Urban Powers After the Apocalypse

With so many guests arriving, as the host, Xu Bilin couldn't possibly attend to just Xu Mo and He Shang alone. After exchanging a few casual words, she quickly directed them to a table.

He Shang, the typical homebody, wasn't accustomed to such lively environments. He didn't often socialize, so as soon as he sat down, he pulled out his PSP and started playing a game. After greeting a few familiar classmates, Xu Mo sat back, munching on sunflower seeds, and began surveying the guests Xu Bilin had invited.

Among the thirty-odd people in the room, nearly half were from Xu Mo's senior class, with a majority being girls. Aside from him and He Shang, the only other guy invited was the class monitor, Si Mo Bai. The rest of the guests were mostly unfamiliar faces—some seemed to be from the same grade at school, while others appeared to be from different schools, likely friends Xu Bilin had made before transferring.

Even though He Shang was absorbed in his PSP game, he didn't forget to look around. Suddenly, he stared intently in one direction and exclaimed, "What? Is that really her? The school beauty's here? Your little wife sure has a wide circle of friends…"

"Who? Lin Yijing from Class 3? Your dream girl?" Xu Mo asked, following He Shang's gaze.

Sure enough, seated at another table was the school's "flower," Lin Yijing. She still wore her signature white hairpin with her long, flowing hair, and her delicate, fresh face was bare of makeup. Even though she sat quietly in the corner, she stood out like a lily among wildflowers.

Thanks to the warm air in the room, Lin Yijing had already removed her coat. The tight white cashmere sweater clung to her figure, accentuating her ample chest, which seemed disproportionate to her otherwise slender frame. The contrast made her look a little unbalanced, and though this could be seen as a flaw, it somehow added a unique charm, making her even more striking.

It was undeniable that, when it came to appearance, Lin Yijing was likely the most beautiful girl Xu Mo had seen, with the exception of that quirky girl, Tang Guo, who might surpass her once she grew up. Among their peers, however, Lin Yijing was the undisputed beauty. Even Xu Bilin, dressed in her finest attire, seemed to pale in comparison.

It was hard to remain indifferent when faced with such an outstanding girl, and no wonder He Shang, a self-proclaimed otaku, was captivated.

If Xu Bilin were a rose in a flower garden—requiring one to brave her thorns to win her favor—then Lin Yijing was a water lily in a pond, beautiful from afar but untouchable. Without the right strength, one could easily drown in trying to reach her.

Therefore, Xu Mo had never entertained any thoughts of pursuing Lin Yijing. His feelings for her had always been limited to appreciating her beauty. Everyone loves beauty, but Xu Mo knew well the distance between a toad and a swan. Compared to the unattainable Lin Yijing, the down-to-earth Xu Bilin seemed much more real.

Besides, Xu Bilin carried the shadow of the girl Xu Mo had once loved… and because of this, no one could replace her in his heart.

However, He Shang didn't seem as excited as Xu Mo expected. While playing his game, he casually remarked, "Dream girl? I'd say the school beauty just happens to match my aesthetic, but even if she threw herself at me, I wouldn't date a girl like her."

"You sound like you're trying to act cool…" Xu Mo scoffed.

"Nothing strange about it. It's not about fearing the thief, it's about fearing that the thief's interested! Besides, beauties are like golden bricks lying on the street—only the one who can take them home is the winner. I'm just here to help carry the bricks…" He Shang's perspective on relationships was always unexpectedly lofty. Perhaps, as he said, most philosophers in ancient Greece were probably introverts, holed up in their homes.

Aside from Lin Yijing, another person who stood out in the room was Ou Yang Ning, the sports representative of Class 3 and captain of the school's basketball team.

Although Xu Mo had gotten into a brief fight with some members of Class 3's basketball team due to Xu Bilin, it was a minor, impulsive conflict, and things had long passed. As for Ou Yang Ning, he didn't necessarily dislike him, but there was no real connection either.

Since Lin Yijing had shown up, it wasn't surprising that Ou Yang Ning was also at Xu Bilin's birthday party. However, recalling He Shang's earlier comment and noticing Xu Bilin's obvious distance from him, Xu Mo couldn't help but make some connections.

So far, though, Ou Yang Ning was just chatting normally with his friends and didn't seem to be paying Xu Bilin any special attention. His calm demeanor made Xu Mo breathe a sigh of relief.

Concerned for nothing? Perhaps he was overthinking things…

Having been Xu Mo's best friend for over two years, He Shang was quick to notice Xu Mo's subtle expressions. Seeing him fixate on Ou Yang Ning, He Shang leaned over and whispered, "So, when are you planning to confess to your little wife? It's better to act first. You know, the longer you wait, the more dreams you'll have…"

"Hmm… Let's wait a bit longer. Even though things seem good between me and Xu Bilin, you know we've only known each other for a little over a month. Confessing now would be way too sudden, and if it fails, we might not even be able to stay friends," Xu Mo said, shaking his head, not too keen on He Shang's suggestion.

"You're right about that," He Shang replied, "but you'd better hope your little wife holds onto her chastity before you confess… though that's not very realistic."

Xu Mo fell silent. He had never seriously thought about whether Xu Bilin might find a boyfriend before he confessed. Deep down, he had been avoiding the question, unwilling to face it.

As the evening wore on, the birthday party continued its course. Xu Bilin seemed to be in an unusually good mood, even singing two songs for the guests… though whether those were considered songs was debatable, given the off-key singing.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the atmosphere peaked when the birthday cake candles were lit. Everyone stood up and sang the birthday song in unison.

"Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you…"

The bright candlelight reflected on Xu Bilin's face, highlighting her happiness and giving her cheeks a rosy glow.

After a few of her close friends encouraged her, Xu Bilin closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out all the candles. The crowd erupted in cheers as they began to divide the cake.

"Lin Lin, what did you wish for just now? Is it that you want to be blessed with a perfect man?" one of the girls from her old school teased her after taking a slice of cake.

Xu Bilin screamed and chased after them in playful retaliation, her laughter ringing through the room.

Xu Mo, not particularly fond of sweets like cake, had eaten a few symbolic bites before putting his fork down. He suddenly noticed Ou Yang Ning looking anxiously at his watch, as though waiting for something.

Just then, Xu Mo faintly heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door of the room. It was likely the person Ou Yang Ning had been waiting for. Without knowing why, Xu Mo found himself instinctively walking toward the door. Before the visitor could knock, he pulled the door open.

A young man holding a large bouquet of roses at the door was startled by the sudden movement.

"Excuse me… is Miss Xu Bilin here? I have flowers for her, please sign for them."

"My flowers?" Xu Bilin looked surprised, walking over with some doubt. She signed for the bouquet, then struggled to bring the large bunch of roses inside.

The vibrant red roses seemed to glow under the lights, drawing envious exclamations from the girls in the room.

Xu Mo's heart sank as he watched the roses being brought in. His mood suddenly plummeted.