Chapter 228: How Did We End Up as Mother and Child?
Under Chen Xi’s sincere and gentle care, Su Yuqing felt the motherly presence she hadn’t experienced in so long.
She subconsciously leaned closer, like a small animal seeking warmth.
Chen Xi naturally extended an arm for her to pillow her head on and gently patted her shoulder with her other hand, as if soothing a young child.
Soon, Su Yuqing yawned. But since she was still chatting with Chen Xi, she didn’t dare fall asleep.
"I’m getting a little sleepy, so it’s time for bed. Tomorrow, Auntie will show off her skills and make you my specialty breakfast." Chen Xi had keenly noticed Su Yuqing’s condition and, to save her the embarrassment, directly claimed that she was the one who was tired.
Her voice had a hypnotic quality that made Su Yuqing’s eyelids grow even heavier.
"Mm, goodnight, Auntie." Su Yuqing closed her eyes, snuggling against Chen Xi.
A faint, comforting fragrance wafted from Chen Xi, and the sound of her gentle breathing filled Su Yuqing’s ears.
This was the first time in a long while, aside from being with Chen Mo, that she had felt so secure, warm, and safe in another person’s embrace.
It was as if the shadows of her past had been completely dispelled by the warmth of the night, leaving only a profound, fulfilling warmth in her heart.
She soon fell into a deep sleep, enveloped by this long-lost sense of security, a sweet smile lingering on her lips.
Chen Xi, listening to the girl’s even, deep breathing and feeling her completely relaxed reliance, felt her heart swell with tender affection and contentment.
She gently smoothed Su Yuqing’s hair, smiling to herself.
’This "daughter-in-law" of mine... the more I see her, the more I like her.’
’As for the look on Chen Mo’s face tomorrow morning when he sees us appear together like mother and daughter... ahem, that will definitely be fun.’
With a bit of smugness and anticipation, Chen Xi also gradually drifted off to sleep.
...
The next morning, dawn’s first light filtered through the sheer curtains, gently caressing Su Yuqing’s peaceful, sleeping face.
Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes, and her breathing was even and deep. Snuggled soundly by Chen Xi’s side, she looked like a child who had finally found a safe harbor and let down all her defenses.
Chen Xi had actually been awake for some time. Lying on her side, she studied Su Yuqing with a gaze full of nearly maternal affection.
The girl slept deeply, her cheeks tinged with the flush of slumber. The corners of her mouth were turned up slightly, as if she were in the middle of a sweet dream.
Chen Xi’s heart melted. Ever so carefully, she used her fingertips to brush a stray lock of hair from Su Yuqing’s cheek, careful not to disturb her pleasant sleep.
Just then, Su Yuqing’s eyelashes trembled slightly. A moment later, she slowly opened her eyes.
The grogginess of just waking up was instantly dispelled by the sight of Chen Xi’s smiling face, magnified right before her.
Memories of the previous night came flooding back—the closeness, the warm embrace—and her heart warmed. But that was quickly followed by a sense of shyness and the formal distance one feels toward an elder.
She subconsciously tried to create some distance, but Chen Xi’s arm gently kept her in place.
"You’re awake?" Chen Xi’s voice was tinged with morning languor, but it was still soft and pleasant. "Did you sleep well?"
"A-Auntie, good morning." Su Yuqing’s voice was still soft and husky with sleep, her cheeks slightly red. "I slept... very well."
She had never imagined she would sleep so soundly and securely next to her "future mother-in-law." This feeling of being completely accepted and cared for melted another small, frozen corner deep within her heart.
"That’s great! Just you wait. Auntie’s going to show off her skills and let you taste my cooking!" Chen Xi sat up, radiating energy, and crisply tossed aside the blankets to get out of bed.
Her movements carried a cheerful vitality that instantly dispelled the last vestiges of morning drowsiness.
After the two of them washed up and changed into comfortable loungewear, they opened the door and almost ran smack into Chen Mo, who was standing at the entrance with a look of curiosity mixed with a probing gaze.
Chen Mo had clearly been hovering outside the door for a while, perhaps even pressing his ear against it to try and decipher the sounds within.
Caught red-handed, a flash of embarrassment crossed his face, but his attention was quickly captured by the scene before him.
He saw his mother, Chen Xi, with her arm affectionately around Su Yuqing’s shoulders, the two of them emerging from the room talking and laughing.
Su Yuqing wore an expression he had never seen on her before—a mix of shyness and dependent affection. The look she gave his mother was bright and warm, even faintly carrying the kind of adoration a daughter feels for her mother.
’This scene... was a bit overwhelming!’
Chen Mo blinked, unable to process it for a moment.
He had expected his mother and Su Yuqing might get along well, but he never thought their relationship would progress by leaps and bounds to a "mother-daughter" level in just one night.
’Mom’s power as a "social terrorist" is truly unfathomable!’
"You rascal, just going to stand there like a statue?" Chen Xi raised an eyebrow, deliberately teasing him. "Were you trying to eavesdrop on us girls whispering secrets? Tsk, tsk. Your moral character is really something else."
"Who was eavesdropping! And wait, since when are you two ’us girls’?" Chen Mo shot back, his eyes unable to stop glancing at Su Yuqing.
When Su Yuqing met his gaze, her face flushed an even deeper red. She lowered her head slightly, but she couldn’t suppress the smile playing on her lips.
She subconsciously leaned a little closer to Chen Xi. This small movement made Chen Mo’s heart ache with a strange pang of jealousy. For a moment, he was in a daze, unable to tell if this feeling was because his mom had stolen his place, or because Su Yuqing had stolen the place beside his mom.
"Hmph. I knew you wouldn’t dare," Chen Xi said with a triumphant sniff, pulling Su Yuqing toward the kitchen. "Qingqing, come and be my little helper. You should know, this rascal Momo is rarely fortunate enough to have me cook for him. I’m doing this especially for you. We’ll let this silly boy entertain himself."
Su Yuqing stole a glance at Chen Mo, then immediately and obediently agreed, trotting to catch up.
Watching his mother and Su Yuqing enter the kitchen in perfect sync—one skillfully tying on an apron and starting to rummage through the fridge, the other obediently standing by to hand things over and wash vegetables, creating the very picture of a harmonious "mother-daughter cooking team"—Chen Mo was left completely high and dry in the living room.
He stood where he was, watching the two busy figures in the kitchen, listening to his mother’s hearty laughter and Su Yuqing’s occasional soft-spoken replies, and the clatter of pots and pans that signaled a home full of life. A strange, warm, fulfilling sensation slowly filled his chest.
This feeling was more profound than when he had Su Yuqing all to himself, as if a missing piece of a puzzle had been perfectly fitted into place.
’Is this... what a home feels like? Complete, bustling, full of love, and radiating the warmest kind of domestic bliss.’
Saving Su Yuqing had been the obsession driving his return, but a happy, harmonious family reunion was something he yearned for just as much.