Translator: Lynn
The phone call with Jiang Yuduo was brief, lasting only a few minutes. Jiang Yuduo informed Cheng Ke that he had taken Meow back to where he was staying, and they hung up.
However, Cheng Ke had anticipated that after ending the call, he would celebrate shamelessly. Yet, as he washed his face and settled back on the bed, he found himself unable to find a comfortable position to rest. Strangely, drowsiness overwhelmed him, despite having consumed just two bottles of wine. He fell asleep without changing his clothes and slept until noon the next day.
He was awakened by the sound of firecrackers. Cheng Ke stood by the window for a while, observing the bright but hazy day, as if a layer of sand covered everything.
The phone rang, and he quickly turned around, heading to the bedside to pick it up and check the caller.
It was Cheng Yi.
In a split second, his emotions shifted from anticipation to disappointment and then to irritation.
—Brother, Happy New Year.
The message read, accompanied by a reminder to transfer 60,000 yuan. Cheng Ke was left speechless.
After staring at it for about two minutes, Cheng Ke tapped on the screen, accepted the money, and sent Cheng Yi a red envelope containing 181In Chinese tradition, 18 is pronounced 十八; shí bā and is considered a lucky number due to similarity with 實發; shì fā ‘definitely get rich’, ‘to get rich for sure’. According to applications of numerology in Judaism, the letters of the word chai (“living”) add up to 18. cents as a token of luck.
Then he sent a [smile] emoji.
After sending the message, he tossed the phone back onto the bed. After a moment of contemplation, he picked it up again and checked his Moments. Cheng Yi wouldn’t have done this solely through private messages.
As expected, there were two posts by Cheng Yi in his friends’ circle.
The first one was titled “Family Reunion,” featuring nine photos of his parents and various relatives gathered at home. It resembled the typical scene of a Chinese New Year celebration that Cheng Ke was familiar with—lively and opulent. The only difference was that he could only see it through the screen from his lonely hotel room.
The second post was made half an hour ago, titled “A Rare Get-Together.” Cheng Ke wondered if this post was visible only to him. He recognized everyone in the photos; they were all his former “friends.”
He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, but he quickly scanned their faces, relieved to find that Xu Ding was not among them.
Although he didn’t know how he would react if he had seen Xu Ding in those pictures.
Before setting down his phone, Cheng Ke sent Xu Ding a red envelope containing 20 cents.
In response, Xu Ding sent him a red envelope with one yuan.
“Better than your style,” Xu Ding wrote, and Cheng Ke laughed for a long time.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t contact him again today, nor has he since. Cheng Ke and Xu Ding had been busy with the store’s decoration since their third year of junior high school. Despite their hectic schedule, they still checked their social media feeds multiple times a day.
Jiang Yuduo’s photo album always featured the red-vested Meow, with a comment from Chen Qing below it.
“Isn’t it a tomcat?” Chen Qing asked.
Cheng Ke smiled.
There was also a reply from Jiang Yuduo.
“Your red underwear is about to take off,” he wrote. Chen Qing’s advertisement is the most popular in their circle of friends, but it can be seen that Jiang Yuduo has yet to return. He is still with the psychiatrist, and Jiang Yuduo’s global support group hasn’t posted any new pictures.
“According to the designer, these two colors are suitable for this wall,” Xu Ding said, handing two cards to Cheng Ke. “Which one do you think is better?”
Cheng Ke pocketed his phone and replied, “The colder one. It looks neat.”
“Okay,” Xu Ding nodded. “Are you free to come over in the afternoon? The flooring will be installed upstairs, and I have a meeting.”
“It’s not just for show,” Cheng Ke teased. “When are you free?”
Xu Ding chuckled. “It’s not about the show. I’ve noticed you’ve been glued to your phone lately. Is something wrong? If you need to make an appointment or something, I can call someone from the company to come over and handle it.”
“I’ll manage it,” Cheng Ke replied. He felt like he hadn’t been on his phone much these days, but it was so apparent that even Xu Ding could see it.
On the first floor, workers were sawing wood, leaving wood shavings everywhere. Cheng Ke and Xu Ding escaped to the balcony on the second floor.
