Chapter 122: So You Are the Luck I Want to Keep the Most

Hearing the various renditions of "Happy Birthday" around her, Zhao Yuanyuan was deeply moved.

’I hope our friendship lasts forever, even after we graduate high school,’ she wished silently.

’I hope Brother Mo and Yuqing grow old together.’

’I hope my grandparents stay healthy.’

’I hope my sister can become more outgoing.’

’I hope Lin Yu’an can fit in with all of us.’

And lastly, she wished for a lifetime of her own happiness and joy.

Once her wishes were made, she blew out the candles.

The server then drew the curtains open again.

The little ceremony was over and all the dishes had been served, so the server discreetly left them alone.

It was a good chance for the group to be by themselves. They chatted and gossiped, and the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.

Both Su Yuqing and Lin Yu’an had rarely attended gatherings with so many people.

Su Yuqing was mostly restricted by her mother.

Her father, Su Chengfeng, had met his mistress at a large party.

As a result, Li Fengzhi despised such events.

She strictly forbade Su Yuqing from attending any birthday parties or mixers.

This was one of the reasons Su Yuqing had developed a more solitary personality.

This warm, cheerful feeling was truly wonderful.

It allowed people like Su Yuqing and Lin Yu’an to gradually, almost unconsciously, let their guards down in such an atmosphere.

Even Lin Yu’an offered a rare, subtle smile in front of others. It finally dispelled the gloomy air that usually surrounded him, letting him radiate the bright energy of a boy his age.

Zhao Yuanyuan’s younger sister had noticed Lin Yu’an from the start, feeling they shared a similar trait—both were quiet and tended to avoid eye contact.

Now that she was getting to know him better, she thought he was actually quite handsome.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanyuan, Huang Mao, and Su Yuqing were now treating Lin Yu’an like any other friend, no longer stereotyping him.

When a person is truly understood, all labels fade away, leaving only the resonance of kindred spirits.

Seeing the people around him heal one by one gave Chen Mo a sense of redemption himself.

After a wonderful lunch, the group headed to a KTV, ready to spend the rest of the afternoon having fun.

In fact, only Huang Mao and Chen Mo had ever been to a KTV before; it was a first for everyone else.

They had heard about it but had never seen one for themselves, so Zhao Yuanyuan, Su Yuqing, and the others were filled with curiosity and anticipation.

As the door to the private KTV room swung open, colorful neon strips cast shifting patterns of light across the walls. Su Yuqing subconsciously flinched back half a step, only to be steadied by a warm, firm arm against her back.

"What’s wrong? You don’t have claustrophobia, do you?" Chen Mo asked, smiling at Su Yuqing.

’Even if she did, this karaoke room wasn’t exactly a small space.’

Embarrassed, Su Yuqing shook her head.

She had just never seen a space so enclosed and yet so dazzling.

Soon, everyone filed inside.

The air was thick with the scent of lemon air freshener and the sugary aroma of popcorn.

The first thing they saw was an enormous leather sofa that sprawled like a giant black flower in the center of the room.

Lin Yuxi leaped onto the sofa with a happy shout.

His energy was infectious, and the other first-timers quickly livened up as well.

"This is the control panel. You can switch between the original vocals and the instrumental track," Huang Mao explained.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo, looking like a regular, was already navigating the song selection screen. As his finger swiped across the display, it left a trail of shooting star effects, much to the novelty of the others.

Soon, Chen Mo had selected a song: "A Little Fortune."

Although it was a song originally sung by a woman, many of the lyrics resonated with his own feelings.

So, Chen Mo was quite fond of it.

He would even sing it himself from time to time.

Soon, a voice filled the room—Chen Mo’s, tinged with a world-weariness that seemed out of place for someone his age.

"I hear the raindrops falling on the green, green grass

I hear the school bell ringing in the distance

But I don’t hear your voice

Calling my name with such sincerity

I didn’t understand love when I fell for you

Only after we parted did I realize how deeply it hurt

Why didn’t I realize that meeting you

Was the best thing in my life..."

As Chen Mo sang with such raw emotion, the previously boisterous room gradually fell silent, everyone unconsciously captivated by his voice.

Su Yuqing had no idea the song Chen Mo was singing was meant for her.

She could only tell that he was pouring real emotion into the song.

"It turns out you were the luck I wanted most to keep

It turns out we and love were once so close..."

The chorus, in particular, was enough to give you goosebumps.

When the song ended, Chen Mo’s eyes were already fixed on Su Yuqing.

But no one else seemed to notice the feelings behind his performance.

They only thought he had an amazing voice.

After Chen Mo finished, Huang Mao, not to be outdone, immediately queued up a song of his own.

But he chose a more upbeat, dynamic song, the kind of track popular with guys their age.

He picked "Joyful Worship," instantly reigniting the energy in the room.

While Huang Mao was singing, Chen Mo took the opportunity to check on the others.

He knew that first-timers, especially the more introverted ones, would have a hard time stepping up to sing without a little encouragement.

With one exception, of course: Zhao Yuanyuan.

Huang Mao was still in the middle of his song when she grabbed the other microphone and started singing along.

After all, she knew this song too.

However, as soon as she joined in, Huang Mao, who had been singing perfectly in tune, was quickly thrown off-key.

Annoyed, Huang Mao shot Zhao Yuanyuan a glare, but remembering she was the birthday girl, he could only resign himself to it.

Hearing Zhao Yuanyuan’s shaky, off-key singing, the others couldn’t help but smile.

They weren’t mocking her; they just found it amusing.

’So you don’t have to be a good singer to sing. Just singing happily like Yuanyuan can make everyone else happy too.’

This realization greatly eased the shyness and reluctance they had felt about singing.

"Yu’an, what kind of music do you usually listen to? You’re up next," Chen Mo said with a smile, nudging Lin Yu’an.

His immediate instinct was to refuse, but under Chen Mo’s insistence—and with a small, secret desire to try—he shyly named a song, wondering if he could even sing it well.

Chen Mo was surprised when he heard the song title Lin Yu’an mentioned; he’d never heard it and had no idea what it was.

But when he searched for it on the selection screen, he was surprised to see a familiar artist’s name pop up.

Huang Mao watched in surprise as Chen Mo selected "A Happy Couple."

’He thought Chen Mo was going to sing it with Su Yuqing. He never would have guessed it was Lin Yu’an’s pick.’

The song didn’t seem very famous, so Huang Mao hadn’t heard of it, but judging by the title, it sounded like a love song.