“I have a dinner party tomorrow night. You come too,” Jiang Shenghe told Qin Moling.

“And why should I join in the fun at your dinner party?”

“You come so you can block two glasses of wine for me.” He added, “It’s Luo Qi’s birthday tomorrow. After the party is over, I plan to go over to her house and see her.” 

He didn’t want to drink too much; it will make her think that he went to find her only because of the alcohol. 

Qin Moling got drawn to gossip about his relationship for the first time, “Are you really going to just drag it on like this?”

“I won’t delay anymore.”

He was only waiting until she could have a good birthday.

In business, he was always strategizing. It was only in matters involving her that he had no confidence. If, in the end, she just didn’t feel anything for him and wasn’t even willing to give a relationship with him a try—he couldn’t force himself on her.

Even if she refused to try with him, he would still let her go to Ruipu Medical.

Seven of her best years were spent paying off her family’s debt, but she still had one wish that he could make come true.

There were still two minutes left before midnight. Jiang Shenghe reminded Qin Moling, “Don’t forget to come tomorrow,” before he hung up the call.

… …

At midnight, Luo Qi received a red envelope sent privately to her by the boss with a simple greeting on it: Happy Birthday.

[Thank you, Chief Jiang.]

[You’re welcome, it’s been a hard year.]

It wasn’t good to accept this red envelope; it was even worse not to accept it.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Luo Qi accepted it.

When she turned 29, she clicked on a birthday wish at midnight, but she didn’t expect it to have been sent to her by her boss.

Luo Qi didn’t know that Jiang Shenghe deliberately postponed the time of tonight’s video conference to eleven o’clock in order to be able to send her birthday greetings in person.

Her birthday was openly mentioned in the group, and as a boss, it was only natural for him to send a red envelope.

When Luo Qi exited the boss’ private message, everyone in the work group began sending her birthday greetings. They were all in this together, and they deliberately didn’t greet her at the stroke of midnight.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

She also received some greetings from Luo Yu:

[Beautiful girl, happy birthday! You are more beautiful this year than last year. You don’t know how proud I am to have a sister like you. I wish I could tell everyone that Luo Qi is my sister. Yes, we are related by blood! I hope that at the age of twenty-nine, you will meet someone who is willing to hold an umbrella for you in the rain.

PS: I will definitely make up for the birthday cake next year.]

[Thank you, Yubao.] There was a row of kiss emoticons behind it.

One who would hold an umbrella for her in the rain. She was destined never to meet such person.

… …

When she woke up naturally the next day, Luo Qi looked at her cell phone and saw that it was not yet seven o’clock. Even though she no longer looked forward to her birthday, she still decided to treat herself a little.

She got up and went out to buy groceries, planning to cook a meat dish, a vegetable dish, and soup for herself.

It was only when she got downstairs that she realized that it was raining. It wasn’t heavy, but it was quite a drizzle. She went back upstairs to get an umbrella.

After returning from the market, the cake shop nearby was already open, so she went in and bought the smallest cake.

After returning home and storing away her purchases, the long morning was only half over. Luo Qi searched for the score of the birthday song and sat in front of the piano that Chu Lin had brought. She had learned to play the piano when she was a child, but she had not touched the keys for more than ten years.

After stumbling a little, she successfully played the birthday song.

The rain didn’t stop all day, and it rained even heavier at night.

Luo Qi had nothing to do and was practicing the birthday song some more when a text from the boss suddenly came in: [At home?]

[Yes. Chief Jiang, is something wrong?]

Jiang Shenghe: [Nothing’s wrong.]

He came over to give her the oil painting. Teacher Yu had had the oil painting framed and sent it over to his villa at the beginning of the month. Jiang Shenghe had been waiting for her birthday to give it to her.

As soon as the dinner party was over, he rushed over.

[The oil painting is ready. I’ll bring it to you. You go downstairs and get it.]

He added: [“I’m still ten minutes away. If you don’t have an umbrella, I will bring it up to your building.”]

In fact, he was already there and only gave her the few extra minutes so she could change clothes.

Jiang Shenghe entered the building. The aisle was narrow, and there were two bicycles parked on the side which left a path only wide enough for one person to pass. There was a sound-activated light in the corridor. He placed the oil painting against the wall, and the light came on, illuminating the worn and mottled walls.

The oil painting was wrapped tightly and was placed in a waterproof bag. He closed the umbrella and shook the water from it.

Jiang Shenghe felt that these ten minutes were longer than the past ten years.

He stood at the building’s entrance and lit a cigarette. There was no front door, and the wind carried the rain over the open doorway and swept across his trouser legs. Jiang Shenghe took half a step back.

After a few seconds, the sound-activated light went out.

The corridor was dark except for the scarlet ember of the cigarette between his fingers.

He pulled on the cigarette in a hurry, and only two minutes had passed by the time he finished it.

Jiang Shenghe stretched out his hand. The cigarette butt was extinguished by the rain and the smoke dissipated. His hands were covered with water. He held an umbrella and went to the car to get some paper to wipe his hands and threw away the cigarette butt.

The driver looked at his watch. The boss had only been there for four minutes. He was back so soon?

Jiang Shenghe closed the car door and went to the building again.

He didn’t have to throw cigarette butt in the ashtray in the car, and he didn’t have to wipe his hands. But his chest felt like it was being strangled, so he needed to go out for a breather.

The sound-activated light in the corridor came on and went off, and on and off yet again.

Jiang Shenghe stood in the same place. The wind and rain were stronger than before, filling him with unease he could barely suppress.

Seventh Year of My Secret Love for You translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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A list of all advance chapters is HERE.
Chapter 35.4 — Birthday Confession
Chapter 36.1 — Getting A Marriage Certificate
Chapter 36.2 — Getting A Marriage Certificate
Chapter 36.3 — Getting A Marriage Certificate
Chapter 36.4 — Getting A Marriage Certificate