Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Yu Wencheng’s words were like a small stone dropped into a calm lake, shattering a certain unspoken balance that had prevailed for days. Li Mo’s phrase, “We could just share a room too,” echoed in the air, carrying a subtle eagerness and stubbornness that made Xu Qing’s heart skip a beat.

Yu Wencheng looked at his nephew’s transparent little thoughts, finding it both annoying and amusing, yet his attitude was firm: “That’s enough, stop arguing. It’s decided. I’ll contact a hotel tomorrow. Tonight, Xu Qing will sleep in my room, and Li Mo, you go back to your own room.”

Li Mo opened his mouth, wanting to plead his case, but seeing his uncle’s non-negotiable gaze, he had no choice but to swallow his words. He gave a sullen “Oh,” and reluctantly shuffled toward his bedroom, hugging his pillow, looking back every few steps like a large dog whose favorite toy had been snatched away.

Xu Qing watched his retreating back. The phrase, “It’s alright, I can sleep on the sofa,” spun on his tongue but ultimately didn’t leave his lips. He understood Yu Wencheng’s kindness and knew this was the more rational, normal arrangement. It was just… the sudden sense of emptiness was so clear, it couldn’t be ignored.

He quietly walked into Yu Wencheng’s room and closed the door, shutting out the light and sounds of the living room. The room was tidy and clean, carrying the unique calm aura of an elder’s space, distinctly different from the warmth of the living room sofa, which was a mix of Li Mo’s shower gel and the scent of sunshine. Xu Qing lay on the unfamiliar bed; despite the wider space and softer bedding, he found himself tossing and turning.

On the other side, Li Mo was also rolling around in his bed, finding everything wrong. The mattress seemed too soft, the pillow height wasn’t right, and the room was too quiet, even the air felt somewhat cold. The scenes from the past few nights kept popping into his mind: Xu Qing’s curled-up sleeping posture on the sofa, very quiet, barely moving, his breathing shallow; occasionally in the dark, he could hear his steady breathing, like a silent companionship; sometimes waking up to find Xu Qing facing him, his serene sleeping face in the faint morning light…

“Ugh…” Li Mo buried his face in his pillow, letting out a frustrated sigh. He knew clearly that he wasn’t just used to having someone next to him; he was used to having Xu Qing next to him.

That night, both teenagers in their separate rooms, harboring similar thoughts, slept restlessly.

The next day, Yu Wencheng was indeed decisive. He booked a nearby hotel and moved out that same afternoon. The house was now left entirely to Xu Qing and Li Mo.

The redistribution of space became logical: Xu Qing moved into what was originally Yu Wencheng’s room, and Li Mo stayed in his own. They each had their own independent space, no longer having to fret over who slept on the sofa.

However, when the true “cohabitation” began, the subtle distance created by the spatial separation ironically bred more ineffable ambiguity and tentative probing.

For instance, sharing a bathroom. While washing up in the morning, Li Mo would foolishly smile at Xu Qing’s neatly placed toothbrush and towel; Xu Qing, meanwhile, would notice the faint smell of Li Mo’s shaving cream lingering in the small space, becoming a unique marker.

For instance, while preparing a simple breakfast in the kitchen, Li Mo would naturally take the spatula from Xu Qing’s hand, protesting, “Let me, let me, don’t burn yourself,” his actions clumsy but meticulously careful; Xu Qing would silently move Li Mo’s favorite jam to a spot within easy reach.

And for instance, the brief moments spent in the living room before retreating to their rooms at night. They would watch TV together for a bit, or simply chat casually. When they said goodnight, the “goodnight” seemed to carry an extra hint of lingering affection. Li Mo would always drag his feet until the very last moment before reluctantly heading to his door; Xu Qing would stand by his door, listening to Li Mo’s footsteps until the sound of the door closing came from next door, before quietly closing his own.

They both carefully maintained this thin veil, both greedy for the warm heart-flutters of proximity and fearful that breaking the balance would startle this newly established equilibrium.

