"Youjie, you're back so late. Didn't mom say to come back before 5 o'clock?" The whole family gathered in the dining room, with dishes and utensils on the table, and a large cake in the middle. There were many strawberries on the top of the cake, and many colorful candles, as well as the words "Happy 8th Birthday" written with what seemed to be jam.

I was a little stunned and didn't notice when mother came over. She pulled me into her arms. It wasn't a hug or something like that, it was just the prelude to her using her lock-throat technique.

Mother spoke in a gentle but extremely angry tone, "You, how could you leave Feya alone in the dining room and run off like that?"

As she spoke, she tightened her grip on my wrist.

I struggled to breathe and helplessly said, "Didn't I tell Yuqian to bring Feya back?"

"Are you trying to shirk your responsibility as an older brother?" Mother was so furious that she almost killed me. She didn't know how to hold back. While I struggled, I accidentally touched the spot where I had been injured in a fight earlier and couldn't help but cry out in pain, "Ouch... it hurts."

Startled, mother quickly let go of me and asked, "What happened, Youjie? I didn't use much force, did I?"

I was close to suffocating to death and she was worried about why I cried out in pain. I couldn't tell her the truth, so I came up with another excuse, "Please don't joke about your son's life like that."

"...," mother was completely shocked by my words. Just when I was confused, she barely smiled and said, "Youjie, why are you so cold to your mother now?"

Ah~ this is clearly a matter of life and death, how could I remain calm? I even risked my life to play with you. Mother's words were really bizarre.

"Please don't distort my meaning," I said solemnly. But instead of taking me seriously, mother turned her gaze to the paper bag in my arms and said playfully, "Is this the birthday gift for Feya?"

"Yes, it is, but definitely not a gift for you, mother."

"What? After everything I've done for you, you can't even give me a gift?" Why did mother put on such a disappointed expression? She must be faking it.

"I once doubted whether I was picked up from the garbage dump," I ignored mother's disappointed expression and said coldly.

"Garbage dump? How could that be? Dear Youjie, what about your birth certificate?" Mother said to dad.

"Your birth certificate, um... I don't know where it is." Dad laughed foolishly.

"So, I really was picked up from the garbage dump. I didn't know this secret until I was sixteen," I felt a strange discomfort in my heart.

"You, as my mother, gave birth to me, and that's a fact that can't be changed even if the earth turns upside down."

What happens if the earth does turn upside down? It's originally an oval shape.

"But please don't hold your child so tightly. You'll strangle me."

"Ah... It's all Youjie's fault for saying such insensitive things," mother said, her eyes seeming to get wet. I didn't have the heart to argue with her anymore.

"All right, all right, I'll take your word for it," I said.

"Hmm?" Mother still seemed lost in thought.

"Isn't it time to celebrate Feya's birthday now?"

"Oh... you're right," did mother really forget that we were celebrating Feya's birthday just now?

"Then let's start celebrating Feya's birthday. It's all because of Youjie that the surprise Mom worked so hard to prepare was in vain."

"Why... why is that?"

"You know the reason yourself," mother let me think about it on my own. But I really didn't know. But since she didn't want to say, I let it go. Later, I found out that it was because Feya came back too early, so mother's surprise was revealed. It seems that this was one of the reasons why mother was angry.

Mother lit the candles on the birthday cake, then turned off the lights in the dining room. The room became dim, but the light from the candles was particularly bright.

"Now make a birthday wish," mother said.

Feya clenched her hands, closed her eyes, made a wish, then opened her eyes and blew out the candles. Then we all shouted, "Feya, happy birthday."

"Thank you," Feya smiled.

"So before we eat the cake, let's give the birthday gifts first," said Mother.

Su Yuqian, Dad, and Mother all handed their birthday gifts to Feya, elegantly packaged in beautiful boxes or paper bags.

"Feya... Happy birthday!" I handed Feya the birthday gift I bought for her, unsure if she would like it.

"Youjie's gift to Feya, Feya will cherish it," Feya replied.

"It's not an amazing birthday gift," I casually remarked.

"No... Feya will cherish whatever it is," Feya said earnestly, and I couldn't just brush her off anymore.

"Well then, cherish it," I said.

"Mm-hmm," Feya nodded. After everyone gave their birthday gifts to Feya, it should be time to cut the cake and eat it. Mother had a mysterious expression on her face.

