Read Novel Full Chapter 86 - Birthday
**Chapter 86: Birthday**
Translator: Namizaki
*********************
The day Lu Yuzhou signed the contract with Du Ke, he mentioned the household registration booklet almost casually, and never brought it up again afterward, as if he’d forgotten about it.
But Chi Zhongqiao hadn’t forgotten.
After observing Lu Yuzhou for two days, Chi Zhongqiao decided to surprise him.
Registering their marriage was impossible; Lu Yuzhou was still a few days shy of the legal marriage age. He’d have to celebrate his birthday first to become eligible for a marriage certificate. It was rather endearing, really—Lu Yuzhou, the aloof CEO, happened to have his birthday on June 1st.
This was likely why Lu Yuzhou disliked celebrating his birthday. Old Master Lu, a rough-around-the-edges man, had never thrown him grand parties except for his milestone birthdays.
Chi Zhongqiao nestled into the sofa, hearing a soft knock behind him. He sank a little lower, only the top of his dark head visible above the coffee-brown fabric.
Since filming for <The Patriot> wrapped up, Chi Zhongqiao had become President Lu’s willful accessory, carried around like a key. Even the Senior Executives at Lu Group Headquarters didn’t recognize him, only knowing that a strikingly handsome young man had been spending a lot of time in President Lu’s office lately. As a result, Executives couldn’t help but steal glances as they came and went.
Lu Yuzhou looked up from his documents. “What is it?”
The Executive quickly handed over the proposal. “President Lu, this is…”
With Lu Yuzhou leaving for the United States in just a few days, he was working around the clock to delegate his responsibilities, often staying late until 9 or 10 p.m.
No matter how busy he was, he should take a break tomorrow. After all, it was Lu Yuzhou’s birthday.
Chi Zhongqiao had been planning for hours, notebook in hand. Having never been in a relationship in his previous life, he had no idea what kind of gift one should give their partner for their birthday.
What should he get?
Would a watch or a car be too cliché? Besides, he hadn’t ordered anything in advance.
What about perfume? Yuzhou doesn’t use it.
Would just a cake be too plain?
Chi Zhongqiao searched online extensively, but the results were mostly articles like “What to get your girlfriend for her birthday” or “Anniversary gift ideas.”
He clicked through a few, but the suggestions were always perfume or lipstick—completely irrelevant.
After racking his brain for ages, he finally texted Li Xi: What kind of gift do you usually give Director Fu for his birthday?
Li Xi replied after a moment: “I didn’t get him anything. I just took him out for the day. He’s been talking about going to the amusement park for ages, so I took him there.”
Chi Zhongqiao: “Okay, thanks.”
He pondered for a while, realizing that taking Lu Yuzhou out was impractical. This year marked Lu Yuzhou’s twentieth birthday, which would undoubtedly be celebrated with a grand banquet. In previous years, the family had indulged Lu Yuzhou’s preference for low-key celebrations, but that wouldn’t be possible this year.
This meant Lu Yuzhou would be working during the day and hosting the banquet in the evening, leaving him with virtually no time to spare.
So what was the point of preparing anything?
After a few seconds of silence, Chi Zhongqiao secretly opened the fan community for the “Road Idiot Couple.”1LuChi CP If he couldn’t come up with a good birthday gift himself, perhaps he could find inspiration in the fans’ creative ideas.
However… some of the topics were a bit too… “adult”, weren’t they?
After a moment’s thought, Chi Zhongqiao sent Zhong Yin a message: “Bring me a bottle of red wine later.”
Zhong Yin replied instantly: “What kind, Brother Qiao?”
Chi Zhongqiao had a low alcohol tolerance and knew nothing about wine, so he replied: “Anything will do, as long as it’s strong.”
Zhong Yin choked when he saw the reply. My Brother Qiao, do you think you’re buying baijiu or something?
After a moment of sputtering, he asked, “Brother Qiao, are you drinking this yourself?”
