Previous
Fiction Page
Next
Font Size:
Chapter 25: Twelve Years Old – Birthday Gift
On the 24th, at seven in the morning, Mom woke Xuezhu up and made her a bowl of birthday noodles with an egg in it.
Dad was busy with work and had to rush off to the office. Before leaving, he quickly wished Xuezhu a happy birthday.
Compared to the office workers, Xuezhu, still a primary school student, clearly had a more leisurely day. After finishing her breakfast slowly, she was ready to head off to school.
“Your dad ordered a birthday cake for you,” Song Yanping said as she cleaned up the bowls. “Don’t eat too many snacks at school today, you won’t have room for cake when you get home.”
Xuezhu replied, “I already told Ningning that he’s going to take me to KFC after school.”
“I know. Ningning told me in advance. Don’t spend too much of your brother’s money. Don’t order everything you see. Eat less, KFC food is all fried, and eating too much of it is bad for your health.”
“Oh,” Xuezhu said, standing by the shoe rack to change her shoes. After putting them on, she kicked the floor and said, “I’m leaving.”
“Mm, go ahead,” Song Yanping said without turning her head.
Xuezhu mumbled, “Mom, why didn’t you say happy birthday to me?”
“Ai, you still care about such formalities. I made you birthday noodles,” Song Yanping said helplessly, laughing and crying at the same time. “Happy birthday, okay?”
“So perfunctory, no sincerity,” Xuezhu complained.
Song Yanping nearly laughed herself to death and half-threatened, “Why are you asking for so much? Hurry up and leave. Don’t want to be late and get scolded by the teacher?”
“I’m going, I’m going.”
Xuezhu grabbed her backpack and ran downstairs.
Perhaps because it was her birthday, the air on the way to school smelled particularly fresh, and even the scenery around her seemed brighter than usual.
The sound of children reading in the teaching building during the morning class was loud and clear, and their voices were crisper than the birds chirping in the trees beside the building.
As soon as Xuezhu walked into the classroom and put down her backpack, Zhu Qingying immediately ran over to hand her a delicate little box and a birthday card, grinning widely. “Xiao Zhu, happy birthday!”
“Thank you.”
She happily accepted it.
Other girls who were close to Xuezhu also came over to give her gifts, and even those with whom she had a more casual relationship gave her birthday cards.
This was an unspoken agreement among the girls. As long as the relationship wasn’t too bad, Xuezhu would give a card to every girl on their birthday. That way, everyone would receive a lot of cards on their birthday, creating the appearance of having great social connections.
Zhu Qingying’s card was the most thoughtful. When opened, it automatically played a birthday song, and the inside was decorated with beautiful hearts drawn in colored pens.
The little girl wrote in neat, square characters:
“Happy birthday to my bestest friend, Pei Xuezhu! May you be happy every day and have everything go your way!”
Below it, she drew two little girls wearing princess dresses and crowns, holding hands. Without needing to be told, Xuezhu knew these two were her and Zhu Qingying.
Xuezhu went through the cards one by one. Although many were just reciprocating cards, the blessings written sincerely with every stroke were genuine.
She couldn’t help but feel happy. Even though she still had to go to school on her birthday, receiving birthday cards from her classmates was still a nice thing.
After the morning reading class, the first period was Chinese class. She quickly tucked her gifts and birthday cards into her desk.
“Pei Xuezhu.”
Suddenly, someone poked her from behind.
Xuezhu turned around, and the girl from the back desk quietly said, “Chi Yue asked me to pass this to you.”
She looked down and saw a Minnie doll with a red bow on its head.
Before she could take it and hide it, their sharp-eyed Chinese teacher caught her red-handed. “Pei Xuezhu, Xu Mengyi, what are you two doing down there?”
Compared to Xuezhu, who managed to stay calm, Xu Mengyi, another girl, clearly didn’t have the same composure. She immediately sold Chi Yue out. “It’s not my fault, teacher. Chi Yue asked me to give this doll to Pei Xuezhu.”
