Chapter 39: Birthday Gift

Wen Xiao opened his eyes and gazed at the ceiling. His mind, still heavy with sleep, felt somewhat hollow. No one had called him to wake up this morning, so he had no idea what time it was.

He felt as though he had dreamt of something, but once awake, he couldn't recall a single thing.

Clad in socks, Wen Xiao stepped onto the floor and drew back the curtains. Looking outside, he saw that it was raining, the sky draped in a misty haze; it was not a pleasant day.

Only when he caught sight of the calendar on the table did he remember that today was his birthday.

Wearing his fluffy kitten pajamas, he pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway, only to find it decorated with balloons of various colors.

He gripped the stair railing as he descended, spotting Wen Yu decorating with balloons in the grand hall on the first floor. His father, surprisingly, had not gone to work; he wasn't wearing a suit, but a simple shirt, standing expressionless as he hung small lights from the ceiling.

When Wen Yu saw him, he picked up a balloon and walked over.

"Why are you already awake?" Wen Yu placed the balloon in Wen Xiao's hand and then led him upstairs to wash up.

Wen Xiao did not pull away, allowing himself to be led. As he felt the other's hand holding his, he suddenly remembered Wen Yu’s fate as written in the book.

In his memory, he had been sitting in a cold basement when he received the call from the police informing him of his brother's death.

"Hello, are you a family member of Wen Yu? We regret to inform you that your brother passed away today in a diving accident while on duty. Please accept our condolences... We understand your feelings, but please come to... as soon as possible... to handle the aftermath."

He knew his brother was an excellent swimmer; how could he have died in a diving accident? Moreover, looking back now, he realized his brother had always been protecting him.

In the original plot of his past life, after the family went bankrupt, his parents passed away one after another due to illness, and he was left with a mountain of debt. Yet, later, he discovered that those debt collectors never came for him again, and his brother never called him either. He had previously assumed his brother didn't care about him, but now he leaned toward the belief that his brother had quietly shouldered everything, not wanting those troubles to implicate him.

It was his brother who had protected him.

His brother had even sent him money periodically, but at the time, he was nothing more than a side character unable to control his own actions. He would rather have starved than accept the kindness of his own brother, believing the man not only ignored him but treated him like a stray animal with pitiful handouts.

Recalling those events now felt like watching someone else's story, yet sometimes, it felt entirely his own. He was like a tiny person trapped inside a container; no matter how he beat against the walls or screamed, his voice could not escape, and no one could hear his cries or his longings. It was a lonely world that belonged only to him.

So, would he be "locked away" again this time?

Once the plot began, would he be confined to a room again, becoming a puppet unable to command his own will?

Wen Xiao subconsciously tightened his grip. Wen Yu noticed, turned to glance at him, and reached out to ruffle his hair with a gentle, emotionless touch.

"Did you have a nightmare this morning?" Wen Yu felt his younger brother hadn't been very happy since waking up.

Wen Xiao shook his head, only squeezing Wen Yu’s hand tighter. Wen Yu’s body stiffened slightly, and he turned his head away. His face, which had inherited his father's handsome, cold-blooded features, showed a faint flush.

He quickly pulled Wen Xiao into the bathroom, helping him brush his teeth, wash his face, and change his clothes.

Wen Xiao stood before the full-length mirror, arms outstretched, letting Wen Yu fuss over him, trying on various outfits before finally settling on one. Since it wasn't cold inside, Wen Yu chose a high-collared knitted sweater with little daisies embroidered right on the shoulders.

When they went downstairs for breakfast, Wen Xiao saw his mother and the nanny busy in the kitchen. Just as he wanted to take a better look, Wen Yu placed a bowl of steamed egg with shrimp and a breakfast platter in front of him, sitting opposite and telling him to eat.

The platter held sliced ham with mushrooms, grapes, and blueberries, with a glass of milk on a coaster nearby.

Wen Xiao picked up his spoon, scooped up some steamed egg, and held the spoon in his mouth, his cheeks puffed out as he ate while watching Wen Yu.

Wen Yu gripped his own spoon, looking at him. "Do you not like it?"

Wen Xiao lowered his head, ate another shrimp, and shook his head. "It's delicious."

His body was turning seven today. In his past life, he would have been eighteen by now. But he hadn't lived to see his eighteenth birthday.

As he ate, Wen Xiao looked at his father, who had walked from the living room to take his seat, and his mother, who was bringing breakfast from the kitchen to sit beside them.

He was suddenly afraid—afraid that all of this would vanish as he grew older. This groundless panic made him lose his appetite. A thought struck him: he didn't want to grow up. He was worried about a future that felt increasingly like his eighteenth year.

Like someone trapped in a maze, he wondered if by constantly moving forward, he was merely treading an old path and stepping into another cycle. Could he really get out?

