"Host! Our mission is accomplished!"
Qiuqiu looked at the points system prompt and excitedly flashed in front of Lu Shizhen's eyes.
The flashing light around the ball turned into a beam of light as it moved quickly, filled with excitement.
But Lu Shizhen was not as excited as Qiuqiu about this matter.
Or maybe there's no room to get excited about it right now.
The colorful balloons piled up in the room looked a little childish, but they were particularly to Lu Shizhen's liking.
The number balloon tied by a rope was swaying and the number "18" was shaking, celebrating the adulthood of the host of the birthday party.
Cheng Meiyan had put too much pressure on him before, and Lu Shizhen's mind was full of final exams. He even forgot about his birthday.
Moreover, unlike the protagonists of other book-traveling novels, Lu Shizhen and the original owner seem to have no similarities except for the same name. Their appearance, hobbies, and specialties are all opposite.
Even their birthdays are several dozen days apart.
—Lu Shizhen’s birthday is also in winter, but not in early January, but at the end of the month.
But even in the original world, Lu Shizhen had never been able to leave the hospital and celebrate a real birthday with friends and family.
Lu Shizhen still remembers the birthday scene when he was actually eighteen years old.
At that time, she almost didn't live to see the first day of adulthood. The mechanical sound of the bedside monitoring equipment was her happy birthday song, and the balloons tied to the end of the bed were celebrating her birthday.
She seems to be always alone.
Not just in this strange world.
But Lu Shizhen really didn't expect that he would have such a birthday party in this strange world during his lifetime.
It looked like something she had seen in comic books, the kind of party she had imagined since she was a kid.
There weren't many people, no flattery or sycophancy, and those present were only her closest relatives and friends.
Even Aunt Sun, who took care of him on a daily basis, and bodyguards like Li participated.
The light of the setting sun filled the floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, and the orange-hued light made the winter snow seem gentle.
The slightly slanted light in the living room cast Xu Shiyue's shadow on Lu Shizhen's shoulder. In the light and shadow, Lu Shizhen saw a hint of expectation in this man's calm eyes.
She just asked herself if she liked it.
So, this birthday party is her...
Lu Shizhen looked at the birthday party venue which was completely contrary to the style of the Lu family, and was somewhat surprised that Xu Shiyue's attack hit the target with one shot.
The faint fragrance pushed away the remaining cold wind outside and fell on her shoulders. In a trance, Lu Shizhen always felt that something warm was about to flow out of her eyes: "Thank you, I like this surprise gift you gave me very much."
Xu Shiyue's eyes curved slightly.
Lu Shizhen's words made her feel more satisfied than all the pleasure she had experienced in these days.
At this time, Cheng Meiyan, who had been watching from the side, reached out and put her arm around Lu Shizhen's shoulders and said, "Hey, if you like it, then just like it. Why are your eyes red?"
Lu Shizhen didn't expect that she was exposed so obviously, and she felt embarrassed for a moment.
But before she could explain, Lu Shien said unconvincedly: "Sister, you are too easily satisfied. How can such a simple birthday gift move you so much?"
The little girl's tone wasn't particularly unfriendly, but her eyes were filled with awkwardness.
Cheng Meiyan, however, didn't wait for Lu Shizhen to say anything before saying, "Xiao En, you are wrong. As long as the intention is there, expensive and gorgeous things are just a foil. Shiyue has been so busy with your brother these days, but she still remembers to prepare a birthday party for Zhenzhen. This intention is more important than any gift."
Of course Lu Shien also knew this truth, but he was very dissatisfied with Xu Shiyue. He was dissatisfied that the birthday gift she prepared could move Lu Shizhen to tears.
Perhaps he was unwilling to accept it, and seemed to be trying to win favor. Lu Shien looked at it and ran to the gift table to take the gift he had prepared: "In that case, sister, you should also take a look at the gift I prepared for you and see if you like it!"
The light passed through the floating balloons and fell on Lu Shien's face, making her eyes sparkle.
