Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

In the early evening, Ye Zhong called, saying he had sent a car to pick up Li Mo.

Li Mo was still wearing the same clothes from the day, a simple hoodie and long pants. He grabbed a jacket and wrapped it around himself before heading out.

Downstairs, Li Mo immediately spotted a black luxury car parked not far away.

Could this be the car Ye Zhong sent?

As he wondered, a man in a well-fitting suit, with a cold face, stepped out of the car.

He quickly walked toward Li Mo.

“Young Master, the car is ready. Please follow me.”

Wow, what’s with this cheesy and strange title??

Li Mo frowned: “Who told you to call me that?”

The man was respectful: “My superior, which is your father.”

Ye Zhong had never asked his employees to call him that before. Who knew why this time was different.

“Oh…”

Li Mo couldn’t be bothered to argue and followed the man into the car.

During the drive, Li Mo learned that the driver was Ye Zhong’s assistant, reportedly hired a few months ago. Ye Zhong valued him highly for his outstanding ability.

The man looked barely over twenty-five. To be valued by a millionaire boss, it showed how formidable this person was.

The restaurant Ye Zhong booked was the largest and most luxurious in A City—Qianjin Yuefu (The Golden Mansion of Music).

Just by the name, one could tell how expensive the food inside was.

When the car stopped at the restaurant entrance, a waiter came up, opened the car door, and helped Li Mo alight.

Li Mo had never even dreamed of this kind of treatment.

He felt goosebumps all over his body.

The waiter led him to the innermost private room on the third floor of the restaurant.

Ye Zhong and Yu Wenxiu were already waiting there.

After leading Li Mo to the room, the waiter discreetly retreated, even thoughtfully closing the private room door.

Li Mo stood at the entrance, looking somewhat reserved.

This kind of reserved, flustered behavior rarely happened to him.

“Mom… Dad…” Li Mo called out awkwardly twice.

Ye Zhong smiled: “Mo Mo, come quickly and sit down. The food was ready earlier. It’s all your favorites.”

There were four seats around the table. Yu Wenxiu and Ye Zhong sat on one side, so Li Mo had to sit on the other side by himself.

Several exquisitely plated dishes were already on the table, looking appealing in color, aroma, and taste, but Li Mo had no appetite.

Ye Zhong kept putting food on Li Mo’s plate, while Yu Wenxiu remained indifferent.

Only when the plate couldn’t hold any more food did Ye Zhong put down his chopsticks and smile at Li Mo.

“Mo Mo, your injury has gone viral online, and everyone is very concerned about you,” Ye Zhong paused. “Your friends in C City are also very concerned and want to know how you are.”

Ah, no wonder this dinner was so grand and serious. It’s because the internet is following this matter.

Ye Zhong was a public figure. Those who knew would know Li Mo himself had refused them. Those who didn’t would think their family favored the younger child over the older, which would be very detrimental to Ye Zhong’s reputation.

“I didn’t want to go back myself,” Li Mo pursed his lips. “I’m not a child anymore. Besides, this arm will be fine in a few weeks. I don’t need to go back and trouble you.”

“How is this trouble?”

Ye Zhong was good at acting. There was no one here but the three of them, yet he still insisted on the pretense.

Li Mo was getting annoyed. He truly didn’t want to participate in this show of father-son affection anymore.

Just as Li Mo was about to refuse, the private room door was gently knocked.

“Come in,” Ye Zhong frowned.

The door was pushed open, and the young assistant from before walked in, holding a mobile phone.

He quickly walked to Ye Zhong’s side, leaned over, and whispered a few words.

Ye Zhong’s expression instantly became serious.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Wenxiu noticed the change and asked.

Ye Zhong put away his phone, forcing a smile: “It’s nothing. There’s a small issue at the company that I need to handle.”

He stood up and gave Li Mo an apologetic smile, “Mo Mo, Dad has to leave first. You and your mother enjoy your meal.”

Li Mo nodded, secretly relieved. Ye Zhong’s departure allowed his tense nerves to relax slightly.

