After Ye Chen and Xiao Churan arrived in Yanjing, 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, Xiao Churan suggested they go for a stroll in the centre of Yanjing. Having studied art and design, Xiao Churan really liked the siheyuan courtyards within Yanjing’s Second Ring Road and wanted to explore them with Ye Chen.
Ye Chen naturally agreed happily, but he did not realise that Xiao Churan 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. Xiao Churan took many photos and pulled Ye Chen 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. Xiao Churan 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, Ye Chen?”
Ye Chen 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 Jinling orphanage.
How could an orphan from Jinling have played with a northern ice sled?
After all, with Jinling’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 Jinling would not have the childhood memories of northern children.
Xiao Churan was a bit disappointed, but she soon returned to normal. She asked Ye Chen, “Tomorrow is your birthday. Shall we find a nice restaurant for lunch to celebrate?”
“No need,” Ye Chen said with a smile. “I’m not really used to celebrating birthdays at restaurants.”
Xiao Churan said, “But we still have to celebrate your birthday somehow.”
Ye Chen 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.”
Xiao Churan thought about it and nodded. “That works too. I’ve already ordered a cake in advance from a famous cake shop in Yanjing. We’ll celebrate back at the hotel tomorrow!”
Ye Chen laughed. “Great, thanks, wife.”
…
Back at the hotel, after washing up, the two lay in bed. Xiao Churan waited for midnight to arrive so she could personally wish Ye Chen a happy birthday, while Ye Chen lay there with his thoughts racing.
In his ears, Gu Qiuyi’s words kept echoing inexplicably, “Unless you give me a son!”
He began to worry that after this concert, Gu Qiuyi 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.
Xiao Churan leaned over, gently resting her head on his shoulder, and said, “Husband, happy birthday!”
Ye Chen smiled faintly, reached out to gently hold her, and said tenderly, “Thanks, wife.”
Xiao Churan wanted to say more, but Ye Chen’s phone started buzzing non-stop.
Dozens of WeChat messages came flooding in all at once.
Gu Qiuyi, Nanako, Qin Aoxue, Wang Dongxue, Song Wanting, Su Ruoli, Su Zhiyu, 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 Ye Chen a message wishing him a happy birthday.
Others like Hong Wu, Chen Zekai, Wan Pojun, and the He family members also sent their blessings one after another.
Interestingly, even Steve Rothschild sent Ye Chen a long string of birthday greetings.
The non-stop WeChat messages made Ye Chen a bit embarrassed. He did not dare reply in front of Xiao Churan, so he could only put the phone down.
Xiao Churan asked him, “Husband, why aren’t you replying to the messages?”
Ye Chen 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.”
Xiao Churan smiled faintly without exposing him and asked, “You’re twenty-nine now. Do you have any wishes?”
