Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Birthday Wish

“This is for your birthday,”

Lin Xu pulled Ji Zeqiu into the room and handed him a large box.

Ji Zeqiu looked at the gift box in front of him. Excitement crawled into his eyes, but he still pointed to himself uncertainly, “Is it really for me?”

“Yes, why don’t you open it and see?” Lin Xu said.

Ji Zeqiu opened the box and saw a brown scarf inside.

He took out the scarf and turned it over painstakingly, examining it meticulously as if he were inspecting some relic or antique.

“What’s wrong, don’t you like it?” Lin Xu asked, puzzled.

She knew she should have asked him first about his preferences before making a decision, especially since she ended up choosing a gift he didn’t like.

She was somewhat annoyed.

Ji Zeqiu didn’t answer until after examining the scarf for a long time and not finding anyone else’s name phonetically stitched on it. Only then did he relax, wrapped the scarf around his neck several times, and happily put it on.

He sniffed the scarf without changing his expression; it was very warm. A ripple of joy fluttered in his heart, and he clearly liked it very much.

Yet he still suppressed the smile tugging at his lips and stubbornly said, “This scarf is just average.”

“If you’re so reluctant, then give it to me, and I’ll exchange it for something else,” Ji Tingyang glared at him, about to step forward.

Ji Zeqiu, fearing he would come over and snatch it, quickly protected the scarf around his neck, “Even though it’s average, I can still accept it. Besides, this is a birthday gift from Lin Xu, and even if I don’t like it, I should accept it. That’s basic manners, understand?”

“I don’t understand,” Ji Tingyang retorted irritably.

After growing up, their mother hadn’t even given him a birthday gift, nor had he received anything from her.

Why should Ji Zeqiu receive one first?

Ji Tingyang initially didn’t want to come, and now he was even more dissatisfied with this birthday celebration.

“The gift’s given, and he can eat the cake by himself. Let’s go,” Ji Tingyang said, pulling Lin Xu’s hand, his mood foul.

“If you want to leave, go by yourself; Lin Xu is still staying at my house!” Ji Zeqiu grabbed Lin Xu’s other hand, not letting her leave.

The two brothers faced each other, and the air was thick with tension, as if about to ignite.

“Family shouldn’t fight; brothers should get along,” Lin Xu felt overwhelmed and took both of their hands, making them hold each other.

Both jolted as if they had touched something disgusting and quickly let go of each other’s hands.

In this regard, they surprisingly agreed.

Lin Xu: “…”

The cake Lin Xu bought wasn’t big, but it had a thick layer of cream, which was Ji Zeqiu’s favorite type of small cream cake.

When Ji Zeqiu saw the cake, his eyes lit up.

Lin Xu put a candle on it and urged him to make a wish.

“I’m too old for this.” Only children do this kind of thing, Ji Zeqiu muttered, but seeing Lin Xu’s excited expression, he paused and ultimately didn’t want to spoil her mood and walked over.

Make a wish …

What to wish for?

Ji Zeqiu was momentarily at a loss.

If it were his childhood, he might have made an unrealistic wish for his parents to come back to him.

But he had long understood that it was impossible.

What about the things he cared about now …

Wen Li?

Ji Zeqiu pursed his lips, and his gaze suddenly caught the smiling Lin Xu beside him. He quickly looked away and closed his eyes in panic.

“I wish …”

He silently recited his wish, and the image in his mind became chaotic for a moment, finally settling on Lin Xu.

After a moment, Ji Zeqiu opened his eyes and, not daring to look at Lin Xu, stammered, “I-I, I’ve made my wish.”

“What did you wish for?” Your ears are so red.

Lin Xu looked at his ears, red as ripe cherries, somewhat puzzled.

“!!” Ji Zeqiu’s ears turned even redder, “If a wish is spoken, it, it won’t come true.”

Ji Tingyang shot him a look, “Besides Wen Li, what else could it be?”

It had to be said that Ji Tingyang knew him quite well.

If it were before, Ji Zeqiu indeed would have wished for that.

But now things had changed.

“It’s not her!” Ji Zeqiu hurriedly countered, afraid of being misunderstood, and stole a guilty glance at Lin Xu, “My feelings for Wen Li are just…”

Just what?

Just coveting the warmth she radiates?

Or seeing the image of his mother in her, thus developing a dependency?

Ji Zeqiu suddenly didn’t know how to describe it, his intended words stuck, and he froze.

Suddenly.

His cheek was grazed.

Ji Zeqiu came to his senses, only to see Lin Xu’s finger dipped in cream, cheerfully smearing a streak on his face.

She didn’t ask about the words he hadn’t finished, but instead, smilingly continued with the birthday proceedings.

The sweet, creamy scent softly floated in the air, entering his nostrils, enticingly intoxicating.

The ripples in Ji Zeqiu’s heart grew bigger.

Compared to previous years, this year’s birthday was unusually noisy.

The apartment was filled more with the sounds of Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu arguing; though annoying, it was lively.

By the time the birthday celebration ended, it was almost midnight.

Ji Tingyang, reluctant to let Lin Xu clean up the dishes, took the initiative to carry them to the kitchen and washed them as well.

When he finished washing the dishes and came out, Lin Xu was already sleeping on the couch, her head resting on Ji Zeqiu’s shoulder, looking serene.

Ji Zeqiu looked at the head on his shoulder, his body stiff, dare not moving.

Ji Tingyang’s temple pulsed, and he sat down beside Lin Xu.

He reached out, gently cradling Lin Xu’s head, drawing her into his embrace, letting her head rest against his shoulder.

The mother belonged to him.

She could only sleep leaning on him.

Ji Zeqiu was amused and annoyed by his move, glared at him, and snatched Lin Xu back into his arms, making her rest against his shoulder again.

Lin Xu clearly wanted to lean on his side!

Ji Tingyang’s expression darkened instantly, and the next second, he snatched Lin Xu back again.

Ji Zeqiu’s cheeks also cooled, bringing Lin Xu back to his side.

Back and forth.

Lin Xu felt as though she was sitting on a boat, her body swaying non-stop with the waves, dizzy and bleary-eyed.

“Stop! Stop!” she woke from her sleep, holding back the urge to vomit, and timely stopped their actions, “I was just sleeping on the couch, you didn’t need to be so rough to wake me up?”

Lin Xu was completely unaware of the tension between the two brothers, innocently thinking they were just trying to wake her up to go back to her room to sleep.

She yawned, got up, and went to her room, “I’m a bit sleepy, I’m going to sleep first, you guys should go to sleep early too.”

Ji Zeqiu smugly tilted his chin at Ji Tingyang, “Yeah, President Ji should better head back to the Ji family home to rest soon.”

This was his home.

Ji Tingyang had to leave.

However, Ji Tingyang scanned the apartment and calmly said, “I’ll stay here tonight.”

Ji Zeqiu was furious, “Over my dead body!”