Chapter 83

Inside the flagship building block store, the two boys were not about to give up easily after missing out on the car. Xu Heng told Jiang Sixun to wait in the store while he went upstairs to borrow some money from his mom, promising to pay her back that evening.

He had received some lucky money, and of course, he wanted to use his own funds to buy a gift for his little sister.

Meanwhile, Jiang Sixun simmered in frustration. He stepped outside to find a quiet spot and called Lu Jianbo. “Why did you only send me four hundred?” he demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and disappointment.

At that moment, it was three-thirty in the morning in London. Lu Jianbo, jolted awake by the ringing landline, felt a surge of panic. Not many people knew their home phone number, and the sudden sound in the dead of night sent a shiver down his spine.

“Dad, why did you only give me four hundred?” Jiang Sixun pressed, hurt lacing his words.

Still feeling a bit dazed, Lu Jianbo sat up and tried to shake off the lingering sleepiness. “Xu Xiangyi is so unreliable,” he thought. How could he only send four hundred?

He finally admitted, “It’s my fault; I probably mistyped a zero when I transferred the money. I meant to send you four thousand.” Then he asked, “Is four thousand enough for you to buy a toy for your sister?”

“Five hundred is enough,” Jiang Sixun replied.

He had already decided on a simple car, one that would be easy for his sister to assemble at her age—nothing too expensive or complex.

Lu Jianbo suggested, “Ask your Uncle Xu to lend you more money. I’ll be in Shanghai tomorrow and can have lunch with you.”

Jiang Sixun was taken aback. “Why are you coming?”

“What else? To check on your homework,” Lu Jianbo said, trying to lighten the mood.

Jiang Sixun scoffed, pretending not to care, but deep down, he felt an inexplicable excitement at the thought of his father visiting. He reminded him, “Don’t forget to buy a gift for my sister.”

“Can’t forget,” Lu Jianbo assured him before hanging up. He rubbed his chest, feeling the effects of being startled awake by the landline’s jarring ring.

He thought to himself that the landline didn’t belong in the bedroom, but he also worried that if his son tried to reach him and his phone vibrated silently, Jiang Sixun might not find him.

Not feeling sleepy anymore, Lu Jianbo went to wash up.

The last time he visited Shanghai was seven years ago, shortly after his divorce from his ex-wife. Time had flown, and now he was thirty-three, reflecting on how much he had grown. If he had been as mature and steady back then as he was now, perhaps he wouldn’t have made those mistakes.

“What does your sister like?” he asked Jiang Sixun when he finally came downstairs.

Jiang Sixun was busy waiting in line to check out and hadn’t noticed his phone.

Xu Heng stood in front of him; they both ended up buying cars in different colors. Uncle Xu lent them another six hundred, allowing each of them to buy one.

With the gifts secured in the car, they returned upstairs to the children’s clothing store.

Zhiyi had already…

After trying on more than a dozen outfits, in her little world, it felt like there were so many clothes that she could never wear them all. “Mommy,” she called out to He Yi’an, her voice still a bit shy. “Can we go to the supermarket?”

With a smile, He Yi’an replied, “Sure!”

Unlike adults, who could shop and try on clothes all day without tiring, children had their limits.

Xu Xiangyi scooped up his daughter, sitting her on his lap, and gently asked, “How about trying on a few more princess dresses?”

Xu Zhiyi shook her head. “I’ve tried on so many already.” She thought for a moment, then added, “Countless! So many!”

Xu Xiangyi beamed with pride. “How is our little treasure so clever, knowing there are countless dresses?”

Children loved compliments, and Zhiyi’s eyes sparkled with happiness.

Feeling a bit bashful after the praise, she buried her face into her father’s neck, hugging him tightly.

He Yi’an didn’t let Zhiyi try on any more clothes; they wrapped up what they had tried on and selected a few more for her.

While Xu Xiangyi held his daughter in the waiting area, he couldn’t help but marvel at how well-behaved she was—not a peep of complaint, just quietly snuggled against him.

Feeling a pang of affection for his thoughtful daughter, he brainstormed ways to play with her.

“Zhiyi, what games do you play? Teach Daddy.”

Zhiyi lifted her head from his shoulder. “I can play rock-paper-scissors! It’s very hard.” She added with a seriousness that made him chuckle. “Only smart kids can play it! I practiced for a long time before I got it.”

Xu Xiangyi smiled. “Can you teach Daddy how to play?”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, full of enthusiasm.

