She accused Song Mian sobbingly, “How am I supposed to eat it when you made my cake like this?”


  Song Mian, who was always ready, found himself in a dilemma for the first time. He had only thought about Yun Xiangxiang’s preference and the cake’s meaning to her. The matter of consuming it slipped his mind.

  Song Mian sought out skilled masters for tutelage just for this cake. It took him a long time before being able to do it.

  Even he would come across a time when he was not thoughtful enough. Song Mian immediately waved away the awkwardness away by pushing the bonsai he brought to Yun Xiangxiang, “This is my birthday gift for you.”


  There were still tears in Yun Xiangxiang’s eyes. She gazed at Song Mian for a while before slowly taking off the cover of the bonsai.

  It was a blooming lotus. Its petals were completely white, save for the edges, which was in violet. The lotus’ fragrance was gentle and calming.

  “This is……,” It was the special flower Yun Xiangxiang saw Song Mian tending to.

  “This is a new breed I made through genetically modifying Jiu Pin Fragrant Lotus.”


  Song Mian lifted a petal softly, “I had this idea when I came back from Taiwan a few years back, but I did not research it. That’s why it took so long. I only restarted it when I met you last year. Fortunately, it bloomed, just like I wished it would.”


  The lotus had bloomed for a couple of days. Song Mian did not know if the lotus would bloom by Yun Xiangxiang’s birthday.

  Yun Xiangxiang had heard of Jiu Pin Fragrant Lotus. It was said to be a new species of lotus bred through genetically modifying the US pygmy water lily.

  It is called Jiu Pin Fragrant Lotus thanks to its nine different colors. It had great medicinal, nutritional, and artistic value.

  A fragrant lotus should only bloom in May. Song Mian inexplicably made it bloom two months earlier.

  “Your birthday will be its blooming period from now on,” Song Mian clasped Yun Xiangxiang’s hand.

  Leaning forward, he kissed her still-teary eyes. He whispered by her ear, “I gave it a name: Lotus of the Connected Hearts.”


  Yun Xiangxiang’s heart quickly started pumping all of a sudden.

  Lotus of the connected hearts. Lotus and connect are homophones [1].

  Connected heart forms the word “Xiang [2].” It also meant that their hearts would always be connected.

  “Do you like it?” Song Mian whispered.

  “En,” Yun Xiangxiang nodded profusely, “I love it.”


  She immediately broke into a smile after she said she loved it. Song Mian sighed in relief. His electrifying purple eyes shone like the stars at that moment.

  As Yun Xiangxiang touched its petals, she saw Song Mian smiling from the corner of her eye. She harrumphed, “Don’t think I have forgiven you. How am I supposed to eat my cake?!”


  Song Mian must have called He Wei, or else He Wei would not go without even giving her a birthday cake. She loved cakes the most!

  Song Mian looked at his cake exuded artistry. The height of his smugness when he completed it and his anticipation for Yun Xiangxiang’s delight on his way here was the height of his awkwardness now.

  Yun Xiangxiang finally burst out laughing when she embarrassed even the almighty Song Mian.

  Song Mian only realized Yun Xiangxiang was pulling his leg, “It’s my fault for not being thoughtful enough. You can punish me how you like, girlfriend.”


  “Punish you how I like?” Yun Xiangxiang gazed deeply into Song Mian.

  Song Mian had a bad feeling about it when he met her sly eyes. Even so, he still nodded in resignation.

  Yun Xiangxiang took the plate that was sitting beside her. Using her cutlery, she scooped up the back of Madam Xi who was playing the harp on the cake into the plate and shoved it to Song Mian, “Here you go. Finish it.”


  Song Mian was not a picky eater. He was not averse to any food. It was his first time taking in so much sugar and cream at once. He was already tired of it even before eating it.

  “This is something I gave to you. Even if it’s bitter, you have to eat it too. Let alone if it’s sweet,” Yun Xiangxiang had the unruliness of a spoiled girlfriend.

  “Of course. As long as it’s something you give, I will take it. No matter the flavor,” Song Mian picked up his spoon politely.

  Song Mian could not really bear to eat it as he looked at his fruit of labor which he spent a whole afternoon making.

  “I am already giving myself to you. Are you still unhappy?” Yun Xiangxiang urged.

  Song Mian who had a spoonful of Madam Xi beside his mouth elegantly finished the sugary cream and sugar when he heard what Yun Xiangxiang said.

  His deep-set, purplish-black eyes were like two vortexes. They gazed at Yun Xiangxiang deeply and terrifyingly, “Giving yourself to me?”


  Yun Xiangxiang only said it casually. She did not think anything was wrong with it. Of all things he could do, Song Mian repeated it with such ambiguity. On top of that, he looked at her hungrily.

  Yun Xiangxiang turned scarlet. She stomped on Song Mian’s feet angrily, “You old lecher!”


  “I am only lecherous to you,” Song Mian replied as he ate.

  Yun Xiangxiang thought that she was at a disadvantage. She was no match for Song Mian on this kind of talk. Glaring at him, she turned around and sat down across from him.

  She only remembered something when she placed her slice of cake on her plate, “Ai, I forgot to make a wish!”


  She ruined the cake in her single-mindedness of pranking Song Mian. She gave him a death stare when she thought of it.

  “You don’t need to make a wish,” Holding his spoon, Song Mian gazed at Yun Xiangxiang.

  “What?” Yun Xiangxiang was puzzled.

  “I will let you have everything that you can and cannot imagine,” Song Mian replied like it was nothing.

  Giving her everything she ever wanted. That was an audacious declaration.

  He did not say that solemnly. Even so, for some reason, Yun Xiangxiang thought that it was a more dependable reply than any solemn promise.

  “Mr. Song. Be careful of the slap in your face. As they say, greed knows no bounds!” Yun Xiangxiang could finally taste the cake. She closed her eyes in enjoyment.

  “They also say that lust is an endless abyss.”


  “Ahem!” Yun Xiangxiang was choked by the cake a second time.

  She stretched her leg to stomp on Song Mian’s feet as she was met with his smirking eyes.

  She noticed that she loved to treat Song Mian like this after stepping on him. Yun Xiangxiang was becoming more childish thanks to him.

  Song Mian stopped teasing her to let her enjoy her favorite food in peace. He accompanied her in silence.

  Dusk scattered its shadowy shade into the heavens. Starlight sprinkled down the earth. A calm silence ensued.

  Song Mian’s gaze never left Yun Xiangxiang. After meeting his eyes a few times, Yun Xiangxiang remembered something, “I went to an interview today.”


  “I know.”


  “They asked me whether or not I was dating,” Yun Xiangxiang showed the ring on her finger to Song Mian. “I said yes.”


  Starlight shone from her clear, mesmerizing hazel eyes. A challenging glint also gleamed in them.

  Song Mian understood what she was saying. Following his bulk purchase of “EF”‘s magazine last time, she disclosed this message to him on purpose, as she knew the magazine would only circulate in a small circle.

  If he bought them in bulk again, the press would print in bulk, as they saw the market demand. The matter of them seeing each other would fail to be kept under wraps.

  “Aren’t you scared that I would coerce you with this?” Song Mian asked.

  “Can you bear to?” Yun Xiangxiang arched her eyebrow.

  I can’t bear to do it. I can’t bear to see her frown, or to be even slightly displeased.