I Snatched the Overbearing President’s Canary [Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Surprise

Shenyu and Ning Chen rushed along, finally arriving at the aquarium right in the nick of time.

Since coming up with the idea to celebrate Ning Chen’s birthday, He Shenyu had considered many different plans. Ultimately, he chose the one with the fewest people. He had thought about throwing a large party, but knowing Ning Chen, he realized the boy wouldn’t enjoy a noisy crowd.

While flipping through the original novel and searching his memory, he recalled a snippet: as a child, after reading a book about marine life, Ning Chen had desperately wanted to visit an aquarium. His parents had promised to take him during winter break, but the promise was never kept. Shenyu only knew this because of a flashback Ning Chen had in the novel when the original antagonist, Fu Hengzhan, took him out on a cruise ship.

Last time, the teddy bear had made Ning Chen happy—he even hugged it sometimes before sleep. Shenyu thought that perhaps his purpose in this world was to mend Ning Chen’s regrets. Whether it was a teddy bear, an aquarium trip, or a “normal” life, he wanted to give it all back to him.

The aquarium shouldn’t have been open at night, but He Shenyu had booked the entire venue for the day. He messaged the staff as they got out of the car, and the lights of the building flickered to life.

Dreamy jellyfish structures and dolphins seemed to swim among the waves. Blue lights pushed the fantasy to its limit, and soft music from the fountains made it feel like entering a fairy-tale kingdom. Ning Chen stood frozen, stunned by the scene. He had seen this place on social media but never expected the reality to be so breathtaking.

“Let’s go, Ning Chen. Today, this place only entertains you,” Shenyu smiled, bowing slightly to invite him forward.

Ning Chen smiled and took his hand, applying a bit of pressure. “Won’t Shenyu come with me?”

“It’s your birthday,” He Shenyu said helplessly. “I wanted you to be the boss today.”

“I don’t want to be the boss,” Ning Chen shook his head with a laugh.

“Fine then! We’ll go in together.” Shenyu grabbed his hand.

As they entered the tunnel, the lighting designer adjusted the glass floor to a “sea wave” mode. The music shifted to the white noise of the ocean. The colorful fish exhibits lit up like a storybook as they passed.

Ning Chen played the part of a perfect tourist, looking at every window. He didn’t ask questions, but He Shenyu would occasionally chime in: “What kind of jellyfish is that?”

“It’s a Turritopsis dohrnii—the immortal jellyfish,” Ning Chen would answer.

“Wow, how do you know so much?” Shenyu had been to aquariums before but could never remember the specific names.

“Not much. I only know the common ones,” Ning Chen said.

They reached the grand performance hall and sat in the center of the front row. The dim, warm lights made the blue glass feel like a genuine gateway to the deep ocean. Soon, a “mermaid” appeared on a shell-shaped stone bed. They watched a unique performance of The Little Mermaid.

However, the story ended differently than Ning Chen remembered. The mermaid didn’t fall in love with the prince. Instead, the prince, realizing she was the one who saved him, waited on the shore for three days and nights to give her a gift of gratitude. The mermaid took the gift back to the deep sea but decided she didn’t need a human’s treasure, so she wanted to give it to someone who truly needed it.

The mermaid swam to the glass and waved at them. Shenyu led Ning Chen to the window. She opened a gift box, revealing a massive pearl, and held it out against the glass as if passing it to Ning Chen.

Ning Chen hesitated and touched the glass. In the next instant, He Shenyu pulled a large “pearl” out of his pocket. “Ta-da! Look, I’ve summoned it for you…”

The lights in the tank dimmed as if the pearl had truly materialized in He Shenyu’s hand. Two spotlights hit them, and the pearl shimmered. Ning Chen, dazed, took the heavy object. Shenyu nudged him, “Open it.”

The pearl was a box. Inside, nestled on white velvet, was a hand-woven red string bracelet adorned with various white jade beads, each carved with unique patterns.

“I bought the materials and wove it myself,” He Shenyu said, taking Ning Chen’s hand and sliding the bracelet onto his wrist. “Happy Birthday, Ning Chen. I hope you stay healthy and happy for a lifetime, just as the knots symbolize.”

“Thank you, Shenyu,” Ning Chen murmured, rotating the beads.

“Don’t keep thanking me,” He Shenyu smiled. Actually, I should thank you, Ning Chen. After coming to this world with no one to turn to, meeting you has made me truly happy. He lifted his own left wrist, revealing a slightly clumsier version of the same bracelet. “Don’t judge mine too harshly. This was my practice piece. Yours is the unique, perfect version.”

Ning Chen looked at the crooked knots on He Shenyu’s wrist and suddenly laughed. “Mhm. I’ll wear it forever.”

…

The atmosphere was becoming intimate when He Shenyu’s phone buzzed. “It’s past midnight. Welcome to the first day of being twenty.”

Ning Chen couldn’t find the words. He gripped He Shenyu’s wrist, bringing their matching bracelets close together. “It’s time to head back,” He Shenyu said. “The staff need to go home.”

The dreamlike night felt like a movie ending. As they got into the car, Ning Chen kept looking at his wrist.

“You really like it, don’t you?” He Shenyu asked, pleased that his efforts were appreciated.

“I like it very much,” Ning Chen said softly.

“Fasten your seatbelt, we should go.”

As Ning Chen reached for the belt, a memory of Manager Cheng’s “lessons” popped into his head: “What do you do when your patron gives you a gift? Tell me, Ning Chen…”

Ning Chen let go of the belt, leaned over the center console, and kissed He Shenyu on the lips. “Thank you, Shenyu. I love your gift.”

Shenyu was caught off guard by the sudden “attack.” He still wasn’t used to kissing, but he couldn’t find a polite way to reject Ning Chen without hurting his feelings. He rubbed his burning ears and cleared his throat, sitting up straight.

Back at the apartment, He Shenyu pulled a cake from the fridge. Even though it was late, he insisted on singing “Happy Birthday.” Ning Chen made a wish under He Shenyu’s gentle gaze.

While Ning Chen was focused on cutting the cake into equal slices, he felt something cold on his cheek. He looked up, startled.

Shenyu laughed mischievously. “Haha! Has no one ever smeared cake on you before? When we were in school, this was standard treatment for the birthday boy.”

Ning Chen stopped cutting. “Do you want to smear more?”

“Ah?” Shenyu wiped the frosting off his fingers. “Never mind. Your face is too handsome to ruin; a little bit is enough.”

Ning Chen nodded, pulled He Shenyu closer, and said, “Then help me clean the cake off my face.”

“Okay.” Shenyu leaned in with a tissue. At that moment, Ning Chen suddenly lunged forward, pressing his cheek against He Shenyu’s and rubbing the frosting onto the doctor’s face.

Shenyu froze. His face turned bright red as he recoiled, looking shocked. Ning Chen, with a face full of messy frosting, gave a bright, radiant smile. “What’s wrong, Shenyu? Do the rules say the birthday boy isn’t allowed to strike back?”

“No… no…” Shenyu stammered. He truly hadn’t expected Ning Chen to be capable of such playfulness.