Chi Zhongqiao replied, “Mm-hmm.”
Oh, Mother Mary! With Brother Qiao’s alcohol tolerance, he’ll be a menace to society after just one bottle!
Zhong Yin shuddered, recalling Chi Zhongqiao’s drunken antics. He wondered who would be unlucky enough to babysit him afterward.
But Brother Qiao was his boss, and when the boss gave an order, Zhong Yin couldn’t pretend he hadn’t heard. He reluctantly bought a bottle of red wine and waited for Chi Zhongqiao at the lobby of Lu Group Headquarters.
Seeing the message, Chi Zhongqiao said, “Yuzhou, I’m going downstairs for a bit.”
Lu Yuzhou assumed he was just tired of sitting on the sofa and smiled up at him. “Qiao-ge, be careful and wear your mask.”
Chi Zhongqiao chuckled, put on his hat and mask, and strolled downstairs.
Zhong Yin was waiting below, the red wine box tucked under his arm. When he saw Chi Zhongqiao approaching, he hurried forward. “Brother Qiao, I just grabbed a bottle from the nearby winery. Red wine can be potent, so take it slow.”
Chi Zhongqiao nodded and opened the box to take a quick look.
Zhong Yin hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Brother Qiao, why did you buy another bottle? Doesn’t President Lu have any at home?” That doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t a CEO like President Lu have a whole cabinet full of expensive wines? The kind where even a casual bottle costs tens of thousands? President Lu treasures Brother Qiao so much—what kind of wine wouldn’t he let him drink?
There “was” wine at home, but they were returning to the Lu Family Villa tomorrow, and all the bottles were locked in the wine cabinet. How could he possibly get his hands on them? If he bought wine on the way, Yuzhou would find out.
Chi Zhongqiao glanced at the wine box and said, “No, I can’t take this back. You take it for now. Come pick me up at eight tomorrow morning, and don’t forget the wine.”
Zhong Yin, his head swimming with confusion, reluctantly left with the wine.
Chi Zhongqiao bought two cups of lemon tea and strolled back to the Lu Group Headquarters.
*****
The next day,
Lu Yuzhou asked, “Qiao-ge, you really won’t come to work with me?”
Chi Zhongqiao shook his head. “Hurry along.”
Lu Yuzhou stared at him for a moment, then rested his chin on Chi Zhongqiao’s shoulder, his voice softening. “It’s my birthday today, and Qiao-ge won’t even keep me company.”
Lu Yuzhou gently nibbled on Chi Zhongqiao’s earlobe, his voice muffled and clingy: “Qiao-ge, are you really not coming?”
Chi Zhongqiao nearly blurted out a yes, but managed to restrain himself. “…I can’t. I have something to take care of today.”
Disappointed, Lu Yuzhou released Chi Zhongqiao. “Alright then. I’ll head to work first.”
After Lu Yuzhou left, Chi Zhongqiao went to the guest room, rummaged around for a while, and dragged out a suitcase. He went downstairs and said, “To the Lu Family Villa.”
Zhong Yin was waiting in the nanny car. He handed Chi Zhongqiao the wine box from the passenger seat. “Understood.”
*****
Chi Zhongqiao had said he wouldn’t keep Lu Yuzhou company, and true to his word, he didn’t show up all morning, not even sending a single message.
Lu Yuzhou put down his phone for the sixth time and shook his head. He’d grown too accustomed to Chi Zhongqiao’s constant presence these past few days. Just one morning without seeing him, and he was already restless.
Yet, once he started thinking about it, his thoughts kept circling back to Chi Zhongqiao. The familiar plans and data on his desk transformed into meaningless symbols.
Lu Yuzhou gently pressed the switch on the crystal ball. Amidst the clear, melodious music, he stole a moment of peace from his busy schedule, a rare interval undisturbed by Executives, to let his mind wander to Chi Zhongqiao.
