Chapter 130: Hoping Qin Yu Will Always Be There

“...”

Qin Yu’s words left Lin Xi momentarily at a loss for reply.

But it was the truth.

The elders, upon witnessing the scene, let their imaginations run wild, and their thoughts were not entirely unfounded.

It was true that Qin Yu had given her the bracelet, that she had liked him before, and that he had once felt the same way about her.

The water hadn’t boiled yet.

Lin Xi lowered her head, staring absentmindedly at the rising temperature numbers.

Qin Yu hadn’t left; he was selecting tea leaves from the cabinet. The old men were picky— the previous pot of tea wasn’t quite right and needed to be replaced.

Time slipped by silently. Lin Xi hesitated, then spoke, “Third brother, about this...”

The man took out some tea leaves and gently interrupted her, “If you want to return the bracelet, there’s no need to say anything.”

“...”

Lin Xi cleared her throat. “No, I mean, I’ll find a similar one for you another day.”

“No need.”

“It’s fine. I’ll keep an eye out. If I can’t find one, then we’ll see.” She wasn’t very familiar with these things and would have to ask around later.

Qin Yu let her be.

“Do you have any wishes this year?”

He asked.

Except for the seven years apart, he had asked her this every year in the past.

Back then, when he asked, Lin Xi didn’t hold back, and he fulfilled each of her wishes.

But now...

Lin Xi paused and said, “This year’s wish is a secret.”

That morning, when her grandmother asked, she hadn’t made up her mind yet.

Now, she roughly had a clear goal.

“Specifically what kind?” Qin Yu wasn’t one to let things go easily; other times he wouldn’t press to give her space.

“Work?”

He kindly offered a direction.

If she were lying, Lin Xi could have easily followed his lead. That was also the answer she gave her grandmother that morning.

But she didn’t.

“No.” She shook her head softly. “It’s about feelings.”

“...” Qin Yu stopped what he was doing. He had considered many possible answers from her.

This was the only one he hadn’t imagined.

His jaw tightened, and without changing his expression, he placed the tea leaves back in the high cabinet.

The sound of the cabinet door closing coincided with the kettle’s whistle signaling the water had boiled. Lin Xi, lost in thought, was startled, her heart pounding fiercely.

“Xi Xi?”

“Xi Xi!”

Outside, her aunt was calling her.

Lin Xi stood up. “Third brother, please brew the tea. I’m going out first.”

“Mm.”

Qin Yu clearly wanted to ask something, but knowing the occasion was inappropriate, he restrained himself and swallowed all the words back.

—

The birthday cake today was prepared by Cheng Si.

A five-tier cake, with the top layer larger than Lin Xi’s face.

It hardly looked like a cake at all.

Still, in a princess style.

Seeing her stare blankly at the cake, Cheng Si approached, draping a hand over her shoulder with pride. “How is it? Beautiful, right?”

“...” Lin Xi gave him a look that said, ‘You figure it out.’

“What’s not beautiful about it?” According to Cheng Si’s taste, this cake was flawless. “When I bought it, I asked—they said young girls these days love this style.”

“That’s true.” Lin Xi nodded in agreement. “But I’m not a young girl anymore.”

After this birthday, she would be twenty-five, rounding up beyond her twenties and nearing thirty.

She was truly no longer a young girl.

Lin Xi hadn’t really celebrated birthdays much these past few years; at most, her uncle would prepare a gift, but never anything so grand.

Plus, having stayed on campus all this time, she hadn’t been very aware of her age. At least in her own mind, she was still a student.

“Who says that?!” Cheng Si was the first to protest. He patted the back of her head with his hand on her shoulder. “You are who you are.”

“If it were a few years ago, maybe this style would suit me,” Lin Xi smiled.

“Alright, it’s still pretty.”

After all, it was Cheng Si’s heartfelt gesture.

“Hey, what happened just now?” Cheng Si tilted his head, whispering to her.

No outsiders were allowed in; he had gone to wait by the door with the cake.

When he returned, he found the elders in high spirits, even the usually stern Qin family patriarch wore a faint smile.

Clearly, something had happened.

In such a setting, he couldn’t directly question his grandfather. He hadn’t found Lin Xi or Qin Yu, and the second brother hadn’t arrived yet. The only option was to ask Bai Xu, but that kid deliberately kept things vague.

“No.” Lin Xi would never admit it.

Cheng Si gave her a disdainful look. “Is that how you treat your brother?”

“Fourth brother is smart. Figure it out yourself.” Lin Xi laughed and brushed his hand away, moving to the opposite side.

—

Cheng Si: “...”

Zhou Jingheng arrived ten minutes later. “I was originally on leave, but there was an important meeting, so I went back to the office.”

He didn’t forget to explain.

In principle, it was unreasonable to keep so many people—especially the elders—waiting for a junior like him.

But Zhou Jingheng’s work was special, and the elders understood. After all, his job was hard to postpone.

Unlike Qin Yu and Cheng Si, who could make decisions themselves.

Once everyone was present, Lin Xi was ushered to the cake. Cheng Si eagerly helped light the candles, and Bai Xu promptly turned off the lights.

In the quiet that followed, Lin Xi closed her eyes slowly.

What wishes had seventeen-year-old Lin Xi made back then?

She hoped her brother would be safe and return well. She wished to get better quickly. She wished Qin Yu would always be there.

What wish did twenty-five-year-old Lin Xi make?

She wished Qin Yu would always be there.

That was the only one of the three wishes from when she was seventeen that remained unfulfilled and still achievable.

—

The courtyard had been lively lately, and it was clear the elders were all very happy.

Using Lin Xi’s birthday as an excuse, Grandpa Bai coaxed out a bottle of white liquor. Since Lin Xi was the guest of honor, she stood and toasted everyone.

At first, she didn’t plan to drink that much.

The elders kept stopping her.

But after one glass of liquor, she began to feel warm all over.

Taking a deep breath, she impulsively poured herself a second glass. She was insistent, and no one could stop her.

“Oh dear, that’s enough.” Seeing her drink four or five glasses in a row, Grandpa Bai was so nervous he didn’t know where to put his hands.

After all, it was his wine. If anything happened to Lin Xi, he would be the ‘culprit.’

“It’s fine.” Lin Xi coughed lightly. Apart from feeling increasingly warm, she felt no other discomfort.

Seeing her walk steadily, Qin Yu silently sat back down.

After finishing the toasts, Lin Xi returned to her seat and began eating. She ate quietly, disliking conversation, a stark contrast to the lively chatter of the elders opposite her.

Her aunt whispered anxiously, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Worried she might be drunk.

Lin Xi shook her head again. “Really, I feel fine.”

(End of chapter)