Chapter 23: A Birthday of Surprises

This year’s winter break was unusually brief. Due to the impending high school entrance exams, known as *zhongkao*, the third-year junior high students were scheduled to begin school a week earlier than normal. For most students, however, whether school was in session or not made little difference, as their so-called vacation was largely spent attending various cram schools.

Returning to the classroom, the surroundings remained familiar. However, roughly ten fewer students were present, having likely been ‘streamed out.’

This ‘streaming out’ process involved teachers advising students with poor grades and no hope of passing the *zhongkao* not to participate in the exam. Instead, these students would be directed to prepare for vocational schools or sports academies.

Another minor change was a line of large chalk characters at the top of the blackboard behind them: ‘XXX Days Until the *Zhongkao*.’ A student on duty would update this number daily.

Under immense pressure, the class atmosphere was no longer as lively as before. Many previously mischievous boys now dutifully remained in their seats, tackling problems during breaks and lunch.

As Lin Duo had a good ranking, classmates from the front and back would occasionally seek her out for help with questions, which she would patiently answer.

Amidst the monotonous routine of studying, March quietly arrived. As temperatures gradually warmed, Lin Duo could finally shed the sweater she wore under her school uniform.

Having grown up in the north, Lin Duo wasn’t particularly sensitive to cold, but her adoptive parents, fearing she might freeze, insisted she wear two sweaters throughout winter.

After school that day, Lin Duo walked home with Gu Xuexuan as usual. Along the way, Gu Xuexuan couldn’t help but whisper a complaint: “My chest has been developing so fast recently. I only bought this new bra a little over a month ago, and it’s already a bit tight. I need to buy another one.”

“Hmph, you’re just showing off in front of me, aren’t you!” Lin Duo retorted, turning her head away with a huff.

Gu Xuexuan, grinning, moved closer to Lin Duo’s other side. “How could I be? Every girl’s development cycle is different. Even though you’re developing later, your chest might end up bigger than mine in the future, you know! Oh, right, your birthday is the day after tomorrow. Are you having a party or anything?”

Only then did Lin Duo remember that March 10th was just two days away. Due to the monotonous routine of studying, she had almost forgotten about it entirely.

A birthday party was out of the question, of course. For one, Lin Duo’s home was small, and secondly, she didn’t have many friends to invite.

Hearing there wouldn’t be a party, Gu Xuexuan seemed slightly disappointed. “Alright then. But don’t worry, I’ve already prepared a gift for you!”

“What kind of gift?”

“Hehe, I certainly won’t tell you that!”

In the blink of an eye, the 10th arrived. As it was a Wednesday, classes proceeded as usual, and her adoptive parents said nothing before she left for school.

This inevitably left Lin Duo feeling a little down, wondering if they had forgotten about her birthday.

However, as soon as Lin Duo settled into her seat in the classroom, her deskmate, Wang Linshu, handed her a beautifully packaged small box. “Uh, Duoduo, happy birthday!” he said.

Receiving a gift was always a happy occasion, and Lin Duo didn’t dislike Wang Linshu. Taking the present, she thanked him sweetly, “Wang Linshu, thank you!”

Wang Linshu bashfully scratched his head, but didn’t forget to add a reminder: “Don’t open it now. Wait until you get home.”

“What’s with all the mystery?” Lin Duo murmured, though she dutifully suppressed her curiosity and tucked the gift into her school bag.

In a flash, the day’s classes concluded. On the way home from school, Gu Xuexuan pulled Lin Duo in front of a gift shop, winking at her. “Just stand here and close your eyes. I’ll be right out.”

Lin Duo obediently complied.

Approximately twenty seconds later, Gu Xuexuan’s voice rang out, “Happy birthday!”

“Wow!” Lin Duo opened her eyes, her mouth dropping open in astonishment. Before her stood an enormous teddy bear plushie, reaching all the way to her chest.

A greeting card was tied around the bear’s neck, bearing a line of well wishes and two simple female profiles—one with long hair, one with short—with a red heart between them.

The immense surprise brought tears to Lin Duo’s eyes. “Xuanxuan! Thank you!”

