Fang Xiaoxia stared blankly at Bai Zhou's figure, that pale, frail yet brilliantly radiant smile filling the maiden's vision.
Happy... birthday?
Who wouldn't care about their own birthday? A big red circle marked on the calendar, excitement keeping them awake from a week before the day arrived, anticipating what surprises they might receive.
She had wanted a birthday cake taller than she was, a surprise made from nine hundred and ninety-nine roses, an unexpected birthday present... and then to fret over what expression she ought to wear—one that was neither impolite nor failed to fully convey her happiness.
There were 365 days in a year, and 51 holidays that offered a fitting excuse to receive gifts. But a birthday alone belonged to oneself; only a birthday gift was a one-of-a-kind surprise that existed solely for oneself.
In truth, Fang Xiaoxia had not expected much. Her parents had not given her gifts in years, and her Classmates went without saying. So Fang Xiaoxia had learned to hide her birthday from those around her—not to play at being mysterious, but simply because that way, she would not expect birthday gifts. Without expectations, there would be no unspoken disappointment too embarrassing to voice.
As long as no one knew, she would not have to awkwardly explain why she had not celebrated; as long as she did not harbor unnecessary expectations, the day could pass as blandly as usual. At most, she could have a strawberry Small Cake as an extra snack—twelve yuan fifty, tiny enough that finishing it would not interfere with a proper meal. She comforted herself: Fang Xiaoxia, you're already a mature girl. You can't keep indulging in such childish games of exchanging gifts.
If she repeated those words to herself every year, she would gradually get used to them—perhaps even