Most people might not understand, but Jiang Chen, such a smart person, instantly comprehended and made amends: "What I mean is, you’re especially beautiful today."

Mending the pen after the sheep is lost, but there’s no effect.

Cao Jinse walked past him without saying a word.

Jiang Chen followed with the cake.

"Did your brother come?"

Cao Jinse replied flatly, "Call him Teacher Cao."

Mr. Jiang pretended not to hear, "Yang Ting said your brother would come."

"I don’t know if he’ll come."

"Didn’t you come with him?"

Cao Jinse turned her head, "Isn’t it my brother’s birthday today, is it?"

"Just asking casually, isn’t your brother quite familiar with Yang Ting?"

Cao Jinse’s expression turned serious, "Don’t say anything inappropriate later."

This was definitely a kind-hearted reminder.

Jiang Chen raised his hand, made a gesture of understanding, and shifted the topic, "By the way, how old is Yang Ting this year?"

"What do you think?"

"She should be under 36."

According to Shen Zhou’s traditional cultural customs, thirty-six years is considered a hurdle in life, and one should hold rituals rather than celebrate.

"I really don’t know why she invited you."

Really don’t know, or pretending not to know?

"Maybe she doesn’t have many friends," someone replied seriously.

"Then how can you be considered a friend without knowing her age?"

A private room appeared a few steps away.

Princess Cao truly has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; ridiculing with her words but before entering the room, still informed: "Thirty-three."

Thirty-three.

About the same feeling.

Actually, it’s not old at all.

Many people of this age in big cities these days have not yet settled down or even are still searching for their path.

But look at Yang Qinghua’s achievements.

Jiang Chen entered the private room.

"Happy birthday, Sister Qinghua."

Although it was her birthday, Yang Qinghua didn’t go out of her way to dress up, nor did she look as formal as when working. Like Cao Jinse, she wore casual style, but her extraordinary aura was still strong. She quickly stood up upon seeing Jiang Chen enter the room.

"Why buy a cake, we aren’t kids anymore."

"Sister Qinghua, is it possible that it’s because the cake was cheap?" Cao Jinse chimed in, skilled in enlivening the atmosphere.

Jiang Chen feigned ignorance and placed the truly economical cake on the table.

Yang Qinghua wasn’t bothered at all by the modest gift and teased Jiang Chen for changing her title unnoticeably, "Why not call me Yang Ting anymore?"

"It’s off-duty time now. Sister Qinghua, like us, is now part of the general public."

"Off work, I’m part of the general public, and you are not."

Yang Qinghua chuckled and then greeted, "Have a seat."

Four chairs were placed around the round table; guests already knew the answer.

Jiang Chen asked nonchalantly, "Teacher Cao hasn’t arrived yet?"

"I just called him; he’s delayed by something at school. He’s on his way."

It’s not love.

Then it’s friendship.

No matter how indifferent, it’s impossible to ignore feelings entirely. Yang Qinghua turned thirty-three today, meaning they must have known each other for at least twenty or thirty years.

How many twenty or thirty years does a lifetime have?

"This restaurant might not have the best environment, but the food is alright. I’ve eaten here many times, do you mind?"

"Understood."

Someone replied inexplicably.

"What do you understand?"

Cao Jinse couldn’t help but ask.

Exactly.

The person asked if you mind, what’s with the reply "understood"?

"Don’t you know there’s been a massive salary cut for public servants? Sister Qinghua’s salary might have been affected too."

"..."

"..."

Looking at the earnest guy, Yang Qinghua and Cao Jinse fell into silence simultaneously.

What’s most frightening is when the air suddenly becomes silent.

"Why did you invite him, Sister Qinghua?" Cao Jinse turned her head.

Today’s birthday star sighed, "If he didn’t come, your brother, a man, probably wouldn’t come either."

Is that something one can say directly?

Absolutely not treating someone like an outsider.

Even if comforting oneself, hearing this, Comrade Jiang Chen couldn’t help feeling a little hurt.

So, dare I say I’m just a number?

Had I known, I certainly wouldn’t have come.

