Xiao Yansheng instinctively resisted taking the gift back, dawdling and reluctant to raise her hand. However, the other party had already lost patience and said indifferently, "If you don't want it, then forget it."
The next moment, he threw the collage on the ground.
don't want……
Before she could even utter a word to stop him, the other person had already let go. Xiao Yansheng quickly bent down to try and snatch the gift back, but it was too late; the collage landed face down on the grass.
It had just rained that day, and the entire meadow was soaked, instantly drenching the collage paper. The carefully drawn watercolor patterns were smudged by the water, turning the once vibrant designs into dirty stains, making them look ugly and unsightly.
Xiao Yansheng looked down at the painting, and in the blink of an eye, two tears fell silently.
Adults often assume children don't understand, but children are actually more sensitive to a wide range of emotions than adults. Even after more than a decade, that scene remains deeply etched in his mind.
Embarrassment, embarrassment, grievance, discomfort... Yan Sheng clearly remembers every feeling she had at that time.
He didn't attend Zhou's birthday party anymore, but quietly picked up the collage and turned to go home.
It started raining again halfway there. Even though he tried his best to hide the painting in his arms, by the time he got home in the pouring rain, the painting was still soaked and crumpled in his arms, no longer recognizable as it once was.
Yan Sheng had never received any gifts from home. The only gifts he received came from exchanging with his classmates, mostly glass beads, handmade greeting cards, Ultraman cards, etc. He treasured even the most ordinary items.
When others celebrate their birthdays, he tries his best to give away his precious possessions.
But since then, he suddenly realized that what he treasured might be worthless in the eyes of others.
He stopped collecting worthless things and stopped exchanging gifts with people.
He stopped playing and participating in group activities, and instead devoted all his time to studying.
Friendships may break down, and family ties may be unfair, but learning will never let you down.
Yes, it's okay, he doesn't want those things at all.
Even though he never received birthday gifts or had his own birthday cake, didn't he still grow up well?
Ironically, when he finally could afford gifts and cakes, he discovered that they had long since lost their original meaning.
When Yan Sheng opened her eyes again, she felt the light falling on her eyelids. Bright sunlight streamed through the glass and fell on the bed, warm and luminous.
Yan Sheng blinked her dry eyes and realized that she hadn't drawn the curtains when she went to sleep last night.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a small mountain of gifts placed directly opposite the bed. He placed a handmade collage at the front of it, which was a birthday gift from 4-year-old Yan Shenyu to 7-year-old Yan Sheng.
Yan Sheng stared at the collage for a long time before getting up, going into the bathroom to wash up, and starting his day.
Perhaps this is the magic of life: things he once rejected are given new meaning again.
He thought that perhaps he could try to believe in them again, and believe in himself again.
Chapter 37 But, my back is bad—
"The Diary of a Rich Family" is broadcast while being recorded. The first episode was already edited out in the second week of recording.
Thanks to ample pre-release hype and the existing fan base from its sister series, "The Diary of a Rich Family," the first episode attracted enthusiastic discussion from viewers as soon as it was released.
The world of celebrities is dazzling, with the extravagant spending of new money and the accumulation and inheritance of old money.
Wei Yiming, Xu Yi, and Fu Shuyu represent three different aspects of wealthy families, and all of them have sparked a great deal of online discussion.
Only Yan Shenyu and Yan Sheng performed poorly.
I don't know if the production team was deliberately stirring things up, but this group was incredibly boring for the first hour and a half.
Yan Sheng's life revolves around school and home, spending her time either working on her thesis or reading. Of course, this might be your reality, but nobody really wants to see you studying or working.
Yan Shenyu was even more outrageous; he was practically missing for the first hour of the show. He gradually reappeared in the last half hour, but still without any clear beginning or end, acting mysteriously, and it was unclear what he was doing.
To be honest, this is really boring... The Yan brothers are just here to make up the numbers, aren't they...?
[The production team's arrangements were so sloppy! There wasn't even a script; were they just letting them mess around? What a waste of those two good-looking faces.]
No wonder they had so little screen time in the early episodes. I was complaining about the production team not giving them enough screen time, but it seems this is the case no matter what. How can they possibly give them screen time?
Actually, I quite like their style; it feels very authentic and calming.
Sisters, we're watching "Diary of a Rich Family," not "Leisurely Summer." Our goals and interests are completely different.
Indeed, it seems these two chose the wrong path; participating in a slow-paced variety show would have been far better.
Whenever the camera focuses on Yan Shenyu and Yan Sheng, a barrage of complaints erupts.
It wasn't until three-quarters of the time had passed, and only half an hour remained in the program, that Yan Shenyu revealed he was preparing for Yan Sheng's birthday, and the comments section gradually started to change.
