Chapter 271: I Will Gently Whisper in Your Ear, I Love You

The long, drawn-out blast of the ferry horn as it docked announced the end of their dream-like trip to Bikong Island, but it also marked the official start of a new Chapter in Chen Mo and Su Yuqing’s relationship.

Stepping onto the familiar city docks, the salty, damp sea breeze seemed to still cling to their hair. Yet, the air around them was now saturated with a new kind of sweetness, a change only they could perceive.

The eight of them, shouldering their simple luggage, blended into the bustling crowd of disembarking passengers. The clamor of the city around them instantly yanked everyone from the fantasy of Bikong Island back to reality.

The bus on the way back was a bit crowded.

When the eight of them got on, they found there were no seats left. However, the subtle distance they had maintained on the way there was long gone, and they all stood packed closely together quite naturally.

As the bus suddenly started up with a lurch, Chen Mo subconsciously shot out an arm. He didn’t just steady her; he wrapped his arm firmly around Su Yuqing’s waist, pulling her protectively closer and using his body to shield her from the surrounding crush of people.

Instead of dodging out of shyness as she might have in the past, Su Yuqing simply tilted her head, her cheek nearly brushing against the fabric of his chest. Feeling the strength and warmth of his arm, the tips of her ears quietly turned red.

She even discreetly rested one of her hands on top of his, where it was wrapped around her waist, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the bones of his knuckles.

This was an active gesture, a kind of touch that would have been completely impossible before.

Chen Mo’s arm remained firmly wrapped around Su Yuqing’s waist. Through her thin summer clothes, he could clearly feel the warmth and soft curves of her body, the pliant feel of her waist, and her small hand resting on his. For a moment, he found himself completely unwilling to let go. Unlike the hesitant, tentative gestures on the way there, this embrace felt natural and certain, carrying a clear sense of belonging.

At first, Su Yuqing was a little unused to being so intimate in public, and her body was slightly stiff. But the steady thump of Chen Mo’s heartbeat from his chest and his fresh, pleasant scent soon helped her relax.

Chen Mo glanced down with a faint smile. Su Yuqing’s actions had grown much bolder as she stroked the back of his hand, but her face was still tinged with shyness. He just continued to hold her tightly, keeping her sheltered in front of him.

As they shared this shy yet bold contact, the bus slowly pulled out of the station and began to weave through the city’s arteries. The view outside the window rapidly changed from the vast expanse of the harbor to familiar streets and buildings.

The crowded, noisy bus cabin had unexpectedly become a protective shell for the intimate little world of Chen Mo and Su Yuqing.

Chen Mo felt a subtle tickle on the back of his hand and looked down at her.

Su Yuqing happened to be tilting her face up at that very moment. Their eyes met, and without a word, a silent current crackled between them.

A blush instantly bloomed across Su Yuqing’s cheeks, making them look like ripe peaches. She hurriedly tried to look away but was held captive by the undisguised tenderness in Chen Mo’s smiling eyes.

She bit her lip, then finally returned his gaze with a shy but sweet smile. She leaned closer, hiding most of her face in the crook of his shoulder, revealing only her love-filled eyes and the reddish tips of her ears.

"Are you tired?" Chen Mo asked in a low voice, his breath brushing the crown of her head.

Su Yuqing shook her head gently in his embrace, her voice muffled and carrying a slightly pouty, nasal tone. "Not tired. It’s just... a little noisy."

She was referring to the clamor of voices in the bus.

Chen Mo understood. He took his phone and a pair of earbuds out of his backpack.

With a practiced motion, he gently placed one of the small, white earbuds into Su Yuqing’s ear, the one closest to him. His fingertips accidentally brushed the soft shell of her ear, sending another slight shiver through her.

Su Yuqing tilted her head obligingly.

Then, Chen Mo put the other one in his own ear.

A soothing instrumental intro flowed out, followed by a clear male voice singing tenderly: "...I’ll whisper softly in your ear and tell you, I love you~ I’m loving you..."

Su Yuqing’s head snapped up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Mo with a questioning gaze and a hint of barely concealed surprise.

Chen Mo lowered his head, his lips almost touching the shell of her ear. In a breathy whisper only she could hear, he explained with a hint of playful pride, "It’s a new song. I thought of you on the ride back... I had a feeling you’d like it."

His warm breath ghosted across her sensitive earlobe and neck. It was as if he were speaking the lyrics himself, and they carried the rhythm of two heartbeats.

Su Yuqing’s cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. Her heart felt like it was overflowing with honey, swelling with a sweetness that was almost too much to bear.

She said nothing, merely burying her face deeper into the crook of his neck and nodding firmly. The arm she had around his waist tightened its grip.

Sharing the melody of a single love song in the crowded, noisy bus, their world was reduced to nothing but the beat of each other’s hearts and the song’s bold declaration of love, playing on a loop.

Time always seems to fly when you’re blissfully happy.

And that was exactly how Su Yuqing and Chen Mo felt at that moment.

It felt as if they had only just left the station, yet somehow, they were already at their stop.

Back in the familiar city, after bidding their companions farewell, Chen Mo casually hailed a taxi.

He pulled open the rear door, stepping aside to let Su Yuqing get in first.

Su Yuqing ducked into the car, the soft hem of her dress brushing against the edge of the seat.

Chen Mo followed right behind her and shut the door.

"Sir, could you take us to..." Chen Mo recited the address.

"You got it," the driver replied, and the car pulled away smoothly.

Instantly, they were enveloped in a private, enclosed space—a stark contrast to the bus.

There was no crush of people, no boisterous noise—only the low hum of the engine and the city lights streaking past the windows.

The intimacy that had been cocooned by the bus’s chaos was now, in the silence, magnified infinitely. It was a heart-pounding sort of quiet.

The two of them sat side by side in the back seat, a small, polite distance between them.

But the space in the cab was limited, and the outside of Chen Mo’s arm could almost feel the faint warmth radiating from Su Yuqing’s body.

He turned his head to look at her.

The bright afternoon sun filtered through the car’s tinted windows, casting a soft, golden halo that fell evenly over Su Yuqing.

Her head was tilted slightly as she watched the familiar streets flash by. The sunlight danced on her soft hair, outlining the delicate profile of her face. Her long lashes cast small, fan-shaped shadows beneath her eyes. The tip of her nose was pert and elegant, and her lips held a natural, rosy sheen.

Her hands rested quietly on her knees, which were pressed together. Her fingers, however, were unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress, betraying her inner restlessness.

Just moments ago on the bus, she had been bold enough to rest her hand on his and make small gestures, but in this quiet, private space, her courage seemed to have drained away.

Chen Mo’s gaze fell upon her slightly curled fingertips, and a wave of tenderness washed over him.

Tentatively, ever so slowly, he reached out and covered the back of her hand with his own.