After a moment, he noticed a small gift box on the table, wrapped in brocade velvet. He grabbed it, lifted the lid, and found a pen inside.

It was a metal pen, finely crafted and appearing to be pure gold, with a sparkling diamond set into the end. The pen was lavish and opulent, gleaming with luxury.

Song Yi quickly snapped the box closed. “That’s a commemorative edition pen I ordered online, perfect for Shen Li. Don’t touch it.”

Gu Xingchuan lifted his chin, disdain evident in his voice. “Who cares?”

Song Yi smirked, replying calmly, “It doesn’t need to matter to you. It’s not for you anyway.”

“I wouldn’t want it even if you gave it to me,” Gu Xingchuan said dismissively, not even glancing at the pen. He crossed his arms and looked away. After a moment, he nudged Song Yi under the table and awkwardly asked, “Your birthday’s in a week. What do you want?”

Song Yi and Shen Li’s birthdays were close together, but back in school, few people knew about it. Gu Xingchuan had only learned from occasionally seeing the school records.

Song Yi looked at him in surprise, then thought for a moment before replying seriously, “I don’t want a gift from you. Just stop bothering me, and that’ll be enough.”

Gu Xingchuan smirked. “Not happening. You’re going to be disappointed—I’m not giving you anything.”

“What’s the point of asking, then?” Song Yi was about to stand up and leave when the lights in the room suddenly dimmed. Only a single spotlight from the ceiling illuminated the stage, dividing the room into two worlds.

On the stage, Shen Li sat comfortably on a high stool, holding a microphone. Her face was as pale as snow, and her shoulders were slender. “Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday,” she said.

The crowd below the stage erupted in cheers, their voices rising and falling like waves. Shen Li shook her head with a smile. “I didn’t prepare a speech, so I’m not sure what to say to you all. Instead, let me sing a song.”

“This song, ‘Summer Breeze,’ was written by a friend here. I hope you all enjoy yourselves tonight.”

Gu Xingchuan tensed up, his face turning an alarming shade as if he were about to explode.

Song Yi felt a pang of discomfort. Was it really appropriate for Shen Li to sing this song in this setting?

The gentle strumming of the acoustic guitar began, followed by the soft entrance of the accordion. The room gradually fell quiet, leaving only Shen Li’s refined voice.

“The summer breeze blows through the branches and vines,

The blue sky is just as clear.

You may not have wings, but you can still touch the clouds.

The summer breeze blows through the branches and vines,

The blue sky is just as clear.

You may not have wings, but you can still touch the clouds.

……”

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