Chapter 071

Chapter 071

Lu Mingzhu had once promised Xie Junyao to make him a birthday cake, and she delivered on her promise.

Zhang Grandma had a strong sense of ritual in life and was quite picky, always complaining that the cream outside wasn't good enough. So her mother had specifically learned cake-making from a famous pastry chef, and she could do it too, along with making Western pastries, Western meals, various desserts, and cooking excellent dishes.

However, since her arrival in this era, she hadn't had the chance to showcase these skills.

She was now part of the privileged class and didn't need to lift a finger.

After school, Lu Mingzhu hurried home by car, got to work in the kitchen. Since the maids had everything ready, she quickly made a beautiful double-layered cake.

Cakes at this time had already developed quite well, on par with those from half a century later.

Occasionally passing by cake shops, Lu Mingzhu noticed that the cakes in the glass cabinets were all white cream with colorful piping, some even had pillars in the middle to support the upper layer, with two or three layers, adorned with fresh flowers or cream carvings, and even plastic figurines standing on top, giving customers more choices.

Thus, the tools for making cakes were quite comprehensive.

Lu Mingzhu chose to stack two layers of cake together, a traditional round shape, with the top layer slightly smaller than the bottom, the white piping was exquisite, adorned with fruits and flowers, the scents of flowers, fruits, and cream mingling together, fresh and not cloying.

The cake wasn't too big, as there weren't many people to share it with.

Lu Mingzhu had crafted the packaging box herself, carefully placing the cake inside, closing the lid, and tying it with a red satin bow.

She had already told Xie Junyao that she would go to his house to celebrate his birthday, asking him to wait for her at home tonight. Before leaving, she washed her hair and bathed, took extra care with her appearance, and wore the blue diamond accessories he had given her.

She only removed the pear-shaped blue diamond from the intricate diamond necklace and threaded it onto a simple chain, hanging it around her neck, nestled between her collarbones.

Understated yet elegant.

In addition to the watch she had sent over ten days ago, Lu Mingzhu also ordered a bouquet of flowers for Xie Junyao.

A bouquet of vibrant, fragrant Red Roses.

Xie Junyao indeed loved it, his eyes sparkled like stars.

He was already very handsome, with a masculine beauty, clear and handsome features, without a trace of softness. At this moment, wearing a custom-tailored three-piece suit, his hair styled stylishly, holding the Red Roses, he looked irresistibly charming!

Twenty-seven years old, a man in his prime.

Without the immaturity of youth or the sophistication of middle age, he had a refreshingly elegant charm.

His eyes were clear and bright.

Lu Mingzhu looked around and noticed that the busy maids in the Xie family mansion didn't pay attention to them. She rose on her toes, planted a quick kiss on Xie Junyao's lips, quickly stepped back two steps, looked up, and said with a smile, "Happy birthday, darling."

Xie Junyao, holding the flowers with one hand and lightly touching his lips with the other, felt dizzy, as if fireworks had exploded, his world lit up with color.

Overflowing with joy, indescribable.

The large lights in the courtyard made the night as bright as day. Xie Junhao came out of the main house and saw this, frowning at his brother's lack of restraint, so he said, "Mingzhu is here? Come inside, it's cold at night, don't catch a chill."

"Okay, big brother." Facing Xie Junhao with his serious face, Lu Mingzhu was exceptionally well-behaved.

The maid took the cake box she had brought, carefully carrying it into the house.

On the way, Lu Mingzhu also put the watch on Xie Junyao's wrist, whispering, "This is also a birthday gift."

"Mingzhu, thank you!" Xie Junyao beamed with joy.

One pleasant surprise followed another.

Upon entering the house, Mingzhu noticed that the furnishings were the same as usual, not specially decorated for Junyao's birthday, except for a few more vases with various flower branches, adding a lively touch.

The vases were gifts from Mingzhu, all from the official kilns of the Qing Dynasty.

When Mingzhu gives gifts, they are always of the finest quality.

When conditions allow, she is never stingy with those she is close to.

Junyao, like a child, carefully placed the roses and then extended his wrist to show off the watch he received to his brother, "Big brother, Mingzhu gave this to me. Isn't it beautiful?"

"Very beautiful," Junhao quietly put away the watch he had prepared for his brother, not bringing it out.

He felt very happy.

Before meeting Mingzhu, his brother had never been this happy, always treating everyone but him with coldness, keeping a certain distance, with his biggest hobbies being horseback riding and playing ball, playing alone.

Back then, he seemed like a noble and reserved gentleman, but it made Junhao very heartbroken, feeling that he lacked human warmth.

Now, his smile is bright, his eyes and brows full of life.

Even if he skips work, he is still adorable.

