Yearning For Warmth, Day and Night - Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Birthday
“Wei Hui isn’t a kind-hearted person, that’s something everyone agrees on. Not only is she not kind, but she’s also ruthless in her actions. When she first took office, she’d stop at nothing to achieve her goals. It’s precisely because of that experience that everyone respects her and dares not harbor any improper thoughts. Even the few who were reckless couldn’t withstand her frosty demeanor and gave up after a few encounters.
She doesn’t need others to be good to her because she can’t reciprocate. Relationships aren’t business deals that require long-term cultivation, and she doesn’t have the energy, nor does she want, to cultivate them.
Meeting Eleven was an accident.
Before Wei Changyuan passed away, he repeatedly hinted that he hoped to see her marry and have children, hoping the Wei family would have an heir. He even arranged a few blind dates for her. But until his death, he never knew that she didn’t like men; she liked women.
In her youth, she had fantasized about romantic relationships, but they were always with people of the same s3x. She couldn’t develop any feelings for men. Fearing it would worsen Wei Changyuan’s condition, she never revealed it, and only Su Ziyan knew about it.
After Wei Changyuan’s death, she was busy with the company and had no time to spare. Coupled with her health issues, she was even more unwilling to touch upon emotional matters. Su Ziyan, however, felt she was doing the right thing. Getting involved in a relationship would worsen her condition, and he’d rather see her live as a ‘monk’ with few desires than accelerate her death due to love. However, the lack of an heir for the Wei family had always been a thorn in her side, especially late at night when she recalled Wei Changyuan’s dying gaze, the thorn would dig deeper, causing her pain that kept her awake.
Two months ago, knowing her condition was difficult to control, she discussed many things with Su Ziyan, including this thorn. At the time, Su Ziyan replied without hesitation, “You want a child? Then find a woman you like to have one for you.”
He just said it casually, but who knew Wei Hui would take it seriously? She sent several people abroad to investigate, and after receiving positive confirmation, she began to look for a suitable candidate.
The celebrity circle was out, and she didn’t like the entertainment industry. After searching for nearly a month, she couldn’t find a suitable target.
Just as she was about to give up on the idea, Eleven appeared.
Wei Hui didn’t want to admit it, but she was initially attracted by those eyes. She even thought, how beautiful her child would be with such eyes. She was so shallow and vulgar, judging people by their appearance and even bringing someone home.
This was something she wouldn’t normally do, but that day she was as if possessed, a bit like a desperate patient trying anything. But now she was thinking – this feeling isn’t bad.
At least she was very satisfied with this child.
It was precisely because she was so satisfied that she allowed Eleven to repeatedly cross her bottom line, giving her three months to consider, allowing her free access to the Wei family, and even now, tacitly allowing her to lean by her side. Wei Hui turned her head to see Eleven’s nervous expression, her hands clasped, her fair hands revealing faintly visible veins.
Eleven’s gaze was fixed on the screen. Although she was afraid of such a plot, she couldn’t help but want to continue watching. The entire room was silent, with only the distant, eerie music from the screen. Suddenly, a voice called out, “Eleven.”
She was so startled her scalp tingled. The prolonged mental tension made her instinctively hide in the arms of the person beside her. Her face brushed against a soft mass, and her nose was filled with a faint, elegant fragrance. Only then did Eleven realize what she had done. Her body stiffened, and her mind went blank.
“Eleven?” The calling continued. Su Ziyan’s voice came through, “Help me get…”
He turned around and saw the two already embracing, puzzled, “What are you doing?”
Eleven was filled with embarrassment. She got up from Wei Hui’s arms, trying to think of a reasonable explanation, when Wei Hui’s calm voice drifted to her ear, “What is it?”
Without explaining what had just happened, Eleven’s face still showed an unnatural expression. Su Ziyan looked at her, then at Wei Hui, and said, “Nothing, I’ll get it myself.”
After Su Ziyan sat down again, Eleven awkwardly whispered, “Third Miss.”
“Just now, I’m sorry.”
Wei Hui glanced at her, saying lightly, “It’s okay.”
Eleven looked up at her. The screen’s light shone on Wei Hui’s face, making her look exceptionally beautiful, her features deep and striking. There was no hint of anger on her face, and her expression lacked the coldness she had shown when Eleven first clutched her clothes. Eleven quietly relaxed but dared not watch the movie anymore. She was afraid that if she saw something scary, she would do something out of line again.
Half an hour later, the movie ended. Eleven sat upright on the sofa, her small body straight, her bottom aching a bit. In contrast, Wei Hui, beside her, was relaxed and leaning on the sofa, her posture unusually casual. Eleven thought, so this is what Wei Hui is like when she watches movies.
Very different from her usual self.
A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Aunt Liu’s voice came from the doorway, “Third Miss, dinner is ready.”
Eleven followed Wei Hui and Su Ziyan out of the movie room.
Perhaps Aunt Liu knew it was the Third Miss’s birthday, as dinner was very rich. Su Ziyan sat down and chuckled, “Coming to freeload dinner was a wise decision.”
Wei Hui glanced at him, then said to Eleven, “Eat.”
Eleven walked to the chair beside her and sat down. At the dinner table, Su Ziyan and Wei Hui chatted about company matters. Eleven didn’t quite understand; those professional terms were like an unreadable book, going in her left ear and out her right.
Since she couldn’t understand, she focused on eating. She was full before Su Ziyan and Wei Hui even put down their chopsticks. She heard Su Ziyan ask, “So what are you planning to do?”
Wei Hui put down her chopsticks and sipped her soup, “First, I’ll talk to the Du family.”
