Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Happy 20th Birthday
Chapter 41: Happy 20th Birthday
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xu Jiaojiao got up and saw that there was a bowl of plain noodles on the tray. There was even a poached egg on top.
Qi Shenbai placed the tray on the coffee table and glanced at the time on the wall. The day was not over yet. “Here, your birthday noodles. Eat up.”
Xu Jiaojiao walked to the sofa and sat down. She glanced at the noodles and then at him. “Did you ask the chef to cook these noodles?”
Qi Shenbai did not confirm or deny it. He only said calmly, “Eat it while it’s still hot.”
“Okay, thank you.” Xu Jiaojiao picked up her chopsticks and put the noodles into her mouth. The next second, she frowned slightly.
Qi Shenbai could tell that something was wrong. “Does it taste bad?”
Xu Jiaojiao swallowed the noodles in her mouth and shook her head. “No, it just doesn’t taste the same as usual.” The chef’s cooking was like their personality mild and light. However, today’s noodles were surprisingly a little salty.
An imperceptible awkwardness flashed across Qi Shenbai’s handsome face. He coughed and said lightly, “Don’t eat too much of it, then. You’ll get indigestion if you eat too much at night. Birthday noodles are mostly symbolic, anyway.”
Before Xu Jiaojiao could say anything, Qi Shenbai continued. “Jiaojiao…”
“Is something the matter?” Xu Jiaojiao turned to look at him, her clear eyes full of questions.
Qi Shenbai’s gaze turned deeper. With his thin lips, he said in a low and melodious voice, “Happy 20th birthday.”
With that, the man turned around and strode away.
Xu Jiaojiao was still in a daze. She had even forgotten to thank him. Her heart was racing, and her entire face began to turn red. After a long time, she put down her chopsticks and reached out to pinch her own face. “Xu Jiaojiao, don’t let your imagination run wild. He’s just your brother’s friend! You’re only staying here for a year!”
She tossed and turned in bed until two in the morning, but she just could not sleep. When she heard footsteps coming from downstairs, she put on her shoes and walked out of the room in confusion. Just as she reached the stairs, she saw a depressed Xu Zhengyang walk into the living room and lying down on the sofa.
“Brother? It’s so late. Should you be at home? Why are you here?” She quickly walked downstairs.
Xu Zhengyang curled up on the couch and sighed as he looked at the light above his head. “1 don’t wanna talk about it. There’s no place for me in that house anymore.” Even if he did not say it, Xu Jiaojiao could figure out the reason why. Their parents must have kicked him out of the house.
That night, Xu Zhengyang had beaten up Lu Zhuo at the bar. The Lu Family would definitely not take this lying down, so they must have confronted Xu Zhengyang’s parents and demanded an explanation. The truth was, Mr. and Mrs. Xu were not angry at their son because he had hit Lu Zhuo. They were angry that he could not control his temper and attacked the man in public. If the Lu Family insisted on making him pay, it was not impossible for him to go to jail.
Xu Jiaojiao made him a cup of honey water and sat beside him, pinching his arm. “It’s your fault for being so rash!”
Xu Zhengyang turned his head and rolled his eyes at her. “1 did it for you, you ungrateful brat.”
“I didn’t tell you not to do it.” Xu Jiaojiao handed the honey water over and said in her bright voice, “But you shouldn’t have done it in front of so many people. Even if you want to teach him a lesson, you should sneak up on him and throw a sack over his head. Then, once you’ve beaten him to your heart’s content, you can casually throw him into a small alley far away from prying eyes. That way, he won’t be able to find the culprit no matter how hard he tries.”
Qi Shenbai happened to hear Xu Jiaojiao suppressed voice just as he walked out of his room. He was stunned. He had thought the girl was a harmless little white rabbit, but little did he know that she was a feisty one when cornered.
Xu Zhengyang’s eyes instantly lit up, and he praised her. “As expected of my sister. You’re a nasty one, just like me!”
Qi Shenbai was speechless. Was “nasty” a compliment these days?
Xu Jiaojiao blinked. ‘I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?’
“Do you really want to go to jail?” said a deep voice suddenly. The siblings subconsciously looked in the direction of the voice.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Qi. Did we speak too loudly?” Xu Jiaojiao stood up and asked apologetically.
Qi Shenbai glanced at Xu Zhengyang, who was slumped on the sofa like a spineless layabout. Then he turned to Xu Jiaojiao and said gently, “You should sleep early. Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
When Xu Jiaojiao heard this, she looked at Xu Zhengyang with a worried expression on her face.
Xu Zhengyan waved his hand. “He’s right, hurry up and go to sleep. I’m perfectly fine.” It was getting way too late..