Chapter 305: A Happy Birthday

Everyone started by having a blast at Chen Mo’s house for a good while.

They unwrapped presents, ate cake, and played board games. Their laughter nearly blew the roof off the house.

Chen Xi fully embraced her role as the life of the party, pulling the grandparents into the young people’s games. The three elders shed any pretense of seniority, making the atmosphere even more relaxed and joyful.

In the afternoon, Li Fengzhi and Li Gang also came by to offer their congratulations.

Compared to how easily Chen Xi and Chen Mo’s grandparents blended in with the younger crowd, Li Fengzhi and Li Gang seemed a generation apart and had a harder time fitting in.

Still, it wasn’t awkward for them, since the atmosphere among everyone in Chen Mo’s home was so wonderful.

Unable to join in the games, Li Fengzhi decided to show off her culinary skills and head to the kitchen to whip up some delicious food for everyone.

Perfect timing, as everyone was getting hungry after an afternoon of fun.

With Li Gang’s help, the two of them quickly prepared a whole feast for the group.

During this time, Chen Xi and Chen Mo’s grandparents offered to help, but they were gently turned away.

"You just go look after the young ones," Li Fengzhi said with a smile. "We don’t really get their games, so working in here is perfect for us. We wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if we were just sitting around."

Seeing her sincere expression, Chen Xi didn’t insist.

Chen Mo’s family were all down-to-earth people who disliked beating around the bush. While Chen Xi and Chen Miao had learned to be tactful for their jobs, they actually preferred dealing with straightforward people.

Li Fengzhi and Li Gang were exactly that type of person, which was why the two families got along more and more harmoniously.

Chen Xi could tell what kind of person Li Fengzhi was and knew she wasn’t just making polite excuses, so she confidently left the kitchen in her hands.

She then went back to joining the grandparents and the younger crowd in their games.

As evening fell, the group gathered around the table laden with delicious food and joyfully devoured every last bite.

Watching everyone happily jostling for the best dishes, Li Fengzhi and Li Gang felt a genuine sense of joy.

Their afternoon of hard work hadn’t been in vain. The toil of cooking so many dishes was completely forgotten, replaced by the pure happiness of seeing their culinary skills so appreciated.

"Mom, Uncle Li Gang, thank you for all your hard work," Su Yuqing said, looking at the two of them with a caring smile.

"It’s all worth it as long as you enjoyed it. I’m not tired at all."

"Auntie, Uncle, your cooking is amazing. I’ve had a very happy birthday," Chen Mo said, smiling at Li Fengzhi and Li Gang.

Receiving praise from the birthday boy himself, the smile on Li Fengzhi’s face grew even wider.

In that moment, you would never have guessed she was someone who suffered from a severe mental illness.

It had to be said that Su Yuqing moving out of the house had played a huge role in stabilizing her mental state.

After a wonderful dinner, Li Fengzhi and Li Gang took Li Mingyu and Lin Yuxi home. The rest of the group, who were still eager for more fun, were whisked away by Chen Xi to a karaoke bar.

In the private room, a mix of caterwauling (mostly from Zhou Hao and Huang Mao) and beautiful singing (from Su Yuqing and Zhao Yuanyuan) filled the air. Chen Mo was also coaxed into singing a few songs.

Su Yuqing sat beside him. Under the dim, flashing lights, she gazed at his focused profile as he sang, listening to his deep, pleasant voice, her face overflowing with love.

As night fully enveloped the city and the neon lights began to flicker, Chen Xi mysteriously announced, "The second half of the birthday party starts now! Destination—a nightclub!"

"A nightclub?!" With the exception of Chen Mo, who had been a few times for work, everyone else, including Su Yuqing, looked shocked and bewildered.

For this group of students who spent most of their time buried in books on campus, nightclubs were places that existed only in movies and legends.

Even Zhou Hao, the self-proclaimed campus tough guy, had never been to one.

In movies and TV shows, nightclubs were always associated with chaos and crime. So for these "good kids," it was a demonized place that sounded like somewhere only "bad kids" would go. They hadn’t just never been; they’d never even had the slightest desire to go near one.

"Mom, are you sure?" Chen Mo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Only his unconventional mother would think of taking a group of students to a nightclub.

"Of course I’m sure! It’s a coming-of-age celebration, you have to experience something different!" Chen Xi declared with an indisputable wave of her hand. "Don’t worry, the place I picked is very safe, and I’ll be there. Just think of it as broadening your horizons and soaking in the atmosphere! Let’s go!"

Fueled by Chen Xi’s instigation and the indulgent smiles of the grandparents, who agreed that ’it’s good for young people to see more of the world,’ the group was swept away. Filled with a mix of intense curiosity and a hint of trepidation, they were whisked off by the impetuous Chen Xi to the entrance of a high-end nightclub known for its great atmosphere and strict security.

The moment they pushed open the heavy, soundproof doors, a deafening wave of electronic music hit them like a physical force, nearly knocking them off their feet.

Dazzling, psychedelic laser beams sliced and spun wildly through the dim space, illuminating faces lost in the rhythm.

The dance floor was a sea of moving bodies, swaying unreservedly to the powerful beat. The air was thick with a complex mix of alcohol and perfume.

Zhou Hao and Lin Yu’an stood dumbstruck, their mouths slightly agape, like a couple of country mice in the big city.

Zhao Yuanyuan subconsciously gripped Huang Mao’s arm, her eyes darting around, a mix of nervousness and curiosity on her face.

Su Yuqing, dazed by the intense sensory overload, also instinctively tightened her grip on Chen Mo’s arm, leaning her body slightly against his, seeking a familiar sense of security.

"So? Intense enough for you?" Chen Xi asked, raising an eyebrow smugly. She expertly led them through the crowd to a booth that was relatively off to the side but still had a good view.

She was clearly no stranger to the place, ordering drinks and snacks with practiced ease.

"Don’t be nervous. Just relax and have fun. My mom’s friend owns this place," Chen Mo said with a smile, gently patting Su Yuqing’s hand.

"So what are we supposed to do here?" Su Yuqing leaned close to Chen Mo’s ear and shouted. The environment forced everyone to raise their voices. Her own was tinged with curiosity and a barely perceptible hint of excitement.

She looked around at the bizarre, fantastical world around them. The roar of the massive speakers made the floor vibrate slightly. Everything was so foreign, yet so stimulating.

Sensing her mix of anxiety and curiosity, Chen Mo squeezed her cool hand and leaned down to reply in her ear, "I’ll take you dancing in a bit."

"I don’t know how!" Su Yuqing said, embarrassed.

"It’s fine. You just have to move around a little. It’s all about freedom. Just follow the rhythm, you don’t need any special skills," Chen Mo said, smiling reassuringly.

Su Yuqing nodded eagerly. With him by her side, her curiosity quickly overwhelmed her anxiety.

She watched the crowd on the dance floor moving to the music. And sure enough, even though she didn’t know how to dance, her body began to sway gently to the beat, unconsciously and irresistibly. A look of eagerness to join in flashed in her eyes.