Chapter 94: Not Even a Birthday Song?

On the third of March, their little one was turning one year old.

And, by coincidence, it was also the Lantern Festival.

Yu Zhile suddenly found himself troubled: how should they celebrate the baby’s first birthday?

Qin Haiyu’s parents had been fishermen, lost at sea when she was still very young. Her grandmother, who had raised her, passed away when she was in high school. So after leaving her hometown and marrying Yu Zhile, she had little contact left with any relatives from her family of origin.

As for his own side, theirs was a three-generation line with only one son in each generation. He was an only child, his father was an only child, and his mother had married far away, so there were not many relatives to visit or keep in touch with during the holidays, either.

So there would be no large gathering for the baby’s first birthday; it would basically just be the family celebrating together.

Yu Zhile thought for a while, but still could not decide how to celebrate the occasion. At last he asked, “Honey, what do you have in mind? Is anyone coming over?”

Qin Haiyu said, “For the baby’s birthday, Lingling will definitely come. I don’t know whether my parents’ side has any relatives or friends who’ll come. What about you, husband? Any classmates or friends you’d like to invite?”

Yu Zhile said, “There’s one classmate in the same city who still keeps in touch with me—the one who kept asking me out for dinner a few times before. As for relatives, probably none. After all, neither Dad nor I have siblings, and after Mom married Dad and moved so far away, our relatives haven’t really kept in contact over the years.

“But if I’m not mistaken, Dad will probably invite Old Liu over! And Old Liu might bring his fat little granddaughter. Counting that up, the five of us plus them makes nine people in all!”

Qin Haiyu suddenly asked, “Husband, should we invite your fan girl, Cai Qinqin?”

“…”

Yu Zhile said speechlessly, “Why invite her? We’re not even close to her!”

Qin Haiyu giggled. “You’re afraid she’ll bring a blade hidden in her bag, aren’t you? I think Cai Qinqin is quite nice, though. During the New Year, she even sent the baby a WeChat red packet!”

Yu Zhile said, “Better not invite dangerous people like that! If she ever exposed our address, then in the future I’d really have readers waiting at my front door!”

“Mm, now that you put it like that, it does seem dangerous,” Qin Haiyu said. “Then let’s not invite her. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll have Lingling buy groceries and come over. How about we set a table at home and celebrate the baby’s birthday here?”

“Works for me!”

Yu Zhile had no better idea anyway, so he might as well celebrate it like an ordinary birthday.

Thus he sent a message to Yang Bing: “My daughter turns one tomorrow. Free to come over and join the fun?”

Yang Bing replied, “Of course I’m free! I’m asking my supervisor for leave right now!”

Yu Zhile was not polite either. “Then hurry up and get the leave approved! Come early tomorrow and help out in the kitchen!”

“…”

In the kitchen?

All right, considering Qin Haiyu’s identity, this birthday would most likely be celebrated at home.

Only then did Yang Bing realize, “Come to think of it, I still don’t even know where you live!”

Yu Zhile sent him the address of the residential complex: “Come to the complex at noon tomorrow, and I’ll come out to pick you up!”

“Got it!”

Yang Bing agreed, then hurried off to find Director Zhang.

“Director Zhang,” he said, “I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, and both my mental and physical condition are pretty bad. I’d like to take some leave and rest.”

Director Zhang nodded. “Mm, you really have been under quite a bit of pressure lately. For the sake of the program, you didn’t even go home during the New Year holiday to rest. It’s time we made up for your leave. But the show is being recorded again the day after tomorrow, so I can only give you two days off.”

“Two days is enough. Thank you, Director Zhang!”

After getting the leave approved, Yang Bing immediately slipped away. He went straight to the mall, thinking about what kind of birthday gift would be best for Lao Yu’s daughter.

He couldn’t be too stingy. After all, Yu Zhile had treated him like a brother all these days. If not for the plans and advice Yu Zhile had given him, he would not be where he was now.

There would be no “I Am a Singer” with such strong word of mouth and such a solid opening performance.

In less than half a year, he had risen from trainee planner to the head of the planning department. Such a rocket-like promotion owed a great deal to Yu Zhile.

So he decided to spend one month’s salary and splurge properly on Yu Zhile for once.

The next day at noon, Yang Bing really did come to help in the kitchen.

Yu Zhile introduced the man carrying an exquisitely wrapped large box to his wife and to Xu Ling. “This is Yang Bing, also a classmate from Xingyu University!”

Xu Ling immediately greeted him warmly. “Hello, classmate! Got a partner yet?”

Yu Zhile introduced her helplessly. “Her name is Xu Ling. Like my wife, she studied broadcasting in college. Lately she’s been a little desperate to get married, so just ignore her!”

“You’re the one desperate to get married!”

Xu Ling shot him an annoyed glare.

Yang Bing set down the beautiful large box containing several gifts, looked at the hefty girl, and did not know what to say. He could only flash a foolish grin.

Yu Zhile went on, “No need to introduce my wife to you, right? She’s a celebrity singer, so you’ve known her for ages.”

“Mm, hello, sister-in-law. Hello, Miss Xu!”

Yang Bing quickly greeted them. Yu Zhile corrected him, “Old Yang, I think you’re a year older than me, right? So you should call her younger sister-in-law!”

Xu Ling immediately said, “Classmate, this salted fish is one year younger than you and already married, with a daughter who’s one year old. And you? When are you planning to get married?”

Yang Bing said awkwardly, “Ahem, I don’t really have that in mind for now.”

Xu Ling asked again, “Do you have someone you like?”

Yang Bing answered, “Yes…”

Xu Ling instantly lost her enthusiasm. “Then forget I asked!”

Yu Zhile teased her, “Why didn’t you ask who he likes? What if it’s you?”

Xu Ling played along and pressed him, “Then is the person you like me?”

Yang Bing, in the most straightforward way possible, said, “No…”

Xu Ling rolled her eyes again. “Goodbye!”

“Pfft.”

Qin Haiyu laughed, and Yu Zhile gave a thumbs-up. “That answer was beautiful!”

Yang Bing felt a little awkward.

Fortunately, with Yu Zhile there, he did not seem quite so tense.

At five in the evening, after her class ended, his mother came over with his father. Along with them came Old Liu and Old Liu’s chubby little granddaughter.

When they arrived, and saw the luxury villa where Old Yu’s son lived, and saw the red sports car parked by the villa entrance, Old Liu was pierced in the heart once again.

When they had gone to watch the New Year’s Eve gala, Old Yu had said his daughter-in-law had a sports car worth several million yuan, only she was not used to driving it and did not dare.

At the time, Old Liu naturally assumed he was bragging. But now...

Alas.

Old Liu was thoroughly convinced.

So Old Yu really had been telling the truth all along. It was he who had failed to recognize a true master and had kept mistaking honesty for showing off.

With his parents and Old Liu’s grandfather and granddaughter all there, the modest birthday celebration began.

For the baby celebrating her birthday, this was the first time she had seen so many people. She tried with her little hands to pull off the crown on her head, which felt a bit uncomfortable, not even knowing what on earth she was experiencing.

Her mother inserted a pink candle into the cake and lit it with a lighter. Yu Zhile immediately clapped his hands. “Come on, let’s all sing the birthday song for the baby!”

At that, everyone looked at him in confusion. Qin Haiyu asked curiously, “Husband, what birthday song?”

Yu Zhile froze. Surely not—did this world not even have a birthday song?