Chapter 465, Happy Birthday

For Zero, the so-called birthday is just the day he was born into this world.

When someone blushed and said, "Today is my birthday!", the smile on her face seemed to be expressing her inner happiness.

Zero couldn't understand this joy.

No, to be precise, Zero could understand that kind of joy, but it was too far away for her. During the days in Black Swan Port, she also received "Zorro" brought by the captain from the southern land. If she wanted to say more, she couldn't resonate with it because she had never experienced it personally.

Although I understand that birthdays are a day worth celebrating for the birthday boy, it is natural for Zero, who has never celebrated his birthday with his parents, to feel that birthdays have nothing to do with him.

If her parents could look forward to Zero's return home a little, perhaps she would still have hope. But what could Zero expect from parents who showed no sign of concern, or who didn't even think about seeing her and were going to leave her to other people?

Put a number of candles on the cake that match your age, and then blow them out in one breath, as people around you describe?

Or the smiles and blessings received from parents and friends?

Or, maybe you received a gift from someone who liked your appearance and studied your preferences?
Sadly, none of these are zero.

If there was anything like a blessing, it was just a message she received on her birthday - "Merry Christmas, Three Noes". Only Potato Chips, who had nothing to do like her, would remember at this time that there was someone as unknown as herself.

Should Zero be happy that someone remembered and sent her the blessing on that day? Or should Zero blame Potato Chips for being too perfunctory in sending the blessing message, and not even wanting to leave a single word even on her birthday?

Zero couldn't figure it out.

At least Ling didn't feel happy. She was only accompanied by an increasingly strong sense of emptiness and the indifference that she gradually became accustomed to.

A Zero like this naturally would no longer have any expectations for his birthday.

……

The young guest got off the car calmly, wearing a long white dress, high-topped boots, a shawl draped over her shoulders to block out UV rays, long light golden hair scattered on her shoulders, and deep blue eyes that were very eye-catching. She stood on the street like this, and attracted many people's attention. The foreign girl came to the territory of the flower-growing family, and in this kind of place, many of the guys in the door were eager to make a move, wanting to be the first boss who could slaughter sheep. The girl did not look at them, but silently took out a stack of colorful banknotes from her shawl pocket, carefully counted out a few, handed them to the driver waiting behind, and then strolled into the deep alley where the sun could not enter.

The driver stared at the girl's back with a strange look in his eyes, and looked down at the twenty-three yuan and sixty cents RMB. He didn't expect that the girl who looked so noble was so stingy that she even carried a ten-cent coin and a fifty-cent bill with her.

The signboard of "Fenglongtang" is a bit worn, hanging on the door lintel of the small shop, and there is a royal blue cotton curtain hanging at the door. This is almost the deepest part of the alley, and people who usually collect antiques will never choose such a remote place to open a shop.

The girl lifted the cotton curtain and the copper bell on the door rang, but no one came to greet them and the counter was empty.

The shop still has old windows covered with paper, and the sunlight coming in is hazy. There are countless dusts suspended in the air. There are large and small tables and wooden boxes in the house, which seem to be some old things, as well as thread-bound books, Tang Sancai, stone inkstones and brush washers. It seems that this shop sells everything. There is also a bright red wedding dress hanging on the wall. At first glance, this place looks like an old house sealed by dust. No one has stepped into it for decades. Only those dust elves are dancing in the air. They are the lords here.

The girl slowly turned around, smelling the rich sandalwood scent in the air, and finally stopped in front of the bright red wedding dress to admire it. The material of the wedding dress is the best Hu silk, with exquisite kesi edges, gold foil with phoenix patterns, and inlaid with pearl buttons and glass slices. It was unfolded and nailed to the wall, and someone used ink to outline a freehand profile of the bride. The guests tried to figure out the blank profile, and even such an illusory blank space could always make people imagine.

It was not the first time that the girl saw this wedding dress, but it was the first time that she thought it was actually very beautiful.

While the girl was still watching, an old man who looked like he had not had lunch yet walked out from behind the rosewood screen.

"Why are you here?"

This old man who spoke with a Beijing accent was actually a European, with gray hair and iron-gray eyes, and his thin face still showed the handsomeness of his youth. The old man was wearing a bamboo shirt, holding a pair of iron eggs in one hand, and a plastic bag in the other hand, which contained a set of Jianbingguozi...

……

“Does it really feel that happy to celebrate your birthday?”

Ling almost realized what Zhuo had been preparing for the past year. He was so cautious and tried his best. Ling threw his confusion to the old man in front of him.

Even if it was just a daily chat, it could be treated as a serious topic for discussion. Ling told the old man his guess about Zhuo. Since only the old man heard it, there should be no problem.

Although Zero knew that this question would make him look like a big change, he wanted to know the general opinion more, so doubtful words flowed out of Zero's mouth uncontrollably.

"…The young lady doesn't seem to be very interested in this."

"That's not wrong. Birthdays are like dividing lines for humans. Living in this world, age divisions are necessary. If you remove the function of dividing ages, a birthday is just an ordinary day."

For Zero, birthdays mean only this much. Apart from that, Zero has never had more feelings or joy.

What's more, for her, time has long stopped, and the only remaining meaning of birthdays, which is to divide age, has been forgotten for many years.

After all, Zero came to this store just because she was bored. A more appropriate way of saying it is that this is the only person she knows in this country, and he is probably not even a friend. The way the old man sat there and smiled, he never deviated from the position of the boss and the customer.

Because of her current identity, if she was discovered by the old man who was the owner of the Hunter House, he would definitely think she was troublesome, so Ling didn't plan to complain. Even Ling understood these principles.

Moreover, Zero originally didn't think birthdays were important, so there was no event called "birthday" in her life.

