Xia Liyang lit the candle on the stove, shielding the flickering flame with her hand. When she carefully returned to the cake, she realized she had been in such a rush earlier that she forgot to stick all the candles on the cake first.

Feeling helpless, she shot an awkward smile at Lu Huaicheng, who was standing by. “Mr. Lu, can you help me with the candles? My hands are a bit full.”

Lu Huaicheng glanced at the melted wax on her pale fingers, noticing that the skin around them had turned slightly red.

“It’s too troublesome. Give me the fire, and you can handle the candles.” His gaze softened, and he extended his slender hand to her.

“Ah, be careful not to burn yourself. It’s already dripping wax.” Xia Liyang, a bit flustered, pursed her lips and carefully handed him the flame.

Then she quickly picked up the remaining candles from the table and began placing them one by one in the open spots on the cake.

“I know.” Lu Huaicheng smiled nonchalantly, following her movements as he lit the candles without hurry.

When they had lit more than half of the candles, Xia Liyang paused slightly, her bright eyes looking up. “It seems there isn’t enough space for all the candles. How about I just light 18 for you? Wishing you eternal youth and happiness, forever 18!”

Lu Huaicheng’s hand momentarily paused, his deep-set eyes lowered, casting shadows that hid his subtle emotions.

After a brief silence.

He pinched out the flame on the candle he was holding and removed two candles from the edge of the cake. “Let’s stick with sixteen.”

“…” Xia Liyang froze for a moment, wanting to ask if he had been unhappy at 18.

But as her gaze met the still, dark depth of his eyes, she lost the courage to probe further.

Instead, she stiffly offered a new blessing, stumbling over her words. “Then, uh… I wish you to always be 16! May you have happiness every day…”

Lu Huaicheng tossed the extra candles into the trash, glanced lightly at her hesitating face, and then casually said, “Is there anything you’d like to ask me?”

“…Can I?” Xia Liyang blinked in surprise, her voice soft and tentative.

“There’s no need to ask for permission. If I don’t want to answer, I simply won’t. No need to overthink it.” Lu Huaicheng’s tone was calm.

“Got it…” Xia Liyang pursed her lips, glanced at the candles that were slowly burning down, and then smiled. “How about you make a wish and blow out the candles first? Otherwise, the wax will drip onto the cake.”

“It sounds like you have a lot of questions,” he gazed at her with deep, penetrating eyes.

“Not really, I’m just curious about you, is that not okay?” Xia Liyang forced a smile.

Lu Huaicheng smiled faintly, noncommittal, and said, “You can blow out the candles for me.”

“That won’t work. You have to blow out the candles yourself for your wish to come true.” Xia Liyang pouted, pushing the cake toward him.

“Childish,” Lu Huaicheng chuckled.

But under her encouraging gaze, he eventually lowered his head slightly and blew out the flickering candle flames on the cake.

“Happy birthday, to the equally childish Mr. Lu,” Xia Liyang smiled, her eyes curling like crescent moons as she helped him remove the candles from the cake.

Lu Huaicheng smiled lightly, half-joking, “You wouldn’t help me.”

“I was just afraid your wish wouldn’t come true if I did,” Xia Liyang blinked innocently and then brought up the previous topic again, probing, “Is it because things weren’t so pleasant after you turned sixteen, that you asked me to remove two candles?”

“Yes,” Lu Huaicheng nodded slightly, explaining calmly, “Because my mother was hospitalized when I was seventeen.”

“Ah, I’m sorry…” Xia Liyang bit her lip, feeling awkward.

She had already guessed that his mother had been bedridden for many years, but she hadn’t expected it to happen before he became an adult.

“It’s fine, it’s been many years now,” Lu Huaicheng smiled softly.

“You were probably in your second year of high school at the time, right?” Xia Liyang asked.

“Yes, second semester of high school,” Lu Huaicheng lowered his eyes.

He still remembered that day clearly.

It had been an ordinary evening study session. He was working on exercises in the classroom while Wen Yuchen, at the desk next to him, was secretly playing on his phone under the desk.

Every now and then, Wen Yuchen would poke him, asking him to check if the dean was patrolling the hallway.

“The dean’s not there,” Lu Huaicheng said quietly.

He wore his summer school uniform, his broadening shoulders already filling out the shirt neatly.

“Oh,” Wen Yuchen sighed in relief, preparing to start another game.

But then he heard Lu Huaicheng add, “But the homeroom teacher is about to come in.”

“…” Wen Yuchen froze and hurriedly stuffed his phone into the desk. “You really know how to keep people on edge!”