That evening, Xu Qing came out after showering, wearing loose pajamas, his hair half-dry, with water still dripping from the ends. He was drying his hair with a towel and walked into the living room to pour some water, just as Li Mo also came out of his room to find a drink.

Their eyes met, and both paused. Because he had just bathed, Xu Qing’s skin had a faint pink tint, and he exuded a moist, refreshing scent, different from his usual cool demeanor—there was an indescribable softness about him.

Li Mo’s gaze unconsciously fell on Xu Qing’s neck and collarbone, which were slightly flushed from the steam. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He felt his heart starting to race again and quickly averted his gaze, pretending to search the fridge. “Uh… I’m looking for something to drink.”

“Mhm.” Xu Qing responded softly. He lifted his cup, and the sound of the water pouring was clear in the quiet night.

Li Mo took a bottle of iced water from the fridge, twisted the cap, and took a large gulp. The cold liquid seemed unable to quell the inexplicable heat in his heart. He leaned against the fridge door, watching Xu Qing’s profile as he drank. In the light, water droplets slid down his pale neck, disappearing into the collar of his pajamas.

“Hey…” Li Mo spoke on impulse. “Your hair isn’t dry yet, be careful not to catch a cold.”

Xu Qing put down the water cup and touched his still-damp hair. “It’s fine, it will dry soon.”

“Should I get you the hairdryer?” As soon as Li Mo said it, he regretted it; the suggestion felt too intimate.

Xu Qing was also momentarily stunned, then shook his head. “No need, it’s too late, it’ll wake the neighbors.” He paused, then looked at Li Mo. “You should rest early too.”

“Yes, okay.” Li Mo nodded, watching Xu Qing turn towards his room. Just as Xu Qing was about to close the door, Li Mo suddenly mustered his courage and raised his voice slightly. “Xu Qing!”

Xu Qing stopped and looked back, his eyes questioning.

Li Mo looked at his eyes, which seemed exceptionally clear in the light, and the words caught in his throat. Finally, they only transformed into: “Good night.”

“…Good night.” Xu Qing gently closed the door.

Li Mo stood there, frustratingly raking his fingers through his hair. He had actually wanted to say: “How about I help you dry your hair?” Or perhaps the more greedy thought: “Actually… I still think it’s warmer when we sleep together.”

But he hadn’t dared to say it out loud.

Inside the room, Xu Qing leaned against the door, listening to Li Mo’s gradually fading footsteps outside. He raised his hand, touched his still-damp hair, and then his slightly hot cheek. He walked to the bed and sat down, picking up the hairdryer on the bedside table, but didn’t turn it on immediately.

He recalled Li Mo’s hesitant gaze and the words that ultimately went unsaid. The tender sprout in his heart, entwined with a vine of fluttering emotions, did not wither in the independent room. Instead, because of this restrained distance and silent probing, it grew more unrestrained, quietly blooming with shy flower buds.

The separate rooms gave them space but also amplified the desire to get closer. That night, separated by a wall, the sound of their heartbeats seemed to create a wondrous resonance in the silence. Their story was clearly far from bedtime.

…

A few days later, on a weekend, Li Mo was called out early by a friend, claiming some urgent matter. He left in a hurry, only managing to vaguely tell Xu Qing, who was eating breakfast, “I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be back later,” before rushing out the door.

Xu Qing found the house suddenly incredibly empty and quiet alone. Sunlight streamed through the window; dust motes floated slowly in the light beams, and even the normally somewhat noisy birdsong outside seemed sparse and lonely. He slowly finished his breakfast, cleared the dishes, and returned to his room to read.

But the words on the page seemed to have lost all meaning. His attention kept wandering, his gaze occasionally drifting to the window, or intently listening for sounds by the door.

Without Li Mo, the space seemed to lack its most essential vitality and warmth. Xu Qing realized with a touch of helplessness that he had become so accustomed to Li Mo’s boisterous presence.