Lu Shizhen was caught off guard by the little girl's enthusiasm, but it was difficult for him to refuse, so he opened the gift under her expectant gaze.
The ribbon tied with the bow was pulled out, and as the wrapping paper fell, a box of beautiful high-end oil paint appeared in front of Lu Shizhen.
Lu Shien put his hands behind his back and glanced at Xu Shiyue beside him. Without waiting for Lu Shizhen to speak, he couldn't wait to ask loudly: "How is it, sister, do you like it?"
Lu Shizhen really didn't expect that she would have the opportunity to receive such high-end and expensive pigments in her lifetime. The poverty of her original world made her eyes light up: "Well, I like it very much."
It was like a ray of light suddenly fell into Lu Shien's world, causing the budding expectation on her face to bloom like a flower.
But before she could turn around and show off to Xu Shiyue, Cheng Meiyan showed a distressed expression: "Oh, Xiaoen, you're bumping into mom's like this."
"Ah..." Lu Shien couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. She only wanted to please Lu Shizhen and never thought that she and her mother would coincidentally choose the same gift.
Although Cheng Meiyan's tone was relaxed, the atmosphere in the living room was still somewhat awkward.
Except Lu Shizhen, the protagonist who should care about this matter the most.
She just looked at the gift in Cheng Meiyan's hand, reached out and took it, looking like a miser obsessed with money, and smiled and said, "Oh, what's the big deal? The more of this kind of thing, the better. I accept all of them and like them all!"
Cheng Meiyan originally thought that Lu Shizhen would be very angry with her because of this matter and would ask her to compensate her something.
She was even prepared to agree to whatever she said in order to appease her as usual, but she didn't expect the child to hold the repeated gifts in each hand and accept them happily.
Cheng Meiyan's gentle smile suddenly made her feel more at ease: "Our Zhenzhen has really become an adult, that's great."
As Cheng Meiyan said this, she raised her hand and touched Lu Shizhen's head. Her thin palm was filled with the warmth of family.
Lu Shizhen was still a little uncomfortable, but she accepted this warmth that did not originally belong to her faster than before.
Maybe he was unhappy that the women gathered together and he was left out, but Lu Shize came over and handed a delicate rectangular gift box to Lu Shizhen, saying, "This is my gift, Zhenzhen."
Lu Shizhen has been in contact with Lu Shize frequently these days, and the sense of strangeness and distance she felt towards him has been much less.
She just looked at the man approaching with an expressionless face, and immediately understood that he was unwilling to be left behind as a sister-con. After accepting gifts from others, she gladly accepted his gift.
It is not known whether the three of them had discussed it or not, but after Cheng Meiyan and Lu Shien gave Lu Shizhen a set of paints respectively, Lu Shize's gift was a set of extremely exquisite sterling silver paintbrushes. The brown-black bristles were soft and powerful, and you could tell they were of great value just by touching them.
"It's so beautiful." Lu Shizhen lightly touched the dark patterns carved on the pen and couldn't help but sigh.
Lu Shize watched from the side and said, "Then use this brush to draw a picture for me too."
Lu Shizhen held the pen and looked up at Lu Shize when he heard the words.
This person still had a blank expression on his face, but in his calm voice he was implicitly asking for the painting that both Cheng Meiyan and Lu Shien had.
This was not the first time that Lu Shizhen had seen the disparity in this person's image.
And she thought this was probably the meaning of family.
No matter how cold and aloof you are outside, and as untouchable as a flower on the mountain top, when you return home, you can continue to be a flower on the mountain top, or you can be a brother with a little temper who is obsessed with his sister, a sister who is obsessed with her sister, or an old mother who is always not serious.
The silver pen reflected the light in different brightness, and Lu Shizhen's eyes suddenly dropped a little.
She just looked at Cheng Meiyan, Lu Shize and Lu Shien who were around her. The brief family affection surrounded her, but these family members who loved her with all their heart did not know that the original Lu Shizhen was no longer there.