The music ended, and Lu Yuzhou was jolted back to reality by the ringing phone on his desk.
He rubbed his temples, picked up a pen, and answered, “What is it?”
The Secretary’s voice was tense: “The front desk says they’ve received a bouquet of red roses…”
Lu Yuzhou’s heart raced, though his expression remained calm. He slowly set down his pen. “Red roses?”
The Secretary hesitated. “…They’re addressed to you, signed ‘Chi’.”
Lu Yuzhou drew a soft breath. “Send them up.”
The Secretary hung up, noticing a slight tremor in her Boss’s voice. She didn’t dwell on it, hurrying downstairs to retrieve the flowers.
Ninety-nine red roses were bundled together, blazing like a handful of fire. The Secretary cradled the bouquet in her arms, and the Receptionist couldn’t resist grabbing her. “Sister Rongrong, do you know who sent these? Is our Boss already taken?” A hint of disappointment flickered across her face. Though she knew she had no chance with Lu Yuzhou, the thought of such a high-quality boss being snatched up by someone else filled her with genuine regret.
This meant half the company’s men and women were now out of the running.
The Secretary shook her head. “I don’t know either. Just focus on your work. It’s not our business to worry about.”
In truth, she had a suspicion. For the past two days, President Lu hadn’t been coming to work alone; he’d been accompanied by an exceptionally handsome young man. As a devoted fangirl, the Secretary immediately recognized the young man as Chi Zhongqiao, the wildly popular male celebrity.
She’d long sensed something was off between the two. President Lu had occasionally brought Chi Zhongqiao along before, and their clingy behavior never seemed like that of normal brothers.
Two days ago, Chi Zhongqiao had arrived empty-handed. Today, the Receptionist received this bouquet of red roses, complete with a note bearing the character “Chi.” It was undoubtedly from Chi Zhongqiao, likely a way to coax President Lu.
The Receptionist, slightly disappointed, replied, “Alright.”
The Secretary carefully placed a small white card bearing the character “池” (Chi) amidst the crimson roses. The stark contrast made the card particularly conspicuous. She cradled the bouquet and ascended the stairs.
After a cautious knock, she pushed open the door to Lu Yuzhou’s office. As the door swung inward, a clear, melodious tune drifted from the crack, yet it lacked the richness of high-end audio equipment. Instead, it resembled the sound of… a music box from her childhood.
The music quickly ceased. The Secretary gently placed the roses in the non-work area of the office and smiled. “I’ll leave you to it, President Lu. Call me if you need anything.”
As she turned to leave, her gaze fell upon the crystal ball resting on Lu Yuzhou’s imposing desk. She immediately understood the source of the music.
That crystal ball… President Lu had kept it for a long time, and he always took it with him when he left.
Its whimsical style clashed with the rest of President Lu’s usual belongings, clearly indicating it wasn’t something he had purchased himself. Yet the way he treasured it suggested it was likely a token of affection.
The Secretary quietly closed the door, feeling as though she had stumbled upon a monumental secret.
*****
The Lu Family began preparing for the evening’s banquet early in the morning. Chi Zhongqiao quietly slipped into Lu Yuzhou’s room and made some minor arrangements.
By the time Lu Yuzhou returned home from work, the main hall was nearly fully decorated. Having grown accustomed to such scenes, he barely glanced at the spectacle before heading upstairs to Chi Zhongqiao’s room.
Chi Zhongqiao was indeed in the room, his head bowed as he stared at something. Hearing footsteps, he quickly tossed aside his phone.
Lu Yuzhou approached and kissed him. “Qiao-ge, why is your face so red?”
Chi Zhongqiao cleared his throat. “Um… your clothes have arrived. Go take a shower first. We need to go downstairs later.”
Lu Yuzhou held him for a moment before reluctantly standing up, only to be pulled back down by Chi Zhongqiao.
“The clothes were delivered here,” Chi Zhongqiao said. “Just shower here.”
