204 Birthday Surprise
“Yes, I do.”
She had long wanted to come back to take a look. Unfortunately, Lin He and Shen Cheng had sold the house. She would never have the chance to return to this place where she had grown up. If not for Lian Jing, it would probably just be a memory.
Just like she had as a girl, Shen Yin pushed open the heavy wooden door and looked at the chair in the living room with a dazed smile.
That was where her grandfather always sat. She had not expected it to still be around.
“Why did you think of buying this place for me?”
Shen Yin turned her head to look at the man behind her, and her gaze unconsciously softened.
“Because I know what you want.” Lian Jing held her hand and brought her to the main hall. He showed her the dry well in the courtyard and the tall willow tree. They stopped at the swing in the courtyard.
Shen Yin examined her surroundings She missed every blade of grass and every tree here.
These memories, which she thought would only remain in her mind forever suddenly came alive. This place that she once called “home” belonged to her in another way.
Shen Yin could not help but grip Lian Jing’s hand tightly. She stood under her favorite old tree from her childhood and looked at Lian Jing with sparkling eyes. “Thank you for your gift. I like it very much.”
It was true that she did not have a happy childhood, but this place still carried many memories of her grandfather. At this moment, the memories that should have been heavy suddenly grew light, like insubstantial duckweed. Something weightier suddenly emerged and invaded her heart.
Lian Jing smiled and pulled her into his arms. His thin lips brushed against her ear, and his breath landed on her neck. “Are you cold?”
“A little.” It was almost winter, so it was certainly cold so late at night.
Lian Jing stood up and looked around. His voice was low and hoarse. “When this place is renovated, I can stay here with you for a while.”
“Lian Jing.” Shen Yin suddenly called out to him. Perhaps only his name could fill her heart now.
“What?” Lian Jing looked down at her and waited quietly for her to continue.
Shen Yin blushed and took his hand coquettishly. “Why are you so good to me?”
Lian Jing’s gaze became deep and gentle. He pulled her into his arms and stroked her long hair. “Because you are my woman.”
A domineering but classic answer.
Shen Yin could not help but laugh out loud. Under Lian Jing’s close gaze, she stopped laughing and tugged at his sleeve to coax him. “Alright, let’s go back. I feel cold.”
By the time the car drove back to the Lian family’s house, it was already midnight.
Lian Jing parked the car but was in no hurry to get out. He held Shen Yin’s hand and made her close her eyes.
Something cold touched her finger. Shen Yin opened her eyes in surprise and suddenly saw a red agate ring on her thumb.
“It’s Grandpa’s thumb ring!” Shen Yin clasped her fingers in surprise and caressed it lovingly.
Grandpa used to love these small thumb rings, but after he passed away, Shen Yin never saw them again. How had Lian Jing found this?
How many surprises had he prepared for her?
“Most of his things have been sold. I only found this one.” Lian Jing had started preparing these two birthday presents a long time ago just to make her truly happy today. He had not expected her to cry instead.
“Lian Jing, if you’re so good to me, I can’t bear to leave you in the future.” Shen Yin threw herself into his arms. Her tears fell on his clothes, but she refused to get up.
Lian Jing’s arm that was hugging her suddenly stiffened. He smacked her butt as if he was punishing her. “Who gave you permission to leave me? Don’t even think about it. The woman that I, Lian Jing, fancy, will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Shen Yin smiled through her tears and gave him a reproachful look before opening the car door and getting out.
Lian Jing followed closely behind. He followed her to her room and pulled her back into his arms. A fire was burning in their hearts. They urgently needed to do something to calm their inner turmoil.
A person only had one birthday a year and it had passed, but the night was still long.
When the alarm clock rang the next day, Shen Yin rubbed her aching back and struggled to get out of bed. The man beside her had already gone to the office. He seemed to have an important meeting to attend that morning, and before he went to bed, he had even instructed her to eat breakfast on time.
Shen Yin felt pleased. After tidying up, she went downstairs to eat.
Shen Nian had already finished his milk and was putting on his shoes at the entrance. When he heard the commotion upstairs, he knew that she had come downstairs. He winked and teased, “Mom, you’ve become lazy. Dad went to work early.”
“Wait for me. I’ll send you to school.” Shen Yin rubbed her sleepy eyes, grabbed the slices of bread on the table, and stuffed them into her mouth.
Shen Nian waved his hands to stop her. “Dad asked the chauffeur to send me to school. I can go by myself.”
“Then be careful on the road.” Shen Yin waved goodbye to her son, but Zou Sheng suddenly called.
“Dr. Shen, something bad has happened. There’s a murder case in Chengxi. Hurry up and take a look.”