By the time Su Lin arrived, Chen Yang was already sitting there with the wrapped cake in hand.
When he saw Su Lin's car pull up, Chen Yang picked up the cake and came outside.
"Yangzi, sorry for the trouble. You even came out to help me buy a cake."
Chen Yang smiled. "No trouble at all. Grandpa's watching things at home, and my little sister is very well-behaved. They both know I'm working for you, so when they heard I had something to do, they let me come right out."
"Hehe! How are your sister's grades? She should be starting her first year of high school, right?"
Chen Yang nodded. "My sister's grades are better than mine. She's first in the whole school now."
"With grades that good, she'll definitely be attending high school at our No. 1 High School."
"Hehe! That wouldn't have been possible before, but it definitely is now," Chen Yang said with a smile.
Before, their family had no money. Chen Lin had told him several times that after graduating middle school, she would go to work to help support the family.
Now that Su Lin had given him a helping hand, Chen Yang had money in his hands. He definitely would not let Chen Lin go out to work. Of all pursuits, studying was the most noble.
"Brother Lin, which sister-in-law's birthday is it today?"
Su Lin gave Chen Yang a kick and laughed as he scolded him, "You brat, you've learned to joke about me now?"
"Hehe, everyone in the school admires you for that, Brother Lin. You've won over both of our school's beauties," Chen Yang said cheerfully.
Su Lin waved a hand. "What do you mean, won them over? They were attracted to me, got it? Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. You'll understand when you get a girlfriend someday."
Chen Yang shook his head solemnly. "Getting a girlfriend is impossible. Right now, I just want to make money. I want to earn lots of money so my family never has to worry about money again."
"That's some ambition. Then work hard. I'm leaving first, Xiao Yu is waiting for me."
"Mm-hm. Then I'm heading back too, Brother Lin. Call me if you need anything."
"Alright!"
Su Lin put the cake on the back seat, then drove back to the hospital.
By then, Xia Junming's surgery had already ended.
As soon as Su Lin went upstairs, he saw Xia Shiyu holding a boxed meal and preparing to eat.
Su Lin walked over and took the meal from Xia Shiyu's hands. "Where's Uncle Xia?"
"He's already been transferred to a ward."
"Mm. Go speak to the nurse's station and hire a caregiver starting today, then come with me."
"Ah! Su Lin, there's no need for a caregiver, right? I can take care of my dad by myself." Xia Shiyu felt a little pained.
Hospital caregivers were truly expensive. A day's fee could equal an ordinary worker's wages for an entire week.
Su Lin said flatly, "Anything money can solve isn't a problem. Just hire one. The money I gave you is for Uncle Xia's treatment, not for sitting in your bank account and multiplying."
"Okay!"
Although Su Lin had scolded her, Xia Shiyu still felt sweet inside. She listened to him and went to the nurse's station.
After Xia Shiyu hired the caregiver, she returned to find that the boxed meal in Su Lin's hand was gone.
"Su Lin, where's my meal?"
Su Lin looked disgusted. "That boxed meal was obviously unsanitary fast food. I already threw it away."
"I hadn't even eaten it yet. Why did you throw it away? What a waste."
Without another word, Su Lin pulled Xia Shiyu downstairs. "What's so good about fast food? Come on, I'm treating you to a feast."
"Uh... wait... I..."
"No need to wait. The caregiver will take care of anything that comes up. Let's go."
And so, Xia Shiyu followed Su Lin all the way to the parking lot.
"Get in!"
Hearing that, Xia Shiyu immediately opened the car door and got in.
As soon as she sat down, she spotted the cake on the back seat.
Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin happily. "Su Lin, is it your birthday today?"
Su Lin let out a long sigh, then turned and pinched Xia Shiyu's cheek. "You silly girl, it's your birthday today. How could you forget your own birthday?"
"My... birthday?" Xia Shiyu pointed at herself, freezing on the spot.
Within seconds, her eyes reddened.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Xia Shiyu could no longer control her emotions. She threw her arms around Su Lin. "Su Lin... sob...!"
