No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 6

Finally, New Year’s Day, January 1, 2008, has arrived! Haha, a holiday!

Shu Luo happily got up early, a rare occurrence, because his dad was coming home today!

As soon as Shu Luo got up and opened his door, he saw his dad sitting in the living room, looking refreshed and eating the special breakfast Shu’s mom had made with love.

“Wow, Dad, you’re back so suddenly!” Shu Luo excitedly pounced on his dad, wrapping his arms tightly around his neck and giving him two big kisses on the cheek.

Shu’s dad almost spat out his coffee. He gently put his cup down and immediately scolded, “What’s wrong with you! Can’t you see I’m drinking something?! I just got back, and you’re already trying to kill me!”

Shu Luo wasn’t afraid of his dad, who was just a fake tiger. “Hehe… Dad, you and Mom have been together so long you’ve picked up each other’s accents, haha! Did your subordinates laugh at you?”

“You rascal, you dare to talk back to your dad? Are you looking for a beating!”

Shu’s mom shook her head helplessly. “Alright, Luo Luo, go brush your teeth and wash your face first, then come eat breakfast.”

Shu’s dad immediately wiped his face and said with disgust, “Shu Luo, you kissed me without even brushing your teeth!”

“Hmph! My kisses are very precious, and you’re complaining!” Shu Luo proudly shook his head and walked into the bathroom, his back view making people want to hit him.

Shu’s dad took a sip of coffee to calm his nerves, then looked at his smiling wife. “It must be hard on you. Luo Luo is so mischievous. He’s almost in ninth grade, and he’s still like this. How is he going to focus on his studies?”

“You don’t know, our new neighbor across the street has a boy named Jiang Mu. He’s in the same class as Luo Luo and is also his deskmate! His grades are excellent; he’s the only one who can handle Luo Luo.”

Shu’s dad heard his son say someone’s name so intimately and suddenly became a little curious. He rarely paid attention to his son’s friends and realized that his busy work life had indeed caused him to neglect his child quite a bit.

“Is something wrong?” Shu’s mom saw his expression suddenly change.

Shu’s dad shook his head. “It’s nothing, nothing.”

“By the way, is everything okay with you in B City?”

Shu’s dad said while eating breakfast, “What could be wrong? The branch company was just handed to me, but my main role is just management, as you know. So, it’s okay, just a lot more social events.”

Shu’s mom looked at her husband’s handsome face and felt a little sad. “I was hoping you’d come back to Shanghai more often. We don’t see you for so long.”

“What, are you lonely?” Shu’s dad’s handsome looks hadn’t been ruined by social gatherings. He could still make jokes as well as any young heartthrob.

Shu’s mom said with a mix of annoyance and shyness, “Why are you so direct? Don’t say that in front of the kids.”

“Haha, I know. By the way, I might be traveling between S City and B City frequently in the second half of the year. The company recently partnered with a company in S City.”

Shu’s mom looked at him with surprise. “That’s great! Luo Luo is always looking forward to seeing you. He always complains that you have a mistress and an illegitimate child out there and that you don’t want him anymore.”

“…That rascal!” Shu’s dad still had a love-hate relationship with his son.

Shu Luo, who was now clean and tidy, happily ate his breakfast when his phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw a text from Jiang Mu.

“Waiting for you at the court.”

It was a concise command that couldn’t be refused.

So he wolfed down his breakfast, chugged his milk, and put on his down jacket, ready to go out.

“Dad, Mom, I’m going out to play basketball. I’ll be back later.”

“Why are you playing basketball in this cold weather?” Shu’s mom yelled.

Shu Luo said while putting on his shoes, “I’m going with Jiang Mu.”

“Oh, okay. That child has good judgment. Go ahead. Put on your scarf, and also the hat Mom knitted for you. Wear them so you don’t catch a cold!”

“Yes, yes.” Why do they look at me like I’m an idiot when I want to go play basketball, but when it’s Jiang Mu, it’s “good judgment”? So unfair!

S City in January was already very cold. They were lucky it wasn’t snowing. Shu Luo wondered what was going on with Jiang Mu to make him go to the court in this weather. So strange.

There was only one figure playing on the court. Although the sun was out, wearing a sweater and playing basketball in this cold weather was not enough to keep warm.

The sound of the basketball hitting the ground made the surroundings seem very empty, unintentionally adding a sense of loneliness.

Jiang Mu looked unhappy. He kept dribbling and shooting, repeating the same actions alone.

He stopped when he saw a ball standing next to him, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

The blue down jacket was a bright spot in this place, making his eyes light up. He was wearing a white hat and scarf, wrapped up tightly as if he was afraid of any wind getting in.

“Shu Luo, are you dressed up as a snowman?”

Hearing Jiang Mu’s playful laugh, Shu Luo glared at him. “Why did you call me out here? It’s freezing. I should be at home with the heater on.”

