Fifth page

On a snowy winter night, the entire city was covered in silver, resembling an ice and snow kingdom from a fairy tale.

In this romantic atmosphere, Lu Yi celebrated another important birthday in his life.

Zhou Chen, Mu Mu, Xu Li, Tan Yuze, Bai Chuan, Zhu Yu, and many other classmates and friends came from all directions to gather at Lu Yi's carefully arranged birthday party to celebrate his birthday. A warm and joyful birthday feast was thus launched.

The party was held in a retro and elegant villa, where the interior was warm and cozy, a stark contrast to the snowy landscape outside.

Upon entering, you'll see colorful ribbons and balloons hanging everywhere, their vibrant colors illuminated by warm yellow lights, creating a festive atmosphere.

The large crystal chandelier in the center is dazzling, like stars falling from the sky, illuminating the entire space brightly and magnificently.

The long table was laden with all kinds of food and drinks, with an exquisite cake placed in the most prominent position. Its intricate carvings and flickering candles attracted everyone's attention.

Zhou Chen, one of the first guests to arrive, was busy assisting Lu Yi with the final preparations. He was tall and composed, exuding a mature and steady charm in every gesture.

Zhou Chen and Lu Yi have known each other since childhood, and their friendship has deepened over the years, with mutual trust. This time, he not only carefully selected a generous gift, but also brought heartfelt blessings and expectations.

"Lu Yi, this cake is so beautiful. You should make a wish today and make all your wishes come true," Zhou Chen teased, his eyes full of concern and affection.

"That's for sure. With so many brothers and sisters around, my wish will definitely come true," Lu Yi replied confidently, his eyes sparkling with joy.

Soon, Mu Mu and Xu Li arrived hand in hand. Mu Mu wore a blue long dress, like a refreshing touch in winter; Xu Li wore an elegant white sweater paired with light blue jeans, looking fresh and refined.

As soon as the two stepped into the villa, they were infected by the lively atmosphere and their faces beamed with bright smiles.

"Happy birthday, Lu Yi! We have to celebrate properly this year. Don't secretly wish for anything like losing weight. You have to wish for something happy and romantic."

Mu Mu quickly stepped forward and handed the gift to Lu Yi, then took out an exquisitely packaged box from her handbag and handed it to him. Xu Li also chimed in, "Yes, let's forget our worries and enjoy this wonderful moment."

She magically produced a bouquet of flowers from behind her and handed it to Lu Yi. The flowers were vibrant and looked even more lively under the lamplight.

Lu Yi accepted the gifts and flowers, his heart filled with warmth: "Thank you, Mu Mu, the gift is so beautifully wrapped, and Xu Li, the flowers are gorgeous. You two little cuties have given me so many surprises."

Immediately afterwards, Tan Yuze appeared together with Bai Chuan. Tan Yuze wore a dark blue wool coat over a white shirt, with a small brooch pinned to his collar, exuding elegance and gentlemanly demeanor.

Bai Chuan, on the other hand, was dressed casually in a black hoodie and camouflage pants, exuding youthful energy.

"Happy birthday, Brother Lu Yi! We've brought a huge surprise with us." Tan Yuze clapped his hands and said mysteriously, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

Bai Chuan chimed in, "That's right, hurry up and open the gift we prepared, we guarantee you'll love it." Lu Yi eagerly took the gift box from Tan Yuze, gently unwrapped it, and inside was a beautiful photo album.

Upon opening the album, a series of photos documenting their growth and cherished memories come into view, capturing every moment from childhood play and laughter to adulthood and shared struggles.

"Wow, this is so meaningful! You've really gone to a lot of trouble!" Lu Yi said, his eyes slightly reddening. Bai Chuan handed over his gift, a limited-edition basketball glove. He knew Lu Yi loved playing basketball in his spare time, and this glove would definitely give him an edge on the court.

"Bai Chuan, this is exactly what I wanted! You understand me so well." Lu Yi held Bai Chuan's hand, thanking him repeatedly. Finally, Zhu Yu also rushed over, holding a box of red wine he had treasured for many years. It was a specialty he had brought back from abroad, specially to celebrate Lu Yi's birthday.

"Happy birthday, Lu Yi! This is a red wine I carefully selected, it's incredibly fragrant, let's drink until we drop tonight!" Zhu Yu said heartily, his eyes full of enthusiasm and sincerity.

"Zhu Yu, your words are enough. Let's celebrate to our hearts' content today!" Lu Yi took the red wine and gave Zhu Yu a tight hug.