"Here is Zhiye's birthday gift for Feya," Mother took out a giant pink cat plush doll that couldn't even be held properly with one hand. There was a card on it, and Mother read it out loud.

"Happy birthday, Feya. Although I can't celebrate with you in person, it's a bit regretful, but I picked out what I think is a good birthday gift. I hope Feya will like it."

"Feya really likes it, thank you Zhiye Sister," Feya said happily. But this birthday gift must have been shipped internationally, as Zhiye is in Japan now. It's impressive that she remembered Feya's birthday.

"Now let's start eating the cake," Mother said as she stood up to cut the cake. She cut it in order, but for some reason, I was last and got the least amount.

Although I don't really like this teeth-rotting sweet thing, it's clearly unfair. I was a bit dissatisfied.

I looked at Su Yuqian's portion, clearly much bigger.

"What are you staring at my slice for? Even if you stare at me, I won't give any to you," she said. Is this really my girlfriend? It's really helpless, and Mother chimed in, "It's only natural to let your own girlfriend have more to eat, right?" I had nothing to say. In Mother's eyes, absurdity becomes truth anyway.

"Oh well... although you say that," I said with a displeased tone.

"Youjie, let Feya have half of your slice," Feya suddenly said.

"I appreciate your kindness, Feya, but I can't accept it. After all, it's your birthday. How can Feya eat less on her own birthday? Besides, I'm not that fond of cake. A small piece is enough for me," I declined politely.

"Feya can't eat so much either." Indeed, Feya's portion was abnormally large, almost overflowing.

"Then Feya should eat as much as she can. Just don't waste it," Mother interrupted.

It seemed like Feya had to finish it all by herself. I started feeling a bit sorry for her. Suddenly, I remembered a few days ago when Mother forced me to eat her accidentally excessive cooking. I wondered why it was so difficult to eat less. Now, it seemed difficult to treat everyone fairly. I always felt like I had a low status at home and no right to speak. I didn't know why I was thinking about such unpleasant things again. I shook my head and pushed away those emotions.

After finishing the cake, Mother brought out dinner, which was a pot of curry. After eating the cake, no one had any appetite for this, so Mother canceled dinner.

Mother started clearing the plates and utensils, and I and Su Yuqian helped. It was clear that the three of us had to hurry. We quickly finished cleaning, and the plates were as clean as new. Afterwards, we all sat in the living room, and Mother served tea and snacks to everyone.

"Feya, you can now open your birthday gifts," Mother said.

"Open the gifts?" Feya felt a bit inappropriate.

"Yes... Mother's birthday gift for Feya. Feya hasn't seen it yet, and Mother doesn't know if Feya will like it," I said.

"But..."

"Is anyone against it?" Mother directly dismissed Feya's concerns, and Dad and Su Yuqian both agreed. I felt a bit uneasy, but I couldn't express my opposition. Even if I did, it would still be majority rule.

"Since nobody opposes, Feya, go ahead and open your birthday gifts and see if you like them," Mother said with a smile.

"Then... Feya will open them and see." Actually, Feya also wanted to open and see what was inside the birthday gifts.

First is a pink paper bag, Feya opened it and took out a beautiful dress. Feya's eyes sparkled with joy. "This is Mom's birthday gift for Feya. Although Mom also struggled with what color to choose, and worried whether Feya should try it on herself, Mom was afraid it would be too small for Feya to wear or too loose if it was too big. Fortunately, Feya's measurements on the medical examination report were helpful, including the bust, waist, and hip measurements."

After hearing this, Feya blushed a little. "Thank you, Mommy, but please don't mention it again, the medical examination report or the measurements."

"Ah, I got it," Mom, who was already quite grown-up, still couldn't help but be a little mischievous.

Next is a pink box with a bow on the lid, it looks quite exquisite. Feya opened it, and inside were all kinds of lollipops, big and small. "Feya used to love lollipops when she was a child, so Dad bought a whole set of them. There are various flavors!" These lollipops feel like they are specially made for girls. It's a whole set, and Dad doesn't mind spending money.

Next is from Su Yuqian, also in a beautiful box. When Feya opened it, there was a music box inside. As Feya opened it, a little princess twirled along with the melody.

Feya seems to really like this unique toy. "Thank you, Sister Yuqian."

"It's good that Feya likes it," Su Yuqian surprisingly gave such a girly gift. Speaking of which, everyone's gifts seem to lean towards girly ones. Now it's time to open the birthday gift I gave Feya. My heart is pounding.