Chapter 106: Birthday Gift

Chapter 106: Birthday Gift

June 10th is Xu Moxing's birthday. In previous years, not many people actually remembered his birthday.

When he and Su Lichen were in a good relationship, Su Lichen would always remember his birthday and would always make sure to celebrate his birthday. But in that last year, Su Lichen no longer cared.

His mother, Shen Qin, would send him a hundred yuan every year after he graduated, and that was it.

Xu Jianqing also didn't pay much attention to his birthday, after all, she didn't really celebrate her own either.

Xu Moxing wasn't complaining that no one remembered his birthday—after all, aside from his family's birthdays and Su Lichen's, he didn't remember anyone else's either.

But this year, oddly enough, Xu Jianqing had called him two days earlier, saying she wanted to celebrate his birthday.

"No need, you're so busy with work, just focus on your career. I'm almost thirty now, I don't care about these things anymore."

Xu Moxing declined. He wanted some peace and quiet, and besides, his sister worked in another city. Coming over to celebrate his birthday would mean spending money on a plane ticket, which was completely unnecessary.

"Then I'll buy you something. What do you want most? I'll get it for you."

Xu Moxing thought for a long time but couldn't think of anything he wanted.

"No need, there's nothing I want."

Xu Jianqing almost scolded her brother again.

—"I'm offering to buy you something and you're like 'I don't want anything.' Why are you so indifferent? That's no good!"

Remembering how her brother had called her out before, she held herself back. "It's fine, no rush. You can take your time thinking. When you want something, just tell me to buy it. Consider it a birthday shopping voucher from me, valid forever."

"Alright."

Xu Moxing agreed, though he didn't take it seriously—after all, he also couldn't be bothered to put effort into giving her gifts.

Su Lichen also remembered Xu Moxing's birthday. He wanted to celebrate his birthday, but he knew he didn't have the right.

Su Lichen thought it over and decided to give Xu Moxing a pair of headphones. He remembered that Xu Moxing used to like singing and had really wanted those headphones, but couldn't afford them back then.

Later, after starting work, he gradually stopped singing and lost the desire to buy good headphones.

Since he once had that intention, Su Lichen would now give him a pair. Even if he never used them, it didn't matter—it would be like fulfilling a wish for his past self.

Su Lichen had wanted to give him that gift before, but he knew that for Xu Moxing, it was too valuable, and he wouldn't accept it because he felt he couldn't pay it back.

After deciding what to give, Su Lichen began to figure out how to buy the headphones.

The main problem was that after so many years, those headphones had been discontinued.

Su Lichen didn't want to wait until after his birthday to get them to him, so he had to use his connections to track down a pair.

After asking around, he actually managed to get his hands on a pair—his mother, Dong Yuzhen, found them for him.

To get the headphones sooner, Su Lichen drove home after work.

"Son, long time no see."

Dong Yuzhen happened to be at home, though she was also busy working on her laptop.

She set down the laptop and looked at her son. The last time she had seen him was during Qingming Festival.

"Mom, where are the headphones?"

"Right over there. Why the sudden interest in this stuff? I had to put in some effort to ask around for you."

Dong Yuzhen pointed to where the headphones were.

"Mm... he likes them, and I want to give them to him."

"Well, you and your girlfriend have a great relationship. You just aren't rushing to get married."

Dong Yuzhen remarked, but seeing her son's unhappy expression at her backhanded compliment, she suddenly remembered the questions he had asked during the New Year.

"Over the Spring Festival, you said your partner's enthusiasm for sharing had dropped. Has it been resolved now?"

"..."

Su Lichen fell silent, lowered his eyes, and stroked the headphones. After a moment, he spoke: "I'm still trying."

When it came to matters of the heart, Dong Yuzhen couldn't help her son. All she could do was encourage him.

"Keep it up. When it comes to love, there's not much your mom can do for you. I can help you with your career, but you don't need that either."

Su Lichen smiled. "Not necessarily. Maybe in a while, I'll need your help."

"Hmm?"

Dong Yuzhen didn't understand what her son meant.

But Su Lichen didn't want to say more. He took the headphones and prepared to leave.

"Mom, I'm heading back now."

Dong Yuzhen didn't have much desire to control her son. Since he didn't elaborate, she wasn't curious and didn't press further. She didn't push it.