Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

The clay pot porridge never materialized that night.

Xu Qing’s emotions had been too volatile, coupled with the shock he’d sustained. Although Li Mo had held his hand tightly the entire way, almost shielding him as he led him to the entrance of “Nuan Ji,” looking at Xu Qing’s pale face and barely-holding-it-together spirit, Li Mo couldn’t bear to let him stay in a noisy environment.

“Let’s go home and make some noodles, okay?” Li Mo suggested softly, his fingers gently brushing Xu Qing’s slightly messy fringe.

Xu Qing genuinely had no appetite. He was mentally and physically exhausted and just wanted a quiet place to rest, so he nodded obediently.

…

Back at their apartment in the Golden Rose community, the familiar surroundings allowed Xu Qing’s strained nerves to relax slightly.

Li Mo asked him to take a hot shower first, while he put on an apron and slipped into the kitchen. He deftly cooked two bowls of light Yangchun noodles, and thoughtfully poached two eggs.

Since Li Mo’s graduation, Yu Wencheng had returned to his previous lifestyle, often staying overnight at the university. The house was empty.

The rising steam dispersed the cool evening air, and seemed to smooth out the unease in their hearts. The two ate the noodles in silence. Neither mentioned Bai Sheng again, but beneath the post-ordeal calm, emotions surged, needing time to settle.

After eating, Li Mo cleared the dishes, then sat beside Xu Qing, who was quietly curled up on the sofa, and naturally pulled him into his arms.

“Qing Qing,” Li Mo’s voice sounded above him, steady and firm. “Let’s talk about Bai Sheng, and… my mother coming to see you, okay?”

What had to come, had come. Xu Qing took a deep breath, sat up straight out of his embrace, his hands nervously clasped together, and finally confessed everything that had been buried in his heart for so long.

From Bai Sheng’s repeated harassment and threats, to his mother’s seemingly gentle but actually pressuring meeting, and his own inferiority and concerns stemming from his background and past… He spoke slowly, sometimes pausing to organize his thoughts or trying to suppress the catch in his throat. He dared not look into Li Mo’s eyes, afraid of seeing disappointment or something else there.

Li Mo listened silently throughout, without interruption, but the hands resting on his knees gradually clenched, his knuckles turning white. Especially when he heard that his own mother had secretly contacted Xu Qing and said such things, his eyes were filled with shock, anger, and deep heartache.

When Xu Qing finished, the last syllable fading into the air, the room fell into silence.

Xu Qing’s heart sank little by little. His courage deflated rapidly, like a popped balloon. He was almost unable to bear the pressure of the silence.

Suddenly, a hand covered his tightly clasped, cold hand.

Xu Qing sharply looked up, meeting Li Mo’s deep eyes. They held none of the negative emotions he had anticipated, only an overwhelming heartache and apology.

“I’m sorry, Qing Qing,” Li Mo’s voice was slightly hoarse. “For making you bear so much alone.”

He firmly held Xu Qing’s hand, as if trying to transfer all his strength and determination through the grip: “Leave the matter of Bai Sheng to me. I promise he will never appear before you again, and no rumors will ever hurt you. As for my mother…”

Li Mo paused, his expression becoming extraordinarily serious and solemn: “Her words do not represent my attitude, nor can they determine our relationship. The person I like, love, and want to spend the rest of my life with is you, Xu Qing, only you. Your background, your past, they have never been a negative in my eyes. They form the complete you that I love.”

He raised a hand and gently stroked Xu Qing’s cheek, his fingertips warm: “From now on, no matter what happens, what difficulties you face, or what anyone says to you, promise me you’ll tell me immediately, okay? Don’t shoulder it alone. Let me face it with you. We are lovers, we are one.”

Xu Qing’s vision blurred again. This time, it wasn’t from fear or grievance, but because the overwhelming warmth of being completely accepted and firmly chosen broke through his defenses. He nodded hard, tears rolling down, falling onto their clasped hands, yet they were hot, carrying the temperature of relief and new life.

“Mhm…” He choked, barely able to speak full sentences, only able to hold Li Mo’s hand even tighter in return.

…

That night, the honest conversation was like a thorough surgery—cleaning and stitching—and although the process was painful, it allowed those hidden wounds to truly begin to heal. The subtle layer of thin ice between them completely melted away.

