Chapter 194: A Beautiful Time

Along the way, Chen Mo handed Su Yuqing another skewer of fried tofu skin.

"This one has a richer flavor," Chen Mo explained with a smile.

Su Yuqing took a tentative bite, and the surprise of its flavor made her bright eyes instantly sparkle.

She chewed in small bites. The perfect combination of the soft, fluffy interior and the crispy outer skin, plus the complex, savory-sweet sauce, instantly awakened her taste buds.

"Mmm! This is so good!" She swallowed and nodded emphatically at Chen Mo, her face beaming with a blissful smile of satisfaction. A tiny, glistening drop of sauce clung to the corner of her mouth.

Seeing Su Yuqing’s undisguised joy, Chen Mo’s heart felt filled by her pure delight, which was even more satisfying than eating it himself.

He smiled and naturally reached out, gently wiping the sauce from the corner of her lips with his handkerchief.

The intimate gesture made Su Yuqing’s fair cheeks flush slightly, a sweet shyness in her expression. Her focus, which had been entirely on the delicious food, was instantly diverted by the small touch.

"I have tissues. You’ve gotten your handkerchief dirty," Su Yuqing said, pulling a small pack of tissues from her pocket.

"That depends on who it’s for. It’s not getting dirty if I’m using it on you," Chen Mo said with a smile.

Su Yuqing froze for a moment, then, flustered, turned her head back to the food in her hand.

"If you like that, then try this." Suppressing the flutter in his heart, Chen Mo pulled a golden-brown skewer of fried tofu puffs from another bag and handed it to her. "These fried tofu puffs are delicious, too. They’re savory with a hint of spice, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Be careful, they’re hot."

Su Yuqing took the skewer of tofu puffs and puffed out her cheeks to blow on it gently, looking absolutely adorable.

Once it had cooled down a bit, she carefully took a bite.

Just as he’d said, beneath the crispy surface was an incredibly tender center. However, unlike the tofu skin, the puffs were already a fried food item, so they didn’t retain as much of the soft tofu inside, giving them a completely different texture. Furthermore, because the puffs were hollow, they absorbed much more of the sauce, making the flavor even richer.

As she bit into a puff, the sauce it was coated in exploded in her mouth with a rich, savory soy flavor. A subtle, barely-there hint of spice provided the perfect accent, and it wasn’t greasy at all.

"This one is incredible, too!" she whispered in amazement, as if she’d discovered a new world.

A smile never left Chen Mo’s lips as he watched Su Yuqing. She was like a pixie on a culinary adventure, her face lighting up with surprise at every new taste, and his heart filled with joy.

He held the bag open, revealing a wide variety of fried goodies inside.

"Here, we’ve also got cauliflower skewers, fried until they’re crisp and fragrant. This pork chop skewer is coated in a special crispy batter, and the meat is really tender. Oh, and these chicken strips are coated in breadcrumbs—they’re best when they’re hot and crispy. See which one you want to try first. We have a difficult mission today. Think your stomach can handle it?" His tone was light and cheerful, with a hint of teasing.

Su Yuqing’s eyes scanned the contents of the bag before finally landing on a skewer of slightly shriveled fried cauliflower. "Then... I’ll try this one?" She looked at Chen Mo, partly to ask his opinion, but more to share the simple fun of making the choice.

"Good eye!" Chen Mo picked up the cauliflower skewer and handed it to her. "I’ll let you in on a secret: I used to hate cauliflower. My grandma always boiled it until it was completely mushy. But ever since I tried fried cauliflower, it’s like I discovered a whole new world.

As long as you don’t boil it to death, it’s actually really crisp and delicious.

When it’s fried to this point, with most of the moisture gone, that’s when you can truly appreciate its essence."

Hearing Chen Mo say that, Su Yuqing was reminded of her own experiences.

Her mother did the same thing, always boiling the cauliflower until it was so mushy it would fall apart in her mouth. The texture was terrible.

That’s why Su Yuqing had never been a big fan of cauliflower, even as a child.

But now, hearing what Chen Mo said, her interest was piqued.

She took the skewer and bit off a small floret. The crisp texture, combined with the perfect seasoning, instantly gave Su Yuqing a completely new appreciation for the vegetable.

Seeing Su Yuqing’s satisfied expression, Chen Mo felt even more motivated.

"All this fried food will make you thirsty. Here, let me get you a bottle of plum juice." Chen Mo thoughtfully bought a bottle of the refreshing drink to cut the grease and handed it to her.

"They say drinking makes you feel full. If I finish this bottle, I’m afraid I won’t be able to eat much more," Su Yuqing said with a laugh as she took the plum juice.

"Don’t worry, it’s only Saturday. We have plenty of time this weekend. If we stay out late, you can even sleep over at my grandparents’ place. My parents’ room is empty right now." Chen Mo gently patted the hand she had wrapped around the bottle, letting her know she didn’t need to worry.

Su Yuqing nodded and decided to clear her mind, allowing herself to follow Chen Mo’s lead and just enjoy the wonderful moment.

Sometimes the spicy sauce would make her cough lightly, and Chen Mo would immediately twist open the cool drink he’d just bought and hand it to her, his eyes filled with a concerned smile.

Other times, when she tasted something particularly amazing, she would subconsciously tug on Chen Mo’s sleeve, urging him to quickly try it too.

Chen Mo always happily obliged, taking a bite and nodding in agreement with her verdict, though his gaze would linger more on her excited face.

The two of them strolled along at a leisurely pace, sharing the food in their hands.

Far from being irritating, the surrounding din actually made it easier to clear one’s mind and melt into the environment.

The clang of gongs and drums from the stage, the cheers from the elders in the audience, the calls of the street vendors, and the laughter of children all mixed with the SIZZLE of food frying in hot oil, weaving together into a lively, vibrant tapestry of daily life.

But for the two of them at its center, it was as if they were in their own quiet, cozy little world.

They weaved side-by-side through the crowd, pausing briefly at one fragrant stall after another, selecting, tasting, and discussing.

As Chen Mo paid, Su Yuqing noticed the crisp, pink hundred-yuan bill—it was the one his grandfather had given him that afternoon, telling him to "treat her to lots of good food."

This thoughtful gesture from an elder made the snack in her hand feel more than just delicious; it was imbued with the warmth of deep family affection. It was just like the sweet and sour pork she’d had at his grandmother’s house for lunch—not just a treat for her taste buds, but a comfort for her soul.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves of the large trees lining the road, casting dappled spots of light that danced upon them.

The air was filled with the tempting aromas of food, her ears were filled with the lively sounds of the crowd, her hand held a simple yet satisfying snack, and most importantly, the person beside her made her feel completely at ease and joyful.

Su Yuqing’s heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of contentment and happiness. Every moment felt exceptionally precious. This was it—the most ordinary, and yet most beautiful, kind of life she had yearned for during her lonely years.

The bag in their hands gradually emptied, but the sweet satisfaction in her heart was like warm syrup, slowly flowing through her and suffusing the entire afternoon with its warmth.