In the octagonal pavilion in the park, Coder placed the cake on the stone table and lit a candle.
Little Taotie sat on the stone bench, resting her chin on her hands, watching the lit candle and asked, "Brother, are you one year old?"
Coder sighed, "I don’t want to know how old I am."
Already in his thirties, with no career achievements and no girlfriend.
His entire life felt bleak.
Little Taotie didn’t understand adults; she could smell the cake and just wanted to eat it.
"What flavor is this?" Little Taotie asked.
Coder shook his head, "I don’t know, someone returned it. I bought it because it looked nice."
The snow-white cake was covered with cream, topped with various fruits.
Before cutting it open, you’d never know what flavor it was inside.
Just like life now, not knowing what the next step should be.
Coder picked up a plastic knife and cut the cake.
"Wow!" Little Taotie clapped her small hands. "It’s a chocolate cake with cherry sauce inside!"
"Coder brother, you haven’t made a wish and blown out the candle yet. Why did you cut it already? Hurry up and make a wish!"
Coder shook his head, "It doesn’t matter; the wish won’t come true anyway. I gave up a long time ago." He casually blew out the candle, removed the wick, and continued cutting the cake, placing a large piece on a plate and handing it to Little Taotie, "Eat more."
Little Taotie nodded, took the cake, and just as she was about to dig in with a spoon, she thought of something. Secretively, she took out a pretty paper box from her backpack and handed it over, "Coder brother, happy birthday!"
Coder was very surprised; he never expected Little Taotie to have prepared a gift for him.
He thought back to earlier when they were standing at the mall entrance. Little Taotie ran out shortly after; she must have gone in to buy this gift, right?
"Thank you. I’m glad Zaizai is here with me for this birthday; otherwise, I’d be all alone."
"Coder brother, hurry and open it and try it on. The cashier sister said if you don’t like it, you can return it as long as the tag isn’t removed."
"Anything you give me, I like—" Opening the box, Coder’s voice stopped abruptly.
Coder doubted his eyes and rubbed them, looking again. It was still green!
Little Taotie giggled, "Coder brother, isn’t it pretty? Do you like it?"
Coder forced a smile, "I like it."
Little Taotie grinned, showing her little white teeth, "Green grass grows best, wearing a green hat will make your hair grow like green grass, lush and thriving! You can get rid of the trouble of baldness!"
Thank you! Coder forced a twitchy smile, holding back tears in his heart, nodding, "Yes, the meaning is great."
Little Taotie urged, "Put it on quickly, try it, if it’s too big or small, you can exchange it!"
I want to change the color! Coder glanced at the little girl’s sparkling eyes, couldn’t say it out loud, just sighed and nodded, "Okay."
He took off his original black hat, revealing his bald patch.
Little Taotie stared with wide eyes.
Coder quickly put on the green hat, tears flowing inside his heart.
"How is it?" Coder asked.
Little Taotie quickly nodded, gave a thumbs up, "Handsome! Looks good!"
The tears in Coder’s heart poured down like a storm.
The feeling of putting a green hat on himself was not pleasant at all.
Coder wanted to take it off and exchange it. Little Taotie looked at him puzzled, "Don’t you like it?"
"Then why take it off then?"
"...I like it too much, I can’t bear to wear it, I’m afraid it’ll get dirty."
"Haha, you like it so much! I’ll buy you a few more just like it, so you can switch them out!"
"...No need." Coder cleared his throat, "Quick, have some cake."
Little Taotie’s attention shifted to the cake, scooping a big spoonful, "Aowoo," took a big bite, closing her eyes joyfully, "So good, so tasty~~~"
While she wasn’t paying attention, Coder quickly took off the hat and switched back to his black hat, relieved.
Coder wasn’t very hungry, only ate a small piece.
He personally witnessed Little Taotie was indeed a Big Stomach King, finishing off the entire 20-inch cake!
Coder was a bit worried, "Eating so much, don’t you feel uncomfortable? Aren’t you fed up?"
Little Taotie patted her small belly and shook her head, "No discomfort, so tasty, the chocolate has a slight bitterness and isn’t too sweet, the cherry sauce is sweet and sour, very appetizing."
Coder stared at her belly, having eaten so much yet still flat!
Compelled by curiosity, Coder asked, "Are you still not full?"
Little Taotie looked up at him, eyes glowing with excitement, "Yes, how did you know?"
Coder cleared his throat, "In an hour it will be lunch serving time; I know a good buffet place nearby, I’ll take you then."
Little Taotie cheered, but feeling the firm copy in her backpack, she suppressed her laughter, her small face serious and earnest, "No rush, no rush, I’ve already put something in my belly, I’m not starving. Let’s talk business?"