Due to the abuse he suffered as a child, Junhao spent a long time helping him overcome his fears. Back then, no matter where he went, whether it was for meals, sleep, or even business discussions, he would take his brother with him. So, Junhao did not expect much from his brother's future achievements, only wishing for him to be safe, happy, and to grow into an upright and kind person.

Now, it seems his wish has come true.

What Junhao did not expect was that after his brother finished showing off, he asked, "Big brother, when are you going to marry?"

Junhao was stunned.

Before he could respond, Junyao advised him, "Big brother, although living alone is quite peaceful, even more so than a monk's, but when you have a girlfriend, you'll realize how happy you can be! Hurry up and find a girlfriend, so you won't be left alone when Mingzhu and I are on dates. It's so pitiful."

Junhao deliberately said, "If I have a wife and children, what will you do? The inheritance that was supposed to be yours will be gone."

"It's okay, it was earned by you, passing it on to my nephews and nieces is only fair," Junyao sat close to Mingzhu on the double sofa, holding her hand on his lap, and said with a smile, "In the future, I'll work for Mingzhu, and she'll provide my meals. How about that, Mingzhu?"

"Sure!" Mingzhu replied very cheerfully.

It's just about providing meals, she can afford it.

With her current assets, not just meals, she could support him for a lifetime, as long as he makes her happy.

Junhao laughed and scolded his brother, "You're talking more and more nonsense, luckily Mingzhu tolerates your flaws and doesn't care if you strive or not."

"Junyao is fine," Mingzhu was very satisfied and fond.

If you can win by lying down, why work hard?

Contentment is a very good attitude towards life.

Junhao shook his head and beckoned the maids to prepare the dishes.

The menu was personally drafted by Junyao, who supervised the chef, all dishes were Mingzhu's favorites. Fortunately, the brothers were not picky eaters, as long as the food was delicious, they had no particular preferences.

Mingzhu brought out the cake, "You need to make a wish first, then blow out the candles, and cut the cake to share with us."

She wanted to take a photo of Junyao as a keepsake.

After they met, his first birthday held special significance.

After lighting the candles, Xie Junyao clasped his hands together as if in prayer and eagerly said, "I hope Mingzhu and I will be together forever, never to part."

Lu Mingzhu lifted her camera and snapped the moment.

Xie Junhao offered, "Mingzhu, let me take a group photo for you."

"Okay, thank you, big brother." Lu Mingzhu had the same idea and handed the camera to Xie Junhao. She then joined Xie Junyao to cut the cake after he blew out the candles in one go.

As he looked at the young couple through the lens, Xie Junhao smiled knowingly.

Xie Junyao was in high spirits today and even had the maids snap a group photo of the three of them during dinner.

For him, his girlfriend and his older brother were the most important people.

As he served Lu Mingzhu some food, he said, "When we get a chance, let’s develop the photos from the capital and turn them into an album. We can look at them when we're old, and they'll be beautiful memories."

Lu Mingzhu suddenly recalled something she’d forgotten. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten."

They’d taken tons of photos and gone through a lot of film, but since returning to Hong Kong, they’d been too swamped to develop them.

Xie Junhao chimed in, "Isn’t Mingzhu tied up with her studies? If you’re too busy, hand me the film, and I’ll develop it for you. I was planning to set up a darkroom anyway, just for developing photos."

"Then we’ll leave it to you, big brother," Xie Junyao agreed without hesitation.

Lu Mingzhu thanked him politely.

Then, something else occurred to her. "Big brother, did you deposit the check I gave you last time? When I needed funds for the New Year, I realized the money in my account was untouched. Were you too busy to go?"

Later, she got busy and never checked the account again.

Xie Junhao gave a faint smile, "I haven’t had the chance lately. I’ll take care of it when I can."

At that time, in front of Mrs. Xie, he had mentioned that the young lady had asked her to find a commercial building and planned to use the money to buy a commercial building under Lu Mingzhu's name. After thinking about it, it didn't seem appropriate, so he decided to leave it aside.

Their family wasn’t strapped for cash, so why dip into the young lady’s funds?

They didn’t want to come off as cheap in front of Lu’s father.

At this, Xie Junhao casually remarked to Xie Junyao, "After your birthday, the weather will warm up. Father and mother have decided to return to Shanghai to settle down. You and I will see them off then."

Xie Junyao replied nonchalantly, "Got it."

It’s better if they leave—less hassle for me.

Lu Mingzhu, however, was taken aback. "Moving back to Shanghai to settle down? Isn’t that a bad idea?"

At this stage, it's fine, but in a dozen years, it could be troublesome.

Although Mr. Xie and Mrs. Xie weren't responsible parents, wouldn't people who know think I'm cold-hearted if I let them walk into a trap?

However, apart from my father and Zhang Shuo, no one knows that I'm aware.

Hehehe!

It's good to let them go back and suffer a bit, considering how they treated Xie Junyao before.

