【Stick with me】
【I won’t let you die】
Zhu Lexing fell quiet for a moment before asking, “Why am I the one doing all the talking while you’re staying so quiet?”
【Didn’t you say you didn’t want me talking to you?】
Zhu Lexing felt this was outright slander. She shot back, “I never said that. I just didn’t want you… touching me, that’s all. When did I ever tell you not to talk? You’re twisting my words again.”
Yan Mian finally unmuted. “Really?”
The soft, girlish voice seemed to whisper right in her ear. Zhu Lexing turned down the game volume a bit and murmured, “Of course.”
“Mm.” Yan Mian continued, “So, Lexing, what should we do next?”
Zhu Lexing kept a straight face. “My name is Zhu Lexing.”
Yan Mian acknowledged it casually. Near the end of the match, she said again, “Zhu Lexing.”
Zhu Lexing: “…What? Calling my name again.”
Yan Mian’s voice rose just a touch in pitch, sounding especially sweet. “Your name is so nice. I want to say it a few more times.”
Zhu Lexing logged off in a huff and buried herself under the covers like an ostrich.
It was a long while before she needed air and peeked out, only to see a message from Yan Mian.
【We won the game】
【Good night, Xingxing】
It was only eight o’clock. Good night what?
Zhu Lexing tapped away at her keyboard, but in the end, she only sent a good night emoji.
The days slipped by in this strange, uneasy standoff.
It was then that Zhu Lexing realized the original host’s birthday fell at year’s end. Just one more day, and it would be New Year’s.
That was her original birthday, too.
Midway through December, when Zhu Lexing got home, she found a professional styling team there. They were all dressed in eccentric outfits, tape measures in hand, as if taking measurements.
As they introduced themselves, the group had been hired by Liu Su specifically to custom-make a gown for Zhu Lexing.
Yan Mian stood nearby, also called over for her measurements.
At first, Zhu Lexing wondered what the gown was even for.
That was until a week before the birthday, when Qiao Qiao snapped a photo of the invitation she’d received and sent it to Zhu Lexing: What gift do you want?
Zhu Lexing opened the image. The invitation was exquisite, set at a villa complex. There were two versions: one for formal attire and one casual, the latter sent mostly to Zhu Lexing’s classmates.
Only then did it hit her—the original host’s birthday was really almost here.
On December 31st, starting from the crack of dawn, Zhu Lexing’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Half-asleep, she glanced over; most were birthday wishes. Even Zhu Lin, whom she hadn’t spoken to in ages, had sent a 99+ barrage.
Zhu Lexing skimmed through them and opened her chat with Yan Mian. But the screen was empty.
For a moment, Zhu Lexing thought she was dreaming. Yet when she woke up again, the chat with Yan Mian was still stuck on messages from days ago. Not even a “happy birthday.”
Even Qiao Qiao had sent two video greetings. How had Yan Mian not managed a single “happy birthday”?!
The more Zhu Lexing thought about it, the stranger it felt.
At school, she could no longer feign indifference. All day, her gaze kept drifting to Yan Mian’s face. Yan Mian, for her part, seemed utterly at ease—in fact, in an exceptionally good mood, smiling more times that day than in the entire previous month combined.
Seeing Yan Mian so cheerful eased Zhu Lexing’s own gloom a little.
But the nagging unease only grew. In the end, she took the initiative and wrote Yan Mian a note.
—Don’t you have something you want to say to me?
Yan Mian read it and turned to look at her.
For the first time in who knew how long, their eye contact lasted more than three seconds.
Finally, Yan Mian lowered her eyes and wrote back.
—Happy birthday
—I want to give you a surprise
No matter what the surprise turned out to be—even if it was just this simple “happy birthday”—Zhu Lexing felt an unexpected surge of satisfaction.
In fact, right up until they pulled up to the villa, Zhu Lexing thought the gown was a joke.
Until she saw the view outside the window.
This was the Lakeside Villa Complex, aglow with lantern lights. Yachts bobbed on the nearby river, decked out in decorations for the obvious party. The garden was tied with ribbons, balloons, and star-shaped string lights. Even the floating banners were custom-made to read “Happy Birthday Lexing.”
In the garden, beside the champagne tower, stood a seven-tiered cake.
