Young Brave Hearts – CH 102

Chapter 102: Happy Birthday 01

◎ “My back has always been very good, you know that.” ◎

Lu Rangchen’s birthday, September 23rd. It just so happened to be the day Zhao Qijia and Gao Ge were getting married.

She remembered the first time she learned about his birthday was when Xu Linda excitedly told Zhu Yunque. She must have gotten the information from Deng Zhe. The girl said with great interest, “Did you know? Lu Rangchen is actually a Libra, and his birthday is the first day of Libra!”

At that time, Zhu Yunque was still pretending to be upset.

Hearing this, her heart was clearly racing, but outwardly, she just stopped doing her math problems and casually looked up at Xu Linda.

Looking at Xu Linda’s youthful and cheerful face, she pursed her lips and asked softly, “What’s wrong with the first day of Libra?”

“What’s the zodiac sign before Libra?”

Zhu Yunque shook her head blankly, saying she didn’t know.

Xu Linda was speechless for a second, then said, “The day before Libra is Virgo.”

“…”

Zhu Yunque wasn’t that knowledgeable about astrology.

Just hearing the name of the zodiac sign seemed a bit incompatible with Lu Rangchen.

Not to mention the characteristics of a Virgo.

Xu Linda solemnly patted Zhu Yunque on the shoulder and said, “It’s a good thing he’s a Libra. If he were just one day earlier, those girls would have an even harder time pursuing him!”

Zhu Yunque choked for a moment, suddenly feeling guilty.

After returning home that day, she mustered up the courage to search for “strategies” about Libras and Virgos on Baidu and Weibo.

She discovered that Xu Linda’s point of view was indeed correct…

If Lu Rangchen were a Virgo, he would definitely be an even more extreme perfectionist. It was said that if anyone else used a pen he had used without permission, he wouldn’t want to touch it again.

But thankfully, he was a Libra.

Again, Zhu Yunque didn’t understand astrology, but she thought the name Libra sounded very nice, better than any other zodiac sign. Even the traits matched Lu Rangchen’s.

He was indeed very popular with the opposite sex, so much so that almost no girl around him was indifferent to him.

It was just that Libra and Capricorn didn’t seem to be a good match.

Perhaps when you had a crush on someone, there were always some uncontrollable “little actions.” It was from that time that Zhu Yunque secretly followed many astrology bloggers, especially those about Libras.

However, astrology was often just for fun.

After she truly understood Lu Rangchen, she discovered that he wasn’t at all what those astrology bloggers described.

True love involved compromise, tolerance, and pampering.

This had nothing to do with astrology or personality.

Right now, Zhu Yunque was simply concerned that, from the past to the present, she had never had the chance to truly celebrate Lu Rangchen’s birthday with him.

So this time, Zhu Yunque was determined to fulfill her wish.

To surprise Lu Rangchen, she even chose the restaurant herself, but who would have thought he wouldn’t take it seriously?

It seemed he’d completely forgotten.

Noticing the girl’s silent gaze, Lu Rangchen slightly lowered his brow, mockingly raised an eyebrow, and smiled, “That’s true; birthdays are more important.”

Zhu Yunque: “…”

She didn’t even want to say anything to him.

Zhao Qijia suddenly realized, “Oh, it’s your birthday today! That’s really unfortunate; I really shouldn’t disturb you.”

Zhu Yunque said it was alright.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she and Lu Rangchen returned to the car.

Now only the two of them were in the car.

Naturally, they were going to settle the score.

Even though Lu Rangchen tried to ingratiate himself by taking Zhu Yunque’s hand and intertwining their fingers, Zhu Yunque still looked at him with annoyance, saying, “You’re such a grown-up; you don’t even remember your own birthday, do you?”

He knew she’d say that.

Lu Rangchen smiled faintly, saying casually, “No, I just didn’t remember for a moment.”

“…”

Zhu Yunque couldn’t help but feel frustrated upon hearing his tone.

Her words were unusually serious; she said, “So it’s not that you don’t remember; it’s that you don’t want to spend it with me, right?”

She was probably genuinely unhappy.

Zhu Yunque turned her gaze away from him, looking at the bustling street scene outside the car window with a displeased expression.

