Chapter 39 Not Celebrating Birthdays

"She is my mother." Looking at the photograph on the tombstone, Zou Kai finally spoke.

Shi Zhaodi turned her head in astonishment to look at Zou Kai.

Wasn't his mother doing just fine?

Not long ago, she had even asked her to help tutor Zou Kai more!

"The mother I have now is not my biological mother; she's my stepmother," Zou Kai explained. "My mother passed away five years ago."

"Oh!" Shi Zhaodi nodded blankly in response.

"Mom, this is Shi Zhaodi, a very silly and naive girl!" Zou Kai introduced her to the photo on the tombstone.

Hearing Zou Kai describe her like that, Shi Zhaodi instantly flared up and glared at him.

However, when she saw Zou Kai gazing quietly at the photograph with a sorrowful expression, her heart softened at once.

"Zou Kai—" Not knowing how to comfort him, Shi Zhaodi pouted and said, "I know you're hurting. Actually, I also lost my beloved father when I was very young, but I believe they can see us from heaven, and they want us to be just as happy."

Zou Kai turned his head to look at Shi Zhaodi, and she met his gaze quietly.

"Do you know why I brought you to see my mother today?"

Shi Zhaodi shook her head.

"Today is my birthday!"

With that, Zou Kai stood up.

"Let's go, time to head back."

Dazed, Shi Zhaodi allowed Zou Kai to pull her away.

Zou Kai rode his bicycle, carrying Shi Zhaodi on the back.

"Zou Kai, how do you usually celebrate your birthday?" Shi Zhaodi couldn't help tugging at the corner of his shirt and asking.

"I don't," Zou Kai answered succinctly.

Because his birthday was also his biological mother's death anniversary, he never celebrated his birthday.

"Stop, stop!" Shi Zhaodi suddenly cried out.

Zou Kai stopped the bicycle, resting one foot on the ground, and turned his head to look at her in puzzlement.

"Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back." With that, Shi Zhaodi dashed toward a cake shop by the roadside.

After a short while, she emerged carrying a small cake box, and said to Zou Kai with a radiant smile,

"Then can I celebrate your birthday for you?"

"I said I don't celebrate my birthday!" Zou Kai's expression darkened instantly, and he reached out, knocking the small cake out of Shi Zhaodi's hands.

Shi Zhaodi froze. The next second, a wave of humiliation and embarrassment washed over her. She looked at Zou Kai in disbelief, her lips pressed tightly together as tears welled up and swirled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm in a bad mood." Averting his gaze to the side, Zou Kai offered a stiff apology.

Shi Zhaodi said nothing. She bent down and picked up the small cake from the ground.

Even though she knew the cake inside was completely ruined and misshapen, she still couldn't bear to throw it away.

Then, she quietly climbed back onto the bicycle's backseat.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the journey. Zou Kai pedaled, carrying her all the way back to the Jiang residence.

"Thank you for bringing me back," Shi Zhaodi said softly, reaching out to hold the bicycle.

"Give it to me!" Instead of letting go of the bike, Zou Kai freed one hand and said.