Chapter 489: Confession
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Ao secretly sniffed Han Miao’s hair and didn’t realize that he looked like a fool. At this moment, the dean’s voice sounded on the radio. “Everyone, quiet down!”
Li Ao was instantly jolted awake by the director’s shout. He realized that he had secretly pulled a strand of Han Miao’s hair onto the tip of his finger. Like touching a piece of flint, he quickly threw away the hair in his hand.
Li Ao looked at the neck peeking out of Han Miao’s sweater. His eyes flickered as he secretly pinched his leg.
“Raise the national flag!”
“Since the national anthem!”
When the prelude of the national anthem sounded, everyone felt their scalps tingle and their bodies tremble.
Han Miao instinctively stood up straight and raised her right hand to salute the flag.
From the moment they knew how to recognize colors, their father had taught them the colors of five-star red flags. From the moment they knew how to draw, their father had asked them to draw five-star red flags. It was said that she had learned how to draw five-star red flags after three days.
The Han Family was a military family. Han Miao’s great-grandfather, Han Aoyu, his uncle, Han Dongliang, his uncle, Han Yueyun, and even his father, Han Zhan, were all soldiers who had served in the military. They had bled for the country and the country had also opened its arms to them.
To the Han Family, the raising of the flag was even more serious than paying respects to their ancestors.
Although Li Ao had grown up overseas, he had a natural respect for the flag-raising ceremony and the national anthem. Like thousands of students, Li Ao saluted and watched the flag rise slowly.
The huge field was so quiet that only the sound of the cold wind swaying the trees could be heard.
After the flag-raising ceremony ended, Han Jun went on stage as a student representative to give a speech. Han Jun’s speech was written by herself, and every speech was at the level of being a classic for the students.
Han Miao stared at her sister on the podium and felt proud of her excellence.
After the flag-raising ceremony ended, there were still five minutes before class started. Some energetic teenagers went to play basketball, while others went to the convenience store to buy things.
If it were in the past, Han Miao would have also gone to buy snacks, but she had already been on a diet for more than two months and didn’t want to waste all her efforts.
Han Miao wanted to find Baby Tian to talk to her. Just as she was about to walk towards the front of the team, Li Ao grabbed her sleeve. Han Miao turned and stared at Li Ao. “What are you doing, Neil?”
Li Ao took out a chocolate from his pocket and handed it to Han Miao.
This chocolate was very delicious. Su Beibei had sent it back from America. There were two boxes, 16 each. Li Ao placed them in the fridge and couldn’t bear to eat a single one.
He wanted to raise a gluttonous fat cat.
Han Miao liked to eat this chocolate very much. The moment she saw the chocolate, her eyes lit up like a glutton seeing a little fish.
Han Miao grabbed the chocolate and said, “Thank you Neil, I love this brand of chocolate the most.”
Of course Li Ao knew that Han Miao liked to eat this. Before he returned to the country, every Christmas, Su Beibei would go to the mall to buy chocolate from this brand and send it back to Auntie Song’s children.
Li Ao had long known that Auntie Song had a younger sister who loved chocolate and was very good at playing the piano.
The chocolate was rectangular. Han Miao saw Baby Tian walking over. She peeled the candy wrapper, split the chocolate in half, and handed half to Baby Tian.
When Li Ao saw this scene, the light in his eyes instantly dimmed. How could she share what I gave with others?
Li Ao was very unhappy and slightly moody. But thinking that Han Miao liked kind, smiling boys, he could only suppress his anger and pretend not to see.
–
Han Miao had lunch at school before returning to the rented room with Han Jun.
The two sisters had just walked out of the lift when the door opposite was suddenly opened.
Han Miao looked up and saw Li Ao walking out of the house with a bag of trash. Li Ao’s hands were stained with a lot of paint. It looked like he was painting in the house just now.
Li Ao placed the trash bag at the door and threw it away when he went to class in the afternoon. He put down the trash bag and looked up at Han Miao. He obviously had something to say.
Han Jun was very good at reading people’s expressions. Seeing that Li Ao had something to say to Han Miao, she pulled her arm out of Han Miao’s palm. “You guys chat. I’ll go back first.” After Han Miao left, Han Miao walked straight to Li Ao’s door.
Han Miao pointed at Li Ao’s finger and asked him, “Are you drawing?”
Li Ao nodded.
He opened the door and signaled for Han Miao to play at his house.
