ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm so sorry for announcing that I will only update one chapter again today. I'm still feeling unwell and I have to recuperate today. I also have to write for other stories today. :'( I hope you guys understand. Sorry to disappoint again. I will try my best tomorrow since it's Sunday to update twice. I hope I have recuperated from tiredness also that time. With work happening, it's difficult to cope when I just started as well. :') Being a teacher is difficult—bear with me, please…

Also… this chapter is dedicated to Mumbejia_Joan for leaving nice comments in my story for the month of June! Thank you so much for the support! I hope to see more of your comments soon!

***

The moment their duty ended, Zhang Ren was becoming so jittery, even Shu Xian noticed it. She cocked her head to the side when she watched Zhang Ren rubbing his palms together, as if trying to calm himself down.

"What's wrong with you?

" she asked, arching a brow at him at the same time.

"You're acting pretty weird.

"

"A-am I?

" he even stammered, now letting out a nervous chuckle.

"I just remembered that I need to go home immediately because I have an appointment.

"

What he said at the latter made him rush his words. With Shu Xian furrowing her brows in confusion, she made a comment with what she heard.

"How can you have an appointment in your house? It's your home… you speak as if it's an office.

"

"Oh, you got me wrong,

" Zhang Ren replied, nodding as well.

"I mean… someone's waiting for me at home.

"

"Oh!

"

Another sad expression came on Shu Xian's face. With her pouting, what she said next made Zhang Ren feel guilty.

"Since Shi Lian can't have the usual birthday meal with me, I was thinking if you could be with me instead and was planning to invite you. You really can't?

"

"Yes!

"

"Yes?

"

Shu Xian cocked her head to the side.

"You mean, yes, you can't? Or yes, you can?

"

Zhang Ren wanted to nod at the second question, though he stopped himself by shaking his head to answer no, further telling her what he meant.

"I can't, because someone is really waiting for me at home, I'm sorry.

"

Even though he felt utterly guilty, he still held his ground and dashed off before even hearing Shu Xian's reply.

"I'm sorry, I really have to go!

"

Shu Xian sighed. With her shaking her head as she now started exiting the university, she mumbled to herself, still feeling sad that both of her friends couldn't come with her to have a meal.

"He could just say that it's something important and not dash off… now I'm feeling sadder than ever.

"

However, the moment she walked away from the university, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Pan An, walking with Wan Wan.

"Y-you…

"

Shu Xian looked left and right, cautious of her surroundings.

"Aren't you afraid that there are some students lurking around? What if they see you?

"

Pan An grinned. With him playfully rolling his eyes at her, he then gestured for her to come quickly and teased her.

"If you're so worried about that, come walk with me, then!

"

Shu Xian pouted. With her following Pan An and Wan Wan, she noticed that she was not on her leash, her eyes suddenly widening in panic.

"You did not leash her!? What if she runs away?!

"

"Oh, don't worry too much,

" Pan An said, Wan Wan barking as well.

With her bark, it's as if she agreed to what the professor had said, her tongue sticking out as she looked at Shu Xian.

"See? Even your dog thinks the same.

"

Shu Xian was still feeling uneasy. However, when he walked, Wan Wan followed, Shu Xian now a bit convinced that everything's going to be okay.

She followed the professor quietly. With them not talking, she noticed that they are walking back to their house.

However, even though that both of them are walking home and that Shu Xian was picked up by the professor and her dog, she still felt sad that Zhang Ren and Shi Lian weren't able to grab dinner with her for the usual yearly birthday celebration.

Yes, she knows Zhang Ren is a person they met recently, still, they were quick to be friends with him and she felt sad that he can't celebrate her birthday with her for the first time.

Pan An noticed that Shu Xian is unexpectedly quiet. With him turning his body to look at her before he pushed the gate of their house, he cocked his head to the side, wondering about her silence.

"What's wrong?

"

Shu Xian didn't answer. With her feeling a lump on her throat as she felt sad about her friends not able to celebrate with her, she felt like crying, tears already pooling her eyes.

