Chapter 100 Oda's Birthday

Twenty minutes later, Tian Xiwei opened the door and walked in.

She was wearing a loose sweatshirt and a mask, and peeked inside furtively before slipping in.

"It's like a secret rendezvous between spies."

As she changed her shoes, she complained, "How much longer are you planning to keep this a secret?"

Li Ran smiled and said, "I'll tell her when I have another chance."

Tian Xiwei snorted and stopped dwelling on the issue.

She looked up, her gaze falling on his blond hair, scrutinizing him from head to toe several times.

Then she laughed, "You look like that golden-maned lion king."

Li Ran looked at her speechlessly.

She took two steps closer, reached out and touched his hair, her eyes shining: "But he's quite handsome, like he stepped out of a comic book."

Li Ran looked down at her: "What, you like it?"

Tian Xiwei raised an eyebrow: "How about something different tonight?"

Li Ran smiled.

As night deepened, the city outside the window gradually quieted down, but the bedroom was still quite lively.

Tian Xiwei was exceptionally...engaged today.

Li Ran thought it might be because of her newly dyed blonde hair that she felt a sense of novelty.

When she looked at his hair, her eyes shone with a light she didn't usually have, like a child who had discovered a new toy.

"Damn it, Tian Xiwei, stop pulling my hair..."

"I'm a little excited," she said, panting.

Li Ran: "..."

morning.

Li Ran woke up first. He looked at Tian Xiwei, who was still fast asleep beside him, and got up quietly to start preparing.

Today is October 14rd.

It was also Tian Xiwei's birthday.

Li Ran stood in front of the stove, the fried eggs in the frying pan sizzling, the edges slightly browned, the yolks still runny.

The toaster next to us popped up with a "ding," and two slices of toast were steaming hot.

He turned off the stove, put the fried eggs on a plate, and picked up his phone to send a message to his assistant, Xiao Chen.

The older brother stopped there: "Is everything ready?"

Messages are replied to almost instantly.

Shiny and shiny: [Brother Ran, everything's arranged. We can head over now.]

Li Ran frowned as he looked at the WeChat name.

The older brother stopped there: "Could you please change your WeChat name?"

Shiny and Glossy: [Brother Ran, this WeChat name perfectly matches my personality, I don't want to change it...]

Li Ran smiled helplessly and typed: 【Whatever.】

He put down his phone and went to the bedroom.

The curtains were still drawn in the bedroom, making it dimly lit.

A small mound appeared on the bed, and Tian Xiwei wrapped herself in the quilt, with only a tangled mess of hair showing.

Li Ran placed the plate on the bedside table, walked to the bedside, and gently pulled back a corner of the blanket.

Her eyes were closed, her long, curled eyelashes casting a soft shadow under her eyelids, and her breathing was steady, as if she were still fast asleep.

But Li Ran noticed that her eyelashes trembled slightly.

He laughed, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, "Get up, you lazybones."

Tian Xiwei's lips twitched slightly, but she refrained from opening her eyes.

Li Ran reached out and pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms, as if to pick her up.

She finally couldn't resist and opened her eyes. Her big, round eyes were still a little sleepy, but also held a hint of a smile she couldn't hide.

"don't want……"

She mumbled softly, "I'll lie down a little longer..."

Li Ran ignored her, pulled her out of the blanket, and picked her up horizontally.

Tian Xiwei exclaimed "Ouch!" and wrapped her arms around his neck without struggling. She just leaned against him and laughed.

Li Ran carried her into the bathroom and placed her in front of the sink.

The mirror reflected two people: he was wearing simple loungewear, his blond hair slightly disheveled, and she was wearing his white T-shirt, her hair a mess like a little madwoman.

Tian Xiwei looked at herself in the mirror, wrinkled her nose, then turned to Li Ran and said in a coquettish tone, "Can you help me swipe it?"

Li Ran picked up her toothbrush, squeezed on the toothpaste, and paused upon hearing this.

He turned his head, his eyes slightly narrowed: "What, didn't I swipe it for you last night?"

Tian Xiwei was stunned for a moment, then realized what he was talking about, and her face turned red instantly.

She glared at him and lightly punched him: "Hurry up! It's my birthday today!"

Li Ran smiled, stopped teasing her, and handed her the toothbrush, carefully brushing her teeth.

Tian Xiwei tilted her head back, opened her mouth, and obediently let him do as he pleased.

