Chapter 258: Cake

The chocolate-exchange ritual, unique to Valentine's Day, finally concluded amidst this strange atmosphere of both joy and sorrow.

After a brief outpouring of emotion, Senior Cuique quickly composed her expression, restoring her usual emotional management, and silently handled work from the Material Realm on the sofa.

However, just as she thought today's activities had ended and nothing else should theoretically happen, she found that Lin Xiaolu and the others still looked quite busy, bustling around the workbench.

Were they cleaning the chocolate-making tools? But if it was just cleaning, why did it need so much time?

Feeling slightly curious, so when Bai Jingxuan, one of the three, left the workbench midway and passed by the sofa, Senior Cuique specifically asked: "What else are you going to do?"

Bai Jingxuan, who had been called out, hesitated slightly, but seeing that it was Senior Cuique asking, she quickly cast aside this hesitation and honestly replied: "We are making a cake."

"A cake?"

This answer made Senior Cuique slightly surprised: "You also bought a cake-making kit?"

"Yes, we originally planned to finish the cake after making the chocolate this afternoon, but it is much more complicated than imagined."

Bai Jingxuan also showed a hint of fatigue at the appropriate moment: "So when Mom came back, we were still watching videos to study how to make it."

Probably because Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang were not looking this way, Bai Jingxuan directly called her "Mom." This feeling of doing things behind the backs of the other two made Senior Cuique feel a bit strange, but she did not care too much, and as usual tacitly accepted Bai Jingxuan's address, continuing to ask:

"Then why are you still making this cake today? If you are tired, rest now; isn't it better to do it tomorrow?"

In her mind, the reason the three juniors wanted to make a cake was simply that the little girls, after buying chocolate-making tools and materials, had sparked their craft-loving sentiment and wanted to challenge a higher-difficulty dessert. The Fang Ting squad had done such things before, so it was not surprising.

"Tomorrow will be too late; it won't work."

However, Bai Jingxuan shook her head and gave an answer that made Senior Cuique feel her heart skip a beat: "We must finish the cake today and then take it to celebrate Little Lu's sister's father's birthday."

"... Hmm?" The impact was too sudden for Senior Cuique to even speak, so she could only express her confusion with a sound.

Then, in an instant, she realized that if what Bai Jingxuan said was true, she now seemed to be in a very dire situation.

It was not strange for these little girls to know her birthday; after all, she had previously mentioned these things to Bai Jingxuan in the identity of Lin Yun. As her daughter, Lin Xiaolu should theoretically know as well. As for Xia Liang, relying on her ability to gather information, learning such information from the other two was only a matter of time.

"Is today his birthday? That is quite coincidental."

Trying to tell herself to stay calm in her mind, Senior Cuique thought while asking in a slightly stiff tone: "How do you plan to celebrate his birthday?"

"Sister Little Lu said to make a cake first and have a video call with her father, and then mail the cake back to the Material Realm."

Bai Jingxuan did not notice Senior Cuique's imperceptible change in expression and answered naturally: "She already discussed it with the shop clerk yesterday."

"I see, that sounds like a good idea."

Senior Cuique felt restless, glancing toward Lin Xiaolu while continuing to feign a relaxed appearance: "Then will you still have time to finish the cake today?"

"Hmm... it should be soon?"

Bai Jingxuan blinked twice, suddenly opening her mouth with an "Ah": "I almost forgot; Sister Xiao Liang asked me to come here to help her get her phone."

Thinking of this, Bai Jingxuan lowered her head and began searching for Xia Liang's so-called phone on the low table beside the sofa.

But Senior Cuique knew there was no phone here at all; after all, she had been sitting here for half a day, and there was clearly nothing on the table beside her.

She could not help but look up at the workbench, watching Xia Liang who was busy at the table with Lin Xiaolu. The other party also seemed to notice Senior Cuique's gaze, so she raised her head and made faces at Senior Cuique from afar.

Senior Cuique could not help but sigh.

Now, she understood everything.

Undoubtedly, as the only one among the three juniors who knew about her identity issue, Xia Liang knew today was her birthday, and after Lin Xiaolu planned to make a cake specifically to celebrate, she must have been very clear that things would evolve into the current situation.

The reason she used such a clumsy excuse to send Bai Jingxuan to the side of the sofa was that both of them knew Bai Jingxuan was a good child who generally would not lie, so as long as Senior Cuique asked anything casually, Bai Jingxuan would definitely ignore Lin Xiaolu's opinion and directly say "we are making a cake."

Thus, Xia Liang completed passing the message to herself and let herself know the current situation.

So, what exactly should she do now?

Senior Cuique thought for a moment, then quickly reached a conclusion: No matter what, she absolutely could not stay here any longer.

"Xiao Xuan."

Having figured this out, she first pretended to answer a phone call, then put on a serious expression and looked at Bai Jingxuan: "I have a slight matter and might have to go out again; remember to rest early."

"Oh... hmm?"

Raising her head from beside the low table, Bai Jingxuan looked at Senior Cuique with some confusion: "Go out? It is already very late."

"No choice; someone sent me a message; it is an urgent matter."

Standing straight up from the sofa, Senior Cuique patted Bai Jingxuan's shoulder: "Don't worry; I will return as soon as possible."

Saying this, she left the position of the rest area and walked toward the outside of the observation room; naturally, on the way she had to pass by the workbench and saw the cake, more than half finished, in front of Lin Xiaolu.

"Sorry, there is an urgent matter; I am going out."

She looked as if something had really gone wrong with her work, looked seriously at Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang, and said calmly: "If you are tired, remember to rest early."

"Eh? Going out now?"

Lin Xiaolu, who had been concentrating on dealing with the cake, could not help but look at Senior Cuique and asked almost the same question as Bai Jingxuan; however, the issue she considered was different from Bai Jingxuan's. She subconsciously looked at her cake: "Then, this..."

"I heard; you plan to celebrate your father's birthday, right?"

Senior Cuique nodded, as if really talking about something that had nothing to do with her: "I think it is wonderful; keep it up; he should be happy."

"Hmm, hmm, thank you?"

Accepting Senior Cuique's wishes with a somewhat subtle expression, Lin Xiaolu pressed her lips together: "Um, Senior Cuique, are you going to handle something very urgent? I mean... our cake is almost done; why don't you stay a bit longer and join us..."

"Sorry."

Senior Cuique made herself show a slightly regretful expression: "I also think your matter is very meaningful, but there is indeed an urgent matter now; afterwards, I will send him a blessing message separately."

Having said this, she gave Lin Xiaolu no chance to continue persuading her and lifted her leg to walk toward the door.

After leaving the observation room and walking a distance further, her steps became faster and faster, until finally, she was completely jogging, fleeing as if escaping.