Han Miao followed him into the house. The moment she entered, she saw a gift box on the armchair that Li Ao often sat in. Li Ao pulled Han Miao’s arm and walked to the sofa. He picked up the gift box and stuffed it into Han Miao’s arms.
Han Miao was flattered.
“You want to give it to me?”
Li Ao nodded.
“What is it?” Han Miao raised the box in her arms and sized it up.
It was an exhibition-style square box with a transparent exhibition membrane on one side. Through that membrane, Han Miao saw what was inside. It was actually a bjg vampire doll!
Doll was wearing a very ordinary white suit, but there was also a noble vampire costume in the box.
The moment she saw the doll, Han Miao’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t hide her surprise and fondness. “Are you really giving it to me? The dolls in this company are so expensive. I’ve checked this. It costs more than 4,000 yuan!”
After Han Miao used her living allowance last month, she even borrowed some from Han Jun. This month, she returned her living allowance as soon as she got it. She only had 2,000 yuan left and it was not enough to buy this doll.
Li Ao typed a reply on his cell phone: [For you. Don’t worry, I have money. A lot.]
When Han Miao saw Li Ao’s reply, she suddenly hugged him and said, “Neil, I love you too much. You are really my angel!”
Li Ao was hugged by Han Miao. His entire body was stiff and he didn’t dare to move. Even his breathing was very careful.
Han Miao was overjoyed and realized that she had hugged Li Ao in a moment of excitement. A boy this age and a girl’s bodies had already developed differently. The feeling of hugging was impossible to ignore.
Han Miao hurriedly released Li Ao. Her face was red as she lowered her head to apologize. “I’m sorry Neil. I was too happy just now and my actions were rude.”
Li Ao shook his head, indicating that he didn’t mind.
He lowered his head and typed a line on his cell phone. He handed it to Han Miao. [Be my friend. I will buy dolls for you in the future.]
Han Miao nodded vigorously. “Okay, okay!” Han Miao grabbed Li Ao’s right hand with her left hand and stroked the back of his hand gently with her right hand, as if she was caressing a treasure. She was very gentle and full of pity.
Li Ao’s ears turned slightly red.
Han Miao smiled and winked at him. “Neil, you are the most handsome and adorable child in the world. I declare that from today onwards, you are my best friend!”
All the sweet words were for the doll.
Li Ao looked at his hand. Han Miao’s temperature was still on the back of it. Li Ao looked at Han Miao’s smiling face and finally smiled mysteriously.
With the doll, Han Miao could not sleep. She sat on the carpet in Li Ao’s living room and opened the box of the doll. She happily changed the doll and took photos of it in the living room.
Li Ao sat in the drawing room and occasionally turned to look at Han Miao, who was playing with her doll quietly in the living room. His thin pink lips curled into a faint smile. It was good to like dolls. Dolls were dead. They had no thoughts and wouldn’t cause trouble.
It was much cuter than a friend like Baby Tian.
Li Ao took out his cell phone, opened the official website of this BKD baby company, and bought every product sold on the official website. He raised her with one chocolate a day and spoiled her with one BJD baby a week. Han Miao would like him very much.
–
Han Jun and Han Zheng finished their afternoon nap. When they got up and washed up, they realized that Han Miao actually didn’t come back at noon. Han Zheng was very concerned about Big Sister’s movements. He gritted his teeth and asked Han Jun, “Second Sister, Big Sister didn’t come back for her afternoon nap at noon. Where is she?”
Han Jun was washing her face. Hearing this, she pointed at the house next door. “Li Ao’s house.”
Han Zheng raised his brows slightly and was slightly angry. “Li Ao stayed in the same house as a boy and Big Sister went to his house to play for an entire afternoon? Is she stupid!” Han Zheng hurriedly brushed his teeth and ran to Li Ao’s house to stop him.
Why are all of them so worrisome! They are not even 18 years old, but Second Sister has already found a boyfriend, and Eldest Sister is also running on the way to find a boyfriend. This is really incomprehensible to Han Zheng, who wants to study sages and serve the country in the future.
At this age, they should study hard and improve every day!
Isn’t it better to get 100 marks every time than your boyfriend?
...
Han Miao loved the new doll so much that she couldn’t bear to part with it. She took photos, changed clothes, and played happily. Only when the alarm clock rang and reminded her that it was time to get up and go to school did she realize that she had actually stayed at Li Ao’s house for the entire afternoon.
Han Miao hurriedly tidied up the doll, got up, and asked Li Ao in the studio, “Neil, I’ll go back first!”