Her eyes curved into two crescent moons, clearly showing she was very happy.

After brushing her teeth, she rinsed her mouth, then turned around, looked up at him, and said, "Kiss."

Li Ran lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.

Just as he was about to back away, she suddenly jumped up, hung herself on him, wrapped her legs around his waist, and put her arms around his neck.

Li Ran swayed slightly from her lunge, then steadily caught her, his hands cupping her. .

"Are you so happy today?"

Tian Xiwei buried her face in the crook of his neck and gave a muffled "hmm".

Li Ran carried her to the restaurant and put her on a chair.

Breakfast was laid out on the table: fried eggs, toast, milk, and a small dish of fruit.

Tian Xiwei looked down at the fried egg on the plate, then looked up and pouted, "Why isn't it heart-shaped?"

Li Ran sat down opposite her: "Sister, this is a bit too much."

Tian Xiwei snorted coldly: "It's my birthday! You can't even grant me this small request?"

She paused, a hint of sourness in her voice: "I know you guys set off fireworks on Sunday."

Li Ran couldn't help but laugh when she saw her pouting little face: "Sister, this is the capital city, I don't have that much authority."

He paused, then said, "Eat first, and you'll find out later."

Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up instantly: "Really?"

Li Ran nodded.

She immediately lowered her head, stuffed the fried egg into her mouth in two bites, chewed and swallowed, then looked up and said, "I'm full!"

Li Ran looked at the empty plate and smiled helplessly.

He stood up: "Let's go then."

Tian Xiwei jumped up: "Where are we going?"

"Your apartment."

Tian Xiwei nodded, ran to the door, and picked up the skateboard leaning against the wall.

She just bought it a couple of days ago, and she likes to skate around the neighborhood when she has nothing to do.

"Then let's go quickly!"

In the residential area.

Tian Xiwei glided along the smooth path on her skateboard, like a happy little dog.

She wore a cream-colored sweatshirt today, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked like a high school student who hadn't grown up yet.

She glided around once, then glided back to Li Ran's side, her ponytail swaying behind her: "Hurry up! I can't wait!"

Li Ran walked at a leisurely pace and smiled, "You can go and take a look first, I'll be there shortly."

Tian Xiwei glared at him: "Then hurry up! I'm leaving first!"

Li Ran waved to her: "Slow down, be careful."

"Got it! Having a reading slump? Come on over!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already glided away in a flash.

Li Ran stood there, watching the graceful figure disappear at the end of the road, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Tian Xiwei swiped her card to open the apartment door and went inside.

The living room was quiet, just as it had been when she left yesterday.

Just as she was about to lean the skateboard against the wall, her gaze suddenly fell on the dining table.

There was a three-tiered cake there.

White buttercream frosting, pink piping, and a candle with the number "2" and the number "3" on top.

She pouted and muttered, "What kind of surprise is this..."

She put her skateboard away and was about to walk over to take a closer look when she suddenly noticed something extra next to the restaurant.

A double-door refrigerator.

There was clearly nothing there when she left yesterday.

Curious, she walked over and reached out to open the refrigerator door...

Then he froze.

The refrigerator was filled with fresh flowers.

Mostly red roses, vibrant and rich, interspersed with pink carnations, white lilies, and pale purple baby's breath.

Amidst the fresh flowers, several exquisite gift boxes were arranged in a pleasingly staggered manner, containing cosmetics, jewelry, and perfumes, all of which appeared to be quite valuable.

She stared at the refrigerator full of flowers and gifts, and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then she muttered, "How old-fashioned..."

But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile.

When Li Ran arrived at the apartment building, his assistant, Xiao Chen, was standing at the door, holding a flight case.

When Xiao Chen saw him, he came up to him and said, "Brother Ran, Sister Tian has been upstairs for a few minutes now."

Li Ran nodded and took the flight case.

The box contained a Maine Coon cat, which was actually quite large.

Although they are kittens, Maine Coons are much larger than ordinary cats and look like small dogs.

Tricolor, with glossy fur and a pair of bright, intelligent eyes.

This was ordered by Li Ran from the same pet store where he originally bought the Ta Xue two weeks in advance. Its value was enough to buy five Ta Xue.

He remembered that in her previous life, Tian Xiwei had a Maine Coon cat named "Kang Kang the Great".

"Alright, you can go back now."

