They wandered through more than half the mall, and Lin Luan had tried on round after round of clothes for her. Either they were too expensive for her to afford, or she didn’t like them—thinking they didn’t suit Su Xianyan. In the end, after all that walking, she still hadn’t found anything she liked.
“Cheng Simian, you’ve got me trying on shirts and jackets—this is a gift for a man, isn’t it?” Lin Luan muttered. “Who is it?”
“Just try them on. Why so many questions?”
“A guy from your school? Outside school? Which school, exactly?” Lin Luan kept chattering beside her, but Cheng Simian was completely focused on finding a gift and ignored him entirely.
Suddenly, she stopped in front of a small gift shop, her eyes lighting up as she stared at the items in the display case.
“What is it?” Lin Luan asked.
Cheng Simian curled her lips into a smile. “I know what I’m going to buy.”
Night fell. After “coaxing” Lin Luan into leaving, she called Cha Yiguan.
“I heard none of you are coming home tonight.”
“Yeah, it’s Xianyan’s birthday today.” It was very noisy on Cha Yiguan’s end; he was practically shouting. “Xiao Mianmian, have you eaten yet?”
“I… not yet.” Cheng Simian thought for a moment. “Where are you guys?”
“Jiale Club. If you haven’t eaten, come over and eat with us.”
Then Cha Yiguan suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added, “Wait—wait—Cheng Qin said you’re underage, you can’t come. Xiao Mianmian, how about you stay home and I’ll bring food back for—”
Beep, beep, beep…
“Xiao Mianmian?” Cha Yiguan pulled his phone away and looked at it. She hung up?
Cheng Simian knew Cheng Qin wouldn’t let her go, so she hung up before Cha Yiguan could start nagging. She flagged down a taxi and headed straight for her destination.
As expected, she was stopped the moment she tried to go in.
“Miss, minors aren’t allowed in,” the doorman said gently.
“And what makes you think I’m a minor?” Cheng Simian raised an eyebrow and yanked her school uniform skirt upward, revealing more of her long, pale legs. “See that? I dressed like this on purpose. It’s called the temptation of a uniform.”
The attendant was put in an awkward position. The girl in front of him certainly had a strong presence—but that face clearly belonged to a high schooler.
“Enough nonsense. Which private room are Cheng Qin and the others in?”
The attendant had been thinking of how to send her away, but when he heard Cheng Qin’s name, his attitude instantly turned eager. “Are you referring to President Su’s party?”
Cheng Simian glanced at him. Such a drastic change?
“Yes. Su Xianyan. I’m here to see him.”
The attendant looked her over a few more times, whispered something to a colleague, then smiled. “Please wait a moment.”
After a few minutes, Cheng Simian finally saw a familiar figure walk out.
Cha Yiguan rushed over as soon as he saw her. “Xiao Mianmian, you really came!”
“Didn’t you tell me to come eat?”
“Hey, you hung up before I even finished talking.”
“I don’t care.” Cheng Simian stuffed her uniform jacket into his hands. “I’m hungry. I want to eat.”
“Alright, alright. Hey—later, don’t tell your uncle that I gave you the address.”
Cheng Simian snorted. “Who else would it be if not you?”
Cha Yiguan: “…”
Cha Yiguan led Cheng Simian down a long corridor to a private room. The moment the door opened, she saw Su Xianyan sitting by the sofa. There were many people inside, yet she spotted him at a glance.
The room was spacious, dimly lit with a soft yellow glow that fell over him. Su Xianyan held a wine glass of red wine in his right hand, while his left rested casually on the sofa, tapping lightly from time to time.
His eyes were slightly narrowed, his whole demeanor lazy and… dangerously charming. This was completely different from his usual self. Cheng Simian froze in surprise. He had always given her the impression of being gentle and restrained, mature and steady. But now, seeing this breathtaking allure, her heart tightened uncontrollably.
That was… love at first flutter.
“Hey? Cha Yiguan, what’s going on? You brought a little girl here?” An unfamiliar man walked over, sizing Cheng Simian up and down. “Damn, she’s obviously underage. Cha Yiguan, you—what a beast.”
Cha Yiguan rolled his eyes and punched him. “Watch your mouth.”
The man gave Cheng Simian a look loaded with meaning, then bent down to her level and smiled. “Little sister, what’s your relationship with Cha Yiguan?”
The strong smell of alcohol made Cheng Simian step back slightly in distaste. “It’s fine.”
“Oh? It’s fine… ow!”
The unfamiliar man was suddenly yanked backward, instantly pulled away from Cheng Simian. He turned around, about to curse whoever had grabbed him without looking—until he saw that it was the birthday star, Su Xianyan. He immediately swallowed his words.
What surprised him even more was that Su Xianyan actually walked toward the little girl—and seemed quite familiar with her.
“Why did you come?” Su Xianyan asked. His eyes no longer held their usual clarity, instead carrying a dark, unreadable gleam.
Cheng Simian smiled brightly. “It’s your birthday. How could I not come?”
Su Xianyan curved his lips. “I was planning to bring a cake back for you. Looks like we can eat it right here instead.”
Cheng Simian’s eyes lit up. “Really? I’m starving.”
