Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

The oysters were cooked.

Even combined, they were still quite large.

One per person was more than enough—they couldn’t eat much more than that.

Lin Mo, however, went all out.

He devoured five Rushan oysters in one go and still looked like he could keep going.

Aside from Xie Yuling and their classmates from Class 8, everyone else stared at Lin Mo in shock.

"Lin Mo... can eat that much?" Xie Yufei couldn’t help muttering.

"Of course," Fang Jun said as he grilled crispy sausages, beef balls, and pork balls. "Lin Mo eats a ton every day. Rumor has it that’s why he’s so strong—but you can’t just copy that."

After having one Rushan oyster each, the others moved on to grilling other things.

The oysters were delicious, but they couldn’t eat too many.

Though oysters didn’t seem filling, they were actually high in protein. Smaller ones didn’t leave much of an impression, but the larger ones made you feel stuffed quickly.

Everyone wanted to try other dishes, so they didn’t go for more oysters.

Two girls watched Lin Mo eating and couldn’t resist whispering to each other.

"Lin Mo is so strong and eats so much. Xie Yuling is lucky."

"Yeah, he must be really impressive."

Lin Mo, with his heightened senses, nearly lost his temper.

Don’t talk nonsense! We’re all underage here!

Cut the dirty jokes!

He turned to the boys, who were busy debating which was stronger—the latest Kamen Rider or Decade.

"Some random passing Kamen Rider thinks he can compete with the newest one?"

"Keep talking, and I’ll hack your account right in front of you!"

As the meal wound down, Xie Yufei suddenly appeared with a bottle of red wine and a bottle of Sprite.

"Hey guys, wanna try some?"

Lin Mo glanced at the wine and shook his head.

"Minors shouldn’t drink. Alcohol stunts growth—might make you short or... not grow properly."

"Huh?!"

"Wait, what?!"

Several boys immediately looked at Lin Mo, alarmed.

Xie Yufei broke out in a cold sweat.

"Not grow... properly?"

Lin Mo nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Exactly what you’re thinking."

Xie Yufei immediately turned around to put the wine away.

The others silently vowed to quit drinking.

No matter what!

They were giving it up.

Even An Yuexin and Fang Jun exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.

Only the girls were left confused.

Lu Xiaohua figured it out after a moment and snorted.

Another girl turned to her.

"What’s so funny?"

"Nothing. When you don’t understand what the guys are talking about, just assume it’s something dirty. Then it’ll make sense."

The girl caught on immediately.

In the end, no one drank.

They stuck to soft drinks, and some even started playing dice—losers had to down a cup of soda.

That was its own kind of torture.

As for Lin Mo, he didn’t join in much. He mostly grilled shrimp for Xie Yuling and meat for himself, sitting quietly beside her.

After several rounds of drinks and plenty of barbecue, everyone was stuffed.

The real hassle was cleaning up afterward.

They all pitched in to tidy up. Xie Yufei looked at the still-burning charcoal grill and said, "Just leave the grill. We’ll clean up the trash. My dad’s hosting another barbecue here in a few days."

Everyone laughed.

They’d eaten most of the food, though some grilled items were left untouched.

Lin Mo didn’t finish everything—he mostly stuck to what he and Xie Yuling had cooked.

He didn’t show off his monstrous appetite either.

Xie Yufei noticed some shrimp and oysters no one had touched, so he took them to the kitchen.

The only reason those shrimp survived was because Xie Yuling was full.

Otherwise, she’d never have let them live.

Once everything was cleaned up, they started heading home.

Since the village’s ancestral hall had been booked for karaoke, Xie Yufei’s parents hadn’t returned yet.

"Bye!"

"See you after the break!"

Fang Jun and An Yuexin waved. "See you the day after tomorrow!"

Lin Mo nodded, said goodbye to Xie Yufei, and left with Xie Yuling.

It was only a little past nine.

Once the crowd dispersed, Xie Yuling’s indifferent expression melted into contentment.

She gently rubbed her slightly rounded stomach—clearly, she’d overeaten.

"Did you enjoy dinner tonight?"

"It was great. The shrimp you grilled were delicious, especially since I didn’t have to peel them."

She remembered clearly how the two girls had watched enviously as Lin Mo peeled the shrimp for her.

That had given her ego a nice little boost.

She glanced up at Lin Mo, noticing he wasn’t looking at her, so she stole another two seconds.

Why two seconds?

Because one wasn’t enough, and three would’ve been too obvious.

Two was just right.

Back home, Zheng Yuan had already returned.

"Mom! You’re back early. Didn’t go to karaoke?"

Zheng Yuan waved a hand. "What’s the point? I can’t sing. I just end up eating fruit platters. Might as well come home and rest."

Then she looked at Lin Mo.

"How was the barbecue?"

Lin Mo nodded. "Really good. Everyone had fun."

Zheng Yuan smiled, then went to the fridge and pulled out a double-yolk lotus seed mooncake.

"It’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Gotta have a mooncake for the occasion. I won’t eat much—you two help me out."

Lin Mo grabbed a knife and neatly quartered the mooncake.

Xie Yuling raised her hand. "I’ll just have one piece. I’m so full."

"Got it. I’ll handle the rest."

Lin Mo picked up a piece with a toothpick and looked at Zheng Yuan and Xie Yuling.

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."

......

That night.

Lin Mo returned home and lit incense for his parents.

"Mom, Dad... this life really doesn’t feel as lonely anymore."

After a moment’s thought, he called his grandmother.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Grandma. Did you have a mooncake?"

"I did. Bin Bin and I just finished one."

"That’s good. I had one today too."

"Ah, take care of yourself in Yangcheng. Study hard, alright?"

"I will. My landlord’s family treats me really well."

"That’s good... that’s good..."

They talked for a long time before Lin Mo reluctantly hung up.

He planned to visit his grandmother during National Day.

With his divine speed, traveling back and forth was no issue.

Of course, to avoid worrying her, he wouldn’t mention it.

He changed into waterproof hiking gear.

Lin Mo headed for the mountains that very night.

He’d already told Xie Yuling he’d be staying home all day.

Disappearing for 24 hours wasn’t a big deal.

Divine speed + invisibility!

Off to Nankun Mountain—Yangcheng’s highest peak!

Lin Mo vanished from his home.

Above him, the full moon hung high in the sky.

Beneath it, countless families gathered in reunion.