"Hahaha, girl, do you like it?" Grandpa Nong walked in with a smile, his face particularly ruddy in the lamplight.
Huo Rou smiled and was about to walk over when a strange voice came from the doorway.
"Hello." Qin Ning Yi's subordinate walked over, carrying a gift box.
Grandpa Nong looked in the direction he was coming from, knowing he was the one who had borrowed the yard for fireworks earlier, and smiled, "Young man, thank you for lending us your yard. Don't worry, my stinky boy will clean up the mess."
"It's not about that." The subordinate, holding a bag, looked at Grandpa Nong and said in a low voice.
"Then... what is it?" Grandpa Nong realized and looked at his subordinate with a serious expression, while a security guard had already come to his side.
Grandpa Nong had just returned from reporting. While the world was celebrating and marveling at this major technological breakthrough, every stranger who came into contact with Grandpa Nong needed to be cautious.
The subordinate knew it was a sensitive time and didn't mind the security personnel's vigilance and alertness. He took a step back and nodded politely and respectfully, "I'm sorry, no malice intended."
While speaking, the subordinate, out of politeness, did not peek into the yard. He simply handed over the gift box, "I overheard you saying earlier that someone in the family seems to be celebrating a birthday today. This is a gift from our boss to the birthday person today. Please deliver it for us."
Grandpa Nong looked at the gift in front of him, a little puzzled. The security guard beside him also looked at the gift box with a baffled expression.
"Thank you for your kindness, but we can't accept the gift." Grandpa Nong smiled kindly, but his refusal was firm, "We're strangers, and my girl shouldn't accept gifts from you."
He hadn't forgotten what the villagers had said in their idle chatter about this family, that they seemed to be a wealthy family from the city. His Huo Rou girl shouldn't get involved with these rich old men.
The subordinate remembered Qin Ning Yi's instructions and, following Grandpa Nong's push, pushed the gift forward again, "Our boss's wife also has her birthday today. It's too much of a coincidence, which is why he asked me to deliver this gift."
Grandpa Nong hadn't expected such a coincidence. Perhaps this was the reason. After all, if it were because of his status, the gift would have been delivered when they got out of the car.
After some polite pushing and shoving, Grandpa Nong signaled the security guard to accept the gift from Qin Ning Yi's subordinate. As the saying goes, coincidences often happen, and this could be considered a form of destiny.
After delivering the gift, the subordinate didn't linger and turned to leave.
Grandpa Nong took the gift box, which had been briefly inspected, from the security guard and walked into the yard.
Huo Rou, An An, and the others were already standing not far away to welcome him back.
"Grandpa Nong, the fireworks were so beautiful!" An An rushed forward and hugged Grandpa Nong's leg, showering him with unreserved praise.
Grandpa Nong poked An An's forehead, "If you come to my place for your birthday in the future, I'll set off fireworks for you every year."
Their village didn't prohibit fireworks, so An An could have them whenever he wanted to see them.
"Girl, this is from our neighbor for you." After finishing talking to An An, Grandpa Nong handed the gift to Huo Rou.
Pan Yue, who was slowly walking out of the room, glanced at the exquisitely beautiful gift box. Her heart felt a pang of sourness, but she spoke in a well-behaved manner, "This neighbor is really kind, sending gifts to strangers who share the same birthday."
She admitted she was envious of the grand fireworks, but everyone here treated her with indifference. No matter how she acted cute or sad, no one paid attention, so she had to hide in her room alone until the fireworks ended before coming out.
To her surprise, she saw this upon coming out.
It was just a coincidence, yet she received such a precious gift. If nothing else, the small diamonds on the gift box were real!
Huo Rou acted as if she hadn't noticed Pan Yue's slightly sour tone and just smiled at her before accepting the gift box.
She had naturally heard their conversation outside the door and understood the entire story.
To share the same birthday and watch fireworks together – what a coincidence.
She lowered her head and looked at the gift box, her pupils widening slightly.
"It really is a coincidence," Huo Rou murmured.
She touched a small piece of white jade in her pocket.
It was a small leftover piece from when she made pendants for An An and Qin Ning Yi last time.
She had been reluctant to throw it away, thinking she would make a small trinket for herself if she had inspiration.
Jade finds its destined owner, and it seemed she couldn't grasp it.
"I'm going out for a bit."
Huo Rou, holding that piece of jade, quickly went out.
She wasn't a person who believed in fate, but the moon tonight seemed too bright, too gentle...
"Where are you going?" Qiao Yushan followed her, noticing something was off.
An An also wanted to follow, but Aunt Luo, who had just arrived, hugged him, "Good An An, it's dark outside. Let your Uncle Xiao Shan go with her."
Qiao Yushan followed Huo Rou to the yard entrance, where Huo Rou whispered, "To return the gift."
"Return the gift?" Qiao Yushan frowned.
Huo Rou looked at the neighbor's house in the distance, whose door was still open. Her eyes flickered, "Yes, to return the gift."
Clutching the roughly polished piece of jade in her palm, Huo Rou walked slowly towards that house, "That gift is valuable, so a return gift is necessary."
Hearing her say this, Qiao Yushan's mind flashed to the exquisite gift box. It did look quite valuable, and his master was as thoughtful as ever. However, this thoughtfulness today seemed strangely inexplicable.
"Then I'll go with you," Qiao Yushan pursed his lips, a smile forming, and followed her side with his mind full of questions.