On a Stormy Night, the Campus Belle Knocked on My Door Seeking Shelter
Chapter 17: The Master’s Command Cannot Be Disobeyed

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Master’s Command Cannot Be Disobeyed

When he came to the dining table, Su Yuqing was already sitting there quietly, food laid out before her, waiting for him to arrive.

"You don’t have to wait for me next time. Go ahead and eat first," Chen Mo said with a smile, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from her.

"It’s fine. I have to wait for you so we can wash the dishes together anyway." Su Yuqing gave a sweet smile. "See how you like it. If there’s anything you want me to change, just let me know, and I’ll make it to your taste next time."

"I was pretty diligent when I lived alone. Now that I’m living with you, I’m afraid you’re going to turn me into a lazy pig," Chen Mo chuckled.

Though he’d said it casually, she took his words to heart, and the smile on her face grew even brighter.

She propped her chin on her hands, watching him fondly as he enjoyed the breakfast she had so carefully prepared, eagerly awaiting his verdict.

The moment Chen Mo bit into the sandwich, the crisp whole-wheat bread made a faint crunch. The warm fried egg, enveloped in melted cheese, slid across his tongue, and the sweet tang of the tomato balanced the salty flavor of the ham.

He looked at the girl across from him, her hair tipped a honey-gold by the light. He suddenly grabbed a napkin, wiped a tiny speck of grease from the tip of her nose, and grinned. "With skills like these, you could open a shop on the backstreet by the school. I’ll handle the cash register, and you can be the chef."

’A scene like that... wouldn’t it be just like a young couple starting their own business?’

A blush instantly spread to the tips of Su Yuqing’s ears. She looked down, stirring the spoon in her glass of milk without replying.

Soon, they had both finished their breakfast.

Chen Mo popped the last bite of his breakfast into his mouth with a smile. He looked at Su Yuqing; although her face wore a happy smile, she still looked a bit tired. "I’ll make breakfast tomorrow," he said. "You should sleep in. If you’re tired, get some more sleep. Don’t force yourself to stay up, okay?"

As he stood up to clear the table, his hand happened to brush against Su Yuqing’s as she reached out to gather the dishes. Her hand was so soft, yet cool to the touch.

"Since you’ve already done all this today, I’ll leave the rest to you. It’s my turn tomorrow." Chen Mo smiled and let go, allowing Su Yuqing to take the dishes. He left the kitchen and sat back down on the sofa.

In no time, Su Yuqing had cleared the dishes, wiped the dining table until it shone, and washed all the kitchen utensils. Only then did she dry her hands and walk from the kitchen back to the living room.

It was clear she was quite efficient with her daily chores.

The moment she returned to the living room, she was about to get back to work, but Chen Mo quickly grabbed her to stop her.

Seeing her small hand held in his strong one, Su Yuqing didn’t have the slightest thought of struggling.

After gently but firmly pushing Su Yuqing down onto the sofa, Chen Mo sat beside her and said, "You don’t look very energetic, so you’re not allowed to do any work for the next two days..."

Su Yuqing was about to speak, but Chen Mo immediately placed a finger over her rosy lips. "Let me finish," he continued. "Even if you’re trying to pay rent, you still need my permission, as the master of this house."

"I’m ordering you to rest for two days. Today is Saturday and tomorrow is Sunday. For these two days, you’ll do whatever I tell you to do, understand? If you don’t listen, I might just have to kick you out."

Hearing this, Su Yuqing finally gave a soft hum of agreement and nodded.

"Let’s watch some TV first to let our food digest. Then, you’re coming out shopping with me, got it?"

"Okay." Su Yuqing nodded obediently again.

"That’s more like it. I’m taking you out to buy some clothes in a bit."

"Huh?"

"Are you planning on wearing that same outfit forever? If you get stinky, I won’t let you in the house," Chen Mo said with a laugh.

"I... I can go home and get a change of clothes..." As she said the word "home," Su Yuqing’s expression clearly wavered, and she looked uneasy.

"No need. We’ll just buy new ones." Chen Mo had noticed her hesitation but acted nonchalant.

"I don’t have any money with me," Su Yuqing said, looking troubled.

"I’ll cover it for now. But let’s be clear, you have to pay me back, with interest. I’ll help you calculate the monthly salary of a normal housekeeper, and you’ll have to work long enough to cover it." Chen Mo suddenly grabbed her small hand. "If you can’t pay it all back, I won’t let you leave, you know."

Feeling the warmth from Chen Mo’s palm, Su Yuqing couldn’t help but feel a warmth rise in her own heart.

How could she not understand what he was really saying? It was obvious he didn’t actually expect her to pay him back and was even willing to let her stay longer.

"But..." She still felt it wasn’t right.

"Did you forget what I said earlier? In this house, I’m the master, and you’re the housekeeper. What the master says, goes. No talking back, understand?" Chen Mo said, feigning a serious tone.

"I understand~" Su Yuqing replied in a soft, low voice, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

"Good, that’s more like it," Chen Mo replied with a smile.

After watching TV for half an hour, Chen Mo finally got up and took Su Yuqing out.

After the stormy night, the weather had cleared up completely. With the dust settled, the air outside seemed even fresher than before.

"Where do you usually buy your clothes?" Chen Mo asked curiously as they left the house, making small talk.

He was clueless about that sort of thing and had never really delved into it, especially after becoming a criminal detective, which killed any interest he might have had.

It was only because of his investigations that he even knew of a few luxury womenswear boutiques.

But given Su Yuqing’s personality, he knew she would refuse to accept any clothes that were too expensive, no matter what.

Hearing his question, Su Yuqing unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her skirt, the morning light dancing on her eyelashes. "Just... just the secondhand clothing shop on the corner of the school’s backstreet. The owner is great at alterations. You can get a whole outfit for fifty yuan."

She suddenly looked up at Chen Mo as if remembering something important and added, "But I always sanitize them carefully! I boil them in water three times and then let them dry in the sun for three whole days."

She was terrified he would find her dirty for wearing them.

An idea suddenly flashed through Chen Mo’s mind. He naturally took Su Yuqing’s slightly sweaty hand and said, "I just thought of a place. The clothes there are pretty nice."

As their hands joined, the pad of his thumb subconsciously brushed against the thin calluses on her palm, and a feeling of tenderness welled up in his heart once more.

’Most girls her age, when their skin is supposed to be at its softest, have smooth and delicate palms. Only someone who’s done too much manual labor would have calluses like these at her age.’

Su Yuqing stumbled half a step, her forehead bumping against his shoulder blade. Her nose was immediately filled with the lingering scent of his citrus body wash. Her heart pounding, she let him lead her along.

At nine in the morning, Wutong Street was just beginning to wake up. Morning light filtered through the gaps in the sycamore leaves, which were still laden with raindrops from the storm, dappling the stone-paved street.

Chen Mo, still holding Su Yuqing’s hand, stopped in front of a glass display window on the corner.