Chapter 706
Lively Scene
Su Mo pushed open the door, and a smoky aroma of braised pork, sweet and sour pork ribs, and rich chicken soup immediately rushed towards him.
"Welcome to the New Year's Eve dinner scene of ordinary people." Su Mo turned to the side and took out a pair of brand-new pink guest cotton slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them next to Lin Xuan's feet.
Lin Xuan took off her mask and hat, put on slippers, and as soon as she raised her head, she froze on the spot.
In the spacious and bright living room, the television was playing a pre-Spring Festival Gala program. Beside the huge solid wood dining table, five girls, whose looks, figures, and charisma would absolutely be top-tier in the entertainment industry, were smiling at her.
"Hello, Teacher Lin! Happy New Year!" Luo Xin was very outgoing and waved first.
"Is it cold outside? Come and sit down, we've been waiting for you to start eating." Wearing an apron, Yu Shuang, like a gentle hostess, came over and took the coat from Su Mo's hand and hung it up.
hope Ran walked out of the kitchen carrying the last plate of stir-fried shrimp, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Brother Mo, all the dishes are ready."
Lin Xuan had been in the entertainment industry for so many years and had seen all sorts of big scenes. But at this moment, looking at these five LPL leading ladies, each with their own unique charm yet perfectly harmonious, and then at Su Mo standing among them, calmly rolling up his sleeves to wash his hands, she still felt a strong, unreal sense of shock.
It turns out that the "friends" he was referring to were these five girls.
It turns out that the "sense of belonging" she found so captivating about him stemmed from the fact that he was the absolute center of this family.
As clever as Lin Xuan was, she instantly understood the undisguised love in the girls' eyes when they looked at Su Mo, and the non-hostile yet somewhat tolerant "scrutinizing new member" look they gave her when they looked at her.
After a brief moment of surprise, Lin Xuan quickly composed herself. She didn't put on any airs of a movie queen, but instead gave an extremely gentle and sincere smile.
"Happy New Year. I apologize for bothering you; I came uninvited and brought some bird's nest and a few bottles of red wine. I hope you won't find them too much." Lin Xuan placed the gift box she brought on the coffee table, her voice clear yet gentle.
"Oh, Ms. Lin, you're too kind! We really enjoy watching your performances during the competitions!" Xiaoyu quickly pulled out a chair and warmly invited her to sit down.
After washing her hands, Su Mo dried them with a towel and sat down at the head of the table.
To his left were Yu Shuang and Rita, and to his right were Xi Ran, Luo Xin, and Xiao Yu. The seat directly opposite him was reserved for Lin Xuan.
The table was laden with a sumptuous spread of home-style dishes: braised fish with a bright red color, tender and fall-off-the-bone sweet and sour pork ribs, fragrant steamed crab, and a large pot of steaming chicken soup.
It may lack the elaborate plating of upscale restaurants, but it possesses the most comforting, down-to-earth charm.
"Please sit down, don't be shy. There are no movie queens or hosts here tonight, just a few working people spending the New Year in Shanghai." Su Mo picked up the cup in front of him filled with warm goji berry water, and looked around gently. "Wishing everyone a peaceful and successful new year. Cheers."
Cheers!! Happy New Year!
The stemmed glass and the small water glass collided together, making a crisp sound.
The New Year's Eve dinner was more lively than ever before. Lin Xuan was initially a little reserved, but in this unguarded atmosphere, and with the encouragement of several cheerful girls, she quickly let down her guard.
"Try this braised pork. It was made by Brother Mo himself. You definitely can't get this anywhere else." Rita placed a piece of braised pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat into Lin Xuan's bowl, her eyes filled with a hint of proud boasting.
Lin Xuan took a bite; the meat melted in her mouth, sweet but not cloying. She looked up at Su Mo, who was intently peeling shrimp for Xi Ran across from her, and exclaimed sincerely, "It's really delicious. Su Mo, besides playing games, are you also such a good cook?"
“Playing games is work, cooking is life.” Su Mo put the peeled shrimp into Xi Ran’s bowl, took a tissue to wipe his hands, and said in a flat tone, “After getting used to takeout and the base’s canteen, you have to learn to take care of yourself.”
Xiaoyu, who was standing nearby, immediately leaned over, opened her mouth, and exclaimed, "Brother Mo is being unfair! I want to eat shrimp too!"
Su Mo smiled helplessly, peeled another one, and fed it to Xiao Yu in a very natural way. He then flicked her forehead with his finger and said, "How old are you? Why do you still need to be fed?"
"Hehe, in front of Brother Mo, we're forever eighteen!" Xiaoyu chewed the shrimp meat with satisfaction.
