[edited]

Doudou seemed so anxious that she was about to cry. Zhang Chao was afraid of being beaten to death by Brother Shen, so he immediately dared not tease her anymore. ‘Alright, alright, Anning is your family.’

Jiang Ning threw the pillow over, saying, “You still have such a mean mouth; you even dare to provoke children.”

Zhang Chao hugged the pillow, grinned, ‘My bad, it’s all my fault.’

Doudou scratched her head, seeming to find a solution, ‘Brother Zhang Chao, I’ll add you in the drawing.’

Not only did she draw Jiang Ning, but also her with her brother, Coke with the bunnies, and a big house.

Outside, there was sunlight, trees, and green grass.

After playing for a while in Room 1803, Doudou was reluctant to leave and seemed hesitant to speak.

Jiang Ning waved to her, ‘Doudou, do you have something to say to your brother and sister?’

Doudou hesitated a bit, ‘Um.’

‘What is it?’

‘Brother’s birthday is coming up, and I want to make him happy like Sister’s birthday.’

But she didn’t know how to do it, and by then Brother Zhang Chao and the others wouldn’t be around.

Brother Shen’s birthday? Zhang Chao and Lu Yu took it seriously.

On the 18th floor, they went out on patrol and were able to use crossbows to drive away the robbers, all thanks to Brother Shen’s guidance.

But all three had to go to work, so they couldn’t take time off to celebrate with him.

So, they each prepared a canned food, for Jiang Ning to deliver on Brother Shen’s birthday.

Oh, and birthday cards, don’t forget to send the blessings of Room 1803.

Jiang Ning, who had been clearly arranged, “…”

Room 1803 was still left in the dark, departing at five in the morning, and they could reach the assembly point by eight.

Jiang Ning wondered how to represent the 18th floor for Huo Yishen’s birthday.

She was a bit puzzled, ‘Coke, it’s the instructor’s birthday, what gift are you planning to give?’

The dog tilted its head left, then right, and slipped away.

First, it dug the balcony, then it went to another room, and brought back a food basin.

Half a basin of bones which almost scared Jiang Ning away.

This dog is a bit naughty, and it’s not afraid of the trainer deliberately targeting him.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was Huo Yishen’s birthday.

Jiang Ning thought for a moment, took the walkie-talkie and sent her wishes proactively, ‘Ah Shen, I heard from Doudou that today is your birthday, so I wish you a happy birthday.’

‘Thank you.’ Huo Yishen paused on the other end, ‘Do you want to have a meal together?’

‘Um… sure.’ No gift could compare to a meal, especially since he lacked nothing. Jiang Ning came up with an idea, ‘What do you and Doudou like to eat? Since today is your big day, I’ll cook.’

‘I’m fine with anything, what about you?’

‘Haha, I’m fine with anything too.’

As the weather was cold, Jiang Ning didn’t feel like cooking, ‘How about this, I’ll prepare it and bring it over?’

‘Sure, I’ll come over to help.’

‘No, no, I can manage on my own.’

After hanging up the phone, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, changed clothes, glanced at a medical book, and by around twelve noon, she took out a stew of beef and radish from the space, not forgetting to pour it into a clay pot and boil it on the gas stove.

Since the dog liked it, she added more, and it bubbled with steam.

The clay pot was hot, so she notified Huo Yishen to open the door through the walkie-talkie.

To her surprise, as soon as she opened her own door, he was already waiting outside and took the hot clay pot, ‘Be careful, I’ll take it.’

Entering Room 1801, the fragrance greeted them.

Huo Yishen had also cooked dishes: steamed pork ribs with taro, crystal meatball and vermicelli pot, and stir-fried pork belly with dried vegetables.

Although the beef stew was a large portion, Jiang Ning didn’t expect him to cook so sumptuously, she feels a bit stingy herself.

Whatever, since she was here, she might as well eat to her heart’s content.

However, the dog was even more shameless than her; it actually brought over a half basin of bones and put it in front of Huo Yishen.

The instructor’s expression was somewhat rich; he touched the dog’s head and said, ‘I appreciate the gesture, but you keep it for yourself.'”

