Pop~

All the incandescent lights in the store were turned off.

Then...

As if everyone had discussed it in advance, they all disappeared, leaving only Huang Tao, Xuanxuan, and Ye Wen at the table.

No need to guess, Huang Tao also knew, this group of employees and Jiang Guowei and his wife must have gone to prepare a surprise for him.

Actually, he only guessed half of it.

Jiang Guowei and his wife just didn’t want to be glaring third wheels, so when they saw the employees retreating, the couple sensibly followed along.

"Daddy, I’m scared of the dark."

A somewhat frightened Xuanxuan instinctively snuggled into Huang Tao’s arms.

Her father’s warm embrace could give her the greatest sense of security.

Huang Tao reached out to hold her in his arms, rubbing his chin against her little head, and softly said, "Don’t be afraid, Daddy’s here!"

"Xuanxuan, Teacher Ye is also here with you."

Ye Wen reached out to hold Xuanxuan’s little hand and, to ease her fear, smiled gently, "Xuanxuan, do these fairy lights look like twinkling little stars to you?"

With this reminder, Xuanxuan looked up at the string of flashing lights hanging on the beam in front.

Indeed.

Those strings of twinkling festive lights seemed like shining stars in the night sky!

And they were colorful.

So beautiful!

Xuanxuan couldn’t help but be mesmerized, her big eyes fluttering as she admired the beautiful scene before her.

The fear in her heart dissipated as well...

Xuanxuan delightedly pointed at the lights and said, "Daddy, look, those fairy lights really do look like twinkling little stars!"

"Yes, they really do!"

While responding in a timely manner, Huang Tao couldn’t help but gaze at Xuanxuan’s little face. Seeing the smile on Xuanxuan’s lips, he felt an unparalleled warmth in his heart and involuntarily turned his head to look at Ye Wen by his side.

"Thank you!"

Huang Tao softly expressed his gratitude to Ye Wen.

In fact, he knew very well that Ye Wen was probably mainly trying to build a deeper connection with Xuanxuan.

This deeper connection...

Was of course not just between teacher and student...

He also knew clearly that Ye Wen was trying to make a good impression in front of him.

He understood her thoughts!

However, with Ye Wen’s qualifications, she could completely find someone more outstanding or more well-matched than Huang Tao, but she...

Still had a fondness for Huang Tao!

And she was even more fond and loving towards Xuanxuan!

His precious daughter seemed to like Ye Wen a lot too.

And this liking was not merely a student’s liking for a teacher...

This made him have to take seriously what his mother had said.

Upon reflection.

He did have some fondness for Ye Wen. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

But it was still some distance from liking.

After all, liking someone is undeniable, and you’d constantly want to learn about them, care about the problems they face, and take the initiative to contact them every day, even if there’s nothing to talk about, you’d look for topics to chat about with them longer...

And so far, he didn’t have such substantial thoughts.

The only connection between them was Xuanxuan and Ye Wen’s initiative.

These just showed that it wasn’t a matter of liking yet.

So fondness and liking are different, and they can’t be confused.

Otherwise, it would easily mislead oneself.

Now that he clearly understood his current feelings, he couldn’t guarantee...that he wouldn’t like Ye Wen in the future, nor could he guarantee...that he would like Ye Wen in the future.

Hmm.

Everything should just go with the flow...

"Huang Tao, no need to say thank you to me~"

Ye Wen’s lips curled into a charming arc as she looked at Huang Tao, but her eyes revealed firmness.

A firm belief!

Just at this moment.

A few flickers of candlelight appeared in the darkness ahead, gradually, under the weak glow of the fairy lights, Huang Tao and the two others saw a large cake being pushed over on a trolley.

"Happy Birthday to you..."

Li Chengzhan hummed the birthday song as he slowly pushed the birthday cake towards Huang Tao.

The other employees and Jiang Guowei and his wife all followed behind Li Chengzhan, humming the birthday song as they walked over.

