Chapter 31 – You Should Have Told Me Earlier
Novel Title: 我们已经分手了 (We Have Broken Up)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 刘帆 (Liu Fan -MC), 陈谦 (Chen Qian -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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The hospital was already busy in the morning. Li Xin and Li Yu were having breakfast when the door opened. Luo Xi smiled and said, “Xiao Yu, look who’s here to see you?”
Li Yu saw Chen Qian behind her, feeling a bit surprised but immediately frowned and asked, “Did you go to find him?”
“No, I – and your Mr. Chen…” Luo Xi awkwardly gestured towards Chen Qian with her eyes, “Downstairs…-“
“Yes. It was Ayi who came to find me,” Chen Qian greeted Li Xin and stood by Li Yu’s bed. Li Yu frowned even more. He was embarrassed and angry, “Who told you to meddle in my affairs?”
“Li Yu,” Chen Qian reprimanded, “Is that how you speak to your mother?”
As soon as he spoke, Li Yu lowered his head and fell silent. Li Xin and Luo Xi looked at each other, “Well, why don’t you two chat? His dad and I will go buy some fruit. Xiao Yu, what do you want to eat?”
Under Chen Qian’s gaze, Li Yu replied, “Anything is fine.”
After the two left the room, Chen Qian asked, “Is your health okay now?”
“It’s nothing serious, just appendicitis. It is not life-threatening.” Li Yu curled his lips, “I can go back to work in a few days. Actually, you didn’t need to come, Chen Ge. It might cause misunderstandings with your partner.”
Pulling over a chair to sit down, Chen Qian said, “Mm, I was afraid he would misunderstand. So I wasn’t planning to come.”
This statement choked Li Yu. After a while, he forced a smile and said, “Chen Ge, I didn’t realise you were so henpecked.”
“It has nothing to do with that,” Chen Qian rested his elbow on the chair back, casually saying, “I just don’t want him to worry about this kind of thing.”
Li Yu fell silent. His hand clutched the blanket on his knees, pulling it up as if cold. After a full minute, he opened his mouth, “There’s something, Chen Ge, I’ve been holding back for a long time.”
“Mm.” Chen Qian glanced at his IV drip, “Go ahead and tell me. You have feelings for me?”
In that moment, it didn’t feel surprising. Whether it was because the atmosphere wasn’t right, or because of Chen Qian’s nonchalant attitude. After thinking about it for so long, when it finally came to this moment of revelation, Li Yu didn’t feel any of the nervousness, excitement, or warmth he had once imagined. He laughed, unable to describe the feeling, “You knew?”
“I only found out these past few days,” Chen Qian’s eyebrow twitched, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Li Yu was stunned. Before he could guess the meaning behind these words, Chen Qian continued, “Then I could have clarified things with you earlier, instead of dragging it out for so long.”
His tone was matter-of-fact, clearly without any other meaning. But such a straightforward rejection was even harder to accept. Li Yu opened his mouth and took a couple of breaths. His pale face turned slightly red, “Chen Ge, we’ve known each other for over six years, right?”
Chen Qian stared at him unmoved, “Yes.”
Having said this much, there was no point in hiding anything else. Li Yu looked back at him, “During these six years, I’ve seen how hard you’ve struggled on your own, I…-“
Chen Qian made a gesture to interrupt him, saying sternly, “-Whether I struggle or not, it’s not for others to see. And I especially struggled not for you. You don’t need to concern yourself with things that don’t relate to you.”
If Liu Fan were here, he would certainly feel unfamiliar. This wasn’t the Chen Qian he knew – that Chen Qian was awkward and childish, with a bad temper that would explode at the slightest provocation, arguing at a kindergarten level. He would never speak so bluntly and mercilessly.
The flush on Li Yu’s face instantly faded, feeling as if he had been slapped.
But how could he give up so easily?
He had cared for too long, kept it in his heart, always feeling he could wait a little longer. He and Chen Qian went everywhere together, had similar backgrounds, the same sexual orientation, took care of each other – was there anything more perfect or compatible? So he wasn’t in a hurry, letting feelings grow with time. He liked that sense of affection developing gradually, believing that unspoken things would one day sprout.
