Chapter 106 Empathy
Cong Chun's electric scooter broke down on a safe path not far from Yenching University.
Cong Chun pushed the electric scooter to the side of the street. It was autumn, and the boy was squatting on the ground wearing a dark plaid shirt.
Cong Chun tilted his head and took out a few tools from the basket of the electric scooter. He craned his neck, wanting to see the scooter's belly.
He's fixed light bulbs at home before, so maybe he can fix the electric scooter too.
At the other end of the street, Mo Xizhi was taken aback when he saw Cong Chun's strange behavior.
The boy carried a black backpack and strode across the zebra crossing. His legs were long and straight, and his face was cold and his expression was somewhat serious.
The next second, Cong Chun felt a pulling force from the back of his collar. A pair of hands with distinct knuckles reached into the back of Cong Chun's collar, bringing a faint coolness.
Mo Xizhi grabbed Cong Chun by the back of his shirt collar and lifted him up from the ground.
Cong Chun was engrossed in observing the "belly" of the electric scooter when, a second later, he looked at the boy in front of him, puzzled.
"Um, is there something you need?"
Cong Chun thought Mo Xizhi needed his help with something.
Mo Xizhi frowned slightly, his expression somewhat serious. The next second, he met Cong Chun's questioning gaze and felt deflated. He tried to soften his tone and make it sound less harsh.
"This is dangerous."
Cong Chun was a little embarrassed and quickly nodded, indicating that he would pay attention next time.
The next second, Mo Xizhi naturally rolled up his sleeves, squatted down, and took the brand-new tools from Cong Chun's hands.
She didn't care even if her hands were covered in dirty oil. Her originally fair and slender hands were stained with dirt, making them particularly noticeable.
A moment later, Mo Xizhi straightened up. His eyes were like snow, exuding a distant and aloof air that kept people at arm's length, yet they also provided a sense of coolness to those in the heat. The boy nodded slightly to Cong Chun in front of him and said it was done.
His tone was neither warm nor cold, without any extra fluctuations.
Here, Cong Chun tried the electric scooter and it started successfully.
Cong Chun's gaze fell on the boy in front of him, and then he noticed Mo Xizhi's hands. He quickly took out a handkerchief from his bag and handed it to the boy.
Mo Xizhi took the handkerchief and said thank you softly.
Cong Chun wanted to thank the other party for fixing his electric scooter.
He planned to treat Mo Xizhi to something to eat.
The two went to a nearby convenience store.
The small shop looked somewhat out of place on this street, with a red awning outside for shelter from the wind and rain.
It couldn't compare to the sophisticated large shopping malls outside. The shopkeeper was an old man dressed in cotton and linen clothes, his temples already turned silver.
Mo Xizhi stood at the store entrance. The boy stared at the popsicles in the freezer. After a while, he saw that they were Beibingyang's "Yuanyang" ice cream.
The ice cream comes with two sticks, so two people can break it apart and share it.
Mo Xizhi opened the freezer and took it out; this was the one he wanted.
The popsicle only cost two yuan. Mo Xizhi tore open the packaging, broke the two sticks, and split the popsicle in half.
Immediately afterwards, the boy handed the other half to Cong Chun, who stared at the ice cream and couldn't help but swallow.
After hesitating for a moment, Cong Chun took it and finally obediently said thank you to Mo Xizhi.
The two sat on a public bench by the roadside, about two fists apart.
Cong Chun put the ice cream in her mouth, and the moment her tongue touched the coolness, it tasted sweet and delicious.
Mo Xizhi glanced sideways and his gaze fell on Cong Chun's face. Cong Chun's profile was smooth and every inch was just right. The tip of the boy's nose was slightly upturned. The way he was eating ice cream now made him look like a cat.
Cong Chun had an ice cream in his mouth, and his expression was more relaxed than before.
The next second, Cong Chun noticed the gaze and looked up at him. The boy's eyes were like a fresh rain, moist and clear. He was caught off guard and met Mo Xizhi's gaze.
Because Cong Chun still had unmelted ice cream in his mouth, his speech was somewhat slurred and unclear.
"Eat it quickly, otherwise... the ice cream will melt."
Mo Xizhi nodded, and soon Cong Chun accompanied him to finish the ice cream.
Suddenly, something flashed through Cong Chun's mind: Mo Xizhi seemed to have something to tell him.
"Is there anything you wanted to say to me?"
Mo Xizhi was stunned for a moment. Actually, he had a bouquet of flowers in his bag. It wasn't big, but he had carefully selected it. He felt that the daisies had a similar temperament to Cong Chun in front of him.
People say that a romantic relationship begins with a bouquet of flowers.
The boy, who was usually calm and composed in all situations, was somewhat flustered for the first time in front of Cong Chun.
Mo Xizhi glanced down at his clothes, wondering if they looked good. He also knew that many people liked Cong Chun.
This is a very normal thing.
