Chapter 104: Happy Birthday, Xiao Luo!
“Don’t worry, I won’t drink,” Jiang Xue said to Xiao Luohan in the preparation room, as if making a vow, after making sure her older sister and A-Xi were gone. “At least not at the birthday party.”
“Because I can’t drink?” Xiao Luohan asked.
Jiang Xue instinctively nodded, then hurriedly shook her head. “Not entirely. It’s just… you’ve been reading a lot of novels recently, right? There are so many stories about people making fools of themselves after drinking, especially at events like this!”
“And my stomach isn’t very good either. Even when I jokingly asked my sister for alcohol before, I could only have sweet fermented rice balls or non-alcoholic mojitos. To be honest, I’ve never actually had alcohol, so I don’t know my tolerance or how I act when drunk…”
“Then let’s have some other drinks together,” Xiao Luohan said gently. “You can try alcohol when we get back.”
The birthday party was only for lunch, ending around 2:00 PM.
According to their plan from yesterday, after the banquet, they would visit a few elders to inquire about the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Special Enrollment” and the “Comprehensive Evaluation Admission.”
They expected to be home around 6:00 or 7:00 PM, just in time for dinner.
Jiang Xue had also prepared a small gift for Xiao Luohan. She felt that the birthday banquet was too lively and now also had a utilitarian purpose, not intimate enough, so she had secretly discussed it with Sister Cheng and Cheng Shizhu, adding a small segment before dinner.
Of course, she couldn’t tell Xiao Luohan about this gift in advance. Xiao Luohan simply smiled and agreed, then went to choose a dress from the ones Jiang Mei had rented.
Considering that Xiao Luohan was from ancient times, the dresses were a mix of ancient and modern styles. After much deliberation, they decided that Jiang Xue would wear a dark red, retro-style Western dress, and Xiao Luohan would wear a plain dress embroidered with golden longevity deer patterns.
“Aren’t you cold?” Xiao Luohan asked worriedly as she helped Jiang Xue into the off-the-shoulder dress that revealed her shoulders and upper back. “Don’t you have a shawl?”
“I do, I do! But I think the shawl is a bit cumbersome,” Jiang Xue said, taking the fluffy red shawl. “And it would cover the bows on the sleeves…”
“Put it on, it’s not good to catch a cold on your birthday,” Xiao Luohan said with a serious expression, in a “Mother knows best” tone.
Jiang Xue opened her mouth to argue, but was pushed in front of the mirror by Xiao Luohan. “Look closely.”
The dress was beautiful, and Jiang Xue’s figure was perfect for it, but the marks Xiao Luohan had left a few days ago hadn’t completely faded.
“It-It shouldn’t be a big deal, right?” Jiang Xue said awkwardly, still trying to resist. “There are mosquitoes even in winter, or I can just say it’s an allergic reaction…”
Before she could finish, she saw Xiao Luohan suddenly lower her head in the mirror, and then she felt a sharp sting on her shoulder.
“Hey!!” Jiang Xue exclaimed, turning her head. Her eyes met Xiao Luohan’s for a few seconds, then she looked down at her shoulder in disbelief.
…Two very obvious crescent-shaped marks had appeared.
“Xiao Luo, you’re so cunning!!” she wailed, putting on the shawl reluctantly, then, in retaliation, took off Xiao Luohan’s red scarf, pulled down her turtleneck sweater, and also nibbled on her neck.
She only dared to be so bold because Xiao Luohan’s dress had a high collar.
After changing into their dresses, applying heat packs, and touching up their makeup, Jiang Xue looked at Xiao Luohan in the mirror with satisfaction.
“…I suddenly thought of two terms.”
“What?”
“‘Red rose’ and ‘white rose.'”
Two young roses from different worlds, blooming together on the same birthday stage, elegant and captivating.
Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan, holding glasses of apple juice, stood on the flower-decorated stage and made a toast to all the guests.
Actually, Jiang Xue had written a birthday speech, but after revising it five times, it was rejected by Jiang Mei, who even pointed out, “Your feelings for her are overflowing from every word.”
They were still students, and writing like that would leave a bad impression on the guests. This was a birthday party, not an engagement party.
