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

After agreeing to a clear three-point agreement and severing all ties,

With Chen Mo by her side, Su Yuqing finally signed the letter of understanding.

This understanding did not stem from leniency towards Su Yaxi, nor was it a compromise to the pleas of Su Chengfeng and his wife.

It is based on multiple calm considerations!

Firstly, after a thorough analysis with her, Chen Mo concluded that under the existing judicial framework, even if she did not forgive him, given Su Yaxi's age of just over fourteen, the lack of actual physical harm (due to Chen Mo's obstruction), and the existence of a "family conflict" background (which, while not an excuse, could affect sentencing considerations), the final substantive punishment might still be limited. However, it would completely intensify the antagonism with the Su family, leading to endless resentment and potential harassment from Su Chengfeng and Lin Shiya, with endless consequences.

Secondly, Chen Mo was well aware that, in Su Yaxi's case, a victim's letter of understanding, combined with her status as a minor and measures such as mandatory psychological intervention and community correction, might encourage the judicial and social systems to conduct longer-term and more rigorous supervision and behavioral correction of her. This might be more effective than simply imprisoning her in preventing her from reoffending in the future.

Thirdly, and most importantly, Su Yuqing wanted to use this opportunity to completely sever the last remaining, unrealistic illusion of kinship with the Su family.

After the letter of understanding was signed, the judicial process proceeded according to the established trajectory.

Because the victim granted her forgiveness and Su Yaxi was a minor, the final verdict did not impose an actual prison sentence, but imposed extremely strict conditions on her: to undergo at least two years of compulsory psychological treatment and behavioral correction at a designated professional institution; to regularly report her personal situation to the community and judicial authorities; to accept long-term joint investigation and supervision by the judiciary and the community, with a probationary period of up to five years; and for her direct guardians (Su Chengfeng and Lin Shiya) to bear joint supervisory responsibility and be required to accept family education guidance.

Furthermore, her criminal record will accompany her through important life stages such as further education and employment, and she will need to truthfully declare it.

For Su Yaxi, who is proud, arrogant, and adept at deception and manipulation, this outcome is nothing short of a social death and a long period of mental imprisonment.

She lost the freedom to move freely and the space to hide her true self, and was forced to expose her inner darkness under the scrutiny of professionals, and to accept the "correction" that she despised.

Her carefully cultivated "perfect girl" mask has been completely shattered, and she will carry this indelible mark in her circle of acquaintances and in any field she may venture into in the future.

After initial shock, excuses, and pleas, Su Chengfeng and Lin Shiya were forced to confront their daughter's hideous true nature and the ensuing upheaval in their family.

Lin Shiya's proud educational achievements became a laughing stock, while Su Chengfeng, feeling utterly humiliated and filled with complex and unspeakable fear and disgust towards his youngest daughter, found himself in a stalemate of mutual blame and a cold marriage with his wife.

They tried to excuse themselves by saying "the child is still young," "it was a moment of confusion," and "it was triggered by family conflicts," but these excuses were powerless in the face of legal documents and professional assessments.

Chen Mo's words, "If there is no understanding, she will have to stay inside," completely shattered their last shred of hope, and made them feel extremely embarrassed and exhausted when handling the follow-up procedures and facing inquiries from all parties.

They could no longer treat Su Yuqing with any airs of "father" or "stepmother," and were left with only an awkward, distant, and even slightly fearful politeness (fear of Chen Mo behind her).

One evening after everything had settled down, Chen Mo and Su Yuqing were on their balcony at home.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-red.

Su Yuqing leaned quietly on Chen Mo's shoulder, gazing at the ever-changing clouds in the sky. After a long while, she spoke softly, "Mo, the day they came to beg me... I was very sad when Dad said those things, but now, I feel relieved instead."

Chen Mo tightened his grip on her arm: "Once you see things clearly, you can let go. You don't need their approval to define your worth. You have me, and we have our future home."

"Mm." Su Yuqing nodded, her clear and bright eyes looking at Chen Mo.

It was he who made her no longer the Su Yuqing who had nowhere to go on a rainy night and longed for a little bit of family warmth.

Thank you, Mo, not just this time, but everything that started from that rainy night.

"Don't dwell on the past." Chen Mo lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Then... Ya Xi, what will happen in the future?" Su Yuqing still asked, not out of concern, but simply to confirm the potential hidden dangers.

