Just then, Sylphy, who had been attentive all along, suddenly lifted her adorable little head.
She looked toward the Black-Haired Youth leaning against the wall with a gentle smile on his face.
In a soft, sweet voice, she asked:
"Ciyou, you bought presents... for everyone."
"Then... then did you buy any presents for yourself?"
Cui Ciyou paused at her question.
The gentle smile on his face froze for a moment.
An indescribable emotion, mingling long-held longing with a faint ache, quietly rose in his heart like a soundless tide.
He remembered those distant memories of his previous life.
Every year, on his birthday, no matter how hard life was or how exhausting work became.
His mother would always make him a birthday cake herself. It was small and plainly decorated, but full of love.
His mother's love had been the most precious gift in his life-and his only one.
Now, everything had changed...
Cui Ciyou quickly tucked away that fleeting sadness.
He put on a carefree smile and answered casually:
"Me?"
"I'm already past the age of needing presents!"
"Besides, I'm over fifteen!"
"By the Asla Kingdom's reckoning, I've been an adult for a while now."
"I'm a grown-up who should be giving other people presents now."
But Sylphy tilted her adorable little head.
Her clear crimson eyes gazed earnestly at him as she insisted:
"So Ciyou is the only one who didn't get a present, right?"
"Then... Ciyou, what... what present would you like?"
"Sylphy... Sylphy can give it to you!"
Looking at her utterly earnest little face, Cui Ciyou felt warmth bloom in his heart.
Half joking, he brushed off the question with a fanciful reply:
"A present I'd like?"
"Hmm... let me think..."
"I know... if a beautiful, cute, gentle girl could come swooshing down from the