Chen Qian had mentioned Liu Fan to him before, when it was just the two of them. It was after he got drunk or when particularly tired. Chen Qian would seem to lose control and bring up that person.
But so what? First loves might be unforgettable, but that was over, imperfectly concluded. Li Yu had always thought it was just a scar in Chen Qian’s heart. It didn’t matter, because he was the one by Chen Qian’s side now, and would be in the future.
He tried to maintain that precarious smile, “Chen Ge, Liu Fan broke up with you when you were at your lowest. Now that you’re making money and successful, he comes back to reconcile. What’s that about?”
“Li Yu.” Chen Qian stood up, looking down at Li Yu on the bed as he calmly said, “We’ve known each other for six years and are friends. But if you keep talking about Liu Fan like that, I’ll still beat you up.”
Li Yu gritted his teeth.
“Let’s be clear,” Chen Qian’s expression softened slightly, looking at him like a child who didn’t understand, “Focus on getting better. Sleep when you should, eat when you should. Stop worrying your parents and don’t dwell on unnecessary things. You don’t know how lucky you are.”
He rolled up his sleeve to check his watch, “It’s about time. I’m leaving now. When you come back to work, we’ll make different arrangements. You don’t need to keep following me around.”
“Chen Ge…” Li Yu bit his lip, asking softly, “How am I inferior to him? I’ve been by your side all these years. What has he ever done for you? What right does he have?”
Chen Qian gave him a cold look and walked out of the hospital room.
Outside the room, Luo Xi and Li Xin were waiting. Seeing him come out so quickly, they were puzzled. But Chen Qian didn’t explain much. He just said goodbye and left.
In the parking lot, Chen Qian got in the car and sat in the driver’s seat. He lit a cigarette and seemed to mutter to himself, “What has he done for me?”
He didn’t know what Li Yu saw in him. Regardless of how he presented himself to others, Chen Qian actually knew he had many flaws. Not everyone would be willing to put up with them like Liu Fan did.
Moreover… Liu Fan didn’t need to do anything. His mere existence gave meaning to everything Chen Qian did. He was like dawn to his night. Like a scenery to his mountaintop. Some things, some people, just by existing, could comfort all the waiting and hardship.
But saying such things out loud would be too sentimental. And there was no need for others to know.
After finishing the last puff, Chen Qian extinguished the cigarette. He then fastened his seatbelt, stepped on the gas pedal, and smoothly drove out of the parking lot.
***
“Housing prices have been falling sharply recently…” Liu Mengjiao sighed, “It’s a tough year for real estate. Who knows how many industries will be affected.”
“Are you looking for houses?” Liu Fan leaned over to look at Liu Mengjiao’s screen, “What, you’re thinking of buying one?”
Liu Mengjiao rested her chin on her hand, “Always renting doesn’t feel right. Every time I get settled in, it’s time to move again… Anyway, I plan to stay in City C from now on. Might as well buy a studio apartment while prices are low. Jiaojiao and I won’t have to move around anymore. Perfect! Oh, what should we eat for lunch? I saw a new hot pot place that opened nearby, they’re offering a 20% discount!”
“Let’s go there then.” Liu Fan wanted to try something new too. But then Chen Qian called, saying he’d come over for lunch.
Liu Fan said, “Perfect timing, I was just talking to a friend about going to the new hot pot place.”
Chen Qian replied, “Oh, that Liu Mengmeng? Okay, I’ll be there soon.”
Liu Fan hung up with a frown and sent him a text: What Liu Mengmeng? Don’t go changing people’s names. Her name is Liu Mengjiao. Don’t call her the wrong name when you get here.
“Oh, is General Manager Chen gracing us with his presence?” Liu Mengjiao giggled, looking at the ring on his ring finger, “How nice. General Manager Chen is quite romantic.”
Liu Fan was a bit uncomfortable at first. But he got used to it after wearing it for a few days. Others would always notice and their looks towards Liu Fan became even stranger.
“Liu Ge, is… your boyfriend coming?” Guo Yan, who hadn’t spoken to them in a while, asked quietly. Liu Fan smiled, “Yes. He’s coming to pick me up soon.”