“No one is home,” Jiang Mu said, his expression starting to turn a little somber.

“Huh? Where’s your auntie? Isn’t she home? It’s New Year’s Day.”

Jiang Mu’s lips curved into a sarcastic smile. “She went to find her man.”

Slap!

Shu Luo angrily slapped him on the chest. It was a life-threatening slap on such a cold day!

“Hiss– What was that for?!” Jiang Mu clutched his chest and winced.

“What are you saying? Can’t you talk properly? ‘Finding her man’—who else could that be but your French dad!”

Jiang Mu’s eyes flickered. Looking at the person in front of him, he had to admit that sometimes this guy was surprisingly observant.

Shu Luo saw him clutching his chest and not saying anything. He thought he had hit him too hard and said anxiously, “Did I hit you too hard? Do you have an internal injury?”

Hearing this, Jiang Mu couldn’t help but smile, and his mood improved. “You need to drink milk for a few more years before your punches can do any damage. I’m fine.”

“Hey! Why are you like that? I was trying to show you concern!” Shu Luo looked at him indignantly, putting his hands in his pockets to warm them. It was so cold.

Jiang Mu seemed to notice Shu Luo’s action and said casually, “Let’s go to the indoor court.”

He then picked up his jacket and towel and walked inside.

Shu Luo looked at the jacket in his hand and scowled. Is this guy really strong or just broke? Wearing a thin jacket in this weather! He’d rather look cool than stay warm.

It was noticeably more comfortable indoors. Jiang Mu was leaning against the basketball hoop, one knee bent, watching him.

“Alright, tell me, why did you drag me out here so early?” Shu Luo took off his scarf and hat, and a strand of hair on his head hilariously stuck up. He didn’t seem to notice and sat down next to Jiang Mu.

Jiang Mu’s lips lifted at the sight of the stray hair. He leaned his head against the metal bar, feeling the coolness against his scalp, before finally speaking.

“My mom is going back to fight for my custody.”

“…” Wow, what a dramatic plot.

Jiang Mu didn’t pay attention to his expression and continued on his own. “My parents divorced, and I chose to live with my mom. But my father needs an heir, so he sued. The result of the lawsuit will definitely be that I’ll be given to my father. If that happens, I’ll have to go back to France.”

Shu Luo looked at him in surprise, hearing that he might go back to France. “No, no, don’t go back so soon! You’ve only been here for half a year!”

He hadn’t expected those words of retention to come out of his mouth, but after being deskmates for half a semester, anyone would develop feelings. And Shu Luo himself was a very emotional person.

Jiang Mu smiled, placing his hand on Shu Luo’s head and smoothing down that one rebellious strand of hair.

“Um, Jiang Mu, do you want to go back to France?”

Jiang Mu turned his face toward him and smiled. “No, I never wanted to stay in France.” Perhaps it was the sadness of living in such a privileged family; he’d rather live a simple, quiet life.

“Then why did your mom want to marry a French person? How did she even meet your dad?”

“My mom went to university in France and met my father, who was at the same school.”

Shu Luo shook his head silently. “Ah, what a cursed fate! There are so many irreconcilable differences between different ethnicities. Divorce is just a small thing; what if there are racial conflicts?”

“Haha, that’s a unique perspective. But it’s hard to reconcile a divorce once a couple has decided on it. If they are both determined, there’s not much you can do.”

“Then, why did your parents divorce?”

Jiang Mu’s gaze shifted to the entrance of the gym, and he said softly, “I guess there was no love left…”

Suddenly, Shu Luo pushed Jiang Mu down, looking at his slightly surprised eyes.

“It’s fine! You have the right to choose, don’t you? The judge can’t force you to go with your dad! Your mom can afford to raise you, and the environment isn’t bad. What if your dad is rich? It’s not good for your growth. You can refuse! You’re not a kid anymore; you have your own thoughts, right?”

Jiang Mu looked at his sparkling eyes and was momentarily stunned. After a moment, he replied to his speech.

“Yeah.”

Shu Luo saw that he had a little bit of a fighting spirit and patted his face like an encouraging teacher. “That’s right! Just be happy for now. It’s New Year’s Day today! Come to my house to celebrate. From now on, my house is your house, and my parents are your parents. We’re brothers, so no need to be formal!”

“Haha, you’re so generous,” Jiang Mu said, playfully messing up his hair.

He smacked Jiang Mu’s hand away in disgust. “What are you doing! My hairstyle is very important, it’s very important! You know?”

Jiang Mu put his arm around his neck, pulling him into his chest, and said softly, “Don’t forget the exam is coming up soon. Don’t fail English again.”

Shu Luo suddenly looked up, meeting a pair of laughing eyes. He wanted to get angry, but then he remembered that Jiang Mu had been a little sad earlier. He held it in. Forget it.

So he said through gritted teeth, “Of course I know!”

Hearing his grinding teeth made Jiang Mu feel a lot better.