Chapter 114: In Her Presence, He Is the Boy He Once Was
After a dreamless night, they both woke up the next day feeling unusually refreshed.
When Chen Mo got up, washed up, and came out of the bedroom, Su Yuqing had already swept the floors and mopped most of the house.
"I just have this last little area to finish mopping, then I’ll start making breakfast. I thought you’d sleep in a little later," Su Yuqing said with a gentle smile when she saw Chen Mo was up.
As they spent time together, they gradually developed the easy comfort of a family.
"How come you’re up so early today?" Chen Mo asked, looking at Su Yuqing in surprise.
"I’ve already taken on the job of being a nanny. I can let it slide if I don’t have time to clean properly on school days, but now it’s the weekend. If I still slacked off, wouldn’t I be completely incompetent?" Su Yuqing replied with a smile, continuing her work.
"Well, you keep at it. I’ll make breakfast," Chen Mo said, not trying to stop her this time.
After all, he could see that Su Yuqing was in high spirits today.
It was clear her mood had improved over the last few days, and after the relaxing massage he gave her yesterday, her spirits were indeed much better.
Seeing Chen Mo about to enter the kitchen, Su Yuqing quickly pulled him back. "Wait, I’ll do it. If you’re hungry now, I’ve already made some oatmeal. It’s on the table. You can have some to tide you over."
Chen Mo couldn’t win against her, so he obediently picked up the oatmeal, sat on the sofa, and started watching TV.
While he watched, he would occasionally sneak glances at Su Yuqing. ’This feels just like a scene from the life of a newlywed couple.’
Although Su Yuqing was focused on her work, she also noticed Chen Mo secretly watching her.
She didn’t know why he was watching her, but for some reason, she felt a little sweet inside.
After she finished mopping, she finally went into the kitchen.
She began making the breakfast she had already prepped the ingredients for.
She hadn’t used all the dough from making the flatbread yesterday, so it was perfect for making meat pies today.
After watching the massage tutorial last night, Su Yuqing had also come across a recipe for meat pies and had already prepared the filling according to the right proportions.
She planned to make a few fragrant meat pies for Chen Mo this morning.
Having memorized the entire tutorial, Su Yuqing quickly and skillfully started to cook.
Chen Mo, who was watching TV in the living room, couldn’t help but draw closer. The moment he reached the dining room, he caught the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.
It made his mouth water.
He snuck into the kitchen and snatched a pie that Su Yuqing had just finished cooking.
"Hey! You’re so annoying! I haven’t even cut it yet. Be careful, it’s hot," Su Yuqing said. Seeing Chen Mo acting like a child and stealing the pie, she just gave a helpless, doting smile and a concerned reminder.
Chen Mo could already feel the pie’s heat. He immediately started tossing it from hand to hand, and with a quick movement, he grabbed a nearby plate just in time to catch the large meat pie as it fell.
Chen Mo had just been about to ask why today’s meat pie was so much bigger than yesterday’s pickled vegetable pie. ’So it was meant to be cut.’
He smiled, took out a knife, and said, "I’ll help you cut it."
Soon, Chen Mo had cut the meat pie—crispy on the outside and filled with a tender, juicy meat sauce—into four pieces.
The moment it was cut, he eagerly grabbed a quarter of the pie and took a bite.
After taking a small bite, the piping-hot juices trapped within the crust immediately burst into his mouth.
It was scalding, but it tasted incredible.
He wasn’t sure if it was the person who made the food who was so wonderful, or if the food itself was just that delicious.
At that moment, Chen Mo just felt that the food was exceptionally delicious.
Whenever he was with Su Yuqing, Chen Mo would unconsciously revert to the mindset of his younger self.
Those ten years of lost youth didn’t seem so far away after all.
It just needed someone to reawaken it for him.
As long as the right person was by his side, Chen Mo could instantly return to the state of his youth.
Watching Chen Mo ignore her warning, sneak a bite, and almost burn himself, Su Yuqing didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry.
She immediately shooed Chen Mo out of the kitchen. "We can eat after this last one is done. Go get some milk."
After quickly finishing the piece of pie in his hand, blowing on it as he ate, Chen Mo obediently went to do as he was told.
But as he was doing it, it dawned on him. ’Why am I being so obedient?’
’And why did that scene just now feel so familiar?’
In a daze, he remembered the scene of his dad being ordered around by his mom.
His dad would be ordered to do chores by his mom, and he’d often be smiling cheerfully about it.
Chen Mo couldn’t help but give a wry smile. ’I was just like that a moment ago.’
Shaking it off, he quickly prepared two glasses of milk.
Just then, Su Yuqing returned, carrying the two meat pies, all cut up.
The two pies had been cut into eight pieces total. Su Yuqing was full after eating three.
Chen Mo finished the other five pieces and still felt like he could eat more.
"If you think it’s good, I’ll make it for you again next time," Su Yuqing said with a gentle smile, noticing Chen Mo’s unsatisfied expression.
"I look forward to your other culinary creations next time," Chen Mo said cheerfully.
"Okay. I’ll learn a new dish every day. I guarantee you won’t eat the same thing twice before the college entrance exams," Su Yuqing said, her eyes curving into crescents as she giggled.
After a wonderful breakfast, the two of them watched some TV to relax for a while.
Then, Su Yuqing started on her chores again.
She took out both of their clothes, preparing to wash them by hand.
Although they had a washing machine, she felt hand-washing was cleaner. While she might use the machine on busy days, she thought it was best to do a proper hand-wash at least once or twice a week.
But speaking of hand-washing, as Su Yuqing sorted through Chen Mo’s laundry, she inevitably came across some of his underwear.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t had health class in middle school.
She’d heard that boys going through puberty would get... *that*... on their underwear, and as a girl, she was actually a little curious.
But she was too embarrassed to take a close look.
After filling a basin with water, she poured in laundry detergent and put the clothes in to soak.
Chen Mo had originally planned to tell Su Yuqing to just use the washing machine, but seeing her insistence, he didn’t say anything.
It was just that when he saw her pick up his underwear, even he couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.
’Next time,’ he couldn’t help but think, ’I should probably just wash them myself in secret beforehand.’
The whole morning was basically spent with Chen Mo leisurely watching TV while Su Yuqing did chores.
Every time Chen Mo offered to help, he was pushed back onto the sofa by Su Yuqing.
He was genuinely worried Su Yuqing would tire herself out, but looking at her stubborn expression, Chen Mo didn’t have the heart to refuse her.
’Well,’ he mused, ’I’ll just let her have her way for today. After she rests tonight and feels how tired she is, she’ll probably understand the benefits of us working together next time.’
’As they say, when a man and a woman work together, the work doesn’t feel tiring.’
As noon approached, Su Yuqing had long since finished all her chores.
Sweaty from her work, she went to the bathroom to take a quick shower, changing into a simple, casual dress before coming out.