Zhiyi took her role as teacher very seriously, demonstrating how to make scissors, rock, and paper with her little hands.

When it came to the scissors gesture, she even straightened her fingers to show him how it was done.

Xu Xiangyi mimicked her, bending his two fingers awkwardly.

Zhiyi gently adjusted his fingers, guiding them into the right positions.

While playing, Xu Xiangyi made a point to let her win, always losing on purpose.

Zhiyi wanted to let her dad win just once. In this round, when he chose paper, she confidently threw her tiny fist into the mix, wrapping her small hand around his larger one. “Squirrel Daddy, you’re amazing!”

“Thank you,” Xu Xiangyi replied, unable to resist planting a kiss on her cheek.

He couldn’t tell if it was because he had been too busy in the past to fully immerse himself in spending time with his child, but he was finally realizing how incredibly enjoyable it was to bond with her.

When Xu Heng was younger, he could only spare time to kick a ball around with his son or take him go-karting. Family vacations were primarily spent traveling with his wife and son. Now, however, he found himself holding ZhiYi’and finding every possible way to keep her close.

After the arrival of Ning Wei, the siblings were always in a whirlwind of chaos. He had to manage the older one while guiding the younger, spending most of his time mediating and soothing their quarrels. Sometimes, even when he finally settled down Ning Wei, work-related phone calls would interrupt him.

By the time he finished a call and stepped out of his study, the second round of crying and shouting had already begun downstairs. Each child had their own nanny, but neither was willing to back down.

Xu Heng and Ning Wei had started eating independently at just a year and a half old, and now, with Zhiyi at three, he wondered if holding and feeding her might have any lasting impact. But there was little time to dwell on that.

“Let’s just hold her and feed her for now and see how it goes,” he thought.

While playing rock-paper-scissors, the two of them brought their toys downstairs.

Zhiyi looked up at Jiang Sixun. “Where did you go, big brother?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “I went to see if there were any pinecones for you. You need some winter snacks!”

Zhiyi’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Did you find any?”

“They’re still in the mountains, being brought over here. They’ll arrive in a few days,” he assured her.

“Oh, that’s great!” Zhiyi beamed. She then told her brother that she had bought a beautiful new outfit.

She was talking about the striking red cape but couldn’t quite find the words to describe it. She wanted to wear matching clothes with her brother because they were both little squirrels.

At that moment, Xu Xiangyi’s phone buzzed with a call from Shang Tongxu. Fearing the worst about Ning Wei’s condition, he put Zhiyi down and instructed Jiang Sixun to keep an eye on her while he stepped outside to take the call.

Once connected, he immediately asked, “How is Ning Wei?”

Shang Tongxu replied that she was getting an IV and her fever had dropped to thirty-seven point five degrees—nothing serious.

He made this call to get their address.

“My in-laws have packed some things for Zhiyi,” he said, “They insisted I send them to her to give her something to think about. There are snacks and toys—just their heartfelt intentions, so don’t turn them away.”

Xu Xiangyi quickly thanked him. “Why would I turn them away?” With Ning Wei sick and needing care, he suggested having someone pick them up instead.

Since employees were frequently traveling between the Beijing branch and headquarters, there was no need for shipping; he could ask someone to bring it directly. It was faster and would coincide perfectly with Zhiyi’s name-changing ceremony the next morning.

After just over two hours of shopping, the family headed to the supermarket.

He Yi’an tried to recall the last time they had been to a supermarket, searching her memories in vain.

She turned to her husband and asked, “Do you remember the last time we went grocery shopping?”

Xu Xiangyi couldn’t recall either; all he knew was that since having kids, they hadn’t gone together. Work had been overwhelmingly busy, and the little time he could squeeze in to be with the children was always spent on outdoor activities or other commitments.

They were off on an adventure!

The kids often accompanied their grandparents to the supermarket, but this time, they were all together. As the car came to a stop in the underground parking lot, Xu Heng was the first to jump out. He opened the back door and scooped up his little sister.

“Thanks, big brother!” she chirped.

“No problem at all!” he replied, taking her hand and leading her to the elevator.

Zhiyi turned around, searching for someone. Spotting Jiang Sixun, she called out, “Big brother!” and stretched out her other little hand.

Seeing Jiang Sixun approach, Xu Heng swiftly grabbed his sister, but his grip was a bit too strong. Zhiyi stumbled and fell, one knee hitting the ground while the other pressed against Xu Heng’s shoe.

