"No one's here, Little Bai."
Through the glass door, the Flower Shop was pitch-black. The little wooden sign on the door said the owner was out on business.
Ding Ding stopped walking. "Should we come back later?"
"No, no!"
Like a treasure hidden away for ages could finally be shown to the world, Bai Congming's eyes shone incredibly brightly as he tugged and dragged Ding Ding into the Flower Shop.
Floral fragrance and warmth enveloped them at once. Ding Ding thought, No wonder Little Bai likes coming here.
For no apparent reason, Bai Congming started smiling. Clinging to Ding Ding, he led him to the spot he had settled on after many rehearsals.
Ding Ding was baffled. "What..."
Before he could finish, a light clicked on.
Not the usual overhead lights used during business hours, but pinpricks of white, twinkling in the dim winter gloom and illuminating a shop full of balloons.
On a wall deliberately cleared for the occasion, balloons spelled out a wish.
[HAPPY BIRTHDAY]
Bang-
"Ding!"
"Happy birthday!"
One after another, people emerged from under the tables, calling out shyly or excitedly. Their voices, the loud bangs of party poppers-all these sudden noises were actually quite frightening.
Ding Ding instinctively crushed Bai Congming against his chest. Once he saw what was happening, the wariness in his eyes gradually gave way to bewilderment.
"Birthday..."
Little Bai's secrecy lately finally had an explanation. Ding Ding wasn't stupid; he had more or less guessed there would be an incredible surprise, but he had never imagined it would be... this incredible.
He didn't think his birth was something worth celebrating.
But seeing his older sisters smiling in the crowd, Ding Ding felt as though he had been struck by lightning, at a complete loss.
Something invisible seemed to shatter in the