Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Li Mo drove around the city for a while. It was getting late, and he had made no new progress.

He pulled the car over, got out, and squatted beneath a street lamp to smoke.

This posture looks like a jaded young man thwarted in love… Well, he actually felt pretty jaded right now.

The nicotine inhaled into his lungs brought a brief sense of numbness.

Sigh… I should go back first.

He took a different route this time and passed the entrance of Huaying No. 1 High School.

During the summer vacation, there were no students or teachers inside Huaying No. 1 High School. The school gate was tightly shut. Only the security guard uncle was lying in the gatehouse, listening to a static-filled radio.

The car turned a corner and gradually drove onto that familiar street.

Li Mo glanced out the window at the bustling street and immediately saw a four-character sign: Sister Liu’s Specialty.

He quickly pulled the car over and parked.

After getting out, he stared at the sign for a long time.

I almost forgot…

Li Mo checked his appearance in the car window. He was a little… nervous.

He finally stood in front of the noodle shop door and took a deep breath.

Then he pushed the door and walked in.

It wasn’t completely dark yet, but there were few customers left in the shop.

Sister Liu (Liu Lan), wearing an apron, was clearing garbage from the tables.

Li Mo opened his mouth, and a mess of thoughts flooded his mind. He actually blurted out: “Mom…”

Liu Lan looked up, her expression clearly stunned.

Li Mo immediately realized his mistake and slapped his hand over his mouth: “Phooey, phooey! Au… Auntie… H-hello, long time no see.”

Liu Lan also recovered, a joyful expression spreading across her face: “Oh! It’s Mo Mo! It really has been a long time! Have you gotten taller again?”

As she spoke, Liu Lan pulled Li Mo inside and introduced him with a smile to the few remaining customers, as if he were her own son.

After the last customers left, Liu Lan locked the noodle shop door. Li Mo helped her tidy up the store.

When everything was in order, Liu Lan made a bowl of noodles—the Zhajiangmian (noodles with fried sauce) that Li Mo used to love to order.

It was the familiar recipe, the familiar taste. As the noodles slipped into his mouth, Li Mo was so happy he almost cried.

Seeing Li Mo eat happily, Liu Lan was also pleased.

After the initial joy, she probably also knew why Li Mo had come.

“Mo Mo, I know about you and Xu Qing…”

Li Mo froze.

He put down his chopsticks and looked at Liu Lan, his gaze as calm as water.

Did… Did Auntie disagree?

Liu Lan sighed and continued: “So much has happened over the years… Xu Qing, he… was sold to a rich old man a few months ago, for 120,000 yuan.”

“His Uncle Chen and I rushed over in time and brought Xu Qing home safe and sound. But…” Speaking of this, Liu Lan choked up. “It’s my fault as a mother for not protecting him, for letting him go through such a terrible thing…”

Li Mo’s heart tightened: “Auntie, it’s not your fault…”

Liu Lan wiped away a tear and went on: “Mo Mo, I’m not telling you all this for any other reason. And I’m not trying to suspect you, but your relationship… is not a small matter. It’s very important for both of you.”

Li Mo knew. A mother would never want her child to be hurt, especially in matters of the heart.

Li Mo looked at Liu Lan, his tone serious, every word distinct: “Auntie, my departure back then was indeed rushed, and I didn’t want it to happen… But I’m back. I’ve thought a lot, and I have the confidence and the ability now to protect Xu Qing.”

Liu Lan’s tears were already flowing.

She tightly grasped Li Mo’s hand, unable to stop the tears: “If you’re well… Xu Qing will be well too… as long as my child is happy, I just want my child to be happy…”

The mother’s tears were scalding, nearly burning the back of Li Mo’s hand. He turned his hand and firmly held Liu Lan’s rough hand, his voice low but resolute: “Auntie, I will. I will make Xu Qing happy.”

This statement was not a promise, but a declaration. It was the vow he had made to himself after long contemplation.

Liu Lan cried for a long time before gradually calming down. She wiped her tears, looking at the young man who was more steady and determined than he had been two years ago. She finally made up her mind.

“Xu Qing, he…” She paused, her voice still choked, “The child is strong. He’s fine, nothing happened, but he just doesn’t like to go out…”

Li Mo’s heart clenched. He could imagine the trauma that event had caused Xu Qing.

“Is he home now?”

“Yes,” Liu Lan nodded. “Neither of us adults will go back tonight. It’s more important for you two to sort things out.”

Li Mo stood up: “Thank you, Auntie. You should rest early!”

Liu Lan watched him, a hint of relief flickering in her eyes. This child really had grown up, no longer the teenager who only knew how to be confrontational.

…

When he left the noodle shop, the night was already deep. Li Mo got back into the car but didn’t start the engine immediately.

His hands were still slightly trembling—not from nervousness, but from the joy and excitement of the imminent reunion.

After calming himself down, Li Mo immediately drove to the address.

