A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 40 Liu Yixin's Birthday

The wonderful memories of the Sanya trip are still shining in our hearts, and Liu Yixin's birthday has arrived as scheduled, bringing new joy and warmth to this family.

The soft morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating Liu Yixin's small bed. She was still asleep, a sweet smile playing on her lips, perhaps savoring the azure waters and fine sand of Sanya. Liu Xuan quietly pushed open the door, holding a carefully decorated small cake with a single candle flickering in the morning breeze. He slowly walked to the bedside and softly hummed a birthday song: "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

Liu Yixin gradually woke up to the singing. She looked around sleepily, startled at first, then a bright smile spread across her face. "Dad, why are you here so early!" she exclaimed excitedly, sitting up with delighted eyes.

Liu Xuan smiled and said, "Baby, today is your birthday, of course Dad wants to send you his blessings as soon as possible. Come on, make a wish."

Liu Yixin closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, made a sincere wish, took a deep breath, and blew out the candles. "Dad, I hope our family will always be as happy as we were in Sanya." She opened her eyes and winked mischievously.

"I definitely will, my little birthday girl." Liu Xuan gently kissed her forehead.

Just then, Li Yuan walked in, carrying a beautifully packaged gift box. "Yixin, happy birthday! Mom prepared a gift for you." She sat down on the edge of the bed and handed the gift box to Liu Yixin.

Liu Yixin eagerly opened the gift box. Inside was a beautiful dress, embroidered with delicate flowers that shimmered with a soft light. "Wow, Mom, it's so pretty! I love it!" She held the dress up against herself.

"I'm glad you like it. Wearing it later, you'll definitely look like a little princess." Li Yuan gently stroked her hair.

Li Shiqing skipped in, holding a handmade birthday card. "Yixin, happy birthday! This is a card I made. It's not as nice as Mom and Dad's gifts, but it's my heartfelt gift." She handed the card to Liu Yixin a little shyly.

Liu Yixin took the greeting card and carefully looked at the picture and words on it. The card depicted a scene of her family of four on a beach in Sanya, and next to it was written: "Happy birthday, Yixin! May you always be happy. We are the best sisters." "Shiqing, this is the best gift I have ever received. I will cherish it." Liu Yixin hugged Li Shiqing with emotion.

The family sat together, chatting and laughing, sharing the joy of the birthday. Suddenly, the phone rang. Liu Xuan answered it; it was Li Yuan's parents calling.

"Is Yixin there?" came Grandma's kind voice from the other end of the phone.

“Grandma, I’m here!” Liu Yixin answered quickly.

"Yixin, happy birthday from Grandma! Although you're not my biological granddaughter, you're more precious than anything to us. You're so sweet and adorable, bringing so much joy to our family." Grandma's voice was tinged with emotion.

"Grandma, I love you and Grandpa, and Uncle very much too." Liu Yixin's eyes were a little moist.

"Yixin, happy birthday to you too! When I have time, I'll take you out for some delicious food and fun things to do," the uncle said loudly from the side.

"Thank you, Uncle!" Liu Yixin smiled happily.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yixin felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She knew that although she wasn't related to Li Yuan's parents by blood, the love they gave her was no less.

Liu Yixin, like a cheerful little elf, ran around the room, sometimes looking at the birthday cake that her mother, Li Yuan, had carefully prepared, and sometimes touching the gift that her father, Liu Xuan, had chosen for her. Her little face was flushed with excitement.

Li Shiqing followed behind her younger sister, muttering, "Yixin, when Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle come later, don't be too naughty."

Just then, the doorbell rang cheerfully. Liu Yixin rushed to the door like an arrow, opened it, and shouted, "Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, you're here!" Li Yuan's parents walked in with smiles on their faces. Grandpa was carrying a large box in his hand, while Uncle carried a bulging backpack behind him.

"Yixin, happy birthday!" Grandma hugged Liu Yixin tightly and kissed her repeatedly.

"Thank you, Grandma!" Liu Yixin replied happily.

Grandpa stepped forward and handed the box to Liu Yixin, saying, "Sweetie, this is a gift Grandpa prepared for you. See if you like it." Liu Yixin curiously opened the box. Inside was a beautiful set of art supplies, with brushes of various colors neatly arranged, and a thick sketchbook. "Wow, Grandpa, I love it so much! I can draw so many beautiful pictures now!" Liu Yixin's eyes shone like stars.

Her uncle came over, put his backpack on the ground, took out a cute plush toy from it, and handed it to Liu Yixin: "Yixin, this is a gift from your uncle. Let it keep you company when you sleep tonight." Liu Yixin took the toy and hugged it tightly to her chest: "Thank you, Uncle, it's so cute!"

