No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 36

The three-day New Year’s Day holiday passed quickly. Tonight, they were preparing to return to school.

“Shu Luo, why didn’t Jiang Mu come back with you?” Wang Kai, who was tidying up the things he had brought back from home nearby, asked curiously upon seeing Shu Luo enter alone.

“He went to France.” Shu Luo walked to his bed and set down his belongings.

Wang Kai nodded. “Why go back to France? Is his home in France?”

“Mm.”

He also didn’t know why Jiang Mu hadn’t returned yet, but judging by Jiang Mu’s style—not giving him a call or a text for days—it indicated that the matter in France was tricky, most likely an issue regarding custody.

“Oh, right, Shu Luo, I just ran into Li Xing downstairs. She asked me to give you this.” Wang Kai handed over an exquisite gift bag, his smile meaningful.

Shu Luo took it skeptically. He opened the bag and took out the box. The dark blue checkered box was simple and suited a boy’s style. The box was quite large, about the size of an A4 sheet. When opened, it contained a wine-red scarf and a pink envelope.

Neat handwriting covered the paper with tender words. It read: “Shu Luo, I am very happy to have met you. Since I realized during military training that you are completely different from your outward appearance of naivety, I have been quietly paying attention to you. I love your demeanor on the podium, like a piece of raw jade, gradually being polished and beginning to shine with increasingly dazzling light. You seem full of childishness, but in my eyes, you are a unique boy. In my heart, you are a person full of wisdom and perseverance. I finished knitting this scarf a long time ago. I unintentionally heard your birthday from the class teacher and noted it down. Although the gift wasn’t given to you on the day itself, I still hope you will like it when you receive it. Li Xing”

A strange glint flashed in Shu Luo’s eyes. This was the first time a girl had ever written him a love letter, and with such gentle and beautiful words; reading it made him feel a little excited.

Wang Kai, who was secretly watching from the side, couldn’t help but shake his head. “Shu Luo, you’re dead if Jiang Mu finds out!”

Hearing Wang Kai’s voice ring out beside him, Shu Luo shot him a look and immediately clutched the letter to his chest. “Dead for what? If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who else will know?” Shu Luo gave him a side-eye, then carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope, treating it like a treasure.

Of course, because this was the first love letter he had ever received, even though he didn’t particularly, particularly like Li Xing, the letter had already left a very good impression on him.

Seeing Shu Luo beaming, Wang Kai kindly reminded him, “Shu Luo, you’d better seriously consider how to talk to Li Xing now, so you don’t hurt the girl’s feelings.”

“I will make it clear to her.” Shu Luo had his own plans.

“Hey, I heard Huang Wen Yu and Jiang Mu are quite close. Did you know that?”

It was fine if it wasn’t mentioned, but the mention immediately annoyed Shu Luo. “I know, someone told me.”

“Aiyo, who’s so capable of knowing this news? I thought I was the only one who saw it.” Wang Kai observed Shu Luo’s expression. He thought he might see Shu Luo lose his temper, but surprisingly, he was fine.

Shu Luo placed the box in the innermost cubby. He didn’t answer Wang Kai and continued tidying up his belongings. However, his mind was churning, intensely pondering the issue.

Then, he secretly made a decision in his heart.

For the next week, Jiang Mu didn’t come to school, and there was no news at all. Even the class teacher asked Shu Luo if there was a family reason for his absence.

“I’m really not sure about that. I only know he went back to France.” He couldn’t exactly say it was about a custody battle, could he?

The class teacher looked at the parents’ numbers in the student contact book, still wondering whether to call and ask.

“Shu Luo, do you know Jiang Mu’s mother’s phone number in France?”

Shu Luo shook his head; even he didn’t know.

“Alright, you can go back now.”

That’s right. Jiang Mu wouldn’t go ten days without a call or anything. Could something have happened to him?

The more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the person walking toward him. Just as he was about to collide, a wide, warm palm rested against his forehead.

“?” Shu Luo looked up in surprise, then a smile instantly broke out in his eyes.

Seeing that the kid was perfectly fine, Jiang Mu rubbed his hair. The hair had grown longer, and the slightly prickly feeling against his palm made his heart soften.

