Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Li Mo obediently stayed home, spending his days reading novels and watching videos, keeping himself out of trouble right up until the start of the school year.

The first day of school was a Monday, with students required to arrive in the afternoon. Since Yu Wencheng had to be at school in the morning, Li Mo had to pack up by himself.

There wasn’t much to pack, though. Since he wasn’t boarding, he didn’t need to pack clothes. As a new transfer, he hadn’t even received his uniform or textbooks yet, so he basically had nothing to sort out.

In the afternoon, after taking a nap, Li Mo washed his face, put on the same clothes he wore when he first arrived, and headed to school by himself.

The entrance to No. 1 High School was packed with people. The road was jammed with cars, and horns were blaring constantly.

Without a dragging suitcase or a heavy backpack, Li Mo slipped through the crowd like an eel and squeezed inside.

Yesterday, Yu Wencheng had sent him the class information: Grade 11 Class 4, North Teaching Building, second floor.

Huaying No. 1 High School was huge. It had two teaching buildings. To ensure the 12th graders could fully focus on the college entrance exam, they had a separate building, while the 10th and 11th graders shared one.

The time was still early, so Li Mo wasn’t in a hurry to get to the classroom. He wandered around the school like an old man on a leisurely stroll.

Besides the two teaching buildings, there were two cafeterias, also separated: one exclusively for 12th graders, and one shared by 10th and 11th graders.

Further back was the athletic field, next to which was a small convenience store, though it hadn’t opened yet on the first day of school.

Even further back were the boys’ and girls’ dormitories, separated on opposite sides.

Many students and parents were coming and going from the dorms, hauling large suitcases and big comforters.

After circling the campus, Old Master Li finally sauntered to his classroom.

Quite a few students were already seated, most of them eager to choose their seats in the new class.

The 11th grade was divided into arts and sciences. Class 4 was a pure science class.

Many seats in the front and middle rows were already occupied, with some using water bottles or school bags to save spots.

After looking around, Li Mo headed to the window seat in the second-to-last row. He had sat in this position throughout his three years of junior high and his first year of high school—not too far front, not too far back, with an excellent view.

There was already a person sitting right by the window. Li Mo walked over and tapped on the desk: “Friend, is this seat taken?”

The “friend” turned his head, paused when he saw Li Mo’s face, and then turned back to look out the window: “No one.”

“Great.” Li Mo pulled out the chair and sat down, feeling terribly bored.

A few days ago, Yu Wencheng had told him that the school strictly forbade bringing phones inside. If the school found out, they’d only confiscate it. But if Teacher Yu found out, it would be more complicated than just losing his phone.

Staring at his own hands and admiring his looks for a while, Li Mo still felt bored and started talking to his desk-mate: “Hey, friend, what’s your name?”

Clearly, his desk-mate was going for the aloof persona, resting his face on his hand and looking out the window, only offering Li Mo a handsome view of the back of his head.

Li Mo didn’t lose his enthusiasm: “Desk-mate, how are your studies?”

“Desk-mate, where are you from?”

“Desk-mate, the back of your head is handsome too.”

“Desk-mate, interested in dating?” (A direct translation of a slang phrase for dating, often implying casual or intimate dating).

His desk-mate finally moved, looking at Li Mo with an extremely fierce expression.

Li Mo finally saw his desk-mate’s face clearly.

The face was smooth and fair, with sharp features. His eyebrows were dark, and his eyes were stunning—dark, deep, fox-like eyes that exuded a cold “do not approach” vibe.

In short, four words: Explosively Handsome!

Li Mo smiled and waved his hand: “That last sentence… I was just kidding.”

The opening wasn’t perfect, but his desk-mate finally spoke: “Xu Qing.”

“Great name,” Li Mo genuinely complimented, thinking to himself that the name sounded vaguely familiar.

“I’m Li Mo. I’ve had a nickname since I was little: ‘The Great Handsome Guy.’ You can call me ‘Great Handsome Guy’ too.”

Xu Qing let out a soft “Oh”: “Narcissist seems more fitting for you.”

“No, no, no.” Li Mo shook his hair. “Mine is confidence, you know? Confidence radiates light. And for a handsome person like me, narcissism is called confidence. For an ugly person who’s still narcissistic, that’s called plain confidence.”

Xu Qing ignored him, lowering his head to silently recite the English dictionary in his hand.

Upholding the principle that he wouldn’t study but also wouldn’t bother others who were studying, Li Mo turned around and started talking to the person behind him.

“Hey buddy, what class were you in before?”

“I was in Class 12 before. You should have heard my name, Tang Dawei.”

Tang Dawei had a loud voice and clearly had a frank and forthright personality.

Li Mo scratched his head: “Brother Dawei, I’m a new transfer. What heroic deeds do you have?”

Hearing about his heroic deeds, Tang Dawei immediately got energized: “A new transfer, huh? Listen, bro, even though my grades are average, my skill at making friends is second to none!”

“Oh, what a coincidence. Me? I’m good at everything except studying.”

And so, Li Mo and Tang Dawei chatted enthusiastically.

First, they mutually bragged about their heroic deeds, then they talked about where they were from, and then what was popular online recently—they could talk about anything.

Jumping from topic to topic, they eventually got to Li Mo’s act of chivalry: “Bro, I’m telling you, I was looking for directions, and suddenly I heard cries for help from an alley. I, Li Mo, am a firm believer in the Lei Feng spirit. I went up there and gave that perverted rogue a good beating, making him beg for mercy!”

Tang Dawei was very supportive: “Holy cow, awesome, Brother Mo! They should give you a commendation banner.”

Li Mo waved his hand: “It’s nothing. As the saying goes, a hero’s origin is irrelevant. That girl even wanted my WeChat, but I didn’t give it to her. And that’s not all! That night, I went out to eat, and guess what? I was eating right in that scoundrel’s restaurant.”

