Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âWhy? Youâve always celebrated your birthday at home! Are you too good for your parents now?â Mrs. He protested.
It was truly better to be child free. Her son wasnât even as considerate as Qiuqiu.
Oh, a quick introduction. Qiuqiu was Mrs. Heâs dog. Heâs a Pomeranian that looked like a snowball, hence the name Qiuqiu (a nickname based on the word for ball in Mandarin).
âAm I not home today to eat with you? Please calm down, my Empress
Dowager.â He Ming sat his mother down on the sofa and massaged her back.
âYou are not getting away with flattery. You must at least come home for some longevity noodles on that day!â Mrs. He ordered.
He Ming thought about it for a moment and said, âAlright then.â He was only going out at night that day â a candlelight dinner with Xiaomeng followed by a romantic evening together. The thought alone excited him.
âThatâs more like it. A motherâs advice is like water off a duckâs back to adult children. You worry me more than Qiuqiu.â Mrs. He treated Qiuqiu like her other son.
He Ming wanted to roll his eyes.
He Ming stayed with his mother at home for a while before he went out.
He was going to find Xiaomeng but she was busy. However, he had told her a
few days ago that his birthday was the day after tomorrow.
He wouldnât dare to expect any birthday surprises from Xiaomeng. He would be thankful if she could spend time with him on that day.
As soon as He Ming left, Hu Shanshan and her mother dropped by the He residence.
âHello, Auntie.â Hu Shanshan greeted Mrs. He politely.
âYou are here. Please come in.â Mrs. He said warmly.
After Hu Shanshan and her mother walked in, she looked around the house with slightly disappointed eyes.
Mrs. He knew why Hu Shanshan was disappointed but she didnât show it and just said casually, âYou just missed Ming.â
Hu Shanshan was extremely annoyed that she was just a minute too late.
After the other day, she had been wanting to ask him how things were going with the woman he fancied.
But she hadnât got the chance. She tried calling Brother He, but he always said he was busy and then hung up on her.
Therefore, when her mother told her that she was going to visit Auntie He today, she tagged along. Who knew that she would miss him again here?
âHas Brother He been very busy lately?â Hu Shanshan asked casually.
âHeâs busy every day but I donât know what heâs busy with. Xu Fang, youâre the luckier one because you have a daughter whoâs willing to accompany you every day.â Mrs. He looked at Hu Shanshanâs mother and said with envy.
âWhatâs so good about that? My daughter is all grown now and has her own ideas. And I still have to worry about her getting married.â Mrs. Hu also had her worries.
âMomâ¦â Hu Shanshan said shyly.
âShanshan is still young. Donât worry. Iâm more worried about Ming, whoâll be a year older the day after tomorrow. My hair is turning white from worrying.â Mrs. He poured out her grievances. At her age, she should be taking care of her grandchildren.
She liked Shanshan and knew her well, but He Ming had no feelings for her. She had no choice but to stop fixing her up with He Ming.
âBrother Heâs birthday is the day after tomorrow?â Hu Shanshan caught the main point.
âYeah, come over for lunch that day if youâre free. I told him to come home at noon on his birthday.â Mrs. He nodded and invited Hu Shanshan.
Hu Shanshan remembered it and knew what to do. âSure.â
Mrs. Hu couldnât help but shake her head with a smile when she heard her daughterâs quick answer. Indeed, grown daughters would eventually be married offâ¦
Hu Shanshan thought about it after she got home. She would ask her best bestie out tomorrow to help her pick out a birthday present for Brother He.
She also needed to find the right time to tell Brother He about her feelings for him. She didnât just want to be his sister..