But Jiang Xue felt that the birthday speech Jiang Mei revised was so formal and official that it was better to just skip it altogether—they were here to celebrate their birthday, not to go through the motions.
So after the toast, they went straight to the cake-cutting.
The invited guests were all carefully selected by their two mothers and Jiang Mei, all very tactful and discreet. Even if they were curious about Xiao Luohan’s mysterious origins, they wouldn’t pry. They would believe whatever the Jiang family said.
Xie Xitong personally pushed the cart with the birthday cake tower. Before leaving, she whispered to Jiang Xue, “This looks like a wedding.”
Jiang Xue: …
She covered her face in embarrassment and hid behind the six-tiered cake.
The first few slices of cake were given to their family, especially Ms. Jiang, who had carried them.
Ms. Jiang, usually quiet and serious, after accepting the cake, held both her children tightly, kissing their foreheads.
“May your lives be filled with new and smooth paths from now on,” she said softly, offering her blessings.
May all go well for you after you become adults, both in your studies and relationships.
Ms. Wei and Jiang Mei also accepted their slices of cake, then Sister Cheng and Cheng Shizhu—in Cheng Shizhu’s words, they were the “extended family” of the Jiang family.
Then it was the guests’ turn to receive their cake. Out of sincerity, Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan, imitating Jiang Mei’s coming-of-age party, personally cut and served the cake to each guest.
Xie Xitong didn’t participate in this, sitting next to Jiang Mei and serving food to her grandmother.
Since the older generation of the Jiang family wasn’t present, Grandma Xie became the “elder” at their table.
She sipped the homemade wine Uncle Seuss had sent from overseas, smiling as she watched the two girls bustling about.
With Xiao Luohan’s help, Jiang Xue quickly served everyone their cake.
Clutching her slightly aching stomach, she returned to her family with Xiao Luo, filled her own stomach first, then took Xiao Luo to “network” with the elders on yesterday’s list.
Beautiful people always attracted attention, and their presence made conversations more pleasant.
Ms. Silin, Ms. Wei’s university classmate, couldn’t help but keep the two girls for a while longer and even asked for Xiao Luohan’s contact information.
“If I hold an exhibition nearby next time, if you’re willing, you can wear a custom-made traditional Chinese dress from our studio,” she said to Xiao Luohan elegantly. “Just by standing there, you’re a picture of ancient elegance. Those ‘old fogies’ will definitely love you.”
Teacher Huang, who had connections with Dr. Qi, called Jiang Xue over, pushed up her glasses, and asked seriously, “I heard you’re quite interested in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. Do you want to try applying for N University’s ‘Comprehensive Evaluation Admission’? I heard that N University’s traditional Chinese medicine program is accepting students who chose ‘politics, history, and biology’ this year.”
Jiang Xue: !!
She had originally planned to major in something else at N University and then transfer majors after being admitted. Although Teacher Huang used phrases like “I heard” and “it’s said,” these were just her verbal tics. The more she said them, the more likely it was true.
This was a rare opportunity, so she took out her phone. “I do want to learn more…”
The two continued “making toasts” with their juice and asking questions, not noticing the passage of time.
When they came back to their senses, it was already time for the party to end.
Jiang Xue was about to discuss the afternoon visits with her older sister when she saw a tall woman walk over.
—It was Ms. Ning, Ms. Jiang’s “returnee” best friend, the one Jiang Mei had specifically reminded her to just greet.
“If you’re free this afternoon, come and sit in my private tea room with your little girl,” Ms. Ning said, patting Jiang Xue’s shoulder. “I have more detailed information about the two things you’re concerned about.”
“As expected of Ms. Ning,” Jiang Xue couldn’t help but sigh to Jiang Mei after leaving Ms. Ning’s tea room. “I didn’t tell her anything, but she just listened to our conversations with the other elders and understood exactly what we needed?!”
She was holding a thick document folder, and Xiao Luohan was also holding one, filled with the relevant information they needed, the kind they couldn’t find online.
It’s just that they had been too nervous, spending the entire afternoon in Ms. Ning’s tea room, focused on Ms. Ning and her computer screen, not even paying attention to the details of the tea room, only remembering that the Pu-erh tea Ms. Ning personally brewed was exceptionally refreshing and sweet.
