Chapter 190: Like an Old Friend Arriving 6

As the year‑end approaches, Su Mo's small clinic is relatively busy.

She hired a doctor and two nurses to help, but it was still a bit overwhelming, and it only eased up two days before the end of the year.

On the morning of the 31st, Fu Ying put up a "Temporarily Closed" sign for her, intending to let Su Mo rest for a few days.

Anyway, Nan Cheng has plenty of clinics; even if theirs is closed, there are always others open.

At noon, the three of them gathered at Su Mo's house to make dumplings; besides the three of them, there were Fu Ying's three Succubus husbands and some friends, including Xuan Qing and He Yuan.

The whole house was very lively.

When everyone arrived, Fu Ying was in charge of chatting with them, and Xiao Jiu handled serving tea and water.

Su Mo organized the dumpling cooking in the kitchen.

Xuan Qing offered to help; standing beside her, he asked, "Do you spend it like this every year?"

Su Mo laughed, "It's not exactly that, just these past few years. A few years ago when my clinic first opened, it wasn't very stable; they argued with me and even fought, but later we got used to each other, and naturally our interactions became close."

Xuan Qing understood; perhaps their reunion was still a bit late.

Fortunately, with her personality, wherever she goes she can gather companions.

She seems to have a kind of magic that unconsciously draws people close; standing beside her now, one can more vividly feel the worldly bustle.

In the afternoon the group gathered to chat and play cards; by evening they helped clean up the trash together and headed to the restaurant.

These past years, every reunion dinner has been at this restaurant; they also visit occasionally in small groups, and the proprietress is already extremely familiar with them.

Seeing two unfamiliar faces in the crowd, she couldn't help but smile, "New members added this year?"

Xuan Qing and He Yuan smiled and greeted her.

After seating everyone, the proprietress served some snacks, "Start with these; the dishes will be served shortly."

Passing by Su Mo, she whispered, "Long Yan hasn't returned yet?"

"Soon."

Su Mo's eyebrows curved into a smile.

He was originally scheduled to return by year's end, but a sudden mission came up, so they have to wait a bit longer.

Soon the dishes were brought out one after another, and the wine followed.

In such gatherings, everyone inevitably drinks a few cups, but Su Mo's tolerance remains as poor as ever.

Soon she was mildly tipsy, and someone beside her shouted, "What exactly are Dr. Su's criteria for a partner? Speak up so everyone can help you consider them."

Fu Ying, holding a wine glass, glanced at Xuan Qing beside Su Mo and deliberately said, "Under twenty‑five, must be good‑looking and have abs! Obedient, gentle, sensible, able to take you out and bring you back. Able to work in the hall and the kitchen!"

Su Mo squinted and smiled, slurring, "Exactly! Age must be young… abs must be big! Anyone over twenty‑five, no discussion!"

Someone laughed, "You really don't pity yourself at all, huh~"

"Of course!" Su Mo, truly drunk, cupped her face and began spouting nonsense, "Someone as radiant as me wouldn't compromise! From now on, find me according to this standard, got it!"

"Heard it, all heard it!" Fu Ying glanced over Xuan Qing's still unruffled eyes and shoved a piece of fruit into her mouth, "We'll arrange it after the New Year!"

She just wants to drive this sulky person crazy!

He Yuan leaned over Xuan Qing, unceremoniously mocking, "What a pity, Dr. Su's partner criteria, and you don't meet any of them at all? Tsk, how tragic…"

Xuan Qing gave him a casual glance, exuding a strong sense of pressure.

He Yuan stifled a laugh and corrected, "I misspoke; there are two points you still meet! Abs are big enough… also can take you out… but you're stuck on the age weak spot! That's a hard flaw, no cure!"

After dinner ended, everyone returned to their own homes.

In previous years, Xiao Jiu spent this day with Su Mo; this year Xiao Jiu also planned to do so.

But just as she was about to walk toward Su Mo, Fu Ying stopped her.

"Can you have a bit of foresight? Don't become a lamp."

Xiao Jiu glanced at the people not far away and suddenly understood.