Should we prepare a birthday surprise? It might be a cliché, but it's better than nothing.
But I remember Yan Sheng said he doesn't celebrate his birthday. Won't this backfire?
Even if things go wrong, it's better than remaining bland and uneventful.
Then Saturday finally arrived, Yan Sheng's birthday. Watching Yan Sheng find excuses to stay at school, especially sitting by the lake for three hours, the viewers in the live chat couldn't help but sigh.
Seeing this, I felt a little sorry for him.
It seems he doesn't have a very good relationship with his family; he'd rather be away from home than celebrate his birthday with them.
[After all, they just got back from recognizing their family. Who knows if Yan Shenyu celebrating his birthday is just part of the plot? If they don't even have a birthday celebration, then this couple is truly unwatchable.]
As the moon rose that night, Yan Sheng stepped into the villa in the darkness. The whole house was quiet, as if it had fallen asleep.
【Great, now let's turn on the lights and have everyone come out to wish him a happy birthday, shall we?】
I bet a coin that there will definitely be birthday fireworks, and maybe even someone pushing a birthday cake out.
Ugh, if it were me, I'd be mortified.
Indeed, Sheng Meiren has been depressed all day. I'd rather the Yan family just let him go. Otherwise, given Sheng Meiren's good nature, he'd probably have to play along with their act.
[This is insane. I hate people who try to move themselves with their selfless acts and then force others to feel the same way.]
On the screen, Yan Sheng had already turned on his phone's flashlight and gone inside, but even after he reached the elevator, the people who were supposed to celebrate his birthday still hadn't come out.
Netizen: ? ?
[Weren't we supposed to be celebrating someone's birthday? Where is everyone?]
[Hey! If you don't come out soon, the people are leaving!]
Immediately afterwards, the editing cut to a long segment of whispering.
On the other side, Yan Sheng heard the noise and thought a thief had broken into his house. He quickly turned off his phone's flashlight and grabbed a golf club.
[Help!! This isn't a thief! It's a birthday surprise for you!]
[Hilarious! I wonder who's surprising whom.]
Yan Sheng walked towards the restaurant with a golf club in hand. At the same time, a group of people hiding behind the sofa lost their balance and fell down at Yan Sheng's feet with a thud.
Netizen: "..."
[Haha, help! What's wrong with this family?]
[I take back what I just said; this was an entrance I hadn't anticipated.]
Are you really a wealthy family? You're more like a bunch of idiots!
[What's even more outrageous is that Yan Shenyu strained his back, hahaha]
He ate super spicy beef rice noodles this morning, and now he has diarrhea and can't hold it in anymore, hahaha.
Help! I'm about to die for him!
If it were me, I would have quit the show immediately and refused to continue recording.
What should have been a heartwarming birthday celebration was turned into a comedy by Yan Shenyu's fall. Fortunately, the usual steps of blowing out candles, cutting the cake, and receiving gifts were still included.
Wow! This is so many gifts! Are they making up for all the things we were missing before?
To be honest, I'm quite envious...
[Envy +1, it's cliché, but it's so sweet.]
But Yan Sheng actually backed down? Seriously??
[He was probably taken aback by everyone's enthusiasm. Although the way they did it was a bit strange, it seems the Yan family treated him quite well.]
[Hmm... I know he's cold, but Yan Sheng's reaction was way too indifferent! He just said thank you and walked away?]
【What else do you expect her to do? Cry with her family? Yan Sheng is introverted; how could she possibly do something like that?】
It's a bit hurtful to leave without unwrapping the gift.
[Stop arguing, their family hasn't said anything.]
The subtitles showed that 20 minutes had passed before Yan Sheng returned to the living room from outside. After looking left and right to make sure no one was around, he carried a whole carload of gifts back to his room like a thief.
[Don't worry, Sheng Meiren, it's all yours, no one will take it from you.]
[It's kind of cute that he secretly opened the gift; he even smiled!]
Wow, what a special gift! It must have been prepared with great care.
[I'm so envious! They even have equity!]
After Yan Sheng unwrapped all the gifts, she sat quietly on the edge of the bed, looking at them. At this moment, there were only 10 minutes left before the show ended.
A moment later, Yan Sheng turned off the light, and the room instantly went dark.
The show ended with an end credits song and a preview of the second episode, leading viewers to naturally assume that the program was over.
It's a bit of a pity; I didn't see what I expected.
[While the ending is good, it still feels like something's missing.]
I understand you! Yan Sheng is really too reserved. Everyone put so much effort into preparing his birthday party tonight, and he's still so cold.
However, the voices of the staff members immediately drew the audience's attention.
"Is it over?"
"Wait, not yet."
not yet?
The background music disappeared, leaving only the white noise inherent in the room. The breathing gradually grew louder, then turned into rapid sobs.