Qian Chengxue replied with a smile.
Su Mo nodded. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel~fire~net
The two of them strolled towards the Upper City District, and for a while, neither spoke.
The atmosphere was somewhat delicate.
Eventually, Su Mo coughed to break the silence and said,
"When we head into battle, if possible, try to stay close to me. I will protect you."
"It’s fine. I’ve been assigned to the flanks where it’s relatively less dangerous. I can manage. Actually, I’m not so worried about myself, but I am a bit concerned about you since you’re likely to be sent to the main battlefield."
Qian Chengxue replied as she took small steps with her hands clasped behind her back, shaking her head.
"That’s good, I’ll be fine."
After listening to Qian Chengxue, Su Mo felt a warmth in his heart, so he stopped and said,
Looking at Su Mo in front of her, Qian Chengxue suddenly revealed a faint smile and said, "Come with me, I’ll take you somewhere."
Su Mo replied with a hint of curiosity.
"You’ll know if you come with me."
Qian Chengxue then took Su Mo’s hand and ran towards a direction in the Upper City District.
Being pulled along, Su Mo could clearly feel the warmth of Qian Chengxue’s soft hand, leaving his mind completely blank.
This was their first time holding hands officially.
A moment later, Su Mo and Qian Chengxue arrived at the Observatory in the Upper City District.
The entire Observatory was deserted and very quiet.
"This is a place I like because it’s not often open to the public, so it’s very quiet."
Qian Chengxue, still holding Su Mo’s hand, found a spot to sit down on the ground.
The Observatory’s dome and the walls were made with highly transparent special glass, creating the feeling of standing amongst the stars, affording a clear view of the twinkle in the night sky and providing an immersive experience.
Su Mo began to speak, but suddenly he stiffened. This was because he saw Qian Chengxue, her face flushed, turning her head to look at him from a close distance.
He could even clearly hear her breathing.
The atmosphere once again became somewhat delicate.
"Is there something on my face?"
Su Mo asked nervously.
Qian Chengxue, who seemed to have drunk a little too much, suddenly asked, "Su Mo, why are you so nice to me?"
Su Mo got confused by Qian Chengxue’s sudden question, not knowing what to do.
Qian Chengxue, looking at the flustered Su Mo, took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and asked. Normally, she wouldn’t have asked such a question.
But with the impending battle at the Insect Nest tomorrow, no one knew what the future held. There was a real possibility she could fall on the battlefield.
To avoid any regrets, she asked the question, having deliberately drunk a bit more for courage.
After asking, Qian Chengxue felt her heart pounding uncontrollably; she felt even more nervous than Su Mo himself.
The two of them simply gazed at each other under the starry sky, in silence.
This time, Su Mo had no hesitation whatsoever and said,
Having heard Su Mo’s words, Qian Chengxue felt an immense joy inside. She continued with a smile, "Why do you like me?"
Su Mo’s mind went blank. Why indeed?
With no thoughts in his head, he didn’t know what to say. A bit panicked, he blurted out without thinking,
"Because you look like my mother."
Qian Chengxue was taken aback by Su Mo’s reply; no one answers like that.
Coming back to his senses, Su Mo wanted to slap himself. He hurriedly tried to clarify, "That’s not it, I didn’t mean that... Listen to my explanation, no, let me explain. The truth is, I first noticed you because you do indeed resemble my mother, but after getting to know you, it became different. I genuinely like you from the bottom of my heart, that’s why I’ve been so nice to you."
Watching Su Mo, who was so anxious that he began to sweat, Qian Chengxue couldn’t help but laugh.
Seeing Qian Chengxue laughing eased the panic in Su Mo’s heart considerably.
Then, gathering his courage, Su Mo asked,
Qian Chengxue replied with a twinkle in her eye.
Su Mo, making a pained face, didn’t know what to say.
Just then, he heard Qian Chengxue’s soft voice.
"Of course I do, silly."
Upon hearing her, Su Mo’s heart raced in excitement, and a look of unrestrained joy spread across his face.
As Su Mo beamed, Qian Chengxue, still smiling, asked, "When did you start noticing me?"
"Uh, probably from the first time we met in the elevator, what about you?"
Su Mo asked with curiosity.
"From when you snatched my ship in the Star Ring World, I started keeping an eye on you."
Qian Chengxue seemed lost in her memories.
"That was purely an accident,"
Su Mo promptly explained, scratching his head.
"I know. It’s fine; it actually worked out well. If not for that incident, perhaps I wouldn’t have noticed you. Truth is, in the days before you appeared, my life was filled with gloom and devoid of color. It was your arrival that changed everything."
Qian Chengxue, looking up at the starry sky, replied with a touch of emotion.
"Let’s leave the past behind and look to the future instead. Let’s talk about our dreams and aspirations."
Seeing Qian Chengxue slightly saddened, Su Mo quickly changed the subject.
After a moment of thought, Qian Chengxue responded with a look of hope, "My dream is to save enough money to start my own company again and set out into the Star Sea with my sisters."
"Yeah, and I’ll be there too. We’ll definitely make it happen, I’ll help you."
Su Mo reached out to hold Qian Chengxue’s hand firmly and answered with conviction.
Qian Chengxue’s eyes glistened with moisture, and she leaned gently against Su Mo’s shoulder, softly responding,
Under the brilliant starlight, two figures leaned quietly against each other.