Xia Shiyu: 18 years old, 162 cm, 44 kg, Current Favorability (100 MAX). Ding~! Xia Shiyu's favorability toward the host had reached the maximum value. Congratulations, host, you have received one European Emperor Treasure Chest draw. Ding~! Because the female lead Xia Shiyu's favorability toward the host had reached the maximum value, Protagonist Ye Feng's fortune had been suppressed once again. Protagonist Ye Feng's memory ability had been reduced by ten percent, and his memories of his past life had been reduced by ten percent.
Another chance to draw from the European Emperor Treasure Chest. Su Lin thought that this time, he should be able to get a useful skill.
The skills he had received before were all far too useless.
The newbie gift pack had been much better. It had made him rich in one go.
Unfortunately, gift packs like that generally only came once. There would be no more opportunities like that later.
Xia Shiyu buried her face against Su Lin's chest and sobbed. Su Lin stroked her head and said gently, "Xiao Yu, it's already so late. Are you still celebrating your birthday or not?"
Xia Shiyu stirred at those words. She loosened her hold on Su Lin and looked at him with red-rimmed eyes.
"It's just a birthday. You don't need to be this touched," Su Lin joked.
Xia Shiyu shook her head. "Su Lin, it's been a long time since anyone wished me a happy birthday. I'd almost forgotten that today was my birthday."
Su Lin flicked her forehead and smiled. "You hadn't almost forgotten, you had already forgotten. If I hadn't reminded you, today would have passed in a blur."
"Hehe, Su Lin, it's so wonderful to have you!!!"
"Wonderful, huh? Then just make sure you thank me properly in the future."
"That's a must. You can ask for any kind of thanks you want."
"Then... a verbal thank-you will do!!!"
"Hehe, Su Lin, you're so silly. You've done so much, and a verbal thank-you is all you want."
Su Lin smiled. "Fasten your seatbelt. This old driver is hitting the road."
"Mm-hm!"
"Su Lin, isn't this the direction to your house?"
As he turned the steering wheel, Su Lin said, "Of course we're going to my house. Where else would I celebrate your birthday?"
"Didn't you say we were having a feast?"
"Hehe, who said a feast had to be eaten at a restaurant?"
Xia Shiyu thought Su Lin had arranged for someone to cook, but when they reached the villa, she discovered there was no one else there, nor was there any food.
Still, since she was already there, she did not voice the doubts in her heart.
"Take the cake. Today, I'm going to show you what I can do."
Only after taking the cake did Xia Shiyu understand. Su Lin was going to cook for her himself to celebrate her birthday.
In an instant, immense surprise enveloped Xia Shiyu. Covering her small mouth, she asked in disbelief, "Su Lin, you're going to cook yourself?"
Su Lin nodded. "Of course. Today is your eighteenth birthday. A day like this only comes once in a lifetime. It has to be meaningful."
"Mmm, then I want to drink later."
Su Lin recalled what had happened at the villa before.
Xia Shiyu was an extremely terrible drunk. The key was that after drinking, not only did she become incredibly charming, she also stirred up trouble everywhere.
She was the type to start a fire without putting it out. Su Lin never wanted to go through that night's experience again for the rest of his life.
With delicious food right in front of him, he could only look and not eat. It was torture!!!!
"No, absolutely not. Xiao Yu, you get drunk easily. Didn't I tell you before? You can't drink casually in the future."
Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin. "You said I couldn't drink outside. With you here, what am I afraid of?"
"With me here, it's even more impossible. In any case, you're not drinking."
"Then... alright. I'll listen to you and not drink. I can have a beverage, right?"
"Mm-hm. Put the cake down, then come to the kitchen with me. Today, we'll make a good team, and the work will be easy. Let's try to get dinner ready sooner."
"Okay!"
Xia Shiyu still had some doubts about Su Lin's cooking skills, but when she heard him ask her to go to the kitchen with him, she readily agreed.
Before you continue