Birthday

Over an hour later, Qiu Shan called them down for dinner, so Shen Yanlang and Duan Xu went downstairs together.

Duan Xu's family never made a big fuss over birthdays. They simply cooked a nice meal for themselves, then bought a birthday cake to mark the occasion.

So there were only the four of them for Duan Xu's birthday. Feeling happy, Duan Hu opened a bottle of wine and had Shen Yanlang drink with him.

Shen Yanlang had a decent tolerance for alcohol, so he drank a little with Duan Hu.

The family chatted as they ate, the atmosphere warm and harmonious, with laughter breaking out from time to time.

Watching this, Shen Yanlang was actually a little moved. There might not have been many of them, but it felt cozy, with the warmth of a home.

It was not that his own family was bad. It was just that his father was rather busy, and most of the time, it was his mother and older brother who took care of him. But occasions when the whole family ate together for a holiday or birthday were actually rare.

That was because most of their birthdays involved holding banquets that became social occasions for a certain circle, rather than events belonging solely to the family.

After dinner, Shen Yanlang took the initiative to clear the dishes. Qiu Shan did not stand on ceremony and let him handle it.

That afternoon, Duan Hu and Qiu Shan rested in their room and sorted through their luggage. When evening came, they had Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang go out to eat on their own, choosing not to join them.

At seven in the evening, the sun had already set, but there was still light in the sky. It remained bright—and just as hot.

Shen