Chapter 273: Perfect Timing

Chen Mo didn’t follow her. He just changed his shoes as well, walked to the kitchen, and opened the refrigerator to check inside.

"What do you want for dinner? Looks like we’re out of groceries. Should I go to the supermarket and get some?" Chen Mo’s voice came from the kitchen.

"Ah? Anything is fine... You can decide!" Su Yuqing’s voice drifted in from the balcony, still sounding a little tense.

Chen Mo walked to the balcony door, leaned against the frame, and looked at Su Yuqing’s slender back.

She was holding a spray bottle, carefully watering a few potted plants with gentle movements.

The afternoon sun filtered through the screen door, bathing her in a soft halo of light.

"Want to go together?" Chen Mo suggested, his voice very soft.

Su Yuqing’s movements paused, and she slowly turned around.

The blush on her face hadn’t completely faded, but her eyes were much calmer now. With a hint of anticipation and an imperceptible reliance, she nodded lightly. "Okay."

The supermarket wasn’t crowded in the afternoon, and the air conditioning was blasting, dispelling the summer heat from outside.

The two of them pushed a shopping cart, walking side by side.

Chen Mo naturally took on the task of pushing the cart, while Su Yuqing was in charge of picking out the items.

She picked up a carton of yogurt that was on sale. She habitually started to hand it to Chen Mo, but her hand stopped halfway, her movement hesitant.

Before, this would have been the most natural thing in the world, but now, even passing him something felt like she was sharing some incredible secret. Her fingertips felt slightly hot.

Chen Mo noticed her pause and naturally reached out, taking the yogurt from her.

Their fingertips inevitably brushed against each other, his touching her slightly cool ones.

"Hm, you seem to like this brand," he said nonchalantly, placing the yogurt in the cart, but he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curving into a pleased smile.

Su Yuqing’s shyness had its own innocent, girlish charm, and these cute quirks tugged at Chen Mo’s heart, making him want to tease her even more.

Su Yuqing quickly pulled her hand back and lowered her head, pretending to look at the nearby vegetable section. But her heart was pounding faster because of that brief touch.

She stole a glance at Chen Mo’s profile as he pushed the cart—tall, dependable, and exuding a sense of strength that put her at ease.

This mundane "grocery shopping together" routine seemed to be coated in a sweet glow now that their relationship had changed.

"Any other fruits you want? Strawberries?" he asked, pointing to the fruit section.

"Mm... okay," Su Yuqing replied in a small voice.

When they reached the fresh food section, Chen Mo picked up a packaged piece of salmon. "How about pan-seared salmon? With some broccoli."

"Mhm, anything you make is delicious." Su Yuqing looked up at him, her eyes clear and filled with complete trust and reliance.

Su Yuqing had said many times that Chen Mo was a good cook, but hearing it now, it held a different kind of sweetness for him—this was his girlfriend’s approval.

At checkout, Chen Mo took out his phone to pay by scanning the code.

Su Yuqing stood quietly beside him, looking at the food they had chosen together in the cart: the yogurt, the salmon, the fresh broccoli, and a small box of her favorite strawberries... A simple yet real sense of happiness, like a gentle spring, quietly filled her heart.

’So this is the simple warmth of being "together," huh?’

Dinner was the pan-seared salmon and stir-fried broccoli that Chen Mo made. It was simple yet heartwarming.

The atmosphere between them at the dinner table was much more natural. They chatted about interesting things that happened on the island, making fun of Huang Mao’s reckless confession and Zhao Yuanyuan’s flustered reaction.

As they talked, Chen Mo couldn’t help but bring up the kiss under the fireworks, his gaze meaningfully sweeping over Su Yuqing’s lips.

Su Yuqing’s cheeks instantly flushed red again. She immediately lowered her head, picking at the rice in her bowl with small bites, her long eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a startled butterfly.

The memory of that long, passionate first kiss under the fireworks—carrying the salty tang of the sea breeze and the unique scent of gunpowder—surged back with sudden clarity.

Her body seemed to still hold the lingering tingle and thrill from that moment.

Seeing her so shy she was practically burying her face in her bowl, Chen Mo found it incredibly cute. A wave of tenderness filled his chest, and he stopped teasing her, simply placing a piece of fish in her bowl.

After dinner, Chen Mo washed the dishes in the kitchen while Su Yuqing wiped the table.

The water gushed from the faucet. The kitchen was small, so they were inevitably close to each other.

After wiping the table, Su Yuqing took the cloth to go wash it and almost bumped into Chen Mo’s chest as she turned.

"Ah..." she let out a small cry and instinctively took a step back, her back hitting the refrigerator door.

Chen Mo turned off the faucet and turned around.

The light from the overhead kitchen lamp fell on him. His tall figure loomed over her, carrying the faint, clean scent of dish soap and steam from just having washed the dishes.

The space instantly felt cramped, and the air seemed to thicken.

Their gazes locked, and neither of them spoke.

Chen Mo’s eyes were deep, carrying an imperceptible heat as they landed clearly on her slightly parted, glistening, and inviting lips.

Su Yuqing’s heart pounded like a drum. She could clearly feel the heat radiating from his body and a powerful attraction.

She nervously clenched the dishcloth in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force, but her body felt as if it were being pulled by invisible threads, unable to move.

Anticipation and immense shyness flickered, intertwined, in her clear eyes.

Chen Mo slowly, tentatively leaned forward, his gaze locked on her, his breath growing hotter.

He placed one hand on the refrigerator door next to her ear, creating a small enclosure around her.

Su Yuqing felt the air around her grow thin. She subconsciously held her breath, her long eyelashes trembling violently. Finally, as if unable to bear the weight of his scorching gaze, she gently closed her eyes and tilted her face up slightly.

Her posture was like that of a flower bud in the night, silently waiting for the morning dew, a voiceless expression of consent and anticipation.

Their breaths mingled at an extremely close distance, carrying the same tension and desire.

Chen Mo’s gaze traced her delicate brows and eyes, the elegant tip of her nose, and finally settled on her slightly parted lips, a silent invitation.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He finally lowered his head slowly, his target clear—

DING-DONG! DING-DONG! The piercing sound of the doorbell exploded like a clap of thunder in the quiet apartment, without warning, instantly tearing apart the intensely romantic atmosphere that had been brewing in the kitchen!

The two of them sprang apart as if electrocuted!

Su Yuqing’s face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato. Flustered and at a loss, she didn’t know where to look. "I... I’ll get the door!"

She practically fled in a panic, her heart still pounding wildly in her chest.

Annoyed, Chen Mo raked a hand through his hair and took a deep breath, trying to calm the interrupted thrill and the heat surging deep within his body.

’Who the hell has such perfect timing?’ he cursed inwardly. Leaning against the counter, he closed his eyes in resignation. After calming himself down, he followed her out of the kitchen.