Birthday? Lu Aotian was momentarily stunned.
That was right. It was his birthday. He had forgotten all about it.
Now everything made sense; she had been acting strange today. No wonder the little girl kept him busy by trying on dresses and shoes. It was to give her mother time to prepare this.
"My love, do you like it?" She probed shyly.
"No."
"Oh..." her eyelids drooped.
Lu Aotian held her by her waist. "I love it."
Wan Jia's sweet smile returned. She hooked her arm with his and led him to the table.
Rushed footsteps were heard. Little Jia appeared at the door, wearing a miniature one piece version of Wan Jia's gown. Her signature pigtails now had crystal hearts on them. She was out of breath as she held a red and a white rose in each hand.
"Happy birthday Daddy."
She gave the red rose to her mother and shyly presented the white one to her father.
Wan Jia presented the red rose at the same time.
With a charming smile, Lu Aotian accepted the roses with one hand each. With his childish princesses, it would be safer to take them at the same time.
The 'childish princesses' who were waiting to see whose rose he would take first were both satisfied.
Little Jia sat at the left side of Lu Aotian. Wan Jia was opposite them.
"My love, make a wish." She pushed the cake before him.
He smiled and closed his eyes to make a wish. As soon as he blew the candles, both the mother and daughter looked at him in anticipation.
"Daddy, what did you wish for?"
"It's a secret." He smiled.
Little Jia frowned but let him off. It was his birthday after all.
Wan Jia had expected that reply. She pressed something on the dining table.
A short moment later, a servant rushed in carrying a tray.
Wan Jia took it and placed it in front of Lu Aotian. "This is sweet and sour pork ribs. I cooked it myself."
"It's delicious." He said.
Wan Jia frowned. "You haven't even tasted it."
"I don't need to. Just one look is enough to prove its taste."
She took a piece and shoved it into his mouth. Sure enough, it was just as delicious as it looked.
Wan Jia served dishes for Lu Aotian and Little Jia. The man had a warm smile plastered across his face. So this was what his wife had been up to. She was too cute.
Lu Aotian did not like celebrating his birthday and never made a big deal out of it. Wan Jia on the other hand, would use up all her brains just to give him a birthday surprise. This year's was not the grandest but it was the most special to him.
...
After the delicious meal, Wan Jia took Lu Aotian's hand and was about to lead him to her room.
At that moment, someone came running in. "Bro, happy birthday. Tsk, you're so old. Thirty?"
He had a box of something and wanted to give it to Lu Aotian. When he saw Wan Jia's glare, he cowered away.
Eer...did he interrupt something he shouldn't?
"Second Uncle!" Little Jia jumped onto him as soon as she saw him.
"Uncle's favorite baby, did you miss me? You look very pretty. " Lu Shaoting picked up his cute niece.
Wan Jia ignored the uncle and niece and pulled Lu Aotian upstairs. She was counting on Lu Shaoting to keep Little Jia away. She was uneasy...she had something to discuss with him.
As soon as they entered her room, Lu Aotian pinned her against the wall and kissed her.
"Not so fast Mr. Lu." She pushed him gently.
Then she took a box from her dressing table and gave it to him.
"I get a birthday present too?" He had not expected it.
"What do you think?"
"What is it?"
"If I told you what it is, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, now would it?" She was even more uneasy.
Lu Aotian opened the box and found....a file?
Wan Jia stood in front of him and looked at him, not directly in the eye. "Lu Aotian, I would like to end our engagement."
Lu Aotian's heart skipped a beat. "You're terminating our engagement?"
Wan Jia's expression turned serious. She looked at him and took a deep breath. "Read the papers."
Lu Aotian's hand trembled. Why was she terminating their engagement? Weren't they perfect together? What happened?
He slammed the file onto the floor without opening it and only spat out one word.. "Never!"
Wan Jia picked up the file and gave it back to him. "Lu Aotian, you have to."
He looked at her, trying to find something in her eyes but he was too confused to do so. All he saw was the seriousness in those eyes. She...
He held her wrist dangerously. "You prepared a birthday surprise and dressed up for me...just to tell me this? Is this your way of saying goodbye?"
She did not dare to look into his eyes. "Yes."
"Why?"
Wan Jia tried to pull her wrist back. He only tightened his grip. "Have I not loved you enough? Did I do something that upset you? Did someone threaten you into this?"
Initially he thought it was a prank of sorts but when he saw the seriousness in that innocent pair of eyes...he knew that she meant it. Was history repeating itself?
Not again...
He couldn't take it.