Su Xianyan patted the back of her head. “Come over.”
“Mm.”
“Hey, Xianyan, you know this girl too?” the unfamiliar man asked curiously.
“Mm. Cheng Qin’s niece.”
“Oh! So she’s Cheng Qin’s niece.” The man nodded in understanding. “No wonder—you’re actually this close with a kid.”
Su Xianyan led Cheng Simian to sit beside him. “Eat something hot first, then have cake.”
“Okay.” Cheng Simian glanced around. The private room was large, filled with men and women, but most of them were strangers to her.
“Do you need me to call your uncle over?” Su Xianyan asked.
“Huh? What?” Someone nearby was shouting and singing wildly, completely off-key. Cheng Simian didn’t catch what he said and had to lean closer. “I can’t hear you.”
She leaned in very close. Su Xianyan could almost smell the faint scent of her shower gel. He paused, then subtly leaned back a little and raised his voice. “It’s fine. Your uncle’s drunk—he probably can’t control you anymore.”
This time, Cheng Simian heard him clearly. She glanced at Cheng Qin, who was singing terribly but with full enthusiasm. “He really is drunk. Su Xianyan, are you drunk too?”
Su Xianyan lowered his gaze to her. “What do you think?”
Cheng Simian studied him carefully. He did smell of alcohol too, but unlike the heavy, overpowering stench from others, his scent was more like mellow red wine—light, faintly intoxicating.
Favoritism, perhaps. This was probably what people meant by beauty in the eye of the beholder.
“What are you smiling about?” Su Xianyan set his wine glass down and leaned back lazily against the sofa.
Only then did Cheng Simian realize she had smiled at the thought of the word lover…
“Ah, nothing. I just think that whether you’re drunk or not, you’re still ridiculously handsome.”
Su Xianyan was momentarily taken aback, then smiled faintly. “Such a sweet-talker, you little girl.”
“Who are you calling little?” Cheng Simian puffed out her chest defiantly. “What do you mean I’m small!”
The corner of Su Xianyan’s mouth twitched, and he laughed despite himself. But in Cheng Simian’s eyes, that laugh was blatant mockery. What did he mean? Was she really small? She could still grow, okay!
“Don’t laugh! What’s so funny? Where’s the joke?”
Su Xianyan’s smile only deepened. Whether it was the alcohol or just the mood of the day, he found her flustered, indignant expression incredibly amusing—and adorable.
He reached out and pinched her cheek. “Pouting that much—you look like a little pig.”
Cheng Simian widened her eyes. Was he insulting her? The gentle, refined Su Xianyan actually called her a pig?!
“Let go! You’re the pig.” She shoved his hand away, huffing as she went to stab a piece of cake. “Since it’s your birthday, I’ll let it slide that you insulted me.”
Su Xianyan patted her head. “Oh? Then thank you.”
She shot him a glare. “You’re welcome, birthday boy.”
The private room was loud and chaotic. People ate, drank, and played, the noise blending into a lively mess. Cai Xinyuan had been singing and dancing with Cheng Qin and the others, but when she noticed she hadn’t seen Su Xianyan for a while, she turned to look for him.
And then she saw that scene.
In a corner by the sofa, a man and a woman sat together. The girl ate cake with bright enthusiasm, occasionally turning to joke and laugh with the man beside her. The man leaned against the sofa, his gaze resting on her—unexpectedly gentle and indulgent.
Cai Xinyuan froze. A strange feeling rose in her chest. But it was too absurd. She shook her head, smiled, and walked toward them.
“Xianyan.” Cai Xinyuan sat down beside him. “You’re the star of the night. You can’t just hide in a corner like this.”
Su Xianyan smiled lightly. “You guys are drinking too hard. I’m avoiding it a bit.”
“If the birthday boy doesn’t drink, who will?” Cai Xinyuan glanced at Cheng Simian. “You don’t have Simian’s age as an excuse. You have to drink, right, Simian?”
Cheng Simian bit down on her little fork, cake still in her mouth, and nodded absentmindedly.
“Come on, if you don’t go now, they’ll come dragging you over in a minute.”
Su Xianyan sighed helplessly. “Alright, I’m going.”
Before leaving, he said to Cheng Simian, “Don’t eat too much cake.”
Cheng Simian nodded.
Cai Xinyuan gave her a thoughtful look, then walked off with Su Xianyan toward the group of friends.
After she was full, Cheng Simian began thinking about when to give Su Xianyan her gift. She had planned to hand it to him as soon as she arrived, but seeing so many people here made her hesitate.
“Hey, little sister, want a drink?” Just as she was thinking, someone came over. Judging by his earlier behavior, he was also a friend of Su Xianyan’s.
Cheng Simian glanced at the glass and said nothing.
“Tsk, Cheng Qin’s little niece is really pretty.” The man handed her the drink. “It’s fine, go ahead. I won’t tell your uncle.”
It wasn’t that Cheng Simian had never drunk alcohol before—she had tried it once or twice—but she didn’t like the taste and had avoided it since. Now, seeing everyone drinking so happily, and thinking that it was Su Xianyan’s birthday, she took the glass.