Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After sleeping for the entire class, Li Mo was wide awake during the break, leaning back in his chair and picking at his nails.

Xu Qing put down his pen and looked at Li Mo several times, seeming to want to speak but stopping himself.

In the end, he said nothing and continued with his own business.

The second class was Chemistry.

The Chemistry teacher was a kindly old man named Wu Yan. Although his name sounded strict (Yan means strict), he was not strict at all and was fond of smoking.

He generally didn’t care what happened during class. The moment the bell rang, he started lecturing without concern for whether the students were listening. The moment the dismissal bell rang, he left, never dragging class time. He was just a little bit of a nag sometimes.

Li Mo narrowed his eyes; he wasn’t sleepy anymore.

He turned to his desk-mate, the study god, who was also not listening to the lecture, burying his head in problem-solving.

“Hey, desk-mate,” Li Mo called out in a low voice, “Aren’t you listening?”

Xu Qing didn’t even lift his head: “Nothing worth listening to. I already know everything he’s teaching.”

Li Mo gave a thumbs-up: “Worthy of a top student! Awesome!”

Xu Qing simply acknowledged with a neutral “Mhm,” his attitude remaining cool.

However, Li Mo’s eagerness to talk wasn’t extinguished: “Actually, I think Chemistry is quite simple. I can still recite the periodic table right now. Should I recite it for you? Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon…”

“That’s enough, that’s enough,” Xu Qing covered his mouth. “The periodic table is the absolute basics. If you can’t recite that, why are you even in a science class?”

“…”

Xu Qing suddenly withdrew his hand: “Why did you stick your tongue out?”

Li Mo looked innocent: “The tip of your pen poked my face.”

Only then did Xu Qing notice the crooked black line drawn on Li Mo’s cheek.

“I… I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing.” Li Mo replied with a smile, wiping his face with his hand. “A handsome guy like me can pull it off.”

Xu Qing: “…”

“Ahem, ahem, two certain students, are you taking this too lightly as a classroom?”

At the back door of the classroom, Yu Wencheng stood with his arms crossed, staring angrily at Li Mo.

Wu Yan was still lecturing on the podium, completely self-absorbed.

As expected, the two were called to the office again.

Li Mo and Xu Qing stood side-by-side against the wall. Yu Wencheng paced back and forth in front of them.

“It’s only the second day of school. How many times have you been to the office?”

Li Mo held up two fingers: “Twice, this is the second time.”

“You’re the expert at counting!” Yu Wencheng restrained the urge to kick him, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Yesterday it was sleeping in class. Today, it’s holding a private meeting in class, right? You slept well at noon, didn’t you?”

Yu Wencheng looked at Xu Qing: “Especially you, Xu Qing. You’re participating in a competition next month, and you’ve already registered. Although you are very smart, you can’t be this relaxed.”

“Oh, come on, come on,” Li Mo waved his hand. “Don’t push him too hard, sir~ It’s only been two days since school started. No need to rush.”

“What business is it of yours? I’ll address your issues later.” Yu Wencheng glared at Li Mo, then looked back at Xu Qing, his tone softening considerably. “Xu Qing, the school is aware of your family circumstances. Grade 11 is a critical period. If this child Li Mo is affecting your studies, you should tell your homeroom teacher and apply to change your seat.”

Xu Qing shook his head: “The current situation is fine. He doesn’t bother me much.”

“That’s good, that’s good. If you have any problems in the future, be sure to tell a teacher. Although I’m only a grade director, you can also come to me if you need anything, understood?”

Yu Wencheng’s passive skill was triggered.

After a long, rambling lecture, it was already after class by the time Li Mo and Xu Qing returned.

The classroom was buzzing with noise.

As soon as he sat down, Tang Dawei asked knowingly, “Brother Mo, what did you go to the office for?”

“Stop it. What else is there to do in the office? Eat?” Li Mo sighed. “Why didn’t anyone tell me Director Yu was behind the door?”

“Director Yu’s greatest skill is being able to appear behind the back door without anyone noticing.” Tang Dawei chuckled. “But I’ve noticed, Director Yu seems to be particularly concerned about you, Brother Mo.”

Li Mo retorted: ╮(￣⊿￣)╭: “Can you call that concern? He just appears every time I slack off.”

“I’d rather say there’s no time when you’re not slacking off,” Xu Qing said pointedly. “I think your name has been memorized by the director. You should behave for a while.”

“Thanks for the reminder, desk-mate.” Li Mo then asked, “The director is quite concerned about you, too. Why is that?”

Tang Dawei was speechless: “Why else? If I could get first place every time, the director would remember me too.”

Li Mo turned around and smiled playfully: “You have a point. Being the last-place scorer can also get you remembered.”

“More than remembered, they’d start burning incense for you at a temple.”

“Is getting first place a big deal?”

Xu Qing leaned against the wall, a black neutral pen twirling between his slender fingers.

Tang Dawei was somewhat confused: “Of course it’s a big deal. There are over a thousand students in the whole grade. Getting first place is incredible.”

Li Mo looked at Xu Qing: “Desk-mate, are you feeling emotional (emo)?”

After a long time, Xu Qing withdrew his thoughts, his tone slightly irritable: “No.”

“Don’t say no. You’re already taking it out on me.”

