Desk mate, your persona has crumbled.

In front of the fried rice noodle stall, the dim yellow light bulb cast a warm glow in the night.

The oil sizzled and released white smoke on the scalding hot iron pot.

The sharp metallic scraping sound of the spatula scraping the bottom of the pot rang out, and the scorching smell of the intense fire burning through the pot turned into white steam that wafted onto Song Shuyan's face.

The girl instinctively took a half step back, but her eyes shone with an astonishing light.

She watched as the boss's wrist flicked, the tip of the spatula lifting up the glistening white rice noodles and cascading down like a waterfall.

The stove fire leaped up, and the crimson flames licked the edge of the pot, casting flickering light on the boss's sweaty profile.

Song Shuyan quietly tightened her grip on the strap of her schoolbag.

The scalding hot iron pot was right in front of me, and the hum of the stove blower mingled with the smoky aroma of cooking.

The girl's Adam's apple bobbed.

It smells so good!

Xu Mo turned his head to look at her.

The light from the streetlamp fell into the girl's clear eyes, which were filled with an expectation that was almost overflowing.

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "It'll be ready soon."

With a final, decisive tap of the spatula against the edge of the wok, the owner picked up a takeout box to scoop up the scalding hot stir-fried noodles.

The owner quickly packed two portions of fried noodles and handed them to Xu Mo.

After Xu Mo took the bottle, he skillfully picked up the vinegar bottle and chili sauce bottle on the stall, added some of each, and then quickly stirred them evenly with disposable chopsticks.

Then, he placed both servings of fried noodles in front of Song Shuyan and handed her a pair of clean chopsticks:

"Here, try them both. One is plain, and the other I added vinegar and chili sauce. See which flavor you prefer."

Looking at the two fragrant bowls of stir-fried noodles in front of her, Song Shuyan took the chopsticks.

The shop owner, who was cleaning up the stove nearby, caught a glimpse of the young couple and couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "Young man, you're really good to your girlfriend."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuyan paused slightly in her chopsticks. Her face remained expressionless, but her ears involuntarily flushed red.

Xu Mo quickly explained, "He's a classmate!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The boss gave a perfunctory response, which ultimately earned him a glare from Xu Mo.

Song Shuyan picked up a little bit of fried rice noodles from each of the two boxes, tasted them, and finally chose the original flavor.

Since he was walking home with Song Shuyan instead of running home as usual, Xu Mo prepared to use his traditional skills.

"Let's eat as we walk, it'll get too oily when it gets cold."

"Um!"

Song Shuyan nodded, and like Xu Mo, she held the takeout box in her hands and ate as she walked.

As Song Shuyan ate, she subconsciously glanced at Xu Mo, who was shoveling food into his fried noodles.

The boy didn't care much about his appearance and ate with great relish.

The sour and spicy flavor is indeed quite good, but the original flavor is also delicious.

Seeing Xu Mo's expression, Song Shuyan's lips curled up slightly.

(happy.)

Xu Mo sensed this emotion and assumed that Song Shuyan was enjoying her meal.

Just as he was about to say something, he looked up and saw Song Shuyan looking at him.

The boy was taken aback: "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

"no."

Song Shuyan shook her head: "You seem to be enjoying your food."

"Because it tastes good! If it didn't taste good, why would I like to eat it?"

Xu Mo raised his chin: "Eat quickly, or it won't taste good when it gets cold."

"Uh-huh!"

Song Shuyan nodded.

The girl soon joined the ranks of those who buried themselves in showing off their food.

Xu Mo ate quickly and finished in no time.

After he finished eating, he looked up and saw a freezer by the roadside.

Before the brain could even process it, the body had already started moving.

"Wait a minute, I'm going to buy a Coke!"

Having said that, Xu Mo had already arrived in front of the freezer.

Song Shuyan watched as the boy walked out of the shop with a can of cola and then unscrewed the cap.

Xu Mo tilted his head back and gulped down the drink in his mouth.

He didn't touch the bottle opening, but took a big, satisfying gulp.

After finishing his cola, Xu Mo happened to come up to Song Shuyan.

Under the streetlights, the boy magically produced a straw from his hand.

With a flick of his fingertips, Xu Mo handed over the straw.

"Drink this."

Xu Mo handed the bottle to Song Shuyan.

"It helps to cut through the greasiness, just like fried skewers."

Song Shuyan stared blankly at the straw in front of her.

Clearly, she was still wondering where the straw came from.

Xu Mo noticed her gaze and suddenly flipped his fingers deftly.

The straw vanished from his fingers in an instant.

In Song Shuyan's eyes, the boy turned his wrist again, and the straw was firmly clamped back into his fingertips.

"It's just a little trick to deceive you, doesn't it look cool?"

"I learned it from an old man in the park. It's actually very simple; it all comes down to being quick with your hands."

Song Shuyan took the straw in a daze.

The girl silently inserted the straw into the cola bottle and lowered her head to sip.

The stimulating sensation of carbon dioxide bubbles, mixed with a lingering sense of wonder, spread silently.

When Xu Mo dropped Song Shuyan off at the entrance of the residential area, Song Jianghuai was waiting at the entrance as he had been the day before.

The old father's gaze swept over his daughter, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Uncle, we're back."

Xu Mo took the initiative to speak, his voice carrying the clear and bright quality unique to young people.

Song Shuyan then added softly, "Dad, I'm back."

Song Jianghuai's gaze lingered on his daughter's slightly bright eyes for a moment: "Okay, let's go."

After saying that, Song Jianghuai looked at Xu Mo.

"We're leaving now."

Xu Mo nodded and smiled at Song Shuyan: "Bye-bye! See you tomorrow!"

Song Shuyan smiled as well: "See you tomorrow!"

After saying that, the girl turned around and followed her father toward home.

Xu Mo watched the father and daughter's retreating figures, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Then, the boy started walking towards home.

Before long, Xu Mo could no longer see Song Shuyan and Song Jianghuai's backs.

As he walked, Xu Mo pulled out the bottle of cola from the side of his backpack.

It was the same bottle they had drunk from together.

Song Shuyan took two sips and then stopped drinking; there's less than half left.

Xu Mo originally wanted to give it to Song Shuyan, but she didn't want it.

Drink it before you go home, so your parents won't see it and nag you.

Thinking of this, Xu Mo unscrewed the bottle cap, tilted his head back, and took a swig.

The bubbles, carrying a subtle sweetness, burst on the tip of the tongue.

"Mmm, that feels good."

At this moment, Xu Mo looked at the cola in his hand, especially at the bottle opening.

A thought suddenly popped into my head.

"Song Shuyan drank with a straw, so he didn't touch her during the first sip. Therefore, it can't be considered an indirect kiss."

What are you thinking about?! What are you even talking about?!

Xu Mo shook his head violently.

Thinking of this, Xu Mo suddenly pictured Song Shuyan holding a Coke bottle and sipping it.

The straw was gently pressed against her lips, her full lips glistening with a drop of water.

"Depend on!"

Xu Mo cursed under his breath, his heart suddenly pounding so hard that his chest felt tight.

A surge of restlessness rose from the bottom of his heart, making his ears burn.

"It must be because I haven't been running lately! My mind is full of all sorts of random thoughts!"

Xu Mo quickly found an excellent reason.

The boy tilted his head back towards the bottle opening and gulped down the rest of the cola in one go.

The liquid washed over my throat, bringing a brief moment of clarity.

But that warmth, like the bubbles in cola, was churning subtly deep within my heart.