After everyone changed their shoes, they entered the living room. The living room had been decorated by Li Yuan and Liu Xuan to create a birthday atmosphere, with colorful balloons, twinkling lights, and the words "Happy Birthday" spelled out in fresh flowers. Li Yuan greeted them with a smile, saying, "Mom and Dad, little brother, you must be tired from your journey. Please have a seat."

The family sat around the sofa and chatted happily. Grandma held Liu Yixin's hand and said, "Yixin, you've grown another year older. You need to be more sensible. Did you have fun in Sanya?"

"I'm so happy, Grandma! The sea is so beautiful, and I even built so many sandcastles on the beach!" Liu Yixin excitedly recounted the fun stories from her trip to Sanya, and everyone listened with great interest.

Just then, Liu Xuan came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of fruit and said with a smile, "Mom and Dad, have some fruit first. It's Yixin's birthday today, we'll have a big meal tonight."

"Okay, okay," Grandpa nodded repeatedly.

Li Shiqing suggested from the side, "Let's play a game, and then we can eat cake later."

"Okay, what game do you want to play?" Uncle asked.

"Let's play a riddle game," Li Yuan said.

So the family started playing a riddle game. Grandpa gave a riddle: "A curved tree, a curved vine, with a string of crystal bells hanging from the vine. Guess the fruit."

Liu Yixin tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said loudly, "It's grapes!"

"You got it right, Yixin is so smart!" Grandpa praised.

Then, Grandma and Uncle also started posing riddles, filling the living room with laughter and joy as everyone had a great time.

"Beep beep beep—" The phone rang abruptly, and Liu Xuan's mother grabbed it with lightning speed, as if she were racing against it.

"Hello, Yixin! It's Grandma!" Liu Xuan's mother's voice rose several octaves with excitement, her joy practically flowing through the phone line. "Happy birthday to you, my precious granddaughter!"

Liu Yixin, who was answering questions on the other end of the phone, heard her grandmother's voice and her eyes instantly lit up with joy. "Thank you, Grandma! How do you remember so clearly?"

"Oh my, my dear granddaughter, how could Grandma forget your birthday! Grandma circled this day in big red on the calendar, more important than the Emperor reviewing memorials!" Liu Xuan's mother said excitedly, pacing back and forth in the living room, almost tripping over a small stool. "Just you wait, Grandma has prepared a super big surprise for you."

"Really? Grandma, what's the surprise?" Liu Yixin asked curiously, her little nose wrinkling.

"Haha, I can't tell you now. If this surprise is leaked beforehand, it'll be like a magician whose tricks are seen through before they even start performing, and that wouldn't be fun!" Liu Xuan's mother lowered her voice mysteriously, her eyes gleaming with cunning.

"Okay, Grandma." Liu Yixin pouted, feeling a little disappointed but still very happy.

"Yixin, did you eat a big cake today? Did you receive lots and lots of gifts?" Liu Xuan's mother asked in rapid succession.

"There was a cake, but I received a lot of gifts too," Liu Yixin answered truthfully.

"Yixin, you're another year older now. You must become more and more beautiful and smarter, just like the little princess in the story," Liu Xuan's mother said lovingly.

“Okay, Grandma, I will!” Liu Yixin nodded vigorously.

"Alright, baby, Grandma won't bother you anymore. Wait for Grandma's surprise!" Liu Xuan's mother hung up the phone with a smile, and then began to busy herself with the mysterious surprise gift, humming a tuneless little tune as she went. The whole house was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. The table was laden with a sumptuous spread of dishes, including fragrant braised pork ribs, tender steamed fish, and delicious scrambled eggs with shrimp.

Everyone sat around the dining table and sang "Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You..."

Liu Yixin closed her eyes, silently made a wish, and then blew out the candles.

"Yixin, tell me what you wished for?" Li Shiqing asked curiously.

Liu Yixin smiled and said, "This is my secret, I can't tell you."

As they ate dinner, everyone shared stories of their lives. Li Yuan's parents watched this heartwarming scene with immense joy. Although Liu Yixin wasn't their biological granddaughter, they were already as close as family, without any sense of distance.

After dinner, everyone ate cake together again. Liu Yixin's face was covered in cream, making her look like a little kitten, which made everyone laugh.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad, thank you, sister, thank you, grandma, grandpa, and uncle. I love you all!" Liu Yixin said emotionally.

"We love you too, baby." The family hugged tightly.

For Liu Yixin, this birthday was not just about growing older, but also about the gathering of love. In this loving family, she felt endless warmth and care; regardless of blood ties, their hearts were closely connected.