Chapter 112: Other Gifts

“So, what’s wrong, Xiangxiang?”

An Yu lay with her head on Ning Wanciu’s lap, looking expressionlessly at Huai Xiang.

Today, she had taken only a short nap—an unusual occurrence—because Cheng Shimumeng’s house had so many fun games.

She planned to remember them all and play them with Ning Dongli later.

Because Ning Dongli liked games too.

But for some reason, Xiangxiang seemed a little strange. 

She looked… angry?

It had started when she began playing against Cheng Shimumeng.

“N-Nothing, little An Yu.”

Though she said it was nothing, Huai Xiang’s face was full of embarrassment. She hadn’t wanted to look bad in front of An Yu, yet An Yu had noticed anyway!

Seeing her expression, An Yu knew it couldn’t really be nothing.

Then what could it be?

An Yu tilted her head blankly.

Hm…

An Yu calmly began to think.

Just now, Huai Xiang had played against Cheng Shimumeng, lost, and hadn’t put up much of a fight.

Oh, she got it.

“Xiangxiang, it’s okay.” An Yu spoke softly, as if trying to comfort her. 

“It’s fine if you’re not good at this game. We can switch to another one.”

If this game didn’t suit her, they could just try the next.

That was exactly what An Yu did—switch to the next one if she couldn’t get any kills.

She still hadn’t found one where she could get kills!

After two days of playing with Ning Dongli and only managing to kill one bot, An Yu thought this very matter-of-factly.

“Ugh…”

Looking at An Yu’s serious expression, Huai Xiang nearly lost it.

The comfort had completely backfired.

Now even An Yu thought she wasn’t suited for this game. Damn that wicked woman—it was all her fault!

If Cheng Shimumeng hadn’t crushed her so badly, she wouldn’t have ended up like this!

Completely forgetting that she had been the one who wanted to crush Cheng Shimumeng in the first place, Huai Xiang fumed silently.

“Mhm, good girl. It’s okay. The next one will be more fun.”

Seeing that Huai Xiang still hadn’t cheered up, An Yu propped herself up, reached out, and gently patted Huai Xiang’s head.

Feeling the warmth on her head, Huai Xiang blinked instinctively.

Physical closeness with An Yu was nice, but something about it felt… off.

Still, whatever.

“Waaah, little An Yu~”

Huai Xiang threw caution to the wind and whined at An Yu, completely forgetting that Ning Wanciu was sitting right there.

Fortunately, Ning Wanciu was considerate. She stayed quiet, knowing that speaking up now would only make Huai Xiang more embarrassed.

But unfortunately, there was a fourth person present.

Cheng Shimumeng carried the ordered cake back in and blinked in confusion at the scene before her.

Then, as if realizing something, the corners of her mouth curved upward. “What’s going on here?”

“Eek!”

Huai Xiang, who had been enjoying An Yu’s comfort, jolted at the sound of Cheng Shimumeng’s voice.

She whipped her head around and immediately saw Ning Wanciu’s helpless expression and Cheng Shimumeng’s face full of mockery.

All three fell silent, while An Yu merely blinked expressionlessly.

“Alright, Shimumeng, go set down the cake. Xiangxiang, go get the gifts!” 

Ning Wanciu instructed softly.

“Oh, oh!” 

Huai Xiang bolted away, fleeing the awkward scene.

She had just acted all spoiled toward a girl who looked younger than her, and her friends had seen everything!

She couldn’t show her face anymore.

“Pfft—hehe, got it~” Cheng Shimumeng couldn’t hold back her laughter, but she didn’t refuse. She carried the cake off to set it down properly.

Ning Wanciu shook her head helplessly. “Also, An Yu, it’s time to get up, okay?”

It was time. 

Birthdays meant eating cake and giving gifts.

“Oh.” An Yu nodded obediently.

Everyone seemed to listen to her big pillow, so she would too.

“Then let’s head over.” Ning Wanciu stood and smiled, extending a hand toward An Yu.

An Yu responded expressionlessly, reaching out as well. One large and one small hand clasped tightly together.

“Mhm.”

With Ning Wanciu’s help, An Yu easily stood up.

Hand in hand, the two walked to the dining table.

There, Cheng Shimumeng had prepared a table full of food, with a large cake placed in the center.

An Yu blinked, looked up at Cheng Shimumeng, but Cheng Shimumeng only smiled and said nothing.

An Yu pulled out a chair expressionlessly and slowly sat down, remaining silent as well.

This seemed to be… the first time anyone had ever celebrated her birthday.

In her previous life, she hadn’t even known when her real birthday was.

A rare trace of uncertainty appeared in An Yu’s eyes.

Seeing her reaction, Ning Wanciu felt a slight surprise, but she quickly put on a gentle smile.

She lightly stroked An Yu’s small head, her voice incredibly soft.

“An Yu, happy birthday.”

…Mhm, thank you.

Toward her big pillow… she should be polite.

An Yu raised her hand and gently held the one Ning Wanciu was using to pat her head, feeling waves of reassurance in her heart.

“Here it comes, here it comes!”

Just as the atmosphere grew warm, Huai Xiang came running back, breaking the mood.

She carried a gift box in her hands—goodness knew what it was for.

Huai Xiang hurriedly took her seat. Noticing the heavy silence, she looked up blankly.

“What’s going on?”

No one paid attention to the confused Huai Xiang. Ning Wanciu smiled and moved to sit nearby.

“Huh? Why isn’t anyone talking?”

Huai Xiang blinked, still not understanding.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, Xiangxiang, what’s that in your hand?”

At that, Huai Xiang stopped wondering and forced a stiff smile onto her face as she showed off the box.

“This is a birthday gift for little An Yu.”

A gift for An Yu?

That was odd. Both Ning Wanciu and Cheng Shimumeng had seen Huai Xiang’s original gift.

There was no way that thing could fit in a small box like this.

“My… gift?” 

An Yu looked at Huai Xiang and tilted her head in confusion.

Seeing An Yu’s gaze, Huai Xiang hurriedly explained. “Yes, yes—this is for you, little An Yu…”

She rambled on, but Ning Wanciu and Cheng Shimumeng exchanged a puzzled look.

They glanced at each other and immediately understood what Huai Xiang was doing.

She was just too embarrassed to give the ugly doll, that’s all. Huai Xiang was really easy to read.

Ning Wanciu shook her head, planning to stay quiet, but Cheng Shimumeng wasn’t so kind.

“Oh my, didn’t Xiangxiang buy another gift too?”

“W-Wait, Cheng Shimumeng!” 

Huai Xiang was in the middle of explaining to An Yu when Cheng Shimumeng suddenly exposed her.

“If I remember right, that thing is still in my room right now~”

“Hey!” This time, Huai Xiang completely panicked.

Unlike Huai Xiang’s flustered state, An Yu simply blinked lightly. 

“Xiangxiang, you prepared… another gift?”

An Yu, who had never received a birthday gift before, suddenly felt a genuine spark of anticipation.