Chapter 303: Leaning on You Is Enough

“I feel it.” Chen Mo looked at Su Yuqing, the corners of his lips curving into a warm smile. “Your feelings, and Mom’s… they’re all right here.”

He pointed to his heart.

Watching his earnest gesture and gaze, a wave of tenderness washed over Su Yuqing.

“You’re up so early. Are you sure you don’t want to sleep a little more?” Chen Mo asked, looking at Su Yuqing beside him with concern.

“I have a habit of showering before bed. I don’t think I’d be able to fall back asleep just by lying back down like this.” Su Yuqing shook her head with a smile.

“Then lean on me and sleep for a while.” Chen Mo smiled in understanding. His voice was low and gentle, carrying a reassuring strength. “After all… we have all the time in the world.”

With that, he reached out and gently wrapped an arm around Su Yuqing’s shoulders, letting her lean into his embrace.

Su Yuqing silently accepted, resting quietly against him. She snuggled against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, her nose filled with the pleasant scent of sunshine on him, mixed with the faint fragrance of the Peace Talisman.

In that moment, all other emotions seemed to fade away, washed out by this tranquility and contentment.

The corners of her lips curved up unconsciously as she slowly closed her eyes, pretending to doze off.

Chen Mo glanced around the cozy bedroom, illuminated by the morning light. He listened to the lively chirping of birds outside and felt the warmth and scent of the girl beside him, feeling himself enveloped in a comfortable sense of peace and satisfaction.

This brief time after being “shooed” back to the bedroom held no simmering passion, no awkwardness—only a warmth nurtured by both familial and romantic love, flowing quietly in the morning light.

The faint sounds of the elders bustling about in the living room, preparing for their birthdays, became a warm background noise.

Chen Mo’s birthday was slowly unfolding on just such a love-filled morning.

Although Su Yuqing hadn’t truly fallen asleep at first, she kept her eyes closed, immersed in the sense of security that came from being completely enveloped in Chen Mo’s scent and warmth.

But the chirping of the birds outside, the rustling of leaves, and the faint, hushed laughter and soft sounds of decorating from the elders in the living room all blended into the gentlest of lullabies.

After some time, Chen Mo felt the head on his shoulder shift slightly and her breathing even out. Only then was he sure that she had fallen asleep.

His movements became even gentler as he simply held her quietly, keeping her company.

Time seemed to stretch, every second flowing with a quiet sweetness.

He didn’t know how long had passed before the girl in his arms stirred again.

Chen Mo looked down to see Su Yuqing’s long eyelashes flutter before she slowly opened her eyes.

Her clear eyes were still misty and hazy from just waking up, like a lake veiled in morning fog. Reflecting the light from the window, they were breathtakingly beautiful.

“You’re awake?” Chen Mo’s voice was extremely soft, tinged with a smile, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility.

“Mmm… When did I fall asleep?” Su Yuqing’s voice was soft and mellow, laced with the laziness of just having woken up.

She shifted slightly, nuzzling her cheek against the crook of his neck like a little kitten reluctant to leave its warm spot.

“I didn’t notice. Did you get enough sleep?” Chen Mo asked with a smile, gently stroking Su Yuqing’s arm.

“I slept very well.” Su Yuqing stretched, then snuggled back into Chen Mo’s arms, clearly reluctant to leave.

It felt as if a soft feather had gently brushed against the tip of Chen Mo’s heart. He tightened his arms around her and placed a soft kiss on the crown of her head. “That’s good.”

Su Yuqing lifted her head, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward the bedroom door.

Even though the door was closed, it sounded a bit livelier outside than before. She could hear the faint sound of streamers being pulled and the soft patting of balloons.

“Auntie Chen Xi and the others… they sound like they’re having a lot of fun decorating.” The corners of her mouth curved up as she imagined Auntie Chen Xi working with his grandparents, a warm smile coloring her eyes.

This atmosphere of bustling for a loved one, full of anticipation and joy, made her heart feel warm and fuzzy.

“Yeah,” Chen Mo listened for a moment, his tone carrying a smile that was both resigned and indulgent. “My mom loves this kind of thing. Yuanyuan and the others are coming over this afternoon, so it’ll get even livelier. You won’t get a chance to sleep then. If you’re not well-rested, you should get some more sleep now.”

Su Yuqing shook her head and buried her face deeper into the warm crook of his neck. Her voice was muffled and thick with affection. “I’m awake now, so I don’t want to sleep… I just want to stay like this.”

Her unabashedly dependent words made Chen Mo’s heart melt completely.

He lowered his head, gently rubbing his chin against the soft crown of her hair. He inhaled the unique, fresh scent from her hair—a mix of faint sandalwood and a young woman’s fragrance. It was Su Yuqing’s scent, a scent that brought him immense peace of mind.

“Alright, then we’ll stay like this,” his low, gentle voice murmured by Su Yuqing’s ear.

The two of them snuggled quietly, enjoying the serenity of being gently wrapped in the morning light.

The birdsong outside seemed to have tactfully quieted down. The laughter and decorating sounds from the elders in the living room now served as a distant, warm background noise, further accentuating the quiet, seamless intimacy in the bedroom that was theirs alone.

Time slipped by in silent sweetness.

Chen Mo could clearly feel the soft curves of the girl in his arms and her warm breath grazing the skin of his neck, sending a series of delicate, heart-quivering thrills through him.

He unconsciously tightened his arms around her, as if trying to lock this tender moment in place forever.

Su Yuqing felt the change in the strength of his arms. She tilted her face up slightly, her clear eyes gazing into the depths of his.

Her own reflection was mirrored there, brimming with unconcealed tenderness and a heavy emotion that made her heart race.

The morning light outlined his handsome profile and illuminated the look in his eyes—a gaze so focused it was as if she were the only person in the world.

Su Yuqing’s heart skipped a beat, then immediately began to pound like a drum.

A blush more vivid than the morning clouds spread across her cheeks. Her long eyelashes trembled like the wings of a startled butterfly, but she couldn’t bring herself to look away.

As if pulled by an invisible thread, Chen Mo’s gaze fell involuntarily upon her slightly parted lips—soft and pink like flower petals.

That alluring color, shimmering with a moist sheen in the morning light, seemed to offer a silent invitation.

The interrupted kiss from before, the accumulated affection—it all came rushing back now like a tidal wave after an ebb, crashing against his rationality with even greater force.

He no longer hesitated. He didn’t need to.

He slowly lowered his head, his movements carrying a tenderness that was almost reverent as he drew closer to Su Yuqing.

For a single moment, it felt as if Su Yuqing’s heart had stopped beating.

She watched as Chen Mo’s handsome face grew larger before her, his deep eyes churning with the intense emotion she had come to recognize.

She subconsciously responded with a now-practiced gesture. She gently closed her eyes, her long lashes casting a delicate shadow on her fair skin, and waited in anticipation…