“The dog wasn’t polite at all, quickly taking the rations and hiding them away.

After closing the door, they began to eat.

The atmosphere with three people and a dog was not as lively as Jiang Ning’s birthday.

Jiang Ning couldn’t replicate Zhang Chao and Lu Yu’s style, so she handed over the gifts and cards from the three of them, saying, ‘I won’t sing a song, but you can make a wish.’

She didn’t forget to open the card, and the happy birthday song played.

Doudou was extremely excited and clapped, saying, ‘Brother, make a wish.’

Jiang Ning couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but she always felt that when he silently made a wish in his heart, he not only looked at Doudou but also glanced at her.

They started eating.

The radish beef stew needed garlic and chili to be satisfying, and Huo Yishen seemed to have everything, just like a treasure chest!

He ate two bowls in a row, accompanied by the fragrance of chili, it was so spicy that he even sweated at the end.

They couldn’t finish the four dishes, leaving a lot of spareribs and stir-fried pork belly with dried vegetables.

Huo Yishen spoke, ‘Leftover food isn’t good overnight. Want to help finish it tonight?’

Ah well, that’s fine too!

After dinner, they sat on the sofa with a tablet, watching TV. Doudou hugged Coke and giggled.

Suddenly, Huo Yishen leaned over, almost scaring Jiang Ning.

‘Help me get some red grapes for Doudou.’

Afraid she would bring them all out, he added, ‘Half a bunch will do, eating too many is bad for health in such cold weather.’

He only had two bunches, and he wanted them one by one? He’s even stingier than her!

While the two weren’t paying attention, Jiang Ning, using the cushion to cover up, took out the biggest bunch of red grapes, ‘Consider it mine, in exchange for tonight’s dinner.’

Huo Yishen didn’t refuse; he took them to the kitchen to wash with warm water, then cut them into pieces and put them in a fruit plate.

Back on the sofa, he peeled one for Doudou.

Doudou was extremely surprised, ‘Thank you, Brother.’

After peeling another one, he handed it to Jiang Ning, ‘Try it.’

At that moment, Jiang Ning was both shocked and… afraid.

Did she have no hands? How could he peel it for her?

Just as she was about to refuse, the dog rushed over and swallowed the peeled grape from Huo Yishen’s hand: Thanks!

After eating, it didn’t leave, just squatted in front of him: Come on, keep peeling.

Huo Yishen, who looked calm but felt a little cracked in his heart, “…”

‘Coke, come here.’

Jiang Ning pinched its floppy ears and scolded it, ‘Dogs shouldn’t eat grapes, they’ll get sick.’

The dog was drooling and ignored the temptation.

Jiang Ning also reminded Doudou, ‘Doudou, Coke can’t eat chocolate or grapes. Remember not to feed it; otherwise, it’ll get sick.’

‘Okay, Sister.’

The forbidden dog felt… not good at all.

Spitting out the grape skin, but leaving the seeds, which would be valuable when the disaster passed or when it was suitable for planting.

So, she placed the seeds on a tissue.

Coincidentally, Huo Yi Shen also had the same idea, and their hands almost collided.

Even though there was a charcoal stove in the living room, eating grapes on such a cold day still required courage. It was really cold.

Doudou was freezing, but the grapes were really delicious. While eating, she curiously asked, ‘Brother, where did the fruit come from?’

Huo Yishen’s tone was gentle but straightforward, ‘Just eat it when I give it to you. Don’t ask so many questions. If you ask again, you won’t get to eat it in the future.’

Huo Yishen stroked her head, ‘Doudou, Brother will try to give you the best, but what you eat and what you use, you can’t tell anyone. Otherwise, not only will Brother be in danger, but those good things will be gone in the future.’

Feeling wronged by her brother’s scolding, little Doudou said, ‘Brother, I won’t say anything.’

Jiang Ning can testify that the Doudou compared to when they first met, had become as tight-lipped as her.

She didn’t even speak to her, and she didn’t mention anything to the cunning Zhang Chao either.”