For a split second, Lin Wu thought she was hearing things.
It wasn’t until she met Chen Zhuo’s gaze through the screen—a look so warm she could feel its temperature even across the distance—that she finally reacted. “You… how do you know?”
Her heart gave a sudden thump because of his words. Her mind drifted, and she asked a silly question.
Fortunately, Chen Zhuo didn’t tease her.
A faint sparkle of amusement rose in his eyes. His voice softened as he said, “I’ve seen your ID card.”
Lin Wu let out a slow “oh,” her eyes flickering slightly. “Thank you.”
Chen Zhuo smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curving as he asked, “So polite?”
Lin Wu opened her mouth, about to say something more, when the phone she had accidentally hung up on rang again.
She looked down at it, hesitating whether to hang up once more, when Chen Zhuo’s voice came through her earpiece: “Let’s stop here for today. Go take your call. Rest early.”
Lin Wu lifted her eyes, her breathing light. “Okay. Thank you.”
Chen Zhuo acknowledged softly. As he raised his arm to move the mouse, he paused for a moment. “Happy birthday. May all your wishes come true. Good night.”
The video call ended. Lin Wu stared blankly for a second before answering the phone.
As expected, it was He Jiayun calling right at midnight. The moment Lin Wu picked up, her excited, cheerful voice burst into her ear: “Wu Wu, happy birthday! May you be happy every day and have all your dreams come true! This year you get to make one wish that I’ll help you fulfill.”
“Why didn’t you pick up earlier? Were you busy?” He Jiayun first showered her with blessings, then asked curiously, “I’m the first one to wish you happy birthday this year, right?”
Hearing this, Lin Wu smiled faintly. She felt a little bad about telling her—no, she wasn’t.
She curved her lips lightly, looked at the ended meeting time still displayed on the screen, and said softly, “Got it. I’ll have to think carefully about that wish.”
He Jiayun: “Take your time. You’ve got a whole year.”
Lin Wu broke into a bright smile, her brows and eyes curving. “Okay.”
He Jiayun didn’t linger. After a few short words, she urged Lin Wu to rest: “Go to sleep early. Rest well so we can have fun tomorrow.”
Lin Wu agreed. “No problem.”
He Jiayun: “Good night then.”
“Good night.”
After hanging up, Lin Wu saw a flood of WeChat messages pop up on her screen.
She opened them—almost all were birthday wishes from colleagues at the firm, some from past clients she had worked with, old university classmates, and so on.
Lin Wu replied to everyone one by one.
Once she finished, she sat in the study in a daze for a while before finally getting up to go back to her bedroom to rest.
By the time she lay down in bed, it was already quite late.
But Lin Wu didn’t feel particularly sleepy. The moment she closed her eyes, the image of Chen Zhuo looking at her and saying “happy birthday” resurfaced—those eyes with light and shadow dancing in them, and their nearly sixty-minute video call.
Chen Zhuo had seen her ID card; Lin Wu knew that.
But the fact that he had remembered her birthday months ago, and even while busy abroad with no time difference advantage, had timed it perfectly to wish her at midnight—that went beyond simply “remembering.”
Chen Zhuo was a very considerate fuck buddy, a very considerate lover.
Lin Wu had known that for a long time.
What she wasn’t entirely sure about was whether tonight’s gesture could simply be explained as “considerate.”
She thought about it for a long time but couldn’t find a precise answer.
She tugged lightly at the blanket, even briefly considering pulling out her phone to search online: Is it normal for a fuck buddy of more than half a year to remember your birthday?
Generally speaking, it should be normal.
If Chen Zhuo were still in Shencheng, with no time difference, Lin Wu wouldn’t feel so confused. But there was a very clear time difference between them.
Did he set an alarm on China time? Lin Wu wondered.
When the alarm rang, Lin Wu felt her eyelids were heavy, and her head was a little dizzy.
She wasn’t sure what time she had finally fallen asleep last night. She only vaguely remembered tossing and turning for a long while before drifting off.
With difficulty, she climbed out of bed, went into the bathroom to wash up, put on makeup, and changed clothes.
