After hugging Chen Shi'an for a full five minutes and more, the girl was thoroughly satisfied. Entering a state of perfect contentment, she fled into the bathroom with a flushed face.
Water rushed noisily in the bathroom.
Lin Meng Qiu stood before the mirror, looking at her face, which was still bright red despite being wet with water.
The Class Monitor felt she had won hands down.
After all, she had hugged him for so, so long! Sister Wanyin and Stinking Cicada definitely hadn't hugged him for as long as she had!
By the time she finally digested her embarrassment and emerged from the bathroom, Chen Shi'an had already started making the cake in the kitchen.
He looked focused as he deftly sifted flour, mixed ingredients, whipped egg whites, and stirred batter...
Lin Meng Qiu didn't interrupt him. She simply leaned against the kitchen doorframe and watched.
The soft light fell on Chen Shi'an's sharply defined profile, and on her still faintly flushed cheeks.
The faint sounds of his cake-making seemed to acquire weight, settling heavily between them and brewing an indescribable tenderness. Lin Meng Qiu wanted to say something to break the silence that sent her thoughts wandering, yet feared disturbing this moment as he focused on making her birthday cake.
In the end, Chen Shi'an spoke first, glancing back at her without stopping his hands.
"What are you standing in the doorway for, Class Monitor?"
"...Watching you make the cake."
"Then why not come in and watch?"
"...I was afraid I'd disturb you."
"You won't. Come in, Class Monitor."
"Oh..."
Only then did the girl step quietly into the kitchen and stand beside him.
Fat Cat was far more at ease than she was, lounging on an empty vegetable basket and dozing, thinking only of waiting until the