Chapter 278: Chapter 277: Two Birthday Gifts
"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, did you hear what I said?" Pengfei had been talking for a while with no response, only Leng Yan’s breathing. Pengfei was a bit stunned, suddenly thought of something, and felt a bit embarrassed: "Are you busy? Am I disturbing you?"
"Just had something to do. Pengfei, go on. Did you come back to celebrate Nuannuan’s birthday?"
Taking a long deep breath, Leng Yan forced himself to calm down, a small hope rising in his heart. Pengfei celebrating Nuannuan’s birthday meant she would definitely return to the Wen Family, and he could see her.
But why didn’t Nuannuan tell him before?
"Yes. Damn..." Pengfei became annoyed: "Sister said you didn’t know it was her birthday today, that she hadn’t mentioned it. She wanted to surprise you, but I accidentally let it slip."
"It’s okay, Pengfei. Honestly, I’m really grateful to you. If it weren’t for you, I’d still think her birthday was the same as on the ID card." Leng Yan felt a multitude of emotions, but mostly gratitude and self-blame. He didn’t know how much he thanked Pengfei for this call—what a foolish husband he was! Many people’s IDs don’t match their real information, and he never even asked Wen Nuan directly.
Pengfei laughed a little sheepishly: "I called my sister, but her phone is off. So I wanted to ask if you have her office number, I plan to go find her, and give her a surprise."
Because he was eager to find his sister, he didn’t consider he might accidentally reveal the surprise.
"Her office number..." Leng Yan almost blurted it out, but suddenly stopped. After a brief pause, his dark eyes filled with complicated emotions: "Pengfei, can we not tell your sister yet? Don’t let her know that I already know today is her birthday, okay?"
"Why?" Pengfei asked, confused.
Leng Yan rubbed his brows. His voice was slightly hoarse: "She doesn’t want me to know, so let’s pretend I don’t know. I also want to give her a surprise."
If Pengfei mentioned it, she might not even return to the Wen Family tonight. The thought of not knowing where to find her made his heart feel suspended on a thin thread with no place to land. And since Nuannuan was sick, it was unlikely she’d be at the company. Even if Pengfei called, he might not find her. As for his surprise, it filled him with shame and unease, for Nuannuan, it might be more surprise than joy.
"Alright then, I won’t call her. I’ll go home and prepare, brother-in-law, you should come to our house early today, get there before my sister, and we’ll give her a surprise."
Struggling, Leng Yan forced out a word: "Okay."
His mood was heavy—would it be a surprise? When she saw him, would she turn around and leave?
Nuannuan...
His heart ached, and he prayed that Wen Nuan would still care about the family’s feelings and, to not let Pengfei down, would spend her birthday at the Wen Family. This way, he would have the chance to apologize and seek her forgiveness.
Pengfei was very excited: "Brother-in-law, it’s settled then. By the way, remember to get my sister a gift. Your relationship is so good, you should know what she likes, right?"
"I’ve already prepared something," Leng Yan said softly, his handsome face flushed with shame at Pengfei’s words "relationship is good," as he hung up the phone, holding an exquisite box in his palm.
A very exquisite necklace, with a gardenia pendant inlaid with diamonds, reflecting dazzling light under the afternoon sun.
He had gone through several malls to find it, just because she likes gardenias. And he likes what she likes.
**
"Nuannuan, here’s your birthday gift." Lin Xue, finishing her day, handed over two exquisite gift boxes with a smile.
Wen Nuan was both surprised and delighted to receive them: "Thank you, master. But..." She furrowed her brow in confusion: "Why are there two?"
One should be enough.
"Well..." Lin Xue touched her freshly permed hair, laughing awkwardly: "It’s your twentieth birthday, I thought... a pair would be more auspicious."
"Thank you, master." Wen Nuan sincerely bowed slightly to Lin Xue, her eyes glistening with tears.
Lin Xue hurriedly held her hand: "Don’t get me all emotional if I can’t handle it—I might cry." She urged her with a smile, "Open them up, see if you like them?"
One of the gifts was from her, but she had no idea what the other one contained.
The other... was from Tan Qing.
Earlier, Tan Qing had called her to his office to hand over this, saying it was a birthday gift for Nuannuan, and worried that it might not be appropriate for him to give it directly, he asked Lin Xue to present it under her name.
Wen Nuan opened it with a heart full of excitement.
A delicate bracelet and a beautiful brooch, the colors quite similar, perfectly matching—it was clear her master had put a lot of thought into it.
"Really beautiful, thank you, master." Wen Nuan smiled happily.
"Thankfully they’re not the same." Lin Xue sighed in relief seeing the gift from Tan Qing, muttering under her breath.
It only occurred to her after giving it to Wen Nuan that she didn’t actually know what Tan Qing had sent. If they had been the same, it would have been hard to explain and very awkward indeed.
Wen Nuan heard her muttering and noticed her look of relief, slightly surprised: "Master, what are you saying?"
"Nothing... nothing." Lin Xue awkwardly squeezed out a smile: "Nuannuan, it’s getting late. Your husband will come to pick you up, right?"
Husband...
Wen Nuan’s heart trembled; she shook her head and softly said, "He’s very busy today. If I wait for him, it will be very late."
Lin Xue was puzzled: "On a day like this, how could he..."
Not wanting Lin Xue to press further, she urged her with a smile: "Master, you should hurry home too, go pick up your little one."
Once Lin Xue closed the door, Wen Nuan sat down in a daze, fiddling with her still-unlit phone, feeling torn inside.
Pengfei should be back by now. She didn’t want to tell Leng Yan she planned to return to the Leng Family today. She had thought of an excuse, saying she had an important client to accompany at work, and to not delay him, hadn’t mentioned her birthday. She wondered if he’d called her and hesitantly turned on her phone, finding just one missed call.
It was from Pengfei, right around the time he landed.
She wondered why there weren’t more calls, then found it amusing. After all, with her phone off, how would more calls help?
Smiling, she carefully placed Lin Xue’s gift in her bag, only to notice a lazy figure in the doorway.
Tan Qing leaned against the doorframe, looking at her, a teasing smile on his lips: "What are you putting in your bag?"
"A gift from my master," Wen Nuan answered with a smile.
"Do you like it?" Tan Qing nodded, casually inquiring.
"Of course." Wen Nuan nodded earnestly: "A brooch and a bracelet, both styles I love. I’m very happy to receive such thoughtful gifts."
Glad you like it...
Tan Qing silently said in his heart, stepping aside to let her pass: "Go home."
"You should head home early too. Your complexion still doesn’t look right, take care of yourself." Wen Nuan said softly, as she walked past him, noticing his still unnaturally pale face.
"Nuannuan..."
Tan Qing suddenly called her name, with an inexplicable abruptness. Wen Nuan paused, a strange feeling flickering inside her, sensing something was off with Tan Qing.