CH 8

Shen Kanyu was out buying birthday presents for father and daughter. Looking at the calendar, their birthdays were coming up. He just so happened to receive a large bonus, so he has the money to buy them both something nice.

***

On his way home, Shen Kanyu had a sudden whim to celebrate his birthday—it may be his last.

Although he couldn’t quite make out the exact date of his birthday and was even a little unsure how old he was this year, but if it was his last birthday, he must celebrate it one way or another.

Generally, others celebrate birthdays by visiting a theme park, throwing a party, or eating a big meal, and so on. If nothing else, at least there must be a cake, but to Shen Kanyu, these were too costly and unrealistic. 

What other way was there to celebrate?

After he spoke he gripped the phone very firmly in his hand and pressed it hard against his ear, as if he was afraid he’d miss a single word Gu Yansheng speaks.

Gu Yansheng was silent for a long while before dully laughing, “Your birthday? How many birthdays do you have in a year? One moment you say you were born in Spring, the next you say your birthday is on Qixi2. What are you playing at?”

[T/N: 2Chinese Valentine’s Day; Summer in China]

Shen Kanyu gripped onto his phone as he blankly gazed at the clock on the wall. He resembled an old and discolored painting. There was no color on his face, and even his lips were gray. 

I’m not. 

I just actually can’t remember the exact date of my birthday. Although it’s written on my ID, I always can’t clearly remember it because I’ve never celebrated it before.

I just really want you to celebrate my birthday. Just once. I don’t need a present or a cake. Just sing me the birthday song once. It doesn’t matter which day. The day you sing it for me is my birthday, I promise in one year I only want that day, I won’t want more. But now I don’t want it anymore, can you not be angry.

I just started missing you a little right after I left.

Though he really wished to say these words to him, he’ll be hated. It wasn’t easy for him to not be that hated recently, A-Sheng was even willing to stay home more.

“No, not playing at anything. I was just…joking with you, A-Sheng,” Shen Kanyu spoke with some difficulty. Although his voice was hoarse and weak, it still overflowed with gentleness and joy. “Actually it, it’s that your birthday is coming up haha. You’re such a busy person you can’t even remember your own birthday, so I was just trying to remind you and wish you well in advance.”

“A-Sheng, I’m wishing you a happy birthday in advance~ always be happy~” Shen Kanyu’s smiling eyes curved, “This year I’m the first person to wish you well, you must remember it!”

“…..” Gu Yansheng sighed. “Stop doing lame things.”

“Okay~” 

This manner in which Shen Kanyu responded to Gu Yansheng was like an obedient child in school who listens to the teacher well. From out of nowhere, Gu Yansheng’s heart tightened. He let out a soft cough then spoke lightly, “I’m hanging up.” 

Making a call just to say some puzzling words, he even thought something had happened. 

***

Ever since Gu Yansheng called him out for faking his own birthday, Shen Kanyu had been so terrified he didn’t dare provoke him. The closer his birthday drew, the more anxious Shen Kanyu became, and he felt this present became harder and harder to give. 

Were it any other time, he wouldn’t be this thin-skinned3, but it was Gu Yansheng’s birthday. It was such an important occasion, why did he pick this time to upset him?

[T/N: 3Thick-skinned = shameless]

He picked out the bones in the codfish very carefully, lightly sighing.

So troublesome ah, if only A-Sheng didn’t hate him that much. If so, how would he have this many worries?

The little glutton Gu Yutian made her way into the kitchen, gripped onto Shen Kanyu’s trousers, and raised her small head pitifully. “Papa, egg yolk puffs.”

Shen Kanyu shook his head in a very firm manner. “You’ve already eaten it once last week. No way you’re eating it again. It’s too sweet, your teeth will rot.” 

Gu Yutian’s mouth crumpled, wanting to cry, “Papa bad, don’t love Tiantian, don’t give egg yolk puffs, Daddy gives it.”

“Daddy loves you the most, of course he’ll spoil you.” Facing the baby’s soft and adorable complaints, Shen Kanyu remained stubborn, “I won’t be like that.”

Gu Yutian angrily knocked her plump fist against his calf and mumbled, “Papa is the baddest! Don’t love me! Then I won’t love you too!”

“Huh? Fine, think I’ll be afraid of a little thing like you?” After this direct retort, he paused, suddenly thinking this was a great opportunity to brainwash the child. Hence he immediately followed up with, “Baby, it’s okay to not love Papa. But your Daddy is the person who loves you most in this world, so you have to love him very much in the future, okay?”

Sniffling, Gu Yutian’s baby voice said in a harsh tone, “I know, you don’t need to say it. And you can’t fight over Daddy with me.”

“I won’t I won’t, I definitely won’t.” After washing his hands, Shen Kanyu crouched down to fix the little girl’s messy hair, his voice gentle and soft, “Tiantian, if Papa is gone one day, you’ll love Daddy well, right?”

Gu Yutian blinked, “Eh? Where are you going?”