"Sister Qinghua saying that hurts my feelings a bit."

The two women focused their attention.

"Does it?"

Cao Jinse shrugged, her expression extremely rich, "So what?"

"Then I’ll take the cake back."

"Pfft."

Yang Qinghua covered her mouth, unable to hold back, smiling wide, causing fine lines to form at the corners of her eyes, all due to the mental strain of work usually.

"You two stop performing your double act, open it up, I haven’t had cake for quite a while."

"Shouldn’t we wait for Teacher Cao?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Who told him to be late?"

Yang Qinghua frowned and then relaxed quickly, "Such a big cake, worried about us three finishing it?"

Indeed.

Jiang Chen got up and started removing the packaging.

"Wait.

Seeing this guy ready to cut directly, Cao Jinse couldn’t help but stop, "Sister Qinghua hasn’t made a wish yet."

Almost forgot.

"Sorry."

Jiang Chen immediately put down the knife and switched to lighting candles. At this moment, the private room door was pushed open from outside.

"Brother."

Cao Jinse turned around and called out.

"Even on my birthday, do I have to wait for you?"

Yang Qinghua complained.

"Teacher Cao."

Jiang Chen stood to the left, greeted him.

Cao Xiugo nodded to him in acknowledgment, and then said to the birthday star, "I said don’t wait for me."

Just lively moments ago, Cao Jinse became silent again.

"I didn’t intend to wait, but you just happened to arrive in time."

Saying this, Yang Qinghua turned back to Jiang Chen, smiled and said, "Continue."

Jiang Chen said nothing, silently inserting the remaining candle into the center of the cake.

"Shouldn’t you make a wish now?"

Yang Qinghua asked with a smile.

"Mmm."

Jiang Chen lit the candles.

The flickering light reflected in all four pairs of eyes.

"Sister Qinghua, go ahead and make a wish."

Yang Qinghua bent down, staring at the candles, silently conveying her thirty-third birthday wish inwardly, and a few seconds later, took a deep breath and blew out the candles.

"What wish did Sister Qinghua make?"

Cao Jinse spoke up, asking the question someone didn’t dare ask.

But how could someone at such a high level be shallow enough?

"Peace and prosperity of the nation."

Listen.

What’s called magnanimity.

What’s called vision.

Whether she truly wished for peace and prosperity, that only she would know.

"Let’s cut the cake."

Someone showed initiative and knew their role for the night, immediately picking up the knife.

Symbolically, each received a small piece, just for ceremony.

There’s still dinner to come.

Cao Jinse might or might not have brought a gift, since she arrived later, Jiang Chen didn’t know, but after the cake, Cao Xiugo unexpectedly presented a prepared gift.

It was a pen.

"Brother, you really splurged, almost a month’s salary, right?"

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but cough lightly.

Who warned her not to speak randomly before entering?

Allow the governor to burn, but not the common people to light their lamps?

"More than a month."

Cao Xiugo calmly replied.

It turns out humor can be inherited.

"It’s fine, your brother rarely shows generosity, have you seen him give me gifts all these years? Jinse, don’t feel bad anymore; you can’t finish earning money." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

So saying, Yang Qinghua carefully placed the pen back in the box.

A high-ranking official cares about a pen this much.

Such an honest official.

"Sister Qinghua misunderstood. Jinse’s concern was about you breaking rules, if someone spread rumors of bribery, that wouldn’t be good."

Nobody compete now!

Comrade Jiang Chen demonstrated with actions that he’s the chosen comedian!

Cao Jinse couldn’t help but look over, her words stalled, mouth trembling.

Yang Qinghua leaned back in her chair, her eyes sweeping over the faces of the three, as though she suddenly understood.

"Did you three plan this? Reluctant to give gifts, just don’t give them, but you want to take them back, you can’t do that. Gained face without spending money, am I a toddler?"

Eight eyes met.

Then.

Including Cao Xiugo.

The two men and two women in the private room couldn’t help but laugh together.

Anyway, the door was closed, nobody heard, nobody recognized them.

Sometimes.

Being able to laugh heartily without concern is already something very fortunate.