She is not their sister, elder sister or daughter, she is just a host living in this body.
The green light indicating mission completion did not make Lu Shizhen very excited. Instead, it was like a sword being drawn, popping up from time to time to remind her of her future.
The most difficult thing to control in the world is emotions. Even though Lu Shizhen has reminded herself many times that this world is just a temporary tool for her to stay in for the sake of her future health, she is increasingly unable to be carefree and indifferent.
It’s all Qiuqiu’s fault.
The delicate paintbrush turned around in Lu Shizhen's hand, and then she pretended nothing happened and hid these thoughts in her heart.
The dark eyes raised a beautiful arc in front of everyone, and Lang Sheng agreed: "Okay, I will give you brother, mother, and Xiao En's things together when the time comes."
It doesn't matter if she wants to leave, at least she has to leave them some memories.
Also including Xu Shiyue.
.
The sunset faded away the last trace of its color, and the world was plunged into darkness.
The light from the floor-to-ceiling windows shines outside the house, making the snow-covered pine trees in the backyard look particularly beautiful.
After cutting the cake and finishing dinner, Cheng Meiyan was still not satisfied and organized everyone to play party games.
Lu Shize didn't want to play at first, but was pulled over by the referee Cheng Meiyan. He was forced to be on the same team with Lu Shien and wear a pink birthday hat.
Lu Shizhen looked at the lively pink on Lu Shize's head which was totally inconsistent with his cold and sinister temperament. She smiled very happily, crossed her legs, and swayed from side to side on the mat.
At this moment, a pair of hands reached over Lu Shizhen's head.
A slightly slanted shadow enveloped her, and slightly cool fingers touched her hair, hooking the elastic cord that secured the hat.
The familiar touch seemed to rub against the earlobe covered with nerve endings, and Lu Shizhen recognized it as Xu Shiyue's hand at the first sight.
The man's movements were neither fast nor slow, and Lu Shizhen seemed to have been acupunctured. His body, which had been swaying and restless, suddenly sat up straight.
The slight chill slowly turned into warmth. It was hard to tell how long it had been, nor was it very ambiguous. Xu Shiyue just straightened Lu Shizhen's hat in front of everyone, with a calm and ordinary tone: "It was crooked, it's fixed now."
"Okay." Lu Shizhen once again didn't know how to react and nodded hesitantly.
It’s not that she was not used to Xu Shiyue’s behavior. In fact, she was used to this kind of interaction with Xu Shiyue.
That’s right, I’m not used to doing this with Xu Shiyue in front of my brother, mother and sister.
I don’t know if it’s because the lighting is different today, but the bright light gives people an indescribable ambiguity.
As if afraid that they would misunderstand something.
"Okay, okay, the game begins." Cheng Meiyan was the first to react and called on the two teams to start her game.
Lu Shizhen didn’t know whether the original owner was proficient in this kind of game, but she really knew nothing about this kind of Monopoly-like party game.
Her teammate Xu Shiyue seemed to be in the same situation. He needed Cheng Meiyan to remind him what to do after throwing the dice.
The worst thing is that Lu Shizhen doesn’t know where Lu Shize and Lu Shien got their strong competitive spirit from, and they want to win every game.
It was fine when I played against Lu Shize, he restrained himself and didn't let himself lose to the point of drinking, but Xu Shiyue...
Lu Shien guessed all the dice she rolled, but she didn't guess any of them correctly. After several rounds of dares and penalty drinks, a faint blush gradually appeared on her cold and pale face.
Lu Shizhen really didn't expect Xu Shiyue to have such a shortcoming, and couldn't help but think of some opportunistic ways for her: "If you lose again, let's take a big risk. Don't drink anymore, your stomach can't take it. I'll bribe my mom and let you draw a better card."
The girl's voice sounded faintly and cautiously in Xu Shiyue's ears, and mixed with the smell of alcohol from the glass, it was somewhat enticing.
