Translator: Lynn
Thank you Hayl for the ko-fi! Here’s your bonus chapter <3
Sponsored chapter (1/2)
Cheng Ke had lived for nearly three decades, and in his largely uneventful life, the most thrilling moments had been a few bar brawls, the lectures from his father, and the intimate encounters with Cheng Yi. The few conflicts he encountered were merely a sprinkle of seasoning due to his patience.
The recent experiences during his days away from home had already overshadowed all the “conflicts” of the past many years, and now, facing a situation like this, he found himself grappling with something entirely new. As he was being forcibly escorted home by his father, Jiang Yuduo’s intervention included stopping cars and people in a way he’d never encountered before.
As Jiang Yuduo pulled him out of the car, Cheng Ke caught a glimpse of his father’s expression.
Astonishment.
Jiang Yuduo’s actions had likely surpassed his father’s imagination. Even the prior anger and disdain were now overshadowed.
Cheng Ke had no intention of returning home with his father or collaborating with him to resolve anything. However, he hadn’t expected this turn of events at all.
Jiang Yuduo had forcefully disrupted his father’s plans in the most unexpected yet oddly fitting manner.
Jiang Yuduo had no concept of parents or family. His parents had inflicted a lifetime of pain on him. Since his early teenage years, he had wandered the streets, without formalities or hierarchy. He was the “San-ge,” the boss here, unafraid to speak sharply or take strong actions. “If you can’t handle it, don’t meddle” was his code.
Through his most sensitive and anxious perspective, when facing Cheng Ke’s family, who held no fondness for him, he likely didn’t pause to consider whether his actions were “appropriate” at all.
Cheng Ke didn’t want Jiang Yuduo to address the situation this way, nor did he desire his father’s impression of Jiang Yuduo to be “validated.” However, he wouldn’t hold Jiang Yuduo responsible, nor would he permit anyone else to blame him for this interference.
He could even admit that Jiang Yuduo’s temperament, which he himself might never possess and was deemed “inappropriate” by his family and friends, had been the most irresistible allure from the very start.
“San-ge,” Cheng Ke grabbed Jiang Yuduo’s arm, “Ask Chen Qing and the others to step back.”
Jiang Yuduo furrowed his brow, watching him intently.
“I’m alright,” Cheng Ke murmured softly, “don’t let these things bother you.”
Jiang Yuduo fell silent for a moment, then signaled to Chen Qing and the others.
The debris blocking the road in front and behind the car was cleared, but the person didn’t leave. They remained crouched on either side of the road, smoking cigarettes, and glancing over occasionally.
“I still have something to say to your dad,” Jiang Yuduo said, directing his gaze toward Cheng Ke’s father in the car.
Cheng Ke was taken aback.
The assistant stepped out of the car and positioned themselves in front of the car door.
“Let him speak,” Dad’s voice was chilly from within the car, “I’m curious to hear what this kind of person has to say.”
The assistant stepped aside.
Jiang Yuduo leaned against the car’s roof, bending down slightly. He stared at his father for a moment before breaking the silence with an unexpected greeting, “Good afternoon, sir.”
Everyone was taken aback by this salutation, even Lao Hu turned his head to look at him.
For some inexplicable reason, Cheng Ke suddenly had a strong urge to burst into laughter, and he hardly cared about the content of Jiang Yuduo’s speech anymore.
“Today, I’ve been rather impolite to you. My disdain extends to both you and Cheng Yi,” Jiang Yuduo’s words were frank though his tone remained steady, “Do you think you can just take Cheng Ke away like this? He’s nearly thirty, not three. You could be his father or his grandfather, but you still can’t do this.”
Cheng Ke didn’t dare to meet his father’s gaze, rapidly turning his head to avoid erupting into laughter.
Dad stayed silent. In similar situations, he typically wore an inscrutable expression and withheld his remarks, leaving the speaker unsure whether to continue or conclude.
However, Jiang Yuduo seemed largely unfazed. He didn’t require any acknowledgment from his father.