This was the first time Lu Rangchen had seen her like this.

Stubborn and cold, she looked difficult to coax; no wonder Deng Jiao said Zhu Yunque was very serious at school.

An unconscious smile played on his lips as he leaned closer, gently turning her chin towards him. His gaze was fixed on her, his voice soft and gentle. “Can’t we be reasonable? Who told you I didn’t want to celebrate my birthday with you?”

Zhu Yunque’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Lu Rangchen.

She realized they were so close it seemed he could kiss her with a mere flick of his wrist.

As it turned out, Lu Rangchen wouldn’t let such a good opportunity slip by.

Before she could react, he tilted his head and gave her a playful, quick kiss on the lips.

Zhu Yunque’s heart began to race.

She pursed her lips, trying to push him away, but Lu Rangchen grabbed her hand and placed it against his chest, raising an eyebrow at her. “I’m the birthday boy today; can’t you give the birthday boy some face?”

“…”

He knew exactly how to manipulate Zhu Yunque.

He also knew she wouldn’t want to waste this day, this evening.

So he used a combination of coaxing and “moral blackmail.” Zhu Yunque’s expression finally softened, though she wasn’t particularly happy. She said, “Did you eat the noodles and eggs I cooked for you this morning?”

She didn’t know why.

Lu Rangchen felt a surge of warmth looking at her. He smiled and said, “Yes, I ate them. They were quite delicious.”

Zhu Yunque said, “Didn’t you see the note on the table?”

“What note?”

Lu Rangchen frowned. “I really didn’t notice.”

“…”

Zhu Yunque looked annoyed and speechless. “But I clearly put it next to the cup.”

At this point, Lu Rangchen finally understood how frustrated this girl had been all day. She’d been planning his birthday celebration all morning, but by evening, he knew nothing, only thinking about attending someone else’s wedding and his shopping desires.

He was genuinely afraid she’d be angry.

Lu Rangchen raised an eyebrow slightly and sighed, a hint of guilt in his voice. “Shall I drive back to look for it now?”

He wasn’t lying. But Zhu Yunque certainly wouldn’t actually make him drive back just for that note. So, as soon as she finished speaking, she gave Lu Rangchen a cold, piercing glare.

Lu Rangchen chuckled under his breath, taken aback by her look.

He thought to himself, “What’s the point of looking for that note? Of course, appeasing my wife is the priority.”

He gave a lazy, resigned smile, unusually honest, and said, “Fine, I won’t look anymore. Let’s go celebrate my birthday.”

As he spoke, he took out his phone and started searching for restaurants.

Zhu Yunque looked at him for a few seconds, finally unable to contain herself any longer, and named a restaurant.

That restaurant was one of the top Western restaurants in Nancheng, not cheap, and reservations were required. Lu Rangchen had tried to take Zhu Yunque there several times before but hadn’t been able to get a reservation. How could he not know about it?

Lu Rangchen paused, looking up at her with a hint of surprise. He gave her a cheeky smirk and said, “So thoughtful, you even knew to book a restaurant for me?”

Zhu Yunque: “…”

Although she was annoyed by his smug, self-satisfied look, she was still captivated by his face.

Time and time again.

An uncontrollable flutter in her heart.

Zhu Yunque’s lips twitched. She pulled her hand away from his, trying to remain calm as she looked straight ahead and muttered, “If we’re going, hurry up. Stop talking nonsense.”

Her tone was undeniably arrogant, yet tinged with a girlish shyness.

Lu Rangchen’s deep gaze swept over her, a slow smile suddenly spreading across his lips, like he’d tasted delicious honey.

As he started the engine, he shamelessly stretched out his hand again, his long, deep eyes pouting at her playfully, a flippant smirk on his face. “Then let’s hold hands.”

Zhu Yunque: “…”

This man was really something.

–

Based on the principle of prioritizing the birthday person.

Zhu Yunque didn’t hold a grudge that day, obediently holding his hand for a while in the car, then childishly making up with him.

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, it was already late.

Luckily, Zhu Yunque had already chosen the dishes, so they could eat soon after sitting down.

The dishes were all Lu Rangchen’s favorites.

Zhu Yunque also drank some red wine with him.