"Shu Xian?

"

The girl didn't answer. As she had her head hanging low, Pan An noticed that the pavement beneath her had drops that made it wet, indicating that the girl may have already been crying.

"Sh-Shu Xian?

" Pan An said her name, panic evident in his voice.

"What's wrong?

"

"I… I feel stupid,

" Shu Xian replied, now raising her head to show her crying face.

"My friends weren't able to have a dinner meal with me for my birthday when I got used to celebrating it with Shi Lian yearly. I know you greeted me earlier and that you did something good for me, but I…

"

Shu Xian at this point couldn't hold back her tears. With her embarrassingly wiping her tears away with the back of her palm, she voiced out what bothered her and made her sad.

"I still feel sad that I was expecting something for my birthday because now I have people whom I consider precious in life. I… I feel so stupid.

"

Shu Xian started crying like a child. With Pan An taken aback by her sudden outburst, he widened his eyes, not knowing what to do.

With Wan Wan whimpering as the dog never saw her owner be this emotional, she approached Shu Xian and nudged her head against her leg for comfort.

"Sh-Shu Xian,

" Pan An said her name, not knowing what to do.

"Don't cry! It's not what you think it is!

"

"I know,

" Shu Xian said, forcing out a smile.

"People are suddenly busy, I know. I feel stupid because at first, I saw birthdays as something not so important. But now, I feel bad when it's not celebrated. I feel so stupid!

"

Pan An scratched the back of his head. With him now approaching Shu Xian, he then held her back, assisting her as they went inside the house when he pushed the gate open with his free hand.

"Come on, now… don't be like that. People see you important, see?

"

Soon after, she saw a yellow glow in front of her. The moment she raised her head, her eyes widened when she saw people right in front of her.

Shi Lian and Zhang Ren were holding her chocolate cake, a candle lit on top of it. Behind them, she saw Cai Li, Pan An's mother, then Wang Lei, and another woman whom she didn't know, smiling at her.

With a banner by the door saying

"Happy Birthday, Shu Xian!

" the girl then looked at them with flabbergasted eyes, not believing what she saw.

"Y-you guys…

" she said first, looking at two of her friends.

"I thought you're busy…

"

Shi Lian playfully rolled her eyes at Shu Xian. With her and Zhang Ren still holding the cake, she replied to what she said, and explained why they were there.

"Pan An told us to lie for you today. I already warned him that it's going to make you sad when Zhang Ren and I pretended to forget! But he still insisted because he said it's to surprise you!

"

Shu Xian then looked at Pan An. With the professor scratching the back of his head once more, he sighed, now explaining to Shu Xian and apologized at the same time.

"I'm sorry. We didn't mean to make you cry. Shi Lian warned me, but I was so adamant of my plans in surprising you.

"

Shu Xian blinked her eyes a few times, not believing what she heard still.

"You… planned this for me?

"

"Yes!

"

However, it was Cai Li who spoke for her son.

"Remember the time he told you he won't be coming home early? He talked me to and his sister, Ru Shi, to help with the plans~! Ain't he sweet?

"

Shu Xian looked at Cai Li and Ru Shi, Pan An's sister. With Ru Shi giving Shu Xian a wave, she spoke, introducing herself and greeting her at the same time.

"Nice to meet you, Shu Xian. My name's Ru Shi, Pan An's sister. Glad to meet you for the first time on your special day!

"

Shu Xian felt overwhelmed. With tears escaping her eyes once more, the group felt bad of shocking her this much, Wang Lei now hitting the back of Pan An's head.

"I told you, this is too much of a lie! You made her sad!

"

Zhang Ren whispered at Shi Lian, saying,

"I can't lie, so… I ran away from her earlier.

"

"What?

" Shi Lian looked at him and spoke in a scolding tone.

"Stupid! No wonder why she felt sadder!

"

However, what happened next was something they didn't expect. When they heard Shu Xian laughing, she spoke to them, now feeling warm in her heart.

"Thank you so much, everyone… I'm happy.

"