Lu Shien saw the conversation between Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue from the opposite side, and the cup in his hand clattered: "Hey, stop whispering, get ready and start, this is the last round of our duel."
The ambiguous smell of alcohol was suddenly dispelled by the sound of shaking dice, and Xu Shiyue frowned with a hint of displeasure.
She just looked at Lu Shien across from her, shook the cup in her hand slightly, and said in an unusually calm voice mixed with alcohol: "Okay."
Lu Shien glanced at his dice, restrained his expression and said: "I won't bully you, you guess first."
Xu Shiyue glanced at the little girl in front of him who was not very good at hiding her expression, and said without hesitation: "Three ones."
Upon hearing this, Lu Shien immediately smiled and opened his cup: "Sorry, I only have one."
Lu Shizhen held her forehead with her hand. She thought Xu Shiyue was stable as she was so calm.
Could it be that all her luck was used up in business
After all, no matter what, people's luck can't always be good...
Without time to think about it, Lu Shizhen saw that the situation was not good, and immediately took advantage of Lu Shien's guessing the number in Xu Shiyue's hand and came to Cheng Meiyan's side: "Mom, I'm the birthday girl. If Xu Shiyue loses later, can we do something appropriate..."
Having said this, Lu Shizhen rubbed his hands suggestively towards Cheng Meiyan.
Cheng Meiyan also had an expression that showed she understood. She smiled and patted Lu Shizhen on the shoulder, and deliberately shuffled the Dare cards in front of her.
While the two were discussing, Lu Shien clapped his hands proudly.
As if to avenge their first confrontation, she proudly said to Xu Shiyue who was sitting opposite her: "So, I know more about probability theory."
"Really?" Xu Shiyue asked back softly, unable to tell whether it was questioning or disdain. She turned to look at the adventure card that Cheng Meiyan handed over.
The girl's fingers moved calmly on the cards spread out like a fan, and Cheng Meiyan's eyes flickered with the movement of her fingers.
Finally, she watched Xu Shiyue draw out the cards she had prepared as she wished. After taking the cards drawn by Xu Shiyue, she couldn't help showing a satisfied expression on her face: "Then please kiss your teammate for no less than 20 seconds! The kiss range must be above the neck!"
Lu Shizhen sat aside slowly and drank a sip of water as if in a trance, and nodded in agreement with Cheng Meiyan's words.
Fortunately, it was just a kiss, not some overly risky thing...
Wait, dear...
kiss?!
Finally realizing what was going to happen, Lu Shizhen was stunned.
Didn’t we agree to release the water
How come Xu Shiyue drew this kind of card...
Lu Shizhen turned to look at Cheng Meiyan in disbelief, only to see that Cheng Meiyan was staring at her and Xu Shiyue with a smile on her face.
When Lu Shien heard this, his reaction was even greater than Lu Shizhen's. He immediately stood up to protest: "How could mom take such a risk! Isn't it too much? How can we do this? I think it's better to..."
Cheng Meiyan, however, acted very fair and stretched out her hand to interrupt Lu Shien's protest: "Minors cannot participate in the following adventures, so they have no right to speak!"
Then she shook the card in her hand and looked at Xu Shiyue who had drawn the card: "Shiyue, you have to accept the loss~"
It was unknown whether he was really serious enough to follow the rules of the game, or for some other reason, but after hearing what Cheng Meiyan said, Xu Shiyue nodded calmly: "Yes."
The body turned and made a slight rubbing sound in the quiet living room. Lu Shizhen saw that Xu Shiyue really turned towards her silently.
She knew what was going to happen next, but her throat felt like it was blocked and her hands, which were hanging on the carpet, slowly tightened.
The shadow on the wall was so close that the fragrance mixed with alcohol touched Lu Shizhen's lips.
Not sure if Xu Shiyue was drunk or if he was drunk, but the ridiculous thought from New Year popped up in Lu Shizhen's head again. He was so dazed that he actually hoped that the lips that had touched each other underwater could really fall again.
(End of this chapter)