Chapter 274: The Spreading Stirring

The door opened. It was a delivery driver with a few books Su Yuqing had ordered online. The cover of one of them read, *Comprehensive Guide for College Freshmen*.

Su Yuqing walked back with the books, the blush on her face not yet completely gone. Noticing Chen Mo’s gaze, she pointed at the book, a little embarrassed, and explained, "Um... I-I read online that college is really different from high school, so I wanted to get a head start and learn about it."

She was explaining why she had bought the book, but also apologizing for how the delivery driver’s arrival had interrupted the lovely atmosphere just a moment ago.

Seeing her shy yet earnest expression, Chen Mo’s heart melted completely, and any annoyance he felt at being interrupted vanished into thin air.

He walked over and naturally ruffled the top of her head, the gesture full of doting affection and reassurance.

"Yeah, it’s good to read up on it beforehand so you know what to expect." His voice was gentle, carrying a reassuring steadiness. "Don’t worry. College isn’t that scary. In fact, you’ll have a lot of new experiences and opportunities."

"Like what?" Su Yuqing looked at Chen Mo curiously.

Chen Mo paused, looked into her eyes, and smiled. "For example, teachers don’t get involved if college students are dating. You can experience walking around campus hand-in-hand with the person you like, out in the open."

Hearing this, the scene involuntarily played out in Su Yuqing’s mind.

The thought that many of their classmates might be watching as they walked by immediately sent a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Mo’s heart stirred.

The door closed softly, shutting out the last of the noise from outside.

The air in the room seemed to still hold the warmth and awkwardness from their interrupted, romantic moment.

Su Yuqing clutched the books, her fingertips still slightly hot. The blush hadn’t faded from her cheeks, and she avoided Chen Mo’s gaze, muttering, "I-I’m going to put my books away..."

Then, like a startled little rabbit, she scurried back to her room, books in tow.

Chen Mo watched her hasty retreat, an irrepressible smile spreading across his lips, his eyes filled with tenderness and adoration.

Inside her room, Su Yuqing leaned against the door, her heart still pounding.

She placed the *Comprehensive Guide for College Freshmen* in the most prominent spot on her desk, her fingertips gently tracing the cover.

Chen Mo’s words from before echoed in her ears: "...you can experience walking around campus hand-in-hand with the person you like, out in the open..."

Just imagining the scene brought another wave of heat to her cheeks. But this time, besides shyness, a secret thread of anticipation and sweetness bloomed deep in her heart.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but then heard a faint noise from the kitchen.

After a moment’s hesitation, she pushed the door open and walked out.

Only a few mood lights were on in the living room, casting a soft, warm glow.

Chen Mo had his back to her, busy at the kitchen counter.

A faint, comforting scent of rice, mixed with a hint of sweetness, began to fill the air.

"What are you making?" Su Yuqing drew closer, her voice a little hoarse now that she had calmed down.

Chen Mo turned at the sound of her voice, the warm yellow light outlining his handsome profile. His eyes held an ocean of tenderness. "You didn’t seem to eat much tonight, so I’m making a little dessert. There wasn’t much in the fridge, so I’m just making some simple sweet congee."

He held a spoon, gently stirring the white congee that was bubbling in a small pot. The grains of rice were already cooked soft, blooming open.

In a small bowl beside him were a few washed, luscious red strawberries and a small container of her favorite yogurt.

"Sweet congee?" Su Yuqing leaned over the pot, a sense of anticipation building as she watched the rice simmer.

A girl always has two stomachs: one for her meal, and the other for dessert.

Chen Mo gave her a gentle smile and continued his work. He picked up the yogurt and carefully spooned several dollops of the thick yogurt onto the hot congee.

The white yogurt instantly spread across the surface of the steaming congee, like fluffy white clouds.

He then picked up a few strawberries, quickly diced them with a fruit knife, and sprinkled them evenly over the yogurt clouds.

The bright red strawberry bits adorned the white yogurt and glistening congee, a tempting splash of color.

Finally, he added a bit of osmanthus honey, and a rich, sweet fragrance instantly wafted out from the kitchen, rushing straight to Su Yuqing’s nose.

"Here, strawberry yogurt congee." Chen Mo handed her the filled bowl, its sides warm. "Be careful, it’s hot."

Su Yuqing took the bowl, the warmth spreading from her fingertips all the way to her heart.

She looked down at the simple yet thoughtful dessert, the mingled scents of rice, yogurt, strawberry, and osmanthus tickling her nose.

She scooped up a small spoonful, blew on it, and carefully brought it to her lips.

The warm congee had a natural sweetness, blended with the slight tang and rich creaminess of the yogurt. The texture was smooth and thick.

When she bit into a cool piece of strawberry, a burst of sweet juice exploded in her mouth, a refreshing surprise.

With the sweetness of the osmanthus honey as a base, the tartness of the yogurt and strawberries was suppressed, serving only as a faint accent. Her mouth was filled with a rich, fragrant sweetness; it was delicious.

All her complex emotions—the lingering shyness from the interruption, her hopes for the future, and the comforting feeling of being so well cared for—melted away into that one sweet, warm mouthful of congee.

"Is it good?" Chen Mo had served himself a small bowl as well and was sitting beside her, his gaze fixed on her.

"Mhm!" Su Yuqing nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into crescents. A cute blush returned to her cheeks from the food’s warmth. "It’s so good! Sweet and tangy, it’s very comforting."

The two of them sat on the living room rug, leaning against the sofa, their knees touching. Under the soft lights, they ate their late-night sweet congee, one small bite at a time.

There wasn’t much talking. The only sound was the occasional, soft clink of a spoon against a bowl, and the air flowed with a quiet contentment.

After finishing the congee, they casually placed their bowls and spoons on the coffee table beside them, but neither of them got up right away.

Su Yuqing hugged her knees, her head tilted slightly, looking a little sleepy.

Chen Mo naturally adjusted his posture, allowing her to lean more comfortably against his shoulder.

Su Yuqing’s body was a little stiff at first, but Chen Mo’s clean, fresh scent and the warmth from his shoulder quickly helped her relax. She gently and contentedly rested her head on him.

Chen Mo tilted his head slightly as well, his cheek brushing against the top of her head, feeling her soft hair and her steady breathing.

They just cuddled quietly like that.

Chen Mo picked up the remote and casually flipped to a channel playing a soothing documentary. He turned the volume down low, making it more like background noise.

Su Yuqing’s eyes were half-closed, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with a loose thread on Chen Mo’s loungewear.

As the young man and woman took in each other’s presence, a restless urge began to stir within them.