On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

Su Yuqing dared not look Chen Mo in the eye, her gaze darting away to the deep blue light and shadow projected by the documentary on the television screen, shifting with the movement of the fish. Her long eyelashes trembled violently, and her lips, which had just been kissed until they were exceptionally full and red, were now tightly bitten by her pearly teeth, revealing a heartbreaking helplessness and... deep guilt.

“I…we are not…not yet…” She struggled to organize her thoughts, each word carrying a heavy weight and a cautious tentative pace.

“I…I just feel…I feel…those things that go further…should be…more…appropriate…after that…”

She didn't explicitly use the words "before marriage" or "marriage," but the meaning of "after" that she was trying so hard to express was understood by both of them.

This is the standard she holds in her heart regarding love and intimate relationships, a restraint stemming from her inner beliefs and sense of security.

She raised her eyelids and glanced quickly at Chen Mo. In the dim, shifting blue light, her eyes held a mixture of concern for Chen Mo's current feelings, annoyance at her own disappointment, and a stubborn persistence.

"Just now... just now it wasn't that I didn't want to... it's just that... that level of intimacy... I..." She was afraid that Chen Mo would misunderstand that her rejection was because she was refusing his touch, so her voice was filled with a flustered attempt to explain and a deep sense of apology.

Because of her refusal, Chen Mo must have been very hurt, and it would also cause him to misunderstand and feel guilty.

This is something Su Yuqing absolutely doesn't want to see. It's not that she can't accept more intimate contact before marriage, but if Chen Mo insists, she will still agree.

However, she hoped that Chen Mo would respect her wishes and save that more intimate contact for their wedding day.

That will be another beautiful night to remember for the rest of my life.

At this moment, the blush on Su Yuqing's cheeks was even deeper than when she was aroused, but it was no longer an alluring peach color, but a crimson color with embarrassment and shame.

"If... if you don't like it this way... then it's up to you..."

Su Yuqing lowered her head and spoke with difficulty, but halfway through her sentence, a finger sealed her lips.

The turmoil churning in Chen Mo's chest subsided strangely, little by little, with her careful and deeply apologetic explanation.

The immense sense of loss did not disappear, but was replaced by a deeper, more complex emotion—an extreme tenderness for her cherishing, her persistence, and even her clumsy apology.

He saw the trepidation in her eyes, her steadfastness, and the worry that she might hurt him. This touched the softest part of his heart more than any sweet words.

He couldn't ignore the lingering restlessness in his heart caused by the interruption, but he also couldn't disregard her feelings and her principles.

He took a deep breath, the air still seeming to carry the lingering scent of their earlier entanglement, but more so a restrained effort to calm himself.

He didn't speak, but leaned forward with unparalleled gentleness.

He didn't try to kiss her again, nor did he touch her anywhere else. Instead, he reached out and, with his warm fingertips, gently and tenderly wiped away a small amount of moisture that had quietly seeped from the corner of her eye—it was perhaps not a tear of grievance, but more like a physiological expression under high tension and a huge emotional impact.

His gaze was incredibly focused, bathed in the soft blue light, radiating understanding and acceptance. His voice was low and husky, yet carried a strange, comforting power: "Fool, don't apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing."

He paused, then gently brushed his fingertip against the cool skin at the corner of her eye. "I was momentarily confused and lost control." He pulled away slightly, giving her room to breathe, but his gaze remained fixed on her face, making sure she could clearly see the sincerity in his eyes. "You don't need to apologize, Yuqing. Your feelings are the most important thing to me. Anytime, anywhere, if you feel uncomfortable or not ready, you can tell me immediately. You never need to feel sorry."

His voice was soft, yet each word was clear, carrying a solemn promise: "I respect any decision you make. When do you think...when is the right time? We'll wait until then, okay?"

Su Yuqing just said that if Chen Mo didn't like it, then they should follow Chen Mo's words.

That had already touched the softest spot in Chen Mo's heart.

Love is about mutual understanding and tolerance.

If Chen Mo insists on not wanting to wait, Su Yuqing, out of love, is willing to accommodate Chen Mo and violate her own bottom line.

Chen Mo deeply felt this tolerance and understanding, and it filled his heart.

Out of respect and understanding for Su Yuqing, he was also willing to tolerate her insistence.

Su Yuqing stared at him blankly, looking into his deep eyes at the mixture of apology, emotion, and affection, but even more intense was the unwavering, unconditional tolerance and cherishment.

On the television screen, strange jellyfish floated by leisurely, casting flowing light and shadows on them.

Instead of blaming her for "braking," he took the blame upon himself. His firm yet gentle assurance was like a warm stove, instantly dispelling the cold embarrassment and fear that had accumulated in her heart.

Unable to suppress the sob in her throat any longer, she nodded forcefully, her nose tingled, and more tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. But this time, they were not tears of panic, but the release of grievances from being understood, and the heart-pounding feeling of being cherished.

She suddenly threw herself into his arms, not to ask for a kiss, but to seek a pure, warm haven that could embrace all her anxieties.

She hugged his waist tightly, buried her burning cheeks in his firm chest, inhaling the comforting scent emanating from him, and repeated in a muffled, nasal voice, "It's so good to have met you."

These words were spoken by Su Yuqing to herself, very softly and quietly, and Chen Mo did not hear them at all.

"It's so wonderful to have met him in this lifetime!" Su Yuqing was filled with emotion.

Chen Mo caught her steadily, tightened his arms, and held her tightly in his embrace.

This embrace was devoid of lust, filled only with pure tenderness, understanding, and a silent promise.

His chin rested gently on the top of her head, feeling her slightly trembling body gradually relax in his arms. The heartbeats that fluttered for each other in his chest were given a deeper and more stable power by "restraint" and "respect" at this moment.

He closed his eyes, letting the silent, flowing light and shadow of the deep-sea documentary completely envelop them—the road ahead was long, they had plenty of time, and in mutual understanding and cherished waiting, they awaited the natural arrival of that "perfect opportunity." (End of Chapter)