Saturday afternoon, after school, at the stairwell.
Chen Shi'an felt as though the scene were repeating itself. On his right was Wen Zhixia, laden with bags, and on his left was Lin Meng Qiu, heading downstairs with him.
The only difference, probably, was that today was the Class Monitor's birthday.
"Taoist, are you going to Uncle Lin's for dinner?"
"Yeah. Want to come, Little Cicada? It's the Class Monitor's birthday."
"...Do you want to come?"
"Oh, I'll pass. Maybe next time. I need to go home."
"...Oh, then let's go."
"Wait!"
Wen Zhixia called them back. First, she handed all her bags over to Chen Shi'an, then swung her backpack around to her front, unzipped it, and started digging through it.
Lin Meng Qiu guessed what she was about to take out. It was her turn to receive a gift this time, yet she still looked away a little awkwardly, just as she had when giving a gift last time, pretending she knew nothing...
But she couldn't help sneaking glances at that Stinking Cicada's backpack out of the corner of her eye, wanting to know what gift she had for her.
Soon, Wen Zhixia pulled out an exquisite gift box.
With the layer of wrapping paper around it, Lin Meng Qiu couldn't guess what it was. Chen Shi'an, however, could. The wrapping was the same style as the gift Little Cicada had given Sister Wanyin last time.
"Lin Meng Qiu."
"...Wh-what?"
"Here, your birthday present. Happy birthday~"
Wen Zhixia openly thrust the gift in front of Ice Block Spirit.
Lin Meng Qiu tried hard to look "pleasantly surprised," but she really wasn't good at expressing her emotions, and even Chen Shi'an couldn't help laughing at her little expression.
She hesitated for a moment, but still reached out with both hands