Qiao Yushan walked out of the room, holding a bowl of steaming noodles. "Here, birthday star! Eat your noodles!"
Aunt Luo brought over a small table and set it up in the middle of the courtyard. Grandma Yao smilingly brought over a stool. "Come, everyone, sit down!"
The group gathered around the small table. Huo Rou cradled the noodles in her hands, gazing at the fireworks above, a relaxed smile on her face.
"An An cooked these!" An An pushed the noodles towards Huo Rou, his eyes reflecting the brilliance of the fireworks.
Qiao Yushan pouted and added, "And I'm the one who brought them!"
They began to bicker like children.
"Are Grandfather Nong and the others setting off these fireworks?" Huo Rou held her breath, listening intently as if she could hear movements outside the gate. "It's so cold, ask Grandfather Nong to come in quickly."
Having said that, Huo Rou was about to get up to open the courtyard gate, but Grandma Yao smiled and stopped her. "The father and son will come in. You eat your noodles first, before they get cold."
"Girl!" Amidst the exploding fireworks, Grandfather Nong's robust voice boomed from outside the gate, "Have you made your wish? Hurry and make your wish! The fireworks are almost gone!"
This shout of "Girl!" was particularly loud, drawing a glance from Qin Ningyi upstairs.
"What a coincidence?" Qin Ningyi murmured to himself, looking at the fireworks filling the sky, then turned to the burning candle before him. "To come here and meet someone with the same birthday as you."
In the candlelight, a figure he had missed immensely seemed to appear.
Qin Ningyi moved his hand. His subordinate walked over from the hallway. "Young Master Qin?"
"Deliver that set of skincare products and wish them a happy birthday." Qin Ningyi didn't understand why his heart suddenly felt so soft. Perhaps it was the splendor of the fireworks, perhaps the warmth of the candlelight, or perhaps he had missed her for so long that even such a coincidence felt precious.
"Ah?" The subordinate was uncharacteristically stunned.
They had indeed brought a set of skincare products. Qin Feiyan had sent them after they departed, as Qin's Skincare had developed a new line, and she wanted Qin Ningyi to deliver it to Grandma Yao.
The subordinate paused for a moment, then, recalling Grandfather Nong's words, seemed to understand. "Young Master Qin, what should I say if they ask?"
After all, it was a gift from a stranger; there had to be some reason.
"Just say..." Qin Ningyi felt a moment of regret for his sudden decision, but the words were already out. Let's consider it a shared celebration.
"Just say, my wife also has her birthday today. To commemorate this coincidence, let us celebrate together."
The subordinate turned and went into the room to find the skincare products.
Qin Ningyi gazed at the candlelight, his expression serene. He gently closed his eyes, his voice low and ethereal, filled with profound sincerity. "First wish: peace for the world."
He hoped his Ah Rou would not be wronged or hurt while living alone.
"Second wish: good health."
He hoped his Ah Rou would be healthy, free from illness and discomfort.
"Third wish: in old age, to be able to meet you."
He hoped... to see his Ah Rou.
Opening his eyes again, tenderness poured from them.
"Whoosh—"
He blew out the candles.
On the other side, within the courtyard walls.
"So these fireworks are birthday candles?" An An asked curiously, looking at Huo Rou's profile illuminated by the sky full of fireworks.
"Yes!" Grandma Yao pinched An An's nose and replied with a smile.
This was something they had discussed together before the old man left. Huo Rou didn't eat birthday cake and couldn't make a wish without blowing out candles, so they decided to set off fireworks.
These fireworks were their candles.
An An felt a pang of regret. He had never thought of using fireworks as a substitute for candles to let Huo Rou make a wish. He nudged Huo Rou's hand. "Mom, hurry and make your wish!"
On his birthday, his mother had bought him a cake, and all his wishes had come true, including seeing his father. He hoped his mother's wishes would also come true.
Qiao Yushan chimed in with An An, urging her on.
This was not the first birthday he had spent with Huo Rou, but it was the first time he had accompanied her through the wish-making process.
The fireworks blazed in his eyes, incredibly brilliant. "Master! Hurry and make your wish."
He then began humming the birthday song, and An An and Grandma Yao joined in.
Surrounded by their enthusiasm, Huo Rou gave a helpless, faint smile. "Alright, alright, I'll make a wish."
She closed her eyes amidst the singing, her hands clasped together. "First wish: peace for the world."
She hoped for stability and peace in the world, so there would be no killing and no needless sacrifices.
"Second wish: good health."
She hoped everyone would be healthy, free from illness and pain, thus avoiding premature goodbyes.
"Third wish..."
Here, she suddenly paused.
The next line after these two was – "In old age, to be able to meet you."
But she...
"What else? What else?!" An An urged, seeing the fireworks overhead starting to dwindle, he grew anxious.
Qiao Yushan gazed unreservedly at Huo Rou's fair cheeks. It was rare for him to be able to look at her so openly. Though he didn't want time to pass, he wanted to hear Huo Rou's wish. "Master, what else?"
"That's all." Huo Rou opened her eyes, a faint smile on her lips, showing no hint of unease.
As her voice fell, the last firework overhead bloomed its final brilliance, vanishing into the darkness.
This signified the end of the wish-making segment.
"Ah?" An An dragged out his disappointment, his voice long. On his birthday, he had made so many wishes. What kind of wishes were these two that his mother had made?
Huo Rou looked at An An's solemn face, amused. She picked him up and kissed his forehead. "Why aren't you happy?"
An An mumbled, "Mom, why don't your wishes include yourself? You only make a wish once in a while, why not wish for more..."
"You make so many wishes for me on your birthday, it's more than enough," Huo Rou whispered affectionately in An An's ear.
Besides, weren't her wishes about herself?
Wishing for both parents to be well, wishing for elders to cherish her.