We talked more of random matters. Sister Lan brought out a birthday cake and the party began.
The four of us, including Xiaoya, lit up the sixteen colored candles to celebrate.
“Xiaoya, here’s your birthday gift!” Sister Lan took out a gift she had hid inside the TV cabinet.
“Brother, where is your gift for me?” Xiaoya asked as he unwrapped the gift.
“It’s the cake, of course!” Her brother seemed serious.
“A tennis outfit! It’s so pretty! Thank you!” She smiled brightly, holding the tennis clothes.
“Yeah, you’ll look gorgeous in it,” he complimented.
“C’mon, you’re not getting off this easy. Just tell me what you got for me. I know you bought a gift.” Xiaoya was n.o.body’s fool.
“I knew you would insist.” He took out a small, wrapped box for his sister.
“Yay, thank you!” Xiaoya accepted the gift with a smile and started to unwrap the box. The contents were a pair of hair barrettes. The design was unusual; they looked like the scepters priests used in the Western world, but more adorable. Her brother pinned her hair with these barrettes.
“These scepter barrettes were custom-made by a good friend. They’re small but powerful, and they’ll protect you.”
“I have you for protection.” Xiaoya caressed the barrettes.
“But I won’t always be here. I wouldn’t be around if you were at school or sleeping.” He patted her head.
“Xiaoya, I don’t have a gift for you—”
“It’s okay," Xiaoya interrupted me. "It’s my fault for not telling you it’s my birthday. Your being here is the best gift for me. You’ve never been to any friends’ houses, so this is your first!” Realizing she had said too much, she lowered her head.
“But I have a gift I can give you.” I took off the necklace from around my neck. It had been with me for years, but it was meaningless now. It just represented the past. I didn"t need its protection anymore, so I might as well give it to Xiaoya. It might protect her, or at least be a memento.
When I looped the necklace around Xiaoya’s neck, everyone looked stunned and stayed silent. The festive mood disappeared. I didn’t know what to do as I stood in front of Xiaoya.
“Jing Er, I am not sure if I could call you by this name,” her brother said seriously.
“Yes,” I answered without delay.
“Jing Er, your gift is too expensive. I don’t think we should accept it.”
“But it’s meaningless to me now. Meaningless is valueless, so it’s certainly not expensive. But it might be helpful for Xiaoya,” I told him without reservations.
“Help? Jing, what do you mean by help?” Xiaoya looked confused.
“Yeah, what does this ‘help’ mean? Explain for us.” Her brother looked interested and his face was full of focused energy.
“Seeing your car logo, your gift, and the meaning of the gift, I gather you’re doing something related to hunting evil? Xiaoya said you were a detective. "You’re not a ghost detective, are you?” I asked directly.
“You’re pretty observant. It’s close enough. Not ghosts, though. Vampires.” His face was serous. His eyes showed a sharpness unique to detectives; it was as if he could see inside your heart. Looking at his eyes was like facing a mirror showing a clear version of yourself.
“Vampires? They still haven’t figured out how to live normally yet?” I sighed.
“What do you mean?” He didn’t let up.
“It’s just . . . Why can’t vampires be a part of our ordinary world?” I felt I needed to watch every word and sentence I said to him.
“Is that necklace just for warding off evil?” He didn’t want me to change the topic.
“It’s not for warding off evil. It’s useless for anything but vampires,” I answered unequivocally. I wanted to say "It will be more useful than your barrettes," but I didn’t want to bring on more interrogation.
“You mean for vampires?” He still didn’t give up.
“Xiaoya, the candles are almost burnt out," Sister Lan interrupted, changing the conversation, and also helping me. "Make a wish and blow out them out.”