Fu Ying shouted toward the nearby people, "Xuan Qing, Su Mo is yours now; we're heading back first."

Having said that, she grabbed Xiao Jiu and left, "You go to my place tonight."

Xiao Jiu, reluctant, looked back once, then saw under the dim streetlights Xuan Qing carrying Su Mo, striding away.

Su Mo's long, ink‑black curls swayed into a graceful arc in the faint yellow light.

Is it a hallucination? She suddenly felt this scene strangely familiar…

When Xuan Qing carried Su Mo to the doorway, she suddenly woke up.

She struggled, jumped down from his arms, and staggered inside.

Then she perched at the door, her little face flushed, cutely thanking him, "Thank you, Xuan Qing~ Good night~"

Just as the door was about to close, someone outside suddenly reached out and pushed it open again; he stepped inside.

Su Mo, half‑dazed, frowned and asked him, "You, not going back?"

"I want to talk with you."

"Talk, about what?" she suddenly stepped forward, grabbed his collar, slurring, "Talk about love? That thing, even dogs don't talk about it!"

She turned to leave, but unexpectedly someone behind her hooked a hand around her waist, lifted her easily, and placed her on a nearby cabinet.

Su Mo opened her eyes, ready to jump down, but the person in front of her grabbed her waist.

The scorching palm restrained her; she could only be forced to look at the person before her.

Xuan Qing's jet‑black eyes stared at her and asked, "Only like those under twenty‑five? Face must be pretty, abs big? Able to work in the hall and the kitchen?"

Su Mo squinted and nodded vigorously.

"Why is anyone over twenty‑five not liked?"

"Who, who isn't youthful and vigorous, then… you don't like?"

Xuan Qing was silent for a few seconds, then, gazing at her hazy drunken eyes, spoke each word deliberately.

"I don't like anyone, except you… I like no one."

Su Mo frowned and pointed at herself, "Me?"

"Hmm, I like you, only you."

Fearing she didn't understand, he repeated it.

"Aside from age, I meet all your mate criteria. So… Dr. Su, could you loosen the requirements a bit?" His Adam's apple moved slightly, his voice low and restrained: "This time, before you consider anyone else, could you give me priority?"

The light flickered, and for a moment Su Mo couldn't tell whether the dazzling lights were blurring her eyes or the person in the halo was throwing her off balance.

She mumbled, "Then… shall we test the abs first?"

"Fine."

Xuan Qing carried her onto the sofa, then, slowly and deliberately, unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his spring‑colored flesh.

Although drunk, Su Mo vaguely sensed that something… seemed off.

She turned to flee.

He stepped forward, gently pushing her back.

Before Su Mo could react, he seized her, lifting her onto his lap.

"Weren't we supposed to test? Let's begin."

He took her hand and roamed it freely, his voice seductive: "Where do you want to start the test? I'm willing to cooperate. Here? Or here?"

On the sofa, Su Mo's small face flushed, her posture ambiguous… kneeling on his lap.

At first she retained some reason… but later she lost all sense, her hands acting recklessly.

From his crimson lips occasionally slipped some… shocking, world‑shaking phrases.

Seeing her hand moving increasingly out of control, Xuan Qing seized her wayward hand, his eyes reddened as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Finished the test? How does it feel?"

"The touch feels fine… but the person is uncooperative…" She pulled away her hand: "You're so petty, I'd rather not…"

She, cheeks reddening with anger, tried to walk away, but the next second the man, with a single effort, pulled her into his arms.

Xuan Qing cradled her head, pressed her against a corner of the sofa, and kissed her.

Su Mo felt a bit short of breath, her head dizzy.

His dark eyes swirled with hidden currents, staring at her crimson lips, then fixing on her hazy gaze, he asked, "Dr. Su, you've touched, you've kissed, will you take responsibility?"

Su Mo opened her mouth, about to speak, when he lowered his head and kissed her again.

He breathed heavily, nuzzling her neck, and asked, "Take responsibility?"

"Re…responsible…"

"Being responsible is enough."