CIATB Chapter 531 The rest of my life
Chapter 531 The rest of my life
With a crisp "click" from the wall switch, the chandelier went out instantly.
The once bright living room suddenly darkened, with only the dim light seeping in through the cracks in the window intertwined with the warm yellow glow of the candles on the birthday cake.
Yu Huan stood beside the coffee table with her hands on her hips, a bright smile on her face, and enthusiastically suggested, "I think we should sing the birthday song again! I'll start this time!"
"Let's not, it's the middle of the night..." Lin Yourong gently shook her head, her dark hair brushing against her ears like silk.
She sat on the sofa with a slight bend, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the texture of the fabric.
But her gaze never left the birthday cake on the coffee table in front of her.
The snow-white cream surface is carefully covered with luscious strawberries and dark purple cherries, like rubies and black agates inlaid in a well-arranged manner.
Each fruit is coated with a layer of crystal-clear icing sugar, which reflects a delicate and enchanting light under the candlelight.
In the center of the cake, a chocolate plaque with the words 'Happy birthday!' is inserted diagonally, and the edges are carefully outlined with vine patterns, making the whole cake as exquisite as a work of art.
On one side of the cake, a bouquet of red tulips was laid flat, filling the entire living room with a rich romantic atmosphere.
"Alright, I'll listen to you." Yu Huan's smile remained unchanged as she obediently responded to the birthday celebrant.
"Wow! This birthday cake is too much!" Ji Meng couldn't help but bend down and get closer to the cake, take a deep breath, and then smack her lips exaggeratedly, "I feel like my mouth is about to water!"
Xing Yujia's round face was always adorned with a sweet smile, her eyes narrowed into slits as she happily said, "This is a handmade baking shop that Sister Ru specially found for us, and we booked it three days in advance."
"Hey!" Sister Ru waved her hand, pretending to be serious, and said, "Yujia, the way you're saying it makes it sound like you're helping me take credit!"
However, beneath her feigned serious expression, the smile in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Yu Huan bowed to Sister Ru, straightened his back, and said in a clear and slightly exaggerated voice, "There's no suspicion of me taking credit. Sister Ru is absolutely the undisputed chief contributor, and there's absolutely no need for her to take credit!"
His serious demeanor made all the women present burst into laughter.
Yu Huan lowered her head slightly, looking down at Lin Yourong sitting on the sofa. She raised her hand and gestured towards the birthday cake, saying gently, "Birthday girl, the candles are almost down to the chocolate bar. Please make a wish and blow out the candles."
"Okay~" Lin Yourong smiled and nodded happily.
Although Ji Meng didn't bring her DSLR camera tonight, she quickly switched her phone to night mode, then squatted down, leaned forward slightly, and adjusted the phone's camera to be level with Lin Yourong.
On the phone screen, Lin Yourong gently clasped her hands together and reverently pressed them to her lips, her lips curving upwards in a happy smile, her long eyelashes casting butterfly-like shadows beneath her eyes.
The flickering candlelight softened her profile, as if draping her in a sacred glow.
A few seconds later, Lin Yourong parted her cherry lips slightly and blew out the candle with a gentle breath.
Although the dim candlelight was gone, the soft light from the streetlights outside the window still illuminated the space, preventing it from becoming too dark. Everyone could still clearly see each other's features and expressions.
Ji Meng took several three-shot photos of Lin Yourong, casually placed her phone on the corner of the coffee table, and said with barely suppressed excitement, "Turn on the lights! Turn on the lights! I can't wait to cut the birthday cake for the birthday girl!"
"What do you mean cutting cake for the birthday person? I think you're just being greedy." Sister Ru smiled broadly, her words tinged with a hint of teasing.
Yu Huan smiled gently, then turned around, walked briskly to the wall, and touched the switch.
In an instant, bright light surged out like a tide, illuminating every corner of the living room clearly.
He turned around and saw that Ji Meng had already started cutting the cake. He couldn't help but tease her, "It's so late at night. The birthday girl just finished taking a shower and changed into her pajamas. She just got out of bed. Don't smear the cake on her!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Meng immediately looked up, glared at him, and said feigned anger, "Do we look like the kind of people who like to cause trouble? Don't worry! We definitely won't bother your wife!"