Li Mo didn’t return until the afternoon. When the sound of the door opening rang out, Xu Qing instantly lifted his head from his book, his heart gently tugged by something. He heard Li Mo changing shoes by the door, his footsteps heavier than usual, suggesting fatigue. But immediately following that, a cheerful voice transmitted: “Qingqing! I’m home!”

Xu Qing put down his book and walked out of the room. The moment he saw Li Mo, he paused slightly.

Li Mo’s hair was wind-blown and slightly messy, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, yet his face was beaming with an unusually bright, almost excited smile. He was holding a heavy-looking paper bag.

“Where did you go?” Xu Qing tried to keep his tone calm and natural.

“Hehe, it’s a secret.” Li Mo winked mysteriously, hiding the paper bag behind his back, and leaned closer to Xu Qing, his eyes sparkling. “Did you miss me?”

The question was too direct and sudden. Xu Qing’s ears warmed. He instinctively looked away, vaguely replying, “…Dinner will get cold soon.”

Li Mo didn’t press, only smiled more triumphantly, like a cat that had successfully stolen a fish. He carefully took the paper bag back to his room to put away before coming out to wash his hands and eat.

All evening, Li Mo was in a state of inexplicable excitement, chattering about his daytime adventures, but remaining tight-lipped about the paper bag and the so-called “secret.”

Xu Qing listened quietly on the surface, but his heart felt lightly tickled by a feather. He felt an irresistible curiosity about the “secret” Li Mo was hiding.

Before going to sleep, after they said their goodnights, Li Mo called out to Xu Qing, who was about to close his door, once more.

“That… Xu Qing,” Li Mo’s expression was unusually nervous and solemn. He took a deep breath, as if making a great decision. “Tomorrow… Tomorrow afternoon, are you free? I… I want to take you somewhere.”

Xu Qing looked at the anticipation sparkling in Li Mo’s eyes, and the subtle uneasiness. His heart was gently clenched. He barely hesitated, nodding softly. “I’m free.”

Li Mo’s eyes instantly lit up, his smile radiating widely. “Then it’s settled! Three o’clock tomorrow afternoon, we leave!”

That night, Xu Qing’s mind was even more restless than the previous nights. Li Mo’s unusual behavior, the mysterious paper bag, and the unknown invitation tomorrow—all were like riddles, stirring up his emotions.

More than that, it was the heart-fluttering, sweet, and nervous anticipation brought by the feeling of being treated with such seriousness and having something carefully planned for him.

The next afternoon, Xu Qing was dressed and waiting in the living room at the agreed-upon time. At exactly three o’clock, Li Mo emerged from his room. He had clearly put effort into getting ready, wearing a slightly more formal shirt and trousers than usual, his hair neatly combed, and carrying the mysterious paper bag with solemnity.

“Shall we go?” Li Mo’s voice carried unconcealed excitement and tension.

Li Mo did not take a taxi but led Xu Qing onto a public bus.

The bus swayed and rattled, passing through familiar streets, gradually heading towards the outskirts of the city. Xu Qing watched the increasingly sparse buildings and the growing abundance of greenery outside the window. His confusion deepened, but he didn’t ask, quietly following Li Mo.

Finally, they got off by a quiet tree-lined path. Li Mo, clearly knowing the way, led Xu Qing down a fork in the road. After about ten minutes of walking, the view suddenly opened up.

It was a serene, grassy slope facing a vast lake. It was late afternoon, and the setting sun had dyed the sky a warm orange-pink, the clouds like ignited cotton, brilliantly beautiful. The lake surface shimmered with light, reflecting the sky and clouds, beautiful as a painting. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fresh scent of grass and lake water.

There were almost no people there, only the occasional birdsong, making it all the more tranquil and lovely.

“How is it? Isn’t this place great?” Li Mo looked at Xu Qing somewhat proudly, his eyes sparkling in the sunset. “I found it by chance, and I just felt… you would definitely like it.”

Xu Qing was stunned by the beauty before him, and even more touched by Li Mo’s thoughtfulness. He looked at Li Mo, who was edged in gold by the sunset, his heart immensely softened. He nodded softly: “Mhm, I really like it.”

