After dinner, Lu Ting brought Lin Yueqi to the back gardens for a walk to help digest the food.

The Lu residence was located on a hill and there was an observation deck on the back gardens. From there, you could look up at the stars and also down at the flowers all around the place.

Under the lamps, the flowers seemed to transform into other charming colors.

Lin Yueqi was at the observation deck, looking at the starry sky with the telescope. She had no idea how to use it, so with a “silly”, Lu Ting leaned over and adjusted the telescope for her.

The man’s hands brushed past her shoulders, and when he leaned down, his chest would press against her back. Lin Yueqi’s spine turned stiff and she didn’t dare to move anymore. She had the constant feeling that this position was weird.

Lu Ting’s lips were right by her ear. “The weather’s good today. The moonlight isn’t blocking anything. It’s a good day for stargazing. There, we’re done. If nothing happens tonight, you should be able to see Andromeda.”

Lin Yueqi looked over and sure enough, he saw the stars in the milky way. Looking at the nebula with her own eyes, she could see a hazy mist with lights and shadows. It was not as spectacular as she expected, but still very surprising.

She drew in a breath and in excitement, forgot that someone was behind her. As soon as she got up, she knocked onto the man’s chin with her head, paining Lu Ting so much that he muffled a grunt.

Lu Ting, “…” Miss Lin always had ways to retaliate against him.

Once again, he felt that he had no status in this household.

Lin Yueqi massaged the back of her head a little before giving his chin a rub as well, asking embarrassedly, “Papa Lu, is your chin okay?”

The man shook his head and sat down on the bench behind him. Unscrewing the cap of his bottled water, he took a sip.

Lin Yueqi also sat down next to him and turned over, asking, “Papa Lu, do you think the old man likes her? Also, why did he have to invite us to dinner tonight? Did Li murou tell him something?”

“It’s my birthday today.”

“Huh?” Lin Yueqi thought she had heard wrong and asked again, “Birthday? Where’s the cake? The candles? There’s nothing!”

“I never had cake again after my parents passed away. The only ones left in the Lu family are just me and the old man, neither of us were too interested in that. But we still have dinner together every year even if we’re busy.”

Lin Yueqi noticed a trace of hurt flash across his face, so he coaxed him like a child, “If you told me earlier that it was your birthday, then I could have prepared a gift for you.”

She seemed to remember something and pulled out a pebble she picked up from the African jungle, clutching it tightly in her hand.

“Old Lu, here, open your hands. I have a present for you.”

She could understand how Lu Ting felt. He probably looked forward to having cake and birthdays. She seemed to be able to see that loneliness in this man’s eyes.

Lu Ting, “Huh?”

He spread his hands open as she asked him to. He was curious as to what sort of present she had for him.

Lin Yueqi put the pebble down on his palms.

This pebble was very special. It looked like an irregular heart and was about the size of a thumb. It had a complicated and special pattern on it, and also carried with it the faint body heat of a girl.

Lin Yueqi said, “This is a pebble I brought back from Africa. I like it a lot and I’ve been carrying it as a lucky pebble. Now, it’s yours. Here’s to hoping Papa Lu will have a happy birthday every year, also hoping Papa Lu will become more and more handsome, and become younger and younger.”

She folded her hands with a sincere look of prayer, lowering her voice a little as she began to sing, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”

The girl’s singing echoed in Lu Ting’s ears, softly like a shooting star through a galaxy; magnificent, but brief.

She smiled and clapped her hands together. “Papa Lu, happy birthday!”

Lu Ting couldn’t remember the last time someone wished him a happy birthday.

Lin Yueqi smiled brightly and spread her arms open. “Come here, Papa Lu. Give me a hug!”

Lu Ting clutched the pebble in his palm. Before he could move, the girl had already taken the initiative to hug him. She patted Lu Ting’s back and said, “Old Lu, I’ll note down your birthday. Next year at this time, I’ll make up for this year and give you a proper gift. Happy birthday, Old Lu. You’re the best best bestest dad in the whole world.”

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