Chapter 122 - Li Ling Wants To Do What?

"You're right," Li Ling beamed, "Friends don't kiss each other." 

The two stared at each other as if waiting for the other to speak up first but no one did. 

Li Ling sighed as he suddenly rested his head against Zhihao's shoulder and looked at the beautiful scenery that they were facing. 

"Can we not talk about it right now?" 

Zhihao couldn't see the man's expressions, but this also meant that Li Ling couldn't see Zhihao's dejected expression. 

Of course, Li Ling would never say yes to becoming something more. He had a crush on someone much better than Zhihao so why would he ever even look at Zhihao in that manner? 

It was simply impossible from the very beginning itself. Unless Zhihao became the crush that this man was talking about, there was no way he would receive his love. Zhihao looked up and tried to stop himself from crying. Why the hell was his tears welling up at such a moment? 

Li Ling didn't love him like that, it was as simple as that so why was he having such a hard time believing it? 

Li Ling was about to say something more but suddenly his phone started ringing. 

Li Ling picked up the phone and Zhihao was almost thankful that the ringtone had somehow broken the awkward atmosphere that was slowly drowning Zhihao. 

"Hello?" Li Ling answered and Zhihao was unable to hear the other side of the conversation. 

As Li Ling listened to the person on the other side of the phone, his eyes went wide with excitement, and a faint sense of fear laced along with it. 

"Are you sure?" Li Ling enthusiastically questioned the person.

The call didn't last for long, as Li Ling hung up and immediately turned his head towards Zhihao but whatever he was about to say got stuck in his throat as he realized that it was better not to say anything at the moment in order to avoid causing suspicion. 

"I... Need to go." Li Ling spoke up as he stood up in a hurry. 

Great... 

Now he's running away. 

"Um... Yeah, See ya." Zhihao nodded as he tried his best not to let his feelings show on his face.

Li Ling waved and walked away in a hurry making it seem as if he really was running away, but when he got to the door of the cafe, he turned back and walked towards Zhihao. 

Zhihao, "Did you forget something?" 

"Yes, you." Li Ling pulled Zhihao up by the arm and kissed his lips as he smiled and responded, "Ask me again another time, okay?" 

Zhihao was left stunned, with his eyes wide open making him look much like a fish, not knowing what to say or do as he looked at the man. 

Li Ling pulled him along, "Let me drop you off first." 

The lady saw the two leaving and then glanced back down at the two cups of coffee the two had ordered. She sighed as she looked up again and shook her head. By now, it was clear what the relationship between those two was. They were definitely in love. She could bet her job on that answer.

When Zhihao got inside the car, his thoughts seemed to be racing faster than the car. 

What Li Ling said... Didn't it indirectly mean he was giving him some sort of hope...? 

Zhihao couldn't help but keep his eyes on the man who seemed to be happily driving. 

If Li Ling didn't think of Zhihao like that, he could simply say no. He could definitely say no so why didn't he? 

Didn't this mean that Zhihao could keep hoping? Didn't this mean that the next time he asks, Li Ling would surely say yes? 

Zhihao took a deep breath in as he asked again, "Li Ling, will you date me?" 

Li Ling snapped his head towards Zhihao in shock before he broke out laughing as he replied, "Not this soon." 

Zhihao sighed, "Worth a try." 

"A-Zhi is so funny." 

"I am? I thought I was boring." 

"Who called you boring?" 

Zhihao looked at Li Ling and then glanced back at the road in front of them as he replied, "I don't love anything except for games. All I talk about all day is about games. My whole life revolves around a computer and I mostly talk to AI bots and NPCs. Do I really need to spell it out? I probably live a really boring life compared to others." 

Li Ling chuckled as he heard this, "That's not boring at all." 

"Hmm?" 

"That's just you. Just because you like games doesn't mean you're boring." Li Ling didn't take his eyes off of the road as he spoke up, "It's your passion. Isn't everyone like that? It's what makes you unique." He turned his head to meet Zhihao's eyes as he continued, "It's what I love about you." 

Zhihao had never really heard anyone saying he was boring, but he could still sense that it was something that went around in their heads, although, all their mouths said were praises about his passion. Liking games was certainly not lame, but making it the only thing you like and live for was definitely not normal. 

When Zhihao looked at Li Ling's honest expressions, he could sense that this man wasn't saying empty words, however, the only thing Zhihao really focused on was the last sentence. 

Li Ling just said he loved him, didn't he? Zhihao didn't hear it wrong, did he? 

Li Ling smiled as he turned his head towards the road once again, making sure that they didn't get into a car accident. 

"So, don't call yourself lame, okay?" 

"I never said I was lame." 

"..." 

"I said people call me boring." 

"..." Li Ling chuckled as he nodded his head, "You're not boring either." 

"You don't sound very convincing." 

"I don't?" 

"You don't." 

"I thought I was great at lying." 

Zhihao snapped his head and glared at the man who couldn't seem to stop smiling. 

"See. You make me laugh so much. You're definitely not boring." 

Zhihao frowned as he turned his face away and decided to give the man the silent treatment. 

"You're mad?" 

"..." 

"A-Zhi?" 

"..."

"You look so cute when you're mad."

"..." There was no way Zhihao would melt with such a comment however, his ears started turning red from embarrassment as he tried his best to not look back at the man. 

"You're still mad at me?" 

"..." 

"How about you ask me that question again? I might just-"

"Would you date me?"

It was Li Ling's turn to stay silent as he recovered from the sudden question and chuckled as he questioned, "You're not mad anymore?" 

"Yes or no?'

"Ask me again next time." 

Zhihao frowned as he sealed his mouth shut once again, keeping his stubbornness up and not letting the man melt his frozen heart. 

Li Ling glanced at Zhihao one last time before he smiled and kept his eyes focused on the road in front. 

This was probably the best day of his life. He had never expected Zhihao to love him back but somehow, they had ended up here so where were they supposed to go from here? Li Ling had chased after him enough, and if he was going to say yes this soon, it was certainly going to leave a bitter taste in his mouth. He also had pride. Although it was a pride that he was willing to throw away for Zhihao, he still didn't want to look easy.

It was now Zhihao's turn to run after the man. It was his turn to wait around and suffer just like Li Ling had. This was an act of small revenge that Li Ling wanted to take on the man who had kept him waiting for almost his entire life. 

Zhihao wouldn't have to keep waiting forever, maybe just a bit. Till Li Ling felt satisfied, Zhihao would have to chase after this man. 

The car stopped in front of Zhihao's house and when Zhihao got out, Li Ling thought the man wasn't going to say anything since he was mad at him, but unlike what he had expected, Zhihao went around the car and knocked on Li Ling's window. 

Li Ling opened the window with a small smile as he opened his mouth to ask what Zhihao wanted to say, but before he could say anything, Zhihao pulled him by the collar and kissed him once again, but it wasn't long before he pulled away and asked, "Would you go out with me?" 

If the phrase 'dumbfounded' had a face, it would look like Li Ling at this moment. He was shocked and a bit lost as he simply stared at Zhihao's face that didn't seem to be joking. 

"Yes or no?" 

As soon as the situation registered in his mind, Li Ling chuckled as he closed his eyes and buried his head on his hands that were circled around the steering wheel, "Ask again... Later." 

"Understood," Zhihao spoke before walking away. 

Huang Zhen who just so happened to be returning home at this hour saw the entire scene and the loaf of bread he had just bought fell down from his hand as he let the shock sink in. 

What. The. Hell. Did. He. Walk. Into...?!