This residential area looked much “sunnier” than Sunlight Residential Area. The facilities were complete, the buildings were new, and the exterior walls seemed to have been recently repainted.

Li Mo parked the car near the unit building, standing by the car, thinking about what he should say when he went in.

“Li… Mo?”

Li Mo froze completely.

He slowly turned his head. The face that had appeared countless times in his dreams, the one he had longed for countless days and nights, was now right in front of him.

He opened his mouth, but the first thing to emerge was a flood of tears.

Xu Qing was wearing loose clothes. The exposed sections of his arms were clean and white, no longer bearing those hideous scars.

“You…” Xu Qing opened his mouth, his voice so faint it was almost carried away by the night wind, “Why did you come?”

Li Mo exhaled, saying: “I came to find you.”

“…”

Silence spread in the air.

After a long while, Xu Qing finally said: “The text message I sent you…”

“It doesn’t count.”

Li Mo said in a deep voice: “Xu Qing, what I want is the real you.”

Xu Qing: “…”

Xu Qing stood rooted to the spot, the plastic bag in his hand making a faint rustling sound. He lowered his eyes, the street lamp casting alternating light and shadows on his face.

Li Mo took a step forward, his voice very gentle: “I know what happened. Your mom told me everything.”

Xu Qing suddenly looked up, a flash of panic in his eyes, which quickly dimmed: “Since you know everything, you should understand even more that we…”

“I don’t understand,” Li Mo interrupted him, taking another step forward. “I only understand one thing—no matter what happens, I will never let go of you.”

The night wind blew, lifting the stray hairs on Xu Qing’s forehead. He bit his lower lip, as if desperately trying to restrain something.

“Li Mo, I’m not the same Xu Qing as before,” his voice was faintly trembling. “I… I’m not good enough for you anymore.”

This sentence was like a blunt knife, stabbing viciously into Li Mo’s heart. He couldn’t hold back anymore, taking a big stride forward and gripping Xu Qing’s wrist: “Look at me.”

Xu Qing was forced to raise his head, his eyes already red-rimmed.

“Whether you are good enough or not is for me to decide,” Li Mo said, word by word. “In my heart, you will always be the best Xu Qing.”

A tear finally escaped Xu Qing’s eye. He tried to pull away, but Li Mo held him tighter.

“I thought about you every day for the past two years,” Li Mo’s voice was also husky. “I know how much you’ve suffered. But now I’m back. Let me be with you, okay?”

Xu Qing finally stopped struggling. He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly: “I… I missed you very much.”

These three words fell softly, finally allowing Li Mo’s heart to settle. He released Xu Qing’s wrist and gently embraced him: “We won’t be separated again.”

The night deepened. Occasionally, late-returning residents passed by the complex, casting curious glances at the embracing young men.

But at this moment, neither of them cared.

After a long time, Xu Qing gently pushed Li Mo away and wiped the corner of his eyes: “Do you want to come up and sit for a while?”

Li Mo looked at his red-rimmed eyes and smiled gently: “Yes.”

Xu Qing lived on the third floor. When he opened the door, his hand was still slightly shaking. The key turned in the lock several times before it finally clicked.

“The place is a little messy,” he said softly, with a hint of embarrassment.

It was a modest two-bedroom apartment, relatively tidy, but showing signs of temporary residence everywhere. Several graduate school study materials were scattered on the living room coffee table, next to a half-eaten box of crackers.

Li Mo sat down on the sofa, his gaze unintentionally sweeping over the balcony—there were a few pieces of clothing hanging there, all in Xu Qing’s size.

“Are you living alone?” he asked.

“Mhm.” Xu Qing poured him a glass of water. “My mom and they come over occasionally.”

Although there had been a lot of unhappiness in the past, it wasn’t without things to be happy about.

Liu Lan had divorced Xu Zhi and successfully married the “Uncle Chen” named Chen Zewei. Chen Zewei’s family was in business and was quite wealthy.

Silence fell between them. Two years of separation had created a slight sense of unfamiliarity between the once-intimate lovers.

Li Mo casually brought up a topic: “Xu Qing, are you… feeling better now?”

Xu Qing held the water cup, his fingertips slightly white: “Trying to.”

Another period of silence.

“That text message…” Xu Qing suddenly spoke, “I sent it myself.”

“I know,” Li Mo said softly. “I know everything.”

Xu Qing looked up, his eyes holding an indescribable emotion.

“I’ve never blamed you,” Li Mo looked at him, his gaze firm. “I only hate myself for not being able to protect you back then.”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Xu Qing shook his head. “We were too young then…”

Li Mo suddenly stood up and knelt on one knee in front of Xu Qing, looking up at him: “Xu Qing, give me a chance. Let me start over, okay?”

Xu Qing stared at him blankly, tears welling up again. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could only nod vigorously.

Li Mo smiled, reaching out to wipe the tears from his face: “This time, let me be the one to pursue you.”

Outside the window, the city lights gradually turned on. On this ordinary night, two hearts that had been forcibly separated finally drew close again.