Chen Mo gazed into the distance, his tone calm: "She will live under surveillance and correction for a long time. That system will be watching her, and her parents will also be greatly affected, unable to cover anything up for her anymore. More importantly, after this experience, she should understand that her tricks will completely fail here, and the price will be unbearable for her."

To deal with such an arrogant person, defeating her completely in a way she can't even imagine is enough to utterly crush her!

If she's smart enough and wants any chance of a normal life in the future, she'll have to learn to restrain herself, to keep up the pretense, and might even be forced into 'correction'. If she remains obstinate…

He paused, his voice carrying an undeniable force: "Then we have even more reason to use an even more irrefutable method to permanently deprive her of the ability to harm anyone the next time she shows any signs of wrongdoing. After all, the older she gets, the higher the cost of committing a crime will be! However, I believe that after this experience, she will at least learn to 'fear' and 'calculate the cost of committing a crime'."

Seeing the strong sense of confidence that Chen Mo exuded as he spoke, Su Yuqing leaned against him trustingly, feeling a solid sense of security.

Yes, the nightmare is finally over.

The "sister" who hid her venomous fangs with a fake smile, and the father who once extinguished the last embers of her fatherly love and affection, have all been shut out of her warm and bright world.

There may be storms in the future, but she knows that the person beside her will always silently provide her with a clear sky.

She herself has grown strong enough to face and embrace a life that belongs to them, one free from the shadows of the past.

As night deepened, the last rays of sunlight on the balcony were swallowed up by the deep blue sky.

In the distance, the city lights spread out like stars, outlining a peaceful picture of humanity.

Chen Mo led Su Yuqing back to the warm living room and turned on the soft floor lamp.

The gentle light dispelled the last chill of the winter evening.

As night falls, the lights of thousands of homes in Jiangcheng gradually come on.

One of them is a lamp, its warmth constant.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" Chen Mo asked her, looking down at her, his fingers unconsciously twirling a soft strand of hair on her shoulder. "The fridge is pretty well stocked, I'll cook."

Su Yuqing tilted her head back, her eyes reflecting the dappled light, and shook her head: "No need for all that trouble, just a simple bowl of noodles will do. Any homemade noodles you make will be delicious..."

Chen Mo understood her unspoken message—after experiencing this series of thrilling events and emotional upheavals, what she needed most now was not food, but the tangible comfort and companionship from her closest loved ones.

"Okay." He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Then let's cook noodles, add two soft-boiled eggs, and blanch some vegetables. Simple and warming."

Soon, faint sounds came from the kitchen; it was Chen Mo efficiently preparing the ingredients.

Su Yuqing didn't go to help as usual. Instead, she curled up on the sofa with her knees drawn up, quietly watching his busy figure under the light. Broad shoulders, focused profile—every movement exuded a reassuring composure.

A faint aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, the water bubbling as noodles cooked, mingling with Chen Mo's occasional off-key humming.

These extremely ordinary sounds and smells, falling into Su Yuqing's ears at this moment, made her feel more fulfilled and at peace than any magnificent music or exquisite food.

As she gazed at his retreating figure, the desolate wasteland in her heart, once soaked by torrential rain, pierced by the cold wind, and shattered by the illusions of family, had now been irrigated by Chen Mo's daily patience and protection, blossoming into a magnificent landscape.

"Mutual affection and longing make us even closer; a lifetime, a generation, a pair of lovers." Su Yuqing suddenly felt a pang of emotion and murmured this line of poetry.

The idealized tenderness and uniqueness in Luo Binwang's poem are an unattainable dream for others, but for Su Yuqing, they are an everyday reality at this moment!
She possessed something many people spend their entire lives searching for but never obtain—a person who fully accepted her past wounds, steadfastly protected her peace in the present, and promised to walk with her into the future.

"What else is there to look forward to, to crave, to covet?" she asked herself softly, a smile involuntarily curving her lips.

Material possessions? She never valued them. Vanity? She had long since become indifferent to them. The approval of others? Having experienced the betrayal and indifference of her closest relatives, she knew it was like a castle in the air.

Suddenly, Su Yuqing's heart had broken free from the desolation of suddenly gaining and then suddenly losing her father's affection.