Su Ziyan nodded, “I’ve met Du Yuehan a few times. Do you want me to go with you?”
Wei Hui replied, “No need. I’ll take Eleven.”
Su Ziyan’s gaze fell on Eleven. Eleven inexplicably received both their gazes. Her lowered pretty face blushed slightly. Su Ziyan retracted his gaze and said, “I’m full, let’s go cut the cake.”
Wei Hui’s acceptance of sweets was average; she neither liked nor disliked them. But Eleven loved them. Perhaps because she rarely had them before, she had a special fondness for sweets. The moment the cake box was opened, she smelled a rich aroma, and her eyes went to the cake, biting her lip.
There weren’t many people in the living room. Aunt Liu and the maids were clearing the dishes in the dining room. Su Ziyan saw Wei Hui reaching for the knife to cut the cake and immediately called out, “Wait a moment.”
“You haven’t made a wish yet.”
Like an overgrown child, he faced Wei Hui and said, “Quick, I’ll light the candles for you, make a wish.”
“Eleven, find a fire source.”
Eleven was surprised by the task, “Fire?”
Then she reacted, ran into the kitchen in her slippers, and came back with a lighter that didn’t work. She then went to get a new one. Her small figure darted around the living room. It was the first time Wei Hui felt that a birthday could be so lively.
She rarely celebrated birthdays, and since she got sick, she hadn’t liked to. Su Ziyan was right, each year passed meant one less year. She didn’t like that feeling.
But she couldn’t out-argue Su Ziyan, or rather, it wasn’t that she couldn’t. If she was truly stubborn, Su Ziyan would be helpless. But after all these years, someone remembered her birthday and would celebrate it with her; perhaps they would remember her death anniversary in the future too.
That was enough.
And now, there was an extra person.
Wei Hui watched Eleven’s cheeks flush with activity, her eyes bright and sparkling as if starlight had been crushed and placed within them. When she looked at people, she was bright and clear. At this moment, she was looking at herself expectantly, saying, “Third Miss, make a wish.”
Wei Hui came back to her senses and saw a candle on the cake with the number twenty-seven on it.
She nodded, “Okay.”
Her cooperation was so surprising that Su Ziyan found it unbelievable. In the past, she would impatiently say, “What’s the point of wishing? The result is always the same,” completely different from her current attitude.
He should be used to it; she was just that different with Eleven. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought her back.
Wei Hui clasped her hands and closed her eyes for two minutes. When she opened them, she blew out the candle. Su Ziyan smiled and handed her the knife, asking, “What did you wish for?”
The person cutting the cake had a cold profile, her voice calm as she said, “I wished to live a long life.”
It was the most common and ordinary wish, yet it made Su Ziyan’s smile freeze on his face. Eleven also looked at Wei Hui several times until Wei Hui cut the cake and gave a slice to her and Su Ziyan, a smile on her lips, “You actually believe my nonsense.”
Su Ziyan took the cake and quietly said, “I just wish you weren’t talking nonsense.”
That one sentence subtly changed the atmosphere between the three. Eleven didn’t know what to say. She looked down at the cake; she was holding the food she had longed for, but she had no appetite. Su Ziyan used his fork to pick at the fruit on top, chewing slowly.
A moment later, Wei Hui got up to answer a phone call. Su Ziyan also put down his cake and said to Eleven, “Eat slowly.”
Eleven nodded, “Mhm.”
She watched Su Ziyan walk towards Wei Hui. Two minutes later, Wei Hui hung up the phone, said a few words to Su Ziyan behind her, and then the two walked out. Eleven sat on the sofa, watching the departing figures, and silently lowered her eyes.
A cold wind swept in. Outside, Wei Hui coughed a few times. Su Ziyan stood in front of her, blocking the wind, “Let’s talk inside.”
Wei Hui, however, shook her head, “Let’s talk here.”
“Are you really planning to have a child with Eleven?” Su Ziyan looked at her. Outside, the sky was pitch black, and the streetlight illuminated half her face, leaving the other half in shadow, indistinct.
Wei Hui said, “If she agrees.”
Su Ziyan was a bit disapproving, “This will be very hard on your body, and there will be danger at any time.”
Wei Hui’s voice was calm, “I’ve consulted. It’s within a controllable range.”
If Eleven agreed, she would take her for the procedure after the New Year, so they could see the child by the end of next year. Her current body, Su Ziyan estimated, could last at most another six years. Then, with a new artificial heart, she could last a few more years, enough to raise a child to be independent, which wouldn’t be a problem. Not to mention the Cheng family, Su Ziyan, and Pei Tian.
“What about Eleven?” Su Ziyan asked, “What about her?”
Wei Hui looked up at Su Ziyan, her hands behind her back, “I will give her enough money to ensure she lives comfortably.”
“But this is her child. Do you think she won’t be attached?”
Wei Hui was a bit impatient, “What exactly do you want to say?”
Su Ziyan stood beside her, his gaze burning as he looked at her, “I think you should reconsider your relationship with her, maybe…”
“Aren’t you the one who least wants to see me in a relationship?” Wei Hui interrupted him, her expression much colder. Su Ziyan was silent for a moment, “That was before.”
His current thoughts were different from before. After all these years, perhaps she should try to accept others and start a different life. Even if she wanted a child, it could be the crystallization of love.
Most importantly, “You don’t dislike her, right?”
Wei Hui sneered, “Ziyan, I admit I don’t dislike this child, but I’m not that cruel either.”
If she and Eleven developed feelings, it would truly ruin this child’s life. Although she wasn’t a good person, she wouldn’t be so despicable!