Chapter 389: Childhood Friends Must Be Cultivated from a Young Age (72)

Jiang Chen raised his head, glanced around, and finally, somewhat reluctantly, said, “Today is Brother Ziyu’s birthday.”

Xiao Xueqing sighed softly as she patted his head.

She couldn’t understand why her younger son had never been particularly close to Ziyu, always keeping his distance whenever possible.

She gently asked, “Chenchen, do you want to say something to Brother Ziyu?”

Jiang Chen glanced at his sister and then at the handsome, gentle boy across from him.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally whispered, “Happy birthday, Brother Ziyu.”

An Ziyu’s smile deepened.

“Thank you.”

Jiang Chen, still fixated on the large cake, mumbled, “Will Luoluo make me a cake for my birthday too?”

Xiao Xueqing couldn’t help but laugh, giving him a light tap on the head.

“How many times have I told you, don’t call your sister by her name.”

Jiang Chen pouted, thinking, “You all call her that, so why can’t I?”

An Ziyu, however, froze in place, his gaze locking onto the girl beside him.

Shen Mubai, feeling his eyes on her, coughed awkwardly.

“Mom, can we start now?”

With a soft smile that curved his eyes into a gentle arc, An Ziyu, in a place no one else could see, entwined his fingers with hers.

His eyes were filled with love and tenderness. “Thank you, I really like this cake. I especially love it.”

Shen Mubai, startled, quickly glanced around.

Seeing that Jiang Chen and the others hadn’t noticed, she let out a small sigh of relief and muttered, “I only made it because it’s a hassle to buy one.”

Not exposing her lie, An Ziyu’s smile grew even softer.

He lowered his eyes, staring at the girl beside him, and felt an uncontrollable surge of emotion rising within him, as if a wild beast were about to break free.

The meal, carefully prepared by Xiao Xueqing, was joyful one, and they enjoyed dinner together.

After chatting for a while, Shen Mubai went to the kitchen to wash some fruit.

An Ziyu followed her the next moment, and without warning, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, his familiar, warm breath enveloping her.

Shen Mubai’s body tensed, and she nervously whispered, “This is the kitchen, don’t do anything reckless.”

An Ziyu chuckled softly, brushing his lips lightly against her earlobe, his voice low and husky, “Don’t worry, Uncle and Auntie are watching TV.”

Despite his words, Shen Mubai couldn’t stop her heart from racing.

She lowered her voice and asked, “What do you want?”

His glassy eyes fixated on her flushed earlobe, like a beautiful red gem.

His gaze deepened, and he swallowed involuntarily.

“Your birthday is in a few months.”

Shen Mubai’s hands stilled, and she didn’t say a word.

An Ziyu, as if it didn’t matter, chuckled softly again, his voice teasing as he whispered in her ear, “Luoluo, you’re about to become an adult.”

If Shen Mubai couldn’t understand the implication of his words, she’d have to be a fool.

She couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh in her heart, but at the same time, a complex emotion welled up inside her.

Yes, she would soon leave this world.

But what would happen to the young male lead after she was gone?

His childhood had undoubtedly been unhappy, and even as he grew, that hadn’t changed.

Shen Mubai couldn’t imagine what he would become after her departure.

Sensing her silence, An Ziyu tightened his embrace, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Luoluo, I love you…”

“And I will always love you.”

…