Chapter 296: The Beauty of the Ordinary

"You should eat too." Seeing Su Yuqing just watching him eat his noodles while her own bowl remained untouched, Chen Mo said immediately.

"Okay." Su Yuqing gave Chen Mo a sweet smile and finally started eating.

Seeing Chen Mo’s genuine smile and the relaxed way he spoke to her, Su Yuqing’s heart finally relaxed as well.

She had seen the version of Chen Mo from her dream—the one who had lost his light, his color, his very soul—so many times that for a moment, she had superimposed that image onto the man before her.

The sight of Chen Mo in that state of spiritual decay had been too heart-wrenching for Su Yuqing. Now, just seeing a glimmer of light back in his eyes was enough to brighten her own heart.

"There’s plenty of noodles and toppings left in the pot. If you’re still hungry, you can have more," Su Yuqing said, looking up to check on Chen Mo after taking a few sips of her broth.

"Mhm!" Chen Mo nodded and buried his head, continuing to devour the bowl of noodles filled with love.

Every mouthful felt like it was engraving this rediscovered, and now deeper, happiness into the very marrow of his bones.

The dining room was filled with the aroma of food, the evening news murmured from the TV in the background, and the two of them exchanged a few quiet words now and then. More often than not, they simply enjoyed a companionship where silence spoke volumes.

After the ordeal of that pessimistic dream, this ordinary dinner felt exceptionally precious. It was like the warmest lamp after a period of darkness, illuminating the real, hopeful future they shared.

Outside, the night grew darker, while inside, the warmth and love flourished.

Under the warm yellow light, the noodles in Chen Mo’s second bowl gradually disappeared, leaving only a shallow layer of broth.

Chen Mo let out a contented sigh. His stomach was warm, but his heart felt even fuller.

Only when he felt the warm sensation of being full did he reluctantly put down his bowl and chopsticks, his gaze inevitably drifting back to Su Yuqing.

He looked up to see that Su Yuqing had also just finished. Her bowl was just as clean; she had even drunk all the broth.

"I’ll clean up." Chen Mo rubbed his stomach and managed to stand up. Without leaving room for argument, he took both their empty bowls and turned toward the kitchen sink.

He turned on the faucet, and the gushing water washed away the remaining grease from the noodle bowls.

Su Yuqing had wanted to say she would do it, but seeing the focused way Chen Mo worked, she swallowed her words.

A silent smile touched her lips as a warm feeling spread gently through her chest.

After that long, oppressive dream, watching him hum a happy and contented little tune while so naturally performing these everyday chores seemed incredibly vivid and precious.

She stood up and followed him into the kitchen, picking up a dry cloth and gently wiping the water stains and oil splatters from the stove and countertop.

She wasn’t in a hurry to help him with the dishes. She just stood quietly a short distance behind and to his side, wiping the stove while her eyes followed his slightly bent back.

The soft light from the overhead kitchen lamp fell upon them, enveloping the busy couple.

The sound of running water, the faint clinking of dishes, the soft scrape of the cloth against the countertop... This ordinary symphony of daily life sounded like the most beautiful music in the world.

Chen Mo didn’t turn around. Over the sound of the water, his deep voice carried a clear note of laughter and satisfaction. "It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten this much. I lose all my self-control around you. You’ll have to cook a little less next time."

"Alright, I’ll keep you in check next time," Su Yuqing replied with a laugh.

"Mhm," Chen Mo responded with a smile in his voice.

He finished washing the bowls and set them aside to drain.

He turned off the faucet and shook the water droplets from his hands.

When he turned around, he saw that Su Yuqing had finished wiping the counter and was leaning against the edge, quietly watching him.

Her gaze was focused and gentle, as if she wanted to firmly imprint his lively face in her heart, to cover over those pale, lifeless images from her memory.

Being watched by her like this, Chen Mo’s heart rate quickened slightly, followed by a wave of immense comfort.

He stepped forward and naturally reached out a hand. After a moment’s hesitation, he let it rest gently on her cheek, stroking her soft, supple face with extreme tenderness.

"What are you looking at?" he asked in a very low voice.

"Looking at you... you’re doing well." Su Yuqing didn’t shy away. Instead, she tilted her head up slightly to meet his touch, a shimmer in her eyes. "Seeing you like this... it’s really nice."

A thousand unspoken words were condensed into that simple phrase.

No further explanation was needed; they both had a tacit understanding.

The pad of Chen Mo’s thumb felt the warmth of her cheek, and he could also sense the deep relief and contentment in her eyes.

In the living room, the TV news continued, reduced to insignificant background noise.

The night outside was as dark as spilled ink, which only made the brightly lit, warm little world inside feel cozier.

"Want to watch some TV?" Chen Mo asked, his fingertips reluctantly leaving her cheek.

"Okay." Su Yuqing nodded, a serene smile blooming on her face.

They walked out of the kitchen together.

Chen Mo first turned off the main kitchen light, leaving only the warm glow from the living room.

He went to the sofa and sat down, casually grabbing a soft throw pillow.

Su Yuqing naturally sat down beside him, not needing to snuggle too tightly, but just closing the small distance between them so they could feel the warmth of each other’s presence.

The light from the television screen flickered across their faces, but they weren’t really paying attention to what the news was saying.

They would occasionally murmur a few words or exchange a smile.

Most of the time, they were just quiet, silent companions.

Su Yuqing relaxed her body, leaning back against the sofa. Her eyes were aimed in the direction of the TV, but her thoughts were far away.

Subconsciously, her gaze would occasionally drift to Chen Mo’s calm profile. Confirming that the starlight was still in his eyes, that his breathing was steady, and that his body was no longer tense, her own heart filled with an immense sense of security.

Fragments of those painful memories still flashed through her mind at times, but right now, the real warmth and breath of the person beside her, along with the tranquil atmosphere of the room, acted like a sturdy dam, holding back all the chaos and darkness.

Whether the world outside was bustling or silent, it was all separated from them by a pane of glass.

Inside, time seemed to thicken and slow down.

A single lamp glowed, framing the two of them like a painting. The feeling of companionship that spoke louder than words flowed through the air, like a cup of warm—but not boiling—tea, soothing their very souls.

The night was deep. This feeling of natural tranquility was the warmth of an ordinary life they had lost and found again, burning brightly and illuminating every passing moment.

The two gradually drew closer, snuggling together, unwilling to separate and go to their own rooms to rest.

Just like that, sitting and leaning on the sofa, they eventually wrapped themselves in the same blanket. With the air conditioner set to a comfortable temperature, they both drifted off to sleep side-by-side, a faint, reassured smile on their faces.