Don’t Ignite It chapter 46

Birthday Gift

In the mountains, night fell early, and soon it was pitch dark outside.

Dinner was prepared by Lu Zhao.

Xia Yu couldn’t cook, and if he ever tried, he’d probably end up wrecking the kitchen. But he leaned against the kitchen counter, nibbling on an apple, feeling warm inside the house. It didn’t feel like winter at all. His sweater’s collar was loose, revealing the ambiguous love marks on his neck.

Just a while ago, he and Lu Zhao had been tangled up on the couch, kissing passionately. They had done everything except the final step.

But as they were about to take that step, Lu Zhao had touched Xia Yu’s flat stomach and said it was time for dinner.

So now Xia Yu was feeling a bit unsatisfied, and his gaze at Lu Zhao carried a hint of discontent.

However, Lu Zhao seemed oblivious to this. He continued to focus on the pot, maintaining a diligent and experimental attitude. He didn’t have many dishes in his repertoire, and tonight’s dinner was simple: cream stewed vegetables and fried fish, precisely what Xia Yu liked.

Lu Zhao scooped up a spoonful of the broth and held it out to Xia Yu’s lips. “Give it a try.”

Xia Yu glanced at Lu Zhao before lowering his head to sip the soup. It was quite good, and he found himself wondering, “When did you learn to cook?”

Lu Zhao, just like Xia Yu, was not skilled in the kitchen.

“My mom taught me,” Lu Zhao replied, “a few months before she passed away. She wasn’t much of a cook herself, but she knew how to make these two dishes. She passed them on to me, saying that one day I could cook them for someone I loved.”

And now, the person he loved was right beside him.

Xia Yu bit into his apple, finding it hard to imagine these words coming from Lu Zhao’s mother. She had been emotionally distant, much like the old Lu Zhao, ice-cold and devoid of any tenderness.

Curious, Xia Yu asked, “Did your mom ever cook for your dad?”

Lu Zhao glanced at him and replied, “Certainly not.”

The open nature of his parents’ marriage was widely known, and if anyone could compete for the title of best friend, it would probably be his father, but lovers, they were not.

Lu Zhao plated the stewed vegetables and fish, and while still absorbed in thought, he added, “My piano teacher used to date my mom when I was little. They thought I didn’t know.”

Xia Yu was momentarily stunned, choking on his apple. Could he really talk about this?

But Lu Zhao seemed unfazed. He set the dinner on the table and poured red wine into tall glasses. Gesturing for Xia Yu to sit down, he spoke casually, as if sharing a regular conversation.

Xia Yu looked at him in disbelief, his gaze sparkling. Lu Zhao chuckled, apparently unconcerned. He picked up his knife and fork and expertly deboned the fish, then said, “My piano teacher was quite young at the time, probably under thirty. If I remember correctly, he even proposed to my mother. But clearly, she didn’t accept.”

Xia Yu swallowed a piece of fish and couldn’t help but ask, “So what happened afterward?”

“They broke up,” Lu Zhao replied calmly. He remembered that when his piano teacher left, he seemed like a pale, lost soul. Yet, in the end, his mother hadn’t met with the man she loved most.

Lu Zhao recounted the conclusion, “Later, when the piano teacher was in his forties, he passed away from lung cancer. He never married.”

He wasn’t much of a storyteller, and such a secret affair turned out to be a plain tale, lacking any dramatic ups and downs.

However, Xia Yu was left somewhat dumbfounded. He had heard that Ms. Lu had cooked dinner for this piano teacher, and he had assumed there was something special between them. But this was how their story had ended.

He felt a pang of sympathy for the piano teacher, but he didn’t quite feel entitled to say anything. He continued to eat his fish in silence.

After a while, Lu Zhao added, “I used to think my mother didn’t care about my piano teacher, but after her passing, I found she had kept the engagement ring he gave her.”

Xia Yu was taken aback and looked up.

