This chapter is dedicated to FR_2601 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!

***

"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.

"

Shu Xian felt ecstatic. She was so happy, though her surprise was making it difficult for her to express her joy.

With tears still escaping from her eyes, Zhang Ren and Shi Lian apologized first, feeling bad that they lied to her.

"We're sorry to lie,

" Shi Lian apologized again, her eyebrows furrowed as she felt worried for her best friend who's being emotional on her special day.

"But we just wanted you to be surprised on your special day,

" she added, Zhang Ren, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, our intentions were true—we didn't mean to hurt you.

"

Shu Xian playfully rolled her eyes at them. With Shi Lian and Zhang Ren now extending their arm to show Shu Xian her chocolate cake, Shi Lian spoke again.

"You can blow the candle now so we can formally start with the party, yes? Don't worry—it's not as extravagant as you feared it would be. We will only eat dinner with everyone else!

"

Shu Xian let out a soft laugh. With her nodding as she wiped her tears away, she blew the candle, everyone clapping as they greeted her a happy birthday even though they didn't sing her the song because Shi Lian told them that she hated it.

"Happy birthday, Shu Xian!

"

Instead, everyone greeted her in unison, the birthday girl smiling as she shyly looked at them.

"Again, thank you so much, everyone! You didn't have to do this, but Pan An must've made you all do it. Nevertheless, I loved it. Thank you…

"

Cai Li now held her hand. With her giving a soft peck on her cheek, everyone then went inside the house to officially start her birthday dinner.

The moment Shu Xian opened the door, she saw that the inside of the house was decorated pretty well.

There were white balloons around, and the aroma of the food can be already smelled throughout the house. With the balloons also having a letter on each one that spelled,

"Happy Birthday Shu Xian,

" she felt warm in her heart that people made the effort to do so.

Shu Xian felt another lump in her throat. With her about to cry again, she tried her best to stop her tears since she didn't want other people to see her cry.

"I…

"

Shu Xian fanned her face—as if it would help her tears stay in place inside her eyes.

"I'm overwhelmed by everyone's kindness! I couldn't thank you guys enough!

"

Wang Lei took this moment as an opportunity to joke. With him lighting up the atmosphere, he made everyone laugh with what he said.

"Maybe you could thank us by you leading us to the dining room so we could eat? We were hungry waiting for the special gal~!

"

Shu Xian laughed with everyone. With a nod, everyone then went towards the small dining room.

Even though the space is small, everyone didn't mind it. What mattered is the company and their efforts into making something so special.

Before Shu Xian could follow them, however, Pan An caught her by the wrist. He stopped her in her tracks, the birthday girl blinking her eyes a few times at him as she turned her head to look at him, everyone's attention caught the moment he spoke.

"Before we eat, I would like to say a few words to our Shu Xian,

" he started, everyone's eyes now on him.

Pan An turned to look at her. With both of his hands holding hers, he then released her hand, further talking to her as the professor stared into Shu Xian's eyes.

"I know that this may be too much to say as it is emotional for you… but do know that even though you never experienced celebrating your special day with your family, do know that you have us—and we alone, can be your family that makes you feel important.

"

Shu Xian's lips trembled. She felt tears pooling in her eyes once more as they continued to listen to what the professor is saying.

"You may see your day as an ordinary day, but to us, it is not an ordinary day because on this day, you are gifted to us to be a part of our lives.

"

Pan An held Shu Xian's hand once more, kissing the back of her hand that made the others smile, and Cai Li, especially swoon the moment she saw her son do the gesture.

Ru Shi, however, had her eyes widening in surprise as she didn't expect her brother to be this sweet towards another woman after that damned Ruo Xi.

"So happy birthday, Shu Xian,

" Pan An said, Shu Xian's tears already escaping her eyes.

"You matter and we're happy to have you in our lives.

"