Summer Green Apples

In the courtyard, the birthday celebrant is cutting the cake.

Chi, thanks to his good relationships with others, managed to get a large slice of the pie.

He took the plate to the living room.

The main light in the living room was off, only the small lights on the edges were on, making the lighting somewhat dim. Most of the people in the room were girls, sitting in small groups, chatting.

When he brought in the cake, many girls' eyes fell on him.

The boy had long legs and broad shoulders, with a cold and indifferent expression. He walked straight to the sofa.

"..."

He stared blankly at the three people huddled together on the carpet, talking.

Especially Ji Xiwen on the side.

Several empty wine bottles were scattered in front of me.

"Ji Xiwen".

His voice was chilling.

The girl was wearing a light yellow sweater, her bun was a little messy, and her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol. When she heard her name called, she slowly raised her head.

Her clear eyes were shimmering.

"...What's wrong?"

She said slowly.

Chi then squatted down in front of her. "Do you know how strong this liquor is?"

Ji Xiwen frowned. "What kind of wine?"

Chi Sui pointed to the empty bottle next to her with her empty finger.

"This is not alcohol."

Ji Xiwen said seriously, "This is juice, apple juice."

Chi Sui: "..."

Alright, I'm already drunk.

He stared at her face, frowning, his expression somewhat fierce. "Open your mouth."

"Why are you opening your mouth... um..."

Ji Xiwen opened her eyes wide as the boy stuffed a mouthful of cream into her mouth.

A silver spoon rested against her lower lip, white cream clinging to the edges, her soft lips resembling newly ripened cherries on a branch.

"Is it good?" Chi asked.

Ji Xiwen answered a beat late: "Delicious, sweet."

The spoon left again.

Chi Sui said, "This piece was originally for you, but now you can only have one bite. Do you know why?"

Ji Xiwen shook her head in distress, "I don't know."

"Because you don't listen."

"I don't."

Ji Xiwen looked at the person in front of her with displeasure.

He was very handsome, with deep-set eyebrows and heavy eyes. His bangs were a little messy from the wind, but his expression was particularly cold.

"I really didn't," she insisted.

Chi looked at her for two seconds, then completely gave in, "Fine, you don't have it. It's not my problem."

He placed the cake in Ji Xiwen's hands, saying, "These are all for you."

Ji Xiwen looked down at the cake, which had a layer of chocolate shavings on top, a small, bright red strawberry on top, and white icing sprinkled on top.

"Are you giving them all to me?"

She spoke softly.

"Otherwise what?"

Chi tilted his head to look at her.

"Don't we have to share with others?" Ji Xiwen asked again.

"No need." Chi Sui raised his head and rubbed her head.

Ji Xiwen smiled happily, took a bite of the cream, and found it very sweet.

She had just eaten barbecue and drunk a lot of fruit wine, so she was too full and couldn't eat more than a couple of bites.

"I'm full," she said softly, a little embarrassed.

"We're full, so let's stop eating and go home first," Chi Sui said.

"It's not good to waste food. I'll take it back and put it in the refrigerator to eat tomorrow," Ji Xiwen said.

Chi Sui: "…………"

He hesitated, his gaze falling on her pale cheeks, her eyelashes trembling slightly, like the wings of a butterfly suspended in mid-air.

He compromised again, "Fine, take it back."

The two got up and left.

Zhang Qingyan, who was pretending to be drunk, sat up and exchanged a glance with Li Zhaozhao.

The two clinked their glasses again.

it is more than words.

-

On the way back, Ji Xiwen quietly leaned against the window, looking at the night view outside.

Chi carried the cake, which she had only taken a few bites of, all the way.

The ride-hailing car was parked at the entrance of the courtyard.

"arrive."

Chi then took the cake out again.

The moonlight was like water, and the courtyard was deep. Ji Xiwen was wrapped in her coat, and her fingers were also tucked into her sleeves.

The wind was a bit cold, and she walked ahead.

The boy followed casually behind her.

The two entered the living room one after the other to change their shoes.

Chi put the cake in the refrigerator and turned to look at Ji Xiwen.

She sat obediently in a corner of the sofa, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes wide open, as if she were listening attentively to a lesson.

Chi Sui felt a strong urge to try it.

He walked over and reached out to pinch Ji Xiwen's cheek.

It's very soft, like the tofu pudding you can buy every afternoon at four o'clock outside the alley. It's moist and will fall apart with the slightest touch of a spoon.

Chi Sui's fingers were very cold, which made the heat on his cheeks even more noticeable.

He unconsciously lingered for a few more seconds.

He had wanted to do it back in that little villa, but there were people all around.

Ji Xiwen paused for two seconds, then lightly brushed against his finger.

It feels cool and comfortable to the touch.

"Ji Xiwen..."

The boy's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He awkwardly withdrew his hand, cleared his throat, and asked, "Are you still sad?"

Ji Xiwen blinked. "Sad?"

She thought about it seriously for a while.

When she's drunk, she doesn't make a fuss or cry; it's as if her brain just slows down a bit, and she speaks and does things in a sluggish manner.

"I'm not sad anymore."

Why am I no longer sad?

"Because I ate cake."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, revealing deep dimples. "Thank you for the cake."

"You like cake that much?" Chi Sui raised an eyebrow. "You should have said so earlier. I would have bought you cake every week from now on."

"I only like the cakes given to me."

Ji Xiwen hugged the pillow and solemnly declared this point.

Chi Sui simply found her blank expression amusing, and with a smile, he asked, "What's the difference?"

"have."

She thought for a moment, then beckoned to Chi Sui with her finger, "Come here, I'm telling you, but don't tell anyone else."

Chi Sui sat on a small stool, leaned closer, and said, "Go on."

They were very close.

The girl's breath tickled his ear. "I'll tell you something."

She was like a primary school student whispering to her deskmate in class, "I especially dislike having the same birthday as Ji Mingqiang, and I don't like buying those toy car cakes. I like the pretty ones with little bears and flowers, but my aunt always takes Ji Mingqiang to pick out cakes."

She gestured with her hand, "I only get a small piece of cake each time."

Chi Sui was completely stunned. He looked into her moist eyes and asked again, "Celebrating your birthday with Ji Mingqiang?"

"right."

Ji Xiwen pursed her lips and nodded.

Chi Sui: "Why do you want to share the same birthday as him?"

Ji Xiwen said, "Because our birthdays are only one day apart."

Splitting it into two days for the trip was not worth it for my family.

Chi Sui remained silent for a long time, his eyes only slightly red.

It's getting more and more popular.

Ji Xiwen subconsciously gripped the pillow. She didn't understand what was wrong with him, but a sour feeling welled up in her heart.

"you……"

She only uttered one word.

The boy turned his head hastily, and a tear fell from his eye.

Ji Xiwen loosened her bolster again.

Chi Sui composed himself and was about to say something when a soft touch landed on his forehead.

I could faintly smell apples and wine.

"Pop—"