In the following days, Li Mo fulfilled his promises with actions.

He didn’t make a big fuss, but Xu Qing could feel that the faint rumors surrounding him and Bai Sheng quietly disappeared.

Bai Sheng himself truly seemed to vanish into thin air, never reappearing in their lives, not even a single piece of news. Xu Qing didn’t know exactly what Li Mo did, but he chose to trust him.

Regarding Yu Wenxiu, Li Mo made a special trip home one weekend. Xu Qing didn’t know the specifics of their conversation. When Li Mo returned, he just lightly told him “it’s resolved,” then hugged him tightly, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ve got everything.”

Li Mo’s eyes were calm and firm, and Xu Qing stopped asking. The massive rock of family pressure in his heart had been steadily moved away by Li Mo.

Life seemed to return to its original track, even becoming sweeter and more stable than before. Far from creating a rift, the storm they had weathered brought them closer. Their relationship became even more inseparable due to their shared experience and absolute honesty. A deep trust and reliance took root and grew in both their hearts.

Xu Qing smiled more often, and the faint, lingering sadness that used to shadow his features largely faded. He became more focused on his studies and internship. His entire being radiated a sense of ease and bright energy.

…

This afternoon, Xu Qing had just left the library when he received a call from Li Mo, whose tone carried a rare excitement: “Qing Qing, don’t make any plans for tonight. I’m taking you somewhere. I have a surprise.”

“What surprise?” Xu Qing asked subconsciously.

“Would it be a surprise if I told you? Wait for me at the school gate. I’ll be there soon.” Li Mo teased, then hung up.

Xu Qing smiled, shaking his head, yet his heart felt gently tickled, full of anticipation. He walked to the school gate. The evening breeze carried the warmth of early summer, feeling wonderfully comfortable on his face.

Not long after, Li Mo’s familiar black SUV glided to a stop in front of him. The window lowered, revealing Li Mo’s handsome, smiling face: “Get in!”

Xu Qing opened the car door and got in, buckling his seatbelt: “So mysterious, where are we going?”

Li Mo leaned over, giving him a quick peck on the lips, and started the car: “You’ll know when we get there.”

The car drove through the bustling downtown and eventually onto an extremely wide highway.

This road seemed newly built, with bright streetlights but few vehicles. On one side of the road were the dazzling lights of the city; on the other, in the gradually deepening twilight, a boundless dark blue was faintly visible, and the rhythmic whooshing sound of waves began to be clearly heard.

It was the sea.

Xu Qing looked at Li Mo with some surprise. Li Mo just focused on the road ahead, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

The car drove smoothly along the coastal road. The salty and free sea breeze seeped through the slightly lowered car window, blowing against Xu Qing’s hair and cheeks, bringing a sense of vast relief.

In the distance, at the boundary where the sea met the darkening sky, a hint of orange-pink afterglow lingered, like a painter’s final, unintentional bright stroke.

“So stylish…” Xu Qing looked at the rapidly passing coastline scenery outside the window, his mood involuntarily expanding.

“Mhm,” Li Mo replied, his gaze still on the road, but his tone gentle. “Do you like it?”

“I do.”

Xu Qing nodded. It had been a long time since he had felt this relaxed watching the sea. Especially after the oppressive events of the recent past, this boundless dark blue seemed capable of washing away all the residual gloom in his heart.

Li Mo pulled the car over to a cleverly designed viewing platform. The location was slightly elevated with an excellent view, allowing a panoramic sight of the vast sea and the winding coastline. There were a few scattered couples or tourists on the platform, but it wasn’t noisy.

Li Mo turned off the engine but didn’t immediately get out. He turned to look at Xu Qing. The light inside the car was dim, only the faint glow from the dashboard and the distant city lights outlining his soft profile.

Xu Qing was lost in thought, gazing at the endless sea.

“Xu Qing.”

Li Mo’s call pulled his thoughts back.

Xu Qing turned his head and saw Li Mo kneeling on one knee.

The night sea breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead. The city lights in the distance and the nearby streetlights cast a soft, glowing edge around him.

He was looking up, his deep eyes shining startlingly bright in the darkness, filled with undisguised love, nervousness, and an almost sacred determination.

