Birthday Back at the West Building, Du Yuan had returned to the courtyard after putting the children to bed. She sat at a stone table near the kitten and puppy nests, performing a tea ceremony.
As Sang Ye returned, Du Yuan looked up with a smile. "Sangsang, you’re back. Come."
The fragrance of tea floated in the air. Du Yuan handed Sang Ye a cup where the green tea powder and white froth mimicked the aesthetic of misty green mountains. Born into nobility, Du Yuan had learned these arts as a child, though she rarely forced them on Sang Ye or Rong Cheng, preferring to let them participate only when they wanted to calm their minds. To her, a "lady's education" was more of a social shackle than a practical life skill.
"Your birthday is coming up," Du Yuan said suddenly while Sang Ye was sipping her tea.
"Huh?" Sang Ye blinked. It had been over a year since she arrived here; she had long forgotten about her birthday.
"I had Eve calculate the lunar calendar. It's in eight days," Du Yuan said, pointing to her terminal. Then she looked melancholic. "In the past, I could always find something unique for you, or at least catch a small spirit beast. But now... magic tools are useless, and spirit beasts are impossible. I have nothing left to give you."
Sang Ye quickly finished her tea. "Master, you don't need to give me anything! I've had many birthdays. I’m grown up now; there’s nothing I especially want."
Sang Ye meant it. If it weren't for Du Yuan, she would have frozen to death in the wasteland years ago. "On that day, Master, just make me a bowl of Cold Noodles."
"Cold noodles? Not Long-Life Noodles?" Du Yuan murmured, confused.
Sang Ye smiled and headed upstairs for a nap. Du Yuan didn’t know that on the first day of Sang Ye’s memories, Du Yuan had fed her cold buckwheat noodles with scallion-oil chicken and shredded cucumber. Sang Ye had babbled her first word then—not "Master," but "Mom." She didn't want treasures; she just wanted Du Yuan by her side.
…
Lin Changli was indeed in the Snow Mountains, but not for weapon testing. He and Rong Cheng were in a cave beneath a frozen waterfall, far from the base. Minur watched them from a distance, the flickering flames and the clashing of metal reflecting in her eyes.
She stood near the cave entrance, feeling the heat might singe her fox fur. The two had borrowed her cave, claiming it was secluded and snow-proof.
"Bye-bye," Rong Cheng waved as Minur left to check on Brian’s heart.
Lin Changli didn't look back. His hands glowed as a piece of rare material, emitting a bone-chilling cold, slowly deformed under his touch.
At the foot of the mountain, Minur encountered General Wu Huansheng, whose warship bore the nine-tailed family crest.
"Where are you going?" Minur asked, catching the ears of her giant snow fox.
"Want to walk with me?" Wu Huansheng asked, her own ears red from the cold. As they walked through the crunching snow, Wu Huansheng spoke softly about the mining progress. The Snow Mountain was predicted to be the first area of Black Tower to be fully depleted.
"Once the mines are gone, the base will withdraw," Wu Huansheng said directly. "Black Tower will lose its value and could become an Imperial trash dump. Someone asked me to find out what your plans for the future are."
Minur stared at her. "Who would ask me?"
Wu Huansheng hesitated. "Minur... my grandmother is Wu Jinyue, Marshal of the three Great Legions. Our home planet is Mingyang, the 'Botanical Garden' of the Empire. It’s warm, beautiful, and stable. My grandmother has been watching the news from Black Tower. She wants to know what you will do. When the Empire leaves, you'll have to leave too."
…
A week passed. The shift change at the Snow Mountain began, and Wu Huansheng and Rong Cheng returned to the base. Sang Ye checked Wu Huansheng’s scar—despite all their efforts, the Zerg toxin remained, preventing the mental energy from healing the skin.
"Food therapy isn't enough," Du Yuan noted. "The toxin blocks mental energy. Maybe we should try herbal medicine or a medicinal bath."
Sang Ye decided to look through her stores for potent herbs. Meanwhile, she was growing suspicious of Lin Changli. He had been "testing weapons" for over a week, but when she messaged Asu Ment, the Executive Officer confirmed there were no new weapon trials scheduled. Lin Changli, you’re in trouble, Sang Ye thought, her mental landscape erupting into a storm. Lying to me after only dating this long? If we can talk, we talk; if not, we break up! …
Lin Changli returned on the morning of Sang Ye’s birthday.
He had spent the week in the Snow Mountain forging her gift. He crossed the courtyard, where the Parasol Tree and roses were covered in morning dew. Little Sang Sejin the cat greeted him, and he fed her some chicken breast he’d hidden in a high cabinet.
Sang Ye woke up and sensed her Little Parasol Tree spirit vibrating with excitement in Lin Changli’s mind. She walked into his room across the hall, ready to confront him, but stopped when she saw the gift on his bed.
It was a set of 16 chef’s knives. They ranged from bone cleavers to delicate paring knives. Sang Ye had once asked Rong Cheng to forge them, but Rong Cheng’s flames couldn't shape the stubborn materials. These were made from Teng-Snake Bone and Cold Iron, designed to stay icy cold even in a hot kitchen.
Lin Changli emerged from the bathroom in his robe, meeting Sang Ye’s "smiling but not smiling" gaze.
"So, you lied to me for this?" she asked, holding a knife.
Lin Changli froze. He knew the difference between a "surprise" and a "cover-up."
Sang Ye looked at the knives. They were perfectly balanced, custom-fitted to her hand size—all crafted while she wasn't even there. He had studied her that closely. Her anger vanished. Why hurt someone who loves me over a harmless surprise? "I love them. Thank you," she said.
"I'm sorry. I won't lie again," he said.
They both spoke at once, then laughed, the tension dissolving into a warm embrace.
…
Sang Ye’s birthday lunch was a family affair. She couldn't help but use her new knives to prepare Pineapple Fried Rice. The Cold Iron blades sliced through everything effortlessly.
Du Yuan made the requested Cold Noodles, while Rong Cheng prepared Steamed Pork with Rice Flour and Swimming Crabs with Rice Cakes. The sauce from the crabs seeped into the chewy rice cakes, making them irresistible.
Finally, they had four small Blueberry Cakes, one for each of them. Sang Ye blew out a single candle and made her wish: May every year be like today. With her career flourishing and her family by her side, she was truly content.
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