Xiao Chen nodded and turned to leave.

Li Ran carried the airline crate upstairs.

The door wasn't locked.

Li Ran pushed open the door and went in. Tian Xiwei was standing in front of the refrigerator, staring blankly at the refrigerator full of flowers.

Hearing the noise, she turned her head and her gaze fell on the airline case in his arms.

Then her eyes lit up.

"Wow! So cute!"

She walked over quickly and peered closer at the furry little creature in the box.

"Li Ran, when did you do this?"

Li Ran made up a story: "I just picked it up by the roadside. Nobody wanted it, it was so pitiful. It's your birthday, so I'm giving it to you."

Tian Xiwei looked up at him, her big, round eyes filled with an expression that said, "Do you think I'm stupid?"

She reached out and took the carrier, opened the door, and carefully took the kitten out.

The little one wasn't shy at all, nestled in her arms, tilting his head back to look around his new home.

Tian Xiwei looked down at it, then looked up at Li Ran: "Don't mess with me."

Li Ran smiled: "Do you like it?"

She nodded: "I've wanted to raise one for a long time, but I've never had the chance."

She paused, then glanced at the flowers in the refrigerator, her tone deliberately indifferent: "And those flowers in the refrigerator? They're just so-so, a bit old-fashioned."

Li Ran looked at her.

She was looking down, teasing the cat, but the smile on her lips was impossible to hide.

After a while, she added softly, "Hmm...it's still kind of romantic. I like it."

Li Ran smiled but didn't say anything.

He walked to the refrigerator, reached out and took a small box from among the red roses.

The red velvet box gleamed subtly in the sunlight.

He walked back to her and opened the box.

There was a ring inside.

The design is simple, with a thin silver ring set with a small diamond that refracts delicate light.

Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up again.

Li Ran looked at her and calmly spoke:

"I don't want you to think that way."

He paused, then said, "I want to know what I thought..."

Tian Xiwei interrupted him: "Um... Li Ran, it's a bit greasy."

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly and picked up the ring: "Alright, I'll put it on you."

Tian Xiwei extended her hand.

Li Ran looked down at the hand, a pair of chubby little hands that didn't match her face at all. They were plump, with shallow dimples on the knuckles, and were inexplicably cute.

He gently took her hand and slipped the ring onto her left middle finger.

The symbolism of wearing a ring on the middle finger is self-evident.

Li Ran said softly, "Happy birthday, Xiao Tian."

"Thank you, Li Ran."

Tian Xiwei looked down at the ring on her hand, then at the kitten in her arms, and suddenly smiled, her smile as bright as the sunlight outside the window.

"What's it called?"

"Not up yet."

She thought for a moment and said, "Let's call her Flower Princess."

Flower Princess.

Will she end up with that yet-to-be-present King Kang Kang?

……

The next day at Oda's apartment.

Li Ran looked at Tian Xiwei, who was still fast asleep, and said softly, "Then I'll be going now!"

"Okay. Bye-bye, I'm going to sleep a little longer."

Li Ran couldn't help but laugh when he saw her like that.

"Don't forget to pick up Taxue..."

"Get up, then go."

He leaned down and gently kissed her exposed cheek.

As he straightened up, his gaze fell on her wrist.

The red string is still tied there safely.

He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to untie it.

Tian Xiwei suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him: "What are you doing?"

Li Ran's hand froze in mid-air. He chuckled awkwardly, "Give me the safety rope."

Tian Xiwei rolled over and hid her wrist under the covers: "No. What's wrong?"

Li Ran explained helplessly, "Actually, this was given to me by Jingyi."

Tian Xiwei peeked half her face out from under the covers, looking at him with a knowing smile in her eyes: "I knew it. You were obviously nervous that night."

She paused, her tone slightly willful: "No. What's in my hands is mine. Want it? Let her come and ask for it herself."

Li Ran looked at her adorable, spoiled expression and shook his head helplessly.

"Then you keep it safe for me."

Tian Xiwei gave a muffled "hmm".

"Hurry up and go, your junior from junior school will be looking for you soon."

Li Ran leaned down again and kissed her forehead: "Then I'm leaving."

Tian Xiwei nodded and buried her face back in the blanket.

After Li Ran left.

Tian Xiwei peeked out from under the covers, looked at the closed door, then looked down at the red string on her wrist and the ring on her finger.

She smiled, turned over, and went back to sleep.