Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Sister Liu brought out the finished zhajiangmian and placed it on Li Mo’s table. Since there weren’t many customers, she sat down on the side and chatted with Li Mo.

“My youngest son isn’t like his brother. He’s refined-looking and does well in school, but he’s too quiet,” Sister Liu sighed. “Since he was little, he always got into fights with classmates at school. He’d just punch and kick without a word. He’s gotten much better since starting high school.”

Li Mo pursed his lips, thinking: How is that different from Xu Daning? The only differences are being good-looking and having good grades, perhaps.

He never let his values be swayed by looks just because someone was handsome; when judging looks, he only considered his own face.

Sister Liu continued: “After he started high school, we lived far away, so he boarded. On holidays, he followed his brother to work, rarely talking to me, his mother. At home, he just stays in his room, shuts the door, and basically only comes out to eat. He doesn’t like to talk to me, his dad, or his brother about anything. He just keeps it bottled up inside. I worry that he’ll develop some kind of problem.”

“He also likes to draw in his spare time. I was thinking of buying him some drawing tools for his birthday next year. Online, they recommend those drawing tablets. I looked at one that costs over four thousand, but we still have to pay for water, electricity, and tuition. We rely on this little noodle shop, and I don’t know if I can save up enough money before his birthday next year.”

Li Mo was a bit confused: “He’s ashamed of you, so why are you still so good to him? If he wants to draw, let him earn the money to buy it himself.”

“Although my son doesn’t want me to talk about him outside, he’s very sensible at home. He volunteers to help with work and takes up part-time jobs when he has time to help the family financially.” The more Sister Liu spoke, the more relieved she looked. “If only he talked more, like you, Little Mo, it would be wonderful.”

“Hehe… you’re too kind. I’ve always been a smooth talker since I was a child.”

Li Mo scratched his head a little sheepishly. “My desk-mate also draws. He’s smart and handsome. Other people used to say he had a bad temper, but after getting along with him, he’s actually quite nice. I think you can talk to your son more! If not, I can talk to him. We definitely need to correct this way of thinking of his.”

Sister Liu smiled: “You’re always so warm-hearted, Little Mo. You’ll definitely have good fortune in the future.”

“Hmph… My mom says so too.”

After finishing the noodles, Li Mo went home, took a shower, changed into pajamas, and decided he wouldn’t go out today.

The first thing he did when he opened his phone was to check his Alipay.

His balance, which was originally just over a thousand yuan, had suddenly soared to over seven thousand.

Upperclassman, you’re the best.

At this moment, a private message popped up on Alipay.

Jian Anxun: Yo, junior.

Jian Anxun: Handsome, give me your WeChat ID~

…

He sounds like a perverted harassser.

Fine, for the sake of six thousand yuan, I won’t complain about his choice of words.

Ding-dong~! “洳淉嬡、請堔嬡☆” (If you love, please love deeply) requests to add you as a friend~

Is it still possible to regret this now?

[Successfully added as a friend.]

Handsome Li Mo: Did you just travel back from the 90s?

[洳淉嬡、請堔嬡☆]: Have you seen Shuyi’s nickname?

—[Image]

Okay, Shen Shuyi’s WeChat nickname is: 婼芣嬡、請離開 (If you don’t love, please leave).

—Does Shen Shuyi know about this?

—No, he boards. I secretly changed it.

—You don’t board?

—I brought his phone with me.

—…

Heh, goodbye.

[洳淉嬡、請堔嬡☆]: Come out for a meal this afternoon. I have something to ask you.

Handsome Li Mo: I can ask here just the same.

Li Mo was about to turn off his phone when he heard a crisp sound of coins dropping—his red envelope notification tone.

Jian Anxun directly sent a thousand-yuan red envelope with the message: This isn’t a free meal or a free question.

Li Mo was shocked and quickly typed a reply: But isn’t this too much?!

[洳淉嬡、請堔嬡☆]: I always start spending from three thousand, you know.

…

The world of the rich is truly beyond my poor imagination.

Jian Anxun chose a trendy restaurant. Since it was still early, Li Mo suddenly remembered the user “Qingping” he followed on the little red-label short video app. He hadn’t stalked them for a long time, so he decided to take a look.

Ten minutes ago, “Qingping_X” posted a new update: “Saying ‘I love you’ is too frivolous… Anyone can just move their mouth.”

The accompanying picture was of the handsome, long-haired guy with a dark expression.

Xu Qing and the others have already finished their exams… Li Mo looked at the word “frivolous” and couldn’t help but wonder if Xu Qing was triggered by the note incident.

He had a constant feeling of being subtly alluded to…

Since the post was new, there were still very few likes, and only two comments, both supporting Xu Qing’s caption.

Comment 1: Saying “I love you” is true. You say it every time you get married. It’s much easier to just say three words; you don’t even have to pay.

Comment 2: My ex was the same. I got tired of hearing “I love you” and that kind of talk, and he still cheated.

It seems everyone’s love life is quite challenging.