Lu Yuzhou leaned closer. “Then Qiao-ge should help me undress.”
Chi Zhongqiao chuckled. “How old are you? Do you still need me to bathe you? Hurry up.” He picked up the clothes and handed them to Lu Yuzhou.
His attempt at coaxing failed, Lu Yuzhou laughed and headed into the bathroom.
Chi Zhongqiao didn’t participate in Lu Yuzhou’s birthday banquet. He merely made a brief appearance downstairs before losing all interest in the glitzy, superficial scene. Not wanting to run into acquaintances from the entertainment industry, he quickly retreated to the second floor to wait for Lu Yuzhou.
Lu Yuzhou’s phone buzzed with a message from Chi Zhongqiao.
[Brother Qiao: I’m waiting for you in your room. Don’t drink too much.]
Lu Yuzhou read the message, put his phone away, and chuckled softly. He gently clinked his champagne glass against the one held by the executive from the collaborating company across from him. True to Chi Zhongqiao’s warning, he only wet his lips with the champagne, barely taking a sip.
The rest of the reception became excruciatingly tedious. Lu Yuzhou’s mind was split in two: half remained tethered to the clinking glasses and glittering lights, while the other half was already circling around Chi Zhongqiao.
The flattery and probing questions ringing in his ears grew increasingly grating. Lu Yuzhou barely registered how he endured the rest of the evening.
Old Master Lu, having long noticed his Grandson’s distracted state, patted him on the shoulder and said dismissively, “Alright, everyone’s gone. Go unwrap the gift you’ve been itching to open.”
The gift I truly want is still in Zhongqiao’s hands, Lu Yuzhou thought.
“Thank you, Grandpa,” he replied.
He set down his glass, and Qi Chuyang immediately handed him the bouquet of roses he had prepared earlier.
Lu Yuzhou took the flowers and headed upstairs.
Old Master Lu stared after him, puzzled. What’s with the roses? Why would he bring a bouquet for his birthday?
Upstairs, Lu Yuzhou quietly entered the room. Chi Zhongqiao was showering, and a faint aroma of red wine lingered in the air. Lu Yuzhou glanced at the impeccably made bed and raised an eyebrow slightly.
Footsteps approached from behind. Lu Yuzhou turned to find Chi Zhongqiao standing there in his pajamas, his eyes unusually hazy, perhaps from the wine.
Lu Yuzhou walked over.
Chi Zhongqiao wasn’t completely drunk. He glanced down at the flowers in Lu Yuzhou’s arms and smiled. “Is this a new bouquet to replace the old one?”
Lu Yuzhou held the flowers, his palms damp with nervous anticipation. He almost regretted his impulsive and reckless actions, yet he still raised the roses and said softly, “Qiao-ge, pick one.”
Chi Zhongqiao looked puzzled. “Just one from this whole bunch? How stingy!”
Despite his teasing, he reached out and casually plucked a rose from the bouquet.
The bouquet had been specially arranged for easy removal of individual stems.
Lu Yuzhou gripped the bouquet tightly, his breath catching in his throat. The rose Qiao-ge had chosen…
As the flower came free, Chi Zhongqiao noticed something was off about the stem’s weight. There seemed to be something attached to the bottom. He tugged gently, and the entire stem came loose.
Chi Zhongqiao froze.
Beneath the flower, a ring was tied to the stem with a thin red thread, glinting brightly under the lights.
Lu Yuzhou untied the ring. “I ordered this ring a long time ago, but I never gave it to Qiao-ge… I thought proposing today might be too hasty, but… so I let Qiao-ge make the choice for me.”
He lowered his head to kiss the ring, then knelt on one knee before Chi Zhongqiao.
Zaki~ English is not my first language, but I’ll try to get the translations as close as possible to the Author’s work. If you see any grammatical errors or mistakes in the translation, please feel free to drop them in the comments section so I can correct them immediately. Thank you and Happy Reading 🙂