"Daddy, Teacher Ye, look, it’s a cake~"

At the moment Xuanxuan saw the birthday cake, she exclaimed excitedly, pointing at it.

She couldn’t help but stretch her neck, even wanting to wriggle free from her dad’s arms to get a clearer look at this big cake!

Huang Tao, worried she might bump into something in the dark, quickly held onto her: "Xuanxuan, sit still, wait until your Uncle Chengzhan is done setting up before you go over."

Xuanxuan, being quite obedient, listened to her dad’s advice and sat quietly.

Imitating Teacher Ye, she clapped her hands and started singing the birthday song: "Happy birthday to you..."

In the middle of the venue, surrounded by flashing colored lights, Huang Tao and the other two finally got a clear view of what the cake looked like.

To put it plainly, it was neither surprising nor disappointing, just average.

Li Chengzhan laughed, "Boss, you can make a wish and blow out the candles now!"

"Daddy, quickly make a wish and blow out the candles! Once you blow out the candles, we can have cake!" Xuanxuan urged.

Little glutton Xuanxuan, she’s really craving the cake!

"Alright~"

Huang Tao nodded, folded his hands into fists, closed his eyes, and silently made a beautiful wish.

After making his wish.

He opened his eyes, "Xuanxuan, come on, let’s blow out the candles together."

"Okay, okay!"

Adorable Xuanxuan happily agreed, puckering her lips to blow at the candles.

Whoosh~

Whoosh~

With the joint effort of father and daughter, all the candles were extinguished.

Clap clap clap!

The shop filled with enthusiastic applause.

The incandescent lights came back on.

"Daddy, what wish did you just make?"

Xuanxuan, her cute little nose unknowingly smeared with some cream, probably from her candle-blowing efforts, asked in a muffled voice after Ye Wen noticed and wiped it with a tissue.

"It has something to do with you, but I can’t say it out loud, or it won’t come true," Huang Tao said affectionately, patting her little head with a smile.

Xuanxuan had an enlightened expression on her face, "Oh, then don’t say it out loud!"

Huang Tao chuckled and gave everyone a piece of cake.

Everyone happily enjoyed the cake passed over by the birthday star.

Xuanxuan was the happiest eater.

But for such a little one, who had just had dinner earlier, she was quickly full.

Yet, her little head couldn’t help but glance a few more times toward the big cake.

She’s a typical case of being full but not satisfied!

Huang Tao was never much interested in cake, but tonight, being the birthday star, he finished his small portion.

Ye Wen hesitated for a moment, then reached out and touched Huang Tao’s face.

The shop suddenly became very quiet.

Xuanxuan looked at Ye Wen, then at Huang Tao, seemingly confused.

Jiang Guowei and his wife, holding pieces of cake, showed a knowing smile.

Yang Huiru’s eyes were wide open, Ren Meilan was holding back a laugh, and Ding Suqin, along with the other old employees, continued to play the role of random bystanders...

Huang Tao’s body involuntarily stiffened.

Completely unsure why Ye Wen, who had always kept a distance, suddenly made such an intimate gesture...

But he quickly understood, reaching up to touch his face...

It was slippery cream!

He couldn’t help but turn his head, meeting Ye Wen’s gaze directly.

Her pretty face had a slight blush, and her eyes, like rippling water, were filled with a mischievous glint as she winked at him, as if stifling a laugh.

Then she silently hid her cake in front of her.

Using it to conceal her shyness and to avoid Huang Tao’s bright, slightly accusing gaze...

This action made Huang Tao inexplicably find her a bit cute!

Xuanxuan, as if discovering a new way to play, also reached out to dab some cream, imitating by smearing a bit on her dad’s face.

"Oh, you guys..."

Huang Tao deliberately raised his plate, which still had some cream.

Of course, this was just to playfully scare Xuanxuan and Ye Wen.

Xuanxuan shrieked and slid down from her chair, hiding under the table.

Ye Wen quickly turned and slipped away.

Once they confirmed Huang Tao wasn’t pursuing them, they started giggling uncontrollably...