Hearing her say that, especially the deliberately emphasized and meaningful word "wife" at the end, Lin Yourong immediately raised her hand and poked her arm, scolding her playfully, "You talk too much!"
Ji Meng chuckled and casually asked, "Rongrong, what did you wish for just now?"
“If you say it out loud, it won’t come true,” Sister Ru said with a smile, immediately interjecting.
“That’s true.” Ji Meng nodded in deep agreement.
As soon as she finished speaking, a glint flashed in Ji Meng's eyes, and a sly smile slowly appeared on her lips.
She quickly put down the plastic serrated knife in her hand and, with lightning speed, scooped up a small piece of fluffy, soft cream with her index finger.
Before Lin Yourong could react, the snow-white cream had already been lightly dotted onto the tip of her nose.
"Ji! Meng!" Lin Yourong's almond-shaped eyes widened instantly. She pretended to be angry and sat up straight. She subconsciously raised her hand to wipe the cream off her nose, but was stopped by Sister Ru who was quick-witted and nimble.
"Don't move! You look so cute like this, I have to take a picture to remember it!" Sister Ru said happily.
Yu Huan witnessed this scene, and a smile instantly filled her eyes.
The clump of snow-white cream stuck to the tip of Lin Yourong's nose, contrasting with her slightly furrowed brows and wide-open almond eyes, making it look particularly interesting.
In addition, she was wearing loose-fitting pajamas, and her usual aloof and cool demeanor as a big star was completely gone. Instead, she looked like a cute but fierce little kitten that had been teased, which was extremely adorable.
After a moment's thought, Yu Huan suggested, "We still have a Polaroid camera at home, why don't we take it out and take some pictures together?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Meng readily agreed, "Sure! I love taking Polaroid photos, so hurry up and get them out!"
"Okay." Yu Huan nodded slightly.
He vaguely remembered that after Yu Chengcheng took photos here last time, she put the Polaroid camera away in the cabinet under the desk in the second bedroom.
Thinking of this, he immediately turned around and strode away hurriedly.
When Yu Huan returned with the Polaroid camera, she saw Ji Meng sitting on a small stool on the side of the coffee table, digging into the cake with her fork, scooping up a large piece of cake covered in cream, raising the fork high, tilting her head back and stuffing it into her mouth.
Her cheeks were stuffed full, making her look just like a hamster. Seeing Lin Yourong wiping her nose with a tissue, Ji Meng chewed her cake with difficulty and mumbled, "Why...why wipe it off! This is the birthday girl's special cream stamp, and we're going to take a few pictures of you with a Polaroid camera."
As a staunch supporter of his wife, Yu Huan smiled and immediately spoke up in defense: "Take the picture while holding the bouquet later, the effect will be the same, and you can tell at a glance that it's the birthday person."
As he spoke, he quickly walked to the coffee table and gently placed the Polaroid camera and two small boxes of photographic paper on it.
Then he picked up a plate piled high with cakes, stood to the side, and started showing them off.
"After all, family members side with each other!" Sister Ru joked with a smile, her words full of teasing.
Ji Meng swallowed the cake in her mouth, and inadvertently glanced at Lin Yourong's pajamas pocket where a small part of an envelope was sticking out. Her eyes darted around, and a sly smile appeared on her face.
She changed the subject abruptly, saying in an exaggerated tone, "Oh my, Rongrong, it's just the sheet music for a song! You sang 'When You're Old' so openly last time, why hide it like this? Show it to us so we can see it!"
"Hmm..." Lin Yourong bit her lower lip lightly, thought for a moment, and finally decided not to take the bait.
Ji Meng wasn't about to give up. She forked another luscious strawberry, popped it into her mouth, and started chewing it heartily, saying between bites, "Mainly, we want to help you judge its quality. If Yu Huan's writing isn't good enough, I'll be the first to teach him a lesson!"
As she spoke, she winked at Yu Huan, then turned to Sister Ru, gave her a meaningful look, and said with a grin, "Sister Ru, don't you think so? We're a professional judging panel!"
Seeing this, Sister Ru changed her teasing style from before, and put on a just-right smile. She added fuel to the fire by following Ji Meng's words: "That's right, just like you said before, it's better to share happiness than to enjoy it alone."
Lin Yourong pursed her lips slightly, thought for a moment, and then slowly replied, "What's the rush? You'll definitely hear it eventually anyway."