His heart sank. “Oh no, this is going to end in tears!”

With a small gasp, Zhiyi exclaimed, “I’m dizzy!”

Giggling, she tried to climb back up her brother’s leg but had no leverage and struggled to gain her footing.

Xu Heng froze for a moment, then hurriedly scooped her up. Jiang Sixun quickly crouched down beside them, gently patting her knee to comfort her.

“Does it hurt?” he asked with concern.

Zhiyi shook her head, still smiling. Being pulled by her brother had been quite fun until she fell. A little dizzy from the excitement, she held out her tiny hand for Jiang Sixun to take as they made their way to the elevator.

Watching the siblings from behind, Xu Xiangyi had intended to give his son a gentle scolding, but seeing their harmonious interaction, he swallowed the reprimand.

He Yi’an, linking arms with her husband, felt relieved that they no longer had to worry about the older sibling’s impatience or the younger one’s constant wailing.

Once they reached the first floor, Xu Heng pushed a shopping cart while the two of them attempted to lift Zhiyi into it. But their combined height and strength weren’t quite enough.

Just then, Xu Xiangyi strode over, scooping up his daughter effortlessly. “How about Daddy carries you while we shop?”

“I want big brother to push me. Is that okay?” Zhiyi replied.

“Of course!” Xu Xiangyi chuckled as he placed her into the cart.

Settling into her seat, Zhiyi began to look around, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Jiang Sixun asked her, “What do you want to buy?”

“Cookies!” she exclaimed, eager for some animal-shaped treats.

They pushed the cart directly toward the snack aisle, grabbing their favorite goodies off the shelves and tossing them into the cart along the way.

By the time they reached the cookie section, the cart was already piled high with over a dozen snack bags, covering Zhiyi’s legs. She giggled, turning to Jiang Sixun and Xu Heng. “Big brother, grab a few more to cover me up!”

Without missing a beat, Xu Heng grabbed a big pack and tossed it into the cart.

Zhiyi hugged the bags of snacks, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Wow, so much winter food! I’m rich now!” She pretended to nibble on the snacks like a little squirrel, making munching sounds with her mouth: “Crunch, crunch—crunch, crunch—”

Seeing this, Xu Xiangyi felt his heart melt, wishing he could scoop her up and shower her with kisses.

He Yi’an could finally picture the mischievous little one growing inside her; she leaned on the cart, bending down to plant several gentle kisses on her daughter’s adorable face. “What’s our little squirrel baby doing?”

Zhiyi burst into laughter, a touch of shyness creeping in as she replied slowly, “Not much.”

He Yi’an chuckled and gave her forehead another kiss.

Meanwhile, Jiang Sixun and Xu Heng were busy tossing lightweight snacks into the cart. Before long, it was filled to the brim, leaving only Zhiyi’s little head and hands peeking out. Her excitement soared, and she exclaimed, “I’m rich!”

As they reached the cookie aisle, Xu Heng asked his sister, “Which cookies do you want? I can help you get them.”

He pointed to various sandwich cookies. “What flavor?”

Zhiyi looked around and shook her head, saying, “No, none of these.”

She wanted animal-shaped cookies.

Jiang Sixun knew exactly what kind of animal cookies she meant—he had tried one before. So he continued pushing the cart until they turned onto another aisle where they might find them.

The shelves were lined with all sorts of children’s cookies. “Which one?” he asked.

To them, they all seemed similar, but Zhiyi recognized the boxes of her favorites.

She scanned the shelves from top to bottom and then back again, disappointment creeping into her voice as she said, “Big brother, they’re not here.”

Xu Xiangyi quickly reassured her, pointing to a yellow label on the shelf. Knowing his daughter couldn’t read the words, he read aloud, “Due to the recent heavy snow in the North, squirrel baby snacks are temporarily out of stock. Please be patient, little ones.”

He Yi’an chimed in, “So these snacks come from the North, right?”

“Yes!” Zhiyi replied enthusiastically. “Mommy, Grandma’s store had those cookies! It snowed heavily a few days ago.”

Her grandmother’s home was in the northern part of town, and she thought that was what they meant by “the North.”

Xu Xiangyi smiled. “How about we come back in a few days when the snow stops? We can check again.”

Zhiyi nodded eagerly. “Okay!”