Li Mo looked as though he had received the highest praise, his smile growing even brighter. He pulled Xu Qing to sit down on the soft slope, and finally brought the paper bag, which he had been guarding carefully all along, into view.

His expression became unusually serious, even solemn. He took a deep breath, and what he pulled out of the paper bag was an exquisitely wrapped rectangular box.

“This…” Li Mo’s voice was slightly hoarse. He offered the box to Xu Qing, his eyes burning with eagerness and nervousness. “It’s for you.”

Xu Qing froze. He looked at the box, then back at Li Mo, his heart abruptly falling out of rhythm.

“O-open it and see?” Li Mo urged nervously, his fingers unconsciously curling.

Xu Qing did as told, carefully unwrapping the package and opening the lid. Inside lay a set of watercolor paints—a highly sought-after, out-of-print set that he had casually mentioned to Li Mo once, while flipping through an art book in the library, saying he loved it. At the time, he had only sighed that it was hard to collect, and hadn’t even considered owning it.

He had absolutely no idea that Li Mo not only remembered but had gone through so much trouble to actually find this set of paints.

The last rays of the sunset fell on the exquisite paint blocks, reflecting a soft, gentle luster. Xu Qing’s fingers lightly touched the smooth surface of the box. His chest was filled with a massive, surging emotion, bittersweet and sweet, leaving him speechless for a moment.

“I… I remember you said you liked it.” Li Mo looked at Xu Qing’s lowered eyelashes and slightly trembling fingers, his own heart pounding nervously. He explained incoherently, “I had to ask several friends to find it. I hope… I hope you can use it. You’re so good at painting…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Because Xu Qing lifted his head. In those eyes, usually cool and calm, now swam an incredibly complex and bright light—surprise, emotion, and a kind of soft affection Li Mo had never seen before, almost overflowing.

Silence reigned around them, broken only by the sound of the wind and their clearly audible heartbeats. The shimmering light of the lake reflected in their eyes, as if star rivers were flowing within.

Li Mo looked at Xu Qing like this, and all the more formal words he had prepared and practiced countless times were caught in his throat. An emotion hotter than the sunset overwhelmed his reason and shyness.

He suddenly reached out, not to touch the paints, but to gently grasp Xu Qing’s wrist, the one holding the box. The warmth transferred from his fingertips made both of them tremble slightly.

“Xu Qing,” Li Mo’s voice was low and firm, carrying an undeniable tension and sincerity. “I… I like you.”

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Xu Qing clearly heard his heart pounding like a drum, and saw the unconcealed affection and desperate courage in Li Mo’s eyes. The answer he had vaguely hoped for but dared not deeply consider was now presented to him by Li Mo, carried with scorching warmth.

He did not pull away from the slightly firm fingers, hardened with calluses, on his wrist. Instead, he slightly tightened his own fingers, gripping the precious box of paints even tighter.

He looked at Li Mo, at this person who had burst into his life like sunlight, bringing him countless warmth and heart-flutters. The moisture in his eyes slowly gathered, transforming into an extremely faint, yet undeniably real smile.

He gently squeezed Li Mo’s hand in return, and answered in a voice that was almost a whisper, yet incredibly clear:

“Are you that insecure? Boyfriend.”

Those last three words were like a key, instantly unlocking all the restraints in Li Mo’s heart. Overwhelming joy consumed him. He practically leapt up and then tightly embraced Xu Qing, the force so great it was as if he wanted to meld him into his own flesh and blood.

Xu Qing’s body stiffened initially, then completely relaxed, yielding to the warm, solid embrace. His cheek pressed against Li Mo’s chest, where he could hear a heartbeat as frantic as his own.

He closed his eyes, savoring this delayed, definite embrace, clutching the gift full of deep meaning in his hand, and clutching this emotion that had finally found its footing.

The sunset cast long shadows of the two figures on the grassy slope, tightly nestled together, inseparable.

Their story, at this moment, finally welcomed its brightest prologue.