Happy birthday

Xavier raised himself higher, his breathing unsteady and his mind unsettled, to kiss away the moisture on her eyes.

He coaxed her softly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... it's all my fault. Don't be sad. Little Xavier knows he was wrong. Little Xavier won't ever..."

Who cared who was right or wrong? She was crying, so he could call everything his fault.

But Xiao Yan opened her misty, tear-filled eyes and smiled at him. "Happy birthday, Xavier."

"..."

Birthday?

What did that mean?

Xavier was suddenly at a loss.

He was an orphan. While still in swaddling clothes, he had been placed in a basket and left at the orphanage entrance.

No one knew which day his birthday was, so they had counted back a few months from the day the orphanage found him and picked an arbitrary date to register his birth.

And the day registered as his birthday was indeed today, October 16.

But how could that count as his real birthday?

Xavier had never thought of this day as particularly special, and gradually, he had forgotten its significance.

As his wife, there was nothing wrong with her looking over his information during their marriage registration.

But she had actually remembered that date.

Xavier's feelings grew complicated.

He gently stroked the redness beneath Xiao Yan's lashes with his fingertips.

"My birthday?" He grew a little self-mocking. "I'd forgotten."

In fact, this was the real reason Xiao Yan had wanted to speak with Xavier alone.

She did not think she needed to go out of her way to thank him for stirring up the sense of responsibility in the men of the household for her.

Nor did she think he particularly needed her thanks.

Star cared about her now. If he did things for her, both he and she would feel it was only natural.

Because he and she were supposed to be one, with no distinction between them.

But Xiao Yan still wanted to give Xavier her birthday wishes properly, in private.

She just did not quite understand why Xavier would react this way.

"Actually, someone just chose this day to complete my records." He then explained what Xiao Yan had not understood. "Even I don't know exactly which day my birthday is."

So that was why...

Xiao Yan's heart ached with a stabbing pain.

"Were you crying because I'm an orphan, because you felt sorry for my past?" Xavier asked softly.

"No, that's not it," Xiao Yan denied at once. "My heart hurts right now, but it isn't pity."

Pity was the compassion of the strong looking down on the weak.

Xiao Yan did not view Xavier that way.

Her words also let Xavier breathe a sigh of relief. He smiled, then gently kissed Xiao Yan's lips again. "Then why were you crying?"

How was she supposed to explain?

Back when she could only see him through a screen, she had imagined countless times what it would feel like to have this person looking at her face-to-face.

What his hand would feel like in hers.

How soft his lips would be, whether he would cling to her and kiss her endlessly like he did in the game, and whether he would say a few sweet things that made her blush to the tips of her ears.

Today, all of that had truly happened. She had experienced it all.

Of course, for a moment, she could not contain her feelings. All her emotions had suddenly burst forth, bringing tears to her eyes.

"Uncontrollable crying?" Xavier began guessing wildly. "Do you cry whenever you're kissed deeply?"

Why did he seem a little expectant?

Xiao Yan's face warmed. "I... I don't know."

Even throughout the entire time this body of hers had shared a bed with Caleb, there had not been the slightest tenderness, so she had been unable to experience the emotion of a kiss.

Perhaps she really had become prone to uncontrollable tears after transmigrating into this world.

"Although I don't like my birthday, you've given it another meaning today." As Xavier spoke, he tilted his head and leaned closer again. "I wasn't mentally prepared today, so I'll just accept your wishes for now. On this day next year... wish me a happy birthday again. I think, by then, I'll have adjusted my mindset and will be able to accept those words happily. Then we'll kiss again, just like this."

This time, Xavier took complete control of the pace and intensity.

He pressed one hand against the back of her head. However he lingered and entwined with her, gently or passionately, she had nowhere to retreat and could only follow him.

Their heartbeats were erratic, yet quickened in unison.

Their breaths came short, rising and falling in soft turns.

Only when both of them were nearly out of breath did Xavier pull away a little, his cheeks flushed, lowering his eyes with a bashful smile.

Xiao Yan worked to even out her breathing. Though her own face was so red it looked ready to bleed, she still reached out a fingertip to tap Xavier's lips.

"No more." Xavier warily caught her restless hand. "It'll be dangerous if we keep going."

So making someone who was already so elegant and precious look thoroughly disheveled could bring such satisfaction and accomplishment.

Xiao Yan smiled until her eyes narrowed. "Then shall we continue next time?"

"Next..." Xavier licked his lower lip. "You really are... addicted."

