Chapter 147: No Birthday Gift?

Xu Yanfeng was in the dorm, having just returned from playing ball with someone; his chest heaved, his forehead bangs wet with sweat, he wore a thin black long-sleeve, his distinct-knuckled fingers tugged at the collar, trembling, as if he felt no early spring chill.

By the wall sat a box of bottled water; Chen Mian bent over, pulled out two bottles, and tossed one to Xu Yanfeng.

Xu Yanfeng had just touched the phone on the desk when something flew over from the side; he caught it without even looking.

Witnessing this, Chen Mian let out a "whoosh": "That aim—no wonder making three-pointers is as easy as breathing."

Xu Yanfeng didn't reply, twisted open the cap, and drank about half the bottle.

He habitually checked his unread WeChat messages and emails; a red dot appeared on Moments—it was Xia Xi's profile picture—and tapping it showed her post from half an hour ago.

Is today her birthday?

He didn't know.

Xu Yanfeng scrolled through the photos, focusing on the last one. Xia Xi stood surrounded by several people like stars around the moon, wearing a brightly colored small cap, holding a cake, squinting one eye, her smile radiant. Beside her was a tall, handsome guy making a scissor sign above her head, tilting his head slightly, pulling up one corner of his mouth, smiling cool and arrogant.

He and Xia Xi had few mutual friends—just a few Student Union department heads—who liked her post and left messages wishing the beautiful girl a happy birthday and eternal joy.

Xia Xi replied to each with thanks, adding a playful emoticon.

Xu Yanfeng typed "Happy Birthday" four characters in the comment box, paused, deleted them all, retyped the same four characters, then deleted them again.

After repeating this a few times, he grew irritable, locked his phone, and went to the bathroom to shower.

After one shower, he felt refreshed, as if the messy emotions in his mind had been washed away; Xu Yanfeng sat back at his desk, turned on the computer, and got to work.

Suddenly, the phone resting beside him rang.

For some reason, he had a hunch it was a message from Xia Xi.

Xu Yanfeng deliberately ignored it, his ten fingers flying over the keyboard; a few minutes later his typing slowed, he resignedly picked up the phone, glanced at the message lying across the screen, and sure enough, it was from Xia Xi.

She had specifically reminded him that today was her birthday.

Xu Yanfeng stared at the message for a moment, then, going with the flow, sent his wishes: "Happy Birthday."

Xia Xi had been waiting for a reply until she was almost asleep when the phone suddenly buzzed; she jolted, and saw the plain four characters. Anyone else would have been fine with that, but if it was Xu Yanfeng, she wasn't satisfied.

WeiaiXYF: "Just that?"

The hypocrite: "Otherwise?"

WeiaiXYF: "No birthday gift?"

As soon as she sent the message, Xia Xi realized her mistake, felt a flush of heat, hurriedly recalled it, and thought to herself, "What a thick skin I have, Xia Xi, making it seem like I'm asking him for a gift."

Xu Yanfeng had been watching his phone, so he naturally didn't miss her recalled message.

He was quite candid: "I didn't know beforehand, so I wasn't prepared."

Upon hearing that, Xia Xi felt satisfied—even happier than receiving a gift—"Does that mean if you had known in advance you'd have prepared a birthday gift for me? Can I understand it that way?" She blamed herself for not doing her job well, forgetting to hint at him beforehand.

The hypocrite: "Going to sleep."

WeiaiXYF: "Don't change the subject!"

After a while, Xu Yanfeng sent no further messages, seeming to have really gone to sleep; Xia Xi pursed her lips at the phone screen, not believing he was asleep. She wished she could see through the screen to him.

That Friday the Student Union held a small meeting; Xu Yanfeng didn't attend, and Xia Xi sat bored in her chair, tormented, listening to the department heads' speeches, which made people drowsy.