Lu Zhao didn’t meet his gaze but stared at the fireplace, lost in thought. The warm glow from the lamp illuminated his face, highlighting his gray-blue eyes.

“It was just a ring with no diamonds,” Lu Zhao continued. He glanced at Xia Yu and, suddenly, his gray-blue eyes sparkled.

For some reason, Xia Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

…………………………..

After finishing dinner, Xia Yu had initially planned to lounge on the couch and watch a movie. However, the moonlit night in the mountains was too inviting, and the thick layer of snow outside was calling him to build a snowman.

It was rather childlike.

Lu Zhao joined him, but his mind seemed elsewhere.

Xia Yu scooped up a handful of snow, formed a small snowman, and placed it on the railing of the porch. He used a carrot from the kitchen as the nose and grabbed a handkerchief to serve as a scarf. After completing his masterpiece, he proudly snapped a photo and sent it to Xu Zhan.

But Xu Zhan must have been busy with his date because he didn’t respond.

Xia Yu pursed his lips, feeling a bit disappointed. He put his phone away and turned to see Lu Zhao standing beside him, gazing at the snowy landscape, lost in thought.

He poked Lu Zhao. “What are you thinking about?”

He was in a good mood now, his cheeks flushed from the cold, and his eyes were bright.

Lu Zhao looked at him, and under the gentle lamplight, Xia Yu, bundled up in a black down jacket and a hat, resembled a wobbling penguin.

Lu Zhao gently ruffled Xia Yu’s hair. “Nothing. It’s just that your birthday is about to end, and I still have a gift I want to give you.”

He said it casually, as though it were no big deal.

Xia Yu didn’t pay it much mind, continuing to fuss with his snowman. He absentmindedly replied, “What more could you possibly give me? I don’t lack anything. You’ve been sending me gifts every few months this year, and even my gallery staff find it strange. I had to tell them it was from Xu Zhan.”

He assumed Lu Zhao was planning to gift him an expensive watch or jewelry. When it came to money, Lu Zhao had always been generous with him.

During the three years they were together, Lu Zhao had never attended Xia Yu’s birthday celebrations, but the gifts he sent were always substantial.

Thinking about this, the smile on Xia Yu’s face faded a little.

Lu Zhao glanced at the time. There was only half an hour left until midnight. He asked Xia Yu, “Do you want to go inside? I’ve prepared a cake for you.”

Xia Yu raised an eyebrow, surprised that Lu Zhao had gone to the trouble of preparing a cake.

But he didn’t want to go inside yet.

Perhaps because the interior was warm and cozy, the corridor outside wasn’t very cold. There wasn’t a trace of snow, and tables and chairs were placed on the wooden floor. They could sit here, have tea, and enjoy the scenery.

He told Lu Zhao, “Why don’t you bring it out here? I don’t want to go inside. I want to watch the snow as my birthday ends.”

Lu Zhao touched his wrist and felt that it wasn’t too cold, so he didn’t object.

He went inside to fetch the cake, but instead of immediately returning, he stood by the French windows, gazing at Xia Yu outside for a while.

Xia Yu was still taking photos of the falling snow.

Even though he was dressed in a bulky down jacket, Xia Yu appeared light and graceful. With his height and long legs, he resembled a delicate deer lost in the mountains. He was lively and beautiful, bringing joy to anyone who saw him.

Lu Zhao, standing inside, appeared to be in a different world, even though there was only a thin layer of glass separating them.

However, in his pocket, there was a red velvet box.

Inside was the “gift” he was about to give Xia Yu – a gift that he wasn’t sure would be accepted.

A few minutes later, Lu Zhao pushed open the door and stepped outside.

Hearing the sound, Xia Yu turned around and saw Lu Zhao placing the cake on the table.

It was a pale pink cake, not quite in line with Lu Zhao’s usual taste. It was decorated with waves and flowers, reminiscent of spring.

But Xia Yu liked it.

