Chapter 14

For the six years they had known each other, every one of Su Xingwei’s birthdays had been spent together.

Each time, Mu Wanyan prepared a gift in advance. With Su Xingwei’s status, she wanted for nothing; what Mu Wanyan gave was only a small token of her heart.

On the day of her birthday, Su Xingwei had an important business negotiation and did not show up at the company all day. Mu Wanyan deliberately changed into the beige trench coat Su Xingwei had bought her a few days earlier and dressed herself up carefully. After work, she took the cake and gift box with her, then hailed a taxi to the restaurant they had arranged in advance.

The restaurant was on the top floor of a building on the commercial street. When the elevator doors opened, a server immediately came forward and warmly led her to the private room.

The lighting in the private room was somewhat dim; the white tablecloth was spotless, a few vivid roses decorated the center of the table, and beyond the floor-to-ceiling window stretched the city’s glittering night view.

Su Xingwei was already seated inside. Unlike her usual black, white, and gray, she was wearing a red dress tonight, her lips as bright as the roses on the table.

No matter how many times Gu Yan looked at her, she still couldn’t suppress the amazement in her heart.

Su Xingwei raised her eyes. “You’re here. Sit.”

Mu Wanyan sat across from her and pushed the cake and gift box toward her.

It was a six-inch chocolate cake, neatly written on top with the words “Happy Birthday,” surrounded by a ring of fresh strawberries.

When Su Xingwei saw the cake, she went still for a moment.

“You knew today was my birthday?”

Mu Wanyan let a faint smile surface. “I knew. The company system backend shows the birthdays of all internal staff.”

After a moment of silence, Su Xingwei rarely said with genuine sincerity, “Thank you.”

Then she picked up the dark-blue gift box beside her, untied the ribbon, and inside lay a silver-white rose brooch. The petals were carved with lifelike precision, with a small red ruby set in the center.

“Happy birthday.”

Mu Wanyan said softly. She casually opened the menu, but didn’t remember a single dish name.

“Mm.”

Su Xingwei responded, put the brooch away, then called the server over to order.

Mu Wanyan ordered a steak and salad at random; everything else was left to Su Xingwei.

After all the dishes were served, the server brought over a bottle of grape wine and placed it beside Su Xingwei’s hand; the drink in front of Mu Wanyan was still juice.

Once the server left, the private room fell into silence, broken only by the faint clink of knife and fork.

Su Xingwei occasionally looked up, her gaze brushing over Mu Wanyan’s eyes without meaning to. In that dazed moment, she even felt as if the person sitting across from her was still the familiar one from before.

“There was someone who used to keep me company on my birthday too,” Su Xingwei said suddenly.

Mu Wanyan’s fork paused for a moment, then soon moved again.

“There should be a lot of people who’d want to celebrate your birthday with you.”

“I don’t like too much excitement.”

Su Xingwei lifted her glass and took a small sip, the color in her lips growing even more vivid. “Just having one person with me is enough.”

Mu Wanyan didn’t answer. She lowered her head and ate her steak, hiding all the thoughts she shouldn’t have.

By the time they were halfway through the meal, the bottle of wine was empty. A light flush had risen on Su Xingwei’s cheeks; her eyes were a little hazy, but she still insisted on ordering more.

Seeing this, Mu Wanyan hurriedly stopped her hand from pressing the service bell.

“Young Miss, you’ve had too much. Drinking this much isn’t good for your health.”

Su Xingwei looked at Mu Wanyan, her gaze soft and misted over. She stared straight at the person in front of her, then suddenly called out, “Gu Xi.”

Mu Wanyan was startled and reflexively let go.

Fortunately, Su Xingwei seemed only to be drunk. After calling out that name, she said nothing else; her eyelids lowered, and she looked a little sleepy.

Mu Wanyan let out a long breath and, as if resigned to it, helped her up.

By the time they left the private room, it was already past ten at night. Mu Wanyan supported her carefully, while Su Xingwei leaned against her, her steps unsteady.

“Slow down.”

Mu Wanyan steadied her a little and asked near her ear, “Are we going back to the villa?”

It was unclear whether Su Xingwei had heard her clearly, but she nodded.

As they came out of the elevator, Su Xingwei suddenly went weak at the knees. Her high heel tilted to one side, and her whole body pitched forward at once.

Mu Wanyan reacted quickly and pulled her back into her arms, then helped Su Xingwei sit down on a sofa in the lobby. She crouched beside the sofa and carefully checked Su Xingwei’s ankle. The outer side was a little swollen, but fortunately it wasn’t serious; some ice when they got back would be enough.

Su Xingwei leaned against the back of the sofa, her brows furrowed. No one knew whether it was from the sprain or the discomfort of being drunk.

Mu Wanyan turned around, her back to her. “Get on. I’ll carry you.”

Su Xingwei stared at her slender back for a while, then, as if possessed, reached out and placed her hands on Mu Wanyan’s shoulders.

Mu Wanyan carried her on her back and walked forward slowly.

When they stepped out of the restaurant, the cool evening breeze blew straight toward them and scattered some of the smell of alcohol.

Su Xingwei lay on Mu Wanyan’s back, tilting her head to look at her profile.

“Put me down,” she said uneasily. “I can walk by myself.”

Mu Wanyan didn’t stop. “I’ll put you down once we’re in the car.”

Su Xingwei lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the other woman’s slender shoulders, and for some reason, a ripple stirred in her heart.

There had once been someone just as stubborn, knowing full well she was bound to run into trouble, yet still protecting her without hesitation.

Mu Wanyan carried Su Xingwei all the way to the parking lot, helped her into the seat, fastened her seat belt, then walked back around to the driver’s side and safely delivered her to the villa.

The next morning, Mu Wanyan arrived at the company on time. She had gone back very late the night before and hadn’t slept much, so she looked thoroughly exhausted. After sitting down at her workstation, she couldn’t help yawning.

At that moment, the elevator chime sounded. Mu Wanyan immediately stood up, but the person who came into view was not Su Xingwei; it was Su Yueluo.

Su Yueluo wore a gentle smile and glanced toward the office.

“Assistant Mu, Xingwei hasn’t come to the company yet?”

“Ms. Su.”

Mu Wanyan greeted her politely. “The chairwoman hasn’t arrived yet. Please wait a moment; I’ll get you a glass of water.”

“No need to trouble yourself.”

Su Yueluo took a few steps closer and sized Mu Wanyan up with a scrutinizing look, deliberately letting her gaze linger a little longer on her eyes.

She lowered her voice. “Actually, I’m also short of an assistant by my side. Assistant Mu, have you considered coming to help me? The pay would definitely be better than here, and the work would be a lot easier too. I’ve always treated the people around me well; I wouldn’t make things difficult for you.”

She leaned in very close. Mu Wanyan had just been about to step back to widen the distance when the elevator chimed again.

Su Xingwei walked out from inside, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them; then the corner of her mouth slowly curved upward, though the smile never reached her eyes.

“You’re certainly very attentive to my people.”