It was nearly evening, and the dim yellow light shone all the more brilliantly amid the swirling snowflakes.
On the second floor of the villa, Zhu Lexing laid eyes on her gown.
It was a deep blue all over, layers of flowing chiffon draped together like moonlight. Hanging beside it was Yan Mian’s pale yellow one.
The colors were ones they’d picked themselves. The designer had tried to incorporate their preferences as much as possible, but they’d had none—just “do whatever.”
The finished products before them were thus perfectly standard, nothing special.
A dedicated makeup artist was on hand to style them both.
Zhu Lexing stared at her reflection in the mirror, closing her eyes to the artist’s slightly fawning tone.
Neither of them was new to having makeup done, so there was no discomfort. By the time they finished, guests were already arriving in droves.
The villa blazed with lights. From the second-floor balcony, Zhu Lexing gazed down at the indoor garden, then glanced sideways at Yan Mian.
With makeup on, Yan Mian’s features looked even more refined—her nose bridge high and straight, her lips red and glossy.
Zhu Lexing unconsciously licked her own lips and changed the subject. “How come Qiao Qiao and the others aren’t here yet?”
Yan Mian replied, “Should we text them to check?”
Her phone was back in the dressing room—Zhu Lexing had forgotten to grab it. She didn’t feel like turning back for it now.
“Forget it,” Zhu Lexing said. “What will come will come eventually.”
Yan Mian smiled faintly, about to say something more, when a servant spoke up from behind her. “Miss Yan, Ms. Liu is waiting for you downstairs.”
Yan Mian nodded. Zhu Lexing had been planning to follow her, but the servant added, “Miss Zhu, please wait a little longer. The banquet will begin shortly.”
Zhu Lexing blinked in confusion.
They were only summoning Yan Mian… What kind of tactic was this?
Puzzled but compliant, Zhu Lexing stayed on the second floor and watched as Yan Mian was led down to meet Liu Su.
The two women spoke briefly downstairs before Yan Mian left the villa on her own, heading toward the garden.
Zhu Lexing paused, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. She noticed that after Yan Mian’s departure, several cameramen had switched on their cameras and begun filming.
【This is a banquet hosted by the Liu Family.】 the System reminded her. 【It’s not Ms. Liu putting on the pressure—it’s the Liu Family’s decision.】
Yan Mian had no official standing here, so naturally, she wouldn’t be included in the records.
Yet Zhu Lexing spotted Zhou Yang in a corner of the villa—a face she hadn’t seen in ages.
If Zhou Yang could be here, why not Yan Mian? She wasn’t even close to him; if anything, they had bad blood.
It made no sense, emotionally or logically, and Zhu Lexing couldn’t accept it.
By that logic, wasn’t she in the same boat—without legitimate standing?
She wasn’t Zhu Lexing at all, not really.
But the System had made it clear this wasn’t Liu Su’s doing, so Zhu Lexing had no grounds to confront her.
She headed downstairs on her own and ran straight into Zhu Lin.
Jiang Yue wasn’t accompanying him today. Perhaps she feared Zhu Lexing might embarrass her at the birthday party, leaving her no way to save face. Or maybe she simply didn’t want to see Yan Mian.
Without her there, Zhu Lin spoke far less than usual. Dressed in a suit, he smiled as soon as he saw Zhu Lexing and pressed a small box into her hands. “Happy birthday, Xingxing.”
The box wasn’t large. Zhu Lexing opened it to find the keys to a luxury car.
“The car’s parked outside,” Zhu Lin said. “Daddy will always love you.”
Zhu Lexing felt little toward Zhu Lin, good or bad. She was utterly indifferent. So she didn’t take the gift, merely smiling as she replied, “I don’t have my license yet. I’ll think about it once I do.”
Zhu Lin seemed caught off guard, as if he’d never imagined the gift being refused. He stood there frozen, unable to come up with a reason.
Before he could speak, Zhu Lexing added a quick “Thanks” and walked away.
A servant outside the villa looked surprised to see Zhu Lexing. “Miss Zhu? The banquet’s about to start.”
“I’m just going to chat with a friend,” Zhu Lexing said. “Where’s Yan Mian?”
The servant didn’t know her, so Zhu Lexing had to search on her own.