As the guests gradually arrived, the birthday party officially began. Everyone sat around the long table, enjoying delicious food and chatting about interesting stories and the past.

Laughter and cheerful voices echoed throughout the villa, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. Zhou Chen raised his glass first: "Lu Yi, today is your birthday. I'll drink to that first. May you have peace and happiness every year, may your dreams come true, and may our brotherhood last forever."

After saying that, he downed his drink in one gulp. Mu Mu, not to be outdone, stood up and said, "Lu Yi, you are my best and most wonderful friend. On your birthday, Mu Mu wishes you happiness every day and that you encounter many more wonderful things. Cheers!"

She playfully whistled loudly, eliciting laughter from everyone. Tan Yuze chimed in, "Lu Yi, we've known each other for so many years, going through thick and thin together. Seeing you so happy today makes me truly happy too."

"I hope that in the days to come, no matter what difficulties we encounter, we can work together and keep going!"

He raised his glass and clinked it with everyone's; the crisp sound seemed to play a symphony of friendship.

Bai Chuan, Xu Li, and Zhu Yu also spoke, expressing their birthday wishes and best hopes for Lu Yi.

Surrounded by this deep friendship and love, Lu Yi's face was always filled with a happy smile. He stood up and bowed deeply to everyone: "Thank you, my good brothers and sisters. Having you all is my greatest fortune."

"Today, let's have fun together, eat and drink to our hearts' content, and make this birthday our most unforgettable memory." Amidst everyone's laughter and songs, the candles were slowly lit, flickering with a warm light.

Lu Yi closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and silently made a wish. When he opened his eyes and blew out the candles, the whole room erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers, pushing the party atmosphere to its peak.

Then, everyone stood up, held hands, formed a large circle, and danced to the rhythm of cheerful music.

Their dance moves, whether graceful or comical, all exuded joy and energy.

Mu Mu and Tan Yuze danced a romantic duet in the circle, their graceful dance moves like fairies in a snowy world; Zhou Chen partnered with Xu Li, their tacit understanding was perfect, and every movement was perfectly coordinated.

Bai Chuan and Zhu Yu were not to be outdone, gesturing wildly and making everyone burst into laughter. Outside the dance floor, Lu Yi leaned against the railing, looking tenderly at his lovely friends, his heart filled with gratitude and contentment.

He knew that they were not only there to celebrate his birthday, but also to create a beautiful memory together and deepen their friendship.

As the night deepened, the snow outside the window fell heavier and heavier, the fluttering snowflakes dancing in the air like fairies, adding a touch of fantasy and romance to the birthday party.

The lights inside the villa were still on, and laughter still echoed through the snow-covered winter night.

Together they weave their own warmth and joy, and this birthday is destined to become an unforgettable and beautiful chapter in their lives.

As the snowflakes outside the window grew thicker and the singing inside gradually subsided, everyone was still reluctant to leave.

Lu Yi suggested starting a party game session, and everyone readily agreed. Zhou Chen took the lead in proposing a relay race game, and the group split into two teams: one consisting of himself, Bai Chuan, and Xu Li, and the other consisting of Tan Yuze, Mu Mu, and Zhu Yu.

As the race began, Zhou Chen's team quickly took the lead thanks to their excellent teamwork. However, Bai Chuan, in his excitement during the relay, knocked over a vase by the roadside, causing the entire audience to burst into laughter.

Tan Yuze's team seized the opportunity to overtake and ultimately won by a narrow margin. Xu Li, holding the fallen Bai Chuan, joked, "Looks like our team needs a 'protector of the flowers'!"

During a break in the game, Mu Mu suddenly pulled out a tarot deck from her bag: "Come on, let's predict the future for the birthday boy today!" Everyone sat in a circle, and Lu Yi drew a card with some skepticism.

Tan Yuze, acting as a "card interpreter," pretended to be profound: "This 'Star' card indicates that you will encounter a major turning point next year, but you need to be wary of the conflict brought by the 'Swords' card next to you."

Xu Li suddenly exposed him: "Come on, last time you told me I would become rich overnight after reading my fortune, but I couldn't even get a discount coupon!" Everyone burst into laughter, and even Lu Yi laughed until tears streamed down his face.

Taking advantage of the situation, Zhu Yu retrieved a box of fireworks from the trunk, and the group, wrapped in thick blankets, rushed to the courtyard. Bai Chuan was in charge of lighting them, and as the fireworks soared into the night sky, they burst into colorful halos, casting flickering light on everyone's faces.