“You can place two sets of cement tables and chairs in your reception area here,” Cheng Ke suggested, lighting a cigarette. “It will look very coordinated.”
“That could be quite expensive,” Xu Ding remarked, lighting his own cigarette.
“I’ll take care of it,” Cheng Ke said. “It’s for fun, and besides, I have the time.”
Xu Ding glanced at Cheng Ke and asked, “Shall I take a photo of you then?”
“No need,” Cheng Ke replied, squatting down and picking up a piece of chalk used by a worker. He drew a chair on the ground and said, “This will do. I’ll make it simpler and easier to handle.”
“But isn’t there one in my set?” Xu Ding wondered.
“Yes,” Cheng Ke confirmed, “but it looks better without it.”
“Are you sure?” Xu Ding seemed perplexed. “I see it every day, but it feels like it’s not there.”
“It’s a bet,” Cheng Ke explained. “60,000 yuan.”
“How much?” Xu Ding looked at him, surprised.
“Sixty thousand,” Cheng Ke repeated.
Xu Ding burst into laughter. “Are you serious? I’m not Liu Tiancheng, so I won’t make such a bet with you.”
“That’s true,” Cheng Ke smiled. “One yuan is a big red envelope for both of us.”
“Are you really okay with this?” Xu Ding squatted down as well. “Is there something you can say about 60,000?”
“Ah,” Xu Ding nodded.
Cheng Ke looked at him and laughed. “Why are you like this?”
“Did you accept the bet, then?” Xu Ding asked.
“I did,” Cheng Ke confirmed.
“Why are you like this?” Xu Ding smiled for a while, then took a drag of his cigarette and wiped away his smile. “To be honest, if my brother dared to do this, I would’ve beaten him up long ago. Maybe it’s because he’s much younger and it’s not easy to feel competitive.”
“Competitive?” Cheng Ke took a drag of his cigarette.
“I don’t know what kind of person your father is,” Xu Ding said, “but he seems like the type of parent who doesn’t easily praise their children, a strict father or something.”
“Well,” Cheng Ke looked outside the balcony railing, “I haven’t heard him say anything for over ten years, so when I agreed to join the company and work under Cheng Yi, he finally made a point to say something.”
Xu Ding sighed.
Cheng Ke fell into deep thought. Was Cheng Yi’s influence solely due to that one sentence?
“No, San-ge, it’s almost the Lantern Festival,” Chen Qing’s voice sounded depressed through the phone. “Are you really going to eat dumplings alone? Do you want to spend the Lantern Festival alone? Will you watch the lanterns alone?”
“Sounds pitiful,” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue. “Is it because you can’t find someone to talk to?”
“Well, there’s a reason for that. I miss you a lot, after all, we used to be together every day,” Chen Qing said. “When will you finish your recovery?”
“In a few days,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
Chen Qing sighed. “Why don’t you come back, and I’ll treat you? We can have massages and all…”
“Shut up,” Jiang Yuduo interrupted him. “Or I’ll step on your back.”
“I’m afraid you’ll give up halfway,” Chen Qing teased. “Alright, take care of yourself. Try to come back before the Lantern Festival. My mother even prepared a red envelope for you.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo agreed.
After Chen Qing hung up, he checked the time and realized he had about half an hour left before his appointment with Sister Luo. He lit a cigarette and observed the passers-by.
As the days went by, the number of people on the street gradually increased. Shops were reopening, and there were breakfast places available in the morning. However, a sense of unease also started to grow.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t look to the right, but he knew someone was there, at the other end of the row of small yellow cars. If he turned his head, he would see them.
He had purposely avoided turning his head for over half a month, trying to ignore their presence.
Sister Luo was an astute person, and any abnormal behavior from him wouldn’t escape her notice. If he wanted to prove something, he needed every detail to be in place. That’s why he chose an open-air location for their meeting.
The climate there was pleasant, even in winter. As long as one stayed in the sun, it felt warm. Meow was lying lazily at his feet, still wearing the red vest.
Meow didn’t particularly like the red vest and would try to bite it off whenever he got the chance. So, when they returned to the hotel, Jiang Yuduo would help him take it off. However, whenever they went out, he made sure Meow wore the vest. After all, there was no leash, and it would be more noticeable if Meow ran away. Jiang Yuduo feared losing the cat…
He didn’t want to hear the screams of the stray animals that were caught and brought back, only to meet their tragic end, echoing in his memory.
