An Impossible to Reject Confession

Chapter 19.1:

Qiao Mu had another dream. He dreamt of a time when he was younger, he had just turned eight. 

That day, he was solving a life-death problem* a teacher had assigned him. Because it was a bit difficult, he still hadn’t solved it after racking his brains for an hour. The sky outside had already turned dark and he was a bit hungry. Just as he was about to go outside to get something to eat, his mother Lu Yinghua pushed open the door and walked in. 

Seeing his mother, Little Qiao Mu’s face bloomed with happiness. His face revealed two deep dimples: “Mom, you’re back.”

Lu Yinghua asked: “What are you doing?” 

Little Qiao Mu: “I’m solving the life-death problem my teacher assigned.” 

Lu Yinghua: “Did you solve it?” 

Little Qiao Mu: “Not yet, after entering the high duan class, the life-death problems have increased in difficulty. I’ve been working on it for an hour and still haven’t solved it. 

Lu Yinghua’s face darkened, but Little Qiao Mu did not realize it. He said he was hungry and wanted to continue solving it after eating. 

Lu Yinghua: “I just came back from the training center, you class ranking this time was tenth from the bottom.”

Ever since entering the training center, Little Qiao Mu had always been the best. He had never received such a low ranking before. He lowered his head in shame: “Sorry, Mom. This time I didn’t do my best, I’ll definitely try harder next time.” 

Little Qiao Mu still had confidence, Teacher Wang had said that placing 20th in the Chongduan was already very impressive. Because all of the older brothers in the class were seven to eight years older than him which meant they had learned an extra seven to eight years. It was normal for him to be a bit behind, eventually he would be able to catch up. 

Lu Yinghua asked: “It’s just a life-death problem, why couldn’t you solve it in an hour?” 

Little Qiao Mu only then realized his mother’s anger, and said weakly: “So…Sorry.”

Lu Yinghua walked closer to Qiao Mu: “Is it because you are absent minded?” 

Little Qiao Mu didn’t dare say anything and just lowered his head. 

“I’ll teach you how to focus, all right? Follow me.” 

Qiao Mu didn’t understand so he obediently followed his mother into the bathroom. He watched his mother fill a water basin and place it on a stool in front of him.

“Everytime your father could not solve a chess problem or had trouble focusing he would place his head in the water. He would hold his breath and force his mind to calm down. Here, have a try.” 

Little Qiao Mu was a bit scared, but he didn’t want to make his mother unhappy. He closed his eyes and stuck his head underneath. But at such a young age, how could one hold their breath that long? After a short while, he stood back up. 

“Did you solve it?” Lu Yinghua asked. 

Qiao Mu shook his head. Just now his thoughts were only on how terrifying it was, he wasn’t thinking about the life-death problem. 

“Then try again.” Lu Yinghua lifted her hand and pressed Little Qiao Mu’s head down. 

“Again!”

“Again!”

The dream had then become one of endless water and a hand firmly pressing the back of his head down. 

“Qiao Mu, why did you lose this round? When you get back you need to calm down and think rationally.” 

“Qiao Mu, how could you make a mistake in the middle of a game? Were you nervous? Go to the bathroom and calm down.” 

“Qiao Mu, after winning two more competitions you can become a professional player. You must not make any mistakes. Before your competition you must calm down.” 

“Qiao Mu, calm down!!” 

“Cough, cough, cough!!” Qiao Mu woke up from his dream. He laid in bed, coughing non-stop as if he were just rescued from drowning. 

After coughing for a while, Qiao Mu sat up with lingering fear and unconsciously raised his hand to touch the back of his neck. It was a habit of his. Even though he knew there was no hand holding the back of his neck, only when he felt it for himself could he relax completely. 

The clock on his bedside table said it was three in the morning. Qiao Mu turned his head towards the window and let out a deep breath. 

The next day, Xu Youyou entered the classroom wearing the fleece jacket she hadn’t worn for a while. As soon as she entered, it attracted her classmate’s attention.

“Classmate Xu Youyou, are you feeling unaccustomed to the environment again?” Bai Yi asked. 

“En.” Xu Youyou was too lazy to explain. She laid down on her desk listlessly. It was only until Qiao Mu walked into the classroom did some color return to her face. 

“Yo, what’s wrong with you? It autumn but you’re wrapped up like a zongzi**. Are you afraid I’ll take revenge for you framing me?” Lu Shi was still thinking about revenge. Seeing Xu Youyou like this, he couldn’t help but ridicule her. 

“Scram!” Xu Youyou was originally planning on apologizing to Lu Shi for what happened the day before, but now they were even. 

“You’re sick again?” Qiao Mu asked, worry written on his face.

“En.” 

“I thought you were already cured? 

“Who knows? Last night it suddenly started again and immediately woke me up due to the chill.” Xu Youyou also really wanted to know the reason. She was doing fine that night before it suddenly started, “Now, I can’t even stretch my hand out.” 

Xu Youyou pitifully brought her red fingers out from her pocket. 

Qiao Mu subconsciously raised his hand to touch them. The feeling was as if he were touching ice, his voice changed in shock: “It’s already like this, why have you come to school? Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.” 

“I won’t go. The hospital won’t be able to figure out the cause.” Xu Youyou rejected the offer. 

“Are you being serious?” Lu Shi had been listening the whole time and curiously lifted his hand to touch Xu Youyou’s forehead. 

Xu Youyou’s eyebrows raised and raised her hand to knock Lu Shi’s claw away. 

Lu Shi exclaimed in shock: “My goodness. It’s really like ice. Look at the state you’re in, you must go to the hospital.” 

“No need. I’ve had this condition before, I’ll be fine after I sleep.” Going to the hospital wouldn’t help at all. Qiao Mu was her medicine. After a bit of time, her body was slowly beginning to feel warm again.

“Then let’s go to the nurse’s office. You can sleep better there and there is a doctor.” Qiao Mu said. 

“I can’t walk.” Xu Youyou shook her head. 

“I’ll carry you.” After speaking, Qiao Mu squatted down without explanation and gestured for her to get on. 

Xu Youyou’s eyes brightened, she had just been thinking of an excuse to have skin-to-skin contact with Qiao Mu when the opportunity just arose.