Li Ao was painting and was slightly engrossed. He didn’t hear Han Miao’s voice.
Seeing that he was so focused and interested in his work, Han Miao carried the box into the studio. Li Ao didn’t notice Han Miao walking in. He stared at his work with deep eyes, thinking about something.
Han Miao stood behind Li Ao and saw his work.
He was painting a miner in a safety hat. The miner’s lips were cracked from dried blood and his face was covered in dust. His eyes were gray, but he had an extraordinary will.
Han Miao suddenly asked, “Why do you want to paint miners?”
Hearing this voice, Li Ao’s shoulders trembled before he snapped out of his trance.
He looked up and shot Han Miao a confused look.
Han Miao knew that he didn’t hear her question, so she asked again, “Neil, why did you draw a miner?”
Li Ao wiped his hands with a tissue, picked up his cell phone, and typed: [This is a miner who was buried in the mine for 17 days and successfully rescued.]
Han Miao asked again, “You know him?”
Li Ao nodded.
Li Ao pondered for a moment before writing again: [For a period of time, I had the thought of hating the world and nearly died. After my psychiatrist learned of my situation, he brought me to a mining accident site. When we arrived, the mining rescue work had already been going on for three days. We waited there for 14 days. Just when everyone thought that no one could survive under the circumstances, the rescue staff saved a deceased mining accident.]
Li Ao pointed at the person in the painting and wrote on his cell phone: [His name is Willis. He was buried under the dark mine for 17 days. When he was rescued, he was seriously dehydrated and in a trance.]
Li Ao gently tapped the man’s eyes with the tip of the pen and wrote: [I see a will to live that shocks me in his eyes. He is my idol.]
Han Miao didn’t know that this had happened to Li Ao.
She had only heard a story from Li Ao and felt admiration for this man called Willis. “What name do you intend to give this painting?”
Li Ao had been painting this painting for the past few days and had completed it by noon today. He wrote the name of the painting at the bottom of the painting—
Alive.
Li Ao put down his cell phone and went to wash his hands.
He went to the washroom. Han Miao stared at the painting for a moment and couldn’t resist secretly taking a photo and sending it to Su Beibei.
Han Miao: [Auntie Beibei, Li Ao drew a man today. His name is Willis. He was a miner who was buried under the 17th mine for 17 days and was successfully rescued.]
Su Beibei received Han Miao’s WeChat message. When she saw that photo, she cried tears of joy.
She strongly realized that her decision to send Li Ao back to the country was right!
Li Ao couldn’t finish washing the paint in his hands anytime soon. Han Miao wanted to go home to get her bag and wash her face. She shouted at the washroom, “Neil, I’m going back to get my things first! You should hurry up too. Don’t be late for class!”
Han Miao carried the doll and walked out of Li Ao’s house. The moment she opened the door, she saw a dark-faced young man standing outside. “Oh my god!” Han Miao was so scared that she nearly threw the doll in her hand away.
Calming down, Han Miao leaned against the door frame and scolded Han Zheng. “Why are you standing here silently? Who are you trying to scare by pretending to be a ghost!”
Han Zheng saw that Han Miao was dressed well and that her lips were not kissed. He heaved a sigh of relief. “Big sister, if I catch you doing something with Brother Li Ao, I will tell Father and Mother.”
Han Miao said, “Little traitor!”
Han Zheng said, “Then guess if Father and Mother know about you and Li Ao, will they find trouble with you?”
Han Miao felt slightly guilty. Her eyes darted around. “My relationship with Li Ao? What do we have? There’s nothing between us. We didn’t do anything.”
Han Zheng stared at the doll in Han Miao’s hand. “Pure and innocent?” Although Han Zheng didn’t play with dolls, he knew that the dolls in this brand were not cheap. He pressed Han Miao’s forehead and said, “He gave such an expensive thing away just like that. I think Brother Li Ao has ill intentions towards you!”
“If he’s innocent now, he might not be innocent in the future.”
Han Miao’s eyes lit up.
She asked Han Zheng, “In that case, you think Li Ao likes me? He wants to woo me?” Han Miao revealed a happy expression. She said, “That’s great. I thought he didn’t have any feelings for me. In that case, he sent me dolls to woo me and not to thank me for my help that night?”
The more Han Miao spoke, the more she felt that Li Ao might like her.
She felt very sweet inside.
Han Zheng saw Han Miao’s secretly happy look, as if she had bought a lottery and struck 5,000 yuan. He belatedly realized that he had said something wrong. Han Zheng’s expression turned serious as he took the doll from Han Miao’s hand and said expressionlessly, “You’re overthinking. He gave you a present just to thank you.”