Watching this scene, a barely perceptible hint of envy flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. She envied these girls for being able to act so unrestrainedly in front of Su Mo, and for being able to share this man's tenderness without reservation.
Seemingly noticing Lin Xuan's gaze, Su Mo picked up the serving chopsticks, took a piece of the tenderest fish belly meat, and put it into her bowl.
"I've removed all the fish bones. Eat more, you're too thin. You look good on camera, but your immune system is weak." Su Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it reached Lin Xuan's ears steadily.
This small gesture made Lin Xuan's heart skip a beat. She lowered her head, eating the delicious fish, and for some reason, her eyes welled up with tears.
After dinner, at 8:00 PM sharp, the Spring Festival Gala started broadcasting on time.
The seven people moved to the spacious living room. The sofa was big enough, but the girls preferred to squeeze together.
Luo Xin and Xiao Yu sat cross-legged on the carpet, each holding a handful of melon seeds; Yu Shuang sat on the left side of the sofa, peeling an orange; Rita leaned unabashedly on Su Mo's right shoulder, holding a half-glass of red wine, her eyes slightly tipsy.
hope Ran sat to Su Mo's left, holding a cushion. Lin Xuan was seated on a single sofa next to her, covered with a cashmere blanket given to her by Yu Shuang.
A skit was playing on TV, making everyone laugh.
"Here, have some fruit." Yu Shuang peeled an orange, broke it open, and very naturally put a segment into Su Mo's mouth. Then she gave the other half to Lin Xuan and hope Ran next to her.
Su Mo ate an orange, holding a thermos in his left hand, while Rita held his right hand in her arms, using it as a pillow. He didn't push her away, his gaze peacefully fixed on the television screen, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.
Lin Xuan held a cup of hot tea, her gaze subtly shifting between Su Mo and the other girls.
She discovered an incredibly strange phenomenon: among these five girls, there was absolutely no scheming or jealousy. Their eyes were filled with love as they looked at Su Mo, yet they all maintained this balance with remarkable tacit understanding.
Su Mo was like a vast and deep sea. He calmly embraced all the rivers, impartial and unbiased. He gave Yu Shuang absolute respect and trust, indulgent pampering to Rita, meticulous care to Xi Ran, and brotherly love to Luo Xin and Xiao Yu.
He could even sense her slight awkwardness as an outsider, and from time to time, he would use a gentle look or hand her a cup of hot tea to pull her into this warm circle.
"How can there be such a person in this turbulent world..." Lin Xuan murmured to herself.
It's almost midnight.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The New Year's bells rang on television. Outside the window, although fireworks were banned in the city, the words "Happy New Year" were simultaneously displayed on the large screens of several high-rise buildings along the Huangpu River in the distance.
"Happy New Year!!!" Several girls excitedly hugged each other.
Su Mo placed the thermos on the coffee table, stood up, and took out six thick red envelopes from the cabinet behind him.
"Brother Mo is giving out New Year's money!" Luo Xin and Xiao Yu's eyes lit up, and they jumped up from the carpet.
"One for each of you, for good luck. May you all be healthy and have a smooth new year." Su Mo handed out red envelopes to them one by one.
When he walked up to Lin Xuan, she was stunned for a moment, pointed to herself, and looked at him with surprise: "Me... I have one too?"
"Of course." Su Mo handed her the last red envelope, a gentle smile curving his lips. His deep eyes looked particularly captivating under the warm yellow light. "Since we've come for the New Year's Eve dinner, we're family now."
family.
These three simple words were like a soft hammer, striking Lin Xuan's most tender heart.
She held the not-so-thin red envelope, her eyes slightly warm, and nodded vigorously: "Thank you... Happy New Year, Su Mo."
As the revelry subsided, night deepened.
Luo Xin and Xiao Yu were too exhausted to stay awake any longer and fell asleep sprawled out on the bed in the guest room. Rita, having drunk a couple more glasses of red wine, was also fast asleep on the sofa.
Only Su Mo, Yu Shuang, hope Ran, and Lin Xuan remained in the living room.
Lin Xuan checked the time; it was already 1 a.m. The crew had an early morning shoot tomorrow, so she had to leave.
"I should go now." Lin Xuan stood up. Although she was a little reluctant, she still folded the cashmere blanket and placed it on the sofa. "It's New Year's Eve today. The driver is on holiday. I'll just call a private car."
“It’s the middle of the night, and it’s snowed outside. It’s not safe to call a taxi.” Su Mo picked up the black down jacket draped over the back of the chair and put it on, then grabbed the car keys. “I’ll take you back to the film set’s hotel.”
