Chapter 40

Chapter 40

At the same time, Ying An also frowned as he turned to look at Guo Lingyu.

Guo Lingyu remained oblivious to the strange atmosphere and continued, "Ning Ning, as long as you like it, that's what matters most. All my searching wasn't in vain. Ning Ning, happy eighteenth birthday."

"Ugh, how does he have the nerve to keep up this act?"

"He's the class president. Whenever someone in our class has a birthday, he always shows up with a gift like this, pretending to be thoughtful. But every present he gives secretly contains a hidden camera. He blackmails boys using videos he secretly records, while keeping the girls' footage for himself. So gross!"

"Several boys in class have already fallen victim to his blackmail, but they don't dare expose him because he has dirt on them. That’s why Guo Lingyu is still seen as a 'good class president' to this day."

"We can't let him film Ning Ning! How can I tell her?"

Just as Lin Tingyue panicked, Ying Ning said, "I heard there's a wishing star hidden inside this doll. If you find it, you’ll receive the stars’ blessing. Let me guess..."

She added playfully, "Lingyu, since you put so much thought into this, there must be a wishing star inside, right?"

Guo Lingyu looked confused. "A wishing star?"

"How would he know about the wishing star? He only knows Ning Ning likes this doll. He wouldn’t know the story behind it... But is there really a wishing star? Now I want one too."

Ying Ning laughed. "Exactly, Lingyu. I wonder where you hid the wishing star. I'll have to look thoroughly."

Though he didn’t know about the wishing star, Guo Lingyu caught the key word—search.

By the time he looked over, Ying Ning had already unzipped the back of the doll and reached inside. His eyes widened in alarm as he stepped forward. "Ning Ning, don't—"

Ying An patted Guo Lingyu’s shoulder. "I know you want to surprise Ning Ning, but don’t worry. Even if you don’t help, she’ll find it."

Guo Lingyu was furious enough to stomp his foot—that was anything but a surprise.

But Ying An kept holding his shoulder, preventing him from moving forward.

"Right, Lingyu? Trust me."

Ying Ning turned back and gave Guo Lingyu a thumbs-up.

"Wait, would she happen to find the hidden camera while looking for the wishing star? But would it be easy to find?"

Not easy.

Ying Ning felt around but found only wads of cotton stuffing.

Still, Ying Ning wouldn’t give up. Guo Lingyu dared to spy on her and their female classmates—she would expose him in front of everyone.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she pretended to be surprised. "Oh! Found it! There really is a wishing star!"

With that, she started pulling her hand out of the doll.

Guo Lingyu knew better than anyone—there was no wishing star inside, only the hidden camera he’d planted. What Ying Ning had found must be...

He had to stop her from pulling it out.

Ying An caught on to Ying Ning's plan and released his grip.

Guo Lingyu rushed forward, tugging at the doll with Ying Ning.

Ying Ning looked puzzled. "Lingyu, what are you doing?" she asked.

"I..."

Guo Lingyu opened his mouth, but something suddenly fell to the ground. He looked down, dizzy—how... how could it have fallen out? Could it be...?

Ying Ning pulled her hand away and waved it in front of Guo Lingyu, mouthing the words: *Nothing here.*

She'd been bluffing him the whole time, never thinking she'd actually flush out the hidden camera she couldn’t find.

Ying Ning was faster than Guo Lingyu. She picked up the object first and, putting on an act, asked, "What is this?"

A voice from the crowd called out, "It's a pinhole camera."

Ying Ning gaped at Guo Lingyu. "Lingyu, why would you put a pinhole camera in the doll you gave me? What were you trying to do?"

Ying An stepped forward. "What were you planning to do to my sister?" He turned to the butler nearby. "Uncle Cui, call the police."

Uncle Cui nodded solemnly.

At the word “police,” Guo Lingyu finally snapped out of his shock. In a panic, he begged, "Don't call the police! Please don’t! If you do, my life will be ruined!"

"Now you're worried about your life being ruined? Why didn’t you think about that when you were secretly filming girls? Don’t let this creep off the hook!!!"

"Lingyu, if you put a camera in my doll, does that mean you did the same in gifts for other classmates...?"

Ying Ning didn’t finish, but whether they caught her meaning or not, everyone understood. Many of Ying Ning’s classmates had come to her coming-of-age party, and they mobbed Guo Lingyu.

With a sickening *rip*, his clothes tore open. His phone tumbled out—containing all the evidence of his secret recordings.

Ying An held it up and said coldly, "Dead to rights. Try worming your way out of this one."

Guo Lingyu was taken away. All the victims went to the police station, not returning until late. Only Lin Tingyue, Lin Chengyan, Ying An, and Ying Ning remained in the banquet hall.

Lin Tingyue hesitated. "Ning Ning, your coming-of-age party..."

"That damn creep! Why did he have to ruin Ning Ning’s birthday?!!"

Ying Ning snorted with laughter and looked at Lin Tingyue. "Sister Tingyue, ditching a creep just goes to show that after coming of age, things will only get better for me."

