Chapter 9: Birthday

Time seemed to have pressed the fast-forward button.

After meeting Luo Yun that day, He Rou and Luo Yun’s relationship was like two planets that were never meant to intersect, forcibly pulled together by some invisible gravitational force.

One year… three years… five years…

He Rou, from her initial shyness, gradually got used to having Luo Yun in her life.

Now she couldn’t even remember how she spent those years; she only knew that every day was filled with Luo Yun.

In the morning, she came to school, and after finishing regular classes, she went to the art studio with Luo Yun.

She started painting from scratch, learning to mix colors, recognizing art tools, practicing.

Her talent was good; after studying in the art studio for a short while, she received praise from the teacher.

Because of this, Luo Yun often took He Rou to their usual secret meeting place to engage in art that was only for the two of them.

Their lives were not just about painting.

After school, He Rou accompanied Luo Yun home more often than she went to her own home.

She ate with Luo Yun’s parents more times than she ate with her own parents.

She even stayed overnight and slept together.

He Rou’s companionship constantly changed Luo Yun.

Luo Yun, who originally brought He Rou home just because of her face, gradually shifted from visual appeal to comfort in her heart.

But such days continued until the day of Luo Yun’s fourteenth birthday.

—

That day, the weather was clear, the air was good, and not a cloud was in sight.

It was also on this day that Luo Yun’s grandmother’s cold estate became lively for the first time.

This was the first grand birthday banquet held since Luo Yun was born.

In the past, even though her parents would take time to celebrate, it was always very simple and quiet.

But this year, Luo Yun’s father, Wen Zong, deliberately canceled all his work.

It seemed that many troublesome matters at the company had been resolved, almost to the point where they didn’t need supervision.

Another point was that they felt Luo Yun was old enough to start being introduced to some intricate social circles.

Although He Rou was very good, she was, after all, only someone who could be a trustworthy secretary or friend, not a foundation stone to stabilize the family’s social status in the future.

Today was a school day, but He Rou’s parents specifically requested three days of leave for her.

They were executives in Luo Yun’s family company.

Luo Yun’s birthday this year was the most important part of their tactical plan.

Although their status in the company was at the core level, outsiders were still outsiders.

On the surface, they called each other brothers, but who knew if in the future, due to some obstacles of interest, they might get kicked out.

So directly integrating He Rou into Luo Yun’s life had started several years ago, and the task completion was not bad.

At this birthday party, Luo Yun would meet many, many people.

They worried whether He Rou would be neglected.

Thus, physical maintenance, the clothes to wear that day, etiquette, and so on, had already been prepared long ago.

Luo Yun’s birthday party started at 7 PM.

He Rou was woken up early this morning by her parents, and they spent the whole morning getting her ready.

Wearing a white dress, He Rou looked at herself in the mirror and felt a little unreal.

It seemed that the person in the mirror was the real her.

At her age, she was in the transition of adolescence.

Although the childishness of childhood was not visible, it covered her entire body like a shadow, not completely faded.

The maturity of youth was beginning to show.

If not for the trace of inferiority in her eyes, she would definitely have been a crown princess in the distant Middle Ages.

“Xiao Rou, remember what Mom and Dad said. Don’t let yourself get kicked out by Luo Yun. Even if others join in, maintain your position by her side.”

Her mother gripped her shoulders tightly, making her remember her important task.

“Yes, I know.”

He Rou looked at herself in the mirror, her heart complicated.

These three days, she hadn’t gone to school, hadn’t seen Luo Yun.

During these three days, there was no news at all.

It seemed that her existence was really dispensable.

Luo Yun was her first friend and her only friend now.

‘This feeling of being like a pet that could be abandoned at any time is terrifying and painful. I want to become the only one in Luo Yun’s heart.’

‘I want to no longer have just a friendship relationship. I want to break through that taboo. I want to obtain Luo Yun’s love.’

‘My parents don’t love me. The feeling of lacking love is painful.’

Meanwhile, in the distant estate where Luo Yun was currently living.

The place where the birthday party was to be held today was at her grandparents’ home.

The art studio there stored He Rou’s first painting.

“Xiao Yun, are you awake?”

From outside the door came her mother’s voice.

The sun was already high in the sky.

Insomnia last night caused her to wake up late.

It seemed to be because she was missing someone by her side.

She was curious.

For some reason, that pet that always followed behind her had disappeared for three days so far.

There were no messages from her on the phone, and in reality, there was no sign of her coming to find her.

She was very angry—she had actually been abandoned by her pet.

‘If she still doesn’t show up at today’s birthday party, then I’ll go directly to He Rou and tie her to my side.’

‘She has to know who the master is.’

‘The right to abandon can only be held by the master, not the pet.’

“Mom, I’m awake.”

Luo Yun called out to the door, and then her mother pushed the door open and entered.

A mature woman in a formal suit came to her bedside.

“Xiao Yun, are you really looking forward to today? You rarely stay in bed like this.”

“Yes, Mom. Let’s start preparing now.”

Luo Yun rubbed her eyes and got out of bed.

Now, she seemed to have inherited her mother’s talent and was very mature.

If He Rou could only become a queen after growing up, then Luo Yun could already ascend the throne and become an emperor.

She looked at herself in the full-length mirror, her mind constantly thinking about all sorts of messy things.

‘How to spend today? I don’t know. Anyway, my parents and grandparents will accompany me and love me.’

‘If He Rou doesn’t come, it won’t hurt me much today.’

‘Of course, it would be best if she came.’

Having prepared everything, Luo Yun went out, got into the car, and prepared to go to her grandparents’ estate.

At the same time, He Rou had also prepared everything and was heading in the same direction—to that estate in the suburbs.

At that moment, He Rou took out her phone.

She looked at the chat interface with Luo Yun where the messages stopped four days ago, and finally decided to break this coldness that had appeared out of nowhere.

Then, she opened her phone camera, flipped it, raised her hand, and aimed it at her upper body.

Makeup perfect, dress perfect, expression perfect.

She looked at herself in the phone, gave it a full rating, pressed the shutter button, sent it to Luo Yun, and attached a caption.

“Happy birthday, Xiao Yun. I’m on my way now.”