Huayu Entertainment: It was the young actress who took the initiative.

Chapter 73 The Three Sisters [2/3]

We ate hot pot until after 9 p.m., and most of the ingredients on the table had been eaten.

Bai Mengyan leaned back in her chair with satisfaction, rubbing her stomach: "Ah—I'm so full. It's been so long since I've eaten so heartily."

"Who told you to keep putting meat into the pot?"

Li Yitong smiled as she cleared the dishes, "like she hadn't eaten for days."

"Isn't this great joy!"

Bai Mengyan chuckled, "To celebrate Chen Mo's birthday, we should definitely eat our fill!"

Li Qin was also helping to tidy up. She glanced at the time and said, "It's almost ten o'clock. Do you live far away? Should we go back early?"

"My accommodation is alright, it's a half-hour taxi ride away," Bai Mengyan said.

"I'm about the same," Li Yitong nodded.

Chen Mo stood up: "Then I'll see you downstairs."

"No need, no need, we can walk by ourselves."

Bai Mengyan waved her hand, "You stay and chat with Sister Lin for a while longer."

"It's okay, I was just about to go downstairs to throw out the trash anyway."

Chen Mo picked up the kitchen garbage bag.

In the end, the four of them went downstairs together.

The neighborhood was quiet at night, with the streetlights casting a dim, yellow glow.

When they arrived at the entrance of the residential area, the car that Bai Mengyan and Li Yitong had called had already arrived.

"Bye-bye! Let's have dinner together again next time, Sister Lin!"

Bai Mengyan waved goodbye before getting into the car.

"must."

Li Qin smiled, nodded, and waved to them.

Li Yitong waved to them, got into the car, and left.

Watching the two cars merge into the night traffic, Chen Mo turned to Li and said, "Shall we go back?"

"Um."

The two walked side by side in the residential area.

The night wind was a bit chilly, and Li Lin tugged at the hem of her knitted cardigan.

Thank you for inviting me today.

She said softly, "Both of your friends are quite lovely."

"Mengyan is a bit boisterous, but she's a very nice person. Yitong is quieter; we often eat and chat together."

"fine."

Li Qin looked at the road beneath her feet, "It's not easy to make true friends in this industry."

"yes."

The two entered the elevator together.

We reached the 15th floor.

"Then I'll be leaving first."

Li Qin turned around and waved to Chen Mo, "You should get some rest too."

Okay, goodnight.

"Good night."

The elevator doors closed.

Chen Mo watched as the floor numbers began to rise.

Back in his apartment, he first tidied up the dining table and kitchen, put the dishes in the dishwasher, and wiped the table clean.

Then I took a shower to wash away the smell of hot pot.

Warm water washed over his body, and Chen Mo closed his eyes, letting his tense muscles relax.

Today was really relaxing. I had hot pot and chatted with friends, without having to think about work or those complicated relationships within the industry.

After showering, he changed into clean loungewear, his hair still wet, and casually dried it with a towel.

I went to the living room, turned on the TV, randomly selected a movie channel, and leaned back on the sofa to watch.

I had only been looking at it for a few minutes when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Chen Mo was taken aback. Who could it be so late at night?

He walked to the door and looked out through the peephole; it was Li Lin.

Chen Mo opened the door: "Sister Qin? What's wrong?"

Li Qin stood outside the door, still wearing the same clothes, with an apologetic expression on her face: "Um—I'm sorry to bother you. My water heater seems to have been unused for too long and is a bit broken; it's not producing hot water."

"Could I—please use your bathroom to take a shower?"

Chen Mo then noticed that she was holding a toiletry bag.

"sure."

He stepped aside to let her in. "The restroom is over there."

"Thanks."

Li Qin felt a little embarrassed, "Thank you so much."

"fine."

Li Lin went into the bathroom and closed the door.

Chen Mo sat back down on the sofa, but his attention was no longer on the television.

He could hear the sound of water coming from the bathroom, a soft, steady drip, especially clear in the quiet night.

This is terrible, how am I supposed to sleep at night like this?

An old movie was playing on TV, but Chen Mo's mind was completely elsewhere.

Images began to involuntarily appear in his mind.

Li Qin was in the bathroom, hot water wetting her hair, which slid down her neck—

Chen Mo shook his head, picked up the remote control, and changed several channels before finally stopping at a documentary channel.

But the sound of water continued.

About twenty minutes later, the sound of water stopped.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened.

Li Qin came out.

She changed into a light blue loungewear set, her hair was still a little damp, and her face had a rosy glow from the steam.

Without makeup, she looked softer than usual, and her skin had a delicate glow under the light.

"Are you done washing?"

"Okay, thank you."

Li Qin walked over and sat down at the other end of the sofa. "Your water heater is really great; the water flow is strong and warm."

Actually, I have another thing at home that sprays out a lot of warm air.

"Spring has arrived, and the lions on the grasslands—"

The documentary on TV was about lions on the African savanna, and the narrator's voice was deep.

Li Qin unwrapped the towel covering her hair, letting her wet hair fall loose.

She ran her fingers through her hair, a natural movement that seemed particularly intimate in the quiet night, in this space where only the two of them were.

Chen Mo could smell the scent of shower gel emanating from her.

She used the same kind as him, but mixed with her own scent, it had an indescribably pleasant aroma.

"that----"

Li Qin suddenly spoke, hesitantly, her voice soft, "Actually—"

She paused, as if gathering her courage, and said, "My water heater isn't broken."

Chen Mo turned to look at her.

Li Qin met his gaze, her face turning even redder, but she didn't look away: "I just—wanted an excuse to stay up here a little longer."

Her eyes held nervousness, anticipation, and a hint of barely perceptible shyness.

Chen Mo looked at her, and after a few seconds, he smiled.

He reached out and gently took her hand.

Li Qin's hand trembled slightly, but she did not pull it back.

"Sister Han, no need to make excuses."

Chen Mo said softly, "You can come anytime you want."

Upon hearing this, Li Qin's eyes seemed to be veiled with a thin mist. She bit her lip and then slowly leaned closer.

Chen Mo could smell the fresh fragrance in her hair and feel the warmth emanating from her body.

The two grew closer and closer, close enough to feel each other's breath.

Then, Li Lin closed his eyes and kissed him.

Chen Mo responded slowly, his hands also moving around—

The kiss deepened.

Li Lin wrapped her arms around his neck, her body unconsciously pressing closer, her body trembling slightly.

Chen Mo could feel the curves of her body under her loungewear, and he could feel her slightly accelerated heartbeat.

After a long while, the two parted ways.

Li Qin was panting, her cheeks flushed, and she looked at him with a dazed expression.

"Go—go to your room."

She asked softly, her voice trembling.

Chen Mo didn't say anything, but stood up, then bent down and picked her up in his arms.

Li Qin let out a soft cry, buried her head in his chest, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

Chen Mo carried her into the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.

Outside the window, the night in Beijing is deep.

But inside the room, another story unfolds.