Xie Junhao also spoke lightly, "It's not inappropriate. The cost of living is lower back home, and things are gradually getting better. I'll provide enough living expenses for them to live comfortably. Here, because the upper class prefers to communicate in English, and their spoken English is average, they always feel uncomfortable talking to people and think it's better to return to their hometown. They also have a bit of a desire to return to their roots. Additionally, the country has enacted a new marriage law, and I think it can help manage the old man."

Lu Mingzhu couldn't help but nod: "The new marriage law establishes monogamy, prohibits concubinage, encourages concubines to leave their husbands, and suggests that all gentlemen voluntarily release their concubines, retaining only one wife for marriage registration."

She was so caught up in shopping that she forgot to make Xie Junyao study the new marriage law, and she felt like stomping her feet in frustration.

"This law is good. If it had been enacted earlier, society would have been more harmonious long ago," Xie Junyao agreed.

"Do you think it's good?" Lu Mingzhu asked him.

Xie Junyao nodded and countered, "Isn't it good?"

"Of course it's good, especially good. Now that we're in a new society, I am a firm supporter of monogamy and dislike the polygamy system under the Qing laws," Lu Mingzhu said with a clear voice and determined eyes, confidently expressing her views. "If love fades, we can divorce, and after divorce, we can do whatever we want, but we must not allow a third party to interfere with the family and marriage."

Xie Junyao listened quietly and simply said, "Mingzhu, rest assured, my brother and I recognize the new marriage law of the country and will never adhere to the Qing laws inherited in Hong Kong."

Lu Mingzhu smiled and said, "Then I'll wait and see."

Words mean nothing; actions are what matter.

Xie Junyao was very serious, "Just wait and see what I do."

After listening to their conversation, Xie Junhao interjected, "I'll keep him in check. If he dares to misbehave, I'll break his legs."

It's not every day you meet a girl who's beautiful, lively, and full of enthusiasm, who neither finds him immature nor pushes him to improve, indulging him in everything. Why wouldn't he want to cherish her?

Xie Junyao said sternly, "I won't give you the chance to break my legs, so don't even think about it."

Afraid that Lu Mingzhu might have doubts about the future and not engage well with him, he quickly changed the subject, which wasn't in his favor, "Mingzhu, you gave me a birthday gift, and I've prepared a return gift for you."

Lu Mingzhu was surprised, "You're giving me a gift on your birthday?"

It was the first time she received a gift in return for giving a birthday present.

Xie Junyao quickly fetched a small jewelry box from his room.

Originally, it was a Valentine's Day gift he prepared for Lu Mingzhu, but the jeweler didn't deliver it in time, so he could only give roses to Lu Mingzhu that day, making it a less-than-satisfying Valentine's Day.

Lu Mingzhu smiled, "What's inside?"

Xie Junyao opened the box.

Inside was a diamond bracelet in the shape of a leopard.

The white diamonds gave it a fur-like texture, adorned with black onyx spots and ruby eyes, making the leopard look agile and lively, almost as exquisite as the leopard bracelet custom-made for the Duchess of Windsor.

"The leopard is a series designed by Cartier's chief designer, Doussant, who has created many classic pieces. I placed an order with them a few months ago to make a necklace, a bracelet, and a brooch, and provided a piece of jadeite for the brooch's foundation. So far, only the bracelet is finished; the necklace and brooch are still in progress," Xie Junyao explained as he helped Lu Mingzhu put it on her wrist.

The leopard's body was soft and boneless, fitting snugly around the wrist.

After looking at it for a moment, Lu Mingzhu gave a radiant smile, "Thank you, I really like it."

Previously, Xie Junyao was jealous, hoping she would only wear jewelry he gave her, and he wasn't joking!

Of course, she wouldn't agree to that.

A love for jewelry is common among women worldwide.

As is the tendency to prefer the new over the old.

The next day at school, Lu Mingzhu didn’t wear the blue diamond but instead wore her new favorite bracelet.

"Wow! It looks great—it has a kind of commanding presence!" Ming Yue looked at it for a bit and asked to see it up close. She noticed an English phrase engraved on the inside of the bracelet, so tiny you'd miss it if you weren't looking closely.

*"You are my only one,"* Ming Yue found herself reading out loud. "You are my only one."

It dawned on her. "Xie Junyao gave this to you!"

"That's really thoughtful of him."

Her dad hadn’t been this thoughtful when he was chasing her mom.

With a knowing smile, Lu Mingzhu put the bracelet back on her wrist and tucked it under the sleeve of her light green floral shirt. "You'll find someone who treats you right someday, no need to be jealous."

"I'm not jealous, just think Xie Junyao suits you better than I thought," Ming Yue replied.

Lu Mingzhu propped her chin on her hand and flipped open her textbook. "We're truly a match made in heaven, the perfect pair."

Having a boyfriend like him makes even hitting the books feel more rewarding.