When she left home with her phone and bag, she finally opened her messages and saw one Chen Zhuo had sent her several hours earlier, asking what she wanted for her birthday gift.
Lin Wu stood frozen at the elevator entrance, forgetting to press the down button.
After a moment, she gathered herself, stepped into the elevator, and replied to Chen Zhuo hesitantly: “No need. There’s nothing I want. I won’t trouble President Chen.”
The message was sent. Chen Zhuo didn’t reply.
Lin Wu calculated the time—New York would be evening right now. Chen Zhuo was probably still busy.
On the way to the firm, Lin Wu temporarily pushed the matter to the back of her mind.
She arrived smoothly at Xianghe Law Firm. The moment she reached the entrance, she heard the chorus of voices from her colleagues: “Lawyer Lin, happy birthday!”
Lin Wu looked at the enthusiastic, lively group in front of her and curved her lips. “Thank you, everyone. Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Li Xiang chimed in. “Work first. Tonight, anyone who doesn’t have plans or special arrangements, tell my assistant later. We’ll all go out for a meal together—my treat to celebrate Lawyer Lin’s birthday.”
“Great! Yes!” Everyone responded excitedly.
Lin Wu quickly turned to look at him.
Li Xiang gave her a look that said we’ll talk in the office. Lin Wu had no choice but to accept.
After chatting briefly with her colleagues outside, Lin Wu entered her office. Li Xiang followed right behind.
“Isn’t this supposed to not be too grand?” Lin Wu asked.
Li Xiang shrugged. “A few days ago my assistant told me some people were asking him if the firm had any plans for Lawyer Lin’s birthday.”
He looked at Lin Wu. “You didn’t celebrate with everyone last year. This year you should join them. They all want to celebrate with you.”
“…”
Hearing this, Lin Wu turned her head to look through the glass door at the enthusiastic and lively colleagues outside. She pressed her lips together slightly. “Then make sure everyone knows not to give me gifts.”
Except for close friends like He Jiayun and Li Xiang, when other people were too nice to her, Lin Wu would feel a great deal of pressure. She would feel she couldn’t possibly return their kindness. So she was used to avoiding it, refusing it.
“I already told them,” Li Xiang gave her a sideways glance. “They know Lawyer Lin’s habit of not accepting birthday gifts. No one prepared anything—just a group meal, everyone chatting. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
Lin Wu gave a soft hum. “…Okay. Thank you.”
Li Xiang was used to her politeness and didn’t comment on it. “Get back to work. Clock out on time at six.”
Lin Wu smiled. “Got it.”
Not long after Li Xiang left, there was a knock on the office door.
Lin Wu looked up toward her assistant. “What is it? A legal question you don’t understand?”
Zhao Yuxin shook her head from behind her back. She slowly walked up to Lin Wu’s desk and took out the gift she had been hiding.
Lin Wu’s expression tightened slightly. “Yuxin, I don’t—”
“I know you don’t accept birthday gifts from colleagues,” Zhao Yuxin interrupted before she could finish. “Lawyer Lin, this isn’t expensive. I made it myself by hand. I just wanted to thank you for how patiently and carefully you’ve been teaching and guiding me all this time. You often treat me to meals and coffee too, and I’ve never had a chance to repay you properly. So I made this for you.”
Hearing Zhao Yuxin’s sincere words, even someone as hard-hearted as Lin Wu couldn’t refuse her kindness.
She gave a helpless smile and looked at the gift bag in her hand. “Really not expensive?”
Zhao Yuxin: “Really.”
She emphasized earnestly, “You can take it out and look. I bought the materials online and made it myself.”
Lin Wu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”
She took the paper bag and asked curiously, “What is it?”
“A dreamcatcher,” Zhao Yuxin told her. “Online it says if you hang this in your room, it can drive away nightmares and bring sweet dreams and good luck.”
She knew Lin Wu often had trouble sleeping and sometimes even needed sleeping pills to rest.
Lin Wu froze for a second. She took out the white dreamcatcher with white feathers hanging from it. “It’s very pretty. I like it a lot.”
She looked at Zhao Yuxin. “Thank you. I’ll hang it in my room tonight when I get home.”
