured in the flesh of a clam after the sand and grit were removed, shining with a dazzling beauty.
The makeup artist finally did the finishing touches, looking at the girl in front of him with a pleased expression. He was even a little reluctant to pack up his tools, as if lamenting that he would probably never find such a perfect canvas again.
Xia Qian Ge looked at herself in the mirror. Her makeup was not heavy, but it compensated for the weaker parts of her facial contours. The eyebrow pencil elongated and deepened the corners of her eyes, making her already high nose bridge even more three-dimensional. Her bright red lips were slightly widened and thickened. The overly mature and three-dimensional makeup, combined with her naturally delicate features, did not look out of place. Instead, it had a bright and stunning effect.
She touched her cheek, as if confirming something. The her in the mirror seemed to have become another person. There was no trace of her usual gentle and frail appearance. She seemed to… see a shadow of her future self.
…
After taking the photos, Xia Qian Ge left the cosmetics store with her purchases. She had spent almost a few days’ salary on cosmetics, but today was her birthday, and she didn’t want to have any regrets.
This was why she had chosen to strike back and even retaliate against Zhang Lin today. If it had been any other day, she might not have cared about the clown’s ridiculous behavior. It was just her bad luck that she had chosen the wrong day.
Xia Qian Ge walked along the bustling commercial street in the evening. The sea of people on the street made her feel particularly small. She wandered past the cafes and dessert shops, many of which had exquisite signs in front of them, advertising today’s special set meals or recommended products.
She wandered around and looked at many places, and finally stopped in front of a dessert shop. The waiter at the entrance was still collecting and tidying up the rattan tables and chairs. The shop was lit with a dim, warm, yet just right light. If it wasn’t for the fact that the entire commercial street was so brightly lit, walking into such a shop in the dead of night would surely give one a warm and comfortable feeling.
Xia Qian Ge walked into the shop. The overall tone of the shop was warm, with a simple wooden style. The tables, chairs, window frames, and the long, rectangular table facing the window were all made of wood. The warm yellow light meant that there weren’t many people working or reading in the shop. Most of them were either in groups or alone, enjoying the music and talking in low voices.
She chose a table facing the window and sat down. She wasn’t wearing a mask as usual. Her exquisite makeup had attracted many gazes on her way, but she didn’t feel any joy.
From the menu the waiter handed her, Xia Qian Ge chose the shop’s new small chocolate cake and a glass of lychee sparkling water.
There weren’t many people in the shop, so her order arrived quickly. She politely said thank you and asked the waiter if she could have a candle. The waiter immediately understood and brought her a candle that was the right size for the chocolate cake, and even thoughtfully provided a piece of greaseproof paper.
After the waiter left, Xia Qian Ge lit the candle and gently placed it on the chocolate cake. She stared blankly at the fragile, flickering candlelight, as if a single heavy breath could extinguish its life.
Xia Qian Ge clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her long eyelashes casting a fan-shaped shadow in the dim light. She gently closed her eyes and silently made a birthday wish in her heart, for this eighteenth birthday that would mark her transition into adulthood.
She had never believed in these things, but when she thought of the content of her wish, she became the most devout believer in the world.
A moment later, the wish gradually faded in her heart, carried away by the wind in an inscrutable way. She didn’t know if it would reach the ears of the gods and hear her devout wish.
Xia Qian Ge gently blew out the candle and silently cut the cake into several pieces with a knife. She smelled the alluring, sweet aroma of the cake, but she didn’t seem to be in a hurry to eat.
She took out her phone from her pocket and scrolled through her chat history. She had always been very popular. Although she hadn’t revealed her birthday in college, many of her high school classmates had sent her birthday wishes today.
But Xia Qian Ge seemed to not care at all as she scrolled past those messages and opened his chat box. Their chat history was still stuck on a previous greeting, with no follow-up. She had been waiting all day, but she hadn’t received the few words she had been hoping for.
A moment later, Xia Qian Ge turned off her phone screen. Under the warm yellow light, her expression was terrifyingly cold.
She didn’t believe in gods, only in herself.
