"Mom, shall we go to the room to celebrate Dad's birthday?" Mianmian said, her hands and feet dancing with joy, her smile exceptionally bright.
What else could Jiang Mi say? Even if she was unwilling, she had to endure it.
"Let's go." Jiang Mi walked ahead, her hands clenched tightly into fists.
Jiang Jingxiu stared at Jiang Mi's retreating back. She was wearing a white suit with wide-leg pants, dressed like a strong woman. She was completely different from before. She had a presence now; in the past, she was always soft and seemed easy to bully.
Now her eyes were clear and cold, and her entire demeanor exuded an unapproachable aura, which he found novel.
After Jiang Mi entered the elevator, she was busy sending messages. Mianmian was talking to Jiang Jingxiu. Jiang Jingxiu looked at Jiang Mi beside him and asked, "Are you texting your boyfriend?"
"Yes." Jiang Mi wanted to retort, but then she felt it was unnecessary. Their daughter would be unhappy, so she held back.
"Do you have any photos? Let Mianmian and me see. After all, he'll be Mianmian's stepfather in the future, so we should know what kind of person he is," Jiang Jingxiu pressed on.
Jiang Mi put away her phone and said with a smile, "We'll meet him later. Isn't it your birthday today? Let's celebrate your birthday first, and we can talk about other things later."
"Right, Dad should celebrate his birthday first. I want to blow out the candles and cut the cake for you," Mianmian said, hugging him.
Jiang Jingxiu smiled and pinched his daughter's little face, his mood improving again.
The three returned to the room. Jiang Mi placed the cake on the dining table. Mianmian eagerly opened it and began to insert the candles. Jiang Mi didn't want to participate in his birthday at all, but since her daughter was happy, she could only endure it.
"Mom, shall we sing Happy Birthday to Dad together?" Mianmian was always cautious between the two of them, seeking their opinions no matter what she did, which made one's heart ache to see.
"Okay," Jiang Mi readily agreed.
So, mother and daughter sang Happy Birthday to Jiang Jingxiu. Mianmian's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. Jiang Jingxiu's lips also curved into a smile. After singing, Mianmian urged Jiang Jingxiu to make a wish and blow out the candles.
Jiang Jingxiu clasped his hands in front of his chest like a grown-up, closed his eyes to make a wish, and then blew out the candles.
Mianmian pestered her dad about his wish. Jiang Jingxiu glanced at Jiang Mi and smiled, saying that wishes wouldn't come true if they were spoken aloud.
Mianmian had no choice but to give up. She removed the candles from the cake and took the knife to cut it.
Jiang Mi had already gone to sit on the sofa. She had no interest in participating in any of Jiang Jingxiu's affairs. She was only making a perfunctory appearance for her daughter's sake. Now, she just wanted to stay away.
Mianmian cut a large piece and placed it on a plate, saying, "Dad, give this to Mom to eat."
Jiang Jingxiu smiled in agreement, took the cake, and brought it to Jiang Mi, saying, "Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me."
"You should thank Mianmian. I'm not doing this for you," Jiang Mi said softly, not wanting her daughter to be sad.
"I know. But thank you, Jiang Mi. Do you hate me very much?" Jiang Jingxiu felt that her attitude was a stark contrast to when she left. Even if people changed, how could she hate him so much?
"Don't you have any self-awareness? Do you remember what you did? I certainly don't forget," Jiang Mi said with a cold laugh, no longer looking at him.
"I'd really like to know what I did," Jiang Jingxiu said, sitting down and staring at her as he questioned her.
"Dad, are you eating cake?" Mianmian finished cutting the cake and turned to ask from the sofa.