A Cai: "Brother, brother, brother, you're just playing with fish, this won't do, pour more."
Ou Yunchen: "No, I really can't drink anymore. You guys are young, just let me off the hook."
A Cai: "Brother, why are you always so reserved? You're the birthday boy today! We have to make you happy!"
Ou Yunchen: "A Cai, I am very happy. I'm very grateful that you're celebrating my birthday, but I..."
Everyone: "Drink one, drink one, drink one!"
Ou Yunchen looked at these rich second-generation kids, each of them tipsy, but still egging him on.
Ou Yunchen sighed and had to pretend to be forced, then swallowed the freshly poured wine down his throat.
Instantly, the room erupted in cheers and applause.
Fatty: "Brother, look!"
Beautiful Russian girls in very sexy outfits lined up, holding birthday cakes, and walked in from outside.
The room quieted down, and everyone began singing "Happy Birthday!"
A Cai and Fatty put a birthday crown on Ou Yunchen together, while the others shouted in unison, "Make a wish."
A Cai: "Brother, I wish you boundless fortune like the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains!!!"
Fatty: "Those are birthday wishes for an eighty-year-old man!"
A Cai: "Then you say one!"
Fatty: "I wish Brother, may you have abundance every year... ah no! May you have this day every year, and this year every year!!!"
A Cai: "Brother, make a wish!"
Ou Yunchen awkwardly closed his eyes. The date he had casually picked online had become everyone's perceived birthday.
However, since everyone believed it, he decided to let this special day become a beautiful memory for them all.
As soon as Ou Yunchen opened his eyes, he felt a forceful push on the back of his head, and with a *smack*, he was shoved into the cake...
When Ou Yunchen, also laughing, stood up from the cake, the entire room burst into uproarious laughter. These mischievous kids! They were too naughty!
Ou Yunchen: "You two are dead!"
With that, Ou Yunchen grabbed one of them in each hand and pushed them into the cake as well.
And so, no one in the room could escape the fate of a cake facial. Everyone was covered in cake, filled with Ou Yunchen's essence!
While everyone was engaged in the cake war, someone, out of nowhere, played an old song.
Who wouldn't know how to sing Wakin Chau's "Friends"?
As that familiar melody, transcending age groups, began to play, it didn't matter if it was Ou Yunchen in his thirties or the fresh-faced youngsters in their early twenties; they all put their arms around each other's shoulders, swaying and singing the chorus.
"Friends walk together for life, those days won't come again, a word, a lifetime, eternal affection, a glass of wine..."
Ou Yunchen's eyes began to water. Although he had once been a cold-blooded adopted son, he still understood the value of brotherhood.
However, the betrayal he had suffered, the near-death experiences, had made Ou Yunchen almost forget how genuine and pure human emotions should be.
He began to be grateful for Sister Hong's life-saving grace, grateful for his days in Athens, grateful for A Ming, grateful for Mrs. Su, and grateful to so many people.
Like a devil from hell, he had experienced so much warmth in the human world. Now, he had become somewhat sentimental, like an old man, actually moved to tears by this little bit of happiness.
***
After seeing all the youngsters into their cars and reminding the designated drivers to drive slowly, Ou Yunchen finally left the party.
Compared to those completely drunk kids, Ou Yunchen was actually not drunk at all. He had simply drunk too much in the past, and now the sight of alcohol made him feel nauseous.
"Need a designated driver?"
As Ou Yunchen took out his car keys, he felt the voice sounded so familiar.
Ou Yunchen: "Why are you here?"
Yao Qianxun giggled and snatched the car keys from Ou Yunchen's hand.
Yao Qianxun: "Sir, buckle up, we're about to depart."
Ou Yunchen: "Don't tell me you're working as a designated driver in a place like this late at night?"
Yao Qianxun: "How could that be? I was here for a party, and then I ran into your group having a blast in the next private room."
Ou Yunchen: "Sorry, it must have been very noisy."
Yao Qianxun: "It was alright, the soundproofing in this place is good, I didn't hear anything."
Yao Qianxun looked at Ou Yunchen, who was covered in cake stains, with some even sticking to his hair.
Yao Qianxun: "Had a great time?"
Ou Yunchen: "It was alright."
Yao Qianxun glanced at the many paper bags in the back seat and guessed that Ou Yunchen had been celebrating his birthday.
Yao Qianxun: "Oh no, you already had your birthday."
Ou Yunchen: "What?"
Yao Qianxun: "Your birthday was yesterday, right?"
Ou Yunchen: "It's today..."
Ou Yunchen checked the time, and it had indeed passed.
Ou Yunchen: "Alright, it was yesterday..."
Yao Qianxun: "You didn't even say anything about your birthday, I didn't prepare a gift for you."
Ou Yunchen: "I didn't want to celebrate it either. They dragged me there. I'll have to repay all those gift-givers eventually."
Yao Qianxun: "Right, my birthday is next week, I'm inviting you."
Ou Yunchen: "Is it... that coincidental? Just a week apart?"
Yao Qianxun: "Hahaha, you absolutely must come!"
Ou Yunchen: "Is it okay if I just give a gift and don't attend?"
Yao Qianxun: "How can that be? You're the first good friend I've met here!"
Ou Yunchen: "Who else will be there?"
Yao Qianxun: "Hmm... It's mostly classmates and friends."
Ou Yunchen: "Will I be playing the role of a parent?"
Yao Qianxun: "Don't worry, you won't be the oldest."