The sky had just begun to break, the earth still hazy and indistinct. A few lingering stars were embedded in the pale, bluish sky. It was at this moment that Su Tang turned around.
“Brother Qinglan,” she said with a slight smile, her clear, bright eyes curving into crescents.
Following her gaze, Mo Qinglan gradually recalled her former appearance.
Unlike Chu Yue, who was innocent and carefree, laughing like a charming and adorable young girl, Yun Qingchu appeared more proud. She was like a proud little peacock, beautiful and eye-catching. Yet, this proud little peacock was willing to disguise herself as an ugly and mute creature.
The more he reminisced about the past, the more his heart ached, as if pierced by countless needles, a dense and numbing pain that ultimately left him breathless.
“Qingchu, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…” Mo Qinglan embraced her, countless words he wanted to say, but in the end, only these three most useless words of apology escaped his lips.
He owed her too much, a debt he could never repay.
A soft sigh sounded beside his ear. Su Tang sighed and finally, with a mixture of helplessness and heartache, hugged him. “I told you, I forgive you.”
Mo Qinglan's voice was choked with emotion. “But I can't forgive myself.” The more he spoke, the tighter he held her.
He had already lost her twice.
“But, you're hurting me,” Su Tang whispered. “It hurts, Brother Qinglan.”
These words made Mo Qinglan panic and loosen his grip. But as soon as he let go, the fear of losing her once again gripped his heart. In the end, he anxiously held her hand.
For him, Su Tang was the joy of finding something lost. And because he had already lost her twice, this time, he was unwilling to let go. It seemed that only in this way could he quell the panic in his heart.
“I'll be gentle, so it won't hurt.”
Su Tang looked at him holding her hand, his eyes filled with melancholy, as if her refusal would extinguish the light in his life.
With the male lead so clingy, what else could Su Tang do? Of course, she had to pamper him.
“Mm, it doesn't hurt now,” she said with a smile, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Mo Qinglan was momentarily stunned. The person he longed for was right beside him, yet he still felt a sense of unreality.
“Qingchu, will you leave?”
Su Tang tilted her head. “Do you want me to leave?”
Mo Qinglan blurted out, “No, I want you to stay.”
Su Tang hummed, then smiled. “Then I'll have to think about it.” Seeing his nervousness, she quickly added, “Alright, I'm hungry now. Brother Qinglan, want to have breakfast together?”
The first rays of dawn illuminated the quiet long street, the light piercing through the mist and finally falling upon the two of them.
Mo Qinglan quietly watched the young woman beside him, listening to her chatter like a cheerful little sparrow as she ordered from the menu, just like in the beginning.
“Brother Qinglan, I want crystal dumplings, steamed chicken feet in black bean sauce, and steamed buns… Oh, and order soy milk later. Brother Qinglan, you're not allowed to drink the salty kind. Salty soy milk lovers are weirdos! Sweet soy milk is the true way!”
When he was still the young master of the Mo family, Mo Qinglan often took his little fiancée out for breakfast. Back then, he was still young and playful, and his favorite thing was to tease his little fiancée.
Sweet or salty soy milk didn't matter to him. What mattered was the person accompanying him.
Su Tang continued to chatter. She thought she had forgotten those distant years, but as she spoke, the memories became surprisingly clear.
“Fine, seeing how pitiful you are, I'll order you a salty soy milk.”
Hearing this, the corners of Mo Qinglan's mouth finally curled into a smile.
Little Qingchu hadn't changed. Just like before, her words were sharp, but her heart was the kindest.
“Anything you say.”
The morning streets gradually became lively, the sounds of hawkers and children's laughter finally giving a sense of returning to the world.
Su Tang, with a carefree expression, pulled Mo Qinglan towards the best restaurant and generously ordered a table full of food.
The dishes were quickly served. Mo Qinglan watched the young woman eat, her cheeks puffed out like a cute little squirrel. He couldn't resist and took a sip of her soy milk.
The little squirrel was stunned, her eyes wide. “Don't you dislike sweet soy milk?”
Mo Qinglan couldn't help but laugh. “Mm, my hand slipped. I took the wrong one.”
Su Tang protectively moved her soy milk to another spot, then carefully glanced at him. Finally, as if making a major decision, she moved the soy milk back. “Forget it, drink it if you want. I'm not that stingy.”
Mo Qinglan felt that his little fiancée was truly his source of happiness. He didn't need to do anything special; just looking at her filled his heart with joy.
“Mm, then I thank Qingchu.”
Thank you for never giving up on me.
Su Tang didn't have so many inner thoughts. She ate until her stomach was full, and when she couldn't eat any more, she put down her chopsticks and slumped back in her chair. “No more, I can't eat anymore.”
Seeing this, Mo Qinglan didn't say anything, just picked up his chopsticks and elegantly finished the rest of her food.
“Where to now?”
Su Tang, “Of course, to sleep! I'm an ordinary person now.” Then, she looked at him with a weary expression. “Sigh, grandma is old and can't stay up late. Will my dear grandson dislike grandma?”
When she mentioned grandma, Mo Qinglan's expression twisted slightly, but the distortion was only for a moment. Soon, he looked at her with helpless affection. “Qingchu, stop messing around.”
Su Tang hummed. “I'm not messing around. Grandma wants to sleep now. Dear grandson, go play by yourself.”
Mo Qinglan saw that her role-playing was endless, his expression shifting from helplessness to indulgence, and finally to narrowed eyes. “Is that so? Dear grandson also hasn't slept all night. I'll accompany grandma to sleep later. Just consider it… fulfilling my filial duty.”
He emphasized the words "filial duty."
Su Tang was stunned. She didn't expect him to actually play along.
Mo Qinglan had figured it out. The little girl was mischievous, but if you were even more shameless than her, she would be at a loss.
“What's wrong, grandma? Can't walk? Then your grandson will carry you.” He scooped her up into his arms and saw the blush on her face, shy yet defiant.
“Mo Qinglan, put me down!”
Mo Qinglan mimicked her earlier tone. “Be good, grandma. I'll buy you candied hawthorns later.”
Su Tang, “Can I be bought with just one candied hawthorn?”
Mo Qinglan, “Then two.”
Su Tang, “You underestimate me too…”
Before she could finish, Mo Qinglan interrupted her with a husky voice and a smile, “Plus me.”
Su Tang was stunned. She was usually the mischievous one, with Mo Qinglan looking at her with helpless amusement. Who would have thought that this guy could also say such flirty things!