"Look! Doesn't that look like the scene from the first time we stayed up all night playing games?" Zhou Chen pointed to the golden fireworks in the sky, his voice drowned out by the sound of firecrackers.

Xu Li suddenly grabbed Lu Yi's hand: "Make a wish quickly! Wishes made with fireworks are the most effective!" The moment Lu Yi closed his eyes and made his wish, the snow suddenly stopped, and moonlight pierced through the clouds, draping the silver-clad world in a light veil.

The fun wasn't over yet, and Zhu Yu conjured up a board game of Ludo from nowhere. Everyone crowded onto the carpet to relive the childhood game. Zhou Chen argued heatedly with Bai Chuan over a move, while Tan Yuze and Xu Li formed a "couples alliance" to gang up on their opponents.

While eating snacks, Mu Mu muttered, "I taught you the rules of this game, but now look what happened..." Lu Yi leaned against the corner of the sofa, looking at the mess of snack wrappers and his friends scrambling for game pieces. He suddenly remembered how he was troubled by his relationship on his birthday last year, but now he felt that the whole world was treating him gently.

As the clock struck midnight, cheers of New Year's countdown erupted outside the villa.

Everyone rushed to the terrace and used their phone lights to spell out "Happy Birthday." Lu Yi accepted the champagne handed to him by Zhou Chen, and the crisp sound of glasses clinking echoed through the snowy night.

As the fireworks burst into bloom again, some people quietly wrapped their scarves tightly around their loved ones' shoulders, some caught the falling snowflakes in their palms, and others carefully put the embers of birthday candles into their pockets—they knew that this snowy winter night would become a tender footnote to be cherished in the years to come.

As Lu Yi gazed at the fireworks that seemed to float like fireflies in the sky, he suddenly remembered his mother's favorite line of poetry: "Life goes on endlessly, generation after generation, but the river moon looks the same year after year."

He gently placed the firework fragments into the wishing bottle, a smile purer than snow blooming on his lips.

The moonlight was like water, the night was deep, and the party continued.

The group returned indoors from the terrace, carrying a slight chill but also filled with joy. In the living room, warm yellow light shone on everyone's faces, reflecting a sense of coziness and contentment.

Zhou Chen leaned back on the sofa, toying with an unopened bottle of beer in his hand, but his eyes remained fixed on Lu Yi. He said softly, "Lu Yi, to be honest, this party today is even more lively than our graduation celebration back then."

Lu Yi smiled and raised his hand to rub his slightly hot temples: "Yeah, back then we were just greenhorns, we didn't know anything about all these tricks."

His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Xu Li. Xu Li was sitting on the carpet, intently fiddling with a small nightlight, the light casting a soft glow on her face, making her appear exceptionally quiet.

"Oh, right, Xu Li." Tan Yuze suddenly interrupted the silence. He picked up a piece of unfinished cake from the coffee table, deliberately used his fork to pick up a piece of cream, and waved it at Xu Li.

"You seem unusually quiet today. Did you secretly keep some surprise from everyone?" Xu Li looked up, her eyes darting away, but her face slowly turned red.

She coughed lightly, trying to hide her embarrassment: "There's no surprise, it's just..." She paused, seemingly hesitant to continue.

"Stop being so mysterious, just tell me!" Mu Mu leaned closer, curiously tugging at Xu Li's hand, as if trying to find the secret hidden between her fingers.

Xu Li hesitated for a moment before finally speaking as if she had made up her mind: "Actually, I brought a special birthday present today, but..." She looked at Lu Yi, her eyes revealing a hint of expectation and unease, "but I need everyone's cooperation."

Lu Yi's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up: "Tell us, as long as we can do it, we will definitely help." Xu Li took a deep breath, stood up, and dusted off her hands: "Okay, everyone follow me."

She led the way, and the others followed behind, passing through the living room and up the spiral staircase to the second floor of the villa.

It was relatively quiet here, with only a single wall lamp casting a faint light. "This is..." Zhou Chen looked around, somewhat puzzled, "You're bringing us to the study?"

Xu Li nodded, pushed open the door, and gestured for everyone to enter. Inside the study, the desks and chairs were neatly arranged, and the bookshelves were filled with various books, giving it an exceptionally solemn feel.

Xu Li walked to her desk, opened a drawer, and took out an exquisite box. She gently opened the box, inside was a handmade birthday card with a cute little bear holding a bouquet of flowers on the cover.

“This took me several days to make.” Xu Li’s voice trembled slightly, as if she cherished this gift. “I know you all gave very expensive gifts, but I hope this sentiment can be different.”

