Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

His family took the issue of early dating very seriously.

When Li Mo was in kindergarten, Yu Wenxiu constantly warned him: don’t date early, don’t date early, don’t date early. Early dating leads nowhere.

In elementary school, because of his outstanding looks, many girls in the class wrote him innocent little love letters, but Li Mo didn’t dare to accept a single one.

In junior high, during his peak adolescence, couples showing affection were everywhere in the school. Li Mo accepted a love letter from a girl for the first time. Yu Wenxiu saw it when he got home, grabbed a broom, and gave him such a beating that Li Mo was afraid to talk to his female classmates for a long time.

After Yu Wencheng graduated from university, he also often lectured on early dating, always saying it was strictly forbidden. If he dared to date early, his legs would be broken, and his teeth would be knocked out.

“Li Mo, what did your mom and I tell you since you were little? Can’t you remember after all these years?” Yu Wencheng crossed his arms, frowning at Li Mo, his glasses reflecting the light.

Li Mo obediently replied: “No early dating. Early dating leads nowhere. If I date before college, my legs will be broken and my teeth will be knocked out.”

Yu Wencheng nodded, his face dark: “So you know? Then what’s with this note? Which class is the girl from? And these sentences, where did you learn these things? Aren’t you ashamed to read them yourself?”

Of course, I’m ashamed… The words weren’t even written by me.

“It’s not a girl…”

“You like boys?!”

“…”

Li Mo covered his face, unwilling to face him. Yu Wencheng thought he had guessed correctly, and his face crumbled: “Li Mo?! I know you lack some fatherly love, but you can’t just… just… How did you discover you like boys?”

“…”

Although Yu Wencheng supported freedom in love, who wouldn’t be worried seeing their own nephew getting involved in something so complicated before even leaving adolescence? And even if he supported it, his sister, Yu Wenxiu, definitely wouldn’t.

“No, Uncle…” Li Mo lowered his head, his voice much softer. “Someone gave it to me yesterday. I have no intention of dating early…”

“Really?” Yu Wencheng was doubtful. “Who gave it to you? Why would they give you something like this?”

“I don’t know them… I’m this handsome. Even if I’m not dating, it doesn’t stop people from liking me.”

Yu Wencheng narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze piercing through the lenses and landing precisely on Li Mo.

“…”

Damn it! I’ve taken the blame for such a huge mess. Shen Shuyi must compensate me with three million to make up for it!

Yu Wencheng provisionally believed Li Mo’s words. The two went to the monitoring room again and saw the upperclassman who handed the note to Li Mo by the school gate yesterday in the footage.

Fortunately, the surveillance video had no sound, or Li Mo’s “crime” would have been exposed.

Yu Wencheng’s anger, which had just subsided, instantly reignited: “That little brat, Jian Anxun!”

Oh no… I’m finished…

He had planned for everything except that the upperclassman turned out to be a former student of Yu Wencheng.

Soon, Li Mo reunited with the upperclassman in the Grade 10 Academic Affairs Office.

Seeing Li Mo standing by the wall like a culprit, Jian Anxun didn’t understand what had happened but still said earnestly: “Teacher Yu, I did it. It has nothing to do with him.”

Li Mo secretly looked up at him: You have my respect, man.

Yu Wencheng forcefully suppressed his anger: “You did it? You little punk. You were troublesome in Grade 10 and 11, and now in Grade 12, you’re doing this to a younger male student… What exactly are you thinking?”

Jian Anxun was utterly confused but still lowered his head to admit his mistake: “I’m sorry, teacher. I promise I won’t do it again.”

No matter what, admitting the mistake and promising not to repeat it is always the right move.

“You dare to have a next time?!” Yu Wencheng closed his eyes in anger, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Call your parents and ask them to come here.”

Jian Anxun held his phone, looking at Li Mo for help, asking silently with his mouth: What’s going on?

Li Mo pursed his lips and mouthed back: The note. They found it.

“…Teacher, I admit I like this… junior.”

“…”

Yu Wencheng had never been so shocked in his life. He stared wide-eyed at Jian Anxun.

Li Mo was also dumbfounded by his move: Bro, are you drunk? I take back my respect!