"So, seeing them so happy, I felt incredible... They must be very happy, although I can imagine it, but I can no longer put myself in their shoes. Celebrating birthdays is to convey blessings and gratitude, right? It is a day that has nothing to do with me."

Of course, other people’s birthdays are worth celebrating, and she won’t bother or be jealous of other people’s congratulations, but when it comes to her own birthday, it seems that these become irrelevant.

Because it happened so long ago and it’s not a good memory, even if it’s zero, I can hardly remember it.

"Come to think of it, did Father and Mother celebrate my birthday?"

"...Miss, you have really changed."

The old man's voice was very soft, but it was firm, as if to stop Ling from speaking. Ling couldn't help but open his eyes wider and looked up at the old man in front of him.

The old man's smile was not as sloppy as usual. His gentle smile was mixed with trouble, curiosity and a little emotion. "I don't know your parents' situation, and I can't say anything on their behalf. I don't understand how you two feel."

"..."

"But if it's about birthdays, I think as an old guy who has lived for more than a hundred years, I still have some understanding... Just like you think, perhaps most people in this world don't think their birthdays are that important. On the contrary, the importance of birthdays may not be what you think, because someone will be sincerely happy that you can come into this world, so they will be grateful for that day and have the idea of ​​celebrating. That's how I understand it."

Facing the old man's expression mixed with a hint of emotion and overflowing curiosity, Zero could of course guess what the other party was curious about.

If there was someone who would be happy enough for her to speak up and want to celebrate it... Zero thought about how that person had been exploiting him over the past year, and although he wanted to cry, he finally just nodded quietly.

Zero knew that she was quite smart, and she could sense to some extent what she looked like in the eyes of others, and how they viewed her current situation. Zero also knew that there was more than just love for her appearance around her.

And the old man also understood the extent of Zero's grasp of language. Even so, he still conveyed his thoughts without hiding anything, which Zero also understood.

Although they were just acquaintances, Ling was far from being the old man's master. To the old man, Miss was just a joking title. Even so, it did not change the fact that the old man helped her solve her doubts.

"Is there such a person?"

"what?"

Because he had received real help, Ling somewhat restrained his self-consciously cold attitude and showed some willingness to answer the old man's questions, or to satisfy the old man's curiosity.

Just this alone seemed to be enough to make the old man's eyes widen in surprise. After a brief moment of surprise, the old man's expression became more emotional.

"Has it appeared? Someone who truly cares about you, who can make others like himself, and is happy for your birth?"

"..."

Although Zero remained silent and lowered his head quietly, this behavior, in another way, was an answer to the old man's question.

As if he had gotten what he wanted, or his curiosity had been satisfied, the old man, feeling even more emotional, sighed:
“I never thought that this day would come.”

"Ah."

"I never thought that you would ask such a question one day."

"……Um."

Although Zero didn't know whether the old man was right.

Nevertheless, at this moment, Zero, who understood the motivation behind that person's actions, was already satisfied. After understanding this, Zero raised her head and turned to look at the bright red wedding dress on the wall again. The bright red color had never attracted her eyes as much as it did at this moment - Zero thought so while hiding the tears that were about to well up.

...

...

"Say it again, happy birthday."

Ling blinked. The only thing that could compete with the person in front of her for sight was a warm and soft orange light hiding in her peripheral vision. The light swayed, as if trying to illuminate the dim room.

In the depths of that light, the smile of the beloved one, who is also illuminated, is reflected.

As if he felt embarrassed by her staring at him, the man said apologetically, "I'm sorry, it's really a bit difficult for one candle to light up the room." Next to him was a cake with a candle that was about to burn out.

In order to ensure that two people can finish it, the four-yard-long cake is dotted with thin candles, which makes it look just right.

"Don't stare at me like that. It's embarrassing. Eat the cake. It may not look good, but it tastes good!"

Zero blinked his eyes, as if the other party's joy was transmitted through the ring on his right ring finger, and deep in his heart he felt an itchy and warm emotion. Zero looked at the other party's face seriously, and at the same time quietly rubbed the restraint on his finger.

Under the blowing of the warm wind, the candle flame slowly swayed and deformed. At the same time, Zero's eyes silently began to shine again.

The stiff state had just melted away, and the next moment, Ling's face suddenly rippled again, and his crystal blue eyes turned like a pool of clear spring water.

At this moment, even though he had received her affirmative answer and put the finger on her finger as a promise, he began to panic instead - even though he could still face it with a smile before. Zero thought so.

"N-Don't you like it?"

"No way...why would I not like it?"

Because she stood there still staring at the man's face, he seemed to mistakenly think that he was not very satisfied with the cake. Zero shook his head slightly and continued to look up at him.

Recalling the words he heard in the store in Beijing again, Ling murmured as if talking to himself but loud enough for the other party to hear, and slowly lowered his head to look at the position of his right hand.

"Phew - that's good. I've been thinking hard for so long about what I can do to make you happy and what to prepare for your birthday. I've thought about it a lot and discussed it with many people... Even so, this is the best I can do. It would be great if I didn't bore you.

"Here - blow it out before it melts. To be honest, if you don't blow it out, it will go out on its own. It has already burned to the limit."

She felt his fingers gently wiping away the tears that had just formed at the corners of her eyes, and then he gave her a mischievous smile.

As if being amused by his emotion, Zero's cheeks, which were slightly wet from crying again after many years, relaxed.

Perhaps she had made up her mind not to keep crying. Although Ling's eyes were still wet, the dazzling light had returned. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Zhuo. Although nothing could be seen at the corners of her mouth and on her face, Ling knew in her heart that she was smiling.

(End of this chapter)