“Just helping you work on your reaction time,” Lu Huaicheng teased with a smirk, lowering his eyes.

“You’re something else,” Wen Yuchen muttered, rolling his eyes as he picked up his pen. At that moment, the homeroom teacher pushed open the classroom door.

But unlike usual, the teacher didn’t circle the room. Instead, he called Lu Huaicheng’s name and asked him to step outside.

Lu Huaicheng stood up, slightly confused.

Wen Yuchen thought he had gotten into trouble for breaking a school rule and was even gloating over it.

But once outside, the homeroom teacher, looking serious, told him that his mother had had an accident and was in critical condition, urging him to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

Lu Huaicheng stood stunned for a moment, unable to believe what he had just heard.

“Was it a car accident?” he asked, trying to stay calm, though his voice trembled slightly.

“I’m not sure of the details. Your family driver will be at the school gate soon. Pack up quickly and go,” the teacher said, patting his shoulder in consolation.

“I understand.” Lu Huaicheng nodded, quickly returning to the classroom to grab the bag hanging on the back of his chair.

“What’s going on?”

Seeing his pale face and hurried expression, Wen Yuchen’s smile faded.

“My mom’s in the hospital,” Lu Huaicheng said softly, giving a brief explanation before leaving.

“What?” Wen Yuchen was stunned for a moment, then quickly grabbed his bag and followed him out.

No matter how the teacher called after him, he ignored it.

“I’m fine. Go back to class, or you’ll end up in the dean’s office again tomorrow,” Lu Huaicheng glanced at Wen Yuchen, who had caught up with him.

“Doesn’t matter, I’m already a regular there. Seeing your mom is more important.” Wen Yuchen shrugged, determined to stay by his side.

Lu Huaicheng pressed his lips together but said nothing more.

When they reached the school gate, a black Cullinan was parked by the roadside, its hazard lights flashing orange, casting an ominous glow.

After getting in the car, Lu Huaicheng only asked the driver about his mother’s condition. When he didn’t get the answer he wanted, he fell into silence.

The entire ride was filled with Wen Yuchen’s nonstop chatter.

Sometimes, he tried to comfort him by saying modern medicine was advanced and she’d be fine.

Other times, he distracted him by talking about next week’s basketball game.

For the first time, Lu Huaicheng didn’t find Wen Yuchen’s chatter annoying.

When they arrived at the hospital, Lu Huaicheng saw his father, Lu Zhiyuan, standing at the entrance to the emergency room, along with his mother’s close friend, Zhou Yuling.

Zhou Yuling sat pale-faced in a chair against the wall, clutching a damp handkerchief. When she saw Lu Huaicheng rushing over, she covered her face and sobbed softly before saying in a trembling voice, “Huaicheng… you’re here…”

Lu Huaicheng frowned and dryly called her “Aunt Zhou” before turning to his father. “Dad, what happened to Mom?”

“She and your Aunt Zhou finished their beauty treatments, and she fainted from dizziness after lying down for too long. She accidentally fell down the stairs,” Lu Zhiyuan explained flatly, his tone calm and even.

It didn’t sound like someone whose wife was in the emergency room, fighting for her life.

“My mom hasn’t had a dizzy spell in a long time. How did she suddenly get sick?” Lu Huaicheng suppressed his anger, trying to keep his trembling voice in check.

“I’m not a doctor, how would I know?” Lu Zhiyuan replied, his tone unchanging, even showing a hint of annoyance at being questioned.

“But you’re her husband. Don’t you know she only faints when she’s emotionally overwhelmed? Something must have upset her during the beauty treatment.” Lu Huaicheng paused, his sharp gaze sweeping towards Zhou Yuling, who was sobbing nearby. His voice was cold as he asked, “Aunt Zhou, what were you discussing with my mother before she fainted?”

“We… we were just… talking about some beauty tips,” Zhou Yuling choked, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

Lu Huaicheng silently stared at her for a few seconds, then turned back to Lu Zhiyuan: “Did you check the surveillance footage?”

“Everyone was busy taking her to the hospital; who had time to check the surveillance?” Lu Zhiyuan frowned. “And we can’t access the public area cameras ourselves.”

“Since we can’t access them, let’s call the police,” Lu Huaicheng said directly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, a subtle panic flashed across Zhou Yuling’s tear-streaked face.

Catching the change in her expression, Lu Huaicheng’s heart sank.

In fact, two years ago, when his mother, Chen Wanzhen, brought Zhou Yuling to their house as a guest, saying she was a new friend she had met at the beauty salon, he already had a strange feeling.