After all, this concerned their future and their wishes, and even if the chances were slim, they still wanted to try and get into the same university.
Jiang Mei smiled but didn’t say anything, focusing on driving. Xiao Luohan caressed the document folder, still a little dazed, as if she had just floated down from the clouds.
—”If you work hard enough, with your potential and my connections, enrolling in the same year is uncertain, but the following year is still possible.”
This was Ms. Ning’s assessment. She remembered Jiang Mei saying that Ms. Ning, as a businesswoman, had a sharp eye, and the people and things she chose rarely went wrong.
But… could she really get into N University, the university Jiang Xue wanted to attend, through the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Special Enrollment” next year? She had just arrived in this world…
Before leaving, Xiao Luohan had tactfully asked Ms. Ning this question.
Ms. Ning’s answer was simple and straightforward: “That’s how unreasonable the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Special Enrollment’ is in this era.”
Meaning, if she wanted to realize her wish, the next few years were the best opportunity, and it would be difficult to have another chance if she missed it.
As Jiang Xue had predicted, they arrived home a little after 6:00 PM, and the sky had already darkened.
The Jiang family’s home was quiet, and the living room lights weren’t on, as if no one was home.
Xiao Luohan only came back to her senses when Jiang Xue gently nudged her forward, but she didn’t think much of the quiet atmosphere.
Her two mothers usually went to the bar together at night, and Sister Cheng and Cheng Shizhu’s rooms weren’t near the entrance, so it was normal not to see any lights.
However, as she pressed the fingerprint lock and opened the door, two soft “pops” came from either side, and colorful ribbons rained down on them.
“Happy birthday, Xiao Luo!”
The warm lights in the entryway suddenly came on, and Sister Cheng and Cheng Shizhu, each holding a mini confetti popper, smiled and wished Xiao Luohan a happy birthday.
And on the dining room window, the words “Happy Birthday” were written in rounded red characters, with a playful heart shape on the “Happy” character.
This was also specially arranged by Jiang Xue. Ever since inadvertently hearing from Elder Sister Red Fox that Xiao Luohan had been disliked by the Emperor of Beiliao for her birth date, she had decided to give Xiao Luo a “family birthday celebration.”
—Your birth is not a joke or a curse of fate. You deserve to live freely and happily.
In this world, there would be family members who sincerely wished her happiness.
Xiao Luohan stood there, stunned, until Jiang Xue took her hand, put an arm around her shoulders, and gently nudged her forward. She came back to her senses, covering her face to prevent her tears from falling.
“Where’s the cake?” Jiang Xue asked, deliberately raising her voice.
“Here, here!” Xie Xitong appeared out of nowhere, turning on the other lights, illuminating the dining table.
There was a small cake covered with fruits, decorated with Xiao Luo’s favorite orange segments and cherries, and frosted with light pink cream.
Although it was small and only single-layered, in Xiao Luohan’s eyes, it was much more heartwarming than the six-tiered cake tower at the hotel.
“Ahem, I didn’t frost it very evenly, please excuse me,” Cheng Shizhu coughed lightly. “Second Miss originally wanted to make one for you herself, but her baking skills are even worse than mine…”
“Let’s not mention that on such a happy day!” Jiang Xue hurriedly interrupted.
Xiao Luohan chuckled. She accepted their kindness, sat in front of the small cake, took the candle Jiang Xue handed her, carefully placed it in the center of the cake, and lit it.
“Then I should… make a wish?” she asked uncertainly, recalling similar scenes from novels.
“Yes, clasp your hands together, close your eyes, and make a wish!” Jiang Xue nodded vigorously.
Xiao Luohan did as she was told, closing her eyes and lowering her head slightly. Before she could even think of a wish, she felt someone gently lift the hair by her ear—perhaps Jiang Xue was playing with her hair, or perhaps a strand had fallen loose and was about to touch the candle flame.
A smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, and she made a silent wish:
“If there are gods, please bless the dazzling sun, so that when it’s tired, it can always rest by my side.”
She wouldn’t be the one chasing the sun, just being the mountain where the sun could peacefully set every day was enough.
