They had been entangled for years, yet this was the first time they celebrated a birthday together so formally. He had given her gifts before, but those were clandestine affairs, known only to them. To do so openly, in front of everyone, was an entirely new experience. Lin Mei’s eyes welled up at his simple words. She remained silent, unable to speak, but he continued, “I will spend every future birthday with you.”
Lin Mei held back her tears. She had not forgotten her promises to Lan Lan and Feng Feng; she had said she needed some time away from Xing Zheng. Even if touched, she couldn’t show it too obviously. “Oh, don’t make promises you can’t keep. Who knows what the future holds?”
“No matter what happens, we will never be separated again,” Xing Zheng seemed to guess her thoughts. “I know you don’t believe me, but I will prove it to you.”
Lin Mei simply said, “Oh, then prove it.”
“Do you like the car?” Xing Zheng touched her hair, growing bolder. “Aren’t you going to express your gratitude?” With that, he leaned his face towards hers, his intentions more than obvious.
Lin Mei instinctively glanced towards Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue. Though far away, they were the only ones there, and they were sure to see. “My parents are over there.”
Lin Mei’s reminder was met with a smile from Xing Zheng. He didn’t even look back. He closed the convertible top, creating a private space. After doing so, he brought his cheek close to her lips. “Kiss me.”
Lin Mei frowned. His shamelessness seemed to have reached new heights. She pushed him away. “Get away from me.”
“Shy again?” How could he move away? He leaned even closer. “Then I’ll reluctantly do it myself.”
With that, his lips brushed against her cheek. It was meant to be a fleeting peck, but once he kissed her, he lost a little control. He moved his lips to hers, kissing her, his breathing growing heavier.
At some point, Lin Mei’s arms had wrapped around his neck, responding to him. They held each other tightly, their breaths mingling.
Her主动 response and heated breaths emboldened him. A knowing smile spread across his face as he moved closer to her ear, teasing, “So impatient?”
“Just a little longer,” he said considerately. “Once the baby is born, I’ll take good care of you.”
Lin Mei’s already flushed face grew even hotter at his words. She pushed him away. “I should go down.”
When they returned, Lin Mei’s face was still flushed. She sat down and buried her head in the cake. Li Xun smiled and said, “You’ve prepared a very thoughtful birthday gift.”
“She likes it,” Xing Zheng said modestly, his simple words deflecting the attention.
However, everyone knew that a Ferrari supercar wasn’t something one could buy on a whim. As parents, Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue were well aware of Lin Mei’s fondness for this car. She had often joked with them about buying a Ferrari to take them for a drive after she got a job at the bank or got promoted.
Xing Zheng’s gift had clearly struck a chord with Lin Mei.
Her smile was proof of that.
Since Lin Mei was pregnant, Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue were worried about her driving alone. Xing Zheng volunteered to drive Lin Mei home.
The car was later parked in the garage. Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue had made it clear that she couldn’t drive it until after the baby was born, and Lin Mei agreed.
Before her due date, Lin Mei had her final prenatal check-up. Coincidentally, it fell on the same day as Ning Rui’s check-up. The four of them met at the hospital.
After being brought back by Li Xun, Ning Rui’s condition had been extremely poor. She had no appetite, couldn’t sleep, and didn’t talk much. Despite attentive care, she hadn’t gained much weight. Although the severe pregnancy symptoms had subsided, she remained listless and lifeless. Even the doctor had subtly suggested that the pregnant woman maintain a positive mood…
Li Xun’s expression was grave. After leaving the consultation room, he took Ning Rui back. Ning Rui followed him quietly, not saying a word. Her dejected silence made Lin Mei even more worried. She started to follow, but Xing Zheng held her back. “Li Xun wouldn’t do anything to her.”
“He wouldn’t do anything to her, but isn’t she like this now?” If what he said was true, why was Ning Rui in such a state?
“That’s because she never accepted Li Xun,” Xing Zheng pointed out the problem with a sharp insight, leaving Lin Mei with no room to argue. He then told her, “For now, focus on waiting for our child to be born and don’t worry about these trivial matters.”
As Lin Mei had suspected, Ning Rui’s condition was indeed very poor. She hadn’t spoken a word on the way back from the hospital. Ning Ye had been gone for a month, and she had remained in this state. Upon returning to the villa, Li Xun took Ning Rui to eat. The table was laden with a rich, nutritious meal, meticulously prepared by a nutritionist. Although Ning Rui no longer had morning sickness, she still had little interest in eating. Even when she sat down, she ate only small bites, her perfunctory manner evident to anyone.
“Are you waiting for me to feed you personally?” he said, then sat beside her and brought the meat to her lips.
Seeing him, Ning Rui lost her appetite. Almost instinctively, she turned her head away. The gesture easily wounded Li Xun. “Do you like starving?”
Without waiting for her answer, he smiled. “Then how about letting Ning Ye starve with you?”
Ning Rui, who had been indifferent, finally reacted. She looked at Li Xun. “You promised you wouldn’t trouble Ning Ye if I stayed.”
“I did say that,” Li Xun smiled. “But, this isn’t the you I want.”
He wanted the woman who was dependent on him and admired him, like when they first met, not a lifeless puppet who only gave him cold stares day after day. After understanding his underlying meaning, Ning Rui let out a mocking laugh. Was his demand too much?
Didn’t he realize that the person he loved had been destroyed by his own hands?
“I wonder how many days Ning Ye can starve. Shall we try?” Li Xun picked up his phone. Ning Rui immediately picked up her chopsticks and put food into her mouth. He stopped and watched her wolf down the food, swallowing it.
“Are you satisfied?” Ning Rui asked him.
“It would have been so much better if you had been this obedient earlier. I wouldn’t have had to threaten you.” Li Xun indeed put down his phone. He carefully picked up a bun, broke off a piece, and brought it to her lips. “From now on, I will feed you personally at every meal.”
Before Ning Rui could object, she heard his irrefutable warning. “You have no choice but to refuse.”
She simply fell silent. She didn’t have much to say to him anyway. Being fed by him throughout the meal, Ning Rui felt tormented. She returned to the bedroom and lay down.
Not long after, Li Xun came in again, holding her tightly in his arms.