Chapter 230: First Birthday
Chen Mo watched this scene, his heart filled with joy.
Just as the family was enjoying a happy breakfast together, Su Yuqing’s phone suddenly started ringing.
Su Yuqing took out her phone and saw that it was her mother, Li Fengzhi, calling.
She froze for a moment, wondering what could be so important that her mother was calling her this early in the morning.
Feeling apprehensive, she answered her mother’s call.
"Hello, Mom."
"Yuqing, are you up?"
"Yeah, I’m up. We’re having breakfast."
"Oh, I was afraid I’d wake you up by calling too early."
Hearing her mother’s normal-sounding voice over the phone, Su Yuqing relaxed considerably.
"Was there something you wanted to talk about?" Su Yuqing asked curiously.
"Well, your birthday is coming up soon. I was thinking... it’s been several years since I’ve properly celebrated it with you. For your birthday this year, I’d like to make you some delicious food. How about you come home that day so we can celebrate together? You can bring Chen Mo along, too." Her mother’s voice was gentle, with a hint of tentativeness.
Her tone made it clear that she was being very humble. She was afraid her daughter wouldn’t give her a chance to atone.
She had been so sick for all those years, and she had treated her daughter so poorly. Her heart was filled with guilt. It would only be normal for her daughter to resent her. She wouldn’t blame Su Yuqing; she would only blame herself for failing to be a good mother and take care of her child.
At that moment, Chen Mo and Chen Xi were both staring at Su Yuqing, wondering what her mother wanted from her.
If her mother wanted to take her back home, they would have to evaluate whether it was appropriate for her to go.
In any case, if Su Yuqing didn’t agree, there was no way they would let her be taken away by force.
Her mother hadn’t cared about her birthday for so long, but now she was making such a big deal of it. Hearing this, Su Yuqing suddenly felt her nose tingle. It was the blissful, moving feeling of a mother’s love, long absent, finally enveloping her once more.
This time, it wasn’t the mother who only returned for brief, occasional visits. This was her mother, lucid and well, showing her the love a mother has for her child.
Deeply moved, Su Yuqing immediately agreed. "Okay, I’ll definitely be there."
Her "I’ll definitely be there" was spoken with a slight tremor, and her eyes quietly reddened. It was an emotional change brought on by the combined impact of heartache and happiness, a peculiar mixture of feelings.
Hearing Su Yuqing’s answer, the hearts of both Chen Mo and Chen Xi sank.
They didn’t know if her mother had really demanded that she return.
The key was whether she was doing this willingly or being forced.
"Good, good, good! Mom will definitely make you a full table of all the dishes you loved as a child." On the other end of the line, Li Fengzhi’s voice was filled with an undisguised joy and excitement.
She had been terrified that her daughter wouldn’t be willing to forgive her because of what had happened before.
Now that she heard her daughter was willing to give her a chance to atone, Li Fengzhi was naturally overjoyed.
As soon as Su Yuqing hung up the phone, Chen Mo and Chen Xi immediately looked at her and asked in unison, "Your mom is making you go back?"
"No, she said she wants to make me a nice meal to celebrate my birthday and asked me to go back that day." Seeing the nervous looks on their faces, Su Yuqing suddenly felt a warm current flow through her heart again—it was the wonderful feeling of being deeply cared for by others.
She could feel the deep, hidden concern in their synchronized question.
’I never thought that in this world, aside from my actual family, I could have a "familial bond" and affection this deep, as if we were truly related by blood.’
Su Yuqing’s heart was filled with emotion.
"Her birthday, huh?" Chen Xi immediately asked. "Qingqing, when is your birthday?"
"May 21st. It’s in three days," Chen Mo spoke up immediately.
"You little rascal, you remember it so clearly!" Chen Xi raised an eyebrow teasingly, her mischievous gaze darting back and forth between Chen Mo and Su Yuqing, successfully making both youths blush.
Su Yuqing shyly lowered her head, unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her clothes, but her heart felt as if it were wrapped in warm honey.
’So he remembered it so clearly...’ The realization made her heart flutter more than any sweet words ever could.
"May 21st! That’s a great date! 5-2-1, it sounds like ’I love you’ in Mandarin!" Chen Xi clapped her hands, her eyes lighting up. "This is perfect! It must be fate that Sanshui and I came back just in time for Qingqing’s first birthday with our family! This is too significant. We have to celebrate it properly!"
She turned to Su Yuqing, her face full of undisguised earnestness and enthusiasm. "Qingqing, give me your mom’s phone number. Since your mom has her heart set on planning something for the birthday, let’s have our two families do it together! I’ll personally discuss it with her and see how we can arrange things. I guarantee you’ll have an unforgettable birthday!"
Chen Xi’s tone was decisive and firm, carrying the unquestionable authority of a "matriarch," as if Su Yuqing were already a confirmed member of the Chen family.
Su Yuqing was a little dazed by Chen Xi’s sudden enthusiasm and solemnity, but the warm current in her heart surged like a powerful tide.
’Auntie said she’ll personally discuss it with my mom... to celebrate my birthday... "first birthday with our family"...’ These words were like pebbles dropped into the lake of her heart, sending out ripple after ripple of happiness.
’I never imagined that a single birthday could receive such a double portion of profound attention.’
"O... Okay, Auntie." Su Yuqing’s voice held a barely perceptible choke as she quickly took out her phone and recited her mother’s number to Chen Xi.
Watching Chen Xi solemnly save the number with the contact name "Fellow Mother-in-Law," Su Yuqing’s heart beat even faster.
That title was truly full of meaning.
Chen Mo also caught a glimpse of his mom’s contact name and said speechlessly, "Someone’s going to see that later and laugh at you."
"Laugh at what? It’s a done deal. Don’t tell me you’re planning on being irresponsible, you little rascal," Chen Xi immediately shot Chen Mo a look.
"What do you mean, irresponsible?" Chen Mo was even more speechless.
’She’s making it sound like the rice is already cooked.’
Watching the lighthearted atmosphere of the mother and son bickering, Su Yuqing felt both anticipation for her upcoming birthday and a slight, subtle nervousness about the two families coming together.
Having saved the number, Chen Xi put her phone away with satisfaction. She then picked up the largest pancake and placed it on the plate in front of Su Yuqing. "Here, Qingqing, eat up. And Momo, don’t you just sit there. Hurry up and think about what birthday gift you’re going to get for Qingqing! Put some thought into it, you hear?"
"Like I need you to tell me," Chen Mo retorted, but his gaze toward Su Yuqing was filled with gentleness and contemplation.
’Of course, I had started preparing long ago. I just hadn’t expected my mother to get involved in such a "high-profile" way, upgrading the birthday dinner into a joint operation between the two families.’
[PS: My nerves have been shot these past two days. Next Chapter will be at 1:00 PM.]