生日，爷孙重走儿时路。
On His 18th Birthday: A Walk Down Memory Lane

For my grandson’s 18th birthday, our three-generation family gathered to celebrate this meaningful milestone into adulthood.

On the way to the restaurant, we walked the same path he took to kindergarten as a little boy. He walked this road for three years, full of his earliest memories.

I still remember one innocent conversation from years ago. Holding his hand, I mentioned I never went to kindergarten as a kid.
He felt sorry for me and said seriously, “That’s so sad. I’ll ask the teacher to build a house for you so you can go to kindergarden again !”
His pure, sweet words have stayed with me ever since.

Fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. The little boy is now 18, all grown up.
We stopped in front of his old kindergarten, which looked just the same. He whispered softly, “Time flies.”

I also recalled a funny story: on his first day of kindergarten, he ate hismate Xiao Bao’s lunch. It’s still a running joke between our families today.

Once I held his hand and guided him. Now I walk beside him as he grows independent.
For his birthday, he chose and bought a watch for himself. The ticking second hand marks his youth, his time, his new chapter.

Time moves steadily, one second at a time. May he live his youth to the fullest, and shape his life the way he loves.

We arrived at the private dining room on the 34th floor, with a view of Shanghai’s skyline. We opened a bottle of red wine, and for the first time, he had a small taste.

From today on, you are your own guardian. You will experience life’s ups and downs, and learn to see the world clearly.
Raise your glass — to your youth!

This 18th birthday is more special than all the rest.

2026.3.19 Shanghai.