Chapter 7 Longevity Noodles
His birthday wasn't anything grand or complicated.
The most I ever did was make him longevity noodles.
My cooking skills weren't great—just barely edible.
Our first birthday together came not long after we started dating.
I timed it perfectly and brought him a cake, telling him to blow out the candles.
The candlelight glowed on his face, softening every line with a gentle smile.
He looked at me, listening as I sang the entire birthday song.
Around us, there was only the candle flame and moonlight. The lights behind him shone brightly, but I thought his eyes were brighter than all of it.
"Thank you."
"I'm really happy."
"No one has ever celebrated my birthday like this before," he added. "So thoughtfully."
Thoughtfully? I laughed quietly and urged him to make a wish.
I didn't know what he wished for, but he looked so earnest.
Much later, I learned what he meant by "no one has ever." Jiang Song was allergic to cream.
That cake sent him straight to the hospital.
I was panicked and guilty, scolding him for not telling me.
He just said, "I'll be fine soon."
"I didn't want to ruin your kindness."
He loved so clumsily.
Even now, remembering it feels like looking through hazy moonlight.
Holding a lamp to love someone.
After getting home, I followed online tutorials and practiced making longevity noodles.
I tried several times until I thought it was decent, then went to his place and cooked a bowl for him.
He praised that bowl over and over, even posting on his Moments for the first time:
Girlfriend made this.
The photo was of my mediocre-looking noodles.
Jiang Song ate slowly, treasuring every bite.
A long time later, when we talked about that day, he grimaced and told me, "You forgot the salt. It was basically plain boiled noodles."
"I struggled through it."
From then on, every birthday, cooking him a bowl of longevity noodles became something I always prepared.
I never imagined he would spend this birthday the way he did.
After a brief moment of thought, I knocked on Auntie Song's door.
"Auntie, I want to talk about Jiang Song."