Everything was within Cai Wei’s expectations, and she wasn’t surprised. She turned around with a cheerful smile, "Manager Wen, I will let you know that you’ve made a very wise decision..."
After settling the matters of cooperation with Manager Wen, Cai Wei gave him a basket of Manjing seeds as a gift and left Mi Fangzhai on tiptoe. She found a horse carriage outside and headed straight for Mu’s Shen Record Shop!
Upon arrival, Huo Yuan hadn’t yet returned, which made Cai Wei utterly crestfallen. She asked Master Situ, "Where on earth did your boss go this early in the morning? Why hasn’t he come back for such a long time?"
Master Situ replied, "Today is our boss’s birthday. He might have been dragged off to have drinks, for all we know!"
It was actually Huo Yuan’s birthday today!
Cai Wei couldn’t help feeling awkward as she wasn’t aware of this and hadn’t prepared any birthday congratulations. She quickly opened her Inner Vision, scanning her personal space to find something that could serve as a congratulatory gift. Unfortunately, most of the items in her space were looted from the Lü Zhongma Family and Li Prefecthouse and were mostly women’s items. There were a few antiques and paintings, a few antique vases, and the like, but since she had teleported these in front of all the shopkeepers, suddenly producing a painting or a large vase would shock everyone indeed!
Just then, she caught sight of the Koi and Lotus Embroidery Purse Fei’er had given her the day before. Her heart moved, and she silently took the purse out of her space and hid it in her sleeve.
Huo Yuan was a man of great wealth and status, what fine things hadn’t he seen? Whatever she gave him wouldn’t surprise him. Only the things made by hand could express the giver’s sentiment. Cough, although, it wasn’t made by her hands...
As she stood there feeling awkward, the distinctive gentle voice of Huo Yuan suddenly came from the entrance.
Looking towards the sound, Cai Wei saw Huo Yuan’s graceful and impressive figure at the entrance of the Shen Record Shop. He wore a purple brocade robe and a white jade openwork crown on his head, with a sparkling sapphire embedded in the crown. His physique was tall and striking, elegant and distinguished.
Cai Wei stood up with a smile and playfully said, "So the birthday star has arrived, and here I failed to greet you from afar. Please forgive my neglect."
Huo Yuan also smiled, his eyes like a painting, his voice soft and deep. "Knowing that I am the birthday star, I wonder if Manager Mu has brought a birthday gift?"
Cai Wei took out the Koi and Lotus Embroidery Purse from her sleeve and handed it over, saying, "It’s just a small token; I hope the birthday star won’t find it too modest!"
Huo Yuan’s eyes gleamed at the sight of the purse. He took it and carefully examined its exquisite design, and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Little Sister Wei’er is truly a lady of gentle and noble heart. The embroidery on this purse is even better than the ones made by the Palace’s Embroidery Bureau. The fish seem alive," he said, absentmindedly caressing the purse.
With a blush creeping up her face, Cai Wei laughed shyly, "Hehe, I’m glad you like it, glad you like it..."
Huo Yuan removed the double-fish purse he was originally wearing and handed it to Sui Xi. Then, he calmly attached the purse Cai Wei had given him, looking at her with a smile.
"Is this a birthday gift you gave me, Little Sister Cai Wei?"
Cai Wei nodded, "Yes!"
The two chatted and walked towards the inner room of the Shen Record Shop. They sat down next to a rosewood desk. On the table, there was a set of purple clay teaware with misty steam wafting from the teapot, filling the air with a fragrant aroma that was refreshingly pleasant to smell.
Huo Yuan poured her tea while he looked at Cai Wei with a smile.