As soon as he stepped out of the room,
Yukino, Hiratsuka Shizuka, and Bunko all arrived.
Seeing the little one, Hiratsuka Shizuka was the first to come over and hug her: “Happy birthday, little Beichangtan! Do you like the gift from your sister?”
“I like it, I like it.”
Little Beichangtan nodded excitedly, holding a small Pikachu plush in her hand. Her beautiful eyes were filled with little stars, and her big smile made her mouth curve into a crescent shape.
Seeing this obviously happy expression on the little one's face, Hiratsuka Shizuka's heart blossomed—nothing could make her happier than having her heartfelt gift be loved by the child!
It was worth running all over Tokyo to find Pikachu merchandise for the little one. Just looking at her smile, Hiratsuka Shizuka felt it was all worth it, her vanity was bursting!
Yukino followed closely behind, holding a small backpack with little wings. She also gave the little one a hug: “Happy birthday, little Beichangtan!”
Taking the backpack, the little one's eyes lit up, “This is for me? Thank you, Yukino sister.”
She used to envy the school-going Lichtan and his friends for having backpacks.
Although she couldn't go to school, she now had one too.
“Little Tan, do you want to try it on?”
“Yes, yes, sister, can you tie the butterfly?”
“Yeah~ It's a flower butterfly~”
Yukino put the backpack on for the little one. The cute doll wearing a cute backpack looked even more adorable.
Bunko walked over to the little one and couldn't help but take out her phone to take a picture.
“The little one is so cute!”
“And there’s mine, Little Tan, Happy birthday.” Bunko handed over her gift, a brand new pink waist belt.
“Thank you, Bunko sister.”
The little one smiled brightly, her cheerful face was incredibly adorable.
Xiaoyu held a big bag of snacks and handed it to little Beichangtan with some shyness. She said, “Happy birthday, you know mine… we haven't made any money yet, the gift is quite cheap, don't dislike it.”
“This is mine, happy birthday little Beichangtan.” Xiaochien made a flower crown and put it on the little one's head.
“Such beautiful flowers!”
“I like it very much, thank you Xiaoyu sister! Xiaochien sister!”
Little Beichangtan happily spun around twice, laughing and thanking them. No matter what they gave her, even just saying happy birthday, she would be very happy.
#@#
After putting away their gifts, it was time for dinner.
It was rare for the little one to have a birthday, so naturally, Xia Tian showed off his culinary skills, preparing all kinds of delicious dishes.
Deep-fried meatballs, red-braised pork with prickly pear, hand-pulled mutton, etc.
The aroma wafting from the kitchen made the girls swallow hard.
Finally, Xia Tian brought out a bowl of longevity noodles and smiled at the little one, who was sitting politely in the main seat. He explained, “You ate some this morning, one long noodle in a bowl, it's called longevity noodles.”
“The longer the noodles, the better, symbolizing long life!”
“Wow!”
Everyone looked at the noodles in surprise, showing that they had learned something new.
“Thank you, brother~” The little one looked at the noodles in front of her, her eyes red. So, brother had already celebrated her birthday this morning.
“Your Yukino sister also prepared a cake. Today's birthday feast is a combination of Chinese and Western. Let's get started.”
Singing birthday songs, making a wish, blowing out candles, the ceremony was full of ritual.
After Little Beichangtan made a wish in a proper manner, everyone, including little Beichangtan, ignored the cake and went straight for the food on the table.
With Xia Tian's cooking, who would eat that bought cake? Yukino also knew this, so she didn't buy a big one.
“I’ve been craving Xia Tian brother's cooking for a long time. It’s so delicious I could cry~” Bunko was eating from her bowl while looking at the pot, using both hands, she wished she had another mouth.
“Good one~”
Hiratsuka Shizuka's cheeks were puffed out, her mouth was full of food and she spoke indistinctly, completely lacking the image of a teacher.
Xiaoyu was even worse, holding a chicken leg in one hand and meatballs in the other: “Delicious, delicious. Xiaochien, when’s my birthday? I want to eat like this next time too.”
“.....” Xiaochien was speechless, I don’t even know my own birthday, how would I know yours?
Xia Tian smiled: “Wait till next year, your one-year work anniversary, I’ll celebrate your birthdays.”
“Really? Thank you, boss!”
Little Beichangtan quietly ate her longevity noodles, taking a bite and looking at everyone. The dining table was full of people, it was the most lively birthday she had ever had.
Touched by this, the little one started to cry while eating.
Xia Tian put down his chopsticks and quietly hugged the little one.
In the warm embrace, little Beichangtan burst into tears.
Tears of joy!
Grandma said that Tan shouldn't cry, she should be strong and brave when living alone... even if life is hard, she should face it with a smile.
She used to do that, smiling while cooking, smiling while picking wild vegetables, smiling while looking for work, smiling while going hungry... smiling at everything life threw at her.
But at this moment, Tan just wanted to cry.
She had been alone for too long.
With so many people around her, the little one was afraid that it was all a dream. She was afraid that once she woke up, she would be alone again in the little wooden house.
Alone, wishing herself happy birthday.
Xia Tian felt a pang in his heart. He wanted to take this opportunity to move the little one out of his room, but now it seemed like he had to wait.
“Tan Tan, don’t cry. You’ve grown another year older today. From now on, your brother and sisters will celebrate your birthday with you every year, okay?”
“Hmm hmm~ I’m okay, brother. I’m just happy.”
The little one wiped her tears and tried to put on a big smile. She wasn't alone anymore.
She had a brother, a home, and many sisters.
She had a brother when she laughed,
And a brother when she cried.
She would have a brother for a long, long time to come.