“No means no.”

With that, Xu Qing lowered his head and started scribbling on a piece of white paper, ignoring everyone who spoke to him.

Tang Dawei pulled Li Mo closer and whispered in his ear: “See what I told you? Terrible temper.”

Li Mo hissed: “Is there really no reason at all?”

“Did we say something wrong just now? He’s just spoiled.”

The entire afternoon, Xu Qing remained silent. Li Mo tried to start a conversation several times, but was met with cold indifference each time.

After school, Tang Dawei patted Li Mo’s shoulder, shook his head with a sigh, and then ran off to the cafeteria with Yang Di.

Li Mo sat still for a while. Seeing no movement from his desk-mate, he turned to him: “Xu Qing, aren’t you going to eat?”

“No.” Xu Qing stood up, pushed past Li Mo, and walked out.

Li Mo’s elbow hit the corner of the desk, and he hissed in pain.

Xu Qing didn’t hear it and walked straight out of the classroom.

Rubbing his arm, Li Mo mumbled: “That hurts… Now I have to spend money on medicine…”

Fortunately, there were several pharmacies near the residential area, and Li Mo walked into a random one.

The scent of disinfectant and various bitter smells instantly filled his nasal cavity.

There were quite a few people in the pharmacy, and the staff were too busy to attend to him.

Li Mo frowned, covering his nose as he walked to the back.

The corner of that desk had a significant flaw; the veneer was peeling, and there was a splinter. His elbow had struck it squarely, and the splinter had left a small cut on his arm, which was oozing a little blood.

The shelves were lined with various medicines, and Li Mo was looking for iodine.

“Damn it, where did they put the iodine?” Li Mo cursed several times, and as soon as he turned a corner, he bumped right into someone.

Li Mo was about to yell in pain, but he focused on the person in front of him and froze: “Xu Qing?”

Xu Qing tensed up all over.

“Aren’t you a boarding student? Why are you here? Did you ask for leave because you’re sick?” Li Mo asked.

“No…” Xu Qing was wearing his school uniform, pulling up the slightly oversized jacket. “Stop sticking your nose in my business.”

Li Mo pouted: “We’re classmates. It’s normal to show concern. Why call it meddling?”

Xu Qing noticed Li Mo’s reddened arm and his expression faltered: “Did… Did I do that just now? Let me buy you medicine.”

Li Mo was about to accept, but seeing the few ten-yuan bills clutched in Xu Qing’s hand, he changed his mind: “No need. This little scratch is nothing to me.”

“Stop showing off,” Xu Qing said. “I hurt you. My conscience won’t let me off if I don’t apologize.”

“How about this: you treat me to a hand-scallion pancake. I haven’t eaten dinner yet.” Li Mo rubbed his flat stomach. “But I need to buy a bottle of iodine first.”

Xu Qing acknowledged: “Just one hand-scallion pancake?”

Li Mo smiled: “Just one hand-scallion pancake.”

At the intersection, there were several food stalls, mainly selling breakfast items like pancakes, steamed buns, and egg-filled crepes. This area had many office workers and students, so it was always busy.

Xu Qing bought a hand-scallion pancake, and the two sat on the curb.

Li Mo took a bite of the pancake and asked: “Aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Nonsense. You haven’t had dinner, have you? How can you study well if you don’t eat?” Saying that, Li Mo offered the pancake to Xu Qing, forcibly stuffing it into his mouth without giving him a chance to refuse.

Xu Qing was forced to take a large bite, getting ketchup smeared on his face. He mumbled indistinctly: “Just eat your own…”

“A person as handsome and kind-hearted as me can’t stand to see a classmate suffer, even a little bit,” Li Mo chuckled. “Especially a classmate who isn’t eating. Food is the priority for people.”

“You truly are kind.”

The sun was sinking, the last trace of red coloring the entire street. Cars flowed back and forth, children were playing, and old men were playing chess. The noise that usually seemed annoying now felt strangely peaceful.

“My family had that large Transformer too.” Li Mo watched a child on the side of the road, happily holding a big Transformer while being led by his mother. “Later, one of its legs broke off, and it was sold to the scrap collector uncle.”

Xu Qing looked over too: “Did you like it very much?”

Li Mo looked serious: “I wouldn’t say I loved it. It’s more of a natural attraction that mechas have for men.”

Xu Qing: “…”

“I don’t like things like that.”

“You don’t look like you would, either.” Li Mo took another bite of the pancake. “So what do you like? Ultraman? Spider-Man?”

Xu Qing shook his head: “Neither. I like… those small music boxes.”

“Music boxes are nice. Want me to make one for you as a gift for becoming friends?”

“Friends? You really are familiar.” Xu Qing was a bit surprised: “But you can make those? Seriously?”

“Seriously. Why would I lie to you?”

Li Mo smiled: “Since we’ve shared the same hand-scallion pancake, we’re friends now.”

After finishing the last few bites of the pancake, Li Mo tossed the empty bag into the trash can and clapped his hands: “See you tomorrow, desk-mate. I wish you sweet dreams tonight~”

Xu Qing stared at his retreating figure for a long time. It wasn’t until night fully descended that he slowly stood up and walked toward Huaying No. 1 High School, guided by the streetlights.