In the blink of an eye, it was the agreed-upon time. Li Mo put on a black T-shirt and cargo pants, grabbed his baseball cap, and left the house.

The trendy restaurant was in the city center. Li Mo hailed a taxi and arrived in fifteen minutes.

Jian Anxun had reserved a private room. The door was closed and the curtains were drawn, so no one could see what was happening inside.

After Li Mo sat down, Jian Anxun tossed the menu over: “Junior, don’t be shy with me.”

Not being shy… but there aren’t many dishes I like. In the end, Li Mo picked two dishes and handed the menu back to Jian Anxun.

“You really are being polite with me. Are there no dishes you like?”

“No.”

“Alright then.”

While waiting for the food, Li Mo stirred the plain water in his glass with a spoon. Jian Anxun was silent for a moment before asking: “How’s your relationship with Shuyi?”

“Pretty good. He always treats me to a small pudding cup when we go to the convenience store.” Li Mo looked up at Jian Anxun’s somewhat intense gaze and added: “I also treat him to Wangzai, the entire carton.”

Jian Anxun withdrew his gaze and asked: “Does anyone like him?”

Li Mo thought carefully: “I don’t think so? The girls in our class seem to like the ‘Bai Yueguang’ type.”

“Does he like anyone?”

“Haven’t heard him mention it.” Li Mo paused. “You and Shen Shuyi…”

Jian Anxun became serious: “I like him.”

“I know, I know… I was asking, how did you two meet? If it’s inconvenient, I won’t ask.”

“What’s there to it? Shuyi and I have been neighbors since childhood. Both our parents are good friends. I’m one year older than Shuyi, and taller than him too. I remember when we were little, he always followed me around calling me ‘Gege’ (Older Brother). He was so cute.”

Jian Anxun seemed lost in memory, immersed in the good times. “We’ve always been in the same school. Although we’re in different grades, I often go find him, and we walk home together after school.”

Li Mo nodded thoughtfully: “So you’re childhood sweethearts… Are you and Shen Shuyi together already?”

Jian Anxun smiled: “No, he doesn’t like me.”

…

Wait, what? Writing that kind of note really makes people think you’re already together, just with a flirty way of expressing affection…

“I confessed to him after the Zhongkao. He didn’t accept. He said he only sees me as a brother.”

“…May I be so bold as to ask how you pursued him?”

“Just like that note I asked you to deliver,” Jian Anxun said. “Love letters, flowers, gifts, I’ve given him everything.”

“Hehe… No wonder then.” Li Mo looked exasperated. “Harassing someone like a pervert. It would be weird if he agreed.”

“Am I really a pervert? That’s how my mom taught me.”

Recalling the trendy lady who rushed from the bar this morning, Li Mo found Jian Anxun’s behavior somewhat understandable.

“I plan to confess to Shuyi again after the Gaokao,” Jian Anxun said very seriously. “After the Gaokao… I’m going abroad.”

Li Mo pondered for a moment, unsure what to say: “Although, I mean… hiss. I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t rush. Wouldn’t being so direct just push Shen Shuyi further away?”

“Hehe… Junior, I knew you’d understand this!” Jian Anxun excitedly grabbed Li Mo’s hand, his eyes sparkling. “Seeing how pitiful I am, can you help me, please? I’ll give you money.”

Upperclassman, you’re not pitiful at all… But then again, who could refuse to make a positive contribution to the happiness of all mankind?

To be honest, Li Mo had never pursued anyone, so he could only make up advice based on the novels he had read: “Hmm… let me think. I remember the lunch break and evening self-study times for Grade 11 and 12 are the same. You need to come find him for lunch every day and walk back to the dorm together in the evening. That’s step one.”

“Mhm, mhm!” Jian Anxun specifically brought a notebook and wrote down every word Li Mo said. It was clear he really liked Shen Shuyi; he was desperate enough to try anything.

Li Mo instantly gained confidence: “I’m telling you, the most important things in love are companionship and care. First, you need to accompany him, and second, you need to care for him. Give him your jacket when it’s cold, accompany him to the hospital when he’s sick. Don’t be too direct or too sudden, or Shen Shuyi will be scared away by you.”

Jian Anxun nodded: “Junior, I think you make a lot of sense!”

“Of course! I’m telling you, blah, blah, blah…”

They chatted from the afternoon until nightfall. Jian Anxun filled several pages of notes, they drank three pots of water, and two rounds of dishes were replaced. Their meeting finally ended.

It was eight o’clock when Li Mo got home. He opened his phone and saw a message from Xu Qing.

[x.]: Are you really dating early?

Handsome Li Mo: No, it’s because I’m too handsome, which resulted in someone falling in love with me at first sight.

[x.]: Being a narcissist suits you better.

Handsome Li Mo: Qing Qing~ Don’t miss me too much. I’ll be back in class tomorrow.

[x.]: Oh, I’m going to class now.

Li Mo turned off his phone and lay quietly on the bed, thinking that liking someone was truly troublesome, but… it felt very fulfilling.