Chapter 426: Chapter 254: Ji Minghuan’s Birthday
Under the cold lighting of the confinement room, a brief silence enveloped the man in a white coat and the boy in a hospital gown.
Ji Minghuan was the one to break the dead silence, looking disdainfully at the Mentor, he suggested:
"You might as well send out Big Sister to knock them dead with a stick... If Big Sister isn’t enough, then add Shang Xiaoqi, isn’t she the holder of the World Tree? Two mythical level wonders, surely that’s enough to solve Lake Hunting, right? Why bother having Kong Youling brainwash them?"
"No... That’s not in line with our Salvation Society’s style." The Mentor shook his head, "Nor is it conducive to maintaining the ’balance’ we hold dear, Lake Hunting has its own significance."
Ji Minghuan propped up his chin, raised his head, and looked at the Mentor with an indifferent expression.
He thought, since it doesn’t align, then why did you send someone to take out Lin Zhengquan and hang his head on a streetlight? Turns out you’re just going against the Salvation Society?
Thinking of this, Ji Minghuan asked, "Do you really have to hide behind the scenes? Actually, I think if you reveal yourselves, those supernatural forces wouldn’t dare to act recklessly. Then there wouldn’t be so many things you’re afraid of, it’s like how a nuclear bomb is only deterrent when shown."
He paused: "Or are you actually biding your time, aiming for a grand reveal, to rule the world or something? I’ve seen many mysterious organizations like that in novels."
The Mentor adjusted his glasses, "We’re good people, Ji Minghuan, we’ve always been good people, but the better you are, the more likely you are to be seen through a tinted lens."
"I don’t care if you’re good or bad people, just don’t take Kong Youling out of the base without permission," Ji Minghuan said seriously. "If you really want to take her, at least tell me first, got it?"
In fact, he was eager for the Mentor not to take other kids, just leave with Kong Youling from the Salvation Society base.
That way, he would have a chance to seize Kong Youling from the Salvation Society’s hands, and as long as Kong Youling was safe, he wouldn’t be in a hurry to leave the Salvation Society. He could slowly plan to conquer the base in the coming time.
"Alright, we understand." The Mentor said with a smile, getting up from the chair, "Let’s go, we’ll first head to Paradise to chat with the other kids, they’ve been waiting for you for a long time."
"Waiting for what?"
"Today is a special day."
The two chatted as they left the confinement room, walking into a dazzling corridor, stopping in front of the elevator. After pressing the button for Ji Minghuan, the Mentor quietly departed.
After the elevator door opened, Ji Minghuan was stunned, shielding his eyes from the intense light with his arm, he looked around but didn’t see the Mentor, so he entered the elevator alone.
The elevator hummed as it ascended, taking him to the second floor. As the elevator door slowly opened, Ji Minghuan looked up and found the children’s paradise still devoid of a single figure.
"So they haven’t arrived yet? Why am I always the first one?"
He muttered, just as he stepped out of the elevator, he suddenly felt as if he stepped on something soft, immediately, he spun around in a vertiginous manner, being lifted and flown upwards like a lift in the amusement park, up and down, until finally stopping after making Ji Minghuan dizzy, the Somersault Cloud finally descended from the sky, no longer jumping around.
"What’s going on, Big Sister!"
He clutched his head, frowning, quite frantically looking up from the Somersault Cloud, to see a small notebook, a pair of fair hands hidden under the Somersault Cloud, shyly holding up the notebook.
The notebook had a drawing of a little penguin saying, "Gugu Gaga! Happy Birthday!"
Ji Minghuan was stunned.
"Uh... Happy Birthday?" He mumbled.
The next moment, five kids hiding under the Somersault Cloud simultaneously popped their heads out, Sun Changkong in the middle holding a cream cake, with her face turned, secretly opening one eye to look at Ji Minghuan. The cake had candles, and a bar-shaped neon sign saying "Happy Birthday," the lights red and green.
"Happy Birthday!" Sun Changkong and Filio shouted together, Kong Youling couldn’t speak so she shook the notebook, trying to find a little sense of presence.
Mario also raised his hand to scratch his cheek, glanced up at him reluctantly and said:
"Happy Birthday... Restricted."
Ji Minghuan stood in place, looked at them, then at the birthday cake. The candlelight illuminated his face, piercing through the cold tones cast from the ceiling.
"Surprise, surprise!" Sun Changkong hummed, tracing her finger along her philtrum, "Ji Minghuan, I heard from the Mentor that today is your birthday, so I secretly prepared a cake for you!"
"Birthday?"
Ji Minghuan was frozen, suddenly recalling the cake knocked over by Gu Qiye, thinking this wasn’t a good word.
He thought for a moment, then said, "But my birthday is August 15th... I remember we left London on July 26th, even if I don’t know the time in the base, it shouldn’t be half a month already, right?"
The kids stood frozen, dumbfounded.
"Huh?" Sun Changkong tilted her head, stunned, "But, but... the Mentor told us your birthday is August 6th!" She showed her little tiger teeth, looking shocked.
"That’s just something I made up in the orphanage, alright?" Ji Minghuan shrugged, "But it’s fine... After all, the birthday my parents set for me is meaningless, they didn’t want me anyway, I might as well set a birthday for myself. So, I won’t stand on ceremony."
Saying this, he clasped his hands together in gratitude, closed his eyes, and leaned forward to blow out the candles on the cake.
"Ah! Don’t blow! You haven’t made a wish yet!" Sun Changkong hurriedly pulled the cake backward.
