Chapter 118: The Birthday Plans

6:00 p.m.

Lin Xi and Qin Yu arrived at the place.

As for Ruan Dong’s establishment, they usually only came here for private gatherings.

“Third Brother.”

Ruan Dong was already waiting for them. Spotting Lin Xi behind Qin Yu, he waved at her, “Xi Xi!”

Lin Xi nodded slightly and took a seat opposite him. Ruan Dong poured them each a cup of tea. “Cheng Si hasn’t arrived yet.”

To host them properly, Ruan Dong had closed the place to the public today, reserving it just for them.

Lin Xi took a sip of the hot tea and replied slowly, “He’s running late. The old master had some matters to attend to.”

Qin Yu took a call and got up to step outside.

As soon as he left, Ruan Dong leaned over the bar and whispered to Lin Xi, “I heard the old master’s health hasn’t been good lately?”

“Yeah,” Lin Xi nodded. “It’s an old ailment that keeps coming back. I haven’t seen Cheng Si these past couple of days.”

Cheng Si was the only grandson by the old master’s side, so naturally, he had been busy attending to him whenever something arose.

“No wonder. I called him a few days ago to invite him for drinks, but he was tied up.”

Ruan Dong quickly shifted the topic. “Is Second Brother back on leave this time, or has he been officially transferred back to the country?”

“He’s been transferred back,” Lin Xi calculated carefully. “It’s been more than five years since Second Brother was officially reassigned.”

“Exactly. I remember the last time I saw Second Brother was back when I was still in school. Time really flies.”

Lin Xi agreed. “About the same. The last time I saw him was also during my school days.”

“Are Second Brother’s parents not planning to return to Beijing?”

“I’m not sure,” Lin Xi admitted. “Their work is all in the south, so I doubt they’ll be relocating to Beijing anytime soon. But once Second Brother settles into his job here, Uncle and Aunt will probably come to visit him. Though they likely won’t stay long.”

“That’s good. When that happens, bring them over here for a meal—I’ll personally see to it.”

Ruan Dong was quite close with them all.

“Sounds great.”

Lin Xi could make that decision.

Just as the two finished their conversation, Qin Yu returned. Lin Xi glanced sideways at him, catching his look—he seemed to have something to say. “What’s up?”

“Second Brother has a last-minute meeting and will be late.”

Lin Xi checked the time. “Did he say about when?”

“Around an hour.”

“That’s fine.” She had plenty of time; she was only worried Cheng Si might be in a rush to leave.

---

Speak of the devil, Cheng Si and Bai Xu arrived together from the main courtyard.

Only Second Brother was missing.

They moved to the private room, and Ruan Dong went to the kitchen to prepare some fruit.

As soon as they entered, Lin Xi sat near the door, and Bai Xu naturally took the seat beside her. They were the youngest, so they usually kept to the sidelines.

There was no question about who would take the main seat.

Cheng Si had intended to sit next to Lin Xi but hesitated and instead chose the other side.

Usually, Qin Yu would occupy the main seat, even if Second Brother came.

But Qin Yu didn’t—he sat directly beside Lin Xi.

Cheng Si cleared his throat and gave Bai Xu a meaningful glance. Bai Xu glanced around, seemingly unbothered, then got up and sat beside Cheng Si on the opposite side.

Lin Xi was speechless.

Cheng Si was equally dumbfounded. Bai Xu was clearly giving up on any pretense, showing no sense of discretion whatsoever.

Bai Xu seemed completely unaware of the awkwardness, lounging with his legs crossed, sipping tea.

He didn’t care at all about anyone else.

Lin Xi wanted to switch seats but realized moving would mean taking the main seat.

After some thought, she stayed put.

Just sitting together wasn’t a big deal.

Considering Qin Yu had been driving her to work every day recently, feeling awkward now would be overly sensitive.

To lighten the mood, it was up to Cheng Si.

He quickly found a topic and asked Lin Xi, “Are you going back to the courtyard for New Year, or going to Lin City?”

“I don’t know. It depends on whether my uncle comes back. If he doesn’t, I’ll bring my grandparents to Beijing for the New Year.”

“Your uncle still isn’t planning to return?”

Lin Xi shook her head.

“Oh, right, next week...” Cheng Si cleared his throat, unsure how to ask. He gestured to Bai Xu.

Bai Xu looked up at Lin Xi. After exchanging a glance, he spoke for Cheng Si, “He wants to ask how you plan to celebrate your birthday next week.”

Cheng Si sighed—he shouldn’t have relied on Bai Xu.

Bai Xu’s mouth was even less tactful than his.

Cheng Si instinctively studied Lin Xi’s subtle expression, fearing he might miss something.

But Lin Xi didn’t seem as resistant as he expected; she just paused briefly before answering hesitantly, “I’m not planning to celebrate.”

---

She hadn’t celebrated her birthday since going abroad all those years.

“Come on. Second Brother is back too. It’ll be lively with everyone together. How can you skip your birthday? It’s an important day.”

Cheng Si knew Lin Xi used to love celebrating her birthday as a child.

Since her birthday was in the latter half of the year, she always joined in the celebrations of others in the first half.

He wasn’t sure if all kids were like this or if Lin Xi was special.

She loved blowing out candles so much that sometimes it was hard to tell who the birthday child was.

Over time, for any birthday, the elders would buy two cakes to make sure Lin Xi was included.

But Lin Xi still shook her head—no plans.

“I’ve been too busy with work, working overtime. It’ll probably be the same next week.”

“Well, find a day off to have a meal together.”

“I’ll see,” Lin Xi didn’t immediately agree.

She was stubborn, and Cheng Si was at a loss.

He glanced at Qin Yu, trying to enlist an ally, but Qin Yu looked at him indifferently, showing no sign of speaking.

Cheng Si gave up.

Seeing the two of them sitting there, Cheng Si suddenly felt a bit restless.

These days, the two might as well be living together. He’d been too busy to keep in touch and had no idea how things were progressing.

It seemed they were slightly closer than before. But sitting together with no conversation, they still didn’t look very familiar.

Cheng Si wanted to ask so badly but decided to find a better time to talk to Qin Yu alone.

Turning his attention back, he chatted with Qin Yu about a recent outer suburban project.

While they discussed work, Lin Xi and Bai Xu kept their heads down, each absorbed in their own distractions, showing no interest.

Until a soft knock came at the door.

Lin Xi, sitting on the outermost side, was the first to notice.

Qin Yu and Cheng Si stopped talking.

The next moment, the door was pushed open.

A man entered, dressed in a simple work uniform, still wearing the national emblem on his chest.

[Author’s note: Second Brother is a diplomat; his parents are politicians.]