Lin Mo had discovered a dangerous side effect of becoming interested in something.
He started thinking about it at inappropriate times.
During breakfast.
During lectures.
While brushing his teeth.
And, most unfortunately—
While eating noodles.
He was sitting in the cafeteria, staring at his bowl.
Across from him, Gu Wen looked up from his phone.
“You're thinking again.”
Lin Mo frowned.
“Is that a problem?”
“Usually.”
“Why?”
“Because you get that expression.”
“What expression?”
“The one that says you're about to create more work for yourself.”
Lin Mo lowered his chopsticks.
“CampusLink needs offline access.”
Gu Wen sighed.
“I knew it.”
“If students have poor network connections, the basic information should still load.”
“That makes sense.”
“And the database needs restructuring.”
“Also makes sense.”
“And—”
“Lin Mo.”
“What?”
“Finish your noodles first.”
Lin Mo looked down.
He had forgotten to eat.
He immediately returned to his food.
Priorities.
The innovation program application was due in two weeks.
Professor Zhang had encouraged their team to apply.
Zhao Kai wanted to.
Sun Qing wanted to.
Lin Mo—
Was undecided.
Not because he didn't want to continue.
He did.
That was the problem.
If he joined, he'd have more work.
More meetings.
More presentations.
More responsibilities.
All things he had spent his entire life avoiding.
Yet whenever he imagined abandoning the project, he felt strangely disappointed.
So he hadn't decided.
Not officially.
After class, Lin Mo went to the computer laboratory.
He expected to find Zhao Kai and Sun Qing.
Instead, there was someone else.
“You're early.”
Lin Mo stopped.
Gu Wen was sitting at one of the computers.
“What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
Lin Mo blinked.
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You said you were working on the database.”
“Oh.”
Lin Mo walked over.
Gu Wen moved his bag from the neighboring chair.
“I saved you a seat.”
Lin Mo looked at the chair.
Then at Gu Wen.
Something about the simple gesture made him pause.
He couldn't explain why.
“Thanks.”
He sat down.
Gu Wen handed him a drink.
“Also.”
Lin Mo looked at it.
Milk tea.
His favorite.
“You're getting dangerous.”
“How?”
“You're learning my habits.”
Gu Wen smiled.
“Is that bad?”
“No.”
Lin Mo took a sip.
“Useful.”
They worked for almost two hours.
The laboratory was quiet.
Sunlight gradually disappeared from the windows.
Lin Mo eventually leaned back.
“I think we can make this work.”
Gu Wen looked at the screen.
“You sound happy.”
“I am.”
“You really like this.”
Lin Mo nodded.
“I think I do.”
He looked at his hands.
“That's weird.”
“Why?”
“I've never really wanted anything like this before.”
Gu Wen didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
“Maybe you never found something you wanted.”
Lin Mo looked at him.
“Maybe.”
There was a pause.
Gu Wen smiled.
“Then don't give it up just because you're afraid it'll become troublesome.”
Lin Mo laughed.
“That's exactly the kind of advice I don't want.”
“But you need it.”
“I know.”
Later, Zhao Kai and Sun Qing arrived.
They discussed the innovation program.
This time, Lin Mo didn't hesitate.
“Let's apply.”
Zhao Kai stared at him.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
Sun Qing smiled.
“Then we're doing it.”
Lin Mo nodded.
He felt nervous.
But beneath the nervousness was something else.
Excitement.
He liked that feeling.
That evening, Gu Wen walked with him toward the dormitory.
The campus was busy.
Students were heading back from classes.
Someone was playing basketball nearby.
A couple argued over where to eat.
A group of students rushed past them laughing.
Nothing extraordinary.
Lin Mo liked it.
It felt normal.
He suddenly said,
“Gu Wen.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think people change?”
Gu Wen glanced at him.
“Of course.”
“Even if they don't want to?”
“Yes.”
“Then what about someone who wants to change?”
Gu Wen smiled.
“They probably change faster.”
Lin Mo thought about that.
He had changed.
Not completely.
He still loved sleeping.
He still hated unnecessary trouble.
He still believed noodles solved most problems.
But he wasn't the same person who had woken up terrified of the novel's plot.
He was beginning to build a life that belonged to him.
Not the original Lin Mo.
Not the novel's Lin Mo.
Him.
They reached the dormitory entrance.
Gu Wen stopped.
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
Lin Mo turned to leave.
“Lin Mo.”
He looked back.
Gu Wen hesitated.
“Nothing.”
Lin Mo tilted his head.
“You were going to say something.”
“No.”
“Definitely?”
“Yes.”
Lin Mo stared at him for a moment.
Then shrugged.
“Okay.”
He walked inside.
Gu Wen remained outside for a few seconds.
He hadn't planned to say anything.
Not yet.
He simply wanted to ask Lin Mo to stay a little longer.
That was all.
At least, that's what he told himself.
The next morning, Lin Mo arrived at the computer laboratory before everyone else.
He opened his laptop.
Then stopped.
There was a small sticky note on his desk.
He picked it up.
Don't forget breakfast.
No name.
But Lin Mo recognized the handwriting.
He smiled.
Then took a picture.
A few minutes later, he received a message.
Eat first. Work second.
Lin Mo replied:
You're becoming annoying.
The response came quickly.
I know.
Lin Mo stared at the screen.
Then laughed.
For some reason, he didn't mind.
He placed the sticky note beside his laptop instead of throwing it away.
Then opened the project.
There was still a lot of work to do.
And for the first time—
Lin Mo was looking forward to it.