Zhao Yuxin smiled with pursed lips. “I’m glad Lawyer Lin likes it.”
She looked at Lin Wu. “Then if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to work.”
Lin Wu nodded. “Go ahead.”
She thanked Zhao Yuxin again. “This is one of the most special gifts I’ve ever received.”
Zhao Yuxin looked pleasantly surprised and said shyly, “It’s actually not that special.”
There are lots of them online.
Lin Wu gave a soft laugh and said seriously, “To me, it’s very special.”
Zhao Yuxin’s sincerity was special—and precious.
After chatting a few more words with Zhao Yuxin, they both returned to work.
Lin Wu put the dreamcatcher away, planning to take it home with her after work.
She stayed busy until noon, when He Jiayun arrived carrying an insulated lunch box.
She rushed into the office in a flurry and urged Lin Wu, “Put down whatever you’re working on for now—come eat your longevity noodles first.”
Lin Wu wasn’t too surprised and gave a soft “ah.” “Aunt Fang went to the trouble of making noodles for me again.”
“It’s only once a year,” He Jiayun said. “Aunt Fang is happy to do it. She even told me to ask you which weekend you’re free so you can come over and try her improved cooking.”
Lin Wu walked over and sat down across from He Jiayun, smiling as she replied, “This weekend then. Tomorrow.”
He Jiayun raised an eyebrow. “You mean it?”
“Of course,” Lin Wu took the chopsticks she handed over. “Want to try a bite?”
He Jiayun gave her a sideways glance. “These are your longevity noodles. Eat them yourself.”
“Not sharing with me?” Lin Wu asked.
Seeing how serious she looked, He Jiayun gave in. “You eat first. I’ll have a couple of bites later.”
She knew Lin Wu hoped she would live a long life. Every year when Lin Wu ate her birthday longevity noodles, she would insist that He Jiayun share them with her.
In addition to the longevity noodles, He Jiayun had also brought several other dishes Aunt Fang had prepared—ones Lin Wu loved.
The two of them had a little private feast in the office and polished off the big meal Aunt Fang had made.
After eating her fill, He Jiayun tactfully said, “I’m off to go bother Li Xiang. You get back to work. Clock out on time at six.”
Lin Wu held back a laugh and waved her off. “Go on.”
At six o’clock in the afternoon, the employees of Xianghe Law Firm unusually left work right on time.
Lin Wu had driven, so she could take a few people to the restaurant with her. Of course, the front passenger seat was claimed by He Jiayun, while the back seat held Zhao Yuxin and one of the firm’s receptionists.
Several cars from the firm set off in a grand convoy toward the restaurant.
Li Xiang had booked a large private room that could seat dozens. The room had been decorated in advance—balloons covered one wall, along with the words “Happy Birthday.”
When Lin Wu walked in and saw it, her eyes grew a little hot. She pressed her lips together, trying to control her emotions.
He Jiayun knew her best. She reached over and patted Lin Wu’s arm to comfort her, then turned to the group. “Everyone, sit wherever you like. Today is Lawyer Lin’s birthday, so think of this as a big firm gathering. Keep it casual.”
The group settled in, the atmosphere lively and warm.
Lin Wu sat at the same table as He Jiayun, Li Xiang, and a few others. Though she wasn’t very talkative, she still stood up and said a few words, thanking everyone.
That evening’s meal, Lin Wu ate very relaxed and very happily.
She hadn’t had such a lively birthday in a very long time. There was a tiny bit of discomfort from the unfamiliarity, but far more than that, she felt deeply moved.
When they had eaten enough, the birthday cake that He Jiayun had arranged to be delivered early was wheeled in.
The lights in the private room dimmed. The birthday song started playing. He Jiayun clapped her hands beside Lin Wu. “Make a wish, Wu Wu.”
Lin Wu smiled and said okay.
She pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and made a wish toward the candlelit cake.
She blew out the candles. The lights came back on, followed immediately by a wave of birthday blessings from her friends and colleagues.
“Lawyer Lin, happy birthday! Stay healthy!”
“Lawyer Lin, win even more amazing cases in the new year!”
“Lawyer Lin, you’re getting more and more beautiful.”