“Luo Luo, have you been well these days?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Shu Luo grinned happily. “Of course I have!”

“Mm?” Does that mean he’s only good when I’m here?

Shu Luo didn’t understand what Jiang Mu meant, but he was very happy to see him return. “Brother, I thought something had happened to you! I was just worrying about you!”

“What could happen? It was all small stuff.”

Seeing that Jiang Mu looked completely normal, he nodded. “Brother, now that you’re back, remember to check in with the class teacher. He was just asking about you.”

“Mm, I know.”

After lunch, Shu Luo helped Jiang Mu return to the dorm to tidy up. Li Zixin happened to open the dorm door and saw them return.

“Ah, Jiang Mu, Huang Wen Yu just asked me to give you this envelope.” Seeing Jiang Mu reminded him of the favor Huang Wen Yu had asked.

Shu Luo leaned forward curiously and looked. A letter… A love letter?

Jiang Mu nodded his thanks, took the envelope, and tucked it into the Oxford dictionary on his desk.

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

Jiang Mu turned his head, and hearing the slightly sour tone, he couldn’t help but let the corner of his mouth curl up. “No rush. I’ll leave it for now.”

He was going crazy inside! “Aiya, that’s not good at all. What if the girl is anxiously waiting?”

At the slightly sarcastic tone, a deeply doting smile surfaced in Jiang Mu’s eyes.

Li Zixin, standing next to them, saw it all. “It’s fine, she won’t mind.”

Shoving him playfully was useless. Shu Luo simply gave up and ignored him, walking straight to the balcony to wash his face.

“Why don’t you tell him?”

Jiang Mu turned his face to look at Li Zixin and said, “I just want to tease him a bit.”

Li Zixin smiled. “Be careful not to provoke him too much.”

“I know. I’ll smooth things over.”

“Hehe, extra! Extra! Our Class Monitor and Li Xing are becoming a couple!” Wang Kai’s loud voice was heard before he even entered the room.

Jiang Mu’s hand paused. What did Wang Kai just say?

“Hey, Jiang Mu is here too! Aren’t you going to manage your Shu Luo? Starting to date so young! If the class teacher finds out, he’ll be toast!”

Shu Luo came out from the balcony just then, his face clean and bright after washing it. “Wang Kai, what are you doing? Shouting nonsense all the time.”

Wang Kai darted over to Shu Luo, put his arm around his shoulder, and asked with a sly grin, “Quickly, tell me, what’s going on with you and Li Xing?”

Jiang Mu’s face was utterly dark. Well, that’s a bombshell piece of news right after returning.

Shu Luo caught a glimpse of Jiang Mu’s expression and felt secretly delighted. “Oh, it’s just that thing.”

He spoke ambiguously, leaving people to wildly speculate.

“No way, Shu Luo! Did you really agree?! Don’t you want to survive in Jiang City anymore?” Wang Kai looked at him in surprise.

Shu Luo had enough fun gloating and quietly said, “No, am I an idiot?”

Wang Kai gave him a cold look. “That’s boring.”

Suddenly, the dorm atmosphere dropped to an extreme low because no one spoke anymore. Shu Luo looked at Jiang Mu’s cold face and didn’t plan on explaining anything. He hadn’t explained anything either, had he?

Wang Kai looked at the two of them. Did they start clashing the moment Jiang Mu returned? And what exactly were they being awkward about?

“Haha, I’m going to sleep now.” Shu Luo stretched and prepared to climb onto his bed.

Jiang Mu reached out, put an arm around his waist, and pulled him down.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Shu Luo was startled.

“Come on, let’s talk.”

Jiang Mu’s tone was flat, revealing no joy or anger, but it carried an undeniable attitude. His eyes were deep, like a vortex.

Warm sunlight filtered through the dense branches, and dappled shadows reflected on the ground, outlining the faces of the two people under the shade of the tree.

“What’s going on with you and Li Xing?”

Shu Luo was silent for a moment. “She wrote me a love letter.”

“What do you plan to do?” Jiang Mu’s tone was gentle.

“What about you? With Huang Wen Yu.”

