Mo running back to He Tian and offering to cook for him as compensation is such a great way to convey that Mo actually understands what He Tian is trying to do by offering him that deal.
We even saw Mo suggest a very similar favour a few chapters earlier, only for He Tian to bluntly refuse.
One can argue that this happened because He Tian was being his usual horny self. However, we know that he retracts almost immediately, claiming he was only joking (they do end up sleeping together only after it's clear Mo also wants the intimacy, but that's besides the point).
What feels painfully obvious instead is that Mo offers to take care of He Tian’s house because he’s uncomfortable stepping into a part of He Tian’s life he’s long been kept at a distance from. It's his way of defining their roles clearly, roles they know painfully well and supposedly left behind long ago. Mo's creating a controlled structure against his fear of what living with He Tian might lead to.
Because Mo cannot control that outcome, and he is not naive: his anxiety tells him that, now that they will be living in close quarters, it will be easier than ever for the distance he has tried to maintain between them to erode, and for him to surrender to the affection he has been craving all along.
Going back to the newest chapter, Mo realizes that He Tian’s intentions in offering the contract aren’t about controlling him, but rather about challenging him to improve his skills and grow into a better professional.
The fact that He Tian wholeheartedly believes in him, as demonstrated in the infamous box chapter, is one of the things Mo will never, ever forget. Yes, He Tian is still, in many ways, the same meddling jerk as back then; but he’s also the one who will always have his back.
We’ve basically gone from Mo wistfully watching He Tian walk away after practically kicking him out, to Mo SPRINTING after him and offering to spend time together through an act that has, time and again, helped them grow closer and truly get to know each other.
And again, Mo is not naive; he absolutely knows their dinner might not be the only thing on the table...
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