“Lawyer Lin, be happy every day.”
“…”
Listening to her colleagues’ words, Lin Wu smiled brightly. “Thank you everyone. You’ve all worked hard.”
Looking at the familiar faces in front of her, her eyes grew a little hot. Fortunately, she held it back.
After cutting and distributing the birthday cake, once everyone was full and satisfied, someone suggested going to a nearby bar or KTV to keep the fun going.
It was rare for the entire firm to gather like this. Apart from a few people who had other commitments and couldn’t stay, almost everyone was present.
Lin Wu had no objections. She asked where everyone wanted to go—she would treat.
After some discussion, they decided on KTV. Everyone felt more comfortable singing and playing there than at a bar.
He Jiayun immediately called a manager she knew at a nearby KTV. The whole group moved to the new location.
On the way, everyone was buzzing with excitement.
For some reason, Lin Wu also got caught up in the atmosphere and became a little more outgoing than usual.
When they arrived at the KTV, He Jiayun parked the car and walked with Lin Wu at the back of the group.
“How do you feel?” she asked, glancing sideways at Lin Wu. “Is it too noisy for you?”
Lin Wu shook her head. “Not really today.”
In the past, she would have felt a little uneasy being around colleagues like this. She preferred being alone and quiet in unfamiliar environments.
He Jiayun nodded. “If you feel overwhelmed, just tell us. You’re the birthday star tonight—you have the right to leave early.”
Lin Wu raised an eyebrow and asked with a laugh, “Shouldn’t the birthday star stay until the very end?”
“The birthday star has special privileges,” He Jiayun said. “She can do whatever she wants.”
Lin Wu nodded as if she understood. “Okay. If I want to go home early, I’ll tell you.”
He Jiayun: “Mm-hmm. I’ll give you your gift later.”
Lin Wu: “Can you give me a hint about what it is?”
He Jiayun was ruthlessly cool. “No.”
It was the surprise she had prepared for Lin Wu.
Rejected, Lin Wu wasn’t upset. She agreed cheerfully. “Okay then.”
She’d find out later.
The number of colleagues who came to the KTV was slightly smaller than at dinner—some had gone straight home after eating because of family matters.
Once inside the private room, Lin Wu was immediately pulled up to sing a song. Her singing was actually quite good, though she rarely sang and wasn’t used to performing in front of others.
After finishing one song, Lin Wu found a quiet corner to sit and listen to her colleagues sing and play around.
He Jiayun sat with her for a while, then left together with Li Xiang.
While she was feeling a little bored, Lin Wu took out her phone to check the time. Suddenly she remembered… Chen Zhuo still hadn’t replied to her message.
Was he angry?
Lin Wu couldn’t help wondering—because she had refused his birthday gift?
Probably not.
Lin Wu thought it over. Chen Zhuo probably wasn’t the type to be so petty.
While Lin Wu was lost in random thoughts, a shadow fell over her.
She instinctively looked up and met Yu Xinzhi’s gaze. “Lawyer Yu.”
Yu Xinzhi nodded, paused for a moment, then asked, “Why are you sitting here?”
He had just stepped outside to take a call and was only now coming back into the private room.
Lin Wu smiled. “They’re playing games.”
Yu Xinzhi turned to look, then gave a small laugh to himself. “Not joining in?”
“I’m not very good at these,” Lin Wu said.
Yu Xinzhi nodded slightly. “Feeling bored?”
“Not really,” Lin Wu replied honestly. “It’s actually kind of fun to come out and relax like this once in a while.”
Yu Xinzhi nodded in agreement.
After a brief silence, Yu Xinzhi spoke again. “Lin Wu.”
Lin Wu lifted her eyes. In the dim, flickering light of the KTV room, when she met his gaze fixed on her, she instinctively looked away for a second. “Lawyer Yu, you’re not about to talk about work with me here, are you?”
She said it half-jokingly. “I don’t have any documents with me.”
Yu Xinzhi fell silent, then sighed softly. “No, I was going to—”
Before he could finish, the phone in Lin Wu’s hand rang.
Both of them looked down at the same time. The caller ID on the screen read: Chen Zhuo.