“I don’t quite know why, but I suppose you heard something from Cheng Yi today. I won’t delve into it further; that’s all,” Jiang Yuduo gestured to his comrades, who were either squatting or standing on the sidewalks, flanking the street, “We’re on the street. When things occur, we don’t merely listen to one side. We find a mediator, and both parties confront each other in person. Right or wrong, it’s settled then and there. It’s either an exchange of blows or a confrontation. Everyone has their say…”
As Cheng Ke absorbed this, he quickly glanced at his father’s expression. His father maintained a stern countenance, but his brows were furrowed. Jiang Yuduo’s ability to provoke a reaction from his father was evident.
“Despite your age, your life appears less respectable than a group of street thugs’. You persist in feigning ignorance, pretending I didn’t say anything. If you’re interested in hearing both sides, I have a recording right here.” Jiang Yuduo stood upright and tapped the car’s roof, stating, “Alright, I’m done.”
This remark finally provoked a significant response from Dad. He turned his head to Cheng Ke and inquired, “What recording?”
Cheng Ke remained silent, taken aback by this turn of events. He had no idea what Jiang Yuduo was alluding to.
“Don’t bother asking him, he’s clueless,” Jiang Yuduo remarked, “If he had been cunning, he wouldn’t have been kicked out of the house.”
Dad inquired with a furrowed brow, “About what?”
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Yuduo stepped back and positioned himself beside Cheng Ke, “It’s not a trade secret, nor a form of extortion. It’s simply something he probably wouldn’t want you to hear.” Dad shifted his gaze towards Jiang Yuduo.
“However, whether or not he decides to share it with you is entirely up to Cheng Ke,” Jiang Yuduo produced a USB flash drive from his pocket and placed it in Cheng Ke’s hand.
Cheng Ke had an inkling of what kind of recording it might contain; it likely captured the incident when he was obstructed by Cheng Yi upon leaving the Qing Bar.
During that moment, which stood out in more than two decades, Cheng Yi had cast aside his facade, discarded the veneer of being a “good brother,” and laid bare his true sentiments.
Though it might not be suitable for creating a spectacle, for Dad, even if he had sensed it, this recording could reveal an entirely unfamiliar facet of Cheng Yi.
“Give me a call once you’ve listened to it,” Dad instructed.
“Sure,” Cheng Ke acknowledged as he slipped the USB flash drive into his pocket.
“Drive,” Dad commanded.
The assistant closed the door and returned to the passenger’s seat, and the car sped away after shattering a window.
“San-ge!” Chen Qing hurried over, “Are you okay? Is everything resolved?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “Could you have picked something other than a bunch of caltrops to scatter around? What a mess.”
“Come on, have some reason. Where do you think I’m headed in such a hurry?” Chen Qing retorted, “I found these as we came, picked them up from a construction site along the way. Besides, it stopped the car, didn’t it?”
“Fine then,” Jiang Yuduo surveyed the surroundings, “Clean it up. The police will likely arrive soon.”
“Alright, let’s head out,” Chen Qing turned around and waved his hand, “We’re leaving. Grab your things. Brother Bin and I are treating everyone to some afternoon tea.”
“Going in?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“Yes,” Cheng Ke affirmed, securing the USB flash drive in his pocket before proceeding down the corridor.
Jiang Yuduo headed straight to the refrigerator, extracting an ice pack from the freezer and wrapping it in a towel. “You can use this,” he suggested.
Seated on the sofa, Cheng Ke felt utterly drained. “No, I don’t want to move,” he murmured.
“I’ll assist you,” Jiang Yuduo offered, taking a seat beside him and pointing to his leg. “Come on.”
Cheng Ke hesitated momentarily, then reclined and rested his head on Jiang Yuduo’s lap.
“Don’t look at yourself in the mirror right now,” Jiang Yuduo advised as he gently applied the ice pack-covered towel to Cheng Ke’s face. “Your father’s hands were too heavy.”
“Indeed,” Cheng Ke sighed.
Jiang Yuduo refrained from mentioning that he didn’t feel the impact yet. However, at this moment, he realized that his left cheek might be slightly swollen. He couldn’t help but feel as if the puffiness was pressing against his left eye, narrowing his field of vision.
“That slap,” Jiang Yuduo’s brows furrowed, “could be heard all the way down the street.”
“Nonsense,” Cheng Ke chuckled, wincing slightly as he drew a breath.
As the burning sensation on his face eased with time spent indoors, his smile ignited a pang of pain from the corner of his mouth to his temple.
