Zang Ling enthusiastically finished singing the birthday song, followed by a round of applause. She then handed Yan Wenshu a birthday crown and said with a cheerful and exaggerated tone, “Wishing little Yan Wenshu happiness and good health, joy every day, and may all troubles go away!”

“Now, let’s invite our birthday star to make a wish.”

At this moment, the lights in the restaurant had not yet been turned on. In the pitch-dark space, only the candlelight in front of them and the reflections of sparklers on the glass illuminated the surroundings. Under this dim glow, he looked at Zang Ling’s sincere expression, and his heart remained unsettled for a long time.

Seeing him frozen there, Zang Ling thought he was too surprised to speak.

She got up, walked over, and personally placed the crown on his head.

“Perfect.”

Zang Ling proudly admired her masterpiece, took out her phone, snapped a few photos of him, and then urged, “Yan Wenshu, quickly blow out the candles and make your wish!”

It was only then that Yan Wenshu seemed to snap out of it. Stiffly, he leaned forward to blow out the candles, a gesture he hadn’t done in a very long time. It took him several attempts to fully extinguish them.

Then, under Zang Ling’s clear and gentle gaze, like the flow of a stream, he slowly closed his eyes.

Three seconds later.

Yan Wenshu opened his eyes and said softly, “I’ve made my wish.”

The system curiously asked, [Host, what wish did you make?]

[Not telling you.]

[It’s not like wishes really come true anyway,] the system muttered inwardly, already guessing it was probably something like wishing to escape the plot.

Zang Ling cheered, “Then we can move on to the next part!”

She grabbed one of Yan Wenshu’s hands, placed a black card in his palm, and said,
“This is your gift. From now on, buy whatever you want to eat, play whatever you want to play.”

“Thank you, but this is too valuable.” Yan Wenshu pushed it back and looked up, saying, “Just the fact that you’re celebrating my birthday today makes me really happy already.”

Zang Ling forcefully stuffed the card back into his hand. “I said it’s for you, so it’s for you. Don’t worry, all the money here was earned by me. It’s not from any shady source. I’m giving it to you willingly.”

“Even if we break up later, I won’t ask for it back.”

Hearing a certain word, Yan Wenshu’s eyes darkened, and his tone dropped, “I’m not with you for the money.”

“I know.”

Zang Ling looked serious, “But I can’t stand seeing you live poorly. I hope you can improve your lifestyle a little. Money is important, but if you lose it, you can always earn more. If you get sick again, though, that would be a real loss.”

The time Yan Wenshu fainted last time had left her traumatized.

“You have to accept this card, or else I’ll be mad.”

Suddenly, Yan Wenshu felt like this card had become scorching hot, as if accepting it would change something significant. Like he was trying to avoid something, he stubbornly pushed it back again, “I appreciate your kindness, but I really can’t accept it.”

Zang Ling stared at him for a long while, bit her lip, and reluctantly took the card back.

“Alright then.”

Yan Wenshu let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief and smiled, “Let’s eat the cake.”

Zang Ling stopped eating after just a small piece, leaving Yan Wenshu a little puzzled.
“You don’t like it?” he asked.

“You should eat more,” Zang Ling propped her chin on her hand, staring at him absentmindedly. “I’m dieting tonight.”

Yan Wenshu paused, then said, “You don’t need to diet.”

“Your figure is already great. If you lose any more weight…”

Before he could finish, he noticed the burning gaze from across the table. Hesitating, he asked, “What is it?”

Zang Ling frowned slightly, looking troubled. “There’s something… I’m hesitating whether or not I should do it.”

Yan Wenshu didn’t think too much about it. “If you want to do it, then do it.”

“You said it yourself,” she replied.

The next second, Yan Wenshu watched as Zang Ling leaned forward toward him. His heart skipped a beat as he stared at her extending a finger to gently wipe the corner of his mouth.

Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, she licked the cream off her finger, murmuring curiously, “Huh? It didn’t taste this sweet when I had it just then…?”

The system was dumbfounded. [Didn’t you two eat from the same piece?]

Yan Wenshu’s eyes were as deep as the sea. His gaze darkened as he stared at Zang Ling’s rosy lips. Did she even know what she was doing?

After dinner, Zang Ling mysteriously took Yan Wenshu to another location — an amusement park.

Zang Ling had paid a hefty price to have the already-closed amusement park open just for the two of them. There was no one else around, but all the decorative lights were still on, creating a perfect atmosphere.

Yan Wenshu looked up, where colorful lights formed a line of large characters:

Yan Wenshu, Happy Birthday!

Zang Ling eagerly turned her head, waiting for praise. “Look! This is the world I’ve conquered for you. Do you like it?”

“Be honest, okay? I won’t say anything. Today, you’re the most important!”

Yan Wenshu stared at it for a long time before finally saying, “I really like it…”

“To this day, this is the happiest day of my life.”

Zang Ling gently tugged at Yan Wenshu’s sleeve. He lowered his head to look at her, and she tilted her head up and smiled at him.

“Me too!”

Yan Wenshu awkwardly shifted his gaze away, but Zang Ling didn’t notice at all. After saying that, she turned her attention to something else with great interest.

“Actually… There’s one ride I’ve really wanted to try. Will you go with me?” she asked.

Yan Wenshu nodded. “I’ll go wherever you want.”

They arrived in front of the Ferris wheel. Coincidentally, one of the cabins had just come down. Zang Ling grabbed Yan Wenshu and pulled him inside.

The cabin slowly rose.

Zang Ling gazed at the man sitting across from her. He was looking sideways out the window. His eyelashes were long and thick, his brows sharp like swords, his nose high and straight, and his thin lips were pressed together. In his quietness, he resembled a sacred, untouchable statue.

