Chapter 8 Pei Xi’s Birthday
Pei Xi's eyebrows and eyes looked just like mine.
She stood on her tiptoes and took my hand, secretly slipping a candy into my palm.
Facing those sincere eyes, I could not say no.
I had actually remembered that today was her birthday all along.
But three years ago, I had promised not to appear in front of her and her father again.
At this moment, I suddenly did not want to honor that so-called promise anymore.
I had missed so many years of her growth. What harm was there in spending one birthday with her?
I took Pei Xi by the hand and led her inside, braiding her hair.
I had learned so many styles from videos before, and now I could finally use them.
She looked at the new hairstyle in the mirror, absolutely delighted.
"Mom, you are so awesome."
As she praised me, she opened her arms, wanting a hug.
Even though we had never met before, she was incredibly affectionate with me.
I could not help asking her, "Mom has not been with you all these years. Do you not blame me?"
Pei Xi shook her head seriously.
"No. Dad said Mom has her own pursuits and life. You are yourself first, and then you are my mom."
"Whenever I missed Mom, Dad would take out photos and tell me stories about Mom."
I bent down to her level.
"What did Dad say?"
"He said Mom likes pink, loves pomelos, hates cold winters, and dreams of the sea and grasslands. And that she loves me very, very much."
It turned out Pei Yuchuan had been talking about me in front of the child all this time.
Pei Xi smiled at me.
"And even though Mom is not around, Mom often prepares gifts for me."
Gifts?
I paused in surprise.
Pei Yuchuan and I had lost contact for three years. The gifts were all locked in the cabinet. How could she have received them?
But she recited them like a list.
"Last month, Mom sent me building block toys. The month before, a reading pen and puzzles. There were also dolls, princess dresses, crystal shoes, butterfly hair clips..."
She listed so many, and finally smiled sweetly.
"All from Mom. The other kids were so jealous."
It seemed these were all sent by Pei Yuchuan in my name.
He had given Pei Xi plenty of love, making up for the missing mother's love too.
Osmanthus flowers fluttered down outside the window. Pei Yuchuan was waiting for us by the windowsill.
We tacitly understood and celebrated Pei Xi's third birthday together.
During the day, we took her to the amusement park for some fun.
Pei Yuchuan carried a children's water bottle and sweat towels with him.
Pei Xi drank a lot of water and sweated easily.
Afraid she would catch a chill, Pei Yuchuan would tuck the sweat towel into her undershirt.
He changed it every so often.
It was obvious he had been hands-on caring for the child all these years.
He knew Pei Xi loved the carousel and the honey pot ride.
Without her even asking, he would buy her colorful balloons.
Pei Xi held our hands as we walked through the castle. It gave me the illusion that we were a real family of three.
When the father and daughter were not looking, I secretly snapped a photo of them.
But the instant I pressed the shutter, Pei Yuchuan seemed to notice and turned toward the lens.
He smiled cooperatively.
It was a simple action, but it made my heart skip a beat.
In the evening, we celebrated Pei Xi's birthday by the hot spring in the garden.
The little girl's eyes sparkled as she made her wish devoutly in the flickering candlelight.
I thought her wish would be about herself.
But she clasped her hands together and said seriously, one word at a time,
"I hope Mom has everything go her way, endless happiness, and always does what she likes."
I was slightly stunned.
"Why wish for Mom?"
She stood on tiptoe and gave me a big kiss on the cheek.
"Dad said Mom had a difficult labor when she gave birth to me and stayed up all night in the delivery room. I hope Mom can be safe and healthy from now on."
"I have Mom and Dad's love, so I will grow up happy and healthy."
Her eyes curved into crescents like a little angel, melting my heart completely.
Kids go to bed early. A little after eight, the nanny came to carry her away.
I watched Pei Xi disappear from view.
The area by the hot spring suddenly fell quiet, leaving only Pei Yuchuan and me.
He noticed me still staring in the direction she had gone and asked softly,
"Cannot bear to let Pei Xi go?"
I had missed her so much already. Seeing her again only to part made my heart ache with melancholy.
I nodded lightly.
"Yeah."
He said nothing more.
Pei Xi was gone. It was not right for me to stay. I was about to leave.
But he suddenly called out from behind,
"Wen You, is she the only one you cannot bear to leave?"
Before I could reply, he stepped forward abruptly, closing the distance between us.
In the lonely hot spring area, he lowered his head to gaze at me. I could even feel the warmth of his breath.
"What about me? Can you really bear to leave me?"
His nose was nearly touching mine.
His familiar, pleasant scent filled the air. Images of us kissing passionately flashed through my mind.
Right now, if I just tilted my head up a little, our lips would touch.
But reason won out.
I stepped back with all my strength, desperate to escape.
But I forgot the hot spring pool was right behind me.
My foot slipped into nothing, and I fell into the pool.