After a flurry of bragging, a deafening school bell filled the entire teaching building. Only then did Li Mo realize a long time had passed, and the classroom was now full of students.

Li Mo turned and sat properly, and the teacher walked into the classroom shortly after.

“I am your homeroom teacher, Qi Miao, and I’ll also be your Chinese teacher.” Qi Miao looked gentle and refined, and her voice was soft and warm.

A few students in the class had been in her previous classes and were universally delighted to be under her guidance again.

At this point, Qi Miao’s gaze fell upon Li Mo, the only student in the class not wearing a uniform: “That student, are you a new transfer?”

Li Mo stood up and nodded: “Yes, Teacher. I’ll get my uniform and textbooks tomorrow.”

Qi Miao nodded: “Okay, you can sit down for now.”

“Since I’ve introduced myself, it’s time for the students to do the same. Let’s start with the student closest to the front door for self-introductions.”

The first student by the door was a boy who looked simple and honest: “I’m Meng Tang. I was originally in Class 6. I’m a day student, so feel free to come find me anytime you need anything.”

Finally, it was Li Mo’s turn. Li Mo stood up and cleared his throat: “Hello, everyone. I’m Li Mo, known as ‘The Great Handsome Guy.’ If you want my autograph or WeChat, you can come find me after class. Even though I’m new, please don’t be shy with me. Although I’m handsome and socially anxious, please don’t treat me like a stranger.”

The whole class burst into laughter.

After sitting down, Li Mo looked at his aloof desk-mate: “How was it? Handsome, right?”

Xu Qing glanced at him and sneered: “Socially anxious, indeed. The kind of social anxiety that makes society anxious.” (A pun, as the Chinese word for social anxiety, she kong, can mean “society-fear”.)

When it was Xu Qing’s turn, he stood up, leaned on the desk, simply said “Xu Qing,” and sat back down without another word.

Everyone knew who he was without an introduction. Who didn’t know Xu Qing? He was the top scorer in the city’s high school entrance exam, the “child from another family” every parent talked about. Since entering high school, he had monopolized first place in every subject and every grade ranking.

Although this class division was unrelated to grades and was randomly assigned by the computer, being in the same class as the grade’s number one student was almost unimaginable for most of them.

After hearing Tang Dawei talk about Xu Qing’s glorious achievements, Li Mo couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up: “Holy crap, my desk-mate is that amazing?”

Li Mo turned his head and looked at Xu Qing: “Brother Xu, do you board at school?”

“Yes, I do.” Xu Qing paused. “Don’t call me Brother Xu. Just call me by my name.”

“Okay, my male god.”

Xu Qing: “…”

“Fine, I’ll stick to Xu Qing.”

Qi Miao had already left, telling the students to study on their own, though naturally, no one was actually studying seriously.

Li Mo poked Xu Qing: “Hey, Xu Qing, where did you buy this bracelet? It looks pretty nice.”

Xu Qing lowered his gaze. A black cord was wrapped around his fair arm, with a white jade pendant hanging from it. The shape was a little strange.

“My mom gave it to me a while ago. It was a pair, actually. The other one is at home. I don’t know where she got them.”

Li Mo let out a long “Oh”: “I see. It kind of resembles the ‘Golden Jade Match’ from Dream of the Red Chamber.”

“Something like that,” Xu Qing said. “My mom said it’s also some kind of fate or relationship bracelet.”

“That’s quite meaningful, then. I’m exhausted… I’m going to take a nap first. Call me if the teacher comes, okay, desk-mate? Thanks.” Li Mo yawned, burying his face in his arms and falling asleep on the desk.

Xu Qing didn’t reply, but he also put his head down on the desk and went to sleep.

“Li Mo!”

In a daze, Li Mo felt he heard his uncle’s roar, and something was repeatedly poking his back.

“Smack!”

Li Mo instantly woke up.

Yu Wencheng stood there, holding a thick English textbook rolled up, his frown so deep it could crush a fly.

The classroom was utterly silent.

As expected, Li Mo and his desk-mate Xu Qing were both dragged to the office.

Yu Wencheng had been on his way to the water dispenser. Passing by Class 4’s door, he spotted Li Mo sound asleep through the window. He was instantly furious, walked into the classroom, grabbed a book, and hit Li Mo right on the head.

After handing over the “sleeping duo” to Qi Miao, Yu Wencheng picked up his cup and left.

Looking at Li Mo and Xu Qing, who were standing in the corner with their heads bowed in apology, Qi Miao sighed: “Xu Qing, I know you’re a good student, and your sports performance is also good, but we can’t slack off, okay?”

After half an hour of lecturing, Xu Qing kept his head down, nodding like a pestle.

Finished with Xu Qing, Qi Miao looked at Li Mo, who was smirking at his desk-mate: “Student Li Mo, you’re a new transfer. Your teachers and classmates don’t know you well yet. Why are you so sleepy?”

Li Mo scratched his head and gave a cheeky smile: “I was so excited about meeting my new classmates that I couldn’t sleep.”

“Fine. Given that you just transferred, I won’t hold it against you for now. Just pay more attention in the future, okay?”

“Yes, Teacher. I promise not to do it again.”

Emerging from the office, Li Mo instantly returned to his usual swagger, strolling slowly to the window like an old man on a walk.

“Desk-mate, look quickly. What a beautiful sunset.”

Xu Qing looked over.

The sun was setting, staining the sky red. Li Mo was very handsome, handsome like a big celebrity. The harsh lines of his face were softened by the sunset, making him look like a painting.

After a moment, Xu Qing looked away and walked back to the classroom by himself.

Seeing Xu Qing leave, Li Mo followed him.

“Wait for me, desk-mate~”