Chapter 156 Birthday Gathering

Chapter 156 Birthday Gathering

Ye Xiaoxiao and Zhang Kaining got back to school around 7 PM.

When passing by the dorm supervisor's room, the supervisor called out to Ye Xiaoxiao.

"Student, your guy came by looking for you today."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Auntie, are you sure it was him?"

The supervisor proudly said, "I never forget a face, especially someone as good-looking as your guy. I couldn’t possibly forget him."

The dorm supervisor remembered good-looking people very clearly.

Among so many students, Ye Xiaoxiao stood out the most to her.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Mind if I use your phone? I need to make a call."

The dorm supervisor looked around: "Hurry up, it’s best not to let others see."

It was a school phone, and it didn’t cost anything.

But students weren’t supposed to use it freely, as the costs were covered by the school.

It was for emergencies only, though time should be kept short.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Thanks, auntie."

Ye Xiaoxiao gave Lu Hanchuan a call.

He was probably at the place near the base.

She called, and he picked up.

"Did you stop by for me today?"

Lu Hanchuan: "Yeah, didn’t expect you to be out, Xiao Xiao."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I was at my mentor’s lab and just got back."

Lu Hanchuan laughed upon hearing the explanation, "My bad for not giving you a heads-up. You just got back, so go get some rest."

"By the way, Li Dazhuang and his wife are gone."

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t want to tie up the phone, so after a few words with Lu Hanchuan, she said, "I’ll head back to my room then. I’ll call you tomorrow if I’m free."

Lu Hanchuan quietly said, "Yeah."

After hanging up, Ye Xiaoxiao really wished she had a cell phone.

It was 1985.

The first mobile phone in the country had already appeared, but it was a bulky "brick" that weighed four kilos and wasn't marketed.

Moreover, without signal support, a mobile phone was useless in most areas.

It would take a few more years before commercial mobile phones were sold.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that the variety of mobile phones gradually diversified, truly starting to resemble modern cell phones.

Ye Xiaoxiao thanked the dorm auntie and walked back to the dormitory feeling down.

The dorm auntie was baffled—there hadn’t been any argument, so why did she look so unhappy?

Back in the dorm, Ye Xiaoxiao still looked out of sorts.

“What’s wrong with you? You look unhappy,” Tang Xiuxiu asked.

“I’m just feeling off.”

Why was she only a medical student?

Tang Xiuxiu: “Are you okay?”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “I’m fine, it’s my problem. I’ll snap out of it soon.”

Tang Xiuxiu noticed Ye Xiaoxiao lying motionless on the bed for quite a while.

The next day, Ye Xiaoxiao returned to normal.

Since she couldn’t change the times, she decided to change herself.

...

Time flew by, and a week passed quickly.

Ye Xiaoxiao got a telegram from Xu Jianli.

Xu Jianli's birthday was this weekend, and he invited her to celebrate.

Ye Xiaoxiao was tempted to say no, but Xu Jianli specifically mentioned that he would celebrate with his family in the morning, and in the afternoon, when his parents were out, he’d invite friends over. He insisted that Ye Xiaoxiao had to be there.

Ye Xiaoxiao had no choice but to say yes and took the opportunity to buy him a birthday gift.

She chose a fountain pen, perfect for a high schooler.

After browsing the mall, she also picked up a men’s watch for Lu Hanchuan.

Since she was headed to the compound anyway, Ye Xiaoxiao decided to visit Lu Hanchuan’s elders.

She made time to stop by Rende Pharmacy and picked up some herbal medicine.

All of it was to help elderly folks with their digestion.

Back at school, Ye Xiaoxiao mailed the gift to Lu Hanchuan with a note, telling him that she would be returning to the compound on Sunday.

That way, he wouldn’t come after her.

Come Sunday, Ye Xiaoxiao showed up at the compound.

On the way, no one greeted her.

As she reached the Xu family’s gate, someone called her name.

Ye Xiaoxiao stopped in her tracks; the inevitable had happened.

She wondered who she'd run into this time.

“Xiao Xiao, you actually came back. I thought Duan Lei was just bluffing.”

Shao Zeyu sized up Ye Xiaoxiao.

He sensed something different about her but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Ye Xiaoxiao was also observing him.

He wore glasses, was handsome, and had a brooding air about him. He stood out.

But! It wasn’t mentioned in the original book, or maybe Ye Xiaoxiao had simply forgotten.

This made her think he probably wasn’t a major character.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I’m back in school."

Shao Zeyu asked: "Where do you go to school?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Jinghua University."

Shao Zeyu paused for a moment, then chuckled.

"Congrats."

Ye Xiaoxiao thought he was odd, since most people would’ve been shocked and asked, "How did you get into Jinghua University?" His lack of reaction made him seem unconventional.

The Xu family gate swung open with a clatter, and Xu Jianli poked his head out.

"Why aren’t you guys coming in? Brother Zeyu, what are you and Sister Xiaoxiao talking about?"

Ye Xiaoxiao finally learned his name.

But his last name—still no clue. Still, it didn’t ring a bell.

Ye Xiaoxiao handed Xu Jianli the gift, saying, "Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Sister Xiaoxiao! I love your gift."

Shao Zeyu handed over his gift, teasing, "You didn’t even look at it—that’s some half-hearted flattery."

Xu Jianli’s eyes widened. "No way! I saw it—it’s gotta be a pen."

Ye Xiaoxiao smiled. "You’re right."

"Come on in! I got a cake, and it’s gorgeous."

Ye Xiaoxiao and Shao Zeyu stepped into the Xu family living room, one after the other.

A few people were already inside, all friends of Xu Jianli.

Some had met Ye Xiaoxiao before, but the age gap meant they didn’t know much about her history with the Xu family, so they stayed polite.

Others hadn’t met her before, so they were even less interested.

The boys gave the pretty sister a few glances before going back to their games.

Only a few individuals were closely connected with both the Hao and Xu families in the neighborhood.

"Wow, when did Xiao Xiao come back? We thought you had disappeared."

Before Ye Xiaoxiao could speak, Xu Jianli shouted at the person, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Ye Xiaoxiao stopped Xu Jianli, "It’s your birthday today, don’t get worked up."

She nodded her chin at the person who had just spoken, "So, tell me, why can’t I come back?"

He was just shocked and didn’t mean any harm.

Seeing Ye Xiaoxiao ask like this, he smiled, "My bad, you’re welcome back anytime, no one’s stopping you."

"Yeah, Xiao Xiao, we’re just curious—did you really break ties with the Hao family? Where are you living now?"

Facing the questions, Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t shy away from answering.

She and Hao Yanyan were switched at birth, which wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, so she could just say it openly.