Monday afternoon, Lin Mo went to the practice room to find Su Ran.
She was practicing the piano, her fingers dancing across the keys, her expression as focused as if she were performing a ritual.
Sunlight streamed through the window, plating her in a layer of gold.
Lin Mo stood at the door, feeling as if every note was striking his heart.
Only when the last note faded did Su Ran notice him.
“Why are you here?” she asked, somewhat surprised. She asked instinctively, then hurriedly looked away, appearing very flustered.
It had been the same way when they met in class that morning. She was so shy she couldn’t even manage 1 second of eye contact.
“Bringing this to you.”
Lin Mo felt a bit helpless but also found it funny. He held up a paper bag and walked into the room. “Milk tea from the school entrance. It’s a new flavor.”
The tension in the eyes of someone experiencing first love mostly stemmed from a lack of topics or opportunities. As long as a way to interact was forced, the feeling of awkwardness would vanish instantly.
Hearing that Lin Mo had brought her milk tea, Su Ran’s eyes lit up, but then she hesitated. “My mother doesn’t let me drink these things…”
“Once in a while is fine.”
Lin Mo pulled the milk tea out and stuffed it into her hand.
Su Ran didn’t say anything else. She looked at the milk tea, her heart feeling sweet and comfortable. She carefully bit the straw and took a sip, her eyes curving into crescents. “It’s good.”
“As long as you like it.”
Lin Mo sat down on the piano bench beside her. “Yesterday’s bento was very delicious too.”
The topic they couldn’t continue over text yesterday had to be brought up again in person.
Su Ran’s face turned red. “Really? I was worried it wouldn’t suit your taste…”
“Really, it suited my appetite perfectly. How did you know I like sweet and sour pork ribs and broccoli?”
Su Ran lowered her head to drink the milk tea and said softly, “You order those two dishes every Tuesday and Thursday.”
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t even noticed that pattern himself.
“What else have you observed?” he asked.
Su Ran’s face turned even redder. Her small leather shoes under the desk tilted up, swaying slightly along with the sweetness of the milk tea. “A lot. You like to have soup on Wednesdays, noodles on Fridays. You eat very little on Mondays because you sleep in on the weekends and wake up late, so you have no appetite.”
She listed them off one by one, her voice getting smaller and smaller. “Also, you hate carrots and green peppers, but you force yourself to eat a little. You like things a bit sweet and sour, and you hate things that are too salty or too spicy…”
Lin Mo listened patiently, a complex swirl of emotions rising in his heart.
To be honest, being observed so meticulously was a very strange feeling.
It was moving, but also a bit uncanny.
If it were a normal person, such behavior could be explained as a love that goes to the bone. However, the problem was that Su Ran had an emotional cognitive disorder. Whether her obsessive attention was born out of love was hard to say.
But one thing was certain: this was Su Ran’s way of expressing care and concern.
“Thank you for remembering so much for me.”
Ultimately, Lin Mo thanked her sincerely.
The leather shoes under the table stopped.
Su Ran smoothed her hair over her chest and asked somewhat unnaturally, “Aren’t you really afraid?”
“I was a little afraid before,” Lin Mo said honestly. “But now that I know your feelings, I’m not afraid anymore.”
Su Ran’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Seeing how easily she was coaxed, Lin Mo nodded with a smile. “Really. Especially after eating the food you made yesterday, to be honest, I’ve already started to enjoy it. I’m looking forward to more surprises and gifts from you.”
The corners of Su Ran’s mouth lifted into a truly happy smile.
“Then… what do you want to eat tomorrow?” She reached out to pinch Lin Mo’s clothes, her body unconsciously leaning toward him, carrying a scent unique to young girls.
Lin Mo feigned contemplation and also leaned toward Su Ran. “Actually, I’ll eat whatever you make. But if you want a suggestion… I like braised pork.”
Before he could finish, their shoulders had unknowingly touched.
“Okay.”
Su Ran leaned against him as she took out her phone, quickly making a note before asking, “Anything else?”
“That’s all. Don’t work too hard; something simple is fine.”
“It’s not hard. Cooking is very interesting, much more interesting than practicing piano.”
“You like cooking?”
“Um… not exactly. I just like cooking for you.”
Su Ran said it with some embarrassment, took a sip of milk tea, and peeked at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo happened to turn his head at that moment and saw the light in her eyes. “Then you should cook for me often in the future. I promise I’ll turn you into a Michelin-star chef.”
Su Ran squinted her eyes and laughed, appearing very delighted.
Just then, footsteps came from outside the practice room, and Su Qingwan’s voice followed: “Su Ran, it’s time to practice.”
Su Ran quickly sat up straight and tried to hide the milk tea under the piano bench, but it was too late.
Su Qingwan pushed the door open. Seeing Lin Mo seemingly taking a milk tea from her daughter’s hand, she frowned.
“Student Lin Mo, Su Ran needs to practice now.” Her tone was relatively calm.
“Alright, Mrs. Su. I’ll be going then.”
Lin Mo stood up naturally, naturally bit the straw, and naturally looked back to greet her as he walked. “Su Ran, see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” Su Ran unnaturally let down the hair behind her ear to hide her burning ears.
Just as Lin Mo stepped out of the practice room, he heard Su Qingwan’s voice from inside: “Drink fewer of these unhealthy things.”
Then came Su Ran’s excuse: “No, I didn’t drink it. He just brought it to tempt me.”
Lin Mo chuckled, glancing at the straw she had bitten flat.
Mm… the milk tea was very sweet.