Now Xu Xiangyi had a plan. He knew where the cookies could be found. If Grandma’s package didn’t contain any cookies, he could always buy some in Beijing—he would find a way to satisfy his daughter’s wishes.

Though Zhiyi had come to the supermarket specifically for animal cookies, the shortage didn’t dampen her spirits. With the cart piled high with snacks, she declared, “Let’s stop shopping!”

With their arms full of snacks, they happily headed to the checkout.

Originally, the plan was to spend the entire day shopping and grocery shopping, but they wrapped everything up by noon. Xu Xiangyi decided to move tomorrow’s plans ahead, taking his daughter to go-karting in the afternoon before they set off for Haicheng for their vacation.

On the way to the go-kart club, He Yi’an took a moment to catch up on emails—something she hadn’t dared to do until today.

Jiang Yueru sent her a message asking how Zhiyi was doing.

He Yi’an quickly replied to her friend: “She’s adjusting well. I’m taking them to go-kart this afternoon.”

As she talked about her daughter, she couldn’t stop herself from sharing every little detail of the past few days with her friend.

Jiang Yueru was so moved by her stories that she replied: “I have to come see this little cutie during the Spring Festival.”

He Yi’an replied: “Oh, I forgot to tell you! We’re taking Sixun to Haicheng for the New Year; we’ll leave tomorrow afternoon.” Zhiyi had just settled in at home, still getting familiar with everyone. With so many relatives visiting during the New Year, she worried that Zhiyi might feel uncomfortable. They decided to wait until she was a little older to bring her to family gatherings.

She invited her friend: “Why don’t you come to Haicheng for the New Year? You could use a good rest.”

Jiang Yueru replied: “Sounds good.” Having her around for the Spring Festival would make Sixun happy too.

He Yi’an continued, “Are you coming over tonight? We can fly to Haicheng together tomorrow.”

Jiang Yueru responded, “I won’t come tonight. I’ll have dinner at my older brother’s place, and I’m flying directly to Haicheng tomorrow.”

He Yi’an shared the good news with Jiang Sixun—his mother would meet them in Haicheng tomorrow evening.

Sixun rarely showed his emotions, but today he couldn’t hide his excitement, saying his dad was coming to see him too.

He Yi’an knew that Luo Jianbo was coming to Shanghai, so she didn’t press Sixun for more details. She affectionately ruffled his hair; every child longs for a complete family, even if that’s not the case.

Meanwhile, Zhiyi was lost in a storybook, listening to her dad’s voice, and unknowingly drifted off to sleep, unaware of their conversation.

When she woke up, the car had already parked in the go-kart club’s lot.

Zhiyi wanted her two brothers to hold her hands, but Xu Xiangyi insisted on carrying her. “Zhiyi, come over to Daddy.”

She lifted her little face defiantly. “I can walk by myself!”

Xu Xiangyi pulled out his trump card: “How old are we before we grow up?”

“Oh, oh!” Zhiyi suddenly remembered she was still a baby and declared, “Eight!”

Before growing up, she needed to be carried.

She spread her arms wide, and Xu Xiangyi laughed as he scooped her up.

Xu Heng turned to Jiang Sixun and said, “I told you so. Never trust what adults say!”

Jiang Sixun replied, “My dad’s even less reliable; he can’t even manage a money transfer without a hitch.”

“Just one zero less.”

“Brother!” Zhiyi called out excitedly from the front.

Jiang Sixun stopped his playful banter and hurried after her.

Xu Xiangyi chose a parent-child go-kart, although he wasn’t really into racing. He had often brought his son along to practice, honing his skills without realizing that one day they would come in handy like this.

After putting on their helmets, he settled his daughter into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt securely.

Meanwhile, Jiang Sixun and Xu Heng each took a single go-kart, lining up at the starting point.

He Yi’an settled into the stands, ready to capture their moments on video and cheer them on.

With the countdown: “Three, two, one! Go!” all three karts roared to life at once.

“Wow!”

Zhiyi couldn’t help but squeal in excitement, her tiny hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Their kart sped ahead, leaving her two brothers trailing far behind.

Laps flew by, and Zhiyi just couldn’t get enough.

“Daddy is so awesome! He’s a super race car driver! I want to learn how to drive like him!” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration.

Xu Xiangyi effortlessly managed all three kids, allowing He Yi’an to focus on her work without a hitch.

They spent the entire afternoon racing, and by the time the sun began to set and the sky darkened, Zhiyi reluctantly climbed out of the kart.

