Birthday Party

When Mu Qingxi entered again, the room was already lively, every seat occupied. Qin Yu was mingling with several former classmates, and only beside Bai Fanhao was there a place to sit. She walked over and took the seat. Bai Fanhao looked at her, as if wanting to ask something.

Before he could speak, the door to the private room swung open and a man and a woman entered. Instantly, silence fell over the room; everyone grew quiet.

Mu Qingxi turned her head from Bai Fanhao to the door, and he did the same. Together, their eyes fell upon the newcomers—a man, tall at six feet, and a woman, about five foot three, wearing heeled leather shoes and a short skirt. The two stood together, perfectly matched.

"Brother Hai, you're here! Haha, Feiyan, you came too, thanks for making the long trip," the boy with the messy yellow hair called out. Someone pinched him and he yelped, "Hey, why'd you pinch me!"

Qin Yu stealthily slipped to her side, bumped her, and whispered, "Mu Mu, why is she here?"

She shot Qin Yu a disdainful glance—how clueless, did he not know Wang Feiyan liked Xi Haifei? Mu Qingxi felt odd gazes turning toward her. What was this supposed to be? Why look at her? She had nothing to do with Xi Haifei. Today, she had come for Bai Fanhao, so why were they staring at her?

Bai Fanhao grinned and said, "Haifei, you’re late. Let’s all sit and start!"

A few boys chimed in, "Yeah, Brother Hai, latecomers must drink three glasses."

"It’s got to be three, Feiyan included," someone insisted.

Urged on by the crowd, Xi Haifei drank three cups, but Wang Feiyan didn’t move. She watched Xi Haifei finish and giggled, "Haifei, I don’t drink. Could you—"

"Find your own way. I can’t drink more," Xi Haifei replied, his voice tinged with irritation and certainty.

She turned to Bai Fanhao, hoping he’d help her, but he stayed silent. Wang Feiyan stood awkwardly, until Wu Huan stepped forward and said he’d drink for her. Wang Feiyan looked at Mu Qingxi, a flash of something unreadable in her eyes.

"Strange" was Mu Qingxi’s summary of the gathering.

During the drinking games that followed, all her and Wei Yu’s drinks were taken by others. For her, only Xi Haifei and Bai Fanhao drank in her stead. Xi Haifei kept a stern face, never smiling, only helping her with the drinks. Bai Fanhao’s attitude was baffling—sometimes he glared at her as if she’d wronged him deeply, other times he shielded her with affection. And from the side, Wang Feiyan’s face, twisted by jealousy, was enough to disgust anyone.

Mu Qingxi felt increasingly uncomfortable, caught between Xi Haifei and Bai Fanhao, and anger simmered within her. Seeing Wang Feiyan’s constipated expression only fueled her irritation. She stood up and shouted at Xi Haifei and Bai Fanhao, "Enough! Xi Haifei, Bai Fanhao, what the hell are you two playing at? I’m done. Wei Yu, let’s go." With that, she grabbed Qin Yu and stormed out.

"Mu Qingxi, you—" Xi Haifei called after her, anxious.

Without turning back, she said, "Wei Yu, toss him the birthday gift."

Wei Yu pulled out the present they’d bought that afternoon and handed it to Xi Haifei, then linked arms with Mu Qingxi and left.

"Wu Huan, take Wang Feiyan home," Xi Haifei said coldly.

"Haifei, no! I came especially for your birthday. I won’t leave," Wang Feiyan stood up, her voice trembling with emotion.

Bai Fanhao spoke up then, "Yellow-hair, go with Wu Huan and take her home. If she won’t go, knock her out and send her back. Haifei, come on, let’s drink until we drop tonight."

Tears streamed down Wang Feiyan’s face as she watched Xi Haifei and Bai Fanhao ignore her. With no other choice, she left with the messy-haired boy and Wu Huan.

(The enmity between Wang Feiyan and Mu Qingxi is about to escalate—stay tuned!)