An Impossible to Reject Confession

Chapter 19.2:

The ages of sixteen and seventeen were when love affairs started, but those who had already started flirting before would become more reserved at this age. For a boy to take the initiative to carry a girl was already a very intimate thing. Unless the girl couldn’t walk anymore, but it was clear that wasn’t the case for Xu Youyou. 

Lu Shi watched as Xu Youyou didn’t move and thought she was trying to avoid arousing suspicion. As he remembered how his cousin revealed his seemingly inferior feelings, he was afraid that if Xu Youyou rejected him now that he’ll never be able to muster up his courage again.
This wouldn’t work, he could not let Xu Youyou reject Qiao Mu. 

“Qiao Mu, let’s help her together.”

Just as Qiao Mu was recovering his senses and about to turn, he felt a chill on his back followed by a cold but soft touch. Xu Youyou had wrapped around his neck and had crawled onto his back.

Qiao Mu was stunned. He stood up and straightened his back. Without another sound, he began carrying Xu Youyou. 

Lu Shi scratched his head in confusion, as he thought about it more. It was true that if one films dramas a lot that they would easily make up scenarios in their head. 

Qiao Mu knew that Xu Youyou was afraid of the cold, so along the way he picked the path that was directly in the sunlight. He walked for around seven to eight minutes until they reached the nurse’s office. 

“What happened?” The teacher in the nurse’s office was shocked to see students so early in the morning. 

“I didn’t eat breakfast so I have low blood sugar.” Xu Youyou’s sickness wasn’t easy to explain so she randomly made an excuse. 

“Girls these days. Were you trying to diet? Why are you wearing so much?” The teacher complained, but went to grab a chocolate bar from a drawer and handed it to Xu Youyou. “Have some chocolate first. Student, would you mind going to the shop to buy her some breakfast?” 

Qiao Mu responded with a sound and quickly ran out. 

Xu Youyou followed the teacher’s directions and took off her jacket before lying on the bed: “Your temperature is a bit low. Sleep for a bit and I’ll continue monitoring.” 

Shortly after Qiao Mu came back with a sandwich and milk for Xu Youyou. He had specifically warmed them up for her and in his hands they were still a bit scalding: “Have the milk first, warm yourself up.” 

“I already feel much better.” Xu Youyou responded. 

Qiao Mu lifted his hand to check Xu Youyou’s forehead. Her temperature had indeed increased significantly, he then let out a sigh of relief: “That’s good.” 

When the youth got closer, Xu Youyou realized that Qiao Mu’s eyes were a little bloodshot: “You didn’t sleep well last night?”

“Ah, I had something to do so I went to bed late.” Qiao Mu downplayed. 

Xu Youyou didn’t think much about it when Qiao Mu coincidently didn’t sleep well. She much less didn’t tie it to her sudden recurrence of her cold disease. But after three days in a row where she was woken up due to the chill and seeing Qiao Mu’s dark circles under his eyes, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but be suspicious. 

Finally, on that four night when Xu Youyou was once again woken up at 3:00 am from the chill, she couldn’t stop her and called him. 

“What are you doing? Are you going to sleep or not?”

Qiao Mu, who had suddenly gotten a call in the middle of the night, was stunned. It took him a while before he responded with a sentence: “How did you know I wasn’t asleep?” 

The fact he quietly stopped taking the sleeping pills was something even his family didn’t know. How did Xu Youyou know? 

Xu Youyou was immediately woken up by the question. That’s right, how could she know that Qiao Mu wasn’t asleep. My goodness, how was she going to explain? 

“Qiao Mu?” The first step was to pretend she was also confused. 

“It’s me.” 

“Oh, it’s you. Sorry, I dialed the wrong number. I was calling my dad. He’s in Y Country and the time zone is different.” Xu Youyou explained unnecessarily. 

“It’s fine. I’ll hang up then. You can continue talking with Uncle.” Qiao Mu was just about to end the call.

“Wait, it’s three in the morning. Why are you not asleep? It seems you haven’t slept well the past few days, dark circles have appeared beneath your eyes. Last time you said you were thinking of something, what are you thinking about?” Xu Youyou was afraid Qiao Mu would muddle through her questions so she asked them all at once. 

“I……” Qiao Mu paused for a bit before responding, “I was thinking about whether I should participate in a national Weiqi competition.” 

“You want to start playing Weiqi again?” Xu Youyou said in shock.

“I’m still considering it.” Qiao Mu said. 

“What is there to consider? Of course you should.” 

“Why?”

“Isn’t that nonsense? You had already given up on Weiqi, but you’ve been worrying about it for a few days now. That must mean your heart still wants to. If you don’t want to go, why would you still worry about it? If you want to go, then go. Why are you thinking so much?” Xu Youyou said.
“I’m afraid… I will get nervous.” 

“Isn’t being nervous normal? There isn’t anyone in the world who doesn’t get nervous during a competition.” Xu Youyou felt that Qiao Mu’s worries were unnecessary and strange. 

“I’m different from other people.” Qiao Mu got up from his bed and in his pajamas went out to the yard. He lifted his head looking at the moon, “Do you still remember last time in the alleyway when I almost passed out? Every time I get nervous, I get like that.” 

“You……” Xu Youyou suddenly remembered something, “Last time you participated in the rank competition, did you also pass out like that? 

“Yes, after the competition, I passed out twice.” Qiao Mu said heavily, “They said that chess skills can be learned, but a weak hearted person isn’t fit for learning to play Weiqi.” 

He was quite pitiful. He was a sad child prodigy with a flawed personality. 

“So it wasn’t that you wanted to give up playing, but that they made you give it up?” Xu Youyou asked. 

Qiao Mu realized Xu Youyou’s focus was on something different than other people: “I don’t know. But at that time, I really did not want to play. I was scared. Am I useless and cowardly?” 

“You were just ten years old then, right? Isn’t being scared normal?” Xu Youyou said. 

Yes, at that time he was just ten years old. However, in the eyes of others, he wasn’t an ordinary person, but a genius who had to do better than ordinary people. 

“What if I get nervous and pass out again?” Qiao Mu asked.

“You can worry and make your decision about that after you pass out. It’s better than having your thoughts run wild while doing nothing.” The most important thing was that it was impacting my sickness. 

That’s true. What was the point of thinking? It wouldn’t be the first time it happened anyway. 

“Can you help me do something?” Qiao Mu asked. 

“Speak.” Xu Youyou yawned. Since just before, her body’s cold spell left as fast as it came. Now the warmth was thick and made her sleepy.

“This weekend there is a competition in the city, but I don’t want my grandmother to know.”

Qiao Mu hadn’t even finished speaking before Xu Youyou understood: “That’s easy, wait for me the morning of. I’ll come find you.”

After speaking, Xu Youyou couldn’t not hold it any longer and hung up. She fell asleep within seconds.