"That’s our Ning Ning—tough as nails!"

Ying Ning blinked, taking it as praise.

Grasping Lin Tingyue’s hand in one of hers and Ying An’s in the other, Ying Ning cheered, "Let’s celebrate my coming-of-age! I, Ying Ning, am all grown up now!"

Lin Tingyue smiled. "Ning Ning, congratulations."

Ying An added, "Ning Ning, congratulations."

The three turned to Lin Chengyan.

Lin Chengyan grumbled, "Nobody even grabbed my hand, and you want my congratulations—"

Before he could finish, Lin Tingyue took his hand.

Powerless against Lin Tingyue, Lin Chengyan turned red but bellowed, "Ning Ning, congratulations!"

"Aww—"

The four of them held hands and ran onto the grass, where Ying An had set up fireworks. The fireworks were lit, bursting into the sky one after another, forming a message—

"Happy 18th Birthday."

When the fireworks ended, Ying Ning and Ying An’s parents finally arrived.

Their flight had been delayed, and they thought they might miss Ying Ning’s coming-of-age ceremony. Luckily, they made it at the last moment.

Ying Ning hugged her parents, feeling completely happy.

...

On the third day after the ceremony, Ying Ning went to the Lin household to see Lin Tingyue.

"Ning Ning!"

Lin Tingyue started running from afar, reached Ying Ning, and hugged her tightly.

Lin Xiawan watched quietly from the balcony.

Great, just what I needed—another rival. What am I supposed to do when my sister’s this popular?

"Ning Ning, what's up today?"

"I got us aquarium tickets. My brother’s busy, so I was wondering if you want to go?"

"The aquarium?"

"Cute otters, beautiful dolphins, playful little fish~"

Lin Tingyue’s eyes sparkled. "I’m in!"

"Awesome! Tomorrow at eight in the morning, don’t bail on me."

"You got it!"

"Oh, Sister Tingyue, that gift you gave me? I *loved* it! I brought you something too."

"Of course I’d get you a birthday gift!"

That’s what Lin Tingyue said, but what Ying Ning heard was—

"What is it? Show me, show me!"

She almost laughed out loud—her inner voice was hilarious. She couldn’t imagine how red Sister Tingyue’s face would turn if she ever found out everyone could hear her thoughts.

"I brought it with me, Sister Tingyue. Take it, or I’ll be upset!"

"Alright, alright. Thanks, Ning Ning."

Ying Ning took a box from her bag and handed it to Lin Tingyue. She opened it and found a tiny doll inside.

Beneath the doll was a gemstone carved into the shape of a star.

Lin Tingyue tried to stay composed. "Thanks, Ning Ning! It’s perfect."

"No way! A gemstone?! This thing’s gotta be worth a fortune!"

Ying Ning pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

At 8 a.m. the next morning, Lin Tingyue arrived at the aquarium entrance, only to see... Ying An?

Ying An was bundled up—hat, mask, and sunglasses, covering every inch. If not for his distinctive build, she might not have recognized him.

"Why are you here? Where’s Ning Ning?"

Seeing Lin Tingyue, Ying An immediately understood what had happened. He said with a resigned sigh, "She probably made plans with you first, then with me, and ended up standing both of us up."

Lin Tingyue, however, remained optimistic. "Well, that works out great. Now we can make up for the aquarium’s lack of pigeons."

Ying An chuckled. "Good point, Miss Lin."

"Should we head in then?"

Lin Tingyue was already eager to explore.

Ying An nodded. "Sure."

The two went to see the dolphin show first.

"Oh my god, so gorgeous!"

"Can I touch it?"

"I got to pet it!"

"Can I kiss it?"

"I got a kiss!"

"Can I—"

Perhaps Lin Tingyue was being too greedy—the dolphin swam away, splashing water all over her face with a *splash!*

Lin Tingyue: "..."

Ying An handed her a tissue.

Then they went to see the otters, where Lin Tingyue even scored a handshake.

"Awwww, I'm dying of cuteness!"

"Ah? Oh wait, you have to give them food? My bad, little guy. I thought it was just a handshake."

She put food in her palm, and the little otter took it. Eyes wide, she turned to Ying An beside her.

He shot her a thumbs-up.

Lin Tingyue asked, "Mr. Ying, do you want to try?"

Ying An shook his head. "I’ll pass."

"Don’t you like otters? They’re the best!"

Faced with Lin Tingyue’s excited pitch, Ying An hesitated. "Well... maybe just once?"

"That’s the spirit!"

Lin Tingyue took Ying An’s hand, pressed food into his palm, and urged, "Come on, go feed the little otter."

Ying An's thoughts were still lingering on the moment when Lin Tingyue had held his hand, even after the otter took his food.

He snapped back to reality when he heard, "Mr. Ying?"

Ying An pushed up his sunglasses and replied, "Miss Lin."

Lin Tingyue moved in close, studying his eyes. "That little otter really got you, huh?"

Ying An nodded.

In truth, all he could see was Lin Tingyue.