At his age, he truly hadn’t anticipated that his father still possessed such formidable strength. If he had Chen Qing’s physique, a single palm from his father might have sent him flying.
“Did you record that conversation?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“No, Chen Qing recorded it,” Jiang Yuduo clarified, “I wasn’t even aware of him recording it. He captured the part where Cheng Yi was shouting at you. If you’re interested, you can show it to your dad and enlighten him about what’s going on in Cheng Yi’s mind behind his façade. If you’d rather not, just discard it. Chen Qing didn’t save a copy; I had him delete it.”
“Alright,” Cheng Ke affirmed.
“What did your father want from you today?” Jiang Yuduo adjusted the towel’s position, placing it on his face again but in a different spot.
“He just… wants me to go home,” Cheng Ke responded.
“Why?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“Probably…” Cheng Ke’s thoughts were still muddled at the moment, leaving him unable to immediately pinpoint a suitable reason.
“Is it because of me?” Jiang Yuduo suggested.
“What?” Cheng Ke’s anxiety surged.
“Tell him that I’m… mentally ill,” Jiang Yuduo uttered, his voice dropping significantly when he mentioned the term “mentally ill.”
“You have nothing to do with them,” Cheng Ke asserted.
“No parent wants their child to be with a person with mental health issues,” Jiang Yuduo continued, “Let’s not even discuss his child. If Chen Qing was talking about a mentally ill girl, I’d definitely… definitely scold him.”
Cheng Ke caught Jiang Yuduo’s hand. “I’m not Chen Qing, and I’m not the son of those ‘parents.’ Of course, I know my dad would be concerned, and I can understand that he’s worried. But the person who is with you is me, not anyone else.”
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo replied without elaboration. He shifted the ice towel to another part of his face and whispered, “It would’ve been easier if I were someone else.”
“Why bring up pointless hypotheticals?” Cheng Ke retorted. “Are you someone else? No! There’s no point in speculating about things that can’t be changed. You’re Jiang Yuduo, and I’m Cheng Ke. We just met. This is the situation now. If there’s any issue, we’ll deal with it without assuming anything.”
Jiang Yuduo gazed at him for a while before murmuring, “Thanks. If someone else talked to me like this, I’d give them a triangle nail fart.”
Cheng Ke tugged at the corner of his mouth, offering a smile. “I believe that. Today, you really… opened my dad’s eyes.”
“I’m unsure of what to do,” Jiang Yuduo confessed, his brows furrowed. “If I hadn’t intervened, I’m afraid they would’ve taken you away. What if you didn’t come back?”
“How could I not come back?” Cheng Ke raised his hand to gently pat his face.
“I’m just frightened,” Jiang Yuduo admitted in a hushed tone. “I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t control it, and I don’t know what else to do.”
“It’s okay, you’re fine,” Cheng Ke reassured. “It’s just a car window, and he’ll have it replaced in less than two hours.”
“He’ll probably think I’m truly… crazy,” Jiang Yuduo continued, his voice remaining low. “But I couldn’t help it when I was scared. I saw other people there, even though I knew there was no one, I still saw them. Even though I knew nobody else could see…”
“Jiang Yuduo,” Cheng Ke sat up, cupping his face with one hand. “Listen to me…”
“What if I don’t get better and keep acting like this?” Jiang Yuduo looked up at him. “Will you always stay with someone who’s mentally ill?”
“I said no more assumptions,” Cheng Ke affirmed. “We won’t assume. We’ll focus on the present moment. Don’t concern yourself with things that aren’t right in front of you. Do you know what you’re going to do now?”
Jiang Yuduo fell silent for a moment before responding, “Cooperate with treatment.”
Cooperate with treatment.
It’s a very straightforward word, but Cheng Ke understood that for Jiang Yuduo, it took him a decade to achieve what he couldn’t before.
The prerequisite for cooperating with treatment is that he must confront the pain directly. This is distinct from the fabricated pain he inflicted upon himself; this is genuine pain, and it persists even when he returns to the normal world.
Sister Luo’s advice is for Jiang Yuduo to make his own decision without coercion because he can pretend to engage with the psychiatrist quite effectively. Unless he does so voluntarily, the treatment won’t yield results.
All Cheng Ke can do is wait patiently and, as he mentioned himself: focus on the present moment.
