Chapter 43: Gap Moe
Watching the six-foot-tall boy in front of her stuttering, his eyes flickering about and his face beet red, too flustered to even look at her.
Qu Danwan looked completely astonished.
When she helped Zhou Hao last Thursday afternoon, she hadn’t known who he was. It was simply an instinctive reaction to seeing a classmate in danger.
But then last Friday, she found out he was the school’s notorious terror—so feared that even the other troublemakers stayed out of his way.
After learning all this, Qu Danwan felt she might have stuck her nose where it didn’t belong.
And when Zhou Hao started appearing nearby, occasionally glancing her way, she had no idea what he was up to.
She’d even thought he was annoyed with her for preventing his fight.
After all, the rumors said he loved to fight, and that when he did, he was a vicious madman. That was why all the other troublemakers at school were terrified at the mere mention of his name.
These rumors were why she had instinctively formed a bad impression of Zhou Hao.
So, for the past few days, with Zhou Hao loitering nearby—never too close, never too far—she’d been feeling a little on edge.
It was no wonder the girl felt that way. After all, when you’re a six-foot-tall guy who dresses like a delinquent, any normal student would give you a wide berth.
Especially a girl like Qu Danwan, the very picture of a traditional "good girl."
But things couldn’t go on like this indefinitely, so Qu Danwan had decided to come over and clear the air.
If he was upset about what happened last Thursday, she was prepared to apologize for meddling.
But she never would have imagined that Zhou Hao was completely different from the fierce, intimidating figure described in the rumors.
It was the first time she’d ever seen a boy get so nervous around a girl that he blushed and stuttered. She suddenly found the contrast surprisingly endearing.
"If that’s what this is about, you don’t need to thank me. I’ll be going now." Qu Danwan glanced at Zhou Hao, who was staring fixedly at the ground, unable to meet her eyes. ’He’s actually pretty innocent,’ she thought. A faint smile touched her lips as she turned to leave.
But then, she felt a gentle tug on her school uniform.
"W-wait..." Blushing, Zhou Hao forced himself to look up at Qu Danwan. He struggled to keep his voice from stuttering. "Let me... let me treat you to some snacks as a thank you."
Seeing his expression, Qu Danwan figured a boy like him probably had a lot of pride. ’If I don’t let him thank me, he’ll probably just keep following me around,’ she reasoned, and so she nodded.
Zhou Hao was ecstatic. He immediately hopped off the planter, stood awkwardly beside Qu Danwan, and when she turned and started walking, he followed at a respectable distance.
Meanwhile, having rounded a corner up ahead, Chen Mo was secretly watching them. Shipping a good couple was truly a universal human pastime.
Seeing Zhou Hao’s behavior, he couldn’t help but laugh. ’Haozi’s not half bad. He’s already managed to have a normal conversation. Though, you can tell he’s going to be completely wrapped around her finger.’
Turning around, Chen Mo saw Lin Yu’an standing awkwardly nearby.
Chen Mo immediately grinned and walked over, slinging an arm around his shoulder like any good friend would. "Hey, sorry about last Friday night. I had something important come up. You’re really okay, right?"
As soon as he asked, Chen Mo felt Lin Yu’an’s body stiffen slightly. He assumed Lin Yu’an’s injuries from the fight with those punks hadn’t healed yet.
But Lin Yu’an shook his head. "I’m fine. They didn’t hit me that hard. Here, this is for you." He spoke while reluctantly handing a spotlessly clean handkerchief to Chen Mo. "As for the jacket you lent me on Friday," he added, "I took it to the dry cleaner’s and haven’t picked it up yet. I’ll return it as soon as I do."
"Wow, you got this really clean." Chen Mo said with a smile, taking the handkerchief and patting Lin Yu’an’s shoulder. "Don’t worry about the jacket. And from now on, if you run into trouble, just call me. Don’t let people bully you without making a peep."
Lin Yu’an didn’t speak, just nodded, an immense warmth spreading through his chest.
Just then, Chen Mo saw a girl with glasses and pigtails appear nearby. He quickly said goodbye to Lin Yu’an and headed back to the classroom.
This girl was on very good terms with Lin Yu’an; she was one of the few people he could actually show some emotion around.
They were neighbors and could be considered childhood friends, but their personalities were honestly a bit too similar.
People say that those with similar personalities don’t make good couples, but Chen Mo felt the opposite. It was only when they were together that the two of them could truly relax.
They weren’t in the same class, and in public, both were the quiet, reserved type who would disappear into a crowd.
But when they got together, they had endless things to talk about.
Chen Mo had once chanced upon them chatting intimately in a corner, away from prying eyes.
Chen Mo had only learned about their relationship after rescuing Lin Yu’an once before. When he escorted him home, he happened to see her there.
As soon as he got back to the classroom, Chen Mo saw Zhao Yuanyuan furtively shoving something into her desk drawer.
"What are you hiding, little hamster? You think I’d actually try to steal your chocolate?" Chen Mo scoffed. "So childish."
Seeing his disdainful expression, Zhao Yuanyuan actually believed him. She pulled the chocolate bar, now with only two small squares left, out of her drawer. "Well, if you say so," she said with a giggle, "then I can relax."
"Gimme that!"
To Zhao Yuanyuan’s utter shock, the moment she brought it out, Chen Mo snatched the chocolate, wrapper and all, right out of her hand with a SWOOSH.
"Hey! You big liar! Give it back!" Zhao Yuanyuan glared at Chen Mo, her cheeks puffed out in indignation.
"There are only two squares left? Well, that means none for you. This last one is for Yuqing." Chen Mo chuckled, broke off one square and popped it into his mouth, then handed the last one to Su Yuqing.
Now Zhao Yuanyuan was in a position where she couldn’t possibly snatch it back.
She could only watch with longing eyes as Su Yuqing accepted the chocolate.
But then, she watched Su Yuqing break that single small square in half. She put one piece in her own mouth and offered the other to Zhao Yuanyuan.
It wasn’t that she absolutely had to eat that half. If someone else had given it to her, she would have given the whole piece to Zhao Yuanyuan. ’But this chocolate is from Chen Mo.’
She didn’t want to disrespect his gesture, so she had to eat at least half before giving the rest away as her own favor.
"Yuqing’s Mother is the best! Brother Mo is the worst!" Zhao Yuanyuan praised Su Yuqing with a beaming smile, then, like a performer in a face-changing opera, she instantly spun toward Chen Mo with a fierce glare.
"You brat, have you forgotten whose money bought that chocolate? Looks like your cheeks are itching for a pinch again."
Seeing Chen Mo pretending to be fierce with Zhao Yuanyuan, Su Yuqing stepped in with a smile. "She’s just joking. Just now, Yuanyuan refused to share with several people just so she could save two squares for you. She said that since you hadn’t had any yet, she wouldn’t give them to anyone else."
Hearing this, Zhao Yuanyuan’s face suddenly turned red. "Why would you tell him that?" she said, embarrassed.
"Ah, finally, some news to warm this old father’s heart. I see spoiling you hasn’t been a complete waste," Chen Mo said, smiling at Zhao Yuanyuan as he reached out and patted her on the head.
"Hmph! Who said I was saving it for you? I was saving it for myself!" Zhao Yuanyuan slapped his hand away and turned from him with a haughty sniff.
She was the type who got shy and flustered when praised. She felt much more comfortable with the playful bickering she shared with Chen Mo.