Xu Xiangyi promised his daughter, “When the weather warms up, I’ll take you go-karting every week!”

Zhiyi beamed back, “Okay! Let’s make a pinky promise!”

Xu Xiangyi chuckled as they linked pinkies in agreement.

Suddenly, Xu Heng chimed in like a commercial, “You should never trust what adults say!”

Before he could finish, Zhiyi playfully kicked him in the leg.

He patted his down jacket with a grin, “I guess he’s right!” Then he turned to Jiang Sixun, “What’s that idiom again?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “Frustrated and exasperated.”

Xu Heng nodded, “Exactly.”

Before Xu Xiangyi could lift his foot again, both boys laughed and dashed away.

Once home, Zhiyi was still bursting with energy. Xu Xiangyi pulled out some bubble wands, handing two to both Xu Heng and Jiang Sixun, instructing them to take their sister into the yard to play with bubbles while running around.

After a few laps around their expansive yard, thousands of square meters in size, Zhiyi collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily and dramatically mimicking the adults, “I’m so exhausted!”

The boys were just as tired, sprawled out on the grass, unwilling to move.

Xu Heng shouted, “Dad, pay us our wages!”

Jiang Sixun chimed in, “Don’t we get a share of the company’s profits?”

Xu Heng nodded enthusiastically, “Sounds good!”

Xu Xiangyi granted them a reprieve, saying with a hint of kindness, “Go play some racing games. I’ll reward you with an extra half hour of fun tonight.”

Xu Heng replied, “Who wants to play games? I’ve been driving a real car all afternoon!” He was practically exhausted from all the driving.

Zhiyi, on the other hand, was completely worn out. Sitting in the bathtub, her eyelids felt heavy; she struggled to keep them open, propping them up with her fingers, but sleep still tugged at her.

Before she knew it, she dozed off before even finishing her bath.

He Yi’an gently lifted her out, wrapping her snugly in a towel. “You should sleep soundly tonight,” she whispered.

Once Zhiyi was laid down in bed, she drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.

With the children finally asleep, Xu Xiangyi returned to the study. Sitting at his desk, he began checking the list of items needed for the name-changing ceremony scheduled for the next morning, making sure everything was in order.

He Yi’an came in after her shower, resting her chin on her husband’s back as they both examined the list together.

She pointed to the small animal-shaped cookies on the list, “We haven’t bought these yet. Is it too late?”

Xu Xiangyi replied, “There’s a bag of goodies that Grandma prepared for Zhiyi. The secretary delivered it while you were giving her a bath.”

He had temporarily left the bag on the first floor, forgetting to bring it to the bedroom.

“Go check it later,” he added.

He Yi’an then asked, “Did you remind the pastry chef to make the pinecone cake?”

Xu Xiangyi reassured her, “I’ve reminded him.”

The couple meticulously checked everything off the list, and only when they were satisfied did they allow themselves to go to bed, knowing they had to be up early for the 9 o’clock ceremony.

Jiang Sixun set his alarm for eight o’clock. The next morning, strangely enough, he woke up before the alarm even rang.

Glancing at the time, he noticed it was only 7:40.

Determined not to let Xu Heng sleep in, he dashed next door and pulled him from his warm bed.

Xu Heng was still lost in a dream, racing towards the finish line, just about to clinch the championship when he was rudely awakened. “Jiang Sixun, what are you doing?” he groaned, nearly kicking him.

“Get up! We have to hold the name-changing ceremony for our little sister!” Jiang Sixun urged, using Zhiyi as leverage against him.

With his sister on him, Xu Heng had no choice but to comply.

Meanwhile, on the third floor in the master bedroom, Zhiyi had finished washing up and combing her hair. Today, her mother had styled her hair into a lovely fishtail bun, and now she was putting on her adorable squirrel-themed onesie.

The onesie was made to theatrical standards, and once the hood was on, she looked like the cutest little squirrel from afar.

Xu Xiangyi assisted his wife in dressing their daughter, attaching the fluffy, upright tail that had been custom-made separately.

Zhiyi turned to admire her fluffy tail, a smile lighting up her face and sparkling in her eyes.

He Yi’an asked, “Do you like it?”

Zhiyi beamed, “I like it!”

Her voice carried a natural sweetness.

With the zipper pulled up, the hood secured in place, and the tail attached snugly, Xu Xiangyi lifted his daughter off the bed and carried her to the mirror for a look.