Yu Wencheng roared: “Call them! Hurry up!”

After the call, Yu Wencheng sat fuming in the office. Li Mo and Jian Anxun were sent outside to stand in the stuffy corridor, waiting for the parents.

Li Mo looked at Jian Anxun, speechless, and cursed: “Upperclassman, are you out of your mind?”

“Don’t blame me, upperclassman. I’m just protecting the person I have a crush on.”

Can you just say “don’t blame me” and expect me not to?! Am I and your crush your plaything?!

“And ‘I want to have a home with you’…” Li Mo paused in disgust. “You wrote that line on the toilet door too, didn’t you? Are you a new age person in the 21st century? Your quotes are so cringey.”

Jian Anxun suddenly narrowed his eyes, looking menacingly: “You saw it?”

“Damn it, could I have seen it? It was read out loud in the entire exam room. I was mortified.”

“Didn’t I tell you to hand it to Shen Shuyi?”

“The exam is today, and we’re not in the same room. How could I give it to him?”

Jian Anxun gave a long “Oh,” then leaned against the wall and slowly squatted down. “You didn’t mention Shen Shuyi, did you?”

“Of course not. Otherwise, would only the two of us be standing here?” Li Mo also squatted down, eventually sitting directly on the floor. “Besides, Shen Shuyi is my friend. I hadn’t given him the note yet. It wouldn’t be right to involve him.”

“Good man.” Jian Anxun put his hand on Li Mo’s shoulder. “What’s your name? I’ll look out for you from now on, junior.”

Please, upperclassman, don’t use your idiotic, cringey lines anymore.

Seeing Li Mo looking at him like he was an idiot, Jian Anxun immediately said: “I’m serious. My family is the richest in the city.”

Li Mo scoffed: “Oh really? Then use that money for something useful, like taking you abroad to treat your brain.”

“Don’t you believe me?” Jian Anxun brazenly pulled out his phone right outside the Academic Affairs Office.

Li Mo: “…” You’ll always be the upperclassman.

“Come here, add me on WeChat.”

“How dare I bring my phone during an exam? There’s nowhere to hide it…”

“Alright then.” Jian Anxun asked again, “What’s your Alipay account?”

“Why?”

“Just tell me. I don’t want to steal your money.” Saying this, Jian Anxun handed over his phone.

Li Mo skeptically entered his Alipay account and handed the phone back to Jian Anxun. In a moment, Jian Anxun held out his phone screen again: “See? I didn’t lie to you, did I?”

Hundreds, thousands… Holy cow, six thousand yuan was instantly transferred to my Alipay account.

Li Mo instantly submitted: “Upperclassman, you’re too awesome!”

A smile appeared on Jian Anxun’s handsome face: “This is compensation for today. I’ll need your help to connect me with Shuyi later. I won’t make you work for free. I’ll give you money every time you help me, how about that?”

“Deal! Absolutely deal!”

Only a fool passes up easy money!

Clack-clack-clack…

Just as they were chatting happily, they heard the sound of high heels on the floor coming from the stairwell. Jian Anxun immediately put his phone back in his pocket and stood up against the wall.

“My mom’s here.”

Li Mo also stood up, glancing toward the stairwell.

The tapping sound grew closer, and a slender figure emerged from the stairwell. A wine-red pencil skirt emphasized her curves, layered with an off-white leather jacket. She carried a clearly expensive bag, her long hair slightly curled, and she wore black sunglasses. She exuded wealth from head to toe.

Li Mo was astonished. Jian Anxun called out: “Hi~ Mom.”

Jian Anxun’s mother walked over on her thin high heels: “You boy, you never let your mother rest for a day.”

Jian Anxun smiled: “Mom, did you go to a bar again? That doesn’t count as a proper outing.”

“Your mother had just ordered sixteen male models when you called. What trouble have you gotten into this time?”

Jian Anxun pointed at the dumbfounded Li Mo and said: “My puppy love note was found.”

Jian’s Mom finally took off her sunglasses and looked Li Mo up and down: “That’s strange, Xiaoxun. Didn’t you like Mr. Shen’s son? Why did you change? This one is handsome. Mom likes him.”

