Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 74

Fang Yu also handed over his gift with a smile.

“Little Ye, happy birthday. Wishing you all the best.”

Ye Ningyu looked down at Xia Shi, who was still nestled in her arms, then glanced at Fang Yu.

Her eyes sparkled with joy, but tears started to well up, glistening with emotion.

She bit her lip and nodded earnestly, her voice slightly choked:

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

“Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday…”

As she accepted the gifts from Fang Yu and Xia Shi, her almond-shaped eyes were filled with surprise and happiness.

Xia Tian felt his heart skip a beat.

It seemed like it had been a long time since Little Ye had received gifts from anyone.

Noticing that her tears were about to spill over, Xia Tian quickly intervened:

“Stop standing around here, everyone. Let’s sit down—the food will be served soon.”

“Oh, right, let’s sit down.”

The group gathered around the table and took their seats.

Fang Yu and Xia Tian sat on one side, while Xia Shi squeezed herself between Ye Ningyu and Chen Lan, treating herself as part of the family.

Xia Shi monopolized the conversation, steering the topic in every direction.

“Sister Ye, what kind of skincare do you use? Your skin is flawless! I’m so jealous!”

“Sister Ye, with a score more than 700, you’re definitely going to Tsinghua or Peking University, right?”

“Sister Ye, open the present I got you! I spent a long time picking it out!”

“Auntie, let me tell you, Sister Ye is famous at school! Although she always hides her face in her uniform, I only recently found out how stunning she is!”

“Auntie, you’re so beautiful too!”

Xia Shi’s mouth was like a rapid-fire cannon, going off non-stop, occasionally saying something hilarious that had Chen Lan laughing heartily.

During all this, the food gradually arrived.

“Alright, Xia Shi, stop yapping and let Auntie and Ye Ningyu eat. You’re the one talking the most.”

Xia Tian shot a glance at Xia Shi, signaling for her to tone it down.

But Xia Shi just stuck her tongue out at Xia Tian before clinging to Ye Ningyu’s arm again.

Even so, Xia Tian was pleased to see that the atmosphere was lighthearted.

Although Xia Shi was a little over the top, Xia Tian occasionally chimed in to balance things out, ensuring that the mood was warm and lively.

Fang Yu, on the other hand, wasn’t much of a talker. He quietly focused on the food, occasionally nodding along to the conversation.

—

An hour later, they had nearly finished the meal.

Xia Tian called the server to clear the table, then pulled out the cake from beneath the table and started placing candles on it.

“Alright, time for cake!”

“Sister Ye, let me put the birthday hat on you!”

“O-okay, thanks~”

Little Ye nodded obediently, sitting upright in her chair.

Seeing this, Xia Shi couldn’t resist hugging her again.

“Sister Ye, you’re so adorable! You look like the kind of girl who’s easily fooled.”

“I-I’m not that easy to fool…”

Xia Tian stifled a laugh as he took out a lighter and lit the candles.

The group gathered around Ye Ningyu, singing a birthday song.

As she looked at Xia Tian, Fang Yu, Xia Shi, and her mother, Ye Ningyu’s eyes reddened, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.

By the time the birthday song ended, a few of them leaned in to blow out the candles together, offering their well-wishes.

“Little Ye, happy 18th birthday.”

“Happy birthday, Little Ye!”

“Sister Ye, happy birthday! May you become even more beautiful and adorable!”

“Happy 18th birthday, Little Yu.”

Ye Ningyu kept wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, but despite the tears, her face was full of smiles, and she kept murmuring, “Thank you.”

Once the cake was cut and served, Xia Shi excitedly suggested they share a little red wine.

Feeling a bit flustered, Ye Ningyu instinctively looked over at her mother for guidance.

Chen Lan gave her a gentle nod and said softly, “It’s alright, Little Yu. You’re an adult now. Besides, we’re all having fun today. You can have a little wine if you’d like.”