As soon as she said this, the class erupted in noise and teasing.
Xuezhu’s mind went blank, and her face turned red with embarrassment.
“Quiet down, we’re in class! Do you want the principal to hear us?” The Chinese teacher cleared her throat a few times, her tone serious. “I understand you all don’t want to part with your friends before graduation and want to give small gifts, but now is class time. If you want to give something, wait until after class, understood?”
Xuezhu hid her hands under the desk, feeling too embarrassed to say anything.
From far away, Chi Yue lazily apologized. “Sorry, teacher.”
The teacher sighed. “I won’t confiscate the gift. Pei Xuezhu, quickly put it away and focus on class.”
After saying this, the teacher turned back to the board and wrote, her lips curling into a faint smile. She muttered under her breath, where the students couldn’t hear, “These kids, always acting so mischievous…”
Once the class ended, a group of curious students quickly surrounded Xuezhu’s desk, and the gossip about her and Chi Yue from ages ago was brought up again.
“Pei Xuezhu, are you and Chi Yue really a couple?”
“I’m here to interview you. When did you two get together?”
The annoying questions made Xuezhu feel irritated. She coldly ignored the chatty boys, and Zhu Qingying, with force, pushed the boys away from Xuezhu’s side, grabbing her hand with a bossy attitude and pulling her away.
“Don’t pay attention to them. Let’s go outside and have fun.”
Xuezhu immediately pouted, looking at Zhu Qingying with a pitiful expression.
It was her birthday, and she had to deal with this kind of situation. She felt incredibly unlucky.
It was all Chi Yue’s fault. He could have given the doll during morning reading class, but he chose to do it in Chinese class.
Actually, he shouldn’t have given it at all.
They weren’t even friends. He was just bored and had nothing else to do.
However, compared to when she was in fourth grade, Xuezhu in sixth grade had matured a lot in handling rumors. She didn’t argue with them. The more emotional the person involved, the more interested the gossipers became. So, during class, everyone behaved, but as soon as the bell rang, she and Zhu Qingying sneaked out, away from the noise. It was a much more peaceful day.
By the time school was over in the afternoon, Xuezhu didn’t go home with Zhu Qingying but chose to stay at her desk and finish her homework.
The student on duty asked why she hadn’t gone home yet. Xuezhu replied that someone would be coming to pick her up soon.
She had made plans with Meng Yuning and would finish up her homework before waiting for him at the school gate.
After staying in the classroom for another ten minutes, Xuezhu packed all the gifts and birthday cards she received today into her bag and prepared to leave with her round, full backpack.
As she passed the playground, the loud voices of the boys pierced the evening air.
A few boys from her class hadn’t gone home yet and were playing football on the field.
Xuezhu didn’t know who saw her first, but someone shouted toward her, “Sister-in-law Chi! Come watch your husband play football!”
“……”
The dusty football, whether on purpose or by accident, veered off its original path and rolled to Xuezhu’s feet.
“Sister-in-law Chi, pick up the ball!”
It would be strange if she picked it up.
Xuezhu ignored them, but at the teasing of the crowd, Chi Yue ran over to her, sweating profusely.
“The Minnie doll was something my dad bought for me when we went to Hong Kong Disneyland,” he picked up the ball and, without looking at her, quickly said, “The one in a skirt and a bow didn’t suit me, so I just gave it to you.”
No matter how casually he said it, it couldn’t be denied that it was actually a nice birthday gift.
Xuezhu said, “…Then why didn’t you give it to me during morning reading? You made me get scolded by the teacher.”
“During morning reading, you were surrounded by girls. Should I have squeezed in?” Chi Yue rolled his eyes, scratched his head, and said impatiently, “Who knew Xu Mengyi would sell me out?”
“Ugh,” Xuezhu sighed. The spreading of rumors wasn’t something he wanted either. “Forget it, thanks anyway. When’s your birthday?”