Perhaps you won't have many thoughts about Cong Chun at first glance, but after getting to know him, no one can resist being attracted to him.
Mo Xizhi suppressed his inner panic. The boy pretended to be calm, but his voice trembled slightly. Mo Xizhi was expressionless but his heart was surging. He slowly turned his gaze to Cong Chun.
“I…I can do anything for you.”
Cong Chun paused for a moment, then spoke hesitantly.
Want to be friends?
"You don't need to do that between friends."
Mo Xizhi pursed his thin lips. The boy looked at Cong Chun's face and couldn't bring himself to say what he had prepared.
He remained as timid as ever; when he met Cong Chun's eyes, his mind went blank, and he couldn't say a word.
He really wanted to tell Cong Chun.
Will you choose me as your boyfriend?
He won't lose his temper with Cong Chun; he'll be a good partner.
The next second, Mo Xizhi took the bouquet of flowers out of his bag.
He handed it to Cong Chun.
Cong Chun looked at him, puzzled.
Why did you suddenly give yourself a bouquet of flowers?
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and the next second, Mo Xizhi's voice was calm and thoughtful.
"Yes, they are friends."
"I grew these flowers myself, so I'm giving them to you."
Cong Chun's eyes revealed a hint of surprise, and he pulled the person aside to talk for a long time about his planting experience.
Mo Xizhi listened attentively to what he said.
When Cong Chun talked about some planting experiences, he became much more lively than his usual quiet self.
Cong Chun also took out his phone and showed the other person a photo of the periwinkles he had planted.
The periwinkle was well cared for by Cong Chun. The soil was loose, and it bloomed profusely before, filling the pot with vibrant life.
However, Cong Chun also told Mo Xizhi something: the strawberries he planted hadn't sprouted for some reason, and he wanted to dig up the seeds in a few days to take a look.
Mo Xizhi watched his focused expression and his little mouth chattering away, and her heart was also moved.
The boy couldn't help but speak to Cong Chun.
"I'll take care of it for you for a while."
Cong Chun smiled at him.
"I'll go back to my dorm later and give you the strawberry bowl."
"Thank you for taking good care of it."
Mo Xizhi stared at him, the boy's tone cold and hoarse.
"It's not hard work, aren't we friends?"
Cong Chun smiled at him.
"Okay, Xiaochuan."
The words slipped out unconsciously, startling both of them.
Cong Chun quickly apologized.
"Sorry, I subconsciously called you by your old name."
Mo Xizhi's heart skipped a beat, her lips unconsciously tightened, and the boy's fingers curled slightly. It turned out that the other person had already recognized her.
Does that mean the other person never forgot you from beginning to end?
Mo Xizhi disliked the name "Chen Xiaochuan," which reflected his biological father's indifference and perfunctory attitude towards him. There was a small, inconspicuous river in front of his former residence.
Why wasn't he called Xiaohe (Little River)? The man told him that the character "He" (river) has many strokes, while "Chuan" (river) is easier to write, so he was called Xiaochuan (Little River), not Xiaohe. It wasn't because he hoped Xiaohe would have a smooth and bright future that he included "Chuan".
That's how perfunctory it is.
However, at this moment, he was glad that Cong Chun could remember this name.
Mo Xizhi looked at Cong Chun, and the boy suddenly asked a question, his tone somewhat hesitant, yet filled with a sense of anticipation that he himself couldn't quite explain.
Do you... have someone you like?
Cong Chun raised the corners of his lips at Mo Xizhi, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat reserved.
"He is a very outstanding and kind person."
Mo Xizhi's eyes darkened for a moment.
I respect all your decisions.
A moment later, Cong Chun returned to his dormitory and then came to the dormitory building again.
He handed the bare flowerpot to Mo Xizhi.
"Oh, right, and this candy too."
Cong Chun placed the green apple-flavored candy in Mo Xizhi's palm.
You don't seem very happy.
"Eating something sweet will make you feel better."
Mo Xizhi clutched the candy in his hand without saying a word. Was his disappointment really that obvious?
Mo Xizhi held the flowerpot in his hands, his unreadable gaze fixed on Cong Chun's departing figure.
That fair and slender nape of her neck is constantly etched in my mind.
Chen Xiaochuan was born with a worthless life; he was not worthy of him at all.
Now, he has not experienced hunger for nearly ten years.
But why does the pain from hunger still linger?
Even though he was an outstanding and dazzling peer in the eyes of others, with excellent grades and good character, his face was barely passable.
But only Mo Xizhi clearly knew that the underlying inferiority complex within him could not be washed away.
It was like a thin wire wrapped around his neck, ready to strangle him at any moment.
It constantly reminded him of his humble status.
But Cong Chun, I clearly knew you before he did.
Why can't you choose me?
Clearly, in this world, only I, Chen Xiaochuan, can truly empathize with you.
We are a match made in heaven.
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