The next day at noon.
Lin Mo was woken up by the aroma of food.
He opened his eyes and walked out of the bedroom. Before him were sweet and sour pork ribs, tomato and egg stir-fry, and his favorite corn and rib soup.
Su Qing was standing at the entrance of his kitchen. She was wearing a Squirtle loungewear T-shirt with light-colored pajama pants, her hair tied casually in a ponytail. Upon seeing him, she smiled and nodded.
“You’re up? The food’s just been made. My mom isn’t home, and your mom was just about to head out when I came over to mooch some breakfast.”
Lin Mo went back to his room to change before entering the living room. Two sets of bowls and chopsticks were already laid out on the dining table. The dishes were steaming, and the television was on, tuned to a music channel.
“You made this?” Lin Mo asked, a bit surprised.
“Who else?” Su Qing rolled her eyes at him. “Your mom said she wouldn’t be back for lunch.”
Lin Mo sat down and looked at the spread of food.
“Give it a taste.” Su Qing sat across from him, resting her chin on her hands as she watched him.
Lin Mo picked up a piece of rib with his chopsticks.
‘The taste is quite good.’
“It’s delicious,” Lin Mo said with a nod.
Su Qing smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “Of course it is. Look who made it.”
The two of them began to eat. The atmosphere was peaceful. Su Qing didn’t talk much today, only occasionally asking him a few questions about his college applications, the dorms, or whether he needed to bring warm clothes if he moved away.
Lin Mo answered each question, but he felt a bit strange. ‘She seems a bit too normal today.’
Halfway through the meal, Su Qing suddenly put down her chopsticks.
“Lin Mo.”
“Yeah?”
“Yesterday…”
“At the restaurant, before I came back… what were you two doing?”
‘Here it comes. I knew things couldn’t be this peaceful.’
“Didn’t I tell you? Class Academic Representative Shen said she wanted to give me a reward to congratulate me on my 630 score.”
“A reward?” Su Qing tilted her head. “What kind of reward requires being that close?”
Lin Mo choked for a moment. “Uh… she… maybe she just…”
“Maybe she just what?” Su Qing stared at him.
Lin Mo opened his mouth. ‘What can I say? Should I say Shen Qingyue wanted to kiss me but didn’t? Should I say she actually kissed me because of the Time Stop??’
Lin Mo was afraid he might be beaten to death on the spot if he said that.
(；一_一)…….
“She probably just… wanted to give me a surprise,” he said, bracing himself. “And then you came back.”
Su Qing stared at him. She stared for three seconds, and then she smiled.
“I believe you. I was just asking.” She picked up her glass and took a sip of her drink.
Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief. But in the next second…
“Lin Mo.”
“Yeah?”
“At that time…” She paused, the corners of her mouth curving upward. “How did it feel?”
Lin Mo froze. “What do you mean, how did it feel?”
“With her being so close.” Su Qing tilted her head. “Was your heart racing?”
(°△°|||)
Lin Mo’s face began to burn. “Why… why are you asking that!”
“Just curious,” Su Qing said matter-of-factly. “After all, when I came back, your face was so red.”
Lin Mo opened his mouth but found himself speechless. Of course his heart had been racing. Between the Time Stop, Shen Qingyue kissing him, and then time resuming with them face-to-face — whose heart wouldn’t race?
But he couldn’t say that.
“I was just… startled,” he muttered.
Su Qing looked at him. That look was a bit complex.
“Just startled?”
“What else would it be?”
Su Qing didn’t say anything. She picked up her glass and took another sip.
***
On the television, the music channel was playing an old song. The intro was very gentle, with the sound of a piano flowing softly. Lin Mo lowered his head to shovel rice, thinking the topic had passed.
But Su Qing spoke again.
“Lin Mo.”
“Yeah?”
“If…” She paused. “If it had been me at that time, what would you have done?”
Lin Mo was stunned. He looked up at her. Su Qing was watching him, her eyes curved.
“What… what do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said,” Su Qing replied. “If it were me standing that close, what would you do?”
(；¬＿¬)…….
Lin Mo’s face began to burn again. He wanted to say, “Stop messing around.” He wanted to say, “It’s not the same.” But looking at her bright eyes, he couldn’t say anything.
“My… my heart would probably race even faster,” he stammered.
Su Qing smiled. The smile was light and faint, like wind blowing through sand.
“That’s good, then.” She picked up her glass and took another sip.
Lin Mo took a deep breath and continued eating. He felt like he was being teased to death by her. But Su Qing clearly wasn’t finished yet.
“Lin Mo.”
“What now?”
“You just said your heart races.” She rested her chin on her hand, watching him. “What about now?”
Lin Mo blinked. “What about now?”
“Is your heart racing now?”
(°△°|||)
Lin Mo nearly choked on his rice. “You… you…”
“What about me?” Su Qing blinked. “I’m just asking.”
Lin Mo gritted his teeth, trying to force his heart to slow down. But it was useless. She was resting her chin on her hand, watching him with those curved eyes and a teasing smile. The Squirtle on her shirt rose and fell gently with her breathing.
He remembered what happened yesterday morning. He remembered the Smash Bros battle between Squirtle, Pikachu, and the Destined One.
(，，ʘ̅ーʘ̅，，)….
“Yes,” he muttered.
Su Qing burst out laughing. “Heh… heh… heheh… heh…”
……….
Lin Mo buried his head in his food, deciding to ignore her. But Su Qing was clearly satisfied with that answer. She held her drink, taking small sips while keeping her eyes fixed on him.
The music on the television continued. After the intro, a gentle male voice sang:
“I want to hide you in my heart.
I want to write you into my dreams.
I want to make you my secret.
I want to make you…”
Lin Mo wasn’t really listening. He was just wondering when this meal would end. They ate in silence for the duration of a song. Suddenly, Su Qing spoke.
“Lin Mo.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll ask you one last question.”
Lin Mo looked up. Su Qing was looking at him with a serious expression.
“Between her and me…” She paused. “If you could only choose one, who would you pick?”
(°ãƒÂ°Ù¥)
Lin Mo was stunned. This question…
“I…” He opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say.
Su Qing watched him, waiting for his answer. The music on the television continued, the lyrics drifting into his ears:
“Believe that my love for you will never change.
I know you will surely find out…”
Lin Mo’s head felt a bit dizzy. ‘Is it because the question is too difficult? Or…’
He suddenly felt his eyelids becoming heavy. Su Qing’s face in front of him seemed to become blurry.
“Su Qing…” He spoke, his voice drifting. “I…”
Before he could finish, he collapsed onto the table, losing consciousness.
Su Qing sat across from him, watching him. She watched him lie motionless on the table, his breathing steady. On the television, the song continued:
“The night closes its eyes and doesn’t speak.
I know you’re listening.
How do I say it?
I want to say I’ll love you a little more,
Always right there by your ear.”
She stood up and walked to his side. She leaned down, looking at his profile. His eyelashes were long, and he looked peaceful in his sleep. She reached out and gently touched his hair. It was soft.
“Brother,” she said softly. “You haven’t answered me yet.”
Lin Mo didn’t react. Su Qing watched him for a long time. Then, she leaned down and whispered into his ear.
“It’s okay.”
“Wait until you wake up to answer me.”
She straightened up and looked at the drink glass on the table. There was still a little bit left inside. She smiled. Then, she helped him up and led him toward the bedroom.