Jiang Xueli's Birthday

The two of them stood at the entrance to the residential compound, gazing at each other.

The Twin-tails Girl slowly pressed her lips together. Her heartbeat had already drowned out every other sound around them. At this age, when love was just beginning to bud, some things could leave a far-reaching impact.

She looked up at the boy, her eyes shimmering like rippling water.

Unable to understand, she asked, "H-how did you know today was my birthday? I don't remember ever telling you."

Lin Zhengran casually explained, "You're really as dumb as they come. Don't you know who usually practices singing with you? And who checks from time to time whether the Child Star Studio's application requirements have changed? Of course I know all your personal information by heart. Otherwise, how would I know when you'd turn twelve?"

Lin Zhengran continued speaking on his own, "Besides, I was planning to call you at noon. I picked out a birthday present for you at the mall yesterday. If you're not in a hurry, I'll go upstairs and get it for you now."

"A present? You even prepared a birthday present for me..." she mumbled like a mosquito. The happiness on her face was visible to the naked eye, and she was completely lost in a dazed, innocent state.

Her mind stayed frozen for more than ten seconds. Then she covered her mouth, hunched her shoulders, and shyly stared at him.

When she saw Lin Zhengran turn around to go upstairs for the present, she grabbed the corner of his clothes. With her eyes shut, she waved her arms in flustered panic, overcome by her emotions. "Wait, wait, wait! Explain the birthday thing first! I didn't quite understand!"

Lin Zhengran looked back. "There's still something you don't understand?"

Jiang Xueli's face now held nothing but happiness. She kept both hands behind her, her cheeks flushed as she looked away and asked, "I just feel like that—that doesn't make sense either. Since you knew my birthday long ago, and we've known each other for so many years, how come we've never celebrated a birthday together? Doesn't that contradict what you said?"

"This?"

Lin Zhengran actually didn't know how to explain it. After all, for boys, birthdays basically stopped mattering after they turned eighteen.

At least, that was how it had been in his previous life. Especially since Lin Zhengran had been completely alone in his previous life, without even a father or mother. After graduating, no one reminded him about his birthday at all. So even after transmigrating, he still felt that celebrating a birthday didn't even qualify as a minor matter.

"I don't know if you can understand, but birthdays aren't very important to me, so I don't really care about them."

"You don't care?" Jiang Xueli knew this guy was strange, so she believed him. But after hearing that, she still felt something was wrong. What exactly was wrong? "If you forgot all my birthdays before, then why didn't you forget this year's? You even specially bought me... a present."

Her fingers tangled nervously behind her back. She bit her lip, seemingly imagining something. "Could it be that you think we've grown up now that we're in Middle School, so this year has some special significance? Let me tell you, I'm not that easy to fool. I'm a girl, after all. At least... hehe."

Seeing her affected manner, Lin Zhengran was speechless. Without mercy, he bonked her on the head, shattering her fantasy.

"What are you 'hehe'-ing about?!"

Jiang Xueli instantly snapped out of it and frowned. "Why did you hit me?!"

Lin Zhengran explained, "I gave you a present this year because when my Dad and Mom celebrated my birthday last year, you gave me something too."

With that reminder, Jiang Xueli remembered. One day last year, she had gone to play with Lin Zhengran, only to run into Uncle and Aunt celebrating his birthday. She had hurriedly bought a present and asked Aunt to give it to Lin Zhengran for her.

Lin Zhengran continued, "Of course, if you insist on calling it special, there is a special significance. This is the first year you're planning to enter the singing industry, after all. Consider the present my way of cheering you on."

Jiang Xueli clenched her tiny fists again and suddenly cursed, "B-Big Dummy!"

Not understanding, Lin Zhengran knocked her on the head again. "What are you shouting for? Are you sick? Why are you yelling when I gave you a present? You don't want it, do you?"

Jiang Xueli gritted her teeth in embarrassment and irritation. "Who said I don't want it? You already bought it, so how could you not give it to me?! I'm insulting you because..."

