Oh no! My online romance partner is actually a Miao holy maiden!

"That's because I couldn't control myself. Besides, you were moaning so sweetly last night."

"Brother Yi, you still dare to talk back!" Bai Ling'er snorted and grabbed a cushion from the side, throwing it at Xu Yi.

Xu Yi dodged to the side and caught the pillow steadily.

Bai Ling'er huffed, "Hmph, get out!"

Xu Yi smiled, waving the plaster in her hand: "You really don't need my help?"

Bai Ling'er: "No need! I can do it myself!"

Xu Yi got up, picked up Bai Ling'er, and headed into the bedroom.

Bai Ling'er said fiercely, "Put me down, really, you don't need to..."

Xu Yi chuckled softly and gently placed her on the bed. "Ling'er, don't worry, I won't do anything reckless until you recover."

Bai Ling'er gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, her eyes as wary as a little white rabbit guarding against a big bad wolf.

She doesn't believe it!

Men are indeed...

"Get out of here right now."

Looking at her paper tiger act, Xu Yi couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh.

"Okay, okay, I'll put the ointment by your bedside. You can apply it yourself."

Xu Yi walked over, placed the ointment on the cabinet, and leaned down to gently kiss her smooth forehead.

"Rest well, I'm in the living room, call me if you need anything."

"I know! Get out of here!" Bai Ling'er muttered in a muffled voice, covering her face with the blanket.

Her brother Yi suddenly turned bad...

That's it, I'm afraid I won't be able to control things anymore.

Xu Yi helped her draw the curtains, closed the bedroom door, and quietly withdrew.

Back in the living room, Xu Yi straightened his clothes and rolled up his sleeves.

I first went to the kitchen to get a glass of warm water, and then washed the fruit.

I just placed the plate on the coffee table next to the sofa.

The bedroom door clicked open a crack.

Bai Ling'er peeked out with half her head and called out, "Brother Yi..."

Xu Yi turned around, raised an eyebrow, and smiled, "What? Need my help?"

Bai Ling'er held onto the door frame, moving slowly step by step, her little feet touching the floor.

I'm thirsty.

Xu Yi sighed, strode over, and picked her up in his arms again.

"Why didn't you call me when something happened? Why did you have to tough it out on your own?"

Xu Yi carried her back to the sofa, let her lean against the cushions, and handed her some warm water.

Bai Ling'er took the water glass and drank two sips.

He reached out, picked up a grape, popped it into his mouth, and squinted his eyes contentedly.

"Mmm, sweet!"

"Eat more if it's sweet."

Xu Yi leaned against her and casually took a blanket from the side and covered her legs with it.

"Brother Yi, I want a hug."

Xu Yi's heart softened when he saw Bai Ling'er's appearance.

He held her in his arms.

Before long, Bai Ling'er gradually felt sleepy.

She had been too rough last night and had just eaten a big meal, so she was lying on Xu Yi's body with her eyelids drooping wildly.

"Go to sleep if you're tired."

Xu Yi gently patted her back, his touch extremely tender.

"I won't sleep..." Bai Ling'er muttered softly, but her breathing quickly became even and long.

Xu Yi looked down at her sweet sleeping face, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

He carefully took the pillow and placed it under her head, then covered her with the blanket, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure.

Xu Yi quietly sat down in the other corner of the sofa.

He took out his phone, opened the notes app, and began planning Bai Ling'er's birthday celebration.

One year old: Longevity Lock

Two years old: Bracelet

Three years old: Fairy tale picture books + donut box

Four years old: Plush bear doll

Five years old: Custom-made Hanfu skirt

.....

Eighteen years old: High heels

Nineteen years old: .....

Upon seeing the nineteenth gift, Xu Yi stopped typing and fell into deep thought.

The first eighteen were all about making up for past regrets, but this nineteenth one had to be something that could represent their future.

Sending flowers? That's too tacky.

