Wang Chunyue was stunned.
The birthday song began to play, and Fang Yu came down the hill carrying a cake with candles lit.
"When... when did you guys do this?!"
"Surprised? Unexpected?"
"Make a wish!"
"Happy birthday to you, happy..."
Wang Chunyue's eyes were red. She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. The candlelight fell on her fair, delicate face, glowing with a happy smile.
Zeng Keqin clapped and sang the birthday song. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Shiyu across from her also clapping. His dark eyes looked over through the flickering candlelight. Their eyes met, and neither looked away.
"I've made my wish!"
Wang Chunyue opened her eyes and blew out the candles.
Zeng Keqin withdrew her gaze, took out an exquisite gift box from her canvas bag, and sincerely blessed, "Happy birthday. May all your wishes come true."
"And ours."
Liu Ying, Fang Yu, and Wu Mengting also gathered around and handed over their gifts.
"Thank you all..."
Someone took advantage of the chaos to smear a dollop of cream on Wang Chunyue's cheek. The touching scene instantly turned into a chase.
Laughter, pleas for mercy, and screams spread freely through the thick night.
Zeng Keqin stood outside the crowd, watching the bustle with a slight smile. Suddenly, she felt someone standing beside her.
"Can you see clearly from here?"
Jiang Shiyu also had a few streaks of cream on his face, looking somewhat comical. One hand was behind his back.
Zeng Keqin turned her head. "I can..."
Before she finished, she felt a cool sensation on the tip of her nose.
She froze for a second, then saw the cream on Jiang Shiyu's left hand. She instantly realized. "You!"
He looked at her frozen expression—her round eyes, her upturned lashes, like a startled fawn—and couldn't resist adding another smear on her right cheek.
"Jiang Shiyu, stop right there!"
He had already turned around, striding back toward the crowd. He glanced back and said with a laugh, "Do you think I'm stupid?"
The firelight and lamplight fell on the running figures, their shadows overlapping, filled with youthful energy.
As the night grew deeper and everyone tired out, they gradually crawled into the tents. Soon, the sound of even breathing and sporadic snoring could be heard.
Zeng Keqin wiped the cream off her face and sat outside the tent.
As she looked up, she saw a sky full of stars, twinkling like scattered diamonds, spread across the inky night sky.
She took out her phone and opened the contact card that Zhao Manrong had sent.
The profile picture was a beautiful mountain scene.
After hesitating for a long time, she pressed 'Add Friend'.
The other party actually accepted immediately.
Zeng Keqin nervously pursed her lips and typed on the screen: [Hello, Lawyer Shen, I'm Zeng Keqin.]
The other party quickly replied: [Hello, I'm Shen Jingbai. Lawyer Zhao mentioned you. Are you free for an interview at 10 a.m. on Tuesday?]
Zeng Keqin gripped her phone nervously. [Okay, Lawyer Shen. May I ask what I need to bring?]
[Just your personal documents.]
Then, the other party sent a location address.
[Got it. Thank you, Lawyer Shen. I'll be there on time.]
After sending the message, Zeng Keqin finally breathed a sigh of relief. She looked up at the stars, then bent down and crawled into the tent.
Not far away, under a tree, stood a tall figure.
Only after the figure at the tent disappeared did he withdraw his gaze, lower his head, and spread his palm. The index finger still had traces of cream. He rubbed his fingertips, as if savoring something.
The evening breeze brushed by, leaves rustling, hiding even the sound of his heartbeat in the night.
*
The vehicle ambled down from the mountains and onto the highway.
Wang Chunyue was still immersed in the emotion of the birthday surprise, chattering nonstop the whole way.
Zeng Keqin listened obediently from the side. Fortunately, Fatty was in the passenger seat and could interject from time to time, the two of them going back and forth the entire trip.
"We're here."
Jiang Shiyu parked the car at the school gate.
They got out of the car and unloaded the luggage from the trunk. Liao Junyu's car stopped behind them.