Chapter 1 - May I Pursue You?

Chapter 1 - May I Pursue You?

After Ji Liao finished playing basketball with his classmates and returned to the classroom, he checked his phone and at a glance, saw the WeChat notification on the screen: Baby, your shirt is too short. Your slim waist nearly made me hard.
When Ji Liao read the message, his face reddened drastically. Yu Jin, who was behind him, saw his strange expression and curiously came closer. “What are you looking at?”
Ji Liao panicked and quickly pushed him away, turning off his phone and putting it in his pocket. Right then, the class bell rang and Yu Jin didn’t pay any more attention, instantly returning to his seat.
Ji Liao heaved a sigh of relief. Thinking of the extreme message from earlier, his face became red and hot.
Returning to the night three days before.
Ji Liao was slumped on his bed, browsing through WeiBo when there was a WeChat notification requesting him to be added as a friend. The remark from the other party: I’m He Cheng Ming.
At first, Ji Liao had not reacted to who He Cheng Ming was. When he realised that it was that class grass from Class Two, the well-known school bully He Cheng Ming, he quickly scrambled up and sat straight, hugging his phone.
He thought to himself, I don’t think I’ve offended him before, right?
The two of them were from the same school but in different classes. He Cheng Ming was in Class Two and Ji Liao was in Class Twelve, eighteen thousand miles apart. So, although they were in the same year, they were completely unfamiliar with each other and had no common friends.
So why was he adding him?
Ji Liao was thinking of the reason and delayed accepting his request. He Cheng Ming had probably waited enough as he sent another request: Accept me.
Ji Liao was hastened and subconsciously selected accept.
The other party immediately sent over a message: Ji Liao?
Ji Liao was actually a little afraid of He Cheng Ming. Although they had never interacted, he had heard many things about He Cheng Ming’s “brilliant” deeds. For example, he had emotionally abused a classmate just because that classmate had touched a book of his. Another example was Chen Li Wen from their class. Because he had secretly “discussed” He Cheng Ming, on the next day, he was beaten up until he had to be admitted to a hospital. These were the consequences of offending the school bully.
Even hearing about it made Ji Liao scared to death, so he replied with particular prudence: Yes, I’m Ji Liao. I didn’t see it earlier. Sorry. May I know why you’re looking for me?
He even used the honorific “you“.
The other person very quickly input: … you? Am I that old?
Ji Liao hurriedly explained: No, no, I just wanted to show respect.
The tall, slender teenager on the other end, who was lying on the bed, holding up the phone with both hands, let out a laugh.
He replied: Just call me by my name. Nothing much. Just wanted to chat with you.
Ji Liao found it strange but still replied politely: Oh…chat about what?
He couldn’t figure it out. What was there to chat about? They weren’t close!
Using the interval before He Cheng Ming replied, Ji Liao got off the bed and poured himself a glass of water to ease his nervousness.
The phone notification sounded.
He Cheng Ming: Just a casual chat. Do you have a girlfriend?
Ji Liao had just taken a mouthful of water when the question made him swallow it the wrong way, causing an intense bout of coughing.
Huh? Was this considered a casual chat? They weren’t close enough to talk about such personal things, right? Of course, he only dared to ask this question in his mind. He wasn’t brave enough to question the school bully!
So, he replied honestly: No. Behind that, he even added an emoticon with a stupid expression.
He Cheng Ming found the emoticon adorable and the corner of his lips lifted unconsciously. He continued asking: Then do you have a boyfriend?
Ji Liao was instantly petrified! What, did he look very gay? He was just a little fairer than the other boys of the same age. Why did he suspect he was gay?!
Although he felt indignant, the reply he sent back was very proper: Ah? I don’t have that either.
Ji Liao continued typing, wanting to add on to his reply, I like girls. But He Cheng Ming was one step ahead and sent: Then may I pursue you?
Ji Liao’s hands suddenly stopped typing. His eyes widened at these words and read them over and over to ensure that he didn’t read them wrongly. His heart was jumping and it wasn’t because he was touched, but because he was too flustered!
Firstly, the person who had said he wanted to pursue him, was a guy! Secondly, this guy was He Cheng Ming!
Ji Liao was dumbfounded. How could this be…
All along, he felt that his looks were average, his grades were normal and he was timid…how could someone like him attract He Cheng Ming’s attention? Thinking about it, Ji Liao’s face gradually became hot and his mouth was dry. For a while, he was in a panic and didn’t know what to do…
Picking up his glass, he took two big gulps of water, then heard the phone notification.
He Cheng Ming: If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it that you agree. !!! How could Ji Liao dare to agree? He hurriedly replied: Sorry, I like girls!
After the message was sent, Ji Liao stared at the screen as the other party was in the midst of typing. He was extremely nervous as he swallowed his saliva and counted the time. Thirty seconds had passed and the other party was still typing!!!
He felt like his heart was about to explode! His heart was in a mess. Thinking about it, would He Cheng Ming fly into a rage out of humiliation, then send someone to beat him up tomorrow? If he was really beaten up, how could he explain this matter to his mother? He was innocent and yet, he would have to pay for his medical bills. Would his classmates look down on him?
The more he thought about it, the more apprehensive he became. The other party was still typing and had not replied yet. Ji Liao was so frightened that he retracted the message and re-typed: Regarding that…can I think it over?
He was someone who was afraid of getting into trouble and only wanted to continue school in a law-abiding manner, so he was very afraid of offending He Cheng Ming.
This time, the reply came very quickly: Okay.
Followed by another message: I’ll be good to you. Sleep early. Goodnight.
Ji Liao felt that this “okay” had another meaning! After ensuring that there were no more messages being sent, he hugged his phone and lay paralyzed on his bed, feeling as if his whole body was hollow.