Chapter Sixty-Seven: Happy Birthday

As March arrived, the weather gradually began to warm. As usual, Xiao Yan was not in the Shaohua Courtyard today. Since finishing lunch at noon, Shen Nanyuan had seemed somewhat mysterious. She went to the kitchen, and when Steward Li saw her, he was a little surprised.

“Miss, is there something you need?”

She smiled. “Indeed, there is.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I want to make a bowl of longevity noodles.”

“Longevity noodles?” Steward Li was even more astonished. “Is it anyone’s birthday today?”

“Let’s say it’s Xiao Yan’s. He doesn’t remember when his birthday is, but he came to the Duke Protector’s residence in March, so I chose today as his birthday. I’d like to make him a bowl of noodles.”

Making a bowl of longevity noodles was not difficult, but Shen Nanyuan wanted to do everything herself, so she started from kneading the dough with her own hands, with Steward Li instructing her at the side.

Watching his young mistress do such things while he, a servant, stood by, made Steward Li faintly uneasy. Several times he wanted to reach out and help, but she stopped him each time, leaving him helpless.

She even moved a chair for him to sit on, making the scene all the more odd.

“Just cook the noodles after dropping them in the pot, right?”

Steward Li nodded. “That’s right.”

Shen Nanyuan continued, “Then let’s wait until later to cook them, or else they’ll be cold by the time he returns.”

She was determined that her making the longevity noodles herself could not be discovered by Shen Sinian, or he would make a fuss about favoritism.

As evening gradually fell, when Xiao Yan returned to Shaohua Courtyard, he noticed that today’s atmosphere was a little different. Not even Qingrui or Jin Zhu could be seen in the courtyard; only a few other servants came and went, giving the place an inexplicable sense of desolation.

At this hour, they should have all been here.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly heard faint voices coming from the side room. He paused, then walked over.

Before he even reached the door, he heard low voices from inside.

“Luckily, I still have some preserved fruits left from the other day. Xiao Yan likes them.”

“Miss, those preserved fruits you’ve stocked up could last another three or five days.”

“It’s already dark outside, why isn’t Xiao Yan back yet?”

“Qingrui, go out and have a look.”

As the fourth voice finished, Xiao Yan encountered Qingrui, who had been sent out to check. She met his gaze, coughed lightly, and then raised her voice, “You’re back! Come in and rest.”

The previously noisy room immediately fell silent, so quiet that the drop of a pin could be heard.

Xiao Yan could not help but want to laugh. He deliberately responded with an indifferent tone, pretending not to know, “Where is the young mistress?”

Qingrui ad-libbed, “The young mistress went to dine with the old madam today.”

“I see.”

Xiao Yan nodded without changing his expression, but a flicker of curiosity lit in his eyes. He walked into the side room, and before he had a chance to look around, someone suddenly jumped out, shouting, “Happy birthday!”

The candles in the room flared to life, illuminating Shen Nanyuan standing before him with a steaming bowl of noodles in her hands. Her dark, glistening eyes shone like gems as she smiled at him. Jin Zhu and Steward Li stood to either side, each holding a red paper scroll. Apparently, Xiao Yan’s sudden arrival had caught them off guard, and the two fumbled to unfurl the scrolls.

On the left in large characters: “To Xiao Yan—”

On the right in slightly smaller script: “May your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea, your life as long as the Southern Mountain.”

The two flanked Shen Nanyuan, creating a scene both touching and somewhat comical.

Xiao Yan: “...?”

Qingrui, stifling a laugh, moved to his side and whispered, “It’s all the young mistress’s doing, hurry and praise her.”

“...” Xiao Yan coughed lightly, barely suppressing a smile. “Many thanks, young mistress.”

He paused. “...This is certainly unique. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

As boundless as the Eastern Sea, as long-lived as the Southern Mountain…

It was actually a fine blessing. He had only heard such words before on the old madam’s birthday.

Shen Nanyuan lifted her chin proudly. “I thought of it, of course it’s unique.”

She gently placed the noodles on the table. “Come quickly and eat your longevity noodles.”

Steward Li and Jin Zhu put away their red papers. “Miss made all of this herself. She spent the entire afternoon, even kneading the dough herself.”

A strange light flickered in Xiao Yan’s eyes.

Suddenly, he recalled something she had said a long time ago, echoing in his ears.

“From now on, let’s pick a day every March as your birthday. On that day, Steward Li should make more of your favorite dishes. He loves a lively atmosphere, so he should be quite happy.”

For a moment, his throat tightened inexplicably.

She had remembered everything she’d ever promised. His heart felt as if squeezed hard, tinged with bittersweetness. The dishes on the table were still steaming as he walked over, his throat almost choked with emotion.

The noodles tasted wonderful—better than anything he had ever eaten.

Shen Nanyuan watched him with wide, anxious eyes. “Is it good?”

“It’s delicious,” Xiao Yan nodded, his dark eyes bright. “The best noodles I’ve ever had.”

Shen Nanyuan finally relaxed.

She smiled and continued, “Let’s all eat together tonight.”

Jin Zhu promptly produced bowls and chopsticks from behind her. “I was waiting for you to say that, miss.”

Amid the lively chatter and under the gentle glow of the candles, every face was touched with a soft radiance. The warmth and happiness filled Xiao Yan’s once-empty heart, spreading a comfort he had never known to every part of his being. He lifted his eyes and finally let his gaze settle on Shen Nanyuan’s face.

She was smiling as she chatted with Jin Zhu and the others. Xiao Yan tightened his grip on his chopsticks, struggling to suppress the greed in his heart. He quickly lowered his eyes, letting his long lashes hide every trace of emotion.

That New Year’s night, she had asked him curiously what wish he had made.

It was not just that he feared saying it aloud would make it ineffectual—he was more afraid to say it at all.

The hidden longing in his heart, the desire he dared not reveal, for fear that if she ever knew, she might never draw close to him again. He guarded what remained of his reason with utmost caution, daring only to stay quietly by her side, treading as if on thin ice with every step.

She was kind to everyone; Xiao Yan knew he was not special. At first, he did not care, but slowly, over time, he could not say when it changed—he wanted to become the most special person in her heart.

“I am willing to give everything, hoping she will look only at me, hoping she will… care for me.”

That was Xiao Yan’s wish.

A wish buried deep within his heart, one he never dared to utter.