Chapter 301: The Happiest Day

Su Yuqing’s words were simple, but she was, in effect, saying that Chen Mo’s birth was the very reason her own life could continue. For that, she was eternally grateful.

She paused, a brilliant yet resolute smile blooming on her face. “For every birthday from now on, for every single day, I want to be by your side and spend them with you. I might not be able to come up with a better birthday present, but at least I can give myself to you. On every one of your birthdays, I’ll do my best to make you happy. That is… as long as you don’t get tired of me.”

Since returning from the dream, Su Yuqing had clearly become more frank and direct.

Words of affection that she would have once been too shy to utter were now spoken with much more courage.

She was also much more open in expressing her emotions.

Her words were like a pebble dropped into the lake of his heart, sending massive ripples through him.

He gazed at the girl bravely confessing her feelings before him. The morning light gilded her in a soft gold, and the pure, ardent emotion in her eyes outshone all the light around them.

No longer able to suppress the surging emotions within, he suddenly threw his arms around her, pulling her tightly, so tightly, into his embrace.

“You silly girl…” Chen Mo’s voice was muffled in her fragrant hair, thick with emotion and trembling uncontrollably. “I’ll never get tired of you. Not in this lifetime.”

He tightened his arms, as if trying to fuse her into his very bones. “You are, and always will be, the best birthday present I could ever receive… bar none.”

Held tightly in his arms, Su Yuqing could clearly feel his heart pounding just as fiercely as hers. The tension from her bold confession instantly melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sweetness and a profound sense of security.

She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around him in return, and rested her cheek in the warm crook of his neck, a silent smile gracing her lips.

It was as if the world had faded away, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats and the soft rustling of the morning breeze through the leaves outside.

Chen Mo’s gaze fell upon Su Yuqing’s slightly parted lips, soft as petals. Without another moment of hesitation, filled with a long-suppressed desire and the surging love of the moment, he gently yet firmly leaned in and kissed her.

This kiss was different from their first, the tentative, heart-pounding one on the cliffside.

It was longer, deeper, filled with the certainty of their mutual feelings and an endless, cherished affection.

Su Yuqing trembled for only a moment before willingly closing her eyes. Her long lashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings as her hands unconsciously found their way to his shoulders, returning his kiss with clumsy but utterly sincere ardor.

The sweet, fresh taste of her, mingled with the flavor of the morning sun, was intoxicatingly wonderful.

Time seemed to stand still.

All that remained in the apartment was the sound of their mingled breaths, their racing hearts, and a love so palpable it filled the air.

However, this serene moment of sweetness did not last long.

CLICK! The soft sound of a key turning in the lock suddenly rang out, shattering the enchanting atmosphere in the room.

A moment later, the door was thrown open with a BANG.

In walked Chen Xi, holding a huge, ribbon-adorned cake box, followed by a smiling Grandpa and Grandma, who were also laden with bags of all sizes.

At the sound of the door opening, Su Yuqing shot out of Chen Mo’s arms like a startled fawn. Her face was so red it felt like it might burst, and she was utterly mortified. She instinctively tried to hide behind Chen Mo, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole.

The tips of Chen Mo’s ears were also bright red, but he was far calmer than Su Yuqing. Though embarrassed, he had an air of nonchalance, as if being caught didn’t matter.

He instinctively shielded Su Yuqing behind him and walked out of the bedroom with a look of amused resignation, facing the three “uninvited guests” at the door.

“Mom! Why are you all… here so early?” Chen Mo’s voice held a trace of annoyance at the interruption.

“Oh, ho!” Chen Xi shot a glance at the blushing Su Yuqing and grinned slyly. “Too early for you? I’d say our timing was just a little too perfect, wouldn’t you?”

‘One look was all it took to know those two lovebirds had been up to something.’

At this, Grandpa and Grandma seemed to sense what was going on too. They exchanged a sheepish smile, then looked at Chen Mo. “It was your mother,” Grandpa said. “She insisted we come over while you two were still asleep to set up a surprise. We didn’t expect you to be up so early.”

As he spoke, they all took in the decorations in the living room.

Chen Xi immediately smiled at Su Yuqing. “Did you do all this, Qingqing?”

“Yes, I got up early while Chen Mo was still sleeping and put a few things up,” Su Yuqing replied with a shy smile.

‘Although she was no longer so shy around Chen Mo most of the time, she still felt awkward expressing her feelings for him in front of his family.’

“Oh, my, you’ve worked so hard, getting up so early to do all this,” Chen Xi said, smiling at them. “You two go back to bed for a bit. Your grandpa, grandma, and I can handle the rest of the decorations. Your friends will be here this afternoon, so you’d better get some rest.”

“Yuqing, you go get some more sleep. I’ve had enough; I can help decorate,” Chen Mo said with a smile.

“You’re the birthday boy. You shouldn’t be lifting a finger,” Chen Xi said, rolling her eyes at Chen Mo. “Go keep Qingqing company and rest.”

“But didn’t you once tell me a birthday is the ‘day of a mother’s trial,’ and that I should be the one taking care of *you* today?” Chen Mo said with a helpless smile.

Hearing this, the usually playful Chen Xi’s expression suddenly grew serious. With a rare, tender smile, she reached out and stroked Chen Mo’s head. “This day, every year, is the happiest day of my life. Because eighteen years ago, heaven blessed me with my most, most precious baby boy.”

The other three were deeply moved by her words.

There’s an old saying that a child is born for one of two reasons: to repay a debt of gratitude or to exact revenge.

For a mother, the journey from conception to birth is filled with profound significance.

It is a time filled with moments of both immense happiness and pain.

Every mother has her own way of defining what her child means to her.

Clearly, for Chen Xi, having a son like Chen Mo was a source of immense happiness and incredible luck.

From the moment she conceived Chen Mo, her memories held only happiness, no pain.

She might act silly on a day-to-day basis, but when it came to showing her love for her child, Chen Xi didn’t hold back in the slightest.

In her daily life, her work often prevented her from giving Chen Mo as much attention as she wanted, so she was always looking for opportunities to make up for it.

Chen Mo’s birthday was the perfect opportunity for her to make up for any motherly love and affection he might have missed on a daily basis. How could she possibly bear to let him treat the day as some ‘trial’ for her and have him wait on her hand and foot?

Together with the lovingly prepared breakfast, Chen Mo and Su Yuqing were herded back into the bedroom by the three adults. Then, acting like a trio of mischievous kids, they took turns pressing their ears to the door, trying to eavesdrop on the sounds from within.