"No need to trouble yourself, you've been cooking all day..." Lin Xuan was somewhat flattered.
"Let's go. I'll come right back after I drop you off downstairs." Su Mo's tone was calm but carried an unyielding firmness.
Yu Shuang stepped forward, straightened Su Mo's collar, and wrapped the red cashmere scarf around his neck. Like a wife seeing her husband off, she gently instructed him, "Drive slowly on the road. The roads are slippery in the snow. Be careful. We'll tidy up here and then go to sleep."
"Okay. You guys get some rest, don't wait for me." Su Mo nodded and led Lin Xuan out of the apartment.
A black SUV smoothly drove out of the underground parking garage.
The car was heated and playing soothing music. Lin Xuan sat in the passenger seat, turning to look at Su Mo, who was focused on driving.
The streetlights outside cast shadows that constantly swept across his profile, outlining his resolute and aloof jawline. The red scarf added a touch of human warmth to his appearance.
"Su Mo." Lin Xuan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
"Hmm?" Su Mo kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"Tonight... is the happiest and most fulfilling New Year's Eve I've had in all my years since I debuted." Lin Xuan's voice was soft, but it carried an unprecedented sincerity. "I used to think that someone like you, standing at the top, must be lonely. But today I realized that you manage your life better than anyone else."
Su Mo turned the steering wheel, and the car smoothly entered the main road. His tone was calm: "The higher you climb, the colder it gets. That's a phrase for ambitious people. I don't have that kind of ambition. I just hope that after work, there will be a light and a hot meal. Loneliness is my choice, and so is being in the crowd."
"Then..." Lin Xuan took a deep breath, her fingers on her knees tightened slightly, and she stared intently at him, "If I feel lonely after filming... can I still come to your house for a meal?"
This was an extremely blatant test. For a proud actress, saying those words was tantamount to abandoning all her reserve.
We came to a smooth stop at a red light.
Su Mo turned his head and looked at the woman in the passenger seat who was so nervous that she even held her breath.
In his eyes, which seemed to see through everything in the world, there was no evasion, no surprise, only a deep and gentle acceptance.
He extended his right hand and naturally placed it on Lin Xuan's hands, which were slightly cold from nervousness, and gently squeezed them.
The warmth from her fingertips instantly shattered Lin Xuan's last line of defense.
“My door lock code is 0818.” Su Mo looked into her eyes, his voice deep and magnetic. “After filming at night, if you’re hungry, you can come over anytime. There’s food and hot water at home.”
Lin Xuan's eyes instantly welled up with tears, and a single tear slid down her cheek without warning, but a bright smile appeared on her lips.
She didn't pull her hand away; instead, she gripped Su Mo's broad, kind hand tightly, as if she were holding the most precious treasure of her life.
"Okay." She choked up and nodded heavily.
After safely dropping Lin Xuan off at the hotel where the film crew was staying, Su Mo watched her, wrapped in a down jacket, walk through the revolving door, turning back every few steps, before restarting the car.
At 2:30 a.m. in Shanghai, the snow had stopped, and the snow on both sides of the road gleamed coldly under the streetlights. But Su Mo's hands, gripping the steering wheel, still retained a trace of warm moisture.
Back in the duplex apartment, I gently pushed open the door. In the living room, only a dim floor lamp remained on.
The TV was off, and Luo Xin, Xiao Yu, and Rita weren't in the living room; they had obviously been sent back to the guest room to sleep by Yu Shuang and Xi Ran. Yu Shuang, wearing that red knitted sweater, was curled up in a corner of the sofa, hugging a cushion, her head nodding off, covered with that cashmere blanket.
Hearing the very faint sound of shoes being changed at the door, Yu Shuang's long eyelashes trembled, and she groggily opened her eyes.
"You're back?" She rubbed her eyes, her voice hoarse and languid from just waking up, and instinctively stood up to get his coat.
"Why don't you go to bed?" Su Mo walked over quickly, pressed her shoulder, and casually hung her long down jacket, which was still chilly, on a clothes rack in the distance to prevent the cold air from getting to her.
"I was worried you didn't have your keys, and I was also worried you'd come back alone to find the house dark." Yu Shuang looked up at Su Mo's face, which appeared exceptionally gentle in the soft light, and a relieved smile appeared on her lips. "Did you deliver it?"
"Yes, it's delivered." Su Mo sat down beside her, naturally putting his arm around her shoulder and letting her lean against his warm chest. "You don't need to wait for me anymore. I have a good memory; I won't forget the password." (End of Chapter)