“Mm? What about me?” Jiang Mu turned his head to look at Shu Luo, confused by his question.

“They said you and Huang Wen Yu often go to the small woods, and they saw you smiling and talking to her.” After saying this, Shu Luo started complaining internally. Why did that sound like a girlfriend checking up on him?

Jiang Mu smiled. “That wasn’t chatting. I asked her for a favor, something related to us. Don’t overthink it.”

“Really…”

Hearing the distrust in Shu Luo’s tone, Jiang Mu stopped walking. Shu Luo turned his head, confused to see the person beside him stopping.

Jiang Mu walked toward him, slowly closing the distance until he cornered Shu Luo against the tree.

“Wha- What’s wrong?” Shu Luo’s blinking sped up, and he swallowed hard.

Jiang Mu placed his hand on the back of Shu Luo’s neck, cupping it with his palm, and slowly leaned his face closer.

Shu Luo didn’t know what he wanted to do, but his heart was pounding wildly, making him feel a bit flustered.

Jiang Mu gently rested his forehead against Shu Luo’s forehead, then whispered, “Believe me, you are the only one in my heart.”

“…” What is he doing?

Shu Luo awkwardly turned his head away. “Brother, what, what are you doing?”

Seeing the blush spread across the face of the person in front of him, Jiang Mu’s mood instantly lifted. Thinking that the matter with Huang Wen Yu had made Shu Luo feel awkward, it felt like his little scheme had succeeded.

“What, unhappy? I was just demonstrating your importance.” Jiang Mu stepped back and reached out to tighten Shu Luo’s jacket.

“Oh, I see…” He had thought it was some kind of heartfelt confession, and his heart had foolishly doubled its speed.

“Where’s the love letter?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you say Li Xing wrote you a love letter?”

“Oh, I put it away.”

“Let me see it.”

“No way! It’s my treasure. It’s the first time anyone has written me a love letter. I can’t let anyone touch it casually. I have to keep it safe.”

Jiang Mu reached out and grabbed the back of Shu Luo’s collar. “What? I can’t even look at it?”

Shu Luo was caught off guard, and the collar instantly pulled his face into a funny shape. “No! No means no! You wouldn’t hit me, would you!”

“Of course not. How could I bear to hit you?” Jiang Mu flashed a half-smile that sent shivers down one’s spine.

In the end, he was forced to let him see it. And then it was confiscated.

Because of this incident, Shu Luo sulked with him for two days. The atmosphere in the dorm during those two days was understandably tense and confrontational.

Wang Kai and Li Zixin could only stand by, watching and eating. They had absolutely no right to intervene, and at the same time, they had to worry about their own safety.

“Luo Luo, let me tell you about what happened in France.” The only response he got was Shu Luo’s profile.

“My stocks went up. I’ve got dividends.” Still no reaction.

Seeing that Shu Luo had no intention of responding, Jiang Mu figured he had to try something drastic. “I might go back to France.”

Shu Luo’s hand, flipping a page, paused. He turned his face. “Really?”

Jiang Mu reached out and closed his textbook. He said gently, “Do you want me to go back?”

“Are you talking with your lungs?” The suddenly raised voice drew the heads of many classmates, who then turned back, used to the sound. Shu Luo was the only person in class who dared to speak to Jiang Mu like that.

“…” This was genuinely the first time Jiang Mu had seen Shu Luo speak to him with such anger. The rage in his eyes was clearly visible.

Afraid of being laughed at by classmates, Shu Luo lowered his voice and spoke with suppressed anger, “Jiang Mu, if you talk like that again, we’re through!” After saying that, he completely ignored him.

Jiang Mu lightly raised an eyebrow. The little guy was mad, like a crab waving its pincers. Heh heh.

Looking at his delicate, pale profile and smelling the faint scent of laundry detergent on him, being this close, he truly couldn’t bear to be that far away from him.

During the ten days in France, the inability to contact Shu Luo was deeply frustrating. Pressured by family matters, he had no choice but to temporarily let go of the one he cared about.

The one he cared about, yes… Shu Luo had long become the one he cared about. And when exactly could he tell him his true feelings? So close, yet unable to truly possess him.