Chapter 240

Chapter 240: The Promise Seven Years Ago

“Seven years ago’s promise?”

Mei Fang asked curiously, “Seven years ago… That would be 2005. At that time, we should have been in third or fourth grade, right?”

“Fourth grade. It was the year Yuan Yuan ran away from home, and also the year you accompanied me to see my mother. It was also the year you were preparing to move to Bai Zhou City.”

“Many things happened that year? I hardly remember anything.”

Mei Fang scratched his head, “So… what happened that year?”

“The year before Yuan Yuan’s birthday, I lost the music box I had prepared as her birthday gift. It was made with all the pocket money I had saved for a long time.”

Lin You Xi explained to Mei Fang, “But our family was going through a tough time then. My uncle had just borrowed some money from my father recently. I didn’t want to trouble my father, so I made a Time Capsule by hand as a substitute, intending to give it to Yuan Yuan as her birthday present.”

“Is there such a thing!” Mei Fang was surprised, “Why didn’t you ask me for help?”

Lin You Xi gently pinched Mei Fang’s cheek, “Actually, when we were in elementary school, we weren’t that close. I always hung around with Yuan Yuan. Fang was just a substitute when Yuan Yuan wasn’t around.”

“That hurts my feelings…”

“In any case, everything changed after we went to see my mother.”

Lin You Xi continued, “Later that year, on Yuan Yuan’s birthday, she invited many friends from your class to taste the chicken at the Wijiaji restaurant, the fried chicken place that imitated KFC in Baimei County. Do you remember?”

“Oh oh, that time… I remember, I remember.”

For children in elementary school, going to a fast-food restaurant like Wijiaji to celebrate their birthdays was the coolest and most prestigious thing to do, only a county girl like Xia Yuan had the privilege.

“At that time, everyone gave Yuan Yuan very beautiful gifts, but mine was very simple.”

Lin You Xi said softly, “I didn’t want to take it out at first, but finally, when Yuan Yuan saw me hiding the gift and looked embarrassed, she asked me about it. After I gave it to her, she seemed very happy, and I felt relieved.”

The birthday gift Lin You Xi gave to Xia Yuan, the Time Capsule, was a popular handmade toy among girls when they were young. It came from a popular fairy tale book at that time.

Girls would put their wishes into a special “Time Capsule,” according to the story, the wish placed inside the Time Capsule would come true on the same day seven years later.

“So, there were such things between you two, and I never knew about it… No wonder Yuan Yuan said she had many childhood keepsakes at home, wanting to make a Memory Museum together.”

Mei Fang scratched his head, “So, what wish did Yuan Yuan put inside?”

“I don’t know either… Only Yuan Yuan can decide if the wish counts, and telling others will make it ineffective.”

Lin You Xi prepared breakfast while talking to Mei Fang, “But I gave it to her on her birthday, and the wish should come true on the same day seven years later. So I wanted to give Yuan Yuan a memorable birthday.”

“I guess she probably forgot about it long ago.”

“I remember.”

“You have a good memory, no wonder you’re a super学霸.”

Lin You Xi brought the breakfast to the kitchen, and Mei Fang helped set the table. Lin You Xi kissed Mei Fang again.

“Don’t praise me yet, quickly think of a good gift for Yuan Yuan. I’ll reward you afterward.”

Mei Fang sighed, “It’s hard to find a suitable birthday gift. We’ve known each other for so many years, haven’t we given everything already?”

Simple yet warm gifts: scarves, hats, gloves, mugs, stuffed animals, wind chimes, hot packs; these were everyday items;

Valuable gifts were also given: MP3 players, watches, phones; these were occasionally included;

As for more valuable, heartfelt gifts: like the poem Mei Fang “wrote,” the pair of bracelets with their names engraved by Lin You Xi, and the wish coupons he once distributed to Xia Yuan and Lin You Xi, which had also been given as birthday gifts several times.

“It’s true, we’ve known each other for too long, everything has been given.”

Lin You Xi smiled, “Actually, I have some ideas. If Fang can’t think of a better idea, follow my plan?”

“So, what did you originally plan to give Yuan Yuan as her 17th birthday gift?”

Lin You Xi smiled, “I planned to give her my departure.”

“Huh?”

A week later, it was Xia Yuan’s birthday.

This was the first time she celebrated her birthday without her parents.

But she didn’t feel lonely.

After all, girls must grow up.

And today is my 17th birthday!

Now, I’m considered to be 18 years old in age, not just a little adult, but a fully grown-up.

Moreover, I have my two best childhood friends by my side—

…

Xia Yuan stretched lazily, feeling for Lin You Xi, who usually slept next to her.

Hmm?

Xia Yuan opened her eyes slightly, a hint of confusion and bewilderment in her gaze.

Shouldn’t I have woken up early today… Why did He You Xi get up earlier than me?

Is she preparing breakfast again?

Although today is my birthday… There’s no need to be so busy, hehe…

At this moment, Mei Fang’s voice came from outside the door.

“Yuan Yuan, are you awake? Can I come in?”

“Sure… Come in.”

Mei Fang gently opened the door. Before him stood a neatly combed Mei Fang, his hair shining with hair oil. Clearly, he had prepared carefully for Yuan Yuan’s birthday. In his hand was a bouquet of pink flowers, seemingly roses.

“Happy birthday, Yuan Yuan!”

Xia Yuan looked at Mei Fang calmly, then gently said a few words.

“…Get out.”

“What? You don’t like this look?”

Am I dressed so ugly?

Xia Yuan covered her face and complained to Mei Fang, “Who celebrates someone’s birthday so early in the morning! Besides, look at me, I haven’t even tidied myself up!”

Oh, it’s not that I think you look bad, it’s that I think I look bad.

“This is why I came here today.”

Mei Fang walked into the room confidently, placing the flowers on the bedside table next to Xia Yuan’s bed, then smiling at Xia Yuan, said,

“Today, I’ll help our little birthday girl get ready.”