Chapter 29

The coldness from outside followed in. Upon hearing this, Lin Qingping immediately pulled away from his embrace. She held up a sweater she had wrapped carefully, offering it to him.  

“What is this?” Gu Juncheng asked as he looked at the bundle, which was wrapped in an odd manner. It was the sweater Lin Qingping had knitted for him.

She had wrapped it in a pretty paper and tied a red silk bow around it, leaving Gu Juncheng momentarily confused.  

“You open it yourself!” Lin Qingping took a step forward, almost pressing up against him.  

Gu Juncheng looked at her with a strange expression, then followed her instructions and unwrapped it. A light gray sweater appeared before his eyes. In the winter night, its soft, fuzzy texture seemed to shimmer under the light.  

“Try it on, does it look good?” Lin Qingping unbuttoned his outer jacket.  

He stiffened slightly and merely said: “I have clothes to wear.”  

“I know! When you’re at the Military Unit, you have to wear your uniform. But when you’re on leave, you can wear what I knitted.” Lin Qingping spoke softly, her voice carrying a slight hoarseness, as her cold hadn’t completely gone away.

Her words carried a faint, husky undertone—soft and delicate, like a whisper gently brushing against the eardrum.

Her head was lowered, her long eyelashes casting shadows over her face. As she spoke, she blinked occasionally, the tips of her lashes lifting, adding an almost playful quality to her face, making her look all the more charming.  

Once she had undone all the buttons, she lifted her head. In that moment, the winter night, the drifting snow, seemed to vanish. The room was suddenly filled with the warmth of spring.  

“Stretch out your arm!” Lin Qingping noticed he was standing still, not moving. She poked his chest with her finger and found it stiff. Unable to resist, she poked it again, until her finger was caught.  

Lin Qingping felt a little embarrassed. “I’m trying to help you try on the clothes, could you cooperate with me?”

The lingering tone of her voice only added to her charm and grace, making her words even more enchanting. Gu Juncheng shifted his gaze, releasing her finger, and cooperated by raising his arm. Perfectly fitted!  

“I truly admire my own taste, not too big, not too small! It’s like it was made just for you!” Lin Qingping looked at her work with delight, showering him with praises: “Gu Juncheng! Your figure is incredible! And your expression is so cool! You’re even more handsome than a supermodel!”  

Some of what she said, Gu Juncheng didn’t understand, but it was rare to see her so happy. Until she said: “Gu Juncheng, happy birthday!”  

Birthday?  

“I knew you’d forget!” Lin Qingping took his hand and led him to the small table, pressing him down onto the seat. “Sit down.”  

On the table was a birthday cake she had made. The cake was wrapped in white cream, perfectly round, resembling the snow falling outside. Red icing shaped like a house decorated the top, with two snowmen at the house’s entrance, wearing red hats and scarves. On the “snow.” the words “Happy Birthday” were written in red.  

“Gu Juncheng, make a wish.” she urged.  

There were no candles, but she struck a match.  

Make a wish? He had never done such a thing, nor had he ever seen it done.  

“Oh, come on, hurry up! Close your eyes and make a wish! A birthday wish always comes true!” She grew anxious as the match burned low.  

Gu Juncheng didn’t believe that wishes would come true, but he still closed his eyes.  

“Done! Now blow it out!” Lin Qingping held the match in front of him. He gently blew, and the match’s embers scattered, leaving little grey ashes on her delicate white fingertips.  

“What did you wish for, Gu Juncheng?” Lin Qingping tilted her head and asked him.  

He was stunned for a moment, not having spoken yet, when a small hand covered his mouth, the soft touch carrying a faint scent.  

“Don’t tell me, if you do, it won’t come true!”

The small hand quickly withdrew, and in the moment of dazedness, a soft, sweet scent suddenly swept over him, lightly touching his lips.  

“Gu Juncheng, happy birthday, may you always be safe.” she whispered softly before stepping back and laughing brightly. “Gu Juncheng, eat the cake!”  

He had never had this before… it was sweet. He wasn’t fond of sweet things, but it smelled wonderful, and clearly, she loved it.  

“Gu Juncheng, are you happy?” she asked as she ate the cake. Since he had tried on the sweater, he hadn’t said a word. She didn’t know whether the surprise had left him stunned without any joy.  

Gu Juncheng looked up at her, and under the lights, she was smiling. Her eyes were crescent-shaped when she smiled, but the corners of her lips had some cake frosting on them. He reached out his hand and gently wiped it away.  

“Are you happy? Speak!” Lin Qingping puffed her cheeks out.  

His lips curled into a slight smile. “Happy.”  

Really? Then why weren’t you smiling? Lin Qingping huffed.  

The sound of snow falling outside grew louder, and the night grew deeper. It was time to sleep.  

This was a special night. Lin Qingping felt an eager excitement, as if she had her mind set on something: Tonight, she was going to have him!  

Lin Qingping even felt a little like a villain…  

However, all her anticipation deflated after she returned from her shower, looking droopy and listless.  

Gu Juncheng saw her like this after just a shower and thought she had caught another cold. He reached up to touch her forehead.  

“What’s wrong? Not feeling well?”  

Lin Qingping shook her head.  

“Then what’s the matter?” She had been so lively earlier.  

“Gu Juncheng!” She lowered her face, looking as though she were about to cry. “I… my relative came.”

Gu Juncheng: ??? Who?  

“Who from your family? Your sister? Or your mom? Is it really the right time for them to come?” Gu Juncheng was completely confused.  

“Not that!” Lin Qingping stomped her foot. “It’s… I… I got my period… I mean… my menstruation…”  

After a moment of confusion, Gu Juncheng finally understood.

This was something he hadn’t experienced, and he didn’t know much about it. He stood there, stunned, before asking: “Does… does it hurt? Or… is there anything I need to prepare?”  

Lin Qingping was livid! Was this really what mattered? The most important thing was that her great plan had just fallen apart! Once again, it was ruined! And he still didn’t get it!  

She turned her body, her back now facing him.  

Even Gu Juncheng, with his usual bluntness, could tell that her reaction meant she wasn’t happy.

Calm and composed in every situation, he immediately began to organize his thoughts. He sat down across from her and said seriously: “Lin Qingping, when faced with a problem, you analyze it and solve it. I don’t understand this issue for women, but you can tell me what you need. If you need anything, I’ll go buy it. If you need medicine, I’ll go to the Medical Office. If it’s something bothering you emotionally, just talk to me, and I’ll help you sort it out.”  

Lin Qingping: ????? Is he made of wood?!  

“I’m emotionally upset!” Lin Qingping huffed.  

“Okay, tell me.” he said, ready to give her a pep talk.  

Lin Qingping grew even more frustrated. She threw herself onto him, pounding on his shoulder with her fists.  

“I… I can’t even talk to you about this…”  

She hugged his neck, whispering the rest of her words in his ear.  

Gu Juncheng froze for a moment, then, after a pause, he looked at her and couldn’t hold it in anymore. He burst out laughing—loudly, uncontrollably.