Gu Xingping was about to call out when she saw her third brother turn and walk towards another shop.
"That's strange, why is my third brother out shopping when he should be at the company at this hour?"
Ding Chen adjusted his glasses. "Maybe Third Brother needs to buy something."
"You're being silly. Didn't you see that it's a pastry shop? Come on, let's go see." Gu Xingping pulled him and started to head across the street.
"Wait, let me find a place to park the car first."
Gu Xingping's gaze remained fixed on the pastry shop's entrance, waving her hand at Ding Chen to hurry her along. "Be quick."
Ding Chen quickly parked the car, and the two of them walked towards the pastry shop together.
Even before they reached the entrance, Gu Xingping spotted Gu Xingdong standing by the counter. He was tall and straight, looking particularly striking in the small pastry shop.
She glanced up at the shop's name. This pastry shop was quite famous, a specialty store under the provincial food company. She heard they even had decorated cakes made with cream, which only master bakers could create.
However, Gu Xingping never bought anything here. Their pastries were much more expensive per jin than those sold elsewhere. She felt that it was the same product, just presented differently, and it wasn't worth the extra money.
Behind the counter stood a saleswoman in a red and white uniform. Although her looks were average, her skin was fair, and she sported a perfect eight-tooth smile. The gaze she directed at Gu Xingdong seemed to have a hook in it.
Gu Xingping changed her mind and pulled Ding Chen to hide behind the door.
Ding Chen was confused. "Third Brother is inside. Aren't we going in to say hello?"
Gu Xingping frowned, made a shushing gesture, and then lowered her voice. "Don't you think something's odd? My third brother has been in there for quite a while. Logically, he should have finished buying whatever he needed by now. Look at that woman; her face is painted like a paper figurine from a paper funeral shop. Her smile makes me uneasy."
Ding Chen: "..." I didn't notice if she was uneasy-making, but your description is pretty scary.
"Third Brother isn't that kind of person. They might just be chatting because they know each other."
Gu Xingping glared back at him. "Before, my third brother would try to avoid other women, with a clear message of 'don't bother me' all over him. Look, he's actually smiling at that woman. There's definitely something going on."
Ding Chen: "It can't be as serious as you say, right? I don't see anything wrong with Third Brother."
Gu Xingping: "He's my third brother. We've been siblings for over twenty years, so I know him better than you do. Hmph, men really do turn bad when they have money."
Inside the shop, sensing the saleswoman's subtle gaze, Gu Xingdong frowned but still smiled politely and asked, "How long will it take to pick up?"
"Sir, for the decorated cake you requested, we need to communicate with the master baker and prepare the materials. If you order today, the earliest you can pick it up is tomorrow."
The woman's heart couldn't help but quicken as she looked at the man's handsome face.
She was a regular employee at the cake shop. Getting into the company and being assigned to work at the counter was the result of selection and training. Furthermore, she wasn't bad-looking, and many men pursued her.
However, none of them caught her eye.
No, this man in front of her was exceptionally outstanding.
"Sir, besides decorating, our cakes can also have writing on them. May I ask who the birthday is for?" The woman tried her best to make her voice sound sweet.
A gentle gleam flashed in Gu Xingdong's eyes. "For my beloved."
The saleswoman's smile stiffened.
"Why don't we go inside? The sun is so strong, and standing here guessing is useless. Once we ask, we'll know?" Ding Chen looked up at the scorching sun, unable to quite understand Gu Xingping's actions.
"What do you know? If I ask him directly, he'll never admit it. I... Ouch!"
As Gu Xingping was speaking, someone tapped her head. Annoyed, she turned around and saw Gu Xingdong standing behind her.
"Third, Third Brother."
Gu Xingdong raised his eyebrows slightly. "What are you two skulking around here for?"
He had seen the two of them across the street after leaving the department store. Firstly, he was in a hurry to get things done, and secondly, he didn't want to bother them. He didn't expect them to follow him while he was talking to the saleswoman.
Gu Xingping quickly shook her head. "Nothing, nothing."
Ding Chen pushed his glasses up. "Third Brother, why are you at the cake shop?"
"Buying a cake." Gu Xingdong's gaze landed on Gu Xingping. "Your Third Sister-in-law's birthday is tomorrow. You two come home for dinner after work."
"Third Sister-in-law's birthday is tomorrow?" Gu Xingping thought about it carefully. Chen Lishu's birthday was indeed tomorrow. She had almost forgotten.
Thinking that Gu Xingdong was ordering a cake for Chen Lishu, Gu Xingping felt a bit guilty and didn't dare to meet her third brother's eyes.
"Uh, Third Brother, we'll definitely come tomorrow. Ding Chen and I have something to do, so we'll be going now." Gu Xingping said, pulling Ding Chen's hand and walking towards the department store.
Watching his little sister's retreating back, Gu Xingdong shook his head helplessly. At her age, she was still so impetuous.
Knowing Chen Lishu's birthday was tomorrow, Gu Xingping wasn't in a hurry to buy mosquito nets anymore and started picking out a gift for Chen Lishu with Ding Chen.
Chen Lishu had been busy with factory matters lately and had long forgotten about her birthday.
It wasn't until the next morning, when she saw Li Xiulan boiling noodles and eggs for her, that she suddenly remembered.
Li Xiulan picked up an egg from the table and symbolically rolled it around Chen Lishu, muttering, "Roll away, all bad luck be gone."
"Thanks, Mom." Although she didn't make a big deal about birthdays, it was heartwarming to have someone remember.
"I'll be back early today." Gu Xingdong turned to Li Xiulan. "Mom, I ran into Xingping and Ding Chen yesterday and mentioned it casually. They should be coming over tonight, so please cook a little more."
As it turned out, by the afternoon, not only Gu Xingping and Ding Chen had arrived, but also Chen Liyuan and Lin Qi.
"Sister, this is some makeup that I asked Lin Qi to specially bring back from the south." Chen Liyuan leaned close to Chen Lishu's ear and whispered, "I heard it's even been advertised on TV."
Chen Lishu smiled and took it.
"Third Sister-in-law, this is for you." Gu Xingping handed Chen Lishu a silver bracelet she had picked out.
Gu Xingping, who ran a clothing store herself, had spent a long time with Ding Chen before finally deciding to give this as a gift.
"Thank you, Little Sister."
"Everyone go wash your hands. I just need one more dish and then we can eat." Li Xiulan's voice came from the kitchen. Everyone consciously moved tables and chairs.
The birthday cake Gu Xingdong bought was placed in the center.
He took out a lighter and lit the candles on it. Then everyone started urging Chen Lishu to make a wish.
The two little ones sitting in their high chairs, upon seeing the flames on the candles, had their eyes wide with curiosity.
Chen Lishu clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, made a wish, then bent down and blew out all the candles in one breath.
"Third Sister-in-law, what did you wish for?" Gu Xingping asked curiously.