Chapter 232: The Liveliest Birthday of My Life
"Yuqing has fair skin, and this dress looks stunning on someone with a fair complexion," Lin Yuwei said with a smile from the side.
"How much is this?" Chen Xi asked, looking at Lin Yuwei. "Don’t you dare try to rip me off."
"You’re loaded. What’s wrong with letting me take a slice or two?" Lin Yuwei rolled her eyes at Chen Xi and said slyly, "The cost price is three thousand. Pay what you think is fair."
As good friends, one might feel too embarrassed to outright overcharge you, so they let you name your own price. In that situation, you can’t possibly offer too little.
Clearly, when it came to Chen Xi, Lin Yuwei still cherished the small joys of friends playfully messing with each other.
She was certainly more cunning than Chen Mo had been when he came alone.
"I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let you make a little extra. Five thousand."
"Done. Thank you for your business, boss." Lin Yuwei immediately grinned and gave a mock bow.
When Su Yuqing heard the dress cost five thousand, she was too embarrassed to accept it.
Chen Xi saw her hesitation and said with a smile, "Just think of it as a birthday gift from your auntie. This is the first birthday I get to celebrate with you, and it’s my first birthday gift to you. It has to be something special, don’t you think?"
After Chen Xi said this, Su Yuqing found she had no way to refuse.
After buying the dress, Chen Xi took Chen Mo and Su Yuqing to a party supply store in the mall.
After all, the house needed to be properly decorated for the birthday party.
While shopping for decorations, Chen Xi was in even higher spirits. She pulled Su Yuqing along to pick out balloon colors and streamer designs, asking about her preferences and leaving Chen Mo completely ignored on the side.
They were just like a real mother and daughter.
"Qingqing, what color do you like? Pink? Blue? Or this gradient kind?" Chen Xi was deliberately including Su Yuqing in every little detail of the planning, wanting her to truly feel that this celebration was all for her.
Su Yuqing was a little reserved at first, but under the influence of Chen Xi’s enthusiasm, she gradually loosened up and offered her own opinion in a small voice, "This one... the ribbon with the stars looks really nice..."
"Great! The starry one! Let’s get a lot!" Chen Xi immediately agreed.
Chen Mo followed silently behind them, pushing the shopping cart. He watched the two women ahead, excitedly discussing the details of the decorations. The smile on Su Yuqing’s face—a mixture of shyness and pure joy—was the most relaxed and radiant he had seen in a long time.
’My original plan for a romantic surprise, a little world for just the two of us, was completely derailed by Mom’s ’all-hands-on-deck’ family approach. But seeing Su Yuqing enveloped in such strong, loving affection from my family... that feeling of satisfaction seems to touch my heart more than any surprise ever could.’
He quietly pulled out his phone and sent a text to Zhao Yuanyuan: "Original plan is off. Initiating Plan B. Just hang on to everything for me for now."
Meanwhile, Chen Miao wasn’t idle either.
He had taken on the roles of "logistical support" and "technical support."
When the villa needed someone to climb up and down to hang streamers and balloons, he did it without a word of complaint.
When Chen Xi needed to test out her "secret recipe" seafood feast, he became the loyal taste-tester and dishwasher.
Whenever his mom roped Chen Mo into helping, he would appear at just the right moment to "rescue" his son. "Momo, come help your dad figure out this projector. We’ll use it to show photos on her birthday."
The entire house was filled with a bustling, warm atmosphere as everyone busied themselves for Su Yuqing’s birthday.
Su Yuqing felt as if she were soaking in a jar of warm honey, each day filled with sweet anticipation.
She watched Chen Xi energetically directing the decorating, Chen Miao working hard without complaint as her assistant, and Chen Mo, despite occasionally grumbling about his mom, diligently carrying out his "missions." The anxiety she felt about her own mother’s impending visit was gradually replaced by an immense, comforting happiness.
She was no longer just a burden, forced to "live under someone else’s roof," but a treasure cherished by everyone in the Chen family.
Her birthday hadn’t even arrived yet, but this daily life, wrapped in love, had already become the most precious gift of all.
The sunlight outside seemed especially bright, illuminating the busy figures inside the villa and shining down on the haven in Su Yuqing’s heart called "home," making it feel all the more warm and secure.
In the blink of an eye, the day of Su Yuqing’s birthday arrived.
Zhao Yuanyuan’s birthday was April 15th, which fell on a Saturday.
Su Yuqing’s birthday, May 21st, fell on a Sunday.
Both their birthdays landed on a weekend, the perfect time for a celebration.
Early that morning, the Chen family’s villa in Lanting Garden was already bustling with activity.
Chen Mo’s grandparents had come over from the old part of town first thing in the morning.
They were there to celebrate their future granddaughter-in-law’s birthday.
Li Fengzhi, Li Gang, and Li Mingyu’s family had all come over as well.
Because of Li Fengzhi’s past illness, her family had never thrown a big birthday celebration for Su Yuqing. Only young Li Mingyu would remember her birthday and secretly wish her well.
He didn’t understand the adults’ affairs; he only knew that his sister was his sister. Whether she was his biological sister or not, whether they were related by blood—he couldn’t care less about any of that.
Sometimes, the more astute a child is, the more they overthink things, and the more scheming they become.
Su Yaxi, for instance, was too shrewd and thought too much.
Her parents were very good to her, but her father’s affection was always being shared with her stepsister, which made her deeply resentful.
Li Mingyu, on the other hand, was less perceptive and didn’t think about such things.
His parents were very good to him, but they weren’t as good to his sister. He couldn’t understand it. He just wished his parents would treat his sister as well as they treated him.
Inside the villa, besides the family, there were also Zhao Yuanyuan and her sister, Huang Mao, Lin Yu’an and his brother, and a few other girls.
These were all friends Su Yuqing had made recently.
Among them was Wang Susu, someone Su Yuqing had been proactively trying to get to know.
Chen Mo had always been curious about why Su Yuqing was trying to get close to Wang Susu.
Today, he finally had his chance. He planned to use the commotion as an opportunity to pull Wang Susu aside for a private chat.
Having so many people show up to celebrate with her was beyond Su Yuqing’s wildest dreams. She had never had such a lively, grand birthday in her entire life.
However, there was one small thing marring the perfect picture: her biological father wasn’t there.
But she knew it was impossible for him and Li Fengzhi to be in the same place at the same time.
Even if he were willing to come, Su Yuqing would have to worry that his presence might trigger her mother’s illness and cause a relapse.
Therefore, at most, only one of her biological parents could ever be present at a time, a thought that always filled Su Yuqing with sadness.
The house was buzzing with activity, but Chen Mo noticed that amid the boisterous scene, a flicker of loneliness crossed Su Yuqing’s face. He immediately walked over, concerned. "Yuqing, what’s wrong? Is something wrong with the decorations?"