Zhiyi stood in front of the mirror, turning left and right, even twisting around to catch a glimpse of her back. She gently stroked her soft, smooth tail, marveling at how much she truly looked like a little squirrel.

He Yi’an, not wanting to forget the treats, stuffed a handful of candies and chocolates into her daughter’s big pocket. “These are our Zhiyi’s winter snacks!”

With the tail making it tricky to walk, Xu Xiangyi held her hand as they descended the stairs together.

At the dining table, her two older brothers were already waiting for her.

As she carefully made her way down the stairs, Zhiyi protectively cradled her tail, making sure it didn’t brush against the handrail.

“Brothers, look!” Once they reached the dining room, she eagerly showcased her squirrel features to Xu Heng and Jiang Sixun.

Xu Heng stood up to touch her fluffy squirrel tail. “See? You really are a squirrel baby, aren’t you?”

Zhiyi nodded enthusiastically, “Yes!”

“Wow!” Her eyes widened as she spotted shrimp dumplings, animal-shaped cookies, and a big cake adorned with tiny squirrels and a mountain of pinecones. Beside her chair sat two boxes of building blocks, topped with little toy cars.

Xu Heng pointed out, “The blocks on top are my gift to you, and the car underneath is from Brother Jiang Sixun.”

Zhiyi turned to Jiang Sixun with a bright smile, “Thank you, Brother!”

Jiang Sixun waved his hand dismissively, “No need to thank me. Once you build it, I’ll get you an even bigger car!”

“Okay!” Zhiyi didn’t forget to express her gratitude to her other brother, handing him a piece of candy from her pocket. She circled the dining table and walked up to Jiang Sixun, “Brother, here’s some candy for you.”

She offered Jiang Sixun two pieces.

Xu Heng teased, “Why do I only get one?”

Without a word, Zhiyi dug into her pocket and placed another candy in his palm.

Xu Xiangyi playfully tugged on his son’s collar, directing him back to his seat. “You haven’t even touched the candy in the fruit bowl!”

He Yi’an descended the stairs with a large gift box in her hands, which she and her husband had prepared as a special surprise.

Under the table, Xu Heng kicked Jiang Sixun’s leg, signaling him to check out the big box. They had seen it the day before at the flagship store—the biggest princess castle—something far beyond their budget.

As they set the box beside their chairs, the toy cars they had given Zhiyi suddenly seemed insignificant, like two small dates sitting next to a massive watermelon.

In a world of size comparisons, they couldn’t compete; sweetness, however, was another matter entirely.

Jiang Sixun shifted his gaze, exchanging knowing looks with Xu Heng.

From now on, they’d rely on their own efforts to earn money; they couldn’t count on anyone else.

Xu Xiangyi turned to his daughter and said, “This is our little squirrel baby’s castle! Once we get back from the beach, your mom and I will help you build it.”

Zhiyi gently touched the castle’s packaging, even more carefully than she did her own tail.

The butler stood nearby, snapping photos as the ceremony officially began.

Xu Xiangyi lit three candles, saying, “Welcome home, our little squirrel baby.”

With that, everyone broke into applause.

Zhiyi clapped her tiny hands along with them.

Concerned that she might wish to go home again, Xu Xiangyi decided against letting her make a wish. Instead, he said, “May our Zhiyi grow up healthy and happy, able to cry or fuss as much as she wants, and your mom and I will always be here to comfort you. Now, blow out the candles!”

Zhiyi loved this wish! The thought that she could cry or make a fuss, yet still be loved by her parents, filled her heart with warmth.

She puffed up her cheeks and, with a determined breath, blew out the candles in one go.

Jiang Sixun stood up to help remove the wax from the candle holders.

Xu Xiangyi picked up a chocolate pinecone from the cake, pointing at the writing on it. “This character, ‘Xu,’ represents both me—Xu Xiangyi—and you—Xu Zhiyi.”

He handed the pinecone to his daughter. “Once you eat this pinecone, we’ll officially call you Xu Zhiyi, right?”

“Right!” Zhiyi confirmed enthusiastically.

She eagerly took the pinecone and took a big bite.

Then, standing up on her chair, she first handed a pinecone to her mother, then distributed one to each of her brothers, before finally turning to Xu Xiangyi. With a shy smile, she held out the last one and whispered, “Daddy, here.”

Xu Xiangyi felt a warmth swell in his throat, momentarily lost for words as he enveloped his daughter in a tight embrace.