Chapter 504 - 523: An Old House on Fire, Burns to the End

The Mecha gradually receded into the distance. Mo Si, sitting in his seat, could only watch its shadow below through the transparent window.

After takeoff, the Mecha accelerated, and in the blink of an eye, even its shadow vanished from sight.

"Brother, are you still looking?"

"She must be inside by now." Mo Si looked away.

Zuo Kai was up front piloting the Mecha, leaving only Mo Si and Mo Chengyu in the cabin.

’Mo Chengyu truly hadn’t expected her brother to catch on so quickly.’

’When he had first returned, no matter how much she hinted, he had insisted, "Qiuqiu is still young. We’re just friends," refusing to face his true feelings.’

’But a couple of days ago, he had suddenly told her that he wasn’t going home for New Year’s this year.’

Mo Chengyu’s first reaction was to think something had happened at the Pole again. "Did the Insect Race awaken during the winter?"

"No."

"Rebels?!"

"No."

"Then what is it?" Mo Chengyu’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

And then, she witnessed a tough guy’s tender side.

Mo Si was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting out the window. "Qiuqiu doesn’t have any family. She’ll be all alone on New Year’s Eve this year."

"I’m coming to Starry Sky Wander to keep her company."

In that moment, Mo Chengyu was shocked.

’Her brother might not have understood the word ’love’ yet, but he was overflowing with its tenderness.’

Mo Chengyu decided to tease Mo Si. She let out a small, surprised gasp and said, "But... isn’t it a little inappropriate for friends to spend New Year’s together? Especially since you’re just a male friend of Qiuqiu’s."

She hinted casually, "Brother, you’ve been at the Pole for so long. You might not know, but celebrating the New Year is a very intimate thing here. It’s something only couples do..."

She thought her brother would be taken aback. Instead, a blush crept up to his ears.

Mo Chengyu had rarely seen her imposing older brother wear such an expression. He said, "I know."

...

"!!??"

"I’ve realized... I like Qiuqiu."

’An old house catching fire burns the fastest and hottest.’

That day, Mo Si had been all set to tell Qiuqiu he was planning to stay for the New Year, but Mo Chengyu stopped him.

Seeing his confused look, Mo Chengyu asked, "If you go and tell her, Qiuqiu is definitely going to ask why you’re staying."

"What are you going to say?"

’What *was* he going to say?’

Mo Si didn’t know what to say either.

He could speak freely in front of Mo Chengyu, but when it came to Qiuqiu...

To avoid hemming and hawing, he would probably just clam up and say nothing at all.

’Just imagining the scene was a disaster.’

He fell silent. Mo Chengyu studied his expression and said, "I know what to do."

’Although his sister was often unreliable, she was definitely better than him when it came to handling and understanding matters of the heart.’

So Mo Si looked up, ready to hear his sister’s idea.

However, at that moment, seeing the clueless Mo Si, Mo Chengyu must have had her mind clouded by mischief. A wicked idea took root, and her audacity soared. "But, Brother, if you want to know, you’ll have to say something nice!"

At that moment—

A pained, bewildered expression—the kind you see on an old man trying to figure out a smartphone—appeared on Mo Si’s face once again. "What did you say?"

"I didn’t quite catch that."

"..."

"Nothing! I said, I have an idea. We can be a bit more subtle about it."

In truth, Mo Chengyu’s idea was quite simple: say nothing. Don’t tell Qiuqiu that he was planning to stay.

He should go home first, have an early get-together with their family, and then come directly to Starry Sky Wander on the 29th or 30th.

After listening, Mo Si asked in confusion, "She’ll still ask the same question then."

"Yes, she will."