"Wait, wait, we need to put on these hats first!"
Yang Yi had indeed made a lot of preparations for Xixi's birthday. After all, it was his first time hosting a birthday party, so he'd even looked up some examples online and learned how to set things up himself. At this moment, as if remembering something, he hurried over to a nearby storage basket and picked up several hats.
"Xixi has to wear this one!" In his right hand, Yang Yi held the artificial crown he'd bought when he and Xixi went strolling down the pedestrian street that day. Though it was cheap, it sparkled under the lights, looking just like a real princess tiara.
"Mommy, does Xixi look pretty?" Xixi smiled sweetly, letting her dad carefully place the crown in her hair. She didn't dare move her neck, only twisting her body around.
"Very pretty! My little princess! Oh, Yang Yi, I think we should take some photos here! For memories." Murphy patted Yang Yi's arm, speaking with a hint of intimacy.
"We will, but wait a moment!" Yang Yi still held two cone-shaped hats in his left hand. He put one on himself first, then gestured to Murphy.
"I don't want to wear one!" Murphy laughed, stepping back and waving her hands repeatedly.
"How can that be? It's Xixi's birthday—we all have to wear them!" Yang Yi cornered Murphy against the counter, leaving her no room to retreat.
Then he personally helped Murphy put it on, hooking the string under her chin. This process inevitably involved some skin contact. Yang Yi's fingertips brushed against Murphy's chin, feeling the delicacy of her skin, and he watched as her cheeks flushed red.
She was a beauty like a painting, and he was so captivated he forgot to pull his fingers away.
Murphy, too, stood dazedly against the counter, looking up at Yang Yi. So close, she could almost feel his breath. So close, she could almost sense the heat in his gaze. So close, she forgot to evade, gazing dreamily at his sharply defined, rugged face.
"Why aren't you two done yet? I'm getting impatient!" It was Xixi's voice that broke the moment of ambiguity.
Murphy snapped back first. Blushing, she pushed Yang Yi away and walked toward Xixi, pretending nothing had happened.
Yang Yi shook his head with a faint smile. He also acted as if nothing had occurred, stepping aside to pick up the DSLR camera he'd bought earlier. "Xixi, Daddy's going to take your picture now!" he announced loudly.
Several photos were taken—shots of Xixi alone, flashing her eternal "peace" sign, and pictures of Xixi and Murphy together, mother and daughter.
"Yang Yi, come join us! Set the timer!" Murphy had been having a great time playing with Xixi, and now she waved at Yang Yi with a smile in her eyes.
"I should be in the picture too? No need, right?" Yang Yi scratched his head. "I still need to take photos of you!"
In truth, he wasn't keen on being photographed. Old habits made him feel that taking pictures left traces for enemies to follow, making it easier for them to track him.
But now, that probably wasn't an issue anymore. After all, his identity was no longer that of a killer, but an ordinary person.
"Come on over!" Murphy chided playfully. "You're the dad—how can you say 'no need'? Come on, let's take a family photo together, the three of us!"
A family of three—Murphy had almost blurted it out. As soon as she said it, she realized what she'd said and blushed deeply.
Still, it was true. Xixi was already four years old, and the three of them had never had a group photo!
Yang Yi didn't argue further. He set the camera's timer, then ran over and stood on either side of Xixi with Murphy, the little girl beaming brightly as they wrapped her in the middle.
*Click!* The frame froze, everyone wearing smiles. Even Yang Yi and Murphy smiled naturally, wishing this happiness could last forever...
On the counter, there was food—not only fresh, washed fruit but also pastries Yang Yi had baked and made himself. While Yang Yi fiddled with the camera, setting up a tripod to record video, Murphy took today's birthday princess by the hand and came over for a taste.
"This is a cookie." Murphy picked one up and took a small, delicate bite.
She always ate with such elegance—just a tiny nibble, her left hand held beneath her chin to catch any crumbs.
"Mmm, delicious!" Murphy loved Yang Yi's cooking. This cookie wasn't just beautifully made, rivaling any bakery's, but it was also crisp, sweet, and perfectly balanced in texture and flavor. She especially liked the cranberries mixed in—a little tart, and absolutely wonderful!
"I want some too!" Xixi grew impatient. She couldn't reach unless she climbed onto a chair, but Yang Yi had moved the chairs away to set up the counter.
Murphy laughed and handed the little girl one. "Don't eat too much—there's even better stuff coming! If you fill up, you'll regret it!"
"Even better stuff?" Xixi had been enjoying the cookie, her appetite whetted, but her mother's words made her hesitate about finishing it.
Yang Yi's treats weren't limited to cranberry cookies. There were also colorful glutinous rice cakes.
These glutinous rice cakes were quite interesting: green ones had green tea powder mixed in, pink ones were strawberry-flavored, and yellow ones were mango-flavored. Of course, they all had red bean paste fillings. There were also white ones, but with purple centers—purple sweet potato filling!
While Murphy and Xixi were sampling the snacks, Yang Yi walked over carrying a guitar. He made a show of adjusting the microphone and stand: "Ahem, ahem, test, test!"
Murphy had seen the guitar hanging in Yang Yi's study upstairs—a Brown Beetle. She knew how expensive it was and that it had been left by the original landlord. She'd always thought that BB guitar was wasted on Yang Yi, but since she had better ones herself, she hadn't bothered to covet it.
"What are you doing?" Murphy asked, amused, watching Yang Yi. She had no idea he could play guitar, and seeing him awkwardly strap it on made her laugh so hard she swayed.
"Well, I'm going to sing a song for Xixi!" Yang Yi said with a straight face.
"Yay, yay!" Xixi clapped her little hands happily. She was overjoyed today—her parents had thrown her a wonderful birthday party, and now Daddy was going to sing!
In fact, Xixi wasn't as surprised as her mother, because Yang Yi had sung "Let It Go" in front of her before, so she was actually looking forward to it!
Murphy was also curious. She wanted to know what song this man, who had once known nothing about music and dismissed it entirely, could possibly sing. And with a guitar accompaniment, no less!
"Did he actually learn to play guitar?" Murphy wondered.
"Alright, I'm starting!" Yang Yi put the microphone back on its stand and began to pluck the guitar strings with a serious expression.
"5·565, 17..." A light, simple rhythm began.
Murphy glanced at the fingerwork of Yang Yi's right hand. It was still a bit stiff, but this simple, repetitive melody with only slight variations was enough.
But the way his left hand pressed the strings was decent. He really had learned!