He noticed that there seemed to be an envelope nearby and asked Lu Zhao casually, “What’s this?”

Lu Zhao didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he shielded the candle from the wind and replied, “You’ll find out later.”

Xia Yu pursed his lips, feigning mystery.

He then looked back down at his cake. The candle had been lit, representing his 26 years of age. Lu Zhao held it steady to prevent the flame from going out, which flickered and wavered.

“Make a wish,” Lu Zhao said. “Congratulations on getting a year older.”

However, Xia Yu couldn’t think of any wishes. He was born into a happy and prosperous family, had friends, a career, and a comfortable life. He didn’t have any grand ambitions. His biggest regret in life was Lu Zhao.

But at this moment, Lu Zhao was right beside him. They weren’t lovers, but they also hadn’t completely parted ways. Their undefined relationship might be the best outcome they could have.

So he didn’t have any other wishes.

“I don’t seem to have a wish,” he said softly. “I have everything I need, and there’s nothing specific I want.”

As he spoke, he prepared to blow out the candle.

But Lu Zhao stopped him.

“Could you lend me your wish?” Lu Zhao asked. “I have a wish, and I need some good luck.”

Xia Yu was taken aback.

He looked at Lu Zhao’s earnest face, feeling strangely uneasy.

But he nodded and lent his wish to Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao closed his eyes.

He wasn’t someone who usually prayed or went to temples, but at this moment, he felt the need to pray. He hoped his deities would listen to his plea and grant him a little mercy.

After a while, he opened his eyes and said to Xia Yu, “Okay, now you can blow out the candle.”

Xia Yu blew out the candle.

He was curious about Lu Zhao’s wish but didn’t want to ask.

Lu Zhao didn’t say anything either. He lowered his head and began cutting the cake.

Inside the cake, there was strawberry filling, sweet and delicious. Xia Yu wasn’t particularly hungry, so he only had a small slice.

He sat under the eaves, took a sip of the hot tea he had brought with him, and watched the swirling snow outside. Then he glanced at Lu Zhao nearby and suddenly felt that the current situation wasn’t bad at all.

In this secluded mountain, with only the two of them, nobody knew they were here. He could briefly forget all the complications and pretend that he and Lu Zhao were a couple living in seclusion.

They hadn’t parted ways, they hadn’t argued; they were just an ordinary and happy couple in the world.

Xia Yu thought that he was truly unchanging, and even now, he couldn’t let go of Lu Zhao. In his fantasies, he still wanted to be a couple for once.

He took another sip of the hot tea and finally prepared to go back inside. He was about to say something to Lu Zhao when he realized that Lu Zhao had already stood up.

However, Lu Zhao didn’t intend to go back inside. Instead, he stood in front of Xia Yu, looking down at him.

“What are you doing?” Xia Yu asked.

Lu Zhao reached out and brushed off some snowflakes from Xia Yu’s hair.

He spoke softly, “Didn’t we just say that there was one more gift I wanted to give you?”

He picked up the envelope that had been placed on the table earlier and handed it to Xia Yu.

Xia Yu took it and gave Lu Zhao a strange look. “What’s all this secrecy about?”

What could be in the envelope, a property deed perhaps? Lu Zhao wasn’t going to give him this vacation home, was he?

His mind was filled with wild speculations, but when he took out the contents of the envelope and glanced at it briefly, his expression froze.

His fingers stiffly clutched the lightweight yet incredibly valuable sheets of paper.

“What do you mean by this?” He raised his eyes to look at Lu Zhao. “Are you out of your mind?”

It was a prenuptial agreement.

In black and white, it stated that if he were to marry Lu Zhao, he would immediately gain a significant portion of Lu Zhao’s private assets, including but not limited to real estate, jewelry, fine art, vineyards, and so on.

The list of assets was mind-boggling, even for someone from a wealthy background like Xia Yu.

However, he furrowed his brows and looked at Lu Zhao with confusion. “When did I say I wanted to marry you?”