Zhou Yuling’s personality was overly ingratiating, as if she was always trying to please others.

Someone as naive as his mother, raised in a protective family environment, might not think much of it.

But having heard his friend Wen Yuchen constantly complain about his father’s mistresses wreaking havoc at home, Lu Huaicheng had a natural aversion to women who suddenly appeared in his family.

Even if this woman was brought home by his mother.

Even if, on the surface, she had nothing to do with his father.

His father, though often away for half the year on business, seemed to be a good husband during the time he spent at home.

No mistresses around, no wild nightlife.

Although his parents’ marriage was arranged for the sake of the family, they were considered a model couple.

He could tell his mother truly loved his father. Whether his father loved her in return was less certain.

On the surface, it seemed like he did.

But as his mother lay in the emergency room, that fragile façade of love shattered.

And the person responsible for all of this might be standing right in front of him.

“Why report it to the police? This was just an accident. Your Aunt Zhou and your mother are close. How could she deceive us?” Lu Zhiyuan’s brow furrowed deeper.

“Whether it was an accident or not, it’s more reasonable to let the police decide,” Lu Huaicheng said calmly, suppressing his emotions.

“Lu Huaicheng, what are you doing? Your mother is still in the emergency room, and now you want to call the police to investigate your Aunt Zhou? Don’t you see how upset she is over your mother?” Lu Zhiyuan scolded him harshly.

“…” Lu Huaicheng clenched his fists by his side, his lips pressed into a thin line, feeling a chill in his heart.

Lu Zhiyuan had never taken sides with outsiders before, let alone criticized him in public.

For him to speak like this meant he and Zhou Yuling were actually quite close.

“Zhiyuan… don’t blame Huaicheng. He… he’s just having a hard time accepting all of this. It’s natural for him to be upset with me…” Zhou Yuling’s wet eyelashes trembled pitifully, as she tried to smooth things over.

But Lu Huaicheng only felt the coldness in his heart intensify.

He let out a cold laugh and pulled out his phone from his school uniform pocket. “I’m not acting out. I just want to know how my mother fell down the stairs and clear Aunt Zhou’s name to avoid gossip.”

“You…” Lu Zhiyuan, at a loss for words, angrily snatched his phone. “I’ll have someone check the surveillance tomorrow. Why would you report it to the police?”

“Why can’t I report it when it might be a criminal act?” Lu Huaicheng’s thick eyebrows lowered.

“Criminal act? What nonsense are you talking about!” Lu Zhiyuan shouted, his anger flaring.

“Whether it is or not, the police will know when they get here. Now give me my phone.” Lu Huaicheng reached for his phone.

“If you keep causing trouble, I’ll send you home,” Lu Zhiyuan yelled, throwing his phone into the trash.

Lu Huaicheng froze for a moment, glancing at Zhou Yuling, who was sitting on a chair with half her face covered by a handkerchief.

Since he had taken out his phone, she hadn’t said a word in his defense.

And when Lu Zhiyuan lost his temper and smashed his phone, she still remained silent.

Someone was clearly feeling guilty.

Lu Huaicheng quietly lowered his gaze.

Wen Yuchen, who had been standing silently by the wall, stepped forward and tugged on his arm. “Alright, alright, Huaicheng, let’s go outside and cool down. Uncle, don’t be mad either. Aunt suddenly being rushed to the ER has shaken him up.”

“…” Lu Zhiyuan said nothing, his expression softening a little.

Without saying another word, he followed Wen Yuchen outside.

The night air was cool, and the dim lights of the hospital’s corridor cast shadows over the young man’s furrowed brow.

“Are you really planning to call the police?” Wen Yuchen asked.

“Yeah,” Lu Huaicheng replied softly. “I suspect Zhou Yuling did it on purpose.”

“Isn’t she your mother’s close friend? Why would she hurt her?” Wen Yuchen asked in confusion.

“I think she has something going on with my father. She’s not really my mother’s friend,” Lu Huaicheng said, staring into the endless night, his eyes hollow.

“…” Wen Yuchen was silent for a moment, then pulled out his own phone from his uniform pocket and handed it to him. “Then report it.”

“I’ll first contact my uncle to explain the situation. It’d be better for the Chen family to report it. Given my dad’s reaction, you saw how it went.” Lu Huaicheng laughed bitterly as he dialed his uncle’s number from memory.

After that night, Chen Wanzhen was resuscitated and her life was saved, but she still hadn’t woken up.

