The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

Xiaoxue slowly pushed open the door. As soon as the door opened, there were two loud popping sounds. She didn't know what it was, but it sounded like a lighter exploding, which startled her.

Before she could even see what was inside, she turned around and buried her head in Ye Shu's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and squeezing herself into his embrace.

That rocket header looks so familiar!!!

Ye Shu was knocked back two steps by the bump, but she immediately caught her and patted her on the back.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't be afraid."

"Happy birthday!!!"

Xiaoxue heard someone behind her say "Happy Birthday," and then slowly opened her eyes and turned around.

Chen San San and Qin Li Li were each holding a firework tube and looking at them.

Because Xiaoxue was too scared, she didn't see any of the fireworks falling; she could only see the confetti on the ground and on Ye Shu's head.

Xiaoxue was still in a daze, her mind hadn't quite caught up.

But she also saw her mother and father in the private room. Her father was holding a teacup and drinking tea, while her mother was smiling gently at her.

"Birthday???"

Xiaoxue was so frightened by the two loud slapping sounds that tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up at Ye Shu, who was also looking down at her, and asked softly:

"Surprised? Unexpected?"

Xiaoxue really forgot her birthday; she didn't remember it at all today, or perhaps she simply doesn't know when her birthday is.

In the past, her parents would always remind her of her birthday; if they didn't, she definitely wouldn't remember.

After all, this body is used by several people in rotation, so who would remember what day it is today?

And to be honest, she no longer feels anything special about birthdays.

Because her parents accompany her every year, Aunt Liu will cook a table full of dishes for her, and then her parents will sing her a birthday song, let her make a wish, and eat cake.

Although her parents would unconditionally grant her any wish on that day, she didn't have any wishes at that time.

Or perhaps, one has wishes that cannot be fulfilled.

It was just me all along, nothing surprising or different.

But today is different. Today there is San San, Li Li, Dad and Mom, and... him.

"This was... arranged by you?"

Xiaoxue looked at Ye Shu, her voice trembling slightly, whether from being frightened or moved, it was hard to tell.

Ye Shu reached out and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, and smiled:

"It was prepared by everyone. Sister Chen Xing is not in Nancheng right now, so I didn't inform her. But Xiao Tao asked me to tell you to wish her Sister-in-law Xiao Xue a happy birthday."

Xiaoxue blinked, then looked back at the other people in the private room, and suddenly burst into tears.

This time, her crying was different from the one in the afternoon. This time, she buried her head in Ye Shu's arms and cried loudly, looking very pitiful.

Ye Shu saw that Xiaoxue was crying, but she couldn't just stand in the corridor and cry like that. What would the passing waiters think?

He carried Xiaoxue in his arms and moved step by step into the house.

Xiaoxue also followed, backing away step by step, and moved into the private room.

Qin Lili quickly closed the door to the private room from behind.

To be honest, Xiaoxue's crying made everyone else feel quite awkward.

Especially Chen San San, she stood there, still clutching an empty firework tube in her hand, her expression changing from excitement to guilt.

Oh no, I think I scared Sister Xiaoxue to tears.

She secretly glanced at Qin Lili, who remained quite calm, pulling up a stool and sitting down next to her.

An Jianxing sat opposite her, and seeing his precious daughter crying so pitifully, he frowned and was about to get up.

But Shen Jingwan stopped him, smiling and shaking her head, indicating that he should mind his own business.

An Jianxing wanted to say something more, but he sighed and lowered his head to drink his tea.

Ye Shu carried Xiao Xue into the private room, found a stool and sat down. Xiao Xue sat facing him, on his lap, her arms around Ye Shu's neck, her face pressed against Ye Shu's shoulder, sobbing.

Ye Shu held her, gently patting her back to comfort her. He looked up at Chen San San, who seemed a little unsure of what to do, and smiled.

"It's nothing, I was just touched."

Upon hearing Ye Shu's words, Chen San San breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought she had caused trouble, but it turned out she was moved.

She stuck out her tongue, gave Ye Shu an OK sign, and then pulled up a chair and sat down.

No one in the private room said anything or urged anyone to hurry up. They just waited quietly for Xiaoxue to calm down.

Ye Shu was still holding Xiao Xue, her body swaying slightly back and forth, gently patting her back, and softly saying:

"Okay, okay... don't cry anymore, don't cry."

Xiaoxue wiped her tears on his shoulder, didn't say anything, but tightened her arms around his neck.

In Dream of the Red Chamber, Jia Baoyu said, "Girls are made of water, while men are made of mud."

That's absolutely right. Why is Xiaoxue crying so much?

Ye Shu had just cried in the afternoon, and now she was crying again in the evening. She felt that the area around her neck was completely soaked with tears.

Moreover, Xiaoxue had been lying in bed with him all afternoon and hadn't drunk much water. Now that she was crying like this, Ye Shu was afraid that she would become dehydrated.

He held Xiaoxue in his arms, freed his hand to pick up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea, then patted Xiaoxue's back and coaxed her softly.

"Come on, Xiaoxue, drink some water to rehydrate before you cry, otherwise you'll all get all dry from crying, ugh!!!"

He had barely finished speaking when he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.

Embarrassed by Ye Shu's words, Xiao Xue opened her mouth and bit his shoulder.

Who did he learn this from?

Who taught her to pinch her lower back and bite her shoulders?

Xiaoxue opened her mouth, blushed, and raised her head. Tears still clung to her eyelashes, and her eyes were red. But looking at Ye Shu's gaze, she felt a mixture of shame, anger, and reproach, as if asking, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Ye Shu turned her head and glanced at her shoulder. Apart from the area that was wet with tears, there was also a small ring of teeth marks on her clothes.

He looked at Xiaoxue, who was sitting on his lap with a red face. She had already cried and bitten him, but now she was embarrassed.

Xiaoxue got off Ye Shu's lap, stood on the ground, and looked down at the carpet.

She glanced at Chen San San, then at Qin Li Li, her face flushing even more, and whispered:

"I'm sorry... Thank you all, I'm really happy..."

After she finished speaking, she noticed the confetti on the ground. She thought for a moment, then added quietly:

"Um... I didn't see it just now... Could you play it again?"

"Yes, there are more. It's good that we bought a lot."

Qin Lili stood up and took out a few more firework tubes from a bag on the cabinet next to her. She gave one to Ye Shu and one to Chen San San, and took one for herself.

Xiaoxue stood there, her hands unconsciously clenched together and placed on her chest.

Then the three of them, along with An Jianxing and Shen Jingwan sitting next to them, all looked at Xiaoxue.

"Three, two, one..."

Happy birthday, Xiaoxue!!!

With a few snaps, confetti flew everywhere, and various colors slowly drifted down.

Xiaoxue stood in the rain of confetti, looking up at the confetti and the people behind it, her eyes narrowing into slits with laughter.

This time, Xiaoxue didn't cry.