A Young Woman's Heart

She glanced at her, gave a wink and a smile, but didn't say anything.

To others, it was just that Li Wanyan's body tilted slightly; no one would have guessed that she almost fell because she couldn't use her right hand.

"Go ahead," Mr. Xue chuckled. "Do we have a knife?"

"Don't worry, I've already put it away. There's a small knife to cut it, and then... you can just eat it with chopsticks."

"Eating cake with chopsticks? That's weird."

“We can’t just go and buy disposable cutlery, can we? That would be such a waste,” Mo Zhuyou replied matter-of-factly.

Upon hearing this, Mo Xueyao was slightly taken aback. Thinking about it carefully, she realized that her life had been quite affluent lately, because just now, she had even planned to go to the cake shop near the school to buy disposable cutlery...

The cake lid was lifted, revealing the cake that Mo Xiaoxiao had made herself.

"Wow—" Mo Xueyao, Hua Yinyin, and Wang Jiale were the first to exclaim in surprise.

This cake doesn't look like something an ordinary person would make, because it's exceptionally exquisite. Not only is the cream spread very evenly, but even the patterns on top are beautiful.

There were two chubby little pigs lying together, next to a green lawn, with several large words written in colored butter in the middle: "Happy 17th Birthday, Mo Xiaoxiao and Mo Zhuyou!"

"I just remembered, you two were born in the Year of the Pig," Mo Xueyao muttered. "This cake is really beautiful. Did you take inspiration from a model in a cake shop?"

"No, my sister drew it herself based on the pictures in the cartoon book. Isn't that amazing!" Mo Zhuyou puffed out her chest and said proudly, as if she were the one who made the cake.

"It looks delicious! I want to eat the little pig!"

"Oh no! Only I can eat the piglet!" Mo Zhuyou immediately protected the cake, "Especially the one that represents my sister!"

"So, which one is the 'older sister'?" Hua Yinyin asked with a sly smile.

"Of course it's the one that's underneath!" the younger sister answered matter-of-factly.

"Oh my, hehehe..." Hua Yinyin's eyes darted around, "Does Youyou really want to pin her older sister down?"

"Ugh—" Mo Xueyao immediately cast a disdainful look at her, "Yinyin, your thoughts are really too filthy."

"What did I say? Can't we just huddle together for warmth and sleep underneath?"

"That might be what Lele means, but it's definitely not what you mean when you say it!"

"Hey! Hey!" Hua Yinyin shouted in dissatisfaction.

Everyone laughed.

The candles were also specially purchased number candles, one for 1 and the other for 7.

"I'll go turn off the lights and then light the candles," Mr. Xue said, walking to the classroom door.

"Let's light it when it gets dark?" Mo Xueyao suggested.

"Isn't it dark enough now?" Mo Zhuyou herself was actually getting a little impatient to eat it.

"There's still a little bit of light. Let's wait until the sun has completely set?" Wang Jiale looked out the window. Although it was raining, he could clearly see the evening sunset that was about to sink into the valley.

The blood-red setting sun, like a candle burning out its last bit of light and heat, finally lost all its radiance.

A bright moon slowly rose, while more dark clouds obscured the sun, moon, and stars behind it.

Apart from the streetlights providing some light, the entire classroom was plunged into complete darkness.

Mr. Snow lit the two candles and led the singing: "Happy Birthday to You—"

In the pitch-black classroom, two candles were the only source of light.

In the flickering light, everyone laughed and sang the birthday song.

For many people, this was just an ordinary birthday, but Mo Zhuyou couldn't help but wipe the corner of her eye with her sleeve.

Having endured a long and difficult life, they probably haven't invited anyone to their birthday parties in a very, very long time.

I only had the opportunity to make a cake recently because my circumstances have improved.

Mo Xiaoxiao smiled gently and patted her younger sister's head.

Mo Xueyao then realized that the two sisters were actually the same age.

Although people often subconsciously assume that older sisters are more mature than younger sisters, in reality, this is simply a matter of birth order, and the time difference may not even be more than a minute...

The older and younger sisters were born in the same year and on the same birthday.

The mature older sister is actually the same age as her younger sister.

But in order to take care of her younger sister, she had to be more mature than her peers and shoulder the responsibility of being an 'older sister'.

Looking at the others, she noticed that they had also noticed this to some extent, and their expressions toward the two sisters had changed slightly compared to usual.

Of course, there's also a heartless guy...

"Make a wish quickly, and then you can eat cake!" Hua Yinyin urged.

