39: Chapter 39 Feeding in Progress

Chen Mo followed Li Li into the living room, and a cup of black tea was pushed toward him.

"Your monthly salary is only three or four thousand yuan. Adding in your school grants and scholarships, it's barely enough to get by."

"You should take this money back. Pingan Orphanage won't be taking in any new children. Once these kids are all grown up, I'm heading back to the countryside."

Director Li let out a long sigh, seemingly feeling a sense of relief.

She waved her hand and added, "Raising these little brats is such a huge hassle. I want to live my own life for a change."

"But… Director Li, is this really what you truly think?" Chen Mo held the cup of black tea, looking into Li Li's eyes.

Li Li was silent for a moment, then smiled. "What else could it be?"

"When I was young, I dreamed of becoming an actress. Instead, I married an orphanage director. He left me all alone to go to heaven way too early, leaving me to take over his mess by myself."

"I'm tired, Chen Mo. You were the first child I raised. Watching you go from being an obscure kid to becoming cheerful, getting into university, and turning into the handsome young man you are now…"

"I truly feel a sense of accomplishment."

Chen Mo pushed the bank card back again. "Director Li, I'll figure something out regarding the orphanage. You don't need to worry."

"It's not much money, but it's over ten thousand yuan."

"Alright, I need to head back to school. I'll come visit you all again in a while."

Not giving Director Li another chance to refuse, Chen Mo turned and left.

"Brother Chen Mo, you must keep your promise! If you come next time and I can solve all my math problems, you have to buy me a toy car!"

"Of course. Then you'll have to work hard."

Waving to the children from across the fence, Chen Mo turned and left.

Through the glass, Li Li picked up the bank card from the table, watching Chen Mo's retreating figure as he walked further and further away.

She sighed, "Chen Mo, you should understand that before you love others, you must first learn to love yourself."

"I'll save this money for you for now, otherwise you won't even have enough to get married later."

Li Li carefully placed the bank card into a drawer.

"Director Li definitely doesn't want to give up the orphanage. Is it still because of money?"

Chen Mo lit a cigarette. It was already midnight, and the moonlight spilled over his shoulders as he leaned his back against a utility pole.

"Sigh… as expected, being a kid was better. When I was little, I wanted to grow up quickly, thinking I could build my own world through my own abilities and live a free life."

"But after growing up, I realized that the wings of so-called freedom have already been scarred by the shackles of material needs. If you want to fly again, you have to give up a lot of things."

Chen Mo shook his head. Sighing was useless, and being emo was even more useless.

Once the emotional time passed, he opened his eyes; he still had to face life.

"What should I eat tonight?"

Just as Chen Mo was thinking, a phone call came through.

After he answered, Su Qing's dragon-like roar came from the other end of the phone!

"Chen Mo, you jerk! You actually used a fake arm to brush me off! Now the campus forum is full of ugly photos of me sleeping in class!"

"Hmm. Don't lose it; that fake arm is a prop from my shop."

Su Qing felt speechless, then changed her tone, switching into gentle mode.

She said, "Do you want to come over to my place for dinner tonight?"

"Uh… no…"

"You must come. Just consider it punishment for leaving me all alone!" Su Qing directly guilt-tripped Chen Mo.

"Wait, Miss, who forces people to come over for dinner?"

"No! No! I don't care!"

"Fine, whatever makes you happy."

Not long after, a familiar Maybach pulled up in front of Chen Mo, and the butler gestured for him to get in.

Another 10 minutes later.

Chen Mo arrived at an upscale residential area.

Unlike the neighborhood where Chen Mo lived, this place was opulent and magnificent, bright with lights even late at night.

It gave off a vibe of true vitality.

From the garden at the gate of the young lady's place all the way to the front door of the Villa, it took a full 5 minutes just to walk.

This really opened Chen Mo's eyes.

Up until now, Chen Mo had only ever seen such extravagant houses in novels and movies.

The butler took the initiative to open the door, striking an elegant pose of invitation.

It made Chen Mo feel even more flattered.

"Student Chen, a suit has been prepared for you. Please follow me to change."

Chen Mo thought to himself that this rich family really had a lot of rules. He was just here for a meal, yet they had to make it a whole ceremony.

After all that, Chen Mo, who hadn't been hungry, now felt the beast of hunger in his stomach awaken.

Chen Mo had originally thought he would just change his outfit.

Instead, the butler went to town on his hair, styling it into a slicked-back look.

He even cleaned up his face while he was at it.

Chen Mo looked at himself in the mirror again.

"Damn, I'm actually handsome!"

Finally, Chen Mo saw the young lady who had invited him to dine.

Su Qing was still wearing exquisite makeup, and her small, heart-shaped face felt like it wasn't even the size of Chen Mo's palm.

Her skin was fair—she must have applied powder to her neck and legs—paired with a white dress and cat-ear headpiece.

One had to admit, she really looked good.

Although Chen Mo had seen Su Qing without makeup, and there was some difference compared to when she was made up.

But Su Qing wasn't his wife, and they wouldn't be kissing or sleeping together or anything like that.

As long as she looked pleasing to the eye with makeup on, whether it was natural or not had nothing to do with him.

"Chen Mo, you're here!" Su Qing smiled happily.

"Yeah." Chen Mo didn't treat himself as an outsider and pulled out a chair to sit down.

With one arm draped over the back of the chair, he carelessly admired the antiques and paintings displayed all around.

"These things look very expensive at first glance."

"Yeah, they're all antiques."

"Can you give me one?" Chen Mo was just joking.

To his surprise, Su Qing nodded very seriously and said, "Sure, whichever one you like, I'll give it to you!"

"This…" Chen Mo was even more flattered.

"Uh… haha, I was just joking, don't take it seriously."

"Let's start eating. I'm in dire need of feeding." Chen Mo patted his stomach.

Su Qing pulled out a chair and sat right next to Chen Mo.

There was only an elbow's distance between the two of them.

When Su Qing leaned close to Chen Mo to whisper in his ear, Chen Mo could clearly smell the natural fragrance coming from her body.

It was a unique, delicate fragrance belonging to a young girl. Chen Mo could be certain it wasn't perfume.

Soon, various delicacies that Chen Mo had only ever seen online were served on the dining table.

"Caviar, M9+ Tomahawk steak, Australian lobster…"

"Hiss!" Chen Mo's eyes went straight.

The sensory stimulation from the sights and smells was more intense than seeing a femme fatale who could topple kingdoms.

"Can I just eat it? There aren't any dining ceremonies or anything, right?" Chen Mo asked tentatively.

"No, just treat this place like your own home." Su Qing waved her hand.

"Then I won't be polite." Chen Mo rubbed his hands together and immediately snapped off a lobster claw.

He dipped it into some sauce the butler handed him—he didn't know what it was, but it looked good.

He ate half the claw in one bite.

Chen Mo exclaimed, "Holy crap! Delicious!"

"I feel like the shrimp I've eaten before can only be called tiny shrimps."

He immediately started chewing big mouthfuls, not caring that his mouth was covered in sauce.

What is eating for?

On one hand, it's to replenish the body's needs, but more importantly, it's for happiness!

Seeing Chen Mo devouring the food, Su Qing propped her chin up with one hand, watching him eat with a smile in her eyes.

"Chen Mo, can I feed you a chicken leg?" Su Qing suddenly asked.