When Wang Yue returned to the hotel, Qiao Zixuan was already asleep.
She was wearing a cute little bear eye mask and breathing evenly.
Wang Yue tiptoed to wash up.
When he finished and walked out of the bathroom, he saw that Qiao Zixuan had already sat up in bed.
She pulled up her eye mask, looking groggy.
"What time is it?"
Qiao Zixuan yawned and asked.
Wang Yue checked his phone and said, "23:55."
"Ah?!"
Qiao Zixuan exclaimed and quickly jumped out of bed.
"What's wrong?"
Wang Yue seemed confused.
"No... it's nothing."
Qiao Zixuan quickly added, "Da Yueyue, please go out for a moment. I need to change."
"What are you changing for in the middle of the night?"
Wang Yue was a bit puzzled.
"Ah, just go out. Hurry!"
Qiao Zixuan pushed and pulled Wang Yue until he was out of the room.
Standing at the door, Wang Yue was bewildered.
He had just returned and was being kicked out of the room?
What clothes was Boss Qiao changing into in the middle of the night?
Wang Yue couldn't help but let his imagination run wild, conjuring up some rather inappropriate scenarios.
About three to four minutes passed.
The door creaked open.
"Weren't you changing clothes?"
Wang Yue looked at Qiao Zixuan, who was still in her pajamas.
"Come in quickly."
Qiao Zixuan didn't answer Wang Yue, but grabbed his hand.
As Wang Yue entered the room, he immediately saw the cake on the table, with an "18" candle.
"Happy birthday, Da Yueyue!"
Qiao Zixuan smiled charmingly, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Looking at the girl in front of him and the cake on the table, Wang Yue suddenly felt a surge of emotion.
"Where did you buy it?"
Wang Yue asked.
"There are no cake shops here. I bought the cake before I left and had it shipped here."
Qiao Zixuan said with a smile.
"Thank you."
Wang Yue smiled too.
Qiao Zixuan led Wang Yue to the cake and said, "Classmate Wang, from today onwards, you are no longer a child, but an adult. Is there anything you want to say to yourself?"
"Don't be so formal."
Wang Yue couldn't help but laugh. "I don't have anything to say to myself, but I have something to say to you."
Qiao Zixuan blinked, then said with a little anticipation, "What do you want to tell me? Thank me? You don't have to..."
Before Qiao Zixuan could finish speaking, Wang Yue interrupted, "Xiao Xuanxuan."
"Ah?! What did you call me?"
Qiao Zixuan was a bit taken aback. This was the first time Wang Yue had called her that.
Wang Yue smiled at Qiao Zixuan. "Actually, I've always wanted a gift."
"What gift?"
Qiao Zixuan was curious.
"A kiss from you."
Wang Yue said with a smile.
"A... kiss??"
Qiao Zixuan's face turned bright red. She covered her face and said, "You're teasing me again!"
"Kiss me on the cheek as your coming-of-age ceremony."
Wang Yue shamelessly leaned his face closer.
"I... I don't want to."
Qiao Zixuan's face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
"You don't want it? Then forget it."
Wang Yue pulled his face back and sat down on a stool. "Then I'm going to light the candles."
"Mhm mhm."
Qiao Zixuan rubbed her still-hot face, relieved that Wang Yue hadn't insisted. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known what to do.
Wang Yue picked up the lighter from the table.
He lit the candles.
"Make a wish,"
Qiao Zixuan said, and then sang "Happy Birthday" in Wang Yue's ear.
"Happy birthday to you..."
The soft melody reached Wang Yue's ears, making him feel a bit dazed.
It was as if he had returned to that cramped rented room, where his beautiful roommate had sung him a birthday song like this.
Soon, Wang Yue shook the thought out of his mind and made his wish.
"I hope my family and friends are healthy."
"I hope my path ahead will be smooth sailing."
"I hope for world peace."
...
After Qiao Zixuan finished singing, Wang Yue opened his eyes and blew out the candles.
"Alright, let's eat cake,"
Wang Yue said.
"Here, this is for you. You cut it."
Qiao Zixuan took out the cake knife and a box.
After Wang Yue cut the cake, he suddenly remembered the popular "tea art" poses from a certain short video platform in his past life.
So he said to Qiao Zixuan, "Xiao Xuanxuan, come here."
"Ah? What is it?"
Qiao Zixuan leaned closer.
Wang Yue picked up a bit of cream with his finger and dabbed it on Qiao Zixuan's nose.
"What are you doing?!"
Qiao Zixuan exclaimed.
"Don't move, you look very cute like this,"
Wang Yue said with a smile.
"Hmph, I won't hold it against you since it's your birthday."
Qiao Zixuan wrinkled her nose.
Her cute appearance almost melted Wang Yue.
Thinking that his aloof class monitor from his past life had such a cute side, Wang Yue felt a thrilling sense of contrast.
"Come, come, let me take a few pictures for you."
Wang Yue took out his camera.
"Ah? Taking pictures now?"
Qiao Zixuan was a bit confused.
"I'll teach you how to pose and make expressions."
Wang Yue began to guide Qiao Zixuan according to the tea art photos he remembered.
To his surprise, Qiao Zixuan really understood. Perhaps women had an innate talent for taking photos.
The tea art photos Wang Yue took were simply amazing, perfectly capturing Qiao Zixuan's pure and playful charm.
Wang Yue dared to say that these photos, if posted on a certain short video platform, would make male viewers drool. Her natural first-love look and purity were simply irresistible.
"Wow, these are so beautiful."
Qiao Zixuan exclaimed after seeing the photos, and then said to Wang Yue, "Da Yueyue, from now on, you're my official photographer!"
"Then you'll have to pay me more."
Wang Yue said with a smile.
"I will! No matter how much!"
Qiao Zixuan held the camera, tilted her head back, and giggled, revealing her neat white teeth.
"Alright, let's eat the cake."
Wang Yue found it hard to bear.
How could there be such a perfect girl?
She was beautiful, had neat teeth, and a great figure.
Nuwa, which window did you close for our Xiao Xuanxuan?
Well, I know now, it was the chat window with other men.
The cake was delicious, probably made with fresh cream, not too greasy at all.
After finishing the cake, Wang Yue went to rinse his mouth.
Not rinsing your mouth after eating at night can easily lead to cavities.
After everything was settled, Wang Yue lay on the bed, feeling a sense of wonder. He had become an adult, or rather, he had become an adult again?
Just then, Wang Yue saw Qiao Zixuan walk directly towards him.
Her expression was shy and hesitant, her face flushed, and she was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Da Yueyue."
Qiao Zixuan called out.
"Ah?"
"Sit up."
"What's wrong?"
"Sit up!"
"Oh."
"Smack..."
Qiao Zixuan pecked Wang Yue on the cheek and then quickly scurried back to her own covers, burying herself.
"Here's your birthday present!"