After Ye Zhong hurriedly left, only Li Mo and Yu Wenxiu remained in the private room.

The air seemed to freeze, the silence suffocating.

Yu Wenxiu finally spoke, her voice cool: “How have you been lately?”

Li Mo looked up, meeting his mother’s eyes.

Her gaze held a slight distance and indifference, as if she was only offering a polite concern.

“Fine,” Li Mo replied briefly.

“Your father cares about you very much,” Yu Wenxiu continued. “It’s your business if you don’t want to accept the new family, but you have to consider me, too, right?”

Li Mo gripped the chopsticks in his hand, his knuckles slightly white. He didn’t want to discuss this topic, or rather, he didn’t dare to face it.

He didn’t know how to face “father.” The events of his childhood were like large, oppressive black clouds, covering his heart and refusing to dissipate.

“I know,” he said softly, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Yu Wenxiu seemed to sense his emotion, frowning slightly: “What is this attitude? We’ve done so much for you. Can’t you appreciate our sincere intentions?”

Li Mo took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress his inner annoyance: “Mom, why I came to A City, aren’t you the clearest one?”

Yu Wenxiu’s face instantly turned unpleasant: “What’s wrong with you coming to A City? Huaying No. 1 High School, which so many people want to get into. A student like you, how could you have gotten in without your father? Don’t you think about your own future at all?”

“What kind of student am I?” Li Mo asked, his tone instantly becoming cold.

Yu Wenxiu fell silent.

She had nothing to say.

“In your eyes, I’m the same as my dad, my biological dad, right?”

Li Dong was a topic neither mother nor son wanted to bring up. No one wanted to lift that veil and see the unbearable past again.

But Yu Wenxiu’s silence made Li Mo feel it was an admission.

“I have nothing more to say…” Li Mo leaned back in his chair, lowering his eyes. “You can start your new life. You’re happy and complete. I have my own life too.”

Yu Wenxiu stood up in anger, the dishes on the table clattering as she bumped them.

Li Mo didn’t know why she was angry.

Just then, the private room door was pushed open again. The young assistant stood at the entrance, his expression calm: “Madam, Mr. Ye asked me to come and pick you up.”

Yu Wenxiu took a deep breath, barely calming her emotions. She gave Li Mo a cold glance, picked up her bag, and turned to leave.

The assistant looked at Li Mo, wanting to say something but held back, eventually leaving behind Yu Wenxiu.

Li Mo was left alone in the private room. He stared at the table full of dishes and suddenly found it incredibly ironic. This table of so-called “his favorite food” didn’t actually have a single dish he truly liked.

Li Mo glanced at his phone. Yu Wencheng had messaged him ten minutes ago, asking when he would be back and if he needed a ride.

A City, perhaps completely unfamiliar to Li Mo a month ago.

And now, this city held a warmth that belonged to him.

Li Mo briefly replied, saying he wouldn’t trouble his uncle to pick him up.

Walking out of the Qianjin Yuefu entrance, the night wind brushed against his cheeks, bringing a chill.

He looked up at the dark night sky, suddenly feeling immensely melancholic, letting out a long sigh.

Still can’t bring myself to be truly angry with Mom…

Li Mo shook his head and turned to walk in the direction of Jin Meigui Residential Area.

It was already ten o’clock at night when he got home.

After being in the evening wind for the whole journey, Li Mo felt much more refreshed. The frustration and oppression from the dinner had disappeared, replaced by hunger and sleepiness.

Li Mo glanced at the room door. Yu Wencheng was probably asleep now; the monthly exam must have been very busy.

Passing the kitchen, Li Mo saw food wrapped in plastic wrap on the dining table at a glance, and his eyes instantly stung.

Since he could remember, Li Mo was often beaten and scolded by Li Dong. The young Li Mo, who couldn’t fight back, would run out of the house and rush to his uncle’s place.