Xu Qing’s heart seemed to stop beating at that moment. He instinctively covered his mouth, his eyes widening, unable to believe what was happening before him.

Li Mo took a deep blue velvet box from his pocket and gently opened it in front of him. A simple yet elegant platinum ring lay quietly inside, reflecting a warm and brilliant light under the lamp. The letters “L&M” were faintly visible engraved on the inner band of the ring.

“Qing Qing,” Li Mo began, his voice slightly husky from nervousness, yet incredibly clear. Every word struck heavily in Xu Qing’s heart. “I know this might be a little sudden. But I couldn’t think of a better place than here.”

His gaze swept over the vast, boundless sea behind them, then returned to Xu Qing’s face, focused and deeply affectionate: “We’ve walked this path together, weathered the storms, and seen the rainbows. Thank you for always being by my side. Thank you for being willing to trust me, for being willing to give your complete self to me.”

He took a deep breath, his eyes even more fervent: “Xu Qing, I love you. Not a momentary impulse, but a love that has been refined by time, a love that is even more certain after traversing confusion and obstacles—a love with which I want to spend the rest of my life. I want to give you a home, a place completely belonging to us, filled with love and security. I want the first thing I see when I wake up every morning to be you, and the last person I hold before falling asleep every night to be you. I want to be a part of your every future, in good times and in bad, in richness and in poverty, in sickness and in health. I want to hold your hand tightly and never let go.”

“So,” Li Mo’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly, yet he asked the long-prepared question with immense solemnity, “Xu Qing, will you give me the honor of marrying me? Let me be your partner, to love you, protect you, and cherish you until the end of life.”

The sound of the waves seemed to recede at this moment. The world was quiet, with only the sound of their hearts beating and their breaths. Xu Qing’s vision was already blurred by tears. He looked at the man kneeling before him, the man who had given him boundless security, accepted all his anxieties, and shielded him from all storms.

All the memories of the past flashed through his mind—the initial stirrings, the bitterness of the secret crush, the joy of reunion, the warmth of understanding, and the firmness of facing challenges together… All emotions ultimately converged into the figure before him, and the ring of promise in his hand.

No hesitation, no need for thought. The answer was already etched in his bones, blended into his blood.

Xu Qing nodded vigorously, tears rolling down with the movement, but a broad, undisguised smile curved his lips. He reached out his hand, his voice choked but incredibly clear:

“I do, Li Mo. I do.”

Three simple words, yet they weighed a thousand pounds.

A huge surge of joy and relief instantly burst forth in Li Mo’s eyes. He carefully took the ring from the box, gently but firmly slipping it onto Xu Qing’s left ring finger. The size was a perfect fit, as if it had always belonged there.

After the cool touch of the metal came the scalding warmth of Li Mo’s palm. He tightly grasped Xu Qing’s ring-adorned hand, stood up, and pulled him into a fierce, tight embrace, as if to meld him into his own flesh and blood.

“Thank you, Xu Qing… Thank you for saying yes,” Li Mo’s voice was deep in his ear, carrying a slight pant after the excitement and an inexpressible satisfaction.

Xu Qing hugged him back, burying his face in Li Mo’s sturdy chest, listening to his equally rapid and powerful heartbeat, feeling the presence of the ring on his finger. His heart was filled with an unprecedented, immense sense of happiness and stability.

All the shadows of the past were completely dispelled at this moment. The road ahead might still hold unknowns, but they now had each other’s firmest commitment and warmest haven.

The sea breeze continued to blow, carrying its salty scent and song of freedom, encircling the tightly embracing couple on the viewing platform. In the distance, the city lights merged with the stars in the night sky, as if offering the most brilliant blessing for their new beginning.

Li Mo slightly pulled away from Xu Qing, lowered his head, forehead against his, nose against his nose, his eyes filled with overwhelming affection: “From now on, you are my fiancé, Mr. Xu.”

Xu Qing’s cheeks were slightly flushed, but his eyes sparkled. He raised his ringed hand, gently stroked Li Mo’s cheek, and responded with a smile: “And you are mine, Mr. Li.”

They smiled at each other, then exchanged a tender and long kiss under the witness of the stars and the sea.

…

My deskmate, I like you.