October 27, Jubilife Breeding Center.
Cynthia's birthday was drawing ever closer.
[Actually, I don't celebrate my birthday.]
When Li Wei invited Cynthia,
that was how she answered.
At first, Li Wei felt as though his world had nearly collapsed.
But faced with his enthusiastic invitation,
Cynthia eventually decided to come as agreed.
As it happened, she also wanted to bring some research materials for Li Wei to look over.
Li Wei had originally planned to prepare a gift, but after some thought, he decided he might as well cook for Cynthia instead.
A dish he had just mastered-candied sweet potato.
The special effect of candied sweet potato (A rank) was to make those who ate it recall the happiest moments of their lives.
That sweetness would be Li Wei's gift to Cynthia, along with several desserts:
the corn tart Cynthia had praised, the red wine-poached pear and dark chocolate cloud roll he had just learned, and black sesame Basque cheesecake.
Under Xiao Meng's guidance, Li Wei had mastered them all. He only needed to prepare the ingredients in advance and get up that morning to make them.
October 29, early morning.
The cemetery in Celestic Town.
The click of high heels rang out.
Wearing a black shirt and black coat, Cynthia arrived at the cemetery with two bouquets of flowers to pay her respects to her parents.
Previously, she could have come with her grandmother, Professor Carolina.
But Professor Carolina was continuing her research in Eterna City, so Cynthia had returned alone.
Just as Cynthia had said, she did not celebrate her birthday.
Usually, on her birthday, she would only call her grandmother and younger sister, then visit her parents' graves.
At most, she would receive birthday wishes by text from Caitlin, Diantha, Shauntal, and her other friends.
Her