4. Birthday wish

The morning of Lin Xiaoran’s sixteenth birthday arrived with clear skies and blooming peach blossoms.

Sunlight streamed through her bedroom window as she opened her eyes.

For a moment, she simply lay there smiling.

Birthdays were special.

Not because of presents or cake.

But because they made her feel as though she had taken one small step closer to her dreams.

Downstairs, the smell of breakfast filled the house.

The moment Xiaoran entered the dining room, her parents smiled.

“Happy Birthday!”

Her mother placed a small peach blossom-shaped pastry in front of her.

“Make a wish.”

Xiaoran laughed.

“It’s too early for wishes.”

“It’s never too early for wishes,” her father said.

Closing her eyes, Xiaoran made a silent wish.

A good year.

Good grades.

And maybe…

Her cheeks warmed.

She quickly pushed the last thought away.

Some wishes were too embarrassing to admit.

⸻

School passed in a blur of birthday wishes, small gifts, and teasing from Su Nian.

“Did your mysterious prince send you anything?” Su Nian whispered during lunch.

Xiaoran nearly choked on her drink.

“What prince?”

“The one whose name starts with C.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Liar.”

“I am not.”

“You absolutely are.”

Xiaoran buried her face in her hands.

Her best friend was impossible.

⸻

That evening, the Lin family prepared a small birthday celebration.

A chocolate cake sat in the center of the dining table.

Colorful lights decorated the living room.

Haoyu was busy stealing strawberries from the cake when their mother caught him.

“Stop that.”

“I was quality testing.”

“You already tested three.”

“They passed inspection.”

Everyone laughed.

The atmosphere felt warm and familiar.

Comfortable.

Home.

Then the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Haoyu said.

A few moments later, voices drifted from the entrance.

One voice immediately caught Xiaoran’s attention.

Her heart skipped.

No way.

Before she could process the thought, Haoyu returned.

And beside him was Chen Yuze.

“Happy Birthday.”

The simple words made her freeze.

He remembered.

Out of all the people he knew, out of all the things he must have been busy with…

He remembered.

“T-Thank you.”

Great.

She was stuttering again.

Yuze smiled slightly.

“You always seem surprised to see me.”

“Because you keep appearing unexpectedly.”

“Fair point.”

Haoyu laughed.

“She’s got you there.”

⸻

Dinner was lively.

The adults chatted happily.

Haoyu told embarrassing childhood stories.

Unfortunately, most of them were about Xiaoran.

“You should’ve seen her when she was six.”

“Haoyu.”

“She cried because a cartoon rabbit moved away.”

“Haoyu.”

“She made a funeral for a goldfish.”

“HAOYU.”

The entire table burst into laughter.

Even Yuze.

Although, unlike everyone else, he looked slightly apologetic.

Which somehow made it worse.

⸻

After dinner came cake.

The lights were dimmed.

Candles flickered softly.

“Make a wish,” her mother said.

Everyone watched expectantly.

Xiaoran closed her eyes.

This time, she made only one wish.

I hope everyone I care about stays happy.

When she opened her eyes, the candles disappeared beneath one breath.

Applause filled the room.

The celebration continued.

Presents were opened.

Photos were taken.

Laughter echoed through the house.

For a while, everything felt perfect.

⸻

Later that evening, guests began leaving.

The adults moved into the kitchen.

Haoyu disappeared upstairs.

The house finally became quiet.

Xiaoran stepped into the garden.

The night air felt cool against her skin.

Peach blossoms swayed gently beneath the moonlight.

She loved this place.

Whenever she needed to think, she came here.

A few minutes later, footsteps approached.

She turned.

Chen Yuze stood beneath the peach tree.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The scene felt strangely familiar.

Like the first day they had met.

“I almost forgot,” Yuze said.

He reached into his bag.

Again.

Xiaoran blinked.

“You always have something hidden in that bag.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He handed her a neatly wrapped package.

“For your birthday.”

Her eyes widened.

“You already came to the party.”

“That’s not a gift.”

“It kind of is.”

“Open it.”

Curious, Xiaoran carefully removed the wrapping paper.

Inside was a beautiful hardcover sketchbook.

Its cover was decorated with delicate peach blossom illustrations.

Even more surprising—

Her name was engraved in silver lettering.

LIN XIAORAN

For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

“It’s custom-made,” Yuze explained.

“I thought you’d like it.”

Like it?

She loved it.

No one had ever given her something so thoughtful before.

Her fingers brushed the cover gently.

“It’s beautiful.”

A smile appeared on Yuze’s face.

“I’m glad.”

Xiaoran looked up.

“Thank you.”

This time, there was no stuttering.

Only sincerity.

⸻

Then she noticed something tucked inside the first page.

A folded note.

She opened it carefully.

Written in neat handwriting were just a few words:

“Keep drawing, Xiaoran.

One day, people will know your name.”

For a second, the world seemed to go quiet.

Nobody had ever believed in her dream so openly.

Not even herself.

Yet somehow, Yuze always did.

Her chest tightened with emotion.

Not sadness.

Not happiness.

Something in between.

Something warm.

Something precious.

⸻

The wind stirred the peach blossoms overhead.

Petals drifted slowly through the night air.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

The moment felt too perfect to interrupt.

Finally, Yuze looked at the sky.

“Sixteen already.”

Xiaoran smiled.

“I’m getting older.”

“Still younger than me.”

“By a lot.”

He laughed.

“Don’t remind me.”

For some reason, his smile seemed softer tonight.

Gentler.

As though he was seeing her differently.

Only for a moment.

Then the feeling disappeared.

⸻

Soon, it was time for him to leave.

At the front gate, Xiaoran held the sketchbook tightly against her chest.

“Thank you again.”

“Happy Birthday, Xiaoran.”

The way he said her name made her heart flutter.

Then he waved and walked away beneath the streetlights.

She watched until he disappeared from view.

Only then did she look down at the sketchbook again.

The silver letters reflected the moonlight.

A small smile appeared on her face.

This birthday gift would become one of her most treasured possessions.

Not because it was expensive.

Not because it was beautiful.

But because it came from the person who unknowingly occupied so much space in her heart.

And as peach blossom petals drifted through the night, Xiaoran made another silent wish.

A secret wish.

One she would never tell anyone.

Not yet.

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