Lu Yi took the greeting card and slowly opened it. Inside was a group photo of them when they were children. The photo was a little yellowed, but it clearly recorded everyone's smiling face.

Below the photo, Xu Li wrote in neat handwriting: "Happy birthday, Lu Yi."

May you always be surrounded by happiness, just like the warmth you gave me when we first met. We, your friends, will always be by your side, never leaving you.

Lu Yi's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He looked up at Xu Li, a warm smile playing on his lips: "Xu Li, thank you. This is the most precious gift I've ever received."

At this moment, Xu Li smiled, clearly indicating that the real gift had not yet appeared. Xu Li then went to Lu Yi and handed him a black card.

"What... Xiao Li Zi, what are you doing?"

"Take it."

Lu Yi hesitated to reach out and take it.

Xu Li didn't wait for him and directly stuffed the card into his hand, saying, "It's mine, use it without worry."

Lu Yi's eyes welled up with tears, and he hugged Xu Li tightly. "Little Li, thank you."

Xu Li was startled by his reaction, but still patted him on the back, "It's your birthday today, you're the oldest, don't cry, aren't you ashamed?"

Seeing this, Zhou Chen felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gently patted Lu Yi's shoulder, his voice a little hoarse: "Alright, stop crying, or your eye makeup will be ruined."

He gestured for everyone to return to the living room to continue the celebration. But just then, Xu Li suddenly turned around and magically produced a small projector from behind her back.

She quickly fiddled with the desk for a few moments, and the projector emitted a soft hum, shining a beam of light onto the opposite white wall. Gradually, photos appeared on the wall, showing the little moments they had shared from the time they met until now.

“This is…” Bai Chuan pointed to the photo on the wall in surprise. It was a scene from the first time they played basketball together, their youthful faces covered in sweat and smiles.

"And that time we went on a trip to the beach together," Mu Mu said softly. In the photo, she was making a face at the camera, while Tan Yuze pretended to be angry next to her.

Looking at the photos, memories flooded back to Lu Yi. His eyes reddened again, and his voice choked with emotion: "Xu Li, thank you for your trouble."

Xu Li shook her head, a smile playing on her lips: "I just want everyone to reminisce about the good old days, after all, these memories are our most precious treasure."

As everyone looked at the photos on the wall, they reminisced about the scene and occasionally burst into laughter. Zhou Chen, watching all this, was filled with mixed emotions.

He recalled the days they had spent together, filled with laughter, tears, arguments, and reconciliations. These experiences had transformed them from naive teenagers into mature and composed adults.

At that moment, Zhou Chen suddenly had an idea. He took out his phone from his pocket, opened the music player, and selected a familiar melody.

Soft music filled the room; it was an old song he had once played and sang at a friend's gathering. "Let's all dance."

Zhou Chen stood up and extended his hand to Mu Mu. Mu Mu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and took his hand, and the two slowly walked to the center of the room.

Tan Yuze also stood up and extended his hand to Xu Li: "Let's dance together." Xu Li nodded, a shy smile on her face, and walked side by side with Tan Yuze to the dance floor.

Bai Chuan and Zhu Yu exchanged a smile and joined in. Lu Yi stood aside, watching these familiar figures twirl and leap on the dance floor, his heart filled with happiness and contentment.

The music gradually grew louder, and the laughter and dance sounds of the crowd intertwined, creating a joyful symphony.

On this snowy winter night, they wove beautiful memories with their dance and laughter. Time slipped by unnoticed, and the snowflakes outside the window continued to fall, draping the world in a pure white coat.

Inside, warm lighting illuminated everyone's smiling faces, as if freezing this beautiful moment in the river of time. As the music ended, everyone reluctantly returned to their seats.

Zhou Chen gently held Mu Mu's hand, his eyes full of affection: "I'm really happy today, thank you everyone."

Xu Li leaned on Tan Yuze's shoulder and said softly, "Yes, this kind of birthday party is truly unforgettable."

Lu Yi stood up and looked around at everyone: "Thank you, my friends. Because of you, my birthday is so special. I hope that every birthday in the future, we can all get together happily like today."

Everyone responded in unison, "Definitely!" On this warm and loving night, they made a beautiful wish together: no matter how the future changes, their friendship will always be as pure and steadfast as the snowflakes of this winter night, able to withstand the test of time.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, adding a touch of tranquility and peace to the winter night. Inside, their laughter and chatter continued, like the warm sun in the winter night, warming each other's hearts.

This birthday is not just a day of celebration, but also a testament to their friendship, a beautiful moment that will be forever etched in their hearts.