"My wife, do you like it?" Qin Yuheng leaned in, his voice a soft whisper against her ear.
"Hmm," Shen Ning nodded, her lips curving into a smile. "I like the surprise very much."
Nearby, Shi Xiao noticed Shen Ning standing close to another man and turned to Yun Xi. "That person beside Shen Ning is...?"
Yun Xi glanced at him, and smiled rudely, "Her husband, Qin Yuheng."
Shi Xiao froze. "Husband?"
"Yeah. You like her?" Yun Xi asked, her tone teasing.
Shi Xiao's gaze faltered for a moment, his eyes flickering. "...No."
"Good to know. Because..." Yun Xi lowered his voice. "Mr. Qin is not someone to be trifled with."
-----
Qin Yuheng's lips curved into a faint smile, his dark eyes gleaming with a secret. "I have another surprise for you."
Before Shen Ning could voice her curiosity, he gently guided her to a chair, motioning for her to sit. Her anticipation grew as he walked toward the far side of the room. She followed his movements with her gaze as he reached for something draped under a velvet cover.
With one smooth motion, he unveiled a grand piano.
Shen Ning's eyes widened, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Everyone present looked at the man in surprise. This was Qin Yuheng—the man who rarely attended social gatherings, the man whose cold, distant demeanor often seemed unyielding. Yet here he was, not only arranging an extravagant celebration for his wife's birthday but now sitting at a piano, clearly ready to play.
This man who doesn't usually attend any social events, planned such a grand celebration for his wife's birthday. Now the cold, aloof man is even planning to play piano, just to impress his wife?
It was evident how deeply he loved her.
Qin Yuheng sat gracefully on the bench, his long fingers brushing across the keys. He glanced at her, his gaze holding hers for a moment before he turned back to the piano.
The first note was soft, and tentative, like the opening of a heartfelt confession. Then the melody began to flow, each note tender and deliberate.
His brow furrowed slightly in concentration, the corners of his lips barely curved, and the way his fingers moved with such precision—all of it painted a portrait of a man who loved deeply but rarely showed it.
As the final note faded into the stillness, Qin Yuheng turned to her. His expression was unreadable, yet his eyes were soft and warm.
Slowly, she stood and walked toward him. He brought her into his embrace. His voice, low and full of affection, whispered in her ear. "Happy birthday, my... princess."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked up at him, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. With a trembling breath, she spoke, her voice thick with emotion. "Will you always be there on my every birthday?"
"Mm-hmm," he replied, his answer simple but filled with the promise of a lifetime.
He moved to lead her toward the cake. "Let's—"
But Shen Ning suddenly stopped him. "I love you."
He paused, sure that he had misheard. "What did you say?"
Shen Ning's voice was steady, but her heart was pounding as if it were trying to escape her chest. "I love you."
She repeated, her voice firm and full of sincerity. "I love you. Important words should be said thrice."
"I love you too," he whispered, his voice thick with affection. His eyes held hers, full of tenderness, sincerity, and a love so deep it could not be put into words.
The room fell silent, looking at the usually cold, reserved man, now saying such romantic words.
Fu Sinan, Huo Siang, and Leng Jing exchanged, their expressions dry looked up at the chandelier above. Here it comes again. They are openly fed dog food!
Across the room, a wine glass slipped from someone's hand. It shattered against the floor, the sound sharp and jarring. The person standing there was Mu Chen.
His heart clenched painfully as he watched the woman he once loved openly confessing her love to another man, right in front of him. The ache in his chest was almost unbearable.
Shen Ning... Shen Ning once said these three words to him, but now... these words were said to someone else!
Shen Qiao looked at the couple and then turned to look at Mu Chen, she felt guilty looking at his pale face. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have brought him here...
A few days ago, Qin Yuheng sent them an invitation for Shen Ning's birthday.
She asked Mu Chen if he got the invitation but he said he hadn't received an invitation to the celebration. So she asked if he wanted to go as her companion.
(◍•ᴗ•◍)❤