“What’s there to thank me for? We’re besties!” Gu Xuexuan said, grinning as she handed the bear to Lin Duo. “This plushie is simply too big to bring to school, so I had to leave it at the gift shop. Now, if you ever get bored at night, you can hug it to sleep!”

Upon returning to the fruit store, Wu Bijuan was waiting at the entrance, her face wreathed in a familiar, benevolent smile. “Duoduo, it’s your birthday today! I’ve already bought the cake, and we’ll celebrate after we close up. Oh, is this a gift from your classmate?”

“Mm-hm! Gu Xuexuan gave it to me!” Lin Duo had already briefly introduced her good friend to her adoptive parents. “I’ll head up first, then I’ll be right back down to help!”

Back in her bedroom, Lin Duo eagerly leaped onto the bed, clutching the teddy bear tightly to her chest. Her small face rubbed happily against its fur, her heart feeling as though it were filled with honey.

After a long while, she reluctantly released the bear, opened her school bag, and took out the gift box from Wang Linshu. As she slowly unwrapped it, her mouth fell open in surprise.

Inside was a brand-new iPhone 6 box, accompanied by a small note bearing words of blessing.

Lin Duo had never imagined that Wang Linshu would give her such an expensive birthday present. Although the teddy bear was large, it cost no more than two hundred yuan.

This phone, however, was worth over five thousand yuan. For a junior high student, such a gift was indeed excessively lavish.

After her initial surprise, Lin Duo went downstairs and told her adoptive parents about it.

Yue Renhui toyed with the phone box, muttering, “Kids these days are too rich. They’re giving out gifts like this? I wouldn’t even splurge on such an expensive phone for myself.”

Wu Bijuan, standing nearby, also frowned slightly. “Old man, what should we do? Should we have our daughter return it tomorrow?”

Yue Renhui considered it seriously for a moment, then shook his head. “No, that’s not right. That young boy from the Wang family is at an age where his self-esteem is strongest. If we returned the gift like that, he’d surely be deeply hurt. Besides, Uncle Wang’s family is wealthy; this amount of money is truly nothing to them. Duoduo, I think you should accept it. If Uncle Wang ever brings it up later, then we can make other plans.”

Since her adoptive father had spoken, Lin Duo naturally had no further objections. Moreover, deep down, she sometimes felt a pang of envy for the new, large-screen phones her classmates possessed.

After the roller shutter was pulled down, the three returned upstairs. Wu Bijuan placed a large cake on the dining table, inserting and lighting fifteen candles one by one.

“Duoduo, today is your fifteenth birthday, and you’re about to become a young woman. Your mother here wishes you success in your exams and hopes you get into your dream high school!”

Yue Renhui added, “Even if you don’t get in, it’s alright. We’ve seen all your hard work, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

“Old man, don’t say inauspicious things.” Wu Bijuan shot him a chiding look, then turned to Lin Duo with a benevolent smile. “Come on, make a birthday wish.”

Lin Duo obediently closed her eyes, silently making two wishes. First, that her adoptive parents would always remain healthy; second, that her journey as a girl would proceed smoothly.

Blowing out the candles, Lin Duo first cut two slices of cake and placed them in front of her adoptive father and mother. “Mom, Dad, please eat first!”

“Our daughter is so thoughtful!” Yue Renhui chuckled, quickly finishing his cake.

That night, Lin Duo spent a long time examining her new phone under the covers. Then, hugging the teddy bear, she closed her eyes and drifted into a particularly sweet sleep.

The next morning, during the classroom’s early self-study session, Wang Linshu arrived as early as ever. After Lin Duo took her seat, he nervously asked, “Uh, did you like the gift?”

“Of course I liked it! Thank you!” Lin Duo was not one to be ungrateful, and she cherished this friendship in her heart. “By the way, there are some settings on this new phone I’m not familiar with. Could you teach me?”

Naturally, Wang Linshu was overjoyed at such an opportunity. He moved closer to Lin Duo and began to explain patiently.

At that very moment, in a corner of the classroom, a figure clenched their fists tightly.