“As for liking...”
“You’re thinking too much.”
Han Miao stomped her feet. “Return the doll to me!”
“Come and chase me. If you catch up, I will return it to you!” Han Zheng ran towards their house with the doll. Han Miao stomped her feet and chased after him.
From that day onwards, Li Ao would give Han Miao a chocolate every day during the inter-school exercises. Every time, Han Miao wanted to ask Li Ao if he liked her. But she was afraid to hear Li Ao shake his head. It was her own wishful thinking, so Han Miao endured it and didn’t ask.
But the relationship between the two of them was getting better and better, and Li Ao was also becoming more and more clingy to Han Miao. Baby Tian asked Han Miao privately, “Miaoyi, are you and Li Ao in a relationship?” Li Ao didn’t play with other classmates in class and only played with Han Miao. Baby Tian added, “I heard from Zhang Qingyun that she even saw Li Ao bringing chocolate to you every day. Are you two really in a relationship?”
Han Miao’s face was red. She covered her face with her hand and said, “No, no. We were childhood friends. We played together when we were wet. We were close.”
Baby Tian saw through her disguise and felt guilty. “You two are close? When Li Ao first came, you two were still in conflict. Moreover, why are you blushing?”
Han Miao:”...”
Han Miao grabbed Baby Tian’s palm and said very softly, “I... I quite like him, but I don’t intend to tell him. Let’s see.”
Baby Tian rolled her eyes. “You’re still playing the guessing game?”
“None of your business!”
Han Miao was a strict person. Li Ao’s looks were completely in line with her aesthetic point of view for boyfriends. Han Miao was also a passionate and kind girl. A problematic young man like Li Ao would easily receive Han Miao’s attention and love.
Li Ao was handsome. He brought chocolates for her every day and often gave her dolls. With all these factors added together, it was very difficult for Han Miao not to be moved.
But Han Miao still didn’t dare to confess.
She was afraid of rejection because she liked him.
On the day that the chocolate box in Li Ao’s refrigerator was empty, the school also welcomed the end-of-term exam. Han Miao didn’t usually work hard and just held the fort at the last minute. A few days before the exam, she pestered Han Jun for tuition.
Due to Han Miao’s pestering, there would always be a third wheel when Han Jun video chatted with Xu Qian. She was so annoyed by Han Miao that she said, “Go back to your room. I will give you a few exam papers tomorrow. If you can get 80%, you will pass the exam.”
Han Miao was overjoyed. She hugged Han Jun’s neck and kissed her cheek despite her strong objections. “Love you, Junjun!”
Han Jun waved her hand and swatted away Han Miao, this annoying fly.
Xu Qian was on a night shift today and didn’t have many patients. She sat in the office reading a book and chatted with Han Jun. Noticing that Han Jun had been kissed on the cheek by Han Miao, Xu Qian suddenly smiled.
Han Jun turned on her computer and was about to give Han Miao her exam paper when she heard Xu Qian’s laughter. She asked, “What are you laughing at?”
Xu Qian said, “Little kid, I haven’t kissed your cheek.”
Han Jun’s expression froze.
She thought of that kiss at the entrance of the restaurant that night.
Xu Qian noticed that Han Jun was rubbing her slightly red lips. His eyes darkened slightly as he reminded Han Jun, “Little kid, don’t do this in front of me.”
Only when Han Jun heard Xu Qian’s voice did she realize that she had been distracted and was still rubbing her lips!
Han Jun’s face was red.
She picked up the thermos beside the computer and took a sip of hot water before saying, “I am going to give Han Miao a question.”
Xu Qian asked her, “You know how to guess questions?”
Han Jun said, “Very simple.”
“Looks like my little friend is the Goddess of Studying.” Xu Qian stared at Han Jun’s serious manner and suddenly said, “Little friend, you are so capable. In the future, I will have to trouble you to help manage the Xu Family’s businesses.”
Han Jun was typing on the keyboard. Hearing this, she stopped what she was doing and looked straight at Xu Qian. “In what capacity?”
Xu Qian said, “Of course it’s the Madam of the Xu Family.”
Han Jun narrowed her eyes. She didn’t answer Xu Qian’s question and just told him, “We are about to take our final exam soon. Are you coming to my house for the new year?”
“Of course.”
“Okay.”