"Wish?" Ji Minghuan opened one eye, curiously looking at her.
Mario took out a game console and reminded him coolly, "Restricted, have you really never had a birthday party before? You have to make a wish before blowing out the candles."
"Wish, wish! No running away!" Kong Youling wrote on the notebook, raising it up, her red eyes glowing brightly under the candlelight, staring fixedly at him.
"Sun Changkong, you haven’t had a birthday party either, have you?" Ji Minghuan turned to look at Sun Changkong.
"Yeah, so what?" Sun Changkong sniffed, savoring the aroma of the cake.
"Then how did you know to make a wish?"
"They told me." Sun Changkong held the cake, hesitating for a bit before asking, "Ji Minghuan, for my birthday, can you throw me a party too?"
Ji Minghuan was taken aback, felt a sudden nose tingle, and gently nodded, "Sure, thank you."
Sun Changkong was just about to smile when Filio spoke up, interrupting the two’s conversation.
"My dad’s a demon, but even he threw me a birthday party." Filio sat on the ground, his tail twitching. "Ji Minghuan, Sun Changkong, have you really never had a birthday party? That’s so sad."
As he spoke, he gave Ji Minghuan and Sun Changkong a sympathetic look.
Sun Changkong was hit hard. The inferiority complex of a rural girl kicked in; she pursed her lips, her little canine teeth quivering.
Ji Minghuan blinked, looking at Filio, thinking, Bai Tanlang actually threw you a birthday party? Couldn’t tell at all, huh?
Just then, he suddenly noticed there was someone else in the Paradise, and he turned to look at Shang Xiaoqi, sitting all alone on the swing.
"Won’t she celebrate my birthday?" Ji Minghuan pointed at her.
Sun Changkong nodded, solemnly tilting her chin up, "She said you’re a traitor, that she doesn’t want to form bonds with people anymore, nor forgive traitors because the wound in her heart can’t heal, so no birthday celebration for you."
"Oh wow, true to the student of Xiaoqi, her edginess is off the charts!" Ji Minghuan lightly clapped her hands, applauding.
Shang Xiaoqi realized Ji Minghuan was looking at her, lifted her gaze from the sand, and gave him a cold glance. The tear mole made her look like a little stray cat, rather aggressive.
Ji Minghuan quietly stepped down from the Somersault Cloud, standing barefoot on the chilly ground.
He gave the Somersault Cloud a firm pat, "Giddy up."
Seeing no response, he raised his hand and patted the cloud again, "Giddy up!"
"Huh?" Sun Changkong was shocked, said with displeasure, "What do you think my Somersault Cloud is?"
"To fetch the aloof and unrestrained powerful one, Uchiha Xiaoqi-sama. The Uchiha clan is so noble; walking by foot would be beneath them."
"She said she doesn’t want to celebrate your birthday."
"Not allowed!" Ji Minghuan declared, "On birthdays, aren’t wishes supposed to be made with everyone together?"
"Says who?" Mario had already started playing his video game and asked casually.
"My birthday, my rules."
"The rules of the dark elementary school kid must be obeyed." Kong Youling scribbled, nervously holding up his notebook, "Otherwise, he might destroy the world."
Filio and Sun Changkong sucked in a cold breath.
"Evil penguin monster, tarnishing my reputation again! You’re done for!" Ji Minghuan reached out to ruffle Kong Youling’s hair, and they both giggled.
"Why are you all dawdling? You’re not even holding the cake, my hand is so... no, my arm’s sored! Fine, I’ll call her over!" Sun Changkong suddenly couldn’t stand it. Still holding the cake, she maneuvered the Somersault Cloud to fly over and forcefully knocked Shang Xiaoqi off the swing!
Shang Xiaoqi was stunned, spinning in a full circle in mid-air, finally caught by the Somersault Cloud, kneeling on it.
The Somersault Cloud carried Shang Xiaoqi gently over. The warm candlelight illuminated the pale faces of the six children, grouped together by Sun Changkong’s pressure. The flickering candlelight prompted Mario to put away his game console.
"Shang Xiaoqi, hurry and wish the dark elementary school kid a happy birthday, or he’ll destroy the world!" Sun Changkong urged.
"Then let him destroy it." Shang Xiaoqi scoffed, "The world... what does it have to do with me?"
"Somersault Cloud suddenly told me it wants to take you on a roller coaster ride." Sun Changkong said eerily, and the Somersault Cloud suddenly started to stir, making Shang Xiaoqi shiver and hug her knees.
"Ha... Happy birthday, traitor." Shang Xiaoqi turned her cheek, said softly, "I haven’t forgiven you... the strong know when to adapt."
"Arigato, Thank U, thank you!" Ji Minghuan elongated his voice, thanking her in three languages.
Shang Xiaoqi was momentarily dazed.
Sun Changkong mumbled, holding the cake high, "Aren’t you going to make your wish? How long do I have to hold this cake?"
"Thank you all for the blessings." Ji Minghuan raised his head, "I’m going to make my wish now!"
He spoke boldly, then closed his left eye, leaving only one open, casting a mysterious gaze over the Salvation Society’s five kids, stopping on Kong Youling’s face.
As the candlelight flickered, she tilted her head, pale strands swaying gently.
Ji Minghuan paused for a moment, then gave her a soft smile before closing his right eye.
"I hope... that everyone can survive, and then, happily travel around the world together."
As his words ended, he blew out the cake candles in one go.