Chapter 63 (1/2)

Zhang Che knew from the moment he saw the look on Huang Tielan’s face that his guess was right on the money.

It was only when Sun Lan asked once more that Huang Tielan nodded profusely, answering, “That’s right, Auntie. I’m turning eighteen in two days, too!”

Huang Tielan thought, -Since it is such a coincidence, Zhang Xiaoche would probably agree to attend my birthday party, right?

-Uh, no, this should be our birthday party!-

However, Zhang Che’s next words were like a basin of cold water, splashing over her. The images she saw in her head were like imaginary bubbles, instantly bursting. “Hey, you saw this. I’m celebrating my birthday, too. So, I’m very sorry, but I can’t attend your birthday party, Huang Tielan.”

-So he still doesn’t like me. He’s not even willing to celebrate our birthdays together.- Her chubby face immediately turned into a dejected look. She even lamented the fact that they were born on the same day. Otherwise, Zhang Che wouldn’t have any reason to reject her, right?

“It’s fine. I didn’t expect our birthdays to be on the same day, either,” Huang Tielan gave a forced smile, feeling dispirited, and directly bid farewell, “I’ll be going back first then, Auntie. I wish you a happy birthday, Zhang Che!”

Sun Lan noticed her abnormal mood, yet she didn’t know what to say. She too, felt that letting her son celebrate his birthday at another’s place wasn’t proper.

Watching Huang Tielan’s helpless look that seemed to be on the verge of tears, Zhang Che suddenly felt his heart soften. He stood up as well, and said, “I’ll send you out, then.”

—

Out the apartment and down the stairs they went, but neither of them spoke a word. The atmosphere was strangely awkward.

Finally, when they went out the gate of the neighborhood, Huang Tielan turned her head and glanced at Zhang Che, before extending her hand to flag down a taxi.

“Wait,” Zhang Che suddenly walked up. He fished around in his shirt pocket, and took out a shiny beast card. He brought it up to Huang Tielan, smiling, “Didn’t I say that I’ll get you a beast card? Treat it as my birthday gift to you.”

Huang Tielan opened her mouth in surprise after seeing the shiny golden card in Zhang Che’s hand. Her expression immediately went through multiple changes, nearly shedding tears.

-So it’s not that he doesn’t feel anything toward me! Otherwise, why would he gift me such a valuable beast card?-

At this instant, Huang Tielan immediately felt as if life was full of color once more. She smiled radiantly and shook her head, rejecting, “Thanks for your present, Zhang Xiaoche! But I can’t take it. You must have taken huge risks to obtain this gold-quality beast card. This is your trump card for keeping yourself safe. I can’t accept this.”

-What an understanding girl! Perhaps I should try getting along with her? After all, a beautiful heart is what truly matters.-

Zhang Che’s lips widened into a smile. With a flip of his right palm, another beast card appeared between his fingers. “Look, I have another one. So you don’t have to worry about my safety.”

At this moment, Huang Tielan finally revealed an astonished look.

Her mouth widened into a big ‘O’, staring at the near-identical gold-quality cards in his hand. She was this close to suspecting that she was hallucinating.

Then, when she saw that the new beast card in Zhang Che’s hand actually had two hexagrams on it, she was completely at a loss for words.