"Hey, Yinyin, aren't you being a bit too greedy? You just wanted to eat a cake?"

"Of course, this is the first time I've ever eaten a cake that isn't from a store. I wonder what it tastes like..." she muttered, wiping the glistening drool from the corner of her mouth.

"Sister, let's make a wish together?"

"OK."

The birthday song continued, while the two sisters clasped their hands together, facing the burning candles in front of the cake, and earnestly recited their wishes in their hearts.

Their long eyelashes trembled slightly, and the older sister's hair looked even more withered and yellow in the candlelight.

"Phew..." Almost at the same moment, the two sisters let out a long sigh, then looked at each other and smiled.

Without saying a word, the two of them must have guessed what kind of wish the other had made.

Next came the cake-cutting part.

Mo Zhuyou deliberately gave Hua Yinyin the smallest piece, which drew a loud protest from the other party.

While everyone laughed at her, they still shared some of their cakes with her, and in the end, Hua Yinyin ended up with the most cake.

"Ugh... hiccup... I can't eat anymore..."

"No, it's all from our hearts, you must eat it!"

"Hey, I'm not the birthday person, so why do I always feel like I'm being targeted by you guys?"

"Probably because it's fun to bully Yinyin," Mo Xiao said with a light laugh, covering her mouth.

"Something's not right. In the beginning, wasn't it me who was bullying the girls?!"

“That’s what they call ‘thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.’” Mo Xueyao glanced at her smugly. “You’ve become ‘public enemy number one’ now.”

"Little Yaoyao, hehehe, can you eat some for me...?"

“I have no interest in other people’s gossip.” She was met with a big eye roll in response.

……

Chapter 112 Please Hold Me Tight

The last few leaves clinging desperately to the branches in late autumn finally succumbed to the wind and rain and sadly drifted to the ground.

Because of the natural laws that must be followed, they can only be separated from the trees that nurtured them, either becoming fertilizer for the trees the following year or becoming part of the waste transported to power plants for incineration.

Zhou Yong, who hadn't brought an umbrella, stood by the bus stop, looking around, unaware that someone with an umbrella was quietly approaching from behind.

"Ah!" Startled by the tap on his shoulder, he exclaimed, "Holy crap... Brother Chan, don't scare me, okay?"

Tian Tingchan placed a hand on his shoulder but did not answer. Although she managed a smile, it seemed somewhat forced.

"You just got out of school too?"

"That's one way to put it."

"oh oh……"

"What are you looking for?"

"I'm waiting for my uncle. My mom told me to wait here. Apparently, they're building a new house, and we didn't have time to go. So they said they'd bring us three pounds of beef. It wouldn't be right to have them bring it over, so I'm just waiting near his house." Zhou Yong scratched his head. "What a coincidence, you're taking the bus too?"

"I'm just passing by." Tian Tingchan carefully put her left hand into her pocket. "Are you going back later?"

"Yes, my mom is waiting for me to come home for dinner... If I'm quick enough, I can still make it and cook this beef too."

"Mm." Tian Tingchan smiled softly, but the smile was somewhat forced and tired. "Then I'll go home."

"Oh, oh... take care."

She suppressed her smile, crossed the road, and couldn't help but glance back at Zhou Yong.

But the bicycles and electric bikes passing by blocked her view.

For a moment, she felt her world become somewhat blurry.

Many times, she still has to bear everything alone.

Actually, nothing happened today.

It was just an ordinary day.

But often, sadness comes without any reason; perhaps it's just seeing a fallen leaf that can bring a wave of sorrow.

She tried her best to control her emotions, which seemed 'inexplicable' to others, and walked home like a normal person.

Zhou Yong, standing on tiptoe, watched her slowly walk away, sensing that she seemed to be carrying something on her mind.

"Zhou Yong!"

"Ah, Uncle?" He suddenly snapped out of his reverie and looked at the energetic middle-aged man, who was carrying a large bag that clearly contained more than three pounds of beef.

"Hey, long time no see! You've grown quite a bit taller!"

"Hehe, not at all," Zhou Yong said modestly with a smile.

“You’ve definitely grown a lot taller. I remember it was a few years ago… five or six years ago? You were just starting out here back then.” Uncle gestured and sighed sincerely, “Ah, time really flies. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you’ve gone from elementary school to high school.”

"Haha..." Zhou Yong said with a dry laugh, "Uncle, you haven't changed much, you're still the same as before."

"I'm getting old! My hair is starting to turn gray. Here, take this. There's beef in here, and a durian too. I know your mom loves durian."

"Oh, this is very expensive."