The Chen family reported the incident to the police and reviewed the surveillance footage to investigate the relationship between Lu Zhiyuan and Zhou Yuling.

It turned out that Zhou Yuling was indeed Lu Zhiyuan’s mistress, whom he had kept in Beicheng for years.

Moreover, they even had a son together, just three years younger than him.

However, there was no evidence in the surveillance footage that Zhou Yuling had intentionally harmed Chen Wanzhen.

Although the two of them had talked at the top of the stairs for about ten minutes before Chen Wanzhen collapsed, the surveillance camera had no sound, and Chen Wanzhen had her back to the camera.

No one knew what they had talked about during those ten minutes, nor could anyone tell Chen Wanzhen’s condition before she passed out.

Zhou Yuling cried in guilt, blaming herself for reacting too slowly and failing to catch Chen Wanzhen’s hand.

Moreover, the surveillance footage did show that she had reached out as if trying to pull someone back.

After Chen Wanzhen was transferred to a regular hospital room, Zhou Yuling often visited to take care of her, reading to her and praying for her recovery.

They appeared to have a deep sisterly bond.

Gradually, no one doubted or blamed her anymore.

Except for him.

Because the way she approached his mother earlier was too deliberate, and she never mentioned her relationship with Lu Zhiyuan prior, he didn’t believe she simply wanted to be a good friend to his mother.

Besides, Zhou Yuling had been with Lu Zhiyuan for over a decade and should have known very well that for the sake of the family’s interests, even if he favored her, it was impossible for him to divorce Chen Wanzhen.

She would always be his mistress without a legitimate status, and her son would always be an illegitimate child hidden from public view.

Unless Chen Wanzhen no longer existed.

That’s why he always believed it wasn’t an accident.

But an attempted murder, one that left no evidence behind.

Lu Huaicheng’s gaze darkened, as if he was lost in unpleasant memories.

Xia Liyang didn’t press him further about how his mother ended up in her current state.

She picked up a plastic knife from the bag, smiling to change the subject: “Time to try my cake! Which piece would you like? I’ll cut it for you.”

Lu Huaicheng snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the cake: “You choose first, I’m not fond of sweets.”

“I know, that’s why I reduced the sugar in this cake just for you! It’s not sweet,” Xia Liyang blinked.

“How did you know?” He raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Because you don’t add sugar to your coffee, so I guessed you probably don’t like sweet things,” Xia Liyang smiled, her eyes curving.

“You’ve observed me quite carefully,” Lu Huaicheng chuckled.

“Otherwise, how could I stay by your side?” Xia Liyang glanced at him sweetly, her clear eyes sparkling.

Lu Huaicheng gave a noncommittal smile, pointing at a part of the cake: “I’ll take the piece with the seagull.”

“Okay!” Xia Liyang nodded, but the plastic knife hovered over the cake for a long time without cutting.

“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to cut it?” Lu Huaicheng’s voice was gentle.

“Mm…” Xia Liyang bit her lip, thinking about how to cut the cake without ruining the design. But since he asked, she might as well play along and act pitiful.

“It’s my first time eating such a beautiful cake, and I’ve never even seen the real ocean,” she said pitifully, lifting her eyes slightly.

But Lu Huaicheng didn’t seem to buy into her act. He locked eyes with her for a few seconds before teasingly saying, “I can pack it up for you so you can take it back to your dorm and keep it on display?”

“…” Xia Liyang’s lips twitched, her long lashes dropping awkwardly. “That’s not necessary, let’s just eat it.”

Feeling a bit deflated, Xia Liyang no longer worried about the design and cut a piece.

“That’s too much,” Lu Huaicheng glanced at the large slice she cut.

“It’s not too much! And it’s really not sweet,” Xia Liyang paused, then scraped off some cream with a fork and held it out to him. “If you don’t believe me, try a bite first.”

Lu Huaicheng hesitated for a moment, his dark eyes slowly lifting to meet hers.

Xia Liyang’s heart skipped a beat, realizing her overly intimate gesture might have crossed a line.

“Or, or you can use your own fork to try it,” she mumbled, her hand lowering slightly from his lips.

Lu Huaicheng glanced at her reddening ears and a barely noticeable smile tugged at his lips. He gently grasped her wrist, lifting her hand back up.

“No need,” he said, lowering his head to taste the cake from her fork.

“How is it?” Xia Liyang held her breath, feeling the warmth from where he touched her wrist.

Lu Huaicheng lowered his gaze, savoring the taste for a moment.

Then he looked up, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Still a bit sweet.”