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

As the documentary neared its end, the screen returned to a deep blue-black.

"Tired?" Chen Mo asked in a low voice, his voice hoarse from sleep.

Su Yuqing rubbed her eyes and nodded: "Yeah, a little."

"Then get some rest." Chen Mo stood up and naturally extended his hand to her.

Su Yuqing placed her hand in his palm and used it to stand up.

This time, she felt no shyness, only a comforting sense of being taken care of.

"Something's still missing before bed." Su Yuqing took a small step forward, tilted her head back, and looked at Chen Mo with a smile.

Chen Mo understood immediately, lowered his head slightly, and placed a soft, feather-like goodnight kiss on her forehead.

Pure, warm, and imbued with a sense of preciousness and commitment.

"Sweet dreams," he whispered.

"Yes, you too." Su Yuqing's cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes were clear. She returned the kiss to Chen Mo's cheek.

The two walked to their respective room doors.

"Good night." Chen Mo stood at his bedroom door, his voice gentle.

"Good night." Su Yuqing stood at her door, looking back at him with a smile in her eyes, filled with complete trust and relaxation.

She opened the door, waved to him, went inside, and gently closed the door.

Chen Mo stood at the door, the smile on his lips lingering for a long time.

He touched his cheek, as if he could still feel the warmth and fragrance of her red lips.

The living room lights were off, with only the faint city lights shining through the window.

Chen Mo returned to his room, lay on the bed, and reflected on everything that had happened that night—from the intense confrontation to the open communication, and now to the natural tranquility and tacit understanding.

Those once blurry and unsettling boundaries have been clearly outlined through honesty and understanding.

This did not alienate them; on the contrary, it provided a more solid and comfortable foundation for their budding love.

He closed his eyes, and the light and shadow of the deep sea seemed to still float in his mind.

Tonight, there are no regrets, only the peace that comes with release, and a deeper expectation for the future.

This intimacy born of understanding made him feel more at ease and happy than any uncontrolled passion.

The second day...

The morning sunlight, with its clear, almost transparent quality, gently filled the living room through the sheer curtains.

Su Yuqing woke up to the faint chirping of birds outside the window.

She opened her eyes and looked at the familiar ceiling. Everything that had happened yesterday came flooding back to her: the cuddling on the bus, the shyness in the taxi, the fluttering in the kitchen and on the sofa, and most importantly, the understanding and clarification that followed the opening of her heart.

No longer was there that sweet yet anxious distance before our conversation last night; instead, a clear sense of security, with warm boundaries, enveloped her.

She didn't linger in bed; she got up quietly, washed up, and changed into a refreshing set of loungewear.

Pushing open the door, the living room was quiet.

Chen Mo's door was still closed.

Su Yuqing walked towards the kitchen, a slight smile involuntarily creeping onto her lips.

She skillfully began preparing breakfast: frying golden-brown eggs and luncheon meat, heating up toast, blanching a few lettuce leaves, and warming two glasses of milk—

Chen Mo usually likes to make her complicated desserts, but she prefers simple and classic combinations for breakfast. Soon, the kitchen is filled with the simple aroma of food, the comforting scent of home.

When Chen Mo opened the door, this was the scene that greeted him.

In the soft light, Su Yuqing's slender figure stood focused in front of the stove. She was wearing soft home clothes, lacking some of the elaborate dressing up, but possessing the real beauty of everyday life that he loved most.

A warm feeling instantly filled Chen Mo's heart.

He didn't immediately make a sound to disturb them, but simply leaned against the kitchen door frame and watched quietly.

It wasn't until Su Yuqing carefully placed the food onto the plate that she felt the gaze on her back.

She turned around and saw that Chen Mo had already gotten up and was leaning against the door, looking at her with focused and gentle eyes.

The burning desire of the previous night was gone from those eyes, replaced by a more comforting warmth and appreciation.

"Good morning," Chen Mo said, his voice low and hoarse from just waking up, yet clear and gentle.

"Good morning." Su Yuqing smiled, as naturally as a flower blooming in the morning, her face slightly flushed, her eyes clear and open. "Are you all washed up? Breakfast will be ready soon."

This unflinching openness is the sweetest fruit of last night's communication.

Chen Mo walked into the kitchen and naturally took the chopsticks from her hand: "I'll do it."

"Okay." Su Yuqing didn't refuse, handed him the plate, and then took out two glasses to pour warm milk.

The two moved swiftly and seamlessly through the small kitchen.

There was no deliberate approach, no unnecessary probing. Every unintentional physical contact—such as the brief brush of Chen Mo's fingertips against her hand when he took the plate, or the slight touch of Su Yuqing's fingertips when she handed him the cup—was like a gentle ripple on a calm lake, tender but no longer causing any dramatic waves, leaving only a natural sense of intimacy flowing through it.

The boundaries that were clearly defined last night have now become a protective barrier that allows them to feel safe and close to each other.

They sat down at the small dining table and began to enjoy a simple but delicious breakfast.

"Your sandwiches are getting better and better." Chen Mo smiled at Su Yuqing, his expression filled with pure appreciation and satisfaction.

Su Yuqing's eyes crinkled into a smile: "I'm glad you like it. The milk is a little hot, be careful."

She reminded him habitually, her voice soft.

"Hmm." Chen Mo nodded, picked up the cup, blew on it, and then drank.

The two started their conversation in a relaxed and natural way, beginning with breakfast, then moving on to the weather outside the window, and some interesting parts of "The Complete Guide to College Freshmen" that Su Yuqing hadn't finished reading the night before.

"I flipped through it before bed last night and read some interesting stories about university life. Now I'm starting to look forward to university life."

The light shone on Su Yuqing's slightly flushed cheeks, making her look beautiful and pure.

"Before making this plan, we need to know which schools we can get into, and then make a clearer plan based on those schools," Chen Mo said with a smile.

“You’re right.” As she spoke, Su Yuqing’s gaze fell on Chen Mo.

She really hoped to attend the same university as Chen Mo. Chen Mo had also said before that he wanted to attend the same university as her, but what if Chen Mo did exceptionally well on the exam, while she did exceptionally poorly?

The two were bound to separate, since it was impossible for Chen Mo to waste a good result just to accommodate him.

The hard work of studying for more than ten years should not be wasted like this.

Thinking of this, Su Yuqing's heart couldn't help but feel a little gloomy.

If the two were forced to separate due to a significant gap in their academic performance, it would be a real blow to her.

She had gradually gotten used to having Chen Mo around, and she couldn't even imagine what it would feel like if Chen Mo disappeared from her life for a while.

[PS]: Regarding the protagonist's time-travel aspect, it was written rather vaguely in the previous chapters, and some readers still have a somewhat unclear understanding of it. I'm considering finding an opportunity tomorrow to fully elaborate on this aspect. (End of Chapter)