On a Stormy Night, the Campus Belle Knocked on My Door Seeking Shelter
Chapter 27: Let’s Carve Our Couple Names

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Let’s Carve Our Couple Names

"I don’t even know what brand my old phone was. It was..." Su Yuqing faltered, seeming reluctant to name the person. After a pause, she steeled herself and said, "My stepfather got a new phone and gave me his old one."

"I see. In that case, let’s just go to the store and take our time picking one out." Noticing how Su Yuqing’s high spirits had suddenly plummeted, Chen Mo just nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.

They watched TV for half an hour to let their food settle, then headed out to shop.

Such a handsome couple walking down the street naturally turned a few heads.

Soon, Chen Mo led Su Yuqing to a phone store.

As they pushed open the glass door, a blast of cold air mixed with the distinct smell of new electronics washed over them.

"Looking for a smartphone? This one has a great camera, perfect for a young couple to capture their memories." The salesclerk lifted a dust cover, revealing a pink phone shimmering with a pearlescent glow under the spotlight. "Students get a free silicone case, and the screen protector is half-price."

Su Yuqing stared at the rows of phones in the display case. At the clerk’s mention of a "young couple," her fingers unconsciously and shyly began to fidget with the hem of her skirt—it was the new cotton dress Chen Mo had bought for her yesterday. The light green trim brushed against her palm, making it feel slightly clammy.

Chen Mo tapped the glass with his knuckle. "We’ll take that smoky rose one."

He turned his head and saw Su Yuqing staring blankly at the price tag. The 4,888 yuan label seemed to prickle her eyes like a thorn.

Suddenly, a hand blocked her view. The next moment, his handsome face filled her vision. "Don’t look at what you’re not supposed to see."

"It’s too expensive..." Su Yuqing shook her head frantically, loose strands of her hair brushing against the lace trim at her collarbone. It was the outline of the lingerie set Aunt Lin had recommended, revealing a hazy, cherry-blossom pink hue under the warm lights.

"The creditor calls the shots," the young man said with a smile, dangling a neatly folded, square piece of paper.

"Bring it over for her to try."

"Of course." The clerk immediately handed a display model to Su Yuqing.

As Su Yuqing stroked the phone’s frosted back casing, she thought of the old phone her stepfather had tossed to her.

The cracks in its paint-chipped keyboard were still stuck with cigarette ash, and it took five minutes just to log in to QQ.

The clerk suddenly leaned over to demonstrate the touchscreen. "Try taking a picture. The camera is so sharp you can see your eyelashes!"

Chen Mo’s profile flickered across the viewfinder.

He was looking at other models, the collar of his casual shirt brushing against the back of his neck and revealing a sliver of tanned skin.

Su Yuqing hurriedly pressed the shutter button, but the photo only captured a blurry scrap of his sleeve.

"Selfies look better from this distance." Hearing the CLICK, Chen Mo immediately leaned in. When he saw the muddled photo Su Yuqing had taken of herself, he suddenly took her hand, pressing his index finger over hers to swipe across the screen.

The warmth from his palm seeped through the back of her hand, warming her to the core.

While operating the phone, Chen Mo leaned in close to her cheek. At that moment, they were as close as any couple.

Feeling nervous, Su Yuqing subconsciously glanced toward him.

"What are you looking at me for? Look here." Chen Mo tapped the spot where the camera was.

Only then, her face faintly blushing, did Su Yuqing look up toward the phone’s camera.

CLICK. As the shutter button was pressed, their first—and so far, only—intimate photo together was captured.

The instant the photo lit up the screen, the tips of Su Yuqing’s ears went red. In the picture, she was looking up slightly at the lens, stray hairs brushing against her flushed cheeks, while Chen Mo’s face was practically pressed against her temple, the corner of his mouth curved into a triumphant smirk.

The glass display case behind them reflected their overlapping shadows, and a soft halo of light blended their silhouettes into a warm blur. To anyone else, they looked just like a young couple sneaking a selfie.

"With composition like this, the staff should give us an award for ’Best Customer Photo.’" Chen Mo’s thumb caressed the screen, deliberately zooming the picture in and out. "Send this photo to us later, thanks."

"The memory’s not bad either. Enough for you to store your study materials." After the photo, Chen Mo checked the phone’s specs again and was reasonably satisfied.

It was rare for the clerk to see such a good-looking, well-matched couple, so they stood by and watched with the giddy smile of someone shipping their favorite pairing.

"If you buy this model now, we also offer a free laser engraving service," the shopkeeper said, tapping a promotional sign on the glass counter. "It’s so romantic for a young couple to engrave their initials."

"Then we’ll take this one."

"Alrighty! What would the two of you like to have engraved?" the clerk asked with a wide grin.

Chen Mo looked over at Su Yuqing. Her face was beet red, and she was wringing her hands. She turned her head slightly and whispered in his ear, her breath like a fragrant orchid, "Maybe we shouldn’t get anything engraved..."

’If they really engraved both their names on it, it would be way too embarrassing if their classmates saw it.’

’And it probably wouldn’t be good if the teachers found out, either.’

After a moment’s thought, Chen Mo smiled and wrote C.M.M.M on a piece of paper. "Just engrave this."

"Don’t you want to add this in the middle?" The clerk wrote an "&". "Couples usually put this between their initials."

"No, that’s not necessary. Just engrave it as I wrote."

Su Yuqing looked at the four letters Chen Mo had written, not quite understanding them.

She naturally understood the first two letters—Chen Mo’s initials. But what on earth did the last two mean?

’There’s no M in my name, so it can’t be MM.’

"See? Even you can’t figure out what it means," Chen Mo said with a smile, leaning closer to her. "That way, you don’t have to worry about other people figuring it out either."

"But what does it actually mean?" Su Yuqing asked, looking at Chen Mo curiously.

"Take a guess," Chen Mo said with a mysterious smile.

Across the street, a music and video store was having a huge sale, and a poster of Jay Chou flapped loudly in the wind.

Soon, the phone—engraved, with its screen protector applied and case fitted—was placed in Su Yuqing’s hands.

They didn’t need to get a new number, as Chen Mo had already brought a SIM card. Its number was the exact reverse of his own.

The last four digits of his number were 1234, while the last four of hers were 4321.

On their way out, Su Yuqing was still in a daze, pondering the meaning. She nearly tripped over the threshold, but Chen Mo reacted instantly, catching her. Instead of falling, she tumbled right into his arms.

He felt her soft, warm body in his arms; she felt the solid heat of his chest, a fresh citrus scent mingling with his youthful energy.

"Watch where you’re going, silly girl," Chen Mo said with a laugh, gently tapping her on the forehead.

"Come on, just tell me. Otherwise I won’t be able to stop thinking about it," Su Yuqing wheedled, a rare move for her. She tugged on his sleeve and shook it gently.

Chen Mo chuckled, feigning helplessness. "Alright, alright, I give up. It’s simple. I’m your creditor, right? So MM stands for ’My Master.’"

At his words, it finally clicked for Su Yuqing.

Just then, Chen Mo flashed a mischievous grin. "Of course, it could be translated another way, too."

"Huh?" Su Yuqing looked at him in surprise. "What other meaning could it have?"

"That one, I really can’t tell you. You can take your time and guess when you get home. For now, stop letting your mind wander. We’re out to have fun today, so let’s stick to the main event." With a smile, Chen Mo walked on ahead, leaving Su Yuqing to follow, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a possible meaning popped into her head. Instantly, her heart began to race, and her pretty, delicate face flushed crimson once more.