Chapter 197: Flustered Shyness

The carriage jolted slightly as it began to slow down.

Outside the window, the mottled shadows of trees and scattered lights gave way to bright streetlights, flashing neon signs, and the taillights of dense traffic.

The din of the city center, muffled by the window, seeped in like a rising tide, breaking the carriage’s prolonged silence.

The engine’s roar changed its pitch, a reminder to the passengers that their journey was nearing its end.

But the warm weight and steady breathing on his shoulder remained unchanged.

Su Yuqing was still fast asleep. Enveloped by Chen Mo’s reassuring presence, she seemed to be sleeping with exceptional peace, a faint, contented smile gracing her lips.

The day’s many wonderful moments lived on in the tranquil expression on her sleeping face.

Chen Mo opened his eyes slightly and turned his head to glance at the girl resting on his shoulder.

The dim, yellow light of the carriage cast a soft glow on her long eyelashes, tracing a faint shadow across her fair cheek.

Her complete and utter trust was a heavy weight on his heart, yet it brought him a strange sense of fulfillment and peace.

He carefully adjusted his posture so she could rest more comfortably, his movements so gentle they were nearly imperceptible.

Ahead, the familiar name of their stop lit up on a sign. It was time for them to get off.

"Yuqing," Chen Mo’s voice was a low whisper, slightly husky from having just woken up, but exceptionally gentle. "Wake up. We’re at our stop."

His voice gently seeped into Su Yuqing’s hazy consciousness.

She first nuzzled unconsciously against Chen Mo’s shoulder, like a small animal seeking warmth.

A few seconds later, her thick eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened.

As sleep and reality blurred, her gaze was still vacant, her eyes losing focus for a moment.

The first thing she saw was Chen Mo’s face, inches away, his profile filled with gentle concern.

"Ngh..." Su Yuqing mumbled as consciousness rushed back to her.

She jolted, suddenly realizing she was leaning against Chen Mo, with one hand resting quite brazenly upon his chest. Through her palm, she could even feel a small, firm point beneath his shirt!

A blush deeper than the sunset’s afterglow instantly bloomed across her face, spreading all the way to her delicate earlobes.

Almost instinctively, she scrambled to sit up straight, pulling away from that warm, reliable support.

"I don’t even know when I fell asleep..." Her voice was soft and thick with sleep, laced with obvious embarrassment. Her hands clenched subconsciously.

This was her way of explaining that touching Chen Mo’s chest had been unintentional, not a deliberate attempt to cop a feel.

Watching her face instantly turn crimson and her flustered state, Chen Mo couldn’t help but smile, the amusement in his eyes deepening.

He gently rolled the shoulder she had been leaning on, his tone reassuring. "It’s a good thing you got some sleep. You looked really tired, so I didn’t want to wake you."

As he spoke, the bus pulled smoothly to a stop at the station platform.

The doors opened with a PSSSH, and the unique scent of the city at night rushed in—a potent mix of car exhaust, the heat radiating from neon signs, and the distant smell of food.

"Let’s go." Chen Mo stood up first and naturally offered her his hand—not to help her up, but simply as an invitation to get off the bus together.

Su Yuqing took a deep breath to cool her burning cheeks and, without hesitation, placed her hand in his warm, broad palm.

A hint of shyness still lingered in her expression, but seeing Chen Mo’s calm, composed, and even slightly smiling face, the bashfulness in her heart slowly dissolved, replaced by a sweet, unspoken understanding.

She squeezed his hand and replied softly, "Okay."

Side by side, they descended the bus steps and stepped into the flowing river of lights and people that was the city at night.

The lights and shadows of the skyscrapers reflected in Su Yuqing’s clear eyes, as well as in Chen Mo’s calm, steady gaze.

Su Yuqing was still wearing Chen Mo’s jacket, its hem swaying gently with her steps, warding off the slight chill of the night breeze.

The walk home wasn’t far, and they walked in comfortable silence.

The warmth from their intertwined fingers and the lingering intimacy of her sleeping on his shoulder wove a small, silent, and peaceful world for just the two of them, set against the bustling backdrop of the city.

The streetlights stretched their shadows long, then short again.

Su Yuqing stole a glance at the tall figure beside her, then looked down at their tightly clasped hands. She unconsciously traced a small circle in his palm with her fingertip, then, blushing again, quickly ducked her head. A sweet smile, however, curved her lips.

Chen Mo seemed to sense her small movement. A gentle smile touched his own lips, but he didn’t look down. Instead, he simply tightened his grip on the soft, delicate hand in his, giving it a light caress on the back with his thumb—a silent response.

As they neared Chen Mo’s neighborhood, the crowds thinned out and the city’s neon glow receded. The trees lining the road rustled in the evening wind, making a soft Shasha sound and enhancing the tranquility of this quiet corner.

"Time flies, doesn’t it?" Su Yuqing said softly, breaking the brief silence. Her voice was laced with a post-sleep languor and contentment. "It feels like we just left your grandparents’ house, and now we’re already back."

Chen Mo glanced at her, a pleased smile on his face. He knew that time only seems to fly when you’re having fun, which meant Su Yuqing had had a very happy day.

Suddenly, Chen Mo led Su Yuqing to a small pushcart not far from his home that was selling sweet porridge for the evening.

"How about a small bowl of sweet porridge to warm you up?" Chen Mo pointed at the stall and smiled at Su Yuqing. "We ate a lot of fried food today. Something light and sweet would be good to cut through the richness."

Taking a whiff of the air, Su Yuqing found the warm, sweet aroma truly tempting. She smiled and nodded. "Mm-hm, I’ll have... the lotus seed and lily bulb one, please."

The two of them stood under the stall’s dim, yellow light, holding small paper cups and taking little sips.

The gentle warmth and sweetness slid down their throats, chasing away the last vestiges of fatigue and chill, and deepening the lazy comfort that comes from a full stomach.

Su Yuqing held her cup. The steam rising from the tender lotus seeds and delicate lily petals wafted onto her face, making her cheeks look even pinker and rosier.

"This is really good," she said, exhaling a small, contented breath that carried the sweet aroma.

"Feeling better now, right?" Chen Mo said, amused by her cat-like contentment. He smoothly took the empty cup from her hand and tossed it, along with his own, into a nearby trash can.

Feeling the warmth from her stomach spread through her entire body, Su Yuqing felt a sense of profound relaxation in both body and mind.

After such a sweet day, when they got back home and closed the door, they were finally in a world that belonged only to them. And at that moment, a sudden, mutual shyness descended, leaving them both a little flustered.