She finally understood that all she wanted was a warm place to belong, a sense of security without fear, a hand to hold forever, and a chest to which she could entrust her back.

Chen Mo had given her all of this, so fully and abundantly.

If there is still hope, that hope has quietly transformed, no longer concerned with demanding what is lacking, but with nurturing and growing together with what is already possessed.

She hoped that she would always be worthy of this profound love.

Not with a humble and grateful attitude, but with an attitude of standing shoulder to shoulder.

She needs to become stronger inside, not only a fledgling under his wings, but also a haven he can lean on when he needs her.

Their relationship should not be just one-sided dedication and protection from him, but rather a shared sky supported by two independent yet interdependent souls.

She hoped that they could extend this trust and tacit understanding, forged in the crucible of life, to every mundane detail of the long years to come.

Together we plan our little home, choose the color of the curtains, and argue about what movie to watch at night; we share the joys and sorrows of our studies or work; we say good morning to each other on ordinary mornings and fall asleep in each other's arms on tiring nights.

Life doesn't need any thrilling legends, just a long and steady epic.

She even began to vaguely hope that in the distant future, when they had both become better versions of themselves and had a more solid economic and psychological foundation, they might be able to conceive a life together.

It has nothing to do with continuing the family line; it's simply about passing on the love, responsibility, and protectiveness they learned from each other to a new life, so that the child can grow up in a family that is truly full of love and security.

That would be the most beautiful continuation and testament to their love, as well as a gentle redemption and transcendence of their respective incomplete childhoods.

Chen Mo's parents are loving, but they live far away overseas and cannot be with him.

She was born in the same city as both her parents, but they were forced to separate.

Su Yuqing had this thought in her heart: if she had a child, she would definitely not let him feel such loneliness.

But these expectations have long since transcended the realm of greed.

They are not in a hurry or anxious; rather, they are like plants growing naturally on fertile soil, quietly waiting and cultivating for even more abundant fruits.

Because she knows that, regardless of whether these hopes are fulfilled or not, the core happiness she possesses at this moment—Chen Mo's love and their companionship—is as solid as a rock, enough to withstand any storm and illuminate all ordinary or extraordinary days.

She is no longer the girl who used to run barefoot in the rain, longing for a glimmer of light to warm herself.

She has found her own sun, and she is striving to shine.

"The noodles are ready." Just as Su Yuqing was lost in thought, Chen Mo carried two steaming white porcelain bowls out of the kitchen and placed them on the dining table.

A simple bowl of plain noodles, with bright green bok choy floating on a clear broth, a few slices of ham, and a perfectly round soft-boiled egg, is enough to make your mouth water.

Su Yuqing got up from the sofa, walked to his side, and instead of sitting down immediately, she gently wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his broad chest.

"What's wrong?" Chen Mo was slightly taken aback, then relaxed and asked gently.

"It's nothing," Su Yuqing's voice was muffled, but full of laughter, "I just suddenly feel so happy. So happy that... I feel like I don't have any other big pursuits in this life."

Chen Mo suddenly smiled and pulled her into his arms. Looking down at the satisfied and bright light in her eyes, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He understood the meaning behind her words; it was a sigh of relief after finally reaching an oasis after traversing desolation, a sense of peace after the soul has found its home.

“Silly girl…” He kissed the top of her head. “Happiness is not the end, but the foundation. On this foundation, we still have many things to do and many beautiful sights to see together. Moreover, your happiest moment cannot be now, and you cannot live without great pursuits in this life. You must at least retain one pursuit.”

"What?" Su Yuqing looked up at Chen Mo in surprise.

What I saw was a smile brimming in his eyes, and a meaningful, mysterious smile.

"It'll be soon. I'll tell you when the time is right." Chen Mo chuckled and coaxed her to sit down in a chair.

Just then, Su Yuqing suddenly seemed to realize something.

In an instant, she stopped picking up her chopsticks and looked at Chen Mo with undisguised joy.

Just then, Chen Mo was engrossed in drinking his noodle soup and didn't see her reaction. Upon seeing this, Su Yuqing suddenly smiled happily and turned her attention back to the bowl of noodles in front of her.

What was originally an ordinary bowl of plain noodles tasted incredibly delicious tonight, though the deliciousness seemed to originate from something other than the food itself! (End of Chapter)