Looking how the expressionless and languid girl was able to make Zhuo Yixuan jump up and down from irritation made Luo Xiu wanted to laugh.
He lowered his eyes and, suppressing his desire to laugh, said, “Go ahead. I will listen attentively and not let others interrupt.”
Zhuo Yixuan, “… …” So angry that she could die.
Gu Nian looked up and at Luo Xiu. Her originally droopy eyelid started to raise up bit by bit.
By the time that she was looking into Luo Xiu’s eyes, her dark, deer-like eyes were already glistening. “Mr. Luo Xiu, it’s your birthday tomorrow. Do you have any personal plans and arrangements?”
Luo Xiu shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”
Gu Nian’s eyes became even brighter. “Then can I celebrate your birthday with you? I have prepared your birthday present with extra thoughts in mind and would love to give it to your myself!”
Luo Xiu paused a little.
Standing slightly behind him, Zhuo Yixuan snickered. She crossed her arms in front of her in disdain and couldn’t wait to see the awkwardness on Gu Nian when she was turned down.
Perhaps noticing Luo Xiu’s hesitation, Gu Nian quickly added, “It’s alright if you don’t have time. I can give it to you after your birthday... Oh wait, I won’t be able to give you the gift…”
The girl was a little disappointed. Her voice lowered.
Nevertheless, it hasn’t even been two seconds before the girl perked up again. “But that’s fine. I still have a backup gift for you!”
After remaining silence for a little while, Luo Xiu asked helplessly. “So this is what you wanted to talk to me about all morning long?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you mention it sooner then?”
“I don’t want to bring it up too early. It will put you in a difficult position if your plans aren’t set yet.” Gu Nian smiled and said, “Regardless, I am glad that someone is celebrating your birthday with you – I take it that you won’t be in tomorrow then. I shall wish you a happy birth…”
Under Zhuo Yixuan’s look of disbelief, Luo Xiu looked into Gu Nian’s eyes.
Then Gu Nian recollected herself. Her eyes, which had went dim earlier, started lighting up like mini-fireworks. “You mean to tell me that…”
“Mmhmm.”
Luo Xiu sighed slightly.
“Please, spend my birthday with me… Miss Gu.”
“!!”
***
Gu Nian did not tell Luo Xiu what her plans for his birthday were – as an old mother with love that could move a mountain, she insisted that the first birthday that she would be celebrating with her son must be meaningful and filled with surprises.
With her firm belief and, with the help of nine alarm clocks, Gu Nian got up early in the morning and, almost fumbling around in the darkness of the country side, got onto the hotel ride that would take her into town.
It was June and summer time. Being close to the Northern Tropic in the Northern Hemisphere, the sky became bright very early in the morning.
By the time Gu Nian arrived at the hotel, the town were already starting to bustle with activities.
The road paved with slabs of stones resounded with noises of little carts being pushed over it. There were people shouting or selling things, some in dialects that Gu Nian could not understand. The air had an odd feel of liveliness in it.
Walking in the middle, Gu Nian was filled with happiness. With her badge that she had prepared ahead of time, she was able to get pass the hotel security and enter the hotel.
Luo Xiu’s room was on the 7th floor.
Still the familiar Room 717.
Gu Nian stood outside of the room, pulled out a party popper from her pocket, and rehearsed a series of congratulatory words in her mind.
When all was ready, she raised her hand and knocked on the room door gently.
Twenty seconds or so went by.
Just when Gu Nian was about to think that her precious son was still in bed, the room door opened up gently in front of her.