"Birthday?"
When Lin Xiaolu heard that word from Larkspur, she cried out in surprise, but quickly realized that was inappropriate. She covered her mouth and looked around, afraid someone might have noticed.
"Mm, I checked. Xia Liang's birthday is the next one coming up."
Larkspur lowered her voice as well, speaking quietly enough that no one else could hear. "So we should prepare a birthday party for her."
"Not tell her?" Lin Xiaolu asked, somewhat puzzled.
"She apparently doesn't want us to know."
Larkspur crossed her arms. "I don't know what that child is thinking either. Does she not want to trouble us?"
"Then what do we do?"
Lin Xiaolu looked eager to give it a try. "If we don't tell her, then we're preparing a surprise, right?"
"Mm. I've already bought the decorations and snacks, and the cake has been ordered. On her birthday, I'll take her out under the pretense of going shopping."
Without changing expression, Larkspur breezed past the part that should have required explanation. "I'll message you when we're coming back. Then you can decorate the living room beforehand."
"That's it? Leave it to me... Wait."
Halfway through her words, Lin Xiaolu suddenly caught on. "Shopping? Just the two of you?"
By the time she said that, her voice had jumped two octaves.
"Keep it down. Don't let anyone hear."
Larkspur seriously made a shushing gesture. "Yes. We'll probably leave in the morning and bring her back in the afternoon."
"Ah, but, um..."
Lin Xiaolu's lips parted and closed, revealing the little canine tooth at the corner of her mouth. "Th-That's not fair..."
What she had really wanted to say was, "I want to go shopping with you too," but the words caught slightly in her throat and turned into this awkward, fragmented complaint.
"Birthdays deserve