She couldn’t help but call out, “Yan Wenshu.”

Yan Wenshu lifted his eyes.

She suddenly grew nervous, stammering, “H-have you ever heard of the legend of the Ferris wheel?”

“It’s said that when lovers who truly love each other kiss at the very top of the Ferris wheel, they’ll be together forever.”

As Zang Ling spoke, she grew more and more at ease, staring at him without even blinking. “I didn’t used to believe in things like that.”

“But now it’s different.”

Yan Wenshu’s heart stirred. He had a vague feeling of what was coming. He looked at her and asked, “Because…?”

“Because I have you.”

“Can we kiss?”

She finally said it.

In the silent cabin, they sat facing each other. The slowly rising height and the quickening heartbreak

The system covered its mouth with all its might, its small eyes brimming with excitement, terrified of making even the slightest sound that might disturb the two of them.

Zang Ling closed her eyes and tilted her face up slightly.

On the surface, she looked calm and composed, but her tightly clenched fingers betrayed her true emotions.

Moonlight streamed in. Yan Wenshu turned to glance out the window. They were almost at the very top.

He turned back and caught sight of Zang Ling’s trembling eyelashes. She was full of anticipation…

If he didn’t kiss her, she would be disappointed.

Yan Wenshu’s gaze lowered, landing on her beautiful lips. As if possessed by some mysterious force, he leaned in and kissed her.

Zang Ling felt the soft touch at the corner of her lips. She couldn’t help but open her eyes. From the corner of her eye, she glanced outside. Realizing they were at the highest point, her eyes curved into a smile, overflowing with joy.

She quickly drew back her gaze, focusing once more on the impossibly handsome face before her, her heart racing wildly.

A few seconds later, Yan Wenshu backed away. The two of them, as if by silent agreement, said nothing, neither dared to look at the other.

“Yan Wenshu, we’ll always be together… right?” Zang Ling finally couldn’t resist the ambiguous atmosphere any longer, her face burning as she spoke.

“Mm…”

“Happy birthday, Yan Wenshu.”

“And also, I like you!”

Yan Wenshu’s lips curved up involuntarily, his gaze towards Zang Ling soft and gentle.

The system remained silent. No matter how it looked at its host, this just didn’t seem like an act.

—–

Ever since that day, Zang Ling felt like her love life had been smooth sailing, like a spring breeze.

Her boyfriend loved to eat, so whenever she had free time, she would take him out to try all kinds of delicious food.

Nowadays, he often came over to her place to cook for her. He already knew all her favorite dishes like the back of his hand.

Whenever they had time off, they would go out together, take pictures, and play little puzzle games…

Zang Ling felt like everything was progressing really well.

But there was one thing, her boyfriend didn’t seem very willing to take their relationship to the next level?

“Yan Wenshu, are you getting tired of me?” Zang Ling asked straightforwardly.

Yan Wenshu was silent for a moment before replying, “I’m not tired of you. Is there something I did wrong that’s making you feel uneasy?”

“Then why don’t you want to move in and live with me?”

Zang Ling was very direct. “Don’t I have even a bit of feminine charm? Am I not attractive to you at all?”

Looking at her clear and sincere eyes, Yan Wenshu lowered his head and chuckled softly. “It’s not that… you have no idea how…”

He suddenly couldn’t find the right word to describe it. After a pause, he said, “…interesting you are.”

Zang Ling wasn’t very satisfied with that answer. But then, as if a thought struck her, her brows gradually relaxed, and she looked at him with a face that practically shouted I’ve figured it out.

“Yan Wenshu, don’t tell me you’re…”

Before she finished, Yan Wenshu’s heart skipped a beat. His instincts told him whatever she was about to say wouldn’t be a good thing.

Zang Ling cleared her throat and continued, “Even if you can’t, I wouldn’t mind. Sex, after all, is just the icing on the cake in a relationship built on love. If there’s enough love, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s there or not.”

“Am I right, Yan Wenshu?”

Looking at her expression like she was waiting to be praised, Yan Wenshu took a deep breath and replied, “I don’t have any problems. I’m perfectly healthy.”

Zang Ling let out an “Oh,” then thoughtfully added, “Then it must be a psychological issue…”

Since it was a psychological factor, it must be something difficult to talk about. If she asked him now, he probably wouldn’t say anything. She’d have to wait for the right moment.

Yan Wenshu knew he should probably explain things clearly, but seeing her fired-up expression, for some reason, he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.

It was as if… he liked seeing her like this.

[Host.]

The system spoke tactfully, [Don’t you feel like there’s something a little off with yourself?]

[Just say it.]

[I may not be smart, but even I can tell that you treat Zang Ling differently.] The system analyzed seriously, [Ever since you started spending time with her, your smiles have become more and more genuine. You used to say it was all just an act, but… is there a chance that this act has already become real?]

[Host, after everything is over, have you considered truly being with Zang Ling?]

The faint smile at the corner of Yan Wenshu’s lips abruptly disappeared. He replied coldly, [No.]

[I haven’t fallen for Zang Ling.]

Watching Zang Ling smile while holding his arm, he murmured, [An act is just an act. It can’t possibly become real.]

Love is like an endless abyss, once you fall in, there’s no way out.

In his past life, Han Lanmeng and Yuan Haolang broke up and got back together over and over, and finally ended up together. But in that relationship, she had always been at a disadvantage. Yuan Haolang would summon her when he wanted and dismiss her when he didn’t, just like training a dog.

Yan Wenshu would never allow himself to end up like that.

“Let’s go to Hawaii next time!” Zang Ling turned her head and asked for his opinion. “Sometimes, changing the scenery can help you change your mood and start over.”

“…Alright.”

He would not allow himself to fall for Zang Ling..