Rebirth from the Ashes - Chapter 356
Chapter 356: Exasperated
Standing nearby, Kun Lun was shocked and thought to himself, ‘OMG! Is Ms. Shen deliberately teasing the Boss?!’
Shen Xi finally stood squarely and came face to face with him. She carefully removed the fruit candy necklace around her neck and leaned over to put it on his. She smiled with her eyes and said in a crisp and sweet voice, “Your birthday present.”
Li Yuan lowered his eyes and saw the necklace around his neck. This was the girl’s favorite fruit candy that she ate regularly. They were strung together beautifully in her style.
He could also vaguely smell the sweetness of the candy, but it was still not as sweet as her pretty smile.
After Shen Xi teased him and gave him the gift, she looked serious and squatted next to the cake. She then stretched her hand to Kun Lun and said, “Give me your lighter.”
Kun Lun handed over the lighter and admired Ms. Shen’s boldness. His boss probably could not stand being teased like that seeing his expression was held back.
Li Yuan was in his prime. If he did not have a reaction after being teased by his girl, he was not a normal man.
Shen Xi re-lit the candles and squatted in front of the man. She looked at him and smiled with her eyes. “Brother, happy birthday! Quick, make a wish and blow out the candles!”
Li Yuan’s mind was in a mess. The girl’s body temperature seemed to linger in his arms, as well as her softness.
He had been paying attention to the girl and not the cake. Only now did he notice the cake that was decorated with little figurines of the both of them and Toffeecito. He asked, “You made this?”
Shen Xi nodded her head incessantly and tilted her chin as if asking for praise. She looked so adorable. “Is it pretty?”
Li Yuan looked at the little ball of sunshine in front of him and smiled. He nodded and said in a slightly hoarse voice. “It’s beautiful.”
“Hurry up and blow the candles! It’s going out.” Shen Xi reached out to pull the corner of his coat as she urged him anxiously.
The smile on Li Yuan’s face deepened as he watched the girl who was more anxious than him. He put his hands together and looked serious as he closed his eyes to make a wish.
Shen Xi happily moved her small head and took out some small plates and forks. She held the knife, thinking about where she should make the first cut.
Li Yuan’s heart was still beating erratically. He watched with a gentle gaze as the girl surveyed the cake before finding the right place and squatted to cut the cake.
She looked like a little ball and was utterly adorable.
The candles were still burning and the warm flickering light reflected on her face, making the shadow of her long eyelashes waver.
From his angle, he could see the girl’s delicate side profile and her porcelain skin.
Her skin was glowing and he could even see the faint green capillaries on her neck.
Toffeecito was on the wall, feeling neglected. He paced around several times and wanted to go down yet he dared not jump, so he only meowed restlessly.
Kun Lun saw the poor kitten and went over to rescue it.
Toffeecito was holding a grudge and rushed to Shen Xi, wanting to scratch her hand with its sharp claws, but a pair of large hands held the back of its neck and placed it on his lap. Li Yuan patted its little head and said, “Don’t do that.”
The kitten grabbed his big hand, chewed on it, and felt much better. It looked at Li Yuan aggrievedly with its big eyes, then turned to look at Shen Xi.
Shen Xi dabbed a bit of cream on her fingertips and tapped the kitten’s nose. “Are you angry? You’re the one who wanted to go up, but now you’re mad at me?”
Toffeecito smelled the sweet cream and stuck out its tongue to lick it.
Li Yuan wiped the cream off the tip of its nose with his finger and said with a smile, “You can’t eat this. It’s not good for your health.”
Shen Xi made a face at Toffeecito and smiled gloatingly. She said mockingly, “You can’t eat it!”
Toffeecito meowed in protest and turned its back to her. It buried its little head in Li Yuan’s palm and felt exasperated.
Li Yuan could not help but laugh when he saw its pitiful face. “Kun Lun, get him the canned food.”
Shen Xi muttered, “You can’t spoil him like that.”
Toffeecito whimpered several times and once again burrowed into Li Yuan’s arms. It wiggled its fat little butt in Shen Xi’s face.
Kun Lun brought over a can of cat food, opened it, and put it in its bowl before calling out, “Toffeecito!”
The kitten’s nose twitched. When it smelled its favorite canned food, all of the upset washed away and it jumped down to eat the food.
Li Yuan looked at the girl who was still squatting and felt a little heartache. “Kun Lun, go get a chair.”
Shen Xi glanced at the man’s legs and waved her hand. “No, it’s okay. I’m fine eating like this.”
Li Yuan laughed and handed her the thin blanket on his lap.
Shen Xi secretly lowered her eyelids. She actually did not want the blanket but wanted to sit on his lap.
However, she was afraid to say that. Since the blanket was for him to cover his legs, it was somewhat considered sitting on his lap.
The two of them sat face to face eating the cake.
Shen Xi sneaked a peek at him several times. They were in such proximity that she could see him clearly. For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming.
Li Yuan saw that she was distracted and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Xi tilted her head and blinked her big eyes. She asked, “Is it good?”
Li Yuan nodded. His magnetic voice was filled with pleasure. “Yes.”
Whatever she made was always delicious to him.
Shen Xi smiled with gleaming eyes and felt satisfied. The already sweet cream became even sweeter. She looked at him and said, “You should eat less even if it’s delicious. It’s too sweet.”
‘It won’t be good for his health.’
Li Yuan complied warmly, “Okay.”
The cake was big, and Li Yuan only ate a small piece. Kun Lun ate a big slice and Shen Xi had two big slices. There was still a lot left.
Kun Lun was in high spirits and looked at Li Yuan. “Boss, we shouldn’t waste this cake. Why don’t I take it to the employees working overtime?”
Li Yuan’s eyes suddenly darkened. His gaze was cold as he cast a warning glance to Kun Lun.
Shen Xi thought about it for a moment and agreed. “Then you should take it. Otherwise, it won’t be fresh tomorrow. It’ll be a waste.”
Kun Lun shivered because of his boss’s staredown. He gritted his teeth and asked again, “Boss?”
Li Yuan let out a reluctant “mm” and watched as Kun Lun took the cake away. His eyes were still focused on the cake and his eyes looked threatening.
‘Overtime employees? He just wants to feed his bros. They ought to pay the price for tasting my girl’s handmade birthday cake.’
Kun Lun walked away and could still feel a chill down his spine. He just looked at the cake and thought. ‘Even if I’m sentenced to the guillotine tomorrow, I still need to let my bros try this cake made by our Little Madam before I die…’
The two people and a cat sat in the courtyard watching the stars.
Li Yuan looked at the girl sitting next to him and took off his jacket to put it on her.
Shen Xi tilted her little head and rested her chin on his knees. “Brother, aren’t you cold?”
Li Yuan shook his head. “No, I’m not cold.”
Shen Xi pouted and said, “Hmph! Liar!”
Li Yuan smiled. “Okay, just a little.”
Shen Xi stood up. “Then I’ll go get your jacket!”
Seeing that she was leaving, Li Yuan held her hand. Her soft hand slid into his palm and softened his heart. He looked up at her and said in a slightly hoarse voice. “Let’s go together.”
