Qian Zhenzhen reminded herself to stay calm—the more you want something, the more you need to hold back.
There was still time—they would be staying at the inn for three days, so opportunities would surely arise.
However, she needed to find a way to improve Song Ziyi's rating soon. After tonight, it would likely become more challenging.
...
When Song Ziyi returned smelling of cigarettes, Lu Qin had already finished freshening up and was sitting at the table, rubbing her wet hair.
"Where's Old Xia?"
"Gone to freshen up."
"Ha, he's quick."
"You two?" Hearing voices, Qian Zhenzhen beckoned from the kitchen doorway. "Could you come here for a moment?"
Seeing her mysterious manner, Song Ziyi grew curious and walked over with his hands in his pockets, grinning. "What is it, Boss Lady?"
Lu Qin followed, clutching her towel.
Qian Zhenzhen said somewhat shyly, "Well, would you like to join A Miao's birthday celebration?"
The kitchen was dim, with the wall lamp off and only two candles lit on the cutting board.
A Miao stood in front of the stove with a plate before him holding a heart-shaped egg cake topped with sweet potato paste.
Beside it was a second plate, also with a heart-shaped egg cake layered with sweet potato paste.
Song Ziyi's eyelid twitched, his heart inexplicably racing.
"Today is our A Miao's birthday!" Qian Zhenzhen said naturally, pulling over her employee with 90 loyalty points and smiled gratefully. "Thank you for helping us celebrate. That sweet potato egg cake is for you—it's free!"
"Birthday?" Lu Qin looked surprised, glancing from A Miao to Song Ziyi beside her, before suddenly tugging her hair and shouting, "Oh right, Xiao Song, it's your birthday today too!"
#
Song Ziyi pouted and hummed, "My dear sister, you finally remembered!"
"Really?" Qian Zhenzhen's eyes widened. "What an amazing coincidence!"
She opened the gauze cabinet beside the stove, took out two packages of milk powder, and made five half-cups. Taking one cup, she smiled warmly as she handed it to Song Ziyi. "Well then, happy birthday to you too."
Milk—!
Though it was just milk powder mixed with water, and only half a cup, it smelled heavenly.
Song Ziyi took a deep breath and found himself no longer noticing the lingering smell of smoke in his nostrils.
The second cup went to A Miao, who accepted it silently and cooperatively.
The third cup was Lu Qin's. She took an immediate sip, her cheeks flushing. "Wow, this is exactly the taste I remember—so nostalgic!"
Qian Zhenzhen lit candles for both A Miao and Song Ziyi—white ones she'd won in her first lottery. They looked rather odd, but she made do with what she had!
Then she cleared her throat and began singing softly: "Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday..."
Though her singing was average, her radiant smile and infectious enthusiasm more than made up for it. Her natural charm shone through, even making Lu Qin—who had a towel on her head—unconsciously smile as she joined in clapping and humming along.
The candlelight flickered gently, casting long shadows of the four people on the wall. Fresh soap scent surrounded them, warm smiles graced their faces, and endearingly clumsy singing filled their ears...
Song Ziyi closed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing as his smile slowly faded.
Qian Zhenzhen noticed his expression and grew anxious, her singing becoming quieter.
Fortunately, the system promptly displayed a notification:
[Guest [Song Ziyi]'s rating of you has increased, keep up the good work!]
She breathed a sigh of relief, smiled again, and took Song Ziyi's tightly clenched fist. Rising on her tiptoes, she leaned forward slightly and, to his astonishment, made an ending gesture while singing the final line: "Happy birthday to you~ Mr. Song, please have some cake!"
As long as she wasn't embarrassed, others would be the ones feeling awkward!
Song Ziyi froze, the candlelight reflecting in his pupils like tiny flames.
No "you all," just "you"—this song was meant for him alone, and she'd called him Mr. Song!
Could all of this have been prepared just for him? Was he the real star of this birthday celebration?
No, it had to be a misunderstanding... definitely a misunderstanding...
His hand still in hers, Song Ziyi's face turned red as he hopped backward like a startled rabbit. "Wh-what Mr.? I'm clearly a young fresh meat!"
[Guest [Song Ziyi]'s rating of you has rapidly increased, approaching the limit. Keep up the good work!]
Qian Zhenzhen felt satisfied. "Yes, yes, yes, you're a young fresh meat."
A Miao suddenly spoke: "You're just young."
"..." Song Ziyi glared at him sideways and scoffed, "I'm not just young, I might even be older than you!"
Lu Qin slammed down her cup with a thud and delivered a quick knock to his head. "Be serious!"
Qian Zhenzhen mediated: "Alright, alright, let's blow out the candles."
...
When Xia Chang emerged after washing up, he found Song Ziyi in the living room devouring his birthday cake, wolfing it down so eagerly that the gauze covering his left eye nearly dipped into the plate.
"Why are you eating again???"
Lu Qin, having laid out her sleeping bag, got up and brought over the half cup of milk from the table. "It's that little brother A Miao—he and little Song share the same birthday. Boss Qian made two potato cakes, originally planning to share one with us, but after learning it was little Song's birthday too, she gave it to him."
She looked at Song Ziyi and shook her head helplessly. "Everyone else knows to save it for tomorrow morning, but this silly boy insists on finishing it tonight. Watch, he'll definitely have an upset stomach later."
Xia Chang sensed something odd but, considering it was Song Ziyi's birthday, held back his questions and offered birthday wishes instead.
Sure enough, Song Ziyi got up three times during the night from overeating, disturbing both Xia Chang and Lu Qin's sleep. Only A Miao, also sleeping in the living room, remained undisturbed—breathing evenly and sleeping soundly all night.
By six the next morning, the mountain forest was still dimly lit, with moist mist creeping between grass and trees, wrapping the branches and leaves in a layer of chilly moisture.
"Damn, it's freezing." Song Ziyi, exhausted from his midnight trips, shivered in his jacket as the ember flickered between his fingers.
Xia Chang waved away the smoke and walked over to Lu Qin, frowning.
The three stood talking by the back door, discussing whether to return to the opposite shore to retrieve their lost weapon bag.
"Old Xia, those things cost us a fortune—we can't just abandon them!"
"Yeah, Brother Xia, you nearly lost a hand getting them. We can't give up just because of a few beasts."
"I understand, but there's more than just a few beasts there." Xia Chang, dark circles under his eyes, looked notably haggard. "Remember how we escaped from the Black Yao Mountain base? The zombie horde might have come down by now."
Song Ziyi drew a sharp breath. "Old Xia, you're being too pessimistic. How could they come down in just one night? I don't believe it."
But Lu Qin worried, "Brother Xia, if we're going to act, we need to move quickly. If wild animals tear apart the weapon bag and scatter everything, recovery will be even harder."