Talking to Xu Qian affected Han Jun’s work progress. She told Xu Qian, “It’s getting late. I have to finish all the questions overnight. I’ll hang up first. See you during the new year.”
“Okay.”
Han Jun was smart and knew how to guess questions. As long as Han Miao did the questions Han Jun gave her correctly, she would at least pass the exam.
Han Miao did all the papers that Han Jun gave her before the exam and asked Han Jun to grade her.
After checking her answer, Han Jun frowned. After a long while, she scolded. “In the future, if anyone asks, don’t say that you and I grew up in the same mother’s womb. It will embarrass me.”
Han Miao was about to cry. She hugged Han Jun’s arm and shook it. “Junjun! Junjun, save the child. As long as you can help me pass, I will give you my New Year’s money!”
Han Jun said, “Let go, I’ll tell you the question.”
Han Miao immediately let go of Han Jun and listened to her attentively.
With the help of the Goddess of Studies, Han Miao’s worries about the final exam lessened significantly. On the day of the exam, Han Miao went to the classroom full of food and found her sitting in the same examination room as Li Ao.
The seats for the exam were arranged according to the results of the previous monthly exam. The first student in the class sat in the first seat. That seat had always been Han Jun’s. Li Ao sat in the last row of the classroom while Han Miao sat in the middle.
When Han Miao arrived, Li Ao was spinning his pen, and the slender pen was projected.
He sat there and all the girls in the examination hall were secretly looking at him. Ever since Li Ao entered the examination hall, he had been turning his pen to look at the scenery outside the window. Only when Han Miao entered the examination hall did Li Ao get up from his seat and stand straight beside Han Miao’s table.
Han Miao put down her pen bag and sensed Li Ao’s approach. She looked up and smiled at him with narrowed eyes. Before Li Ao could speak, she said, “I know. Your chocolate is finished.”
Li Ao widened his eyes in surprise, as if curious about why Han Miao knew.
Han Miao said, “Auntie Beibei told my mother that she sent you two boxes of chocolate. That box of chocolate is 16. From the day you gave me chocolate the first time, to yesterday, it was 32.”
Li Ao gave all 32 chocolates to Han Miao.
Li Ao looked at Han Miao in silence. For the first time, he realized that Han Miao was also smart.
She knew everything but pretended not to.
Li Ao nervously clasped his palm.
Han Miao stood up and leaned closer to Li Ao. She asked softly, “Neil, how much chocolate do I have to eat to hear your confession?”
Han Miao was arrogant. Having eaten a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall, she didn’t intend to continue playing chocolate-eating games with Li Ao.
So she didn’t intend to tolerate it anymore.
Boom!
Li Ao’s ears turned red as if they were filled with blood.
Han Miao leaned closer to chat. Her lips were about to reach Li Ao’s ear when she said, “Have I never told you that I, Han Miao, have never accepted chocolate from a boy my age?”
“Neil, I only eat my boyfriend’s chocolate.”
Li Ao’s eyes widened.
He suddenly grabbed Han Miao’s wrist.
It was so forceful that Han Miao’s wrist bone hurt slightly. She frowned and asked Li Ao, “What are you doing?”
Li Ao pulled her out.
The students in the examination hall saw this and started discussing.
There were still eight minutes to the exam. Han Miao didn’t know where Li Ao would take her, but she didn’t ask and just followed along. The two of them were on the main floor of the Year Two building. Below was the basement, their classroom.
In one breath, Li Ao pulled Han Miao to basement one. They walked to the underground corridor between Year Two and Year One before stopping. This was the place where Han Miao had been caught by the dean when she returned the money to the sports commissioner.
Han Miao was traumatized by this place.
Arriving at the underground corridor, Li Ao suddenly cupped Han Miao’s cheek with both hands, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead.
After kissing her, he released Han Miao and carefully observed her reaction.
Han Miao was so angry that she laughed. “After kissing, you look at me as if you did something wrong. Neil, innocent people do not act like this.”
Li Ao blushed.
He gently grabbed Han Miao’s hand and wanted to say something to her, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn’t make any sound. Li Ao was so anxious that he was about to sweat. Han Miao hurriedly patted his chest and comforted him. “Neil, there’s no hurry. You can use your cell phone to type.”
How could Li Ao not be anxious?
There were some words that he wanted to say personally.
Under Han Miao’s gentle comforting, Li Ao slowly calmed down. He took out his cell phone and wrote: [In the future, I will also bring you chocolate.] He gave Han Miao a look and continued writing: [As your boyfriend.]