At first, Yu Wencheng would go and confront Li Dong, and they would get into fights. Later, Yu Wencheng realized Li Dong was utterly mindless and beyond communication, so he told Yu Wenxiu to take young Li Mo to his place to hide.

Back then, Yu Wencheng, in Li Mo’s eyes, was like Ultraman arriving in a village attacked by monsters.

Li Mo gently peeled off the plastic wrap. On the plate were stir-fried meat with green peppers and a bowl of white rice, simple home-cooked dishes. Yet, they were more comforting to the stomach than the delicacies at Qianjin Yuefu. He picked up his chopsticks and had just taken a couple of bites when he heard the sound of slippers shuffling behind him.

“You’re back?” Yu Wencheng walked out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes, his hair slightly messy from sleep. “I guessed you didn’t eat enough, so I heated this up and left it on the table.”

“Mhm,” Li Mo responded vaguely with his mouth full of rice. “Uncle, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Waiting for you,” Yu Wencheng sat down beside him, picked up the remote control nearby, and turned on the TV, keeping the volume very low. “Did they… give you a hard time today?”

Li Mo paused his eating, shaking his head: “No, we just had a meal.”

Yu Wencheng didn’t press further, just picked up the water cup on the table and handed it to him: “Eat slowly, no one’s rushing you.”

The evening news was on TV, the anchor’s voice steady and gentle. Li Mo finished his meal quickly, put the bowls and chopsticks in the sink, and turned around to see Yu Wencheng looking at his injured arm, his eyes filled with worry.

“It’s much better,” Li Mo lifted his arm. “The doctor said the bandage can be removed in two more weeks.”

“That’s good,” Yu Wencheng nodded, then sighed. “Your mother… she doesn’t not care about you, it’s just that she’s been so complicated over the years and doesn’t know how to interact with you.”

Li Mo didn’t say anything. He knew his uncle wanted to reconcile them, but some knots couldn’t be untied with just a few words.

“I know you have grudges,” Yu Wencheng patted his shoulder. “Take your time. There’s no rush. In any case, you have your uncle here. You can stay as long as you want. This will always be your home.”

Li Mo’s nose felt sore again. He quickly turned his face away: “Got it, Uncle. Go to sleep now. You have to work tomorrow.”

Yu Wencheng smiled, then returned to his bedroom.

Li Mo tidied the kitchen, walked to the window, and opened the curtains. The streetlights outside shone with a warm yellow light, and the camphor tree leaves downstairs rustled in the wind.

He touched the phone in his pocket. The screen was still on the chat window with Shi Tou.

Shi Tou said he saw Bai Sheng in C City today, and he very courteously gave him the middle finger, then proudly messaged Li Mo asking for praise.

Li Mo chuckled. Just as he was about to reply, a message from Xu Qing popped up.

He immediately opened it. It was a picture.

Under the warm yellow light, a gray, thin cat lay on its back on the ground, and a slender, fair hand was petting it.

[Handsome Li Mo: Whoa, where did the cat come from?]

[x.: A stray cat on the school back street.]

[Handsome Li Mo: Climbing the wall again?]

[x.: Hungry.]

[Handsome Li Mo: Alright. Buy your food and go back to sleep. You’ll see me as soon as you open your eyes tomorrow morning.]

[x.: Say that after you manage not to be late.]

[x.: Goodnight.]

Li Mo closed his eyes, imagining Xu Qing standing in front of him, saying goodnight with a cold face.

Damn it, this feeling of excitement keeps tugging at him, making it hard to resist.

[Handsome Li Mo: Goodnight.]

He realized that without him noticing, he already had so many people he could rely on.

Li Mo turned off the light and lay in bed. In the darkness, the heavy emotions from the day seemed to be diluted.

He thought about the fried egg his uncle would make tomorrow morning, about complaining to his friends about tonight’s dinner, and about playing basketball once his arm healed.

He thought about having to wake up early tomorrow to see Xu Qing.

These trivial yet genuine thoughts, like small pebbles, paved a solid path in his heart.

The night was quiet. He soon fell asleep.