It was only the end of November, so there were still two and a half months until February 14th. How could the guy remind her to prepare a birthday present so early?
Was he afraid that she would not remember and not prepare anything for him?
Perhaps he was too excited to celebrate his birthday with her?
As she thought about that, Jiang Yao retrieved her phone again and opened the calendar. She looked at the dates for next February, and when she confirmed that the date was included in the countdown for their winter vacation, she began to think about his question.
Since Lun Xingshi looked forward to that day, he would probably get upset if she did not prepare a gift for him. So, what should she get him?
Jiang Yao did not come up with anything even after her classes.
“Have you gone crazy? Your expression keeps changing during our last class,” Wen Xuehui asked Jiang Yao. “What’s on your mind?”
“I’m thinking about what I should give someone for their birthday,” Jiang Yao said. “Clothes, maybe? But he doesn’t seem to lack that. He still hasn’t worn the new clothes that I bought for him.”
Wen Xuehui said, “He’s in the army all day and wears training and military uniforms. He can’t wear regular clothes. It’s useless even if you buy too many for him. Is there anything that he wanted? Or wanted you to give him? Maybe you can tie a bow around your neck and give yourself to him.”
Then, Wen Xuehui shook her head. “Wait, maybe not; you’re already married. You’re already his anyway, so you can’t use this idea. Your husband doesn’t lack money or clothes. Oh, right! You can cook a meal for him!”
Jiang Yao noticed that Wen Xuehui got even more excited as she spoke. She shook her head and interrupted her friend. “He’s always the one who cooks for me, even when we’re in the barracks. If I went to the kitchen to help wash the vegetables, he wouldn’t let me do that either. Furthermore, I can’t cook.”
“What’s the point of him having you, then? You’re so done!” Wen Xuehui pushed Jiang Yao lightly with a look of disdain on her face.
“What’s with that expression? Do you know how to cook?” Jiang Yao laughed and scoffed at Wen Xuehui. Her friend was the Wen family’s pampered daughter; she was utterly spoiled. What was the difference between her and Jiang Yao anyway?
“Well, I’m not married yet! Why would I cook?” Wen Xuehui looked at Jiang Yao as if she had gone crazy.
“And I didn’t get married to become a chef in my husband’s family. Why do I need to know how to cook just because I’m married?” Jiang Yao asked matter-of-factly. Then, she raised her hand and touched the tip of her nose. “It’s not that I don’t know how to cook. It’s just that I can’t cook well. My parents didn’t want me to cook while I was at home. Even though my mother nagged that girls still have to learn some housework, she always complained when I did this and that. If I used the knife, she was afraid that I’d hurt myself. When I wanted to wash the vegetables, she was afraid that I’d be hot if it were summer or cold when it was winter. One time, I got splashed by hot oil when I was cooking, and her heart ached so much that I wasn’t allowed to do that again.”
Jiang Yao shrugged helplessly. “So, when I got married, I didn’t learn that many dishes. I can only fry eggs and stir-fry vegetables.”
Wen Xuehui held her stomach as she laughed loudly. “Your mother and my mother are exactly the same. Every time she talks about my housework, she feels so conflicted!”
Then, Wen Xuehui said, “Forget it. Your husband can cook and doesn’t want you to do that. This is also because he loves you. If a man is willing to dote on you, you’ll just have to enjoy it.”