Jessica looked at Amy and Mag and smiled happily. With a nod, she said, “Thank you, Amy. Thank you, Uncle Mag.”


  “Mr. Mag, Amy, you’re here.” Rebecca walked to the door, and was a little shocked to see Mr. Mag and Amy. She quickly said, “It’s cold outside, quick, come in.”


  “Okay.” Mag walked in with the cake. Although the house was still rather run-down after the renovation, at least there was a wooden table with four benches in a good condition in the room.

  Mag placed the ice cream cake on the table gently. It seemed that Rebecca and Jessica were having dinner. There were still half a bowl of rice and two simple boiled vegetable dishes on the table.

  “Father made you an ice cream cake. Why don’t we have the cake first?” Amy said as she pulled Jessica’s hand.

  “Alright.” Jessica nodded. With a smile, she said, “It’s my first birthday with a cake.”


  “You must have spent a lot of money,” Rebecca said, feeling bad while clearing the table. She had been hearing news about Mamy Restaurant recently. There was news of hundreds lining up at the restaurant every day and of dishes that cost hundreds of copper coins. To her, all this seemed like a completely different world from the one she was living in.

  Today was not the restaurant’s day off, so to have Mr. Mag bring Amy over with a cake to celebrate Jessica’s birthday meant a lot.

  “Little Amy and Jessica are very good friends. I’m also quite surprised that she would remember her birthday. Of course we should celebrate her birthday together,” Mag said with a smile. He was really quite shocked since the little fellow would usually only think of food, so he didn’t think that she would actually remember her friend’s birthday.

  After Rebecca cleared the table, Mag put the ice cream cake at the center of the table, and opened the box to reveal the cake inside.

  “Wow, what a beautiful cake!” Jessica’s eyes lit up when she saw the exquisite cake. What made it a more pleasant surprise was the two small figurines on the cake. They were her and her mother. She looked up at Mag, and said, “Uncle Mag, this is so impressive. These two figurines really look like me and Mother.”


  “Yeah, it’s so life-like.” Rebecca was also looking at the two figurines curiously.

  “According to our tradition, making a wish and then blowing out the candle will make your wish come true,” Mag told Jessica with a smile as he lit up the candles.

  “Will it really come true?” Upon hearing that, Jessica closed her eyes earnestly. After a while, she opened her eyes, and then blew out all the candles in a breath.

  “Jessica, what wish did you make?” Amy asked curiously.

  “My wish is to be best friends with Amy forever,” Jessica said with a smile.

  “Silly, if you say your wish out loud, it won’t come true.” Amy stroked Jessica’s head with a pampering smile, and said, “However, I can help you fulfill this wish. We will definitely be best friends forever.”


  “Mm-hm.” Jessica also smiled joyfully.

  “Oh, right. I have to give you the present I prepared for you.” Amy took out the present, and passed it to Jessica.

  Jessica received the present. After Amy told her to open it up, she opened the box to reveal the golden conch inside.

  “Wow, it’s beautiful! Is this a conch from the beach?” Jessica’s eyes lit up as she picked up the golden conch the size of both her hands gleefully. The conch was a bright and glittery gold all over, as though it would light up on its own.

  Amy nodded, and said, “Mm-hm. This is the prettiest conch I found at the beach. If you put it by your ear, you’ll be able to hear the sea.”


  “It’s true! I can hear the sea!” Jessica looked at Amy with surprise after putting the conch to her ear. “I love this present. I love the sea. Thank you, Amy.”


  “You’re welcome. I am very happy that you like it,” Amy said with a smile. She put the conch by her and giggled.

  Mag smiled at the scene. The two little fellows built their friendship under very harsh conditions. It would be very beautiful if they could really stay like this forever.

  After removing the candles, Jessica and Amy cut the ice cream cake together. The two little fellows ate the cake happily, and talked about the happy children’s things.

  Rebecca looked at Jessica, who was full of smiles, and her eyes started to turn red.

  “Madam Rebecca, are you still adapting fine at Blue Suede?” Madam asked with a smile.

  “Yes. Miss Gloria is a very kind employer. My work at Blue Suede has been my best job yet.” Rebecca nodded.

  Mag looked at the smile that came out naturally, and could tell that she really liked this job.

  After staying for almost two hours at Jessica’s place when the two kids were done playing, Mag left with Amy.

  “Father, I’m very happy today,” Amy said joyfully as she lay on Mag’s back.

  “Then should I play with you more often in the future?” Mag said with a smile. He walked down the street while piggybacking Amy. There were almost no horse-drawn carriages on the streets.

  “Alright!” Amy’s eyes lit up. She then thought for a while and shook her head, saying, “No, that way, all the uncles and aunties who are coming for the delicious food will be very upset.”


  “It’s alright. I will try to make more time for Little Amy next time.” Mag felt a little sorry for being so busy with all the other things and the restaurant. He really didn’t spend enough time with Amy.

  “It’s alright. Amy will be very happy to eat the food Father makes every day,” Amy said softly with satisfaction.

  Mag continued walking forward with Amy on his back. They didn’t see any horse-drawn carriages even after walking down a few streets.

  “Help! Help!”


  Just then, a horrifying shriek came from the alley beside.

  Amy shot right up and looked around. “Father, I think there’s a bad person bullying a big sister at the side!” She pointed to the little alley on the right.

  “Let’s go take a look.” Mag ascertained the direction where the sound came from. It was the dark little alley on their right, and they walked over quickly.

  The shrill came from quite a distance away from them. It sounded as though the person was running away, or she was being kidnapped.