"Look, look!" Ji Meng suddenly put down her plate and fork and eagerly reached into Lin Yourong's pocket.
Lin Yourong was prepared. She nimbly moved to the side and quickly reached out to tightly cover the pocket of her pajamas.
Seeing this, Yu Huan quickly swallowed the cake in her mouth and joked with a smile, "What are you guys doing? It's like you're trying to force someone to abdicate!"
Lin Yourong turned her head and glared at Ji Meng, deliberately putting on a stern face and pretending to be serious as she said, "It's not that I can't show you, but it's so late, so please don't shout and disturb the neighbors!"
Ji Meng had just wiped the cream residue off her mouth with a tissue and casually tossed it into the trash can at her feet when she heard this. She immediately covered her mouth and nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
Xing Yujia joined in the fun, raising her hand high and jokingly saying with a grin, "Sister Susu, don't worry, it'll be quieter than the library!"
After finishing her cake, Yu Huan took a step forward and casually tossed the disposable plate and fork into the trash can.
Seeing Lin Yourong's guarded demeanor, he suddenly recalled the cheesy lyrics on the sheet music that could give anyone goosebumps. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and he grinned, revealing a slightly embarrassed smile, and said, "Actually, it's nothing. If anyone should feel embarrassed, it should be me!"
"What do you mean?" Ji Meng, who was sitting on a small stool unpacking the photo paper, looked up curiously at Yu Huan beside her when she heard this.
Yu Huan coughed, shook his head, and replied, "Well, it's really hard to say."
"It must be really cheesy," Sister Ru interjected.
Lin Yourong rarely saw a hint of embarrassment on Yu Huan's face, so she couldn't help but chuckle softly and asked, "So, do you want to see it or not?"
"I don't care," Yu Huan shrugged.
Lin Yourong nodded her chin, a slight smile playing on her lips, and teased, "That's right, you're shameless."
Upon hearing this, the other three people, apart from the young couple, burst into laughter in unison.
Lin Yourong slowly took the envelope out of her pocket, her movements unhurried and rather ceremonial.
She carefully opened the seal and took out a neatly folded piece of paper from inside.
She unfolded a corner, and just then, Ji Meng, who had just finished attaching the Polaroid film, suddenly lit up. She jumped up and instantly moved in front of Lin Yourong.
Ji Meng's gaze swept over them, and an instant smile of maternal affection bloomed on her face. She drew out her words, "Oh my! For the rest of my life, I only want you!"
"Keep your voice down!" Lin Yourong gave her a reproachful look, then unfolded the paper.
Xing Yujia, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, leaned her head close to Lin Yourong's shoulder. Just as the paper was fully unfolded, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!" Yu-ge's handwriting is absolutely amazing!
On the paper.
The ink marks left by the pen nib vary in depth, with the thick ink penetrating the paper and the white strokes flowing freely. Each stroke is connected, smooth and coherent, and every character seems to leap on the paper.
Combined with the neatly printed Arabic numerals and handwritten musical symbols, it looks absolutely beautiful and captivating.
Lin Yourong glanced at the lyrics once, and before she could even savor them, she happily raised her chin and asked, "I don't think we have any fountain pens at home?"
"I wrote this at work and borrowed a pen from a colleague," Yu Huan explained with a smile.
Lin Yourong nodded knowingly, then lowered her eyes to look at the sheet music in her hand.
The moment the song title "The Rest of My Life" came into view, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, as if drawn by a sweet smile.
Sister Ru, who was standing to the side, turned slightly to look at the song with curiosity and said half-jokingly, "Compared to Yu Huan's previous works, 'The Thief of Time' and 'When You Are Old,' this song today is really cheesy."
Ji Meng quickly finished browsing and nodded in deep agreement, looking quite approving.
Yu Huan found it extremely amusing to see Sister Ru and Xing Yujia sitting close to Lin Yourong, their heads huddled together, all intently studying the sheet music.
Ji Meng seemed to have noticed this interesting thing as well.
He immediately stepped back, raised his Polaroid camera, quickly found the right angle, and gently pressed the shutter.
With a "click," the moment was captured.
"For the rest of my life, you are the wind and snow, you are the ordinariness, you are the poverty, you are the glory, you are the tenderness in my heart, and you are everything my eyes see..." Sister Ru clicked her tongue in amazement. (End of Chapter)