The unique chocolate exchange session for Valentine's Day eventually concluded amidst this strange atmosphere of mixed joy and sorrow.
After a brief emotional outburst, Emerald Sparrow quickly composed herself, regaining her usual control over her expressions. She sat silently on the sofa, dealing with work matters from the Material Realm.
However, just as she assumed today's activities were over and theoretically there shouldn't be anything else, she noticed Lin Xiaolu and her companions were still bustling near the countertop in a busy manner.
Were they cleaning the tools used to make chocolates? But if it's just cleaning, why does it take so much time?
Feeling a hint of curiosity, when Bai Jingxuan left the countertop midway and passed by the sofa, Emerald Sparrow specifically asked her, "What else are you working on?"
Bai Jingxuan, who was beckoned, hesitated for a moment. But seeing that it was Emerald Sparrow who asked, she quickly brushed off her hesitation and replied honestly, "We're making a cake."
This answer surprised Emerald Sparrow slightly. "Did you buy equipment for making a cake too?"
"Yes, we originally planned to finish the chocolate and then make the cake this afternoon, but it turned out to be much harder than we expected."
Bai Jingxuan revealed a trace of fatigue at just the right moment. "So, when Mom got back, we were still watching videos to figure out how to make it."
Probably because Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang weren't paying attention to them, Bai Jingxuan directly called her "Mom." The act of doing something behind the backs of the other two made Emerald Sparrow feel a bit odd, but she didn't dwell on it. As usual, she tacitly accepted Bai Jingxuan's way of addressing her and continued questioning:
"Why do you need to make this cake today? If you're tired, why not rest and make it tomorrow?"
In her mind, the reason the three juniors might suddenly decide to make a cake was probably nothing more than the girlish enthusiasm sparked by buying the tools and materials for making chocolate, which led them to challenge a more advanced dessert. Such whims had been seen before with the Fangting Team and were hardly a surprise.
"It would be too late tomorrow; that's not an option."
However, Bai Jingxuan shook her head and then gave an answer that made Emerald Sparrow's heart skip a beat. "We need to finish the cake today and take it to Sister Xiaolu's father for his birthday."
The abrupt revelation left Emerald Sparrow speechless; she could only utter a puzzled noise.
And then, in an instant, she realized that if what Bai Jingxuan said was true, she seemed to be in quite a precarious situation.
It wasn't odd for these girls to know about her birthday; after all, she had once mentioned it to Bai Jingxuan back when she was still Lin Yun. Lin Xiaolu, as her daughter, would theoretically know as well. As for Xia Liang, with her knack for gathering information, it would only be a matter of time before she learned about it through the others.
"Is today his birthday? What a coincidence."
Striving to remain calm, Emerald Sparrow thought while speaking in a slightly stiff tone, "How are you planning to celebrate his birthday?"
"Sister Xiaolu said we'd start by making a cake, have a video call with her dad, and then send the cake back to the Material Realm."
Bai Jingxuan didn't notice the subtle shift in Emerald Sparrow's expression and answered naturally, "She coordinated with the store clerk yesterday."
"I see... That sounds like a pretty good idea."
Emerald Sparrow felt increasingly uneasy. Her gaze flicked in Lin Xiaolu's direction while she continued to feign relaxation, saying, "Do you think you can finish the cake today?"
"Hmm... It should be finished soon, right?"
Bai Jingxuan blinked twice and suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! I almost forgot—Sister Xiaoliang asked me to grab her phone."
Realizing this, Bai Jingxuan lowered her head, starting to search the nearby coffee table for Xia Liang's so-called phone.
But Emerald Sparrow knew there was no phone here; she'd been sitting there for quite a while, and the adjacent table was clearly empty.
She couldn't help but glance toward the countertop, where Xia Liang was working together with Lin Xiaolu. Noticing Emerald Sparrow's gaze, Xia Liang looked up and exchanged a meaningful glance with her, complete with exaggerated winks.
Emerald Sparrow let out a soft sigh.
Now, she understood completely.
Unquestionably, as the only one among the three juniors privy to Emerald Sparrow's true identity, Xia Liang knew today was her birthday and had grasped Lin Xiaolu's plan to make a cake for the occasion. Hence, she must have foreseen the situation developing into what it was now.
The clumsy excuse of sending Bai Jingxuan to the sofa was clearly a deliberate move. Xia Liang understood that Bai Jingxuan, being an honest child, generally wouldn't lie. Thus, as long as Emerald Sparrow asked a casual question, Bai Jingxuan would undoubtedly spill the truth about them making a cake, regardless of Lin Xiaolu's intentions.
By doing so, Xia Liang conveyed the message to her, making her aware of the current circumstances.
So now, what should Emerald Sparrow do?
Emerald Sparrow contemplated briefly and quickly arrived at a conclusion: Regardless of the circumstances, she absolutely must not stay here any longer.
Having come to this realization, she pretended to take a phone call. Then, putting on a serious expression, she looked toward Bai Jingxuan. "I've got something urgent to handle and might need to step out again. Be sure to get some rest early."
Raising her head from the coffee table, Bai Jingxuan looked at Emerald Sparrow puzzled. "Step out? It's already so late."
"Can't help it. Someone messaged me; it's an urgent matter."
Standing straight from the sofa, Emerald Sparrow patted Bai Jingxuan's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll get back as soon as I can."
Saying this, she left the resting area and headed towards the viewing room's exit. Naturally, she had to pass by the countertop on the way, where she saw the half-finished cake in front of Lin Xiaolu.
"Sorry, something urgent came up; I need to step out."
Looking as if her work truly demanded her immediate attention, Emerald Sparrow addressed Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang earnestly. "If you're tired, remember to get some rest early."
"Huh? Going out now?"
Lin Xiaolu, focused on the cake, turned her gaze toward Emerald Sparrow and asked the same question as Bai Jingxuan, albeit her concerns were different. She instinctively glanced toward the cake. "Then, what about this...?"
"I heard about it. You're planning to celebrate your father's birthday, right?"
Emerald Sparrow nodded as if discussing something unrelated to herself. "I think it's a great idea. Keep it up; I'm sure he'll be happy."
"Mm... Mm, thank you?"
Lin Xiaolu accepted Emerald Sparrow's blessing with a slightly awkward expression. She pursed her lips. "Um, Emerald Sparrow, are you really dealing with something urgent? I mean, our cake is almost done. Maybe you could stay a little longer and join us..."
Emerald Sparrow allowed herself to show a slightly regretful look. "I think what you're doing is very meaningful, but it's true that there's urgent business to attend to. I'll send him my wishes separately after."
With those words, she gave Lin Xiaolu no room to persuade her further and strode decisively toward the exit.