Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 154 Hairband
The morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, gently falling on Shi Ning's face, like a tender caress from nature.

Shi Ning slowly woke up, stretched lazily, completely unaware that a birthday party full of surprises and warmth was being quietly prepared.

Jiang Man got up early, went into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and prepared to make a sumptuous birthday breakfast for her daughter.

She skillfully took out flour, eggs, and milk, intending to make Shi Ning's favorite cream pancakes.

As Jiang Man stirred the batter, she mentally planned out today's schedule, a happy smile unconsciously spreading across her face.

Meanwhile, Qin Yishen and Shi An were also busy. Qin Yishen went out to the cake shop to pick up the birthday cake he had ordered. It was a two-tiered cake decorated with pink buttercream flowers and a cute little bear, every detail revealing his doting affection for Shi Ning.

At home, Shi An carefully blew up colorful balloons and hung them one by one on the living room wall. She also made a beautiful birthday card by hand, filled with blessings and encouragement for her younger sister.

"I hope Ning'er will be happy in the new year and fulfill all her little wishes."

As Shi An wrote, she murmured to herself, her eyes full of tenderness. Soon, an enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen; Jiang Man's cream pancakes were finally ready.

She arranged the muffins neatly on a plate, topped them with sweet cream, and garnished them with fresh strawberries and blueberries, making them look both delicious and beautiful.

"Ning'er, wake up, time for breakfast!"

Jiang Man walked to Shi Ning's room and called softly. Hearing her mother's voice, Shi Ning quickly got dressed and came out of the room.

When she saw the colorful balloons and cozy decorations in the living room, her eyes lit up and she covered her mouth in surprise.

Happy birthday, Ning'er!

Jiang Man, Qin Yishen, and Shi An shouted in unison, their faces beaming with happiness.

"Wow, thank you all! I completely forgot it was my birthday today!"

Shi Ning excitedly ran over and hugged each of her family members, her heart filled with emotion. The family sat around the dining table, enjoying a delicious breakfast, their laughter echoing throughout the house.

Looking at her family, Shi Ning felt a warm glow in her heart and thought she was the happiest person in the world. After breakfast, Shi Ning went to school.

Before leaving, Jiang Man handed her a delicate little box containing a beautiful bracelet, a birthday gift she had specially chosen for her daughter.

"Ning'er, this is a birthday present from Mommy. Do you like it?"

Jiang Man asked gently. Shi Ning opened the box and saw the sparkling bracelet; her eyes welled up with tears.

"Mom, I love it so much, thank you!"

She hugged Jiang Man tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time.

"Hurry up, don't be late! We have a surprise for you tonight!"

Qin Yi smiled and patted Shi Ning's head. Shi Ning went to school filled with joy and anticipation. At school, she received birthday wishes from her classmates and was immersed in happiness all day.

Finally, school was over, and Shi Ning couldn't wait to run home. As soon as she entered the house, she smelled a familiar fragrance.

It turned out that Jiang Man had specially made Shi Ning's favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, cola chicken wings, and Kung Pao chicken to give her an unforgettable birthday dinner.

The table was laden with a sumptuous meal, with a beautiful birthday cake in the center, and the candle flames flickering gently in the breeze.

"Ning'er, you're back! Come and try Mom's cooking," Jiang Man greeted her with a smile. Shi Ning walked to the dining table, looked at everything before her, and was moved to tears. "Thank you all, I'm so happy."

She choked up as she spoke. The family sat together, enjoying a delicious dinner and sharing stories of their lives. Shi An also told Shi Ning some funny stories from school, making everyone laugh.

After dinner, it was finally time to cut the cake. Jiang Man and Qin Yishen lit the candles together, and Shi Ning closed her eyes to make a birthday wish.

Shi Ning clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and silently made a beautiful wish in her heart.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

Her family sang "Happy Birthday" to her, their voices warm and beautiful. As the song played, Shi Ning opened her eyes, blew out the candles, and then shared the delicious cake with her family.

After dinner, Shi An handed Shi Ning a birthday card he had made.

"Ning'er, this is a greeting card I made for you. I hope you like it."

Shi An said somewhat shyly. Shi Ning took the greeting card, carefully looked at every word on it, and was filled with emotion.

"Brother, I really like it, thank you."

She looked up at Shi An, tears welling in her eyes. Qin Yishen also took out the gift he had prepared, an extracurricular book that Shi Ning had always wanted.

"Ning'er, I hope this book can accompany you through wonderful times and help you learn more knowledge."

Qin Yishen said with a smile.

"Thank you, Dad. I will definitely watch it carefully."

Shi Ning took the book and said happily.

Night fell, and the stars twinkled in the sky. Shi Ning was sitting on the living room sofa, reminiscing about the warmth of her birthday earlier that day, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
She got up and opened the door, and saw Chen Yu standing there. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Chen Yu, what brings you here?"

Chen Yu was a little nervous. He scratched his head and said with a smile, "Shi Ning, happy birthday! I saw you celebrating with your family during the day and didn't want to disturb you, so I'm giving you a gift now."

As he spoke, he took out a delicate little box from behind him and handed it to Shi Ning.

Shi Ning took it and curiously opened it, revealing a beautiful headband inside. The thin silver strap was inlaid with tiny rhinestones, shimmering softly under the light, with a small pink bow in the center, delicate and adorable.

Shi Ning's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, what a beautiful headband! Chen Yu, thank you!"

Seeing that she liked it, Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief and a shy smile appeared on his face. "I remember you said you liked these sparkly little trinkets, so I picked this one. I hope you like it."

Shi Ning gently picked up the headband and put it on, looking at herself in the mirror from left to right. She turned to Chen Yu and asked with a smile, "Chen Yu, does it look good?"

Chen Yu looked at her, his heart racing, and nodded with a blush, saying, "It looks good, it suits you perfectly."

The two stood at the doorway, silent for a moment, an unusual atmosphere filling the air. After a while, Chen Yu spoke, "I won't bother you anymore. Get some rest, see you tomorrow."

Shi Ning smiled and waved her hand, "Okay, thank you for the gift, see you at school tomorrow!"

Chen Yu turned and left. Shi Ning watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on her lips. She clutched the headband tightly in her hand, her heart filled with sweetness.

She returned to the living room, carefully placed the headband on the bedside table, and looked forward to wearing it to school the next day.