Chapter 345: Touring the Lake

On the screen, the moonlight outlined Su Yuqing’s delicate profile. She was leaning close to Chen Mo, but her face was turned toward the nearby lake. The night wind stirred her hair, and her gaze was clear and serene. In the background was the shimmering artificial lake and the brilliant lights of the campus commercial street on the opposite shore.

In the photo, as she gazed intently ahead, she was as beautiful as a painting.

"So? I couldn’t possibly take a bad picture of you, could I?" Chen Mo said with a smile, looking at Su Yuqing.

"It’s beautiful," Su Yuqing commented with a sweet smile.

"Then doesn’t that deserve a little reward?" Chen Mo smoothly wrapped an arm around her shoulder, letting her nestle more comfortably into his embrace.

Hearing Chen Mo ask for a reward, Su Yuqing’s heart pounded like a drum. The darkness of the night hid the blush creeping up her ears.

She mustered her courage, quickly tilted her head up, and planted a feather-light kiss on the corner of his smiling lips.

The kiss was so brief it was over in an instant, like a butterfly skimming the surface of the water.

"That reward was a bit too light." The smile in Chen Mo’s eyes was as brilliant as Xinghe.

He said nothing, merely tightening his arm to pull her completely into his embrace. He gently caressed her cheek with his other hand, then leaned in and kissed her deeply.

The silent embrace and passionate kiss were worth more than a thousand words. The air was thick with an undeniable sweetness and longing.

The evening breeze, the lapping of the lake, the distant lights, the chirping of insects, the hushed whispers of other couples—all of it faded into background noise. In that moment, the world fell silent, leaving only the thrumming of their hearts in unison.

An unknown amount of time passed. Only when two people walked by did the couple reluctantly part.

Realizing they would keep getting disturbed by people passing by on the shore, Chen Mo immediately took Su Yuqing’s hand and said, "Let’s rent a boat and go out on the lake."

After Su Yuqing nodded, Chen Mo led her by the hand toward the boat rental on the shore.

The small boat rental dock on the shore was warmly lit by dim yellow lights, keeping it from feeling deserted. Several pedal boats and small electric boats of various designs were moored quietly on the water.

Chen Mo chose a two-person boat with a small canopy. It could be rowed at a leisurely pace, or they could activate the electric motor to cruise automatically when they got tired. That way, Yuqing could relax more if she wanted.

The staff member looked up and saw the perfect couple before him, a knowing smile touching his lips. "Just so you know, we charge by the hour, and we round up. So if you go just over an hour, you might as well stay out longer. Best to bring it back around the fifty-minute mark of an hour to get your money’s worth."

Chen Mo nodded, paid the deposit, and carefully stepped onto the boat first. Then he reached out, took Su Yuqing’s wrist firmly, and guided her as she stepped cautiously onto the gently rocking vessel.

Once she was settled on the padded bench in the middle of the boat, he untied the mooring rope. He picked up an oar, handed it to Su Yuqing, then took the other and sat on the bench across from her.

Having just boarded, they still had plenty of energy. Naturally, they would enjoy the pleasure of rowing first; the motor could wait until later.

The small boat slowly drifted from the shore. In the darkness, the string lights twinkled with a warm glow, like a smattering of fallen stars.

Chen Mo and Su Yuqing rowed at a leisurely pace. Their oars cut through the calm surface of the lake, sending out ripples that shattered the moon’s reflection on the water.

The farther they rowed toward the center of the lake, the more distant and muffled the clamor from the shore became, eventually fading into a barely audible hum.

The lake water lapped gently against the hull, making a soft, swishing sound.

Occasionally, a fish would leap from the water, only to dive quickly back into the depths, leaving behind a circle of expanding ripples.

Once they reached the middle of the lake, Su Yuqing stopped rowing. She reached over the side and dipped her hand into the water, starting to play with it.

Her slender fingertips trailed through the cool lake, and she savored the strange, pleasant sensation of the water slipping between her fingers.

"This feels so nice," she murmured, her eyes squinting slightly in delight.

Chen Mo stopped rowing as well, letting the small boat drift gently in the heart of the lake.

He moved to sit beside Su Yuqing and copied her, dipping his hand into the water. Then, he suddenly flicked a spray of water at her.

"Ah!" Su Yuqing cried out softly before breaking into a laugh and splashing him back, not to be outdone.

Tiny droplets of water glittered like diamonds in the moonlight, dampening their clothes and hair.

In the middle of their playful splashing, Chen Mo seized the moment to pull her into his arms. Their laughter slowly died down, replaced by the silent understanding of a shared smile.

Su Yuqing leaned against Chen Mo’s shoulder, catching her breath in soft pants.

A few damp strands of her hair clung to her cheek and neck. Chen Mo gently brushed them away, his fingertips lingering on her warm skin.

From this vantage point, they could see all the lights of the campus laid out before them.

The library resembled a glowing castle, the brightly lit academic buildings looked like a crystal palace, and the lights from the dormitories twinkled like countless stars. All of it was reflected on the lake’s ink-black surface, as if another fantastical world existed just beneath the water.

"It’s so beautiful," Su Yuqing breathed, almost holding her breath in awe.

Chen Mo lowered his head, his cheek brushing against her soft hair, which carried the faint, clean scent of floral water.

No longer content with just holding her hand, he wrapped his arm naturally around her slender waist, pulling her closer into his embrace.

The small boat spun gently in the heart of the lake, drifting slowly.

"It really is," Chen Mo murmured, his lips almost brushing her ear. His warm breath ghosted across her sensitive skin, sending a faint shiver through her.

In the silence, his voice seemed to deepen, carrying a magnetic, reassuring quality.

Su Yuqing shifted in his arms to turn slightly, tilting her head up to look at him.

The moonlight cast a glimmer in her clear eyes, which were filled with undisguised adoration and enchantment.

Just then, the faint sound of a guitar and soft humming drifted over from another boat in the distance. It was a familiar love song.

The melody drifted across the surface of the lake, adding another layer of romance to the night.

Su Yuqing began to hum along softly, her voice as gentle as the night breeze.

Chen Mo listened intently, his arm tightening around her unconsciously, pulling her deeper into his embrace.

When the song ended, he whispered in her ear, "You sound even better than the original. Sing another one for me."

Su Yuqing turned to face him, a mischievous glint in her eye. She mimicked his earlier words, "Then shouldn’t you give me a little reward first?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, feigning thoughtfulness. "What kind of reward?"

"You’re impossible," she pouted.

Chen Mo chuckled, his voice exceptionally captivating in the night air. "I really have no idea."

Su Yuqing didn’t answer. Instead, she closed her eyes and tilted her face up slightly.

Moonlight spilled across her face, tracing her delicate features. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes, and a smile of anticipation played on her lips.

Chen Mo’s heart melted.

He leaned in slowly, but just as their lips were about to meet, he changed course. A gentle kiss, as light as the brush of a butterfly’s wing, landed on her cheek.