The Secretary Department head stood up to give the final summary, and before adjourning dropped a bombshell: "We haven't had a group meal in ages; I applied yesterday with the Chairman, and he agreed to get together tomorrow. Everyone, if you're free, please come, and you can bring friends."

The listless bunch instantly became lively, and the meeting room filled with mocking laughter.

"Where are we eating? Surely not another buffet, right?"

"Can we bring a few friends?"

"Is it at a restaurant or a picnic? Do we need to prepare anything?"

"Can't wait!"

Xia Xi didn't care about these details; she only cared whether Xu Yanfeng would attend tomorrow's gathering.

The Secretary Department head cleared his throat, his face mysterious, and teased everyone: "The venue for the gathering will surely satisfy everyone. This is a plan I weighed for a long time; I thought the Chairman wouldn't agree, but he was generous and finally said yes."

"Can't you stop with the riddles? Spit it out—where exactly are we gathering?" an impatient person slammed the table.

Even the listless Xia Xi had her curiosity piqued; she adjusted her lazy posture, straightened her back slightly, and fixed her gaze on the unable-to-contain-his-excitement Secretary Department head.

Once everyone's emotions were stirred, the Secretary Department head revealed the answer: "The Chairman has a large villa in the urban area; you've probably heard of it but never seen it, right?"

Someone hearing this guessed it, eyes lighting up: "Don't tell me tomorrow's gathering is at the senior's villa."

"Congratulations, you got it right!" the Secretary Department head laughed, "So I just said everyone should come if they're free—this opportunity comes once in a lifetime; miss it and there's no next time. You don't need to prepare anything; just show up. If you insist on preparing, then dress nicely. Our gathering this time is in party format."

Everyone clapped excitedly, shouting "Long live!"

"Don't say you have nothing to do tomorrow; even if you're busy, I'd crawl my way there!" someone joked.

After the meeting ended, Xia Xi gathered the notebook and pen she'd used to record the minutes, packed them into her bag, and meanwhile pondered what to wear to tomorrow's gathering. Since it was being held at Xu Yanfeng's villa, he would surely be there.

She drifted back to the dorm in a daze, then started rummaging through boxes, pulling out her summer dresses in advance.

The other three weren't there, presumably out eating; when they returned, Xia Xi still hadn't picked an outfit.

"Honey, what are you doing? When I walked in I almost thought our dorm had been robbed." Zhao Lei, on her period, looked a bit pale, spoke without her usual vigor, weak and listless.

Xia Xi, exhausted, leaned against the wardrobe with arms crossed: "Tomorrow the Student Union has a gathering; I'm looking for something to wear."

"A gathering… does it really need to be this elaborate?"

"You don't understand; the department head said it's party style, so we should dress nicely." Xia Xi said, unable to keep from lowering her eyes and giving a small smile, "Am I just here for the gathering? I also want to attract guys, so I have to put in extra effort."

Zhao Lei chuckled.

Xia Xi said, "The gathering is at Xu Yanfeng's private villa; they said we can bring friends, it's tomorrow Saturday, and since we're free, do you want to come with me to join the fun?"

Zhao Lei would have liked to go, but considering her usual menstrual pain, she had to decline: "I can't; today is just the first day of my period, tomorrow will be the heaviest flow, so I'd better stay in the dorm and lie still."

Wang Qiuyu: "I can't go either; I have to visit relatives tomorrow and won't be back for most of the day."

Wang Qiuyu has an aunt in Nancheng; she's been invited to eat at her place a few times before but felt embarrassed and refused each time; this time she can't get out of it, so she has to go.

Xia Xi turned her gaze to Wu Qinglu: "What about you? You wouldn't also have something going on, would you?"

"I have nothing going on. I'm actually quite eager to see a rich person's big villa." Wu Qinglu smiled with a small mouth, but she had a concern: "I don't seem to have suitable clothes; do we all have to wear formal attire?"

Xia Xi laughed: "That's not the case, just be casual."