After Charlie wade and Claire Wilson arrived in Eastcliff, they checked into a hotel next to the National Stadium.
Because the concert was about to start, the entire hotel was fully booked. The two of them waited nearly half an hour to check in.
After checking in, with nothing else to do, Claire Wilson suggested they go for a stroll in the centre of Eastcliff. Having studied art and design, Claire Wilson really liked the siheyuan courtyards within Eastcliff’s Second Ring Road and wanted to explore them with Charlie wade.
Charlie wade naturally agreed happily, but he did not realise that Claire Wilson simply wanted to walk with him through the places where he had lived as a child.
The two of them strolled through the hutongs within the Second Ring Road. Claire Wilson took many photos and pulled Charlie wade along for lots of selfies. Her mood seemed particularly good.
When they reached Houhai, although there was still ice on the water surface, the areas near the shore had already begun to melt. Claire Wilson felt a bit regretful. She sighed, “I’ve always wanted to try the traditional northern ice sled, but I’ve never had the chance. Have you tried it, Charlie wade?”
Charlie wade shook his head. “I haven’t tried it either, but if you want to give it a go, we can come earlier next year. Let’s not wait until spring arrives.”
He did not dare say he had tried it, after all, the backstory he had told others was that he had been an orphan from a young age, wandering outside, before entering the Aurous Hill orphanage.
How could an orphan from Aurous Hill have played with a northern ice sled?
After all, with Aurous Hill’s damp and cold winters, it was hard enough for a dog to stand on the thin ice, let alone a person. Children who grew up in Aurous Hill would not have the childhood memories of northern children.
Claire Wilson was a bit disappointed, but she soon returned to normal. She asked Charlie wade, “Tomorrow is your birthday. Shall we find a nice restaurant for lunch to celebrate?”
“No need,” Charlie wade said with a smile. “I’m not really used to celebrating birthdays at restaurants.”
Claire Wilson said, “But we still have to celebrate your birthday somehow.”
Charlie wade suggested, “How about we buy a cake and have it delivered to the hotel? After watching the performance in the evening, we can eat the cake in the hotel room.”
Claire Wilson thought about it and nodded. “That works too. I’ve already ordered a cake in advance from a famous cake shop in Eastcliff. We’ll celebrate back at the hotel tomorrow!”
Charlie wade laughed. “Great, thanks, wife.”
…
Back at the hotel, after washing up, the two lay in bed. Claire Wilson waited for midnight to arrive so she could personally wish Charlie wade a happy birthday, while Charlie wade lay there with his thoughts racing.
In his ears, Stephanie’s words kept echoing inexplicably, “Unless you give me a son!”
He began to worry that after this concert, Stephanie would continue to pursue that issue relentlessly with him.
Because after the concert ended, she would completely withdraw from the entertainment industry. At that point, she would no longer participate in any performances, record any songs, or accept any commercial collaborations, formally returning to an ordinary person’s life.
By then, nothing would interfere with her life. If she brought up wanting to get pregnant before marriage again, how would he deflect it?
As he was sighing, the time reached midnight.
Claire Wilson leaned over, gently resting her head on his shoulder, and said, “Husband, happy birthday!”
Charlie wade smiled faintly, reached out to gently hold her, and said tenderly, “Thanks, wife.”
Claire Wilson wanted to say more, but Charlie wade’s phone started buzzing non-stop.
Dozens of WeChat messages came flooding in all at once.
Stephanie, Nanako, Aurora, Doris Young, Jasmine, Xion, Zara Banks, Li Xiaofen, He Zhiqiu, Helena, and a host of other women all sent him birthday wishes. Even Tawana sent a message right on time.
Besides them, the 400-year-old Lin Wan’er also sent Charlie wade a message wishing him a happy birthday.
Others like Don Albert, Isaac Cameron, Wan Pojun, and the He family members also sent their blessings one after another.
Interestingly, even Steve Rothschild sent Charlie wade a long string of birthday greetings.
The non-stop WeChat messages made Charlie wade a bit embarrassed. He did not dare reply in front of Claire Wilson, so he could only put the phone down.
Claire Wilson asked him, “Husband, why aren’t you replying to the messages?”
Charlie wade said with a smile, “Oh, they’re all from a bunch of clients sending blessings. I won’t reply one by one. I’ll post something on Moments later with a couple of thank-you words.”
Claire Wilson smiled faintly without exposing him and asked, “You’re twenty-nine now. Do you have any wishes?”
“Wishes?” Charlie wade thought for a moment and laughed. “I hadn’t thought about it before, but now that I think about it, I have quite a few.”
