The car pulled up in front of a beautifully decorated cake shop.
Gu Wujin turned off the engine and spoke to Ji Huaixiang through the rearview mirror:
“We’re here. Hurry up and go buy it.”
Ji Huaixiang’s beautiful eyes met his. She bit her lip lightly.
“Could you… come with me to buy it?”
Gu Wujin pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips without lighting it. He stared fixedly at Ji Huaixiang’s eyes, one brow arched in clear disbelief—Are you kidding me?
They held eye contact for a long moment. Finally, Ji Huaixiang lowered her lashes and pushed open the car door.
Gu Wujin rolled down the window, lit his cigarette, and took slow drags. As he watched the slender figure walk into the cake shop, he unexpectedly noticed a faint trace of loneliness in her posture.
“Welcome!”
The shop assistant greeted her with a sweet smile.
The cake shop was filled with the rich, sweet scent of buttercream. Rows of gorgeous cakes lined the display cases, making one’s mouth water instantly.
“Hello, I’d like to buy a cake.”
“These are all freshly baked. Which one would you like?”
Ji Huaixiang glanced toward the entrance. The man in the car was still smoking.
“Could you help me pick one that isn’t too overly sweet or rich?”
Soon, the assistant handed her the neatly packaged cake and even included two small crown-shaped birthday hats as a complimentary gift.
“Here you go, miss—this is your cake.”
“Thank you.”
When Ji Huaixiang walked out holding the cake, Gu Wujin had already stubbed out his cigarette. All four windows were rolled down to air out the smell.
“Mr. Gu, I’m done.”
Ji Huaixiang got back in the car and sat in the same spot as before. The lingering cigarette scent hadn’t fully dissipated yet; she couldn’t help wrinkling her nose slightly.
Through the rearview mirror, Gu Wujin caught her small gesture. His eyes narrowed instinctively.
Because it was Saturday, many students had already gone home or gone out. The campus felt somewhat quiet and empty.
“We’re here.”
Gu Wujin turned the steering wheel and parked right at the main gate of S University.
Ji Huaixiang didn’t get out immediately. A faint blush bloomed across her fair, radiant face. She sounded a little shy:
“Um… would it be possible for you to drive inside? To the Rose Garden area.”
No response.
“Is that okay?”
Ji Huaixiang looked at him hopefully.
Those narrow black eyes gave her an unreadable glance.
“You women really ask for a lot.”
Gu Wujin restarted the engine and drove in anyway.
The environment of S University was truly beautiful—lush green trees, blooming flowers, birdsong, and the scent of blossoms everywhere. Under the sunlight, it almost felt dreamlike and unreal. The car moved slowly. Ji Huaixiang was in a good mood; she leaned against the window, quietly gazing at the scenery outside.
“The Rose Garden is just behind there. Follow this road.”
Gu Wujin’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, but he still turned in the direction she pointed.
True to its name, the Rose Garden was filled with rose bushes everywhere. The moment the car stopped, a faint, delicate floral fragrance drifted into the vehicle.
“You can get out now,” Gu Wujin said, his face tense.
Ji Huaixiang picked up the cake she had set aside and placed her hand on the door handle. Her clear black eyes looked at the back of his head.
“Would you like to eat cake with me?”
“Eat cake?”
Gu Wujin turned to look at her. “Do you think I would?”
“Yes, you would.”
Ji Huaixiang’s eyes curved into gentle crescents. Her vivid, striking features became even more dazzling in the light—every bit as captivating as the blooming roses outside.
“Don’t worry—I bought chocolate flavor. It won’t be too sweet or heavy.”
“You don’t seriously think a cake is enough to get my attention, do you?”
Gu Wujin’s thin lips pulled into a mocking smile. He had no patience to play along.
“Get out!”
“Today is my birthday.”
Ji Huaixiang held the cake tightly, blinking her beautiful black eyes at him with a pleading look.
“When I was little, we couldn’t afford cake for my birthday. Now that I’m grown up and can buy one… there’s no one to share it with.”
“Get. Out!”
Ji Huaixiang’s fair, slender fingers gripped the edges of the cake box tightly. Her smile was barely holding on.
“I’m not a liar. I didn’t trick your grandparents. The two elders miss her so deeply—they found Aunt Ji, contacted me through her, and asked me to recreate the scent of your mother on her body.”
A thin layer of mist gathered in her bright black eyes, making them shimmer and look watery. Her voice came out low and soft, pitifully fragile:
“I really do know how to blend perfumes. Could you… just take one bite of the cake?”
“Get out!”
Gu Wujin’s face tensed. He repeated himself, his pitch-black eyes showing not a single ripple of emotion.
Ji Huaixiang bit her lip, shifted her hips slightly—but her feet didn’t move at all.
Gu Wujin stared at her expressionlessly.
Her fair face flushed a delicate scarlet. Suddenly, she flung the car door open—“Bang!”—and slammed it shut behind her. She strode quickly toward the pavilion. After a few steps, she couldn’t help turning back to look at the car.
The next second, the sleek black car sped away in a flash.
Ji Huaixiang froze for a moment. Disappointment filled her dark, glossy eyes. She walked up the steps, placed the cake on the stone table inside the pavilion, and sat down on a small stone stool.
She untied the colorful gift ribbon, took the cake out of the box. The delicate cake released a sweet aroma of chocolate and cream.
“Looks like I’ll have to eat you all by myself,” Ji Huaixiang murmured softly.
“I’ll just take one bite.”
A tall, upright figure appeared in front of the small stone table. The low, magnetic voice was cold, yet undeniably pleasant to the ear.
