blogombal Chapter 181: As Long as You Like It
Chapter 181: As Long as You Like It
At first, her family wanted to book a hotel and invite some friends and relatives for a lively celebration.
When she found out, she immediately objected, saying that kind of event was too formal.
Standing up there would make her feel like an exhibit, completely uncomfortable.
Later, she compromised and suggested just inviting their closest relatives for a get-together at home.
At least they could chat casually and eat without being so prim and proper.
Even with just the immediate family, it was still a considerable number of people.
All the lights in the living room were on, illuminating the entire house.
Even with Ling Anxun absent, the dozen or so people there still managed to create a bustling, lively atmosphere.
By the time she got to the last gift box, she realized she’d even mixed up who gave her what.
But when the night grew quiet and she lay in bed alone, her mood sank without her realizing it.
The person she cared about most wasn’t by her side, and no matter how lively it got, it felt like a piece was missing.
Her phone screen lit up with a good-night message from a friend.
She replied with a sticker and placed her phone facedown on the nightstand.
She had a rare bout of insomnia that night, tossing and turning until the early hours of the morning before finally drifting off.
She closed her eyes and tried counting sheep.
She was still wide awake after counting over three hundred of them.
After some time, her consciousness began to fade, and her breathing grew steady.
She never expected that the person on her mind during the day would actually appear at night.
The figure of Ling Anxun appeared in her dream, leaving her a little dazed.
He stood amidst a thick fog, reaching his hand out to her.
Until a bright light shone, and everything vanished in an instant.
Waking up the next day, she still felt a bit dazed, unable to clearly recall the details of her dream.
She sat up and rubbed her temples. Her head felt a little heavy.
The sunlight outside was beautiful, filling the room with a warm glow.
She reached for the water glass on her nightstand, only to find it had been refilled.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
A knock came from the door, a pattern so familiar she could never mistake it.
Three short, two long.
It was their special code, one she’d known since she was little—a knock that would make her open the door the moment she heard it.
Shanshan, still feeling sluggish, instantly perked up at the rhythm.
She threw off the covers and leaped out of bed, not even bothering to put on her slippers.
Her hair was a messy tangle on her shoulders, and the collar of her pajamas was askew.
She rushed to the door and twisted the handle, her heart suddenly racing.
"Dad!"
She threw the door open, and seeing the man she’d been thinking of day and night, she excitedly burrowed right into his arms.
His arms caught her powerfully, the motion practiced and sure.
Her bare legs immediately wrapped around his waist.
"Sweetheart, happy birthday. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back last night. Don’t be mad at me, okay? I brought your gift. Come on, let’s go downstairs and see it."
Ling Anxun held her thigh steady with one hand, while the other restrainedly patted her back.
From downstairs, the faint sound of a spatula clanging in the kitchen could be heard.
"No, no, I’m not going down! You have to carry me inside! It’s not even my birthday today. I’m angry! Hmph!"
She was throwing a playful tantrum, and Ling Anxun was completely helpless against her, so he could only let her have her way.
The two of them entered the room.
The curtains weren’t fully drawn, and a ray of sunlight slanted across the floor.
She sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, her eyes fixed on the box in his hand, though she verbally insisted she was still angry.
He chuckled, not calling her out on it.
He turned and locked the door from the inside, ensuring no one would suddenly barge in.
It took a good while of coaxing before he finally managed to soothe her anger.
First, he told her about some amusing things that happened on his trip, then he confessed the real reason he’d been late.
Then he took out the gift box he had prepared. Opening it revealed a sparkling necklace.
The box was lined with dark gray satin, and the necklace lay quietly in the center.
The pendant had a unique design, with abstract patterns carved on the front and a string of small numbers—her birth date—engraved on the back.
Shanshan’s eyes widened. She snatched it out and examined it over and over.
The necklace’s design was quite special; it captured Shanshan’s heart at first glance.
She immediately grabbed Ling Anxun’s hand, her eyes shining like stars.
"Quick, help me put it on! Dad, where did you dig this up? It’s totally my style!"
"I didn’t buy it. I made it myself. It’s the only one in the world; there’s no other like it. Do you like it?"
Ling Anxun looked down at her, his tone incredibly soft.
"You made it?!"
Shanshan froze, her eyes instantly widening.
She turned and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"I absolutely love it! Really, thank you, Dad!"
She tilted her head back, the corners of her mouth turned up high, her eyes sparkling.
"As long as you like it."
After thanking him, Shanshan bounced back in front of the mirror, admiring herself from every angle and striking giggling poses.
"Weren’t you always clamoring to grow up? Now that you’re an adult, you can theoretically start dating."
The moment the words left his mouth, Ling Anxun regretted them. He didn’t even believe them himself.
He desperately wished she would never have her romantic awakening.
"Of course! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long!"
Shanshan grinned, revealing her two small canines, and nodded seriously.
After a moment, she spoke again.
"But I’m not just going to settle for anyone, you know. To be my other half, just being outstanding isn’t enough. They also have to..."
She began to list her conditions, one after another.
Just then, Ling Zhiwei, who was leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets, perked up his ears as he listened in.
Halfway through her list, he couldn’t help but chuckle, but he was immediately taken aback by Shanshan’s imposing air.
"Whoa there, such high standards? Even the acceptance criteria for the Ivy League aren’t this strict. But hey—"
He grinned.
"Your cousin here actually has a candidate in mind. Want me to introduce you?"
"Don’t even start!"
Shanshan rolled her eyes, glancing at him in the mirror.
"I’ve met enough of your buddies. They’re all so sleazy. I’m not falling for that!"
She turned her head away and ignored him, focusing on adjusting the necklace around her neck.
Just as she said that, she caught sight of Ling Anxun’s sullen face in her peripheral vision.
Her eyes darted, and she immediately added, "If I’m going to find someone, I’ll find someone on my dad’s level. So you can just use him as the benchmark."
Ling Zhiwei’s face fell on the spot.
He opened his mouth but was speechless for a long moment, finally just raising a hand to scratch his head.
"That’s just ridiculous. You couldn’t find another man like Uncle Anxun if you searched the whole planet with a flashlight, okay?"
"Are you itching for a beating?"
Hearing this, Ling Anxun’s brow immediately furrowed.
He stood up and swiftly snatched a throw pillow from the sofa.
In a few strides, he crossed the room and smacked Zhiwei on the back with it twice, showing no mercy.
The room instantly erupted into commotion.
The moment the door closed, quiet finally returned to the room.
Ling Anxun stood in place, catching his breath, then turned to look at the young woman still admiring herself in the mirror.
His expression flickered, and his lips moved slightly, but in the end, he said nothing more, his chest just heaving once.
"Shanshan, Dad won’t stop you from dating. You’re an adult now and have the right to make your own decisions. But you have to be careful when choosing someone. Don’t just find a random person to fill the spot for the novelty of it, you hear me?"
"I know, I know. I’ve heard it a hundred times already."
Shanshan didn’t even turn her head, just stuck out her tongue and waved her hand dismissively.
Her family had been nagging her since her birthday yesterday, repeating the same things over and over. Her ears were about to fall off.
Ling Anxun always said he’d let his daughter make her own decisions.
But in his heart, he just couldn’t feel at ease.
He’d watch her hunched over her experiments during the day and recording data in video conferences at night.
Seeing her so busy she’d even forget to eat only made him more anxious.