She’d grown up in a broken family and never had a complete family, let alone celebrated a birthday. It was as if her arrival was not worth celebrating.
Hua Jin saw the loneliness on her face and thought he had brought up some unhappy memories. “I’m sorry,” he said awkwardly.
“Ah, why are you apologizing?” Liang Yin quickly explained, “Actually, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I don’t value birthdays either. However, if it were me, during my childhood…” She tried to imagine it and continued unhurriedly, “Whatever it is, I’ll love it as long as it’s for my birthday.”
“Really?!”
“Well, actually, it doesn’t matter what you give as a birthday gift. It’s the thought that counts. That sense of anticipation when you’re about to unwrap a present is incomparable. It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive or not. It’s mainly the feeling of looking forward to the surprise!”
Qin Zhou gave her a long look but said nothing. “When’s your birthday?” he asked, feigning casualness.
“I … don’t think I remember either. I’ve never really celebrated my birthday…”
The actor pestered Qin Zhou, “Qin Zhou, help me think. What should I get Yueyao for her birthday?”
“Do your own thinking!” The manager snorted. “Too late to buy a birthday present, don’t you think? If you’d prepared it earlier, you wouldn’t be so flustered now!”
The actor ignored him and said to Liang Yin, “Accompany me to the mall tomorrow!”
Qin Zhou immediately cut him off. “She’s got class tomorrow. If you wish to go, you’ll have to go by yourself.”
The actor looked hurt.
Seeing Hua Jin’s devastated expression, Liang Yin couldn’t help laughing. “How about this? I’m free tomorrow night. I can accompany you to the mall!”
“Yay! You’re the best.”
The actor shot his manager a smug look. Liang Yin smiled, but the corners of her lips suddenly froze. For some odd reason, she envied Yueyao. There was even a hint of jealousy.
Of course, there was no malice in such jealousy. It was just pure envy that Yueyao could grow up in such a wonderful environment,with her mother and father doting on her, and the entire family treating her like a precious pearl.
People were born into different worlds indeed.
…
That evening, after Qin Zhou got home and as he was walking past his study, a sudden thought struck him. He walked into the study. There was a stack of documents on the desk.
He picked it up casually, went through a few pages, and opened one of them. It was Liang Yin’s personal particulars. On it was Liang Yin’s ID number. With her ID number, Qin Zhou obtained her date of birth.
Generally, on the identification document, one’s birthday would be indicated based on the Gregorian calendar. Then, in lunar terms… It would be early next month.
Qin Zhou smiled, snapped the file shut, and left the study.
…
The actor pestered Liang Yin to go to the mall with him to buy a gift. Finally, under her guidance, he selected a princess dress. Liang Yin especially liked it.
Hua Jin did not know how to choose a girl’s birthday present, but looking at the dress Liang Yin had chosen, it was the right size and very beautiful. He bought it for 20,000.
Yueyao’s birthday fell on the weekend. Hua Jin had wanted to bring Liang Yin along, but she had to stay on set to catch up on filming progress. Hence, she asked Hua Jin to help deliver the gift she had prepared.