She understood the principle of reciprocation.
“August 21st,” Chi Yue asked, “Are you going to give me a gift?”
“I can’t just take things from you,” Xuezhu thought for a moment and said, “Since you got this Minnie doll in Hong Kong, when summer break comes and I go to Beijing to see the Olympics, I’ll buy a [1]The “Fuwa” (福娃) are the official mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The name “Fuwa” means “good luck dolls” in Chinese. The mascots were designed to … Continue readingFuwa for you as a birthday gift.”
Chi Yue’s dad was also planning to take him to Beijing during the summer break.
The boy didn’t mention that, but nodded, “Oh, that sounds good. Don’t forget it when the time comes.”
“Mm.”
After making the promise, Xuezhu involuntarily looked toward the school gate, thinking that Meng Yuning should be here to pick her up by now.
“What are you looking at?”
Chi Yue had just asked when he immediately realized what she was looking at.
Perhaps not seeing Xuezhu at the school gate, Meng Yuning walked along the road to find her.
The tall young man stood in front of them and smiled slightly at Xuezhu, “I waited for a few minutes and didn’t see you come out, I thought you were being kept after class.”
Xuezhu immediately said, “How could that be? I never make mistakes.”
Meng Yuning tilted his head and exchanged a glance with Chi Yue. The last time they had seen each other was two years ago, back when Meng Yuning hadn’t grown so tall. He still looked like a little brother back then, but now, just two years later, Xuezhu’s ‘little brother’ had suddenly become an adult.
At the same time, in Meng Yuning’s heart, Xuezhu’s classmate, who was a mischievous kid two years ago, had now grown taller and thinner. His crew cut had grown out into a neat hairstyle. Just like Xuezhu, he had transformed from a child into a teenager.
“Hello,” Meng Yuning said gently, “I remember you’re Xuezhu’s classmate. Your name is Chi Yue, right?”
Chi Yue was taken aback. “Yes, how do you know my name?”
“I’ve heard Xuezhu mention you,” Meng Yuning replied.
“She mentioned me?”
Chi Yue looked uncertainly at Xuezhu.
Xuezhu rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, she didn’t say anything bad about you.”
Chi Yue pressed his lips together, nervously shrinking his neck.
He hadn’t realized how much time he had wasted standing there, until one of his teammates from the football game shouted at him from a distance, “Chi Yue, why are you talking to your wife for so long? Is there anything that can’t be discussed at home? Hahaha!”
Meng Yuning blinked in slight confusion.
“……”
“……”
Xuezhu and Chi Yue both felt their scalp tingle, wishing they could silence the person who said that.
“Xuezhu, you and your classmate—”
Before Meng Yuning could finish his sentence, Xuezhu immediately jumped in front of him, covering his ears and doing a little hop as if to perform some self-hypnosis, “Hahaha, you didn’t hear anything, you didn’t hear anything! Let’s go, let’s go eat KFC.”
Without waiting for Meng Yuning, she hurriedly fled the playground.
Meng Yuning stayed where he was, and Chi Yue also wanted to escape quickly, but unfortunately, he wasn’t as fast as Xuezhu and was called back by Meng Yuning.
The gentle older brother smiled softly, and Chi Yue’s gaze faltered for a moment, but in the next second, Chi Yue was sure that Meng Yuning was just like those adults who enjoy watching children get embarrassed.
“Do you like Xuezhu?”
Chi Yue shouted, “If I like her, then I must be a pig!”
Then, he grabbed the ball and ran off.
Xuezhu’s brother and Xuezhu were exactly the same. Both were so boring!
Meng Yuning arrived at the school gate a little later than Xuezhu. Xuezhu didn’t know if he was taking his time because he had said something to Chi Yue, and she was curious to find out.
On the way to KFC, Xuezhu tugged on her bag strap and asked, “Brother, what did you and Chi Yue talk about just now?”
“Nothing,” Meng Yuning replied.
