CHAPTER 635: CHAPTER 624: VICIOUS VILLAIN

"I’ve put the food here, have it early and rest early." After saying this, Ye Qiu returned to her room, leaving Jiang Cheng alone, still silently standing there.

For the next few days, Ye Qiu and Jiang Cheng were still not talking, but Jiang Cheng quietly ate everything she brought back.

On the 20th of August, that night’s snack was different—there was a small cream cake topped with a strawberry, and once again there was a note that hadn’t appeared since the first day with just four words: Happy Birthday!

Jiang Cheng’s heart suddenly tightened, his gaze intensely fixed towards the direction of Ye Qiu’s room. How did she know?

At this moment, he also realized that this was the first time someone had celebrated his birthday in so many years; even his eldest brother never wished him a happy birthday.

He couldn’t help but think back to what Ye Qiu had said that day. Was his elder brother truly kind to him? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he even know his birthday?

He pursed his lips, sometimes when doubts begin, they grow bigger and bigger. Though unwilling to admit it, he had come to believe Ye Qiu’s words.

Jiang Cheng picked up the spoon and put the big, red strawberry into his mouth. It was indeed fragrant and sweet. He didn’t know what she liked, but he could also give her something on her birthday.

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, his hand holding the spoon paused. When was Ye Qiu’s birthday?

He recalled the years since Ye Qiu had entered their home; she seemed never to have celebrated her birthday either?

Indeed, even her own Mom didn’t care, who else would think of celebrating her birthday?

Was it the indifferent Jiang Hongcai, the hypocritical Jiang Yi, the naive Jiang Miaomiao, or the cold and selfish himself?

None of them, Ye Qiu was like a stranger living in this home with hardship, and in fact, she was truly an outsider, wasn’t she? After all, she hadn’t even transferred her household registration.

Thinking thus, Jiang Cheng found he couldn’t eat the cake he was about to put in his mouth. He went to the kitchen, found a plate, and carefully placed the intact portion on it before walking to Ye Qiu’s room.

The rest of the family lived upstairs; only Ye Qiu lived downstairs in the nanny’s room, leaving Jiang Cheng with an indescribable feeling.

"Knock, knock..." After hesitating for a while, he finally knocked on Ye Qiu’s door.

"Who is it?" Hearing a voice and the sound of a chair moving, he felt a surge of nervousness.

However, when she appeared in front of him, his heart calmed down again.

"What are you doing?" Seeing him standing in front of her with half a cake, Ye Qiuxin felt a sweetness in her heart, feeling like her long efforts had finally warmed this hard stone.

"Are you asking me to sing the Happy Birthday song?" She asked smilingly.

Jiang Cheng, unusually, didn’t coldly refuse but instead responded stiffly with a "Hmm".

Ye Qiu couldn’t believe her eyes and then her eyes curved into crescents; she softly sang, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you... wishing Jiang Cheng happiness every year!"

She really sang, and a warm current flowed through Jiang Cheng’s heart, making his throat tighten.

"Thank you!" He said stiffly, then handed her the cake, "Please have some cake."

Ye Qiu didn’t mention that she had made the cake herself but instead took it with a smiling face, and took a big bite: "So sweet!"

Yes! The cake is really sweet!

After the cake was finished, Jiang Cheng still stood there without leaving. Ye Qiu looked at him with questioning eyes again: "What’s wrong? Is there anything else?"

"When is your birthday?" Jiang Cheng asked, staring at Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu was taken aback, knowing he was asking about her birthday; it seemed he was really changing slowly.

"What? You want to know? And you want to celebrate my birthday too?" Ye Qiu smiled and looked at him, her tone very relaxed, "But you’ve missed the chance this year, my birthday has already passed."

"Which day?" He stubbornly asked.

"July 20th."

It turned out their birthdays were on the same day, just in different months and years.

Upon learning this, Jiang Cheng habitually pursed his lips and did not talk much.

However, the next day when Ye Qiu returned to her room, she found many things inside that didn’t belong to her.

There were many colorful princess dresses and a super big plush bear that took up half of her bed. Although these dresses looked expensive, Ye Qiu really didn’t have the confidence to wear them out.

"Did you buy those things in my room?" She asked Jiang Cheng, who was by the dining table. He was the only one in the house who would do something like this.

"Hmm." He uttered a sound from his throat.

"Return them tomorrow."

"Why?" He suddenly looked up at her. Did she not forgive his indifference? Was she blaming him for not remembering her birthday?

"Don’t overthink it, that bear is too big, my room is already small, how would I sleep with that bear in there? And those princess dresses," Ye Qiu took a deep breath, "I’d be too embarrassed to wear them out, it’s too humiliating."

Jiang Cheng wouldn’t give up, stubbornly saying, "I asked Han Fei and others, they all say they look good."

What he didn’t say was, he actually also thought they looked good, Ye Qiu would definitely look nice in them. Jiang Miaomiao has so many princess dresses, why shouldn’t Ye Qiu have any? Since her mom wouldn’t buy them for her, he as her second elder brother should make up for it.

"Are all your friends straight guys?" Ye Qiu asked, speechlessly.

"What’s a straight guy?" Jiang Cheng countered.

Alright, Ye Qiu helplessly shrugged, confirming they were indeed straight guys without a doubt.

To not hurt the fragile kinship he had finally begun to feel for her, Ye Qiu delicately explained, "Second Brother, I’m not a little girl like Miaomiao anymore. Those fancy princess dresses would make people laugh at me if I wore them out. Besides, I’m working at He Chef now and won’t have time to wear them. School is starting soon, I’ll have to wear uniforms every day, so there’s even less opportunity to wear them. It’s just a waste to keep them, better return them."

Jiang Cheng stayed silent, feeling a bit aggrieved and self-reproachful, thinking that nothing he did was right and his efforts to be kind to her were futile.

Seeing his sad demeanor, Ye Qiu seized the opportunity and said, "How about this? You just want to give me a birthday present, right? How about you fulfill a request for me as the gift, is that okay?"

"What request?"

"You promise first, I assure you this request won’t be unreasonable."

"Alright, tell me." Jiang Cheng agreed promptly, completely unaware of how many brain cells this promise would cost him over the next two years.

"Promise me you’ll study hard and get into a top university." Ye Qiu said smilingly.

Jiang Cheng was a bit unhappy, not only because he had to study hard in the future, but also because Ye Qiu didn’t consider his feelings at all. It was supposed to be her birthday gift, yet it felt like she was planning for herself.

"Hey, don’t be upset. If your grades improve, you could tutor me, you know. My grades are really, really bad." Her tone was very sincere, and Jiang Cheng felt that since he had promised, he shouldn’t go back on his word. It’s just studying; he could definitely do it.