During the meal, Zhu Yunque even requested a piano piece for Lu Rangchen, played by a very beautiful foreign lady.

After the piece ended, the waiter brought over the birthday cake.

It was a simple design, not large, just right for two people. Zhu Yunque had ordered it well in advance and stored it at the restaurant.

To be honest, she didn’t think the birthday dinner she prepared for Lu Rangchen was particularly surprising or special, but she had to admit that she had truly touched Lu Rangchen’s heart that night.

It seemed she genuinely hadn’t expected it.

Lu Rangchen stared intently at the cake with candles in front of him, his eyes glistening with a faint moisture for several seconds.

His eyes were naturally beautiful.

In the soft, gentle light, his features appeared even more profound and affectionate.

It was impossible to tell who was drowning in whose gaze.

Lu Rangchen stared blankly at the cake for a while, then habitually looked up at Zhu Yunque in front of him. The moment their eyes met, he suddenly smiled.

He laughed.

Zhu Yunque smiled back, saying, “What are you laughing at?”

Lu Rangchen swallowed slightly, his smile deepening as he looked intently at her, saying, “Laughing at how I managed to marry such a wonderful wife.”

She’d heard plenty of sweet words.

But Zhu Yunque still loved hearing them from him.

A sweet smile unconsciously crept onto her lips as she picked up a lighter and lit the only candle on the cake.

After a click, she looked at Lu Rangchen and whispered, “Make a wish.”

“Okay.”

Lu Rangchen didn’t clasp his hands together; he simply sat there quietly, closing his eyes.

His eyelashes were still so long, an effect many girls couldn’t achieve with makeup. The shadows cast by them gave his handsome features a cold, frost-like quality.

In that instant, Zhu Yunque even thought about how happy she would be if their future child looked like him.

Of course, she was too ashamed to tell him this; she knew Lu Rangchen would take it all too seriously.

Even without that “trivial matter,” Lu Rangchen couldn’t control himself that night.

After their meal, Zhu Yunque intended to call a chauffeur to take them home, but Lu Rangchen went straight to the hotel above the restaurant, got a gold card, and brazenly led her upstairs.

Zhu Yunque didn’t know the exact price of the gold card, but it certainly wasn’t cheap.

She wanted to say he was being extravagant again, but before she could speak, Lu Rangchen pressed her down in the elevator and kissed her impatiently.

It was that instant.

That breathless, heart-pounding moment.

Zhu Yunque suddenly realized that having money really was a wonderful thing. At least, after so long of restraint and yearning for a kiss, this opulent elevator had fulfilled their desire.

There was no one else there; it was just the two of them.

Even the way to the suite.

Lu Rangchen’s palms were burning hot, and she seemed to be burning with alcohol, completely releasing herself.

It was a long time, so long that Zhu Yunque was almost exhausted. Lu Rangchen carried her to the bathroom, holding her in his lap, immersed in layers of white foam.

Their phones kept ringing outside.

But neither of them paid any attention.

Lu Rangchen simply held her chin from behind, kissing her passionately, wanting to become one with her.

Later, he said many sweet words.

Each word was enough to make Zhu Yunque’s heart flutter, wanting to give herself entirely to him.

She remembered the moonlight that night was excessively thick.

It was three in the morning when she finally emerged from the water.

Lu Rangchen held her tightly. She slept for a while in his strong arms, then woke up.

Her movement seemed to have disturbed him. Lu Rangchen slowly opened his eyes in the dark bedroom and smiled inexplicably.

Zhu Yunque turned around to face him.

She heard him whisper in her ear, “Not feeling well? Did the pain wake you up?”

He knew how out of control he had been that night, how excessive he had been, yet even so, Zhu Yunque had indulged him.

She inwardly condemned herself.

Lu Rangchen tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear and, in the cool moonlight, carefully examined her.

That beautiful, delicate face—he had seen it countless times, yet he never tired of looking at it.

This was probably what it felt like to deeply love someone.

Almost instinctively, Lu Rangchen lightly kissed her lips, then heard Zhu Yunque’s soft, cotton-candy-like voice say, “It’s a little… but it’s alright.”

Her voice held a hint of shy embarrassment as she added, “But what about you? How’s your back?”