“Sis Luo,” Sister Luo called out to him.
Jiang Yuduo turned his face away, picked up Meow, and stood up, offering her a smile.
Sister Luo approached from the left side of the road. Jiang Yuduo had noticed her when she got out of the taxi, but he waited until she came closer and called him before turning his head.
“Sis Luo,” he greeted with a smile.
“That’s the one, right?” Sister Luo pointed to the coffee shop ahead.
“Yes,” he walked towards the coffee shop with Sister Luo. He helped her pull out a chair, and then sat down with his back facing the street. “The sun feels great today. It’s so comfortable to bask in it.” Sister Luo glanced at him, smiled, and nodded. “Indeed, even the kitten is squinting.”
Jiang Yuduo placed the cat on the chair next to him, within his peripheral vision.
Sister Luo placed an order for drinks and snacks, then turned her attention to him. “I thought you had already gone back. We’ve only met twice, and you haven’t called me since.”
“No, it’s too cold to go back. I’ll stay warm a few more days,” Jiang Yuduo explained.
“Weren’t you afraid of the cold before?” Sister Luo asked.
“Now I am,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
The waiter brought over their drinks and snacks, and Jiang Yuduo picked up a piece of shortbread. “I’ll be back in a few days, before the Lantern Festival.”
“Good to hear that. How do you feel?” Sister Luo took a sip of her hot cocoa.
“It’s good,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “Changing the environment has made me feel more relaxed.”
“What’s your plan now?” Sister Luo inquired again.
“Hmm?” Jiang Yuduo was caught off guard.
“Your plans for the future,” Sister Luo clarified. “Now that you’re doing well, it’s important to make a small plan for yourself, right? We discussed it before.”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “I might try my hand at photography, with a friend’s introduction…”
“Modeling, perhaps?” Sister Luo smiled.
“…Yes,” Jiang Yuduo didn’t anticipate Sister Luo bringing up this topic so suddenly. Being caught off guard made him a bit uneasy.
“That sounds great. Having a friend’s recommendation is more reliable,” Sister Luo commented.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t respond. He didn’t want to dwell on this sudden and empty topic, but he couldn’t find a smooth transition without appearing abrupt. Thus, he chose to remain silent.
Sister Luo remained silent, slowly stirring her hot cocoa with a small spoon.
After a few minutes, Jiang Yuduo noticed Meow, who was lying on the chair, move out of the corner of his eye. He reached out and gently touched Meow’s head.
“Xiao Jiang,” Sister Luo spoke again, her tone becoming slightly serious, “You insist on keeping our communication like that of ordinary acquaintances, right?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo responded.
“Why?” Sister Luo inquired.
“Because I’m no longer a patient,” Jiang Yuduo replied simply.
“Can you tell me why you came to see me?” Sister Luo asked. “We’ve met twice before, and you were reluctant to give me a direct answer.”
Jiang Yuduo furrowed his brow and looked at her with a hint of impatience. “Is there a reason for that? Does it matter?”
“Sister Luo sighed, “Xiao Jiang, actually, whether you’re doing well or not, my judgment doesn’t hold much significance.”
Jiang Yuduo frowned and remained silent.
“I believe that if it weren’t between you and me, many tests and conversations would likely provide you with the answers you seek,” Sister Luo said. “You’re intelligent and perceptive, and you know how to present yourself as ‘not a patient.'”
“What are you trying to say?” Jiang Yuduo looked up at her.
“You’ve always been unwilling to acknowledge your abnormal behaviors, and it’s been like this for many years,” Sister Luo explained. “Now that you’ve come to me, perhaps you want to prove your normalcy by admitting your abnormalities. There’s a reason behind it.”
“What reason?” Jiang Yuduo retorted.
“Perhaps there isn’t one,” Sister Luo calmly responded, unfazed by his words. She smiled and continued, “Whether there’s a reason or not, I think this could be a positive step for you.” Jiang Yuduo remained silent.
