Chapter 50: Happy Birthday

For a moment, everyone’s attention shifted to Jiang Yizhi.

She spread her hands, saying, “The gift is at home.”

Pei Jinyang’s face showed little expression, but those who knew him well could tell that his mood was good.

When he’s in a good mood, he habitually taps his thigh with his fingers.

Chen Zhanbei shouted, “That’s not fair! You lost, so you’ll have to take the punishment later.”

Jiang Yizhi shook her head, “I didn’t participate in your game.”

The crowd began chattering, discussing what punishment those Pei Jinyang guessed right would have to endure, and others talking about what kind of first car Pei Jinyang would buy after getting his driver’s license.

Once the gifts from friends were unwrapped, it was time for the gifts from the elders.

This was the main event of the evening.

Uncle Pei gave Pei Jinyang a set of property and a family trust fund as his birthday gift.

Qiu Tang promised to buy him a car once he got his driver’s license, with a budget of around 3 million.

As for Pei Jinyang’s grandparents, they gave him a sum of money as his starting capital.

In his previous life, they had used this money to earn their first pot of gold.

Jiang Yizhi looked at Pei Jinyang, surrounded by gold and jewelry, feeling a sense of emotion rise in her heart.

The love from his previous life had been real—he gave up so many material possessions in pursuit of true love.

However, true feelings could change in an instant. After a fleeting moment of doubt, those feelings took root and grew into a towering tree, and so the divorce had come to pass.

In that moment, she felt a sense of release.

She had always felt guilty toward the elders who truly cared for her and had looked down on her past self, feeling that she had been blind and naive.

At this moment, she forgave her past self and was ready to live this new life.

The summer night air carried a hint of heat, brushing against her exposed skin.

Jiang Yizhi stood on the balcony, looking down. The night was deep, the neon lights sparkling, and the traffic flowed orderly toward its destination. Even if there were temporary traffic jams, everyone would eventually get where they needed to be.

The glass door behind her opened, and the cheerful music from inside blended with the summer breeze, flowing toward Jiang Yizhi.

She turned her head and saw her mother.

Qiu Tang, wearing an elegant long dress, was playing the role of a “stepmother” for the night.

She walked over to Jiang Yizhi, speaking in a gentle tone, “Zhi Zhi, you don’t seem very happy today.”

“Guess what, is it because Pei Jinyang received so many gifts?”

Before Jiang Yizhi could respond, Qiu Tang gently draped her arm around her daughter’s shoulder, “Your Uncle Pei told me, whatever Pei Jinyang has, you’ll have one day.”

Jiang Yizhi leaned against her mother’s shoulder, “Mm, I know. It’s not because of that.”

She was a year younger than Pei Jinyang, and her birthday would be in winter, so she would only receive her birthday gift in the winter.

She never worried about the material things. In her previous life, they never neglected her. Although the expressions of affection weren’t as direct as they were now, there was still deep mother-daughter love in her heart.

But after countless arguments, disappointments, and heartbreak, their relationship had eroded, and she even began to doubt if her mother truly loved her or just cared about her own image.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t she make compromises for her daughter’s happiness? In the end, it felt as if she had stabbed her mother’s heart.

Thankfully, she had the chance to start over.

——

The party ended, and the family went upstairs.

Jiang Yizhi walked ahead, with Pei Jinyang following behind her. When they passed his bedroom, he didn’t go in but followed her into her room.

Jiang Yizhi looked back at him, her eyes full of question.

“Go get my gift. You didn’t forget, did you?” Pei Jinyang said with a playful smile.

He suspected Jiang Yizhi had lied when she said the gift was at home. Based on her character, he guessed she wouldn’t prepare a gift for him. If she truly hadn’t, he’d make sure to complain about it.

Jiang Yizhi smiled. “How could I forget? I’ll go get it for you.”

Even if it was for Uncle Pei’s sake, she would definitely have prepared a birthday gift for him.

Pei Jinyang stood by the door of Jiang Yizhi’s room, looking around at the feminine atmosphere. There were clothes hanging on the back of the sofa, a few at the end of the bed, books scattered across the table, and various bottles and jars on the dressing table.

Her room smelled fragrant, like the scent of body wash after a cool shower, combined with the soft warmth of a blanket, creating a comforting aroma.

Jiang Yizhi came out holding a large bag, which looked like a stack of books.

She shoved the bag into Pei Jinyang’s arms.

Pei Jinyang instinctively reached out to hold it and looked down, realizing it was indeed a stack of educational books.

There were about seven or eight books, thick and thin, packed in a plastic bag with the bookstore’s name printed on it.

“…”

Jiang Yizhi patted the pile of books and smiled, “Happy Birthday, keep studying.”

Before Pei Jinyang could respond, she shut the door and locked it.

Two seconds later, Pei Jinyang was outside, helplessly yelling, “Jiang Yizhi! You wait for me!”

Jiang Yizhi changed into her loungewear and sprawled out comfortably on her soft bed.

Thinking about the process of buying books for Pei Jinyang, she couldn’t help but laugh.

That day, she had gone to the bookstore with Guan Jingxu. At first, she picked out two educational books for herself, then casually grabbed a few others, planning to give them to Pei Jinyang.

Guan Jingxu didn’t know what she was doing at first and cautiously reminded her, “These are too basic. They’re not really suitable for you.”

Jiang Yizhi laughed nonchalantly, “Exactly, they’re not for me, they’re for Pei Jinyang. Who cares if they’re suitable?”

Guan Jingxu: “…”

They probably weren’t suitable for Pei Jinyang either, as far as he knew, Pei Jinyang’s academic performance was quite good.

Jiang Yizhi gave him a look that said, “You understand.”

Guan Jingxu didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked, “When’s your birthday?”

“Last day of November, what about you?”

Guan Jingxu’s handsome face turned a little red, “February 14th.”

It was just Valentine’s Day.

Jiang Yizhi casually remarked, “What a special day.”