Chapter 111: Birthday

Chapter 111: Birthday

Xiao Hua and Su Mo stayed with Luo Ning for a while before leaving.

As they walked down the road, Su Mo playfully nudged Xiao Hua’s shoulder and grinned, saying, "Ningning said she used to see Kong Yu as a brother, so her feelings have changed now, right?"

Walking side by side, Xiao Hua chuckled softly at Su Mo’s remark. "Well, duh. It's clear Kong Yu has this in the bag."

"It’s a mutual crush, and they’re both heading towards each other—it’s so sweet!" Su Mo said, her eyes sparkling.

Xiao Hua raised an eyebrow and teased her, "Isn’t it the same with you and my brother?"

Su Mo’s face instantly turned red, and she fell silent.

The two days flew by, and before they knew it, it was Luo Ning’s 18th birthday.

That evening, the Blade Team, along with Kong Yu and Luo Ning—nine people in total—gathered at the villa for a party.

"Happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday!"

Birthday wishes poured in, and Luo Ning beamed, clearly overjoyed.

Xiao Hua sat across from Luo Ning, propped her chin on her hand, and watched for a moment before picking up a glass of fruit wine and handing it to her.

Luo Ning, puzzled by Xiao Hua’s gesture, took it and asked, "What’s this for?"

Xiao Hua pulled back, a meaningful smile on her lips. "Here’s to celebrating—you’re officially an adult now!"

*Now you can get confessed to, and who knows what might happen next.* Xiao Hua kept the last part to herself.

Luo Ning narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Thanks!"

At the dinner table, to liven up the atmosphere, a few guys started playing a finger-guessing game, with the loser being penalized with a drink.

Kong Yu, maybe feeling nervous and needing to blow off some steam, joined in too. But his luck wasn’t great, and after a few rounds, he was hit with three penalties.

Luo Ning’s eyes were glued to Kong Yu, convinced she was being discreet and unnoticed. She’d glance at him, quickly look away, and then sneak another look a few seconds later.

Xiao Hua took a small sip of her fruit wine, leaned toward Luo Ning’s ear, and said with a smile, "No one’s watching—go ahead and stare all you like."

Su Mo also leaned in, her eyes gleaming as she stared at Luo Ning.

Startled, Luo Ning’s hand trembled, nearly spilling the fruit wine on her clothes. She shot the two a reproachful look and whispered, "I’m embarrassed."

"It’s okay, you’ll get used to it in the future," Xiao Hua said, exchanging a knowing smile with Su Mo about the big plan for tonight.

Unaware of what was to come, Luo Ning’s thoughts drifted far away. "Even if I look too much, I’ll still be embarrassed. What if I get caught?"

Su Mo, with a hidden meaning in her words, said, "If you’re caught, then just look openly in the future."

Xiao Hua leisurely finished a piece of fruit, then glanced sideways at Luo Ning. "Maybe there’ll be a sudden spark, like fireworks going off or a lightning bolt hitting the ground."

Su Mo’s face turned red.

Luo Ning, being much more innocent, was stunned for a moment, and after Su Mo whispered a few words into her ear, her face flushed bright red.

"Come on, aren't you both excited about it?"

Their faces and even their ears turned bright red.

Xiao Hua looked at their reactions with a mischievous smile, having succeeded in her teasing.

Su Mo, realizing she was also being teased, felt a wave of annoyance.

Looking at Xiao Hua, who was laughing uncontrollably, she threatened fiercely, "Xiao Hua, there will be a day when you're like this, and I don't believe you won't be shy."

Xiao Hua, who wasn’t dating anyone, laughed and said, "I won’t be shy—I’ll just be excited."

Su Mo: "..."

Luo Ning: "..."

Looking forward to what? Was it what she imagined?

The birthday party went on for over two hours, and as everyone gradually settled down after eating, they began to leave.

Xiao Hua was leaning back in her chair, gently rubbing her stomach to help with digestion, feeling a bit sleepy. Suddenly, Su Mo tugged at her sleeve.

"Hmm?" Xiao Hua barely opened her eyes and looked at Su Mo.

Su Mo leaned in close to Xiao Hua's ear and whispered in a low voice, "Xiao Hua, why hasn't Kong Yu confessed yet?"

Xiao Hua turned her head to look, "Probably too nervous."

Su Mo: "..."

Su Mo shook Xiao Hua, gritting her teeth, "Be serious."

"Serious?" Xiao Hua tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Su Mo: "???"

Xiao Hua, imitating Su Mo's earlier manner, whispered, "Confessions like this can’t happen in public. They need to be private."

"Is that so?" Su Mo was skeptical but not entirely convinced.

But soon enough, events confirmed Xiao Hua’s guess—Kong Yu and Luo Ning stepped outside the villa. Everyone thought he had given up on confessing that night.

They could hear Kong Yu’s voice faintly from outside: "Ningning, I’ve liked you ever since... Will you be my girlfriend?"

Everyone held their breath, pressing their ears to the door to listen in.

Kong Yu spoke for a long time, and they could only catch bits and pieces of what he was saying. As he gradually quieted down, there was silence outside.

Su Mo gripped Xiao Hua’s hand tightly, hardly daring to breathe, as if she were the one confessing.

Xiao Hua pulled her hand away and laughed at how nervous Su Mo looked.

"What’s the rush? People need time to think—it’s not going to happen that fast."

Finally, a soft, almost inaudible "Yes" came from outside the door.