After rebirth, I rejected the rich yandere lady

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Zhu Family's reception room.

Zhu Yulan sat in silence on one side.

Every time she returned to this home, Zhu Yulan seemed to end up arguing bitterly with her family.

Therefore, she had always been reluctant to come back; her visits were only because her second elder sister had persuaded her extensively and because their mother and eldest sister had said that family was still family, and they hoped to get along well as a family.

Perhaps not wanting her mother and eldest sister in heaven to worry about her as well, Zhu Yulan occasionally visited home.

But that was it.

The door to the reception room opened.

Zhu Changlin walked in; today, he was not wearing his customary authoritative bespoke suit but a plain black robe.

With less of the oppressive aura of an important and powerful figure, he had somewhat more of the affability of an ordinary family patriarch.

However, his long-held high position had made him forget how to communicate with his daughter like a normal family father.

He looked at his daughter sitting silently to one side and said nothing, simply waving his hand to dismiss everyone else.

He sat in the main seat; in the grand, rich reception room, it was just the father and daughter, like the most familiar strangers.

No one knew how to start the conversation.

"Yulan, have you been doing well recently?"

Zhu Changlin cleared his throat and finally broke the silence.

"I'm not starving, at least."

Zhu Yulan rested her chin in one hand, her gaze merely sweeping briefly across the table.

This time, Zhu Changlin did not get angry because of his daughter's tone; after a moment of silence, he said, "Let's not talk about work or family affairs today, just enjoy the meal."

Only then did Zhu Yulan look at him, eventually saying nothing.

A few minutes later, as the doors to the reception room were pushed open again.

"Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~"

Zhu Xianglan pushed a cart carrying a cake, singing the birthday song as she approached Zhu Yulan.

It was Zhu Yulan's birthday.

Zhu Yulan remembered that it had been a long time since she had celebrated her birthday at home.

These grand family birthday parties were actually just occasions for various important figures and businessmen to meet and socialize.

And the birthday person herself was rarely the focus of concern.

"Yulan, after tonight, it will be your birthday, and we made this custom cake just for you today. Congratulations on getting another year older!"

Zhu Xianglan was beaming, perhaps the only one in the Zhu family genuinely happy about her sister's birthday at that moment.

Zhu Yulan's eyes flickered as she looked at the cake in front of her and fell silent for a moment: "I haven't celebrated this day as my birthday for a long time."

Because that year, on her birthday, her mother had left her forever in a hospital bed.

She hadn't even had a chance to taste the cake that was meant to celebrate her last birthday with her daughter.

Since then, she had never celebrated her birthday on that day again.

Zhu Yulan's words made Zhu Changlin cover his mouth with both hands, rendering him speechless for a long time as he looked at the cake in front of him and the large reception room that now had only three people, where once there had been two more figures.

At this moment, even Zhu Changlin with his heart of stone felt a moment of daze.

Zhu Xianglan's eyes also dipped slightly before she regained her usual smile: "Mom told us she hoped you would be happy every day, especially on this day."

Zhu Yulan remained silent and finally just nodded slightly.

"Ah, come on, let's be cheerful today. Yulan is celebrating her birthday. You're nineteen, about to be a twenty-year-old lady next year, though of course, you'll always be an eighteen-year-old girl in Sister's eyes."

Zhu Xianglan laughed gently and playfully, setting the birthday cake aside.

A nineteenth birthday is special, unlike the freshly minted adulthood of eighteen or the threshold of turning twenty.

It's like a turning point in life.

Zhu Yulan glanced at the cake. Ever since her mother passed away that day, her birthday had become like a wound reopened.

Mother had said she hoped her daughter would live a happy, joyful life, but since she had left, Zhu Yulan had never found anyone else with whom to share the cake and wishes...

Today, Zhu Changlin had indeed refrained from discussing business or sensitive family issues.

The meal proceeded in unusual silence, with only Zhu Xianglan breaking it occasionally with light-hearted topics; overall, it was probably the most complete meal this already incomplete family had had in a long time.

"Yulan."

Zhu Changlin wiped his mouth and slowly called his younger daughter's name.

Zhu Yulan hummed in response, perhaps used to the topics her father usually brought up and not particularly interested at this moment.

"Today you turn nineteen, and there are many things you need to think through. When your mother and I were your age, we already had your eldest sister. As one gets older, it becomes easier to fall deeper into unresolved issues. You need to make choices sooner rather than later."

Zhu Changlin looked at his daughter meaningfully and with calm.

Zhu Yulan naturally understood what he meant. A slight frown crossed her face; she knew... dragging these issues out would only make her sink deeper.

But this was also her own matter, and she didn't want it to become part of the family's interests.

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