Chapter 277: Tolerance

Su Yuqing didn’t dare to look into Chen Mo’s eyes. Her gaze darted away, drifting toward the deep blue light cast by the documentary on the television—a light that shifted and morphed with the swimming schools of fish. Her long eyelashes trembled violently. Just moments ago, her lips had been kissed full and rosy, but now she bit down on them, revealing a heart-wrenching helplessness and... a profound sense of guilt.

"I... We’re not... not there yet..." She struggled to form the words, each one heavy with caution and tentative probing.

"I... I just feel... feel that... those things... the next steps... should be... after... that... It would be... more appropriate..."

She didn’t explicitly use words like "before marriage" or "wedding," but the meaning behind her strained emphasis on "after" was perfectly clear to them both.

This was the boundary she held firm to in her heart regarding love and intimacy, a form of restraint born from her inner convictions and need for security.

She lifted her eyes and snuck a quick glance at Chen Mo. In the shifting blue gloom, her gaze was a mixture of concern for his feelings, annoyance at herself for being a killjoy, and a stubborn insistence.

"Just now... It’s not that I wasn’t willing... It’s just that... that boundary... I..." Afraid that Chen Mo would misinterpret her pushback as a rejection of his touch, her voice became frantic with a hurried explanation and deep apology.

’Because I rejected him, Chen Mo must be really hurt. And he might misunderstand and blame himself.’

This was the last thing Su Yuqing wanted to see. It wasn’t that she was completely against more intimate contact before marriage; if Chen Mo absolutely insisted, she would still agree.

But she hoped even more that Chen Mo would be willing to respect her wishes and save that deeper intimacy for their wedding day.

’That would be another beautiful, unforgettable night in this lifetime.’

The blush on Su Yuqing’s cheeks was now deeper than when she had been aroused moments before, but it was no longer an alluring peach, but a scarlet flush of embarrassment and shame.

"If... if you don’t like this... then... I’ll do whatever you want..."

Su Yuqing lowered her head, forcing the words out. But halfway through her sentence, a finger was already sealing her lips.

The tumultuous waves churning in Chen Mo’s chest strangely, little by little, began to subside at her careful explanation, laden with profound apology.

His immense sense of loss didn’t disappear, but it was replaced by a deeper, more complex emotion—an ultimate, tender affection for her preciousness, her principles, and even her clumsy apology.

He saw the anxiety in her eyes, her conviction, and her fear of hurting him. This touched the softest spot deep in his heart more than any sweet words ever could.

He couldn’t ignore the residual restlessness from the interruption, but he was even less capable of ignoring her feelings and her principles.

He took a deep breath. The air seemed to still hold the scent of their earlier entanglement, but it was now filled more with a restrained effort to calm himself.

He didn’t speak, but simply leaned forward with unparalleled gentleness.

He didn’t try to kiss her again, nor did he touch her anywhere else. Instead, he reached out and, with the warm pad of his finger, with the utmost tenderness and infinite compassion, gently wiped away the small bead of moisture that had silently appeared at the corner of her eye. It probably wasn’t a tear of grievance, but rather a physiological reaction to the high tension and immense emotional shock.

His gaze was incredibly focused. Illuminated by the shifting blue light, his eyes were filled with understanding and acceptance. His voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried a strange, comforting power. "Silly girl, why are you apologizing? I’m the one who should be sorry."

He paused, his finger gently brushing against the cool skin at the corner of her eye again. "I lost my head for a moment and couldn’t control myself."

He pulled back slightly to give her space to breathe, but his eyes remained glued to her face, making sure she could clearly see the sincerity in them. "You don’t need to apologize, Yuqing. Your feelings are what’s most important to me. Anytime, anywhere, if you ever feel uncomfortable or aren’t ready, you can tell me immediately. You never, ever need to feel sorry."

His voice was quiet but every word was clear, carrying the weight of a solemn promise. "I respect all of your decisions. You tell me when... when the time is right. We’ll wait until then. Okay?"

The moment Su Yuqing had said that if he didn’t like this, she’d do whatever he wanted...

...that was the moment she had pierced the softest part of Chen Mo’s heart.

Love is about mutual understanding and acceptance.

If Chen Mo had insisted on not waiting, Su Yuqing, out of love, would have been willing to yield to him, willing to go against her own firmly held principles.

Chen Mo felt this acceptance and understanding deeply, and it filled his heart to the brim.

And out of his respect and understanding for Su Yuqing, he too was willing to accept her principles.

Su Yuqing stared at him, dazed. She saw in his deep eyes a mixture of apology, emotion, and tender affection, but what was even more intense was an unwavering, unconditional acceptance and adoration.

On the television screen, strange jellyfish drifted leisurely by, casting a flowing river of light and shadow over them.

He hadn’t blamed her for "slamming the brakes"; instead, he’d taken all the blame himself. That firm yet gentle promise was like a warm furnace, instantly dispelling the icy embarrassment and terror that had built up in her heart.

A sob she could no longer suppress caught in her throat. She nodded forcefully. Her nose tingled, and more moisture welled uncontrollably in her eyes. But these were no longer tears of panic; they were the release of a grievance that had been understood, the heart-fluttering reassurance of being cherished.

She suddenly threw herself into his arms, not to ask for a kiss, but to seek the purest, warmest of harbors—one that could embrace all her anxieties.

She hugged his waist tightly, burying her burning cheeks in his solid chest and drawing in his reassuring scent. Her voice, muffled and thick with nasality, mumbled, "I’m so glad I met you."

Su Yuqing had spoken those words to herself; they were so quiet and muffled that Chen Mo didn’t hear them at all.

’I’m so lucky to have met him in this life!’ Su Yuqing’s heart was filled with emotion.

Chen Mo held her steady, tightening his arms to circle her securely in his embrace.

This hug had nothing to do with passion. It was only pure compassion, acceptance, and a wordless promise.

His chin rested gently on the top of her head. He felt her trembling body gradually relax in his arms. In this moment, the heartbeats that fluttered for each other were imbued with a deeper, more stabilizing power by "restraint" and "respect."

He closed his eyes, letting the light from the silently flowing deep-sea documentary completely envelop them. ’The road ahead is long. We have plenty of time to wait for that "perfect moment" to arrive naturally, in a state of mutual understanding and cherished anticipation.’