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

Zhao Yueyue's slightly wistful remark was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in everyone's heart.

The private room fell silent instantly, the previous lively noise receding quietly, leaving only faint background music.

Everyone seemed to be paused by this sentence, and they all fell into a shared memory and contemplation.

Yes, I've grown up.

On the last day of their senior year, they still felt like children protected in an ivory tower, complaining about the heavy workload and longing for the freedom of university.

It seems that just a short time away from home, a period of hardship facing a host of new interpersonal relationships alone in college, or an experience of dealing with daily life alone, forced them to put on the clothes of adults.

Who set the age of eighteen as the threshold of adulthood? And from what specific moment did they learn to stop crying so easily, to hide their feelings more deeply, to weigh the pros and cons, and to start thinking about the future, work, and those realities that once seemed so distant?
They couldn't explain it.

This transformation happened silently, in every moment of solving a problem independently, in every phone call to parents and relatives where only good news was shared, and in the moment of realizing for the first time that "home" had become "old home".

Growth is never a grand and solemn coronation ceremony, but a quiet and irresistible transformation.

Su Yuqing subconsciously tightened her grip on Chen Mo's hand, as if drawing strength from this familiar warmth to combat the faint panic that came with realizing the passage of time and the increase in age.

Chen Mo grasped her hand in return, offering only a faint smile.

Huang Mao put away his cynical smile and, unusually, silently took a sip of his drink.

Zhou Hao and Qu Danwan exchanged a glance, their hands under the table already clasped together. They both understood that they were each other's most reliable support when facing this unfamiliar adult world.

Lin Yu'an felt the warmth of Zhao Yuanyuan's hand beside him. He had once longed to grow up and have the power to get rid of the shadows of the past. Now that he was standing on this threshold, he also felt a sense of awe for the unknown road ahead.

Youth is a book read too hastily; they read it again and again, sometimes with tears in their eyes, sometimes with laughter.

At that moment, they were standing at the end of a chapter and could clearly hear the sound of pages turning.

The silence did not last long.

Chen Mo is the one who understands best what growth means. He grew up overnight, reaching a level that many adults cannot achieve.

"Whether we grow up or not, we are still us. We are all doing well now, and the future will be even better! Cheers!" Recalling those days, Chen Mo took a deep breath, raised his glass, and said with a smile, instantly breaking the slightly sentimental atmosphere and pulling everyone back to reality from their memories.

"cheers!"

The crisp clinking of glasses dispelled the fleeting sentimentality and reignited the joy of the gathering.

Yes, growing up may mean losing something, but it also means having more ability to create a better future.

Although everyone felt the party was far from over, it eventually came to a close amidst laughter and reluctant farewells.

Stepping out of Time Pavilion, the chill of the winter night hits you, a stark contrast to the warmth inside the private room, instantly invigorating you.

The winter night sky was exceptionally clear, with a few distant, cold stars twinkling in the sky.

After saying goodbye to their friends, Chen Mo and Su Yuqing walked towards their home and realized that the streets were already nearly deserted. "Phew—it's so cold outside." Su Yuqing instinctively wrapped her coat tighter and moved closer to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo naturally reached out and completely enveloped her slightly cool hand in his warm palm, then stuffed them both into his coat pocket.

"Let's go home." He lowered his head and kissed Su Yuqing's forehead, his smiling voice sounding especially warm in the cold air.

The two walked side by side on their way back to the neighborhood. After the lively hustle and bustle just now, the tranquility at this moment seemed especially precious.

No one was in a hurry to speak, seemingly still immersed in the joy of reuniting with old friends and the lingering emotions of reflection on growing up.

Footsteps made a soft rustling sound on the dry pavement.

Su Yuqing buried half her face in the soft scarf, feeling the continuous warmth from Chen Mo's palm and the two of them holding hands tightly in his pocket.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Chen Mo's jawline, which appeared exceptionally clear and smooth under the streetlight, and softly asked, "Tell me... what does it mean to grow up?"

Su Yuqing felt that she was still someone who needed a lot of emotional attachment, and seemed to have no concept of growing up.

How can someone like me take things a step further with Chen Mo?
The roles of wife and mother await her in the future, but she is completely unprepared and lost.

Both identities seem to require her to grow up and accept them, but she doesn't have that real sense of growing up.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo turned his head to look at her. The dim light cast a small fan-like shadow on her eyelashes, and her eyes held a hint of confusion and dependence.

He tightened his grip on her hand, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "In terms of physical age, we are certainly adults. But when it comes to being fully grown up psychologically..."

He paused, his voice carrying a reassuring calmness that put Su Yuqing at ease, and continued, "I believe that growth is a process, not a result. The important thing is that in this process, we learn to take responsibility and cherish what we have. And..."

He stopped and turned to face her, his deep gaze particularly focused in the night. "Growing up doesn't mean losing all your childlike innocence. With me, you can always be the same as before. There's no need to force yourself to change anything just because you realize you've reached a certain stage in life."

These words were like a warm current, instantly dispelling the confusion and chill in Su Yuqing's heart caused by the word "growing up."

She looked at him, her eyes slightly warm, but her heart was filled with joy.

Yes, no matter how mature and independent the outside world demands of them, they always retain each other's softest and most authentic side in front of each other.

She squeezed his hand back, a look of immense relief and happiness spreading across her face, and nodded firmly: "Mmm!"

They returned to their cozy little home, closed the door, and completely shut out the cold of the winter night.

The room was warm and cozy, immediately filled with a familiar and comforting atmosphere.

"Are you tired? Go take a hot shower to warm yourself up." Chen Mo bent down to get her slippers.

"Hmm~" Su Yuqing nodded, then hesitated before speaking to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo instantly understood, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. The two then removed their clothes and entered the bathroom. (End of Chapter)