The month of June arrived, the air already carrying a hint of heat, the cicadas noisy, the sycamores along the school roads spreading their branches and leaves, exuding vitality, a burst of greenery.
Unconsciously, Ellie had been at this school for almost a year.
The two of them brushed questions together every day.
They wrote different questions, but every time he saw Ellie, William still felt that this life was very fulfilling, very, very good.
June 17th.
It was a Friday.
"Little Teacher, I've finished the questions."
Ellie glanced at the time, it was eleven o'clock at night, she said, "Have you washed up?"
William said, "I've washed up, I have something to do, I'll say goodnight to you in advance today, Little Teacher."
"Okay, goodnight," Ellie hung up the video call.
As it approached midnight, Ellie felt a bit sleepy.
After washing up, she came out of the bathroom and took out the medicine she was supposed to take today from the drawer. She poured it into her palm, then threw the medicine into her mouth, mixed it with warm water, and swallowed it.
She drank a few more sips of warm water before the medicine was completely swallowed.
She heard her phone ring a few times.
It was already 11:58 PM.
Ellie saw the message from William.
[A Bit Cute Little William]: Little Teacher, are you going to sleep?
[Ellie]: I'm a bit sleepy.
[A Bit Cute Little William]: Look downstairs, Little Teacher.
Ellie pulled open the curtain and saw the teenager downstairs, wearing a beige short sleeve, his hands behind his back.
At exactly midnight.
The teenager took out the small cake from behind him, with a candle on it.
She couldn't hear what he said, and from his mouth shape, she could only feel that he seemed to be saying: Happy Birthday.
William's voice call dialed over, Ellie put the phone to her ear and heard the teenager's voice tinged with laughter, he said, "Happy Birthday, Little Teacher."
Ellie put on a coat and went downstairs.
"Ah? Little Teacher? Why do I hear elevator sounds from your side?"
As soon as William finished speaking, he saw Ellie rushing towards him.
He held the cake and said, "Happy Birthday, Little Teacher."
She never thought that someone could ride a motorcycle late at night just to say happy birthday to her.
"I'm very happy, William," Ellie said, looking at him wearing only a short sleeve, she asked, "Are you cold?"
Although it was already June, the temperature dropped at night, still carrying a bit of chill.
William shook his head: "Not cold, Little Teacher."
Ellie wanted to take off her coat for him, but felt her coat would be too small for him.
She spoke softly, "Wear more next time you come out."
William looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness, "Okay, go back quickly, Little Teacher, I'll give you the gift tomorrow."
He didn't expect Ellie to come down, he just wanted to say happy birthday to her, so he didn't bring anything.
"Okay."
Ellie went back upstairs and saw many messages.
[Chloe]: Happy 17th birthday to my little kid!!
[Chloe] transferred 521
[Chloe]: I'll give you your birthday gift tomorrow, little kid, go to bed early!
Ellie looked at the messages she sent, her eyes curved.
[Ellie]: Thank you, Chloe, you also rest early.
[Chloe]: Birthday red envelope! You must accept it! Accept it and go to bed.
Ellie accepted her transfer and urged a few more words.
She exited their chat page, only to find that William had sent her many red envelopes, a long string of more than a dozen, from one year old to seventeen years old.
At the end, there were two more transfers, 220 and 284.
Ellie didn't know what these two sets of numbers meant.
[A Bit Cute Little William]: Happy Birthday, Little Teacher!
[Ellie]: I'm really happy today.
Aria also sent her a happy birthday at midnight.
Mason and Daniel also sent her birthday wishes at midnight.
There were also SuSan and Sarah.
That night, Ellie received many blessings, but Jennifer and Edward were the only ones missing.
She took a look at Instagram, confirmed there still wasn't any.
She exited that chat page, there probably wouldn't be any messages.
It's normal they don't remember, after all, they have never been present for any of her birthdays.
Each time it's SuSan who reminds them, then throws her a transfer, along with a cold happy birthday.
Ellie saw the message from William again, he asked her to accept the red envelopes.
With or without their blessings, it doesn't matter anymore.
...
The next morning.
As soon as Ellie stepped out of her room, she heard Jennifer's voice: "Shall we have noodles for breakfast this morning?"
"Today is Ellie's birthday, let's cook her a bowl of longevity noodles."
Jennifer's face turned a bit awkward upon hearing this, she grabbed her phone and saw that today was the 14th of May in the lunar calendar, Ellie's birthday.
She forgot to check the time.
Ellie heard every word of their conversation, her face indifferent as she walked out and went into the bathroom to wash up.
She doesn't believe that if you remember a time with your heart, you can't remember it.
If you can't remember it, then you don't care, you don't take it to heart.
From the expectation of her childhood to the repeated disappointments later.
She's been disappointed for a long time.
Each time she faced an empty table, only SuSan holding a cake and singing happy birthday to her.
Later, it was SuSan and Chloe singing the birthday song for her together.
She's no longer the child who expected her parents to come back and celebrate her birthday with her.
She's content with the status quo and no longer expects anything that has disappointed her before.
How could someone who disappoints you only disappoint you once?
If you don't have expectations, you won't feel regret and loss.
She came out of the bathroom and heard Jennifer say, "Ellie, accept the transfer later, mom forgot to check the time, happy birthday sweetheart."
Ellie replied, "Okay."
She sat down at the dining table, SuSan brought the bowl of longevity noodles, topped with two fried eggs.
Jennifer sat opposite her, trying to make conversation, she said, "Ellie, come back at noon, mom and dad will take you out for a meal, we've been too busy before, and we've never really celebrated your birthday for you."
Ellie's chopsticks paused as she ate the noodles, she lowered her eyes, her emotions hidden, she said, "No need, I'll celebrate with my classmates."
"How about in the evening, mom and dad will take you out to have fun in the evening."
Ellie poked the eggs in her bowl and then said, "That's fine too."
...
As soon as Ellie entered the class in the morning, many students suddenly rushed out and said to her, "surprise! Happy birthday, Ellie!"
She was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted, her first reaction was to look at Daniel behind her.
Daniel met her expression, then guiltily turned his head in another direction.
Ellie's ears turned a little red, she softly said to those people, "Thank you!"