The garden was vast, with a long self-serve buffet table stretching out, servants constantly replenishing the dishes. Most of the guests milling about were young people.
She hadn’t found Yan Mian yet when Qiao Qiao appeared. Seeing Zhu Lexing’s stormy expression, she looked uncharacteristically baffled. “What, playing hide-and-seek? Why aren’t you inside?”
Zhu Lexing said nothing, just stared at her calmly. Qiao Qiao guessed most of it.
After a moment’s thought, Qiao Qiao handed over her gift first. “This whole area’s Liu Family territory anyway—she won’t get lost. Open it now.”
Whether it was practicality or extravagance on Qiao Qiao’s part, she’d given Zhu Lexing a necklace embedded with countless diamonds.
Zhu Lexing nearly laughed in exasperation. “Where do you think I could even wear this?”
Qiao Qiao deadpanned, “Zhu Lexing’s nineteenth birthday party.”
A few lighthearted jabs later, much of Zhu Lexing’s frustration had eased. She asked, “Where’s Shi Ruofeng?”
Qiao Qiao pointed in a direction—then her hand froze midair.
Zhu Lexing finally spotted Yan Mian. The girl was wrapped in a coat, her long skirt brushing the ground. She was currently playing Chinese checkers with Li Nian, a small crowd watching and even snapping photos.
Spotting Zhu Lexing, Shi Ruofeng let out an exaggerated “Whoa,” though her face remained expressionless. “The birthday girl has arrived.”
The photographer faltered, camera still raised. “Huh? Isn’t the birthday girl that Omega over there?”
Someone beside him immediately corrected, “It’s Zhu Lexing’s birthday. She’s an Alpha—what are you thinking?”
The man could only mutter, “Really? But she reeks of Alpha pheromones—”
Xu He tsked. “Who cares if she’s O or A? You’ve already taken the shot—send me the photo!”
The man quickly forwarded it to Xu He. For a moment, all eyes in the vicinity turned to Zhu Lexing, everyone pondering how to approach her.
But she walked straight to Yan Mian, who was packing away the checkers.
“Not playing anymore?” Zhu Lexing asked.
“The birthday party’s about to start,” Yan Mian said with a smile.
“The actual birthday girl is right here—what party?” Zhu Lexing replied. “Play a round with me.”
Yan Mian froze in place.
Xu He picked up on the awkward tension and smoothly redirected the group’s attention to herself, steering them into gossip instead.
The onlookers gradually dispersed, leaving space for Zhu Lexing and Yan Mian to talk alone.
Yan Mian glanced toward the brightly lit villa, filled with distinguished guests mingling about. She recalled Zhu Lexing’s earlier words: She would have to get used to this kind of environment someday, so no need to be nervous.
But experiencing it again now meant facing outright exclusion at the door. Liu Su had clearly just received the news herself, her expression particularly grim.
Yan Mian didn’t blame Liu Su, of course. Still, she couldn’t help thinking that what didn’t belong to her was best not coveted.
Yet at this moment, watching Zhu Lexing fiddle with the marbles, eyes fixed on the board in deep thought, Yan Mian felt her resolve waver slightly. She parted her lips and suddenly said, “Lexing.”
“…Yeah?”
“Are you nervous?”
The marbles clacked together, the sound sharp in the quiet. Zhu Lexing’s hand paused, silencing the noise.
“Nervous? How could I—”
Be?
But meeting Yan Mian’s gentle gaze, Zhu Lexing found she couldn’t finish the sentence.
She was indeed nervous. Never before had there been a moment when she felt so utterly out of place. This wasn’t her life, and those blessings didn’t belong to her either.
They belonged to Liu Su’s true daughter.
Zhu Lexing didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “If you were the protagonist, would you be nervous?”
Yan Mian said, “I used to be.”
“Used to be?” Zhu Lexing found the answer ambiguous. “Not anymore?”
“Didn’t you say it yourself?” Yan Mian tried her best to keep her tone calm, suppressing the vague, wild thoughts stirring in her heart. “No matter what, I have to adapt to occasions like this. I do, and so do you. So as long as you’re by my side, I won’t be afraid.”
Zhu Lexing gazed at Yan Mian. Never before had there been a moment when she wished so desperately that she truly was Zhu Lexing.