Sending a car? That seems a bit lacking in romance.

Giving away a necklace? It doesn't feel impressive enough as a nineteen-year-old's ultimate move.

Just as he was scratching his head in frustration, his WeChat suddenly started ringing incessantly.

In the WeChat group, messages started flooding in.

Zhang Wei: @Xu Yixu! Old Xu! Help! I've lost five games in a row in League of Legends, the enemy jungler is treating my jungle like his own backyard! Come carry me!

Chen Yang: Stop calling Zhang Wei, Lao Xu is with his wife today, he doesn't have time to listen to the howling of a single dog like you.

Liu Zheyuan: Exactly. Old Xu is now surrounded by beautiful women, who would want to go to jail in the canyon with you?

Zhang Wei: Damn it! You bunch of bastards who have no humanity when it comes to women!

Xu Yi glanced at the interactions in the group chat, his eyes darting around.

As the saying goes, three cobblers are equal to one Zhuge Liang.

Although these three brothers don't seem very bright, at least the other two, except for Zhang Wei, have girlfriends.

Xu Yi typed directly in the group chat.

Xu Yi: Brothers, stop talking nonsense, I have something serious to ask you.

Zhang Wei: Hey! Old Xu's popping up! What's up?

Chen Yang: Lao Xu, you speak.

Xu Yi: Next week is Ling'er's birthday. I'm planning to give her a big surprise.

Xu Yi: I plan to prepare nineteen gifts, from my first birthday to my nineteenth. I've already thought of the first eighteen, but I haven't decided on the nineteenth yet. Any suggestions?

The group chat went silent instantly.

For a full ten seconds, not a single message was received.

Just when Xu Yi thought no one had seen it, Zhang Wei sent a series of emojis.

Zhang Wei: ? ? ? ?

Zhang Wei: Lao Xu, are you even speaking human language?! From age one to nineteen?! A whole nineteen gifts?!

Chen Yang: Holy crap... Lao Xu, you're going to kill all the men in the world!

Chen Yang: Xiaoxiao and your wife have such a good relationship. If she knew, she'd definitely grab my ear and ask me why I didn't give her a belated gift when she turned one. Dude, you're pushing me to the brink!

Liu Zheyuan: I've learned it all! I'll use it for my partner's birthday too.

Xu Yi's lips twitched slightly as he typed a reply.

Xu Yi: Don't go crazy, hurry up and help me think of a gift that can kill the enemy with one blow?

Zhang Wei: Is there even a need to think about it? Just give her the property deed! Put her name on it! Typical domineering CEO tactics!

Liu Zheyuan: That's so tacky, so incredibly tacky! Wei Ge, do you even know what romance is? Nineteen is the true mark of adulthood, so you have to give her something with lasting sentimental value. Like... a handmade photo album? To record all the little things that have happened since you met.

Chen Yang: The first seventeen gifts in the album can all be included, but the nineteenth one must be the ultimate gift.

This reminder instantly sparked a breakthrough in Xu Yi's thinking!

Nineteen years old marks the moment when Bai Ling'er truly comes of age, and it is also the starting point for them to step into the future.

The first eighteen parts are about making up for the past, and the nineteenth part is about embracing the future.

Since it's about the future, it shouldn't just be an object, but a promise.

Xu Yi: I know what to send for the nineteenth one.

After closing the WeChat group, Xu Yi looked at the nineteen options filled in the memo and finally felt at ease.

He turned his head and looked at Bai Ling'er, who was sleeping soundly on the sofa.

The little girl, perhaps dreaming about something, pouted slightly, turned over, and hugged the blanket tightly in her arms.

Xu Yi walked over, squatted down beside the sofa, and gently smoothed down a stray strand of hair that had sticked up on her head.

"Nineteen years old..."

Xu Yi murmured to herself, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Don't worry, Ling'er."

I couldn't be a part of your past, but I'll take care of your future.