Liu Mengjiao, clear in her likes and dislikes, didn’t really want to talk to Guo Yan.
Guo Yan hesitated for a long time before asking Liu Mengjiao, “Mengjiao Jie, are you also…-“
Her expression carried great fear, as if preparing for a keyboard attack from Liu Mengjiao.
Liu Mengjiao wanted to reply ‘What’s it to you?’. But seeing Guo Yan’s teary-eyed rabbit-like expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh. “No. Aren’t you annoying? What’s wrong with being gay? Are those few people in prison gay? I hate people like you…- Why are you crying?”
Guo Yan burst into tears, startling both Liu Mengjiao and Liu Fan. Liu Fan asked, “What’s wrong, Xiao Guo?”
Liu Mengjiao frowned, “Hey, hey. We didn’t bully you. What are you trying to do?”
“It’s not that…” Guo Yan shook her head, crying, and confessed in a tiny voice, “I… I like girls. But I’ve never dared to tell anyone around me.”
Liu Fan: “…”
Liu Mengjiao: “…”
Seeing Liu Mengjiao’s thunderstruck expression, Liu Fan knew she must be internally screaming, ‘What happened to agreeing to disagree?’
He wanted to laugh. But the atmosphere wouldn’t allow it, making him feel very uncomfortable.
“Oh my…” Liu Mengjiao’s red lips trembled, “Is the feng shui in our office really that… similar?”
She silently took out her makeup mirror and seriously examined herself in it.
Liu Fan asked curiously, “What are you looking at?”
“I’m checking if I’m still straight…” Liu Mengjiao’s quiet sigh hurt the little rabbit across from her again. Guo Yan started sobbing sadly, almost hyperventilating. Liu Mengjiao had no choice. She couldn’t leave the task of comforting a girl to Liu Fan. So she moved over and talked with Guo Yan for a long time.
At lunchtime, Liu Mengjiao originally wanted to accompany Guo Yan for lunch. But Guo Yan said she didn’t want to eat. She just wanted to be alone. Besides, she had heard Liu Fan’s phone call and knew they had plans with ‘that person’ from across the way. So she insisted she didn’t want to disturb them.
Liu Mengjiao found Guo Yan’s intensity – as if she would commit suicide if Liu Mengjiao didn’t keep their lunch appointment – particularly exasperating.
This wasn’t a little white rabbit. But a little sunfish.
“I thought girls like her would like really manly men. I never expected this,” Liu Mengjiao remarked as she walked out with Liu Fan.
Liu Fan said, “Maybe she’s afraid of men’s tough demeanour, which is why she likes girls who are equally gentle and sensitive?”
Sexual orientation was a complex matter. Both Liu Fan and Liu Mengjiao had deep personal experience with this. After influencing each other for so long, they had both somehow ended up liking men together.
As they were talking, they reached the entrance where Chen Qian waved for them to get in the car. Liu Mengjiao, not having heard about what happened to Li Yu, curiously asked as soon as she got in, “Where’s Assistant Li?”
Chen Qian said, “Acute appendicitis. He’s in the hospital.”
“Oh… Is it serious?” Liu Mengjiao showed an expression of understanding, “Is he better now?”
Chen Qian, holding the steering wheel, said, “He just woke up today. Looks like there’s no major problem. He’s recovering well.”
Liu Fan tilted his head, “You went to see him? This morning?”
Chen Qian nodded casually, “Mm-hmm.”
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*Translator’s Note: LY, you’re done for! Nyahahahaha! Oh! Guo Yan is also gay… Poor girl just needed support. Haish… -K
*GLOSSARY:
- ‘Little white rabbit’ is usually a positive term, emphasising innocence and sweetness, though it can also carry a slight undertone of being naive or overly trusting.
- In internet slang, ‘Sunfish’ (fanche yu) has come to mean “a big failure” or “a situation gone wrong.” When combined with “fish” (鱼), “翻车鱼” can humorously refer to someone who has experienced a blunder, failure, or unexpected mishap. So, in online contexts, calling someone a “翻车鱼” (fanche yu) might be a lighthearted way of saying they messed up or had a particularly awkward or unlucky moment.
Next update: 2024.10.06
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