He Nian shouted, “What about your wish? Haven’t you made a wish yet?”
“I did,” Duan Zhuo said after blowing out the candles.
“What did you wish for?”
“I hope to get married this year.”
“Married? Did I hear that wrong? Master Zhuo, aren’t you against marriage?” He Nian glanced at his hand. “You still have the single-status ring on your pinky.”
The next second—snap.
Duan Zhuo removed the ring from his pinky and tossed it into the trash.
He threw it cleanly and decisively.
“I’m not single anymore.”
He Nian froze.
His eyes must be blind.
Everyone knew that whenever Duan Zhuo encountered a difficult companion, he always declared himself anti-marriage—no one could cling to him.
And now? The ring he’d worn for years was discarded just like that.
He could at least have sold it for some money.
Only Lu Jinghuai seemed to catch the point. With his refined, handsome face calm as ever, he asked, “Who are you going to marry?”
“Of course, it’s…”
Duan Zhuo gestured to the side—but no one was there.
The little girl who had been standing next to him earlier had somehow hidden behind, even pulling her hat down to reduce her presence, clearly afraid he would kneel and propose on the spot.
“You’ll know when the time comes,” Duan Zhuo said, changing the subject. “Just make sure you’re ready with a gift, right, An Li?”
Being called out, An Li was exposed. She braced herself and replied, “…Yes, I’ll prepare a gift for you.”
Clearly, Duan Zhuo’s forehead whitened in mock exasperation.
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her forward roughly. His chin brushed against the soft side of her hair as he whispered, “The bride doesn’t need to prepare a gift.”
Who was marrying him?!
Their relationship hadn’t even lasted a week.
An Li’s face showed her reluctance, but she couldn’t break free. She picked up a slice of cake from the table. “Brother Duan, do you want some cake?”
It was his birthday. She didn’t dare be petty.
The more she suppressed herself, the bolder he became, assuming the dignified young master air. “Sure, feed me.”
An Li swallowed her frustration.
It was his birthday. No arguing.
She scooped a bit of cream and brought it to his lips.
Duan Zhuo didn’t move, his eyes curved at the corners. “I said, feed me… mouth to mouth.”
“……”
An Li pursed her lips.
No arguing?
Not a chance.
What a bastard.
Two minutes later, Duan Zhuo walked to the lounge area and casually grabbed a tissue from the tabletop.
He Nian was the first to notice the cream on his face. “Oh my, Master Zhuo, what happened? Who dares smear cream on our Master Zhuo?”
“I did it myself by accident,” Duan Zhuo said, wiping his face.
“Really?” Lu Jinghuai interjected. “I saw your obedient little sister put the cake on your face.”
Obedient little sister?
She was more like a cat without clipped claws—soft when docile, fierce when provoked.
“Is that true?” He Nian looked incredulous. “It’s Master Zhuo’s first birthday here! How could An Li do that? She’s spoiled by the Duan Family, obviously.”
“You don’t understand,” Duan Zhuo said, settling into an empty spot and crossing his long legs slowly. “Spanking is affection; scolding is love.”
“You mean An Li does this because she likes you?”
“Exactly. Why would she do this to anyone else?”
In the room, there were dozens of people.
She was the only one who threw cake at him.
If that wasn’t love, what was?
Throwing cake on someone’s birthday was lively and auspicious—she was wishing him a life as sweet as the cake.
Lu Jinghuai glanced at his daydreaming friend. “Are you sure she likes you? I thought she was closer to your brother.”
“Maybe it’s a cover for her feelings toward me,” Duan Zhuo said, leaning slightly against the back of the sofa, speaking methodically. “She gave me a birthday cake today. If she didn’t like me, why wouldn’t she give it to my brother?”
Lu Jinghuai: “Are you crazy?”
Because, damn it, Duan Xingning wasn’t even having a birthday.
Duan Zhuo: “What should I prepare if she proposes to me?”
Lu Jinghuai: “? She said she’d propose?”
“She didn’t say she wouldn’t,” Duan Zhuo said. “She’s never denied wanting to have kids with me.”
“So?”
“She wants to have kids with me.”
Lu Jinghuai got up.
He Nian grabbed him. “Brother Huai, where are you going?”
“Goosebumps all over. Need some air.” Lu Jinghuai paused, then nudged He Nian. “Oh, don’t forget your handstand.”
“?”
Almost forgot about the bet.
Master Zhuo was making his friend lose miserably.
He Nian looked at Duan Zhuo and then at An Li, who had been pulled to play board games with some pretty girls, trying to spot any evidence of an affair. But Duan Zhuo’s gaze seemed fixed on An Li.
Also, He Nian’s eyes were just bad.
Tonight, this little goddess was dressed like a peacock, clearly showing off for someone.
An Li played several rounds of board games. As a beginner, she lost multiple times. There were no punishments, but everyone laughed.
Soon, Duan Zhuo couldn’t sit still, unwilling to see his girl bullied. He strode over, placing himself between her and a male friend. “What are you playing? Let me join.”
With him there, the game changed—became more subtle, more fun.
“Master Zhuo, perfect timing! Want to play the spin-the-wheel game?”
A woman in a low-V blouse spoke.
The moment she said it, everyone’s eyes gleamed with hidden meaning.
An Li, naïve to such social games, asked, “Spin-the-wheel game?”
“There’s a wheel here. Each person takes turns spinning it. Whoever it lands on has to follow the spinner’s command.”
“That sounds fun,” An Li said, intrigued.
She hadn’t been to these events before—at school, she’d only had meals or movie nights with roommates. Most of her time was spent on academics.
For these veterans, such games were routine, even manipulable.
Duan Zhuo was unenthusiastic. “What’s so fun about that?”
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to play?” The curly-haired girl smiled. “Or are you afraid to play with me, your ex-girlfriend?”
Hearing “ex-girlfriend,” An Li finally looked at her.
A classic glamorous older woman—long legs, slim waist, large chest. Top-tier in the modeling world.
Her voice was alluring too.
All women associated with Duan Zhuo were exceptional—no ugly ones, and all had amazing figures.
An Li’s lashes drooped unconsciously; her interest in the game vanished.
“I don’t mind,” Duan Zhuo replied casually. “If my wife wants to play, then we play.”
The curly-haired woman froze. “Your wife is who?”
“My sister.”
“Your sister is who?”
“My wife.”
“……”
The room went momentarily silent, stuck in a glitch.