Сhарtеr 12: Вirthday
Sеvеn dауs рassed quicklу, with Jiаng Ci and Si Вeichеn rеturning hоmе thе night bеforе thе birthdаy.
Si Вeiсhen returnеd tо Xiаnglan Villа.
Jiаng Сi returnеd tо Jiaхing Соmmunitу.
Еаrlу on thе morning оf thе birthday, Si Jianhua сallеd her.
“Swееthеаrt, your brоther cаmе bасk yеsterdаy, and nоw wе’rе just wаiting fоr yоu. Come hоmе еаrlу.”
“Got it, Si Dad. I’m abоut tо hеad оut.”
Aftеr hanging up, Jiаng Сi рiсked up а bеautifully рrepаrеd gift bох and wеnt dоwnstairs.
The security guards аt Xiаnglаn Villа’s gаtеhousе were alrеadу familiаr with Jiang Сi, so she smoothly drove into the villa area.
The sounds of the car reversing and the engine shutting off caught the attention of Si Jianhua, who had been eagerly watching outside.
Seeing it was Jiang Ci, he immediately came out happily to greet her.
Wen Qianyue and Si Beichen, hearing the commotion, also came out to welcome her.
As soon as Jiang Ci stepped out of the car, she saw the three of them walking toward her, especially the young man at the back dressed in black casual wear.
Tall and well-built, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes as sharp as stars, he was handsome, resolute, elegant, and imposing, exuding a heroic aura.
Tsk tsk, who would have thought? Her cheap stepbrother was really handsome—exactly her type.
Jiang Ci had sharp eyes, and as they got closer, she could even clearly see a small black tear mole under the corner of his right eye.
“Si Dad, Mom… Brother.” She greeted each of them with a smile, taking the gift box from the car and handing it to Wen Qianyue. “Happy birthday, Ms. Wen.”
Wen Qianyue took the birthday gift, overjoyed inside but maintaining a calm demeanor as she said reservedly, “Let’s go inside.”
“Yes, yes, let’s talk inside,” Si Jianhua chimed in, then flanked Jiang Ci with Wen Qianyue on either side as the three of them chatted and laughed their way back into the house.
Si Beichen stood at the doorway, watching the three figures gradually recede into the distance. For a moment, he felt a bit lost, as if he had come out for nothing.
But then he thought of the pretty, delicate girl who had just called him “brother” with a bright, cheerful smile, and he instantly felt at ease. At least he hadn’t come out to greet her for nothing.
In the living room, Si Jianhua, Jiang Ci, and Wen Qianyue sat side by side on the sofa, chatting, laughing, and eating fruit.
Si Beichen sat on the side of the sofa, bored and playing with his phone.
Wen Qianyue patted Jiang Ci’s hand with a smile. “You’ve always envied others for having an older brother. Now you have one too. You should treat your brother well from now on, and don’t bully him.”
Jiang Ci smiled innocently and obediently. “How could I bully my brother? Haha, don’t worry, Mom. I’ll protect him.”
In her heart, she silently added: If he survives the apocalypse, that is.
“Haha, if your brother dares to bully you, just tell Si Dad, and I’ll make sure he regrets it.”
Si Jianhua didn’t think for a second that the pretty, obedient girl could possibly bully Si Beichen, who was trained to the peak of physical prowess. He simply took Wen Qianyue’s words as a joke.
Si Beichen changed the subject and asked, “I booked a family dinner at Dingzhen Restaurant. Should we head over in two hours?”
Jiang Ci’s clear voice chimed in, “Did you order a cake?”
“Everything is ready.”
Somehow, as they chatted, Si Jianhua started urging him to get married.
“Beichen, you’re not getting any younger. Isn’t it time to start looking for a partner?”
Si Beichen: …This was one of the reasons he didn’t come back often. He was only twenty-five, yet every time he returned, he faced pressure to get married, which was truly annoying.
Si Jianhua didn’t care whether he was annoyed or not. “You know your line of work. I don’t have any other demands—I just hope you can give me a little grandson soon. After that, you can do whatever you want. Even if you never come back, I won’t bother you.”
Seeing Si Beichen’s stern expression and tightly pressed lips, Wen Qianyue pretended to hit Si Jianhua and scolded, “Today is my birthday. Why bring this up?”
Si Jianhua snorted and fell silent.
He was just afraid that one day he’d be the white-haired parent burying his black-haired child.
Jiang Ci also smiled, trying to smooth things over. “By the way, Uncle Si, how did you and my mom meet?”
At this, both Wen Qianyue and Si Jianhua’s expressions turned slightly awkward.
Si Jianhua explained, “Your mom and I were introduced by mutual friends.”
After a pause, he added, “But originally, we wanted to set you and Beichen up. As we spent more time together, before we even had the chance to introduce you two, we ended up together ourselves.”
Wen Qianyue looked embarrassed.
Jiang Ci and Si Beichen exchanged a glance, both finding the situation absurd.
After chatting casually for a bit longer, the group set off for Dingzhen Restaurant.
Si Beichen drove, with Si Dad and Wen Mom sitting in the back, while Jiang Ci drove her own Mini Cooper.
In the VIP private room on the fourth floor, Si Beichen had done his homework—each person’s favorite dishes were prepared.
As the meal was winding down, a server wheeled in a three-tiered birthday cake.
Candles were lit, the room lights were turned off, and the curtains were drawn. The family clapped and sang “Happy Birthday” together. Ms. Wen, wearing a birthday hat, made a sincere wish, blew out the candles, and cut the cake.
Throughout this, Jiang Ci kept taking photos with her camera.
She captured not only Ms. Wen but also photos of Si Jianhua and Ms. Wen together, solo shots of Si Beichen, and even asked a server to help take a family portrait.
Such beautiful memories had to be recorded—after all, there might not be another chance to celebrate a birthday like this in the future.
The feeling of a lively family gathering, sharing a meal and singing “Happy Birthday,” was truly wonderful.
Not long after the family portrait was taken, Si Beichen received a phone call, and his face suddenly turned pale and grim.
Jiang Ci couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Si Beichen didn’t hide it. “The flight two of my comrades were on today crashed. I was supposed to be on that flight too.”
“Dad, Aunt Wen, I have an urgent matter to attend to and need to leave. Let Xiao Ci stay with you.”
Seeing his pale face and anxious tone, Si Jianhua and Wen Qianyue didn’t say much and simply nodded.
Watching Si Beichen’s departing figure, Jiang Ci fell into thought. In her previous life, she hadn’t come to celebrate Ms. Wen’s birthday on this day. Could it be that Si Beichen hadn’t returned either?
If, as he said, he was originally supposed to be on that flight, then he must have been involved in the accident on this day in her past life.
But in this life, because she was willing to reconcile with Ms. Wen, easing their mother-daughter relationship and returning to celebrate the birthday, Si Beichen had also taken leave to come back and avoided boarding the ill-fated flight.
Barring any other unforeseen events, Si Beichen should be able to survive the post-apocalyptic era.
In his rush to leave, Si Beichen didn’t forget to settle the bill.After they had eaten their fill, Jiang Ci drove her own Mini Cooper, taking Si Dad and Wen Mom to the mall. She bought them a pile of clothes, shoes, and other things, making the two of them incredibly happy.
In the evening, the three of them had hotpot outside before Jiang Ci sent the elderly couple back to Xianglan Villa.
As for herself, she immediately went back to pack her luggage and book a flight ticket, preparing to fly to the Middle East tomorrow.