"When it comes to you, I am addicted. I like it, I enjoy it, and I want it." Xiao Yan boldly teased him on purpose. "If you don't like it, remember to avoid me next time. Don't come up to me yourself and give me an opening again."

"Right, next time I'll be sure to hide far away." Xavier played along. "Somewhere you can't find me."

"..." Xiao Yan's expression changed. "Xavier!"

"Then I'll pretend to let you catch me by accident." Xavier smiled and reached out to tap Xiao Yan's lips with his finger too. "Silly Little Xavier will have to accept his punishment, and then you can do whatever you want."

The way he put it.

As though Xiao Yan were that hungry.

Although looking at him did make her feel hungry.

But... having him tease her like this really was embarrassing.

Her embarrassment turned to anger.

Xiao Yan punched Xavier in the shoulder.

Xavier's lips curved faintly. He sighed, then opened his arms and held Xiao Yan snugly in his embrace.

"Thank you, partner." He nuzzled his head against hers again. "Thank you for lighting up my world, little by little, and letting me see even more beautiful scenery. From now on, let's keep going together like this and enjoy more of the scenery along the way, all right?"

Xiao Yan knew Xavier would not easily say the words "I like you."

When he did say them, he would choose a more solemn occasion, one with more ceremony.

Rather than a reply of "I like you" just because he had heard those words himself.

The promise-like words he spoke at this very moment, about walking onward hand in hand, conveyed his feelings better.

In this world, Xiao Yan had already become a source of salvation in Xavier's lonely life.

An existence like light.

He had already opened his heart to her completely. He was ready to listen with all his heart for love's arrival.

Before long, a servant came to tell them that Mr. Rafayel was ready to serve the meal.

Xiao Yan and Xavier went downstairs hand in hand.

Rafayel had already laid out the seafood feast he had made on the table.

When he saw Xiao Yan and Xavier come in, chatting and laughing.

Rafayel's face instantly reddened.

Sylus had been lounging in a chair, playing on his phone, when he happened to catch sight of Rafayel's expression.

"Hmm?" He sensed something was off. "Those two are being all lovey-dovey. What are you blushing for?"

Xiao Yan hurriedly let go of Xavier's hand.

She ran over and sat at the head of the table, just as Rafayel came over to set out her utensils.

The blushing Little Fish deliberately acted as though he was not paying much attention to Xiao Yan and glared at Sylus. "I've been working at the stove all this time. I'm tired and hot, so of course my face is red. Unlike certain people, enjoying the fruits of someone else's labor and acting so entitled about it."

"Weren't you the one who told me not to get in the way?" Sylus put down his phone and spread his hands. "Now you're taking me to task for not helping?"

"Oh, stop talking and hurry up and get Zayne and Caleb. We need to finish eating early so we can get to Eldest Miss Jiang's venue early to help," Rafayel urged.

Sylus stood up with a grin. "Fine. The cook calls the shots. I'll take orders from you this once, but don't expect it again."

As it happened, Zayne and Caleb had just finished handing over household affairs with Uncle Sang.

The two of them also entered the dining room discussing something quietly along the way.

"If everyone moves back in, this villa really is a little..." Zayne stopped halfway through his sentence.

He glanced at the table.

Xavier was sitting in his seat, drinking water, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

The redness had yet to fade from Rafayel's face. He lingered at Xiao Yan's side, having already laid out her utensils, yet adjusting the positions of the knife and fork several more times.

Sylus stood there and smiled at Zayne. "Perfect timing. Saved me a trip."

Why was the atmosphere so strange?

Zayne gave Caleb a look.

Caleb had noticed it too, and immediately observed that this subtle atmosphere came mainly from Rafayel's thoroughly ill-at-ease manner.

Still, he would hardly be blushing because he had argued with someone.

Most likely, he had gotten too "absorbed" in talking with Xiao Yan, and the aftereffects had yet to fade.

Feeling that Zayne had worked hard, Xiao Yan tilted her head and smiled at him. "What were you saying just now?"

"I was saying..." Zayne brought his gaze back to Xiao Yan's face and smiled gently as well. "Although all five of us have our own places, we still need to consider whether staying here will be convenient when everyone comes back together."

As he spoke, Zayne walked toward the dining table.

He should have sat close to Xiao Yan, but after a moment's thought, he went over to sit beside Sylus, farther away.

That left Xavier, who had already taken a seat of his own accord, on one side of Xiao Yan.

And Caleb, who understood why Zayne had yielded the seat and quietly sat down, on the other.