“Don’t lie to me,” Xuezhu clearly didn’t believe him.
Meng Yuning suddenly smiled, stopped walking, and motioned for Xuezhu to come closer with a finger. Xuezhu obediently stood on tiptoe, turning her ear to listen.
He bent down, his breath brushing past her temple. His clear, bright voice rang in her ear, filled with both amusement and teasing as he whispered, “Have you started dating?”
Her heart skipped a beat, and the warmth of his breath lingered on her ear. But as soon as she realized what he said, that fluttering feeling quickly turned into frustration and annoyance at the person in front of her.
“Who’s in a relationship early? Are you bored, Brother?”
Meng Yuning was stunned when he saw her face turn bright red, nearly steaming, her entire expression scrunched up like a steamed peach bun just taken out of the pot. Realizing that he had made a joke that might have been too much, he quickly reacted, lowering his head and speaking gently, “Sorry, I was just kidding.”
Being teased like this, especially by him.
Xuezhu turned her head and ignored him.
He walked in front of her again. “Xuezhu?”
She turned her head again.
“Xuezhu?”
So, passersby saw a little girl standing by the roadside, looking sulky and not saying anything, while her older brother patiently followed her, turning 360 degrees in an exaggerated attempt to face her and calm her down. After a long time, it seemed like the brother was getting thirsty from talking, and only then did the little girl reluctantly forgive him. She haughtily lifted her chin and tossed her backpack at her brother.
“Carry my backpack.”
The brother almost shouted “At your service” as he obediently followed his younger sister’s command, putting the pink backpack with Disney princesses on one shoulder.
When they arrived at KFC, Xuezhu completely forgot her mother’s instructions and ordered a lot of food all at once.
She chewed on her cola straw and glared at the boy in front of her, clearly reminding him that she wasn’t fully appeased yet.
It wasn’t until Meng Yuning handed her a birthday present that she froze. She had originally thought that this KFC meal was her birthday gift from him, but she didn’t expect an extra surprise.
She didn’t wait until she got home to unwrap it, carefully peeling away the wrapping paper to reveal the latest model MP4.
Xuezhu, who had been asking her mom for an MP3 for years, never dared to hope for an MP4, which not only played music but could also show movies on a large color screen.
Seeing her freeze in place, Meng Yuning couldn’t help but laugh.
“Happy birthday, can you stop being mad at me now?”
Xuezhu cradled the MP4 in her hands as if it were a treasure. She clearly liked it, but she also knew it was a very expensive gift and felt reluctant to accept it. She whispered, “Why give me an MP4? Don’t you need it yourself?”
Meng Yuning took out his own MP3 from his pocket and smiled, “I don’t need anything else since I have this.”
“But the MP4 is obviously better, with a color screen, and you can watch movies…”
Xuezhu couldn’t understand why he didn’t give her a new MP4. With electronics advancing so quickly, even phones could go online and chat on QQ now. Things like MP3s were becoming obsolete.
Meng Yuning held his small MP3 in his hand, his gaze lowering as he softly said, “But there’s nothing better than this in my heart.”
Xuezhu thought, Chi Yue wasn’t much, but his MP3 seemed to be something her brother liked, truly, the object doesn’t always reflect its owner.
References
↑1 | The “Fuwa” (福娃) are the official mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The name “Fuwa” means “good luck dolls” in Chinese. The mascots were designed to represent different animals, each symbolizing a different aspect of Chinese culture and traditions. There were five mascots: Bing Dwen Dwen – a panda, symbolizing strength and courage. Jingjing – a giant panda, representing nature and the environment. Huanhuan – a flame, symbolizing the Olympic spirit. Yingying – a Tibetan antelope, representing the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Nini – a swallow, representing happiness and joy. These mascots became very popular and were widely used in promotional material for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. |
---|
Previous
Fiction Page
Next
JustMeow18[Translator]
Support me on - 𝓚𝓸𝓯𝓲 / List of my novels - 𝕮𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖉 / Join my 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