Chapter 112: “Birthday Star, Open Your Presents”

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The curtains in the bedroom were half drawn, and the lamplight was soft and languid. Threads of ambiguity wove themselves into a net that enveloped the two of them.

Outside, a torrential rain was still falling, the drops striking the window again and again with a muffled rhythm.

The man's breath was hot and damp against her face, and his kisses surged with even greater force than the storm outside.

Urgent and uncontrolled, leaving her no room to retreat.

Qiao Zhen was pressed against the bed, soft moans escaping from her lips as she instinctively hooked her arms around him.

A rosy flush spread across her face. Her eyes were veiled in mist, and she could barely breathe.

Her lips, the tip of her tongue, the roots of her ears... everything had grown feverishly hot, and her head was beginning to swim.

Qiao Zhen felt as though she were about to drown once more in Qin Yichi's scorching embrace. It was like a swamp—once she sank into it, there would be no way out.

They had not been kissing for long when, through the thin fabric between them, she suddenly felt a change in Qin Yichi.

The moment she realized what it was, her body went limp, her mind went blank, and her lashes began to tremble involuntarily.

Qin Yichi slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was dark and unreadable as he reluctantly released Qiao Zhen's red lips and drew back.

Qiao Zhen's cheeks grew ever redder, and her voice grew softer. “Qin Yichi, how could you...?”

How could one kiss make him...

Qin Yichi gazed at her intently, a faint smile touching his eyes. His voice was seductive, each word measured:

“Because it isn't only my heart that likes you.”

“My body likes you too.”

The next second, he suddenly took Qiao Zhen's hand.

Her heart began to race. She felt something cold against her fingers.

Turning to look, she saw a ring gleaming with silver on the middle finger of her left hand.

A ring worn on the middle finger of the left hand signified that its wearer was in love.

Qiao Zhen's eyes lit up at once. She immediately took it off for a closer look. The ring was exquisite and delicate, and engraved inside the band were Qin Yichi's initials: QYC.

“I have one too. They're a matching pair.” Qin Yichi took out another ring that looked almost identical and slipped it onto his finger.

The only difference was that the inside was engraved with Qiao Zhen's initials.

Qin Yichi said, “The rings are called ‘Named After You.’”

The two rings seemed to bear silent witness to a beautiful love.

After putting hers back on, Qiao Zhen tapped her ring against Qin Yichi's. A clear, pleasant chime rang out.

She curved her lips unconsciously, revealing two dimples, and her voice brightened with delight.

“Is this a birthday present? I love it!”

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Seeing how happy she was, Qin Yichi could not help smiling as well.

“This isn't your birthday present. It's simply something I've wanted to give you for a long time, and today happened to be the day.”

“As for your birthday presents, I'll go bring them over.”

Qiao Zhen sat at the edge of the bed and watched as Qin Yichi push in an enormous gift box from outside, one big enough to hold her inside.

When the box was opened, it revealed numerous beautifully wrapped gift boxes in different colors and sizes.

Qiao Zhen's eyes widened as she stared at the dazzling array. “There are this many?!”

Each gift box also bore a number, from one to nineteen.

Qiao Zhen seemed to realize what was coming. “Are they presents for every year from age one to nineteen?”

Qin Yichi nodded lightly. “Mm.”

A warm current instantly flowed through Qiao Zhen's heart, and her voice trembled. “But... you gave me a birthday present every year before.”

Why go to so much trouble? Why be so thoughtful and meticulous?

Was he really trying to move her to tears?

Qin Yichi shook his head instead and looked into her eyes. “The meaning is different. I'm giving these to you now as your boyfriend.”

His tone was casual as he reached over and ruffled Qiao Zhen's hair. “This kind of birthday gift has been popular online. It's a little clichéd and a little tacky, but I saw everyone else doing it, so you had to have it too.”

“Little birthday girl, open your presents.”

Every word struck the lake of her heart like a pebble, sending ripples spreading outward.

Holding back her emotions, Qiao Zhen opened the red gift box marked with the number one. Inside was a bracelet featuring a koi fish and a jade peace pendant.

The liveliness of the red koi and the serenity of the white jade blended together beautifully, symbolizing unending good fortune, peace, and auspiciousness.

A smile spread across Qin Yichi's face, and the beauty mark beneath his eye seemed to sway along with it.

“Zhenzhen is a lucky little koi, blessed with good fortune.”

At his words, Qiao Zhen paused, and her heart suddenly missed a beat.

It felt as though a lump of cotton had lodged in her throat, leaving her unable to say a word.

Truly, this was the first time anyone had ever told her that she was blessed with good fortune...

The gift box for age five was sky blue. Inside was a wind chime.

Blue crystal butterflies hung from it, their wings translucent and lifelike, shimmering with an enchanting radiance.

When she lifted it, the chimes rang out clearly and sweetly, as though the entire strand had suddenly come alive.

He said, “When you bloom, the butterflies will come.”

Qiao Zhen's lashes trembled faintly, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

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She continued opening the birthday present for age twelve, nervous and delighted, as though she were unwrapping a mystery box.

Inside were a hairpin and a wooden comb, both carrying a faint, lingering fragrance.

In ancient times, such objects were tokens of love, symbolizing enduring affection and the wish to grow old together, side by side, for a lifetime.

Qin Yichi curved his lips. “Do you remember? You were in the fifth grade then, and you had grown your hair very, very long. It nearly reached your waist.”

“But the boy who sat behind you was a nasty little brat. During class, he took a pair of scissors and cut off a lock of your hair, then refused to apologize, acting utterly arrogant. When I found out, I charged over and beat him up like a madman. In the end, the teacher even called our parents in to make us apologize.”

Qiao Zhen's eyes grew hot at once, tears glimmering in them. “I remember...”

She remembered every bit of it.

By the time she had opened several more birthday presents, her vision had gradually blurred with tears.

There were matching shoes and clothes for couples, beautiful flowers, cosmetics, perfume...

So there really was someone who would treat her like a princess, someone who would go to every length to make her happy.

Qiao Zhen sniffed and threw herself into Qin Yichi's arms, burying her small face against his chest. She secretly wiped her tears on his pajamas and choked out, “Thank you. I really love them...”

You gift-giving hero.

Qin Yichi smiled and rubbed her head. “I'll move the box to your place tomorrow. Go take a shower first.”

“Oh, and I've prepared pajamas and a bath towel for you too.”

With reddened eyes, Qiao Zhen nodded and turned toward the bathroom. She could not help marveling at how considerate he was.

How could anyone not fall for a man like this?

But after her hot shower, when Qiao Zhen picked up the pajamas and examined them carefully, her heart died completely.

She stared at them in disbelief, her ears so red they seemed ready to burn.

No... Why did these pajamas look exactly like a bikini?

The fabric was of excellent quality, but there was pitifully little of it. A layer of pale pink gauze surrounded the garment, light enough to be lifted with ease and reveal the skin beneath.

Qiao Zhen gritted her teeth and changed into them. They were comfortable enough, but—

What was the difference between wearing them and wearing nothing at all?

They looked as though they had been designed specifically for the purpose of... bringing a man and a woman together.

Qiao Zhen's face was practically smoking. She opened the door a crack and called out, “Qin Yichi, why... why did you prepare pajamas like these for me?”

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