"Xiao Xiao, up so early today?" Luo Anlan added a slice of ham to Wen Xiao's small bowl and ruffled his hair.

"I couldn't sleep," Wen Xiao murmured, head bowed.

Wen Tianhe sat next to Wen Xiao, and with a downward glance, he could see the child's soft hair as he sat quietly by his side. It was a perfectly harmonious picture, yet it made Wen Tianhe frown slightly. He felt as though Xiao Xiao had reverted to how he used to be.

Wen Tianhe sipped his coffee expressionlessly, mentally retracing everything Xiao Xiao had encountered from the time he returned home yesterday until now. The answer was nothing; everything was normal.

"Xiao Xiao is one year older starting today," Luo Anlan said, wrapping her arms around Wen Xiao’s shoulders and pressing her face against his.

"But... I don't want to grow up," Wen Xiao said, head still down.

Luo Anlan paused, then smiled and said, "Then don't grow up. Xiao Xiao can stay young forever, our little baby forever."

Wen Xiao didn't speak. How could a person not grow up?

Luo Anlan suddenly hugged him, silent, hoping to convey her love through her actions. Yet, just like when she had seen him in the small town, aside from the joy of feeling him hug her back, she also sensed a contradiction and instability in him.

She didn't know why her child was like this, why he showed such resistance to his birthday, but she wouldn't ask; she wouldn't add any new pressure to him.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Wen Xiao looked toward the door. After the nanny opened it, a small, hesitant voice drifted in, intermittent and cautious.

"I came... to find Xiao Xiao."

Wen Xiao saw a young boy walk in. Upon seeing him, the boy instinctively wanted to walk toward him, but realizing he hadn't changed his shoes, he immediately ran to the doorway to crouch down and put on slippers.

"Are you here to celebrate Xiao Xiao's birthday? Have you had breakfast? If not, Auntie will help you prepare some," Luo Anlan said with a gentle smile toward Wei Nanxing.

Wei Nanxing nodded, then shook his head, standing at the door in a state of awkward anxiety, his eyes fixed on Wen Xiao.

Luo Anlan didn't quite understand the boy's intent and was about to ask again when she heard Wen Xiao, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly speak up. "He said..."

"Mom, he said he hasn't had breakfast. Could you please prepare a portion for him?" Wen Xiao looked up at Luo Anlan.

Luo Anlan was taken aback, her gaze shifting between the two boys before she smiled. "Of course, I'll go prepare it..."

"As for what to make, let's go with the same as Xiao Xiao's. Don't just stand there, come sit." Luo Anlan gave up her seat and headed to the kitchen.

Wei Nanxing nodded vigorously, looking delighted, then placed his gift on his lap and sat next to Wen Xiao.

"Why did you come so early?" Wen Xiao glanced at the gift box Wei Nanxing had brought; the way it was wrapped looked familiar, but he didn't dwell on it.

He looked up at the wall clock and saw it was only nine o'clock. Wei Nanxing had come much too early; birthday parties were usually in the evening.

Asked this, Wei Nanxing looked flustered, head bowed. "I... I don't know."

He didn't know when the "right" time to arrive was. He only knew he wanted to come early to see Xiao Xiao, and he didn't want to stay at the Wei residence.

Seeing him desperate to explain yet unable to get the words out, Wen Xiao sighed inwardly and said, "You can come whenever you want."

Luo Anlan brought out the steamed egg with shrimp and placed it before Wei Nanxing. Wen Xiao noticed that Wei Nanxing simply gripped his spoon but didn't move.

"Why aren't you eating?" Wen Xiao asked.

Wei Nanxing just looked at him, then at the small bowl in front of Wen Xiao—a portion of steamed egg with shrimp that had already been partially eaten.

Wen Xiao looked at him in confusion, picked up his spoon, and ate a shrimp. Immediately, he saw Wei Nanxing carefully scoop up a spoonful of the egg and shrimp and place it in his mouth.

His eyes brightened with a sense of satisfaction, as if he had tasted something wonderful.

After that, every time Wen Xiao took a bite, Wei Nanxing followed suit. By the time Wen Xiao finished, Wei Nanxing had finished as well, placing his spoon neatly back in his bowl.

Wen Xiao looked at his own empty bowl, not even realizing when he had finished eating.

Once full, the genuine sense of satiety in his stomach left him with no energy to dwell on heavy thoughts.

"Xiao Xiao... happy birthday," Wei Nanxing whispered.

Wen Xiao was surprised, noting that Wei Nanxing spoke much more fluently than before, no longer stuttering. It was as if he would be able to speak normally very soon.

He picked up his glass of milk and took a sip, just as the doorbell rang once again.