This genuinely made Lu Rangchen laugh.

The man chuckled softly, his forehead resting against hers, and said, “My back has always been very good, you know that.”

“…But even the best back can break down eventually.”

Lu Rangchen clicked his tongue. “Try talking nonsense again?”

Zhu Yunque couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Lu Rangchen casually wrapped his arm around her slender waist, his long, delicate fingers twirling her hair. His voice was low and magnetic as he said, “You know, Queque, I’m especially happy tonight because of you.”

Zhu Yunque looked up at him, her clear eyes seeming to see right through him. She said, “So, you’ve never been this happy on your birthdays before, have you?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

He shifted his position slightly, pulling her into his arms.

Zhu Yunque’s nose touched his sensual Adam’s apple. She heard his strong, powerful heartbeat, a sound that belonged only to her.

It seemed like he had been building up his emotions for a long time.

Lu Rangchen finally spoke slowly, “I haven’t celebrated my birthday since I was thirteen. This is the first time in all these years.”

Although she had a bad feeling, Zhu Yunque truly hadn’t expected the reality to be like this.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, incredulously. She asked, “Why? Did they not celebrate your birthday?”

Lu Rangchen chuckled and shook his head. “Yes and no.”

He said, “At first, they didn’t really want to celebrate it for me, and later I just didn’t want to anymore.”

Later, as he grew up, he got used to not celebrating his birthday and never thought about it anymore.

Zhu Yunque pursed her lips gently, suddenly understanding why he would forget such an important day as his birthday. She felt a pang of heartache, heartache for the Lu Rangchen of the past.

She said, “Is it because of your sister?”

Lu Rangchen paused for a moment, then smiled admiringly. “Zhu Yunque, were you always smarter than others?”

“…”

Zhu Yunque said, “Not bad, just average.”

Lu Rangchen was genuinely amused by her. He chuckled to himself for a while, then said, “Average? I don’t think anyone’s smarter than you.”

This was the first time Lu Rangchen had ever praised her for being smart.

Instead of being pretty, cute, having a good figure, being charming, or making him infatuated and unable to resist.

Zhu Yunque blushed genuinely for a second, then quickly steered the conversation back to him, asking, “So why is that? Is it because of your birthday and your sister…?”

Before she finished speaking, Lu Rangchen interrupted, “Yes, she left the day before my birthday.”

Before he turned thirteen, Lu Rangchen’s birthday celebrations could be described as lavish. Even the Cheng family patriarch, far away in the capital, would come to celebrate with him.

But after Lu Zhitao’s death, he never celebrated again.

His whole family was immersed in grief and pain, and his birthday became insignificant.

Even when Cheng Liru still bought him his favorite cake and toys, he remained unmoved.

Thirteen-year-old Lu Rangchen wondered:

Why? Why did his sister leave in such pain, while he could enjoy a peaceful birthday?

He even thought that if only he could give his sister a little more care, just a little more.

But the chance was gone.

Perhaps it was the lingering guilt.

For the next few years, Lu Rangchen treated his birthdays perfunctorily.

Later, he truly stopped celebrating his birthdays altogether.

But this time, for the first time since he turned thirteen, he celebrated his birthday so earnestly, so joyfully.

He didn’t need to think about anything; he just needed to enjoy the present moment, enjoy the time spent with her.

But Zhu Yunque had no idea what he was thinking.

The more she listened to him, the tighter her throat became. She hugged Lu Rangchen tightly, feeling the strength of his muscles and bones, sniffed, and said, “Are you really okay? Did my plans for tonight really not burden you?”

She knew he would overthink it.

Lu Rangchen chuckled softly, “What burden could there be?”

He stroked her flat stomach with a roguish yet mischievous grin. “Worried you’ll give me a little brat next year?”

This made Zhu Yunque pause, momentarily stunned.

Her ears involuntarily flushed.

She instinctively uttered “you,” but Lu Rangchen interrupted her, his tone casual yet inexplicably serious, “But speaking of which, just this slender waist…”

He kneaded Zhu Yunque’s soft waist, smiling skeptically, “Can you really give me a child someday?”

Author’s Note:
Give birth!!!
Give birth to ten!!!
You’ll be exhausted!!!