She stood there with puffed-out cheeks. "Stop trying to guess what girls are thinking."

I knew this Big Dummy wouldn't catch on that easily. I thought he was going to confess to me, and I got so nervous. I didn't even know how to accept it—bah! I didn't even know how to reject him.

And it turned out to be this?

Lin Zhengran ignored her, turned around, and continued walking upstairs.

"You wait here. I'll go upstairs and get it for you. I'll also grant your wish and take you to see a movie."

Jiang Xueli hurried after him, following behind with a delighted smile. "I'll go get it with you."

"No need. Won't you find it troublesome to go upstairs and then come back down?"

"Why do you care whether it's troublesome? I'm willing to." She snorted and bounced along with light, hopping steps.

Before long, Lin Zhengran gave Jiang Xueli the present he had bought yesterday.

The present was fairly large in her hands.

"What a big present! What is it? Can you tell me?" Jiang Xueli hugged it like a treasure and asked.

Lin Zhengran said, "Open it and see for yourself. It's a pair of over-ear headphones."

"Really? That's perfect. My old headphones are almost broken, so I'll use the ones you gave me from now on." She didn't care what Lin Zhengran had given her at all. Even if he had given her a rock, she probably would have said:

"My balcony happens to be missing a rock. You have pretty good taste."

Jiang Xueli carefully hugged the present and said she wanted to put it at home first. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to go to the movies while carrying it.

Lin Zhengran reminded her that she could open it and take a look. If she didn't like it, Boss had said it could be exchanged for another style.

Jiang Xueli hugged it tightly. "No. I want this one."

After putting the present at home, Jiang Xueli headed straight to the cinema with Lin Zhengran. She was very nervous on the way there.

They had known Big Dummy for so many years, but this was the first time the two of them had gone out to watch a movie alone.

She was so nervous that she could barely walk straight.

Lin Zhengran noticed that his face looked stranger than usual. "Did you not sleep well last night? Why do I feel like you're in some kind of state between being overexcited and sleepwalking?"

Jiang Xueli replied guiltily, "No, I slept really well last night. I slept very soundly."

So after the two of them bought two buckets of popcorn and entered the cinema, it took less than three minutes for Jiang Xueli to fall asleep in her seat, hugging the popcorn.

She snored away, completely unaware of what was happening. The extreme excitement from earlier had already drained her limited energy.

Lin Zhengran truly had no idea what this girl had done the previous night.

While sleeping soundly, Jiang Xueli's head rested on Lin Zhengran's shoulder. Lin Zhengran didn't wake her. It was Certain Person's birthday, after all, and he wasn't going to disturb her.

She didn't sleep for very long, but she slept deeply and sweetly.

It was only after the movie ended, when Lin Zhengran tapped her awake, that Jiang Xueli clutched her head and regretted everything. "I-I fell asleep?! I fell asleep while watching the movie with you?! I didn't see any of it! Then what was I so conflicted about last night for?!"

Fortunately, Lin Zhengran suggested that they go have a meal together, which cheered Jiang Xueli up. She agreed with great reluctance.

After playing for the entire day, Jiang Xueli went home when she and Lin Zhengran parted in the afternoon. She cut off a large piece of cake and handed it to him.

"Big Dummy, this piece of cake is your payment for spending the whole day playing with me. I'm giving it to you."

Lin Zhengran heard the system's voice as he accepted it. "Thanks. Happy birthday."

Jiang Xueli smiled shyly, waved her hand, and bade him farewell at the entrance to her residential compound.

Watching Lin Zhengran's figure disappear completely into the distance, Jiang Xueli tossed her Double Ponytail and turned around. She spread her arms and walked along the curb bordering the compound's grass, balancing herself.

"Big Dummy, Big Dummy... Big Dummy..."

After walking a few steps, she jumped down. With both hands behind her back, her Double Ponytail bouncing along with her steps, she hopped back home.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are..." Her voice slowed, but her tone remained cheerful. "Little star~"