Perhaps Sister Luo knew him too well. After ten years? Or was it nine years? They had known each other for too long and had seen each other too often. Jiang Yuduo couldn’t accurately describe his current state of mind, but he felt restless.
Before Sister Luo could speak again, he picked up the cat and stood up. “I’m leaving.”
The temperature had risen slightly today, so Cheng Ke opened the window a crack. The breeze coming in was milder than the previous days.
He had made up his mind to go back.
He hadn’t figured out what he would do once he returned, but after all, he hadn’t terminated the lease for the house, and many of his belongings were still there… Besides, it was almost time to pay the rent.
However, he couldn’t make a firm decision about whether to ask for a refund on the house or not.
Retirement should have been his choice. When he left previously, Jiang Yuduo didn’t provide him with an alternative. He had only planned to find a new place after the next year, to have a more relaxed timeframe.
However, Jiang Yuduo’s phone call that day left him somewhat perplexed, unable to grasp the current situation.
Up until now, he hadn’t searched for a new residence, and Jiang Yuduo hadn’t contacted him again.
Furthermore, the store’s renovation progress was moving swiftly, keeping him occupied every day, adding to his confusion.
He hailed a taxi back to the community, and as soon as he stepped out of the car, Cheng Ke heard the enthusiastic voice of the security guard: “Mr. Cheng, you’re back?”
“Ah,” Cheng Ke replied and noticed the security guard emerging from the guard booth.
“Why didn’t you bring your luggage?” the security guard asked.
“Huh?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.
“Didn’t you go back to your hometown during the Chinese New Year?” the security guard remarked. “I saw you with two suitcases when you left.”
“Oh, my luggage is still… at home,” Cheng Ke said, “My home is here.”
“Oh!” The security guard chuckled. “I thought you were from somewhere else, but I noticed that your language skills are quite good, and I couldn’t detect any accent…” Cheng Ke smiled, and as the elevator arrived, he hastily entered it, relieved after closing the door.
The apartment remained unchanged, except for a thin layer of dust that could only be felt by touch.
Cheng Ke carefully surveyed the room inside and out and noticed that a power strip in the living room had been unplugged.
He always plugged that power strip into the socket and simply turned off the switch on the strip when not in use. But now it had been pulled out, indicating that someone had been inside.
Chen Qing?
Or… Jiang Yuduo?
Could he file a complaint if someone entered a tenant’s apartment and unplugged their appliances?
He went into the bathroom to check and, when he wanted to wash his face, discovered that the water heater plug had also been disconnected.
Tsk.
He had turned off the water heater before leaving, so why unplug it? He plugged it back in and switched it on.
After washing his face, with nothing else to do, he remained in the room for a while. Checking the time, he decided to grab something to eat.
He planned to visit Flou and listen to some music
During this time, Cheng Ke had been consuming only two types of food: takeout and Western cuisine from hotels, and he was growing weary of it.
If it wasn’t so awkward to eat hot pot alone, he would have craved a spicy hot pot.
Taxis were scarce at the moment, and no one was responding to the orders placed through his mobile app. Therefore, Cheng Ke had no choice but to stroll to his destination by himself.
After living here for such a long time, he had become quite familiar with the surrounding roads, especially the shortcuts that Jiang Yuduo had shown him. He turned onto the small road and observed his surroundings as he walked. It’s all over now, he thought to himself.
For instance, he noticed a small garden situated in the middle of the street behind a building.
Cheng Ke rarely visited this place, but today it was quite lively. Children were running around, chasing each other and screaming, and there were occasional bursts of firecrackers.
He passed through the alley between two buildings, wary of anyone who might throw firecrackers at him.
At the same time, his eyes captured the view of a sluggish small garden in winter, but they also fell upon a group of suspected street gangsters who appeared to be having a meeting.
The sight of more than a dozen people simultaneously turning their heads to stare at him made him feel like he had traveled back to a few months ago in an instant.
And just like a few months ago, the first person he spotted was Jiang Yuduo, squatting by the flower bed.
“Jaeger-ge?” Chen Qing’s surprised voice reached his ears.
Cheng Ke quickly scanned the crowd, but he couldn’t spot Chen Qing, possibly because he was too thin and obstructed from view. So he shifted his gaze back to Jiang Yuduo’s