Chapter 33: The Clerk’s Shocked Expression

At 2:40 PM, the two of them stepped off the Carousel.

A small smile played on Shen Qingyue’s face — a look of genuine happiness.

“Was it fun?” Lin Mo asked.

“…Yes,” she nodded, then whispered, “Thank you.”

“Why say thanks? We came here to have fun.”

Shen Qingyue said nothing, only lowering her head with a smile.

Lin Mo looked at her, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

She and Su Qing were two completely different types of people.

Su Qing was fire; she could burn someone if the flames grew high enough.

Shen Qingyue was water, flowing quietly and silently.

His phone vibrated.

Lin Mo pulled it out to check.

Su Qing: “I’m a little lost. Why can’t I find the Carousel?”

Lin Mo: “Take a picture of your surroundings so I can see where you are.”

Su Qing sent a photo.

Lin Mo’s heart skipped a beat.

This place was approximately 100 meters away from the Carousel.

Good heavens.

Lin Mo thought quickly. “Study Representative, let’s go get something to drink nearby. My treat.”

‘I have to leave. I have to leave right now.’

“Let me treat you?” Shen Qingyue said, feeling a bit bashful.

Lin Mo had already started walking toward the Coffee Shop. “I came out today specifically to thank you for tutoring me. How could I let you pay?”

He had been to a coffee shop with Su Qing earlier that morning, but it was a distance away. He needed to get away from this spot first.

Shen Qingyue followed Lin Mo.

Lin Mo texted back: “You’re not far from the Carousel. It’s only a few hundred meters away. You can ask someone nearby for directions.”

Su Qing: “Okay, I’m asking someone now.”

Lin Mo let out a breath of relief.

Happy Valley was only so big, and the Coffee Shop was a distance from the Carousel. He was safe for now…

Five minutes later.

Just as Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue sat down in the Coffee Shop, the phone vibrated again.

Su Qing: “Brother, there are so many people at the Carousel. I don’t want to wait in line. I’m a little thirsty, so I’m going to grab a drink. I liked the taste of the coffee shop we went to this morning.”

Lin Mo suddenly looked up and scanned his surroundings.

There weren’t many people in the shop; only a few tables were occupied.

There was no Pikachu Dress in sight.

She hadn’t arrived yet.

“Lin Mo?” Shen Qingyue’s voice rang out. “Is something wrong?”

“No — nothing.” Lin Mo retracted his gaze. “It’s just a bit hot.”

Shen Qingyue looked at his slightly perspiring forehead and pushed the napkins on the table toward him.

“Thanks.”

At 2:55 PM, their coffee was ready.

“Are we not drinking it here?” Shen Qingyue asked, confused.

Lin Mo paid and took the two cups. “Sitting here is a waste of time. Happy Valley closes tonight, so we should try to do more activities. We can drink while we walk.”

He turned to leave.

Lin Mo handed a coffee to Shen Qingyue.

As they passed the counter, a young male clerk was wiping glasses.

He looked up, his gaze landing on Lin Mo’s face.

He froze for a second.

Then two seconds.

Then, his expression shifted from a standard “Welcome back” smile to something complex and indescribable — a mix of shock, admiration, and a hint of… bitterness.

Lin Mo felt a bit uneasy under the stare. “What is it?”

“No — nothing.” The clerk looked away, though his lips twitched. “Have a nice day.”

Lin Mo nodded and walked out of the Coffee Shop with Shen Qingyue.

A very faint mutter came from behind:

“Holy crap… He brought a stunner in the morning and a different stunner in the afternoon… What kind of divine luck does this guy have…”

Lin Mo’s footsteps faltered.

Then, he walked even faster.

At 3:10 PM, the two of them arrived at the Ice Cream Shop.

“Want some ice cream?” Lin Mo asked.

Shen Qingyue nodded.

They walked inside.

Behind the counter stood a young male clerk.

He was in his early twenties, wearing a baseball cap and looking down at his phone.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

“Welcome! What can I get — “

He cut himself off mid-sentence.

His gaze fell on Lin Mo, and he froze for two seconds.

Then, he looked at Shen Qingyue beside Lin Mo, then back at Lin Mo.

His expression was identical to the coffee shop clerk’s.

Lin Mo’s heart sank.

It was over.

This was another shop from the morning.

“Is there a problem?” Lin Mo asked, bracing himself.

“No — no problem.” The clerk looked away, but his lips twitched. “What would you like to order?”

Shen Qingyue looked at the menu. “I’ll have strawberry.”

“I’ll have mint,” Lin Mo said.

The clerk nodded and turned to scoop the ice cream.

However, his gaze kept drifting toward Lin Mo.

That look clearly said: *Brother, you’re a legend!!!!*

Lin Mo pretended not to see.

Soon, the clerk brought over the two cups.

One was mint, placed in front of Lin Mo.

The other was Matcha Ice Cream, placed in front of Shen Qingyue.

“Miss, this is yours.”

Shen Qingyue blinked. “I ordered strawberry…”

The clerk smiled. “This one is on the house. The matcha flavor symbolizes ‘pure and refined.'”

He paused, then added, “It especially suits your temperament.”

Shen Qingyue: “…”

Lin Mo: “…”

The clerk turned to leave.

But Lin Mo clearly heard him whisper:

“In the morning, he’s with a sexy beauty, and in the afternoon, he switches to a gentle one… What a life this guy is living.”

Lin Mo’s face instantly flushed red.

Shen Qingyue looked down at the Matcha Ice Cream, her thoughts unreadable.

“Lin Mo,” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

“Did you… come here this morning?”

“Of course not! There are so many people in Happy Valley, and I arrived after 2:00 PM — even later than you did. How could I have been here this morning?”

“This guy probably saw how beautiful you are and misunderstood our relationship. He’s just jealous and talking nonsense. Yeah, total nonsense.”

Shen Qingyue burst out laughing. “I’m just teasing you.”

Then, Shen Qingyue gently pushed the Matcha Ice Cream aside without touching it.

At 3:22 PM.

Lin Mo and Shen Qingyue left the Ice Cream Shop.

Shen Qingyue walked beside him with her head down, staying silent.

Lin Mo didn’t know what to say.

The clerk’s eyes were still swirling in his mind.

The phrase “with a sexy beauty” echoed in his ears.

Shen Qingyue believed what he said and didn’t ask further.

She hadn’t taken the Matcha Ice Cream either; she had given it to a little girl at a nearby table.

She still ate her strawberry one. However, when the clerk came back and saw that they were still chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened, the shock in his eyes deepened. It had shifted from bitterness to pure worship.

They walked for a while.

The phone vibrated again.

Lin Mo pulled it out.

Su Qing: “Does your stomach still hurt?”

Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief. At least it was just her being caring.

He typed:

Lin Mo: “Much better. I lay down for a while.”

Su Qing: “That’s good. I’ve left Happy Valley and I’m browsing a small Clothing Store nearby. It’s so boring.”

Lin Mo looked at the message, and the tension in his heart eased slightly.

The Clothing Store was outside Happy Valley.

His heart that had been hanging in suspense finally…