Yuanyuan, who could barely use a spoon properly, put all her strength into cutting a piece of cake and putting it onto the plate.

Yu Jinxiao glanced at it—

Generous! A piece the size of a fingernail!

Why not just cut a slice of air while you’re at it?

“Yuanyuan can’t hold it steady. Let Brother cut it,” Yuanyuan finally gave up after struggling for a while, handing the knife over to Yu Mingxi.

The first big slice went to Yuanyuan, the second to their dad, and Yu Mingxi’s eyes caught a glimpse of Yu Yingze, who sat silently in the corner. He cut a third slice and held it out to him.

“Yingze, have some cake.”

Yingze glanced at the cake, his expression cold. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he started heading upstairs. “I don’t want any. I’ll go do my homework.”

Yuanyuan, in the middle of inhaling her cake, looked up in shock, her cheeks puffed with cream. “Why doesn’t Second Brother want cake? It’s so delicious!”

Yu Mingxi, knowing the “why” all too well, kept quiet, sneaking a glance at their father, who hadn’t yet realized the situation.

Sigh, he was really the one holding this family together.

“Second Brother doesn’t want his share… so can Yuanyuan have an extra slice?” She slid her empty plate across the table, her hopeful eyes sparkling as she chewed on the pink fork.

About to serve her another slice, Yu Mingxi was abruptly interrupted by their dad: “We’re about to have dinner. You’ve already eaten a big piece. Aren’t you afraid your stomach will hurt if you eat more?”

“No way! Yuanyuan’s tummy can fit lots and lots of things!” she protested.

“Even if you can fit it, that doesn’t mean I’ll let you.” Yu Jinxiao, unmoved by her plea, cut her off. His stern gaze was enough to silence even the most adorable of little kids in under three seconds.

Seeing that her cute logic wasn’t working, Yuanyuan quickly turned to Yu Mingxi for help: “Brother, Yuanyuan—”

“No use. Your brother doesn’t get to decide right now.” Yu Jinxiao remained firm, instructing Aunt Chen to store the remaining cake in the fridge and making sure to save Yu Yingze’s share, so the little one wouldn’t eat it all herself.

Yuanyuan’s sad eyes followed the cake being tucked away into the cold confines of the fridge. Her big round eyes narrowed into disappointed little slits.

How could the cake be left alone in such a cold place?

So sad.

Yuanyuan’s belly was warm and cozy; the cake would be much happier there, surely.

But these grievances were only whispered in her heart. She wasn’t about to voice them aloud and risk upsetting her dad’s temper.

Since that scolding, the little one had learned to behave. She wasn’t going to make trouble for herself.

“Did you forget something, Dad?” Yu Mingxi suddenly asked mid-bite.

The question seemed to come out of nowhere, catching Yu Jinxiao completely off guard.

“Forget what?”

Yu Mingxi sighed deeply, looking like he had expected this: “The day after tomorrow is Yingze’s birthday.”

An awkward silence settled over the dining table.

Yu Jinxiao paused for a moment, quietly processing the information, before nodding slightly. “Right.”

“When Yingze saw the cake earlier, he must have thought it was for him,” Yu Mingxi sighed again. “Last year you forgot his birthday too, and you didn’t get him a present until the third day.”

Exposed by his own son, Yu Jinxiao’s face stiffened, a hint of embarrassment creeping in.

He cleared his throat, about to say something to lighten the mood, when the little one next to him couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Wow, wow, wow! If Second Brother’s birthday is coming, does that mean we get to eat more cake?!” Yuanyuan, waving her little fork, tapped it against the table, excitement bubbling over. “Yuanyuan wants to give Second Brother a birthday present!”

Even a three-year-old knew to give a birthday present… yet his own father had forgotten.