Ji Huaixiang jerked her head up. Her beautiful dark eyes sparkled brightly. Her vivid red lips curved into a wide smile.
“Then let me cut you a small piece to try first, okay? If you like it, you can have a bit more.”
Gu Wujin crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the luminous white little face from above. He gave a low hum, then walked over to the long stone bench beside the pavilion and sat down. Even seated on a simple stone seat, the man’s posture and aura remained arrogantly noble.
Ji Huaixiang happily began cutting the cake. She sliced from the section with the most fruit—just a small piece—and placed it on a paper plate. She carried it over and handed it to Gu Wujin.
“This is chocolate flavor. It won’t be too sweet or heavy. Try it and see if you like it?”
The moment he took the cake, she immediately stepped back and returned to stand beside the small stone table.
Gu Wujin looked at her with an unreadable expression.
Ji Huaixiang took out the two crown-shaped birthday hats and waved them toward him.
“Do you… want to wear this? I heard you’re supposed to wear them when celebrating a birthday.”
Gu Wujin turned his face away.
“I’m not here to celebrate your birthday.”
Ji Huaixiang placed one crown on her own head, then set the other one gently on Gu Wujin’s knee before instantly retreating back to the stone table. Her voice bubbled with barely contained joy:
“I know.”
Gu Wujin turned back and looked at her. The girl’s long black hair was topped with an extremely ugly paper crown. Because she was happy, her eyes curved upward, red lips lifted high—she actually looked a little… cute?
With one hand, he swept the crown off his knee and onto the ground, then stepped on it. His voice came out low and deep:
“Don’t climb up the pole just because I gave you an inch. Something this ugly—you actually expect me to wear it?”
“Oh.”
Ji Huaixiang’s expression didn’t change. She cut herself a piece of cake too. The shop assistant hadn’t lied—the cake was delicious, not cloying at all. After a few bites, she turned her head to look at Gu Wujin, who was holding his plate with a furrowed brow.
“Mr. Gu, would you like to hear a birthday song?”
Gu Wujin gave her a baffled glance.
“Birthdays are supposed to have birthday songs. You definitely won’t sing one for me, but I can sing one for you. Do you want to hear it?” Ji Huaixiang asked again.
“No!”
The word seemed squeezed out through clenched teeth—extremely low and cold.
“Oh.”
What a shame. She really wanted to sing.
The scenery in the Rose Garden was beautiful. The gorgeous, enchanting roses bloomed vibrantly under the sunlight, rivaling national beauties. A faint fragrance drifted over—elegant and captivating.
Ji Huaixiang finished the last bite on her plate. She turned to look at the man on the long stone bench. The dazzling roses behind him somehow paled in comparison to his presence. Her heart gave an inexplicable tug. In this moment, she felt like she had won everything—delicious food, beautiful scenery, and a stunning man.
“I’m done. Do you want any more?” Ji Huaixiang asked.
Gu Wujin half-closed his eyes and shook his head. He pulled out a cigarette, wanting to wash away the lingering chocolate sweetness in his mouth.
“Okay, then I’ll take the rest back.”
Ji Huaixiang neatly packed up what remained of the cake, threw away the trash in the bin, then smiled at Gu Wujin.
“Mr. Gu, I’m really happy today. See you.”
With that, she picked up the cake and left.
Gu Wujin took a drag of his cigarette. His pitch-black eyes followed the girl’s retreating figure. That ugly paper birthday crown dangled precariously on top of her long black hair, looking ridiculously comical as it threatened to fall off.
When he returned to the Gu family home, the vast living room was eerily quiet.
“Second Young Master, you’re back.”
Aunt Hua stepped forward. “The old master and the eldest young master haven’t returned yet.”
Gu Wujin lazily leaned back against the sofa.
“Mm.”
Aunt Hua stood beside the sofa, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.
“Aunt Hua, is there something else?”
Aunt Hua leaned down slightly, lowering her voice:
“Second Young Master… today is your birthday. How about I go to the kitchen and make you a bowl of longevity noodles?”
Gu Wujin paused.
“My birthday?”
“Yes, today is your nineteenth birthday.”
Aunt Hua’s heart ached with both pity and helplessness. As someone from the Gu family, even his birthday went uncelebrated, forgotten by everyone. Even he himself had forgotten.
Gu Wujin pulled out another cigarette and placed it between his lips, biting down on it. The corner of his mouth tugged faintly.
“No need, Aunt Hua. Thank you for remembering.”
“Ah… alright then. I’ll go get back to work.”
Aunt Hua’s face was full of reluctance. She had watched Second Young Master grow up from childhood. Back then, what a beloved, adorable child he had been—so doted on, so likable. And now…
In the empty living room, the air felt even lonelier. White wisps of smoke curled around Gu Wujin, tracing the sharp, defined lines of his features.
He exhaled the last puff, stubbed out the cigarette, and finally stood up. As he walked upstairs and pushed open the door, a flash of white suddenly rushed toward him, pouncing straight at his body.
Gu Wujin caught it easily. Just as he reached out to rub its fluffy head, it struggled free and jumped down to the floor.
“Meow, meow.”
The pure white cat called out twice toward him.
“Very White, you little spoiled brat—disgusted by the cigarette smell on me again?”
Gu Wujin crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to look at it.
“Meow!”
Very White walked over and rubbed its soft white fur against his leg—but still refused to let him pick it up.
“Little rascal.”
Gu Wujin let it rub against his leg. “You’ve got the same flaw as that woman today.”
Both of them disliked the smell of his cigarettes.
Thinking of Ji Huaixiang, Gu Wujin’s dark eyes darkened further. Was her behavior today just a coincidence… or was it deliberate?