“O-okay…”

Little Ye exhaled in relief and smiled back at Xia Shi and the others.

With her cute little dimples and a hint of her tiger teeth showing, she looked absolutely adorable.

For a moment, Xia Tian was completely mesmerized.

He remembered an old saying:

“Your dimples don’t hold any wine, but they’ve completely intoxicated me.”

He couldn’t think of a better way to describe his feelings at that moment.

Xia Tian asked the server to bring over a bottle of red wine and poured a small glass for everyone.

During this, Fang Yu leaned over to Xia Tian and whispered:

“Little Tian, this place isn’t exactly cheap. But since you’re doing well now, why didn’t you spend a little more and get a private room? Little Ye is a bit shy, so wouldn’t she feel more at ease in a private room?”

“You don’t understand anything! Do you really think I’m stingy about the few hundred yuan for a private room? I did this on purpose. If we were in a private room, it would only make Little Ye and her mom feel more pressured.”

Fang Yu looked puzzled, clearly not grasping the reasoning.

Xia Tian sighed and explained:

“Think about it. Anyone can tell this restaurant isn’t cheap. I already downplayed the price to Little Ye’s mom, saying it wasn’t too expensive. If I had booked a private room, wouldn’t both of them feel even more uncomfortable, thinking it must be pricey?”

“Ohhh! Now I get it! Little Tian, you’re so thoughtful!”

Fang Yu suddenly had a moment of realization.

He couldn’t help but think that his emotional intelligence was seriously lacking.

But he couldn’t help glancing at the naive Ye Ningyu, sighing inwardly.

If Ye Ningyu really ended up with Xia Tian in the future, even if Xia Tian sold her off, this sweet girl would probably still happily count the money for him…

Is this what they mean by “love” in the academic world?

—

Because of her health, Chen Lan couldn’t drink.

She sat quietly, watching her daughter and the three energetic teens laughing and chatting at the table.

Chen Lan knew her daughter’s personality better than anyone.

She couldn’t believe how outgoing Little Yu was being tonight.

This change, she thought, was definitely thanks to that boy, Xia Tian.

As a mother, how could Chen Lan not see her daughter’s feelings for Xia Tian?

And it wasn’t hard to see Xia Tian’s special affection for her daughter either. Tonight’s dinner was obviously all on him.

However…

All of this was happening because Xia Tian didn’t fully understand their family situation yet.

“If the day comes when he learns everything about us, will he still want to stay by Little Yu’s side?”

Chen Lan’s gaze softened as she looked at her daughter again.

If that day ever came, she hoped her daughter wouldn’t be too heartbroken.

Because a boy as outstanding as Xia Tian… in the end, they were from different worlds.

Social status really was too important.

—

By 9 p.m., Chen Lan suggested that Xia Tian and the others continue having fun without her. She mentioned that her presence as the only adult might make them feel a bit restrained.

“Mom, l-let me walk you home.”

“No need, Little Yu. I can go by myself. You stay and enjoy yourself with Xia Tian, Shi Shi, and Fang Yu. You’ve all just finished a big exam, so take some time to relax.”

“But…”

“Silly girl, I’m not that old yet. Don’t worry about me. You all have fun—I’ll head home now.”

Ye Ningyu still seemed hesitant.

But Xia Shi tugged on her arm and pleaded, “Sister Ye, I don’t get to stay out this late very often. Can’t you keep playing with me for a little longer? You haven’t even opened the present I got you!”

“…Alright.”

After Chen Lan left, Xia Shi excitedly pulled Ye Ningyu over to open her gift.

It was a figure of “Hatsune Miku,” something Xia Shi cherished.

“Look, Sister Ye! This is my waifu. I love her so much I didn’t even keep her for myself—I’m giving her to you!”

“Wow, she’s beautiful…”

It was the first time Little Ye had ever seen something like this, and her eyes lit up with happiness.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xia Tian excused himself to the restroom.

After finishing up and washing his hands at the sink, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind him…