Playing the Lute to a Cow, Birthday Wishes

Maomao's mind instantly went blank.

The ultimate challenge was actually "birthday party host"!

The things Aunt Ruxue mentioned were completely outside her realm of knowledge.

A birthday party... with a host...

It wasn't exactly something unheard of.

But.

Maomao's personality, style, and manner of speaking—where did any of that resemble a host?

She wasn't as socially anxious as Ye Mengfu.

But she wasn't a socially adept extrovert who was talkative in front of people either.

Seeing Maomao frozen in place, Du Ruxue added:

"Maomao, think about how to turn something you're not good at into your professional domain."

"If it's something that can't be judged by emotional intelligence or reading the room..."

"Why not rely on a program?"

Maomao's eyes immediately lit up: "!!!"

Lin Yu, standing to the side: "..."

What are you getting excited about?

That excitement is pointless.

An AI smart host?

You'd work yourself to death writing the program in one night!

Seeing Lin Yu remain silent, Du Ruxue teasingly added some unhelpful remarks:

"Of course, all of this is also contingent on Xiao Yu being willing to give you the opportunity."

"If he's not willing, then the condition for the challenge to be valid isn't met."

Lin Yu's heart sank again.

Great, just great.

Purposely only saying half of it, right?

The condition for validity isn't met... and then what!

Do we switch to a different challenge task, or does it count as a failure directly?

She doesn't even clarify that, just waits for Lin Yu himself to respond.

This is pure moral blackmail!

Facing others, Lin Yu might directly adopt the mindset of "if I have no morals, I can't be blackmailed."

But facing the pitiful little Maomao...

He really couldn't say it!

It seemed the atmosphere of tomorrow's birthday party was going to be unpredictable.

Lin Yu glanced at Aunt Qimeng behind Du Ruxue.

Du Ruxue quickly stepped forward, blocking her from view.

She gave Lin Yu no chance to make eye contact with her.

She had anticipated Lin Yu's move in advance!

So she was dead set on having Maomao host his birthday gathering, right?

At home, with the family happily eating and drinking together...

And they need a host to manage the event!

Is that necessary?

Not at all!

What kind of strange "loving family" is this?

Seeing no hope of refusal, Lin Yu could only try to maintain a calm demeanor and said:

"Aunt Ruxue, of course I have no problem with it."

"Maomao and I are so close, how could I refuse?"

"But as for Maomao's side..."

"Actually, I think this matter has nothing to do with independent living."

"If my agreement would cause trouble for Maomao, I might as well just refuse."

"If I refuse, can you assign Maomao a different challenge?"

While showing magnanimity, Lin Yu also paved the way for refusal.

Everything still depended on Maomao's reaction.

As long as Maomao grasped the meaning in Lin Yu's words and also said something like "it has nothing to do with independent living,"

Basically, Aunt Ruxue would be put on the spot!

However...

Maomao unexpectedly blurted out:

"Yu, I think it is related."

"If the previous challenges were about independent living, this challenge can be seen as integrating into a group!"

Lin Yu: "..."

Heh heh, ho ho, ha ha!

What's left to play then?

So you're the little host!

How can he, alone, compete against the mother-daughter duo?

He's purely being played with like a fool!

Is this a tower or is it gO? (Note: This appears to be a nonsensical/interjection phrase from the original, possibly a typo or internet slang. The translation preserves the original's odd phrasing.)

Du Ruxue looked at the young Lin Yu whose plan had failed, with a thoroughly confident expression.

Her eyes clearly said:

Tsk tsk tsk.

Kid, you're still too green.

Do you understand Maomao better, or do I?

How could a girl whose eyes are only on victory easily refuse a challenge?

Impossible!

"Alright, since Maomao is willing to accept this challenge."

"Tomorrow's birthday party is in your hands!"

"Aunt Qimeng, Aunt Ruxue, you should first..."

Before Lin Yu could finish his sentence about excusing himself to the bathroom,

Maomao suddenly interjected:

"Yu, please think in advance about the 'birthday person's speech' you want to give at the party."

"I'll specifically reserve a time slot for you to say a few words to everyone."

Lin Yu: "..."

Adding insult to injury?

Can't even go cool off for a bit!

She even wants to give him time for a speech?

She's really treating it as a formal event!

Might as well write the groom's speech while we're at it, since it'll come in handy later anyway.

Fine, fine, fine.

I'll temporarily note this mother-daughter pair down in my little black book.

Let's see how long they can keep this up!

The battle will only just begin once Maomao moves in for good.

After a powerful internal rant,

Lin Yu still had to say:

"No problem, just try to keep the time slot short."

"There will be so many people there tomorrow, everyone can say something."

"I suggest..."

"We could actually add some entertainment segments, like performances or something? Right?"

"It could increase the lively atmosphere, so people aren't just eating and drinking dryly."

Since he was already dragged into the water,

Then no one gets out alive!

Let's all go down together!

Isn't the birthday person the biggest deal on their day?

If the birthday person wants to see performances, shouldn't that be properly arranged?

Maomao nodded thoughtfully, seemingly taking mental notes.

Let's just see what kind of human-machine hosting Maomao can pull off once she takes on the host's role!

...

After returning to his room,

By the time Lin Yu finished washing up and getting ready, it was past midnight.

Good thing he had set his phone to vibrate mode earlier.

Otherwise,

He would have definitely been bombarded by a continuous stream of ding-dong notifications.

As soon as the clock struck midnight, messages started coming in one after another.

With only split-second differences, almost all were sent at exactly 00:00.

「Aunt Qimeng: Xiao Yu, happy 21st birthday!」

「Chi Qingshui: Happy birthday, hubby~」

「Ye Mengfu: Happy birthday, always be happy (heart)」

「Mo Shangying: Master, happy birthday, hehe!」

「Shen Buyao: Happy birthday, living Lin Yu, may you live ten thousand years (confetti)(confetti)(confetti)」

「...」

Every single person attending the birthday party sent their wishes without fail.

Looking at the string of red notification dots, Lin Yu almost didn't want to click on them.

In the world before his rebirth, there was no him.

In this world now, it's all him.

If he could have a birthday every day, how awesome would that be!

Lin Yu didn't copy-paste template replies, but responded to each one seriously.

Today, any sect friend who wanted to chat, Lin Yu didn't neglect a single one, accompanying them in conversation earnestly.

They could chat as late as they wanted!

Lin Yu had never been this diligent even during work or study.

Unconsciously, the time approached 2 a.m.

The last one, the antique shop sister who was minding the store, also urged Lin Yu to go to sleep, and they bid each other goodnight.

Lin Yu began another round of dream-entering time.

Only today,

Lin Yu particularly wished the Dream-Entering Technique could select more people.

It would be best if he could bring every sect friend who sent wishes into the dream.

...

(Second update for today, there will be an extra update later tonight, and it won't be too late today!)