“Mom, stop it.” Jian Anxun was about to explain when the office door opened, and Yu Wencheng asked: “You must be Jian Anxun’s parent, right?”

“Teacher Yu, how many times have we met? Let’s skip the formalities.”

Yu Wencheng sighed. Every time Jian Anxun’s parents were called, it was always his young, reckless mother who came, which was basically useless since Jian’s Mom never listened.

“Come inside and talk,” Yu Wencheng pointed to the office, then glared at Li Mo. “You two come in as well.”

The office had a fan on, making it much cooler than the corridor.

There were only two chairs in total. Yu Wencheng and Jian’s Mom sat facing each other, while Jian Anxun and Li Mo stood beside them.

“Take a look at this content,” Yu Wencheng handed the note over. “I’ve never seen Jian Anxun write things like this before.”

Jian’s Mom looked at the note, her mouth slightly open. She looked at Jian Anxun, then at Li Mo: “How long have you known this handsome junior?”

Jian Anxun: “Met him yesterday. Only got to know him today.”

“…”

For a moment, Yu Wencheng didn’t know what to say: “You… this…”

“Aiya, this is perfectly normal.” Is it normal?! Jian’s Mom still smiled. “This young student is also good-looking. Falling in love at first sight is completely understandable.”

Yu Wencheng pressed his temples: “Aren’t you worried about your child? Writing these notes before they even properly know each other is irresponsible for both children.”

“Is that so? Don’t worry, Teacher Yu. I’ll definitely talk to Xiaoxun about this when we get home.”

How can you be so frivolous when writing a love letter? You’ve disappointed Mom.

Yu Wencheng spent over three hours giving verbal education. In the end, since the relationship between the two was “unconfirmed,” the school only asked them to go home for self-reflection and return to class the next day.

After seeing Jian Anxun and his mother off, Yu Wencheng couldn’t help but kick Li Mo at the school gate, lecturing non-stop: “Do you really like boys? I’m telling you, I must report this to your mother. You are also forbidden from reading novels anymore. You’re only looking at trash. I’m taking away all the novels in your room when we get back.”

“Ouch… But I didn’t date early… Can you please not tell my mom?” Li Mo tried to plead, hoping for a lenient treatment. However, Yu Wencheng was adamant, but eventually softened, agreeing not to tell Yu Wenxiu, but Li Mo had to strictly control himself.

Yu Wencheng still had to go back to invigilate, so Li Mo had to go home alone.

Passing by Sister Liu’s noodle shop, it was almost noon, so Li Mo turned and went inside.

This time, Sister Liu herself was busy. Xu Daning wasn’t at the shop.

“Good afternoon, Sister Liu. I’d like a bowl of zhajiangmian.”

“Little Mo is here. You still want extra sauce, right?”

It wasn’t mealtime yet, so the noodle shop wasn’t crowded. Sister Liu was resting at the counter. Li Mo went to the freezer, grabbed a bottle of green tea, and found an empty seat.

“Oh, right, Little Mo, is your school having exams?” Sister Liu’s voice came from the steaming kitchen.

Li Mo responded: “Yes.”

“My youngest son also goes to school there. He messaged me yesterday afternoon and said he was busy with exams last night and didn’t have time to message. Aiya, I really don’t know if letting him take his phone to school is a good thing or a bad thing.”

“I see. What’s your youngest son’s name? Maybe I know him.”

“My youngest son doesn’t want me to talk about it outside. He says he doesn’t want his classmates to know about his family.” Sister Liu was in the kitchen, dropping noodles into the pot. She stirred them with a long pair of chopsticks and sighed. “Boys, you know, they have their pride. If his classmates knew his family runs a noodle shop and his mother is this homely, he’d definitely be laughed at.”

Li Mo took a sip of green tea. He didn’t think so: “What’s wrong with running a noodle shop? Doesn’t he still rely on his parents to go to school? I don’t mean to be harsh, but if your youngest son is so ashamed of his family, you should cut off his allowance to teach him a lesson.”

Sister Liu laughed twice: “But he’s still my child, a piece of my own flesh.”