Jiaojiao felt she was so clever. Seeing Duan Xi was quiet, she moved her cup closer, holding his hand to pour sour plum juice into her cup.
Duan Xi glanced at the cups touching together, his eyes flickered slightly.
Jiaojiao didnât overdo it, poured only a small half cup, then lightly clinked her cup with Duan Xiâs and said endearingly, "Brother Xi, happy birthday!" She spoke eagerly and immediately downed the sour plum juice in her cup.
Duan Xi, on the other hand, watched Jiaojiao drinking her sour plum juice, then looked at the lipstick mark she left on his cup, and drank the remaining sour plum juice from the spot she sipped.
When his thin lips touched the lipstick mark, Duan Xi smelled a familiar plant fragrance, indeed as he thought, fragrant and sweet.
As he put his cup down, his fair and handsome face seemed to have a hint of redness.
"Whatâs going on? Itâs not even alcohol, and you get tipsy drinking sour plum juice?" Duan Xin, who happened to saw them clink their cups, asked in confusion, noticing Duan Xiâs suddenly reddened face after drinking the sour plum juice.
His voice wasnât small, and the already quiet room turned to look upon hearing his words.
Under these gazes, Duan Xiâs face turned completely red bit by bit, even his ears and neck followed suit.
"Isnât Xiaoxi supposed to not blush when drinking alcohol?" Ruan Jianguo, who was talking to Duan Qianyang, looked over and asked, surprised.
Though these boys werenât of age, kids from the countryside arenât that precious. The Ruan Family never restricted them, so during festivals, the boys would drink a little.
There are two kinds of drinkers: those who blush after drinking, generally better at holding their liquor.
And those who show no change in appearance, actually less able to drink, easily getting drunk.
Duan Xi drank many times, though never much, and Ruan Jianguo had never seen him blush. So why was he blushing before eating much now? Did he drink too much?
Duan Xi shook his head, saying nothing, just reaching over to place some beef into Jiaojiaoâs bowl.
Seeing this, the adults didnât say much more, continuing to eat and chat.
Only Feng Nianian, who was quietly watching Jiaojiao and Duan Xi the whole time, saw everything, the corner of her mouth drawing a mocking curve before quickly vanishing.
The meal lasted over an hour. Having drunk some alcohol, none were in a rush to leave, waiting for the server to clear the table, then sitting a while longer in the private room.
During this time, Duan Qianyang took out his prepared birthday gift, two keys.
One was for an AD car, the other for a villa.
Duan Qianyang knew before Duan Xi turned eighteen, he wouldnât be living at the Duan Family house, even less would he after coming of age, so he prepared the villa early, deliberately waiting for today to gift it.
Duan Qianyang handed the gift to Duan Xi: "You are eighteen now, youâre an adult, these are just a small token from Dad, take them."
But Duan Xi didnât accept, instead saying, "I can buy these myself."
Upon hearing this, Duan Qianyang paused, his expression slightly hurt.
Jiaojiao hurriedly tugged at Duan Xiâs sleeve from the side.
She knew what he thought, even though he accepted the identity of "Duan Xi" to survive, he was willing to help "Duan Xi" acknowledge his roots.