At this moment, he’s with Jiang Yuduo, and there are still things left for him to do.
He has no intention to prove anything to anyone; he merely wants to act according to his own beliefs and desires.
Until the opening of Xu Ding’s store, there was no activity from Dad’s side. Cheng Yi was equally composed. When Xu Ding extended an invitation as a gesture for his store’s opening, Cheng Yi’s response was that he would attend when he found the time.
“It’s the opening; shouldn’t you dress a bit more formally?” Jiang Yuduo lounged on the sofa, his gaze directed at Cheng Ke.
“What’s more formal than this? This is my version of formal,” Cheng Ke remarked. “Xu Ding asked if I wanted to wear a suit, but I really didn’t feel like it, and the cast is still on.”
Cheng Ke was sporting a woolen sweater that day. He had almost rolled up the sleeves past the plaster after pulling them over it. His coat, too, was a short woolen one with just a single sleeve.
“I won’t go,” Jiang Yuduo scooped up the cat and placed it on his lap. “My presence won’t be of any help, and it might even cause problems.”
“But weren’t you enthusiastic about going just last night?” Cheng Ke challenged him.
“I’ve had a change of heart,” Jiang Yuduo mumbled, his eyes fixated on the cat.
“I’ll give you ten minutes to think it over,” Cheng Ke approached him and ruffled his hair. The gauze had been removed, revealing a few scars that hadn’t completely healed. “The decision to go or not is up to you.”
Cheng Ke fetched a glass of water, finished it, and then Jiang Yuduo stood up. “I still want to go.”
“Then go,” Cheng Ke grinned. “Do you know about the lounge on the third floor?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo affirmed.
“If you feel uncomfortable, just stay there,” Cheng Ke advised. “Lock the door, and no one will disturb you.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo agreed.
“If you want me to accompany you, I’ll stay with you,” Cheng Ke offered.
“No need,” Jiang Yuduo chuckled. “It might not be a good idea; people might misconstrue our intentions in there.”
Cheng Ke clicked his tongue in amusement.
The grand opening was filled with excitement. Even for a high-end store like this, its opening was accompanied by firecrackers, flower arrangements, music, and a bustling crowd.
Before stepping out of the car, Jiang Yuduo was already feeling nervous. As the attendees began streaming into the store, he retreated to a corner, standing diagonally against a wall.
He started regretting his decision to come along. He had thought that today was a crucial day for Cheng Ke, something Cheng Ke truly desired to accomplish. But his impulsiveness got the best of him. The unfamiliar faces and the overwhelming anxiety left him feeling bewildered. Except for Cheng Ke and Xu Ding, everyone, from Lin Xu onwards, evoked suspicion.
Slowly, he moved towards the rear exit.
“It’s inconvenient today, so I can only use my left hand…” Cheng Ke’s gaze remained on Jiang Yuduo. When he positioned himself by the door, Cheng Ke’s eyes followed. Jiang Yuduo shook the cigarette case in his hand. Cheng Ke’s response was a smile and a nod. “If you have kids at home studying, you can record this to motivate them. See, your skill level is on par with that uncle who’s been creating sand paintings for over a decade…” Laughter filled the room as everyone enjoyed the joke.
Amidst the laughter, Jiang Yuduo walked out through the back door, stood against the wall for a while in a daze, and then lit a cigarette.
Beyond the back door, a small open space extended where Xu Ding’s and his own cars were parked.
There was a figure behind a few parked cars.
Jiang Yuduo kept his eyes on the cigarette in his hand, intentionally avoiding glancing in that direction.
No one.
Nobody else could perceive it.
Illusion.
Yet, the sensation of a stare lingered, unwaveringly fixed on his face.
His hands trembled. After a few drags, he stubbed out the remaining half of the cigarette on the ground and reentered the shop.
Jiang Yuduo looked up and met Cheng Ke’s gaze. A faint smile crept onto Cheng Ke’s lips.
Cheng Ke subtly curved his lips, then lowered his head and scattered a handful of sand.
Even while using his left hand to create sand art, Cheng Ke retained his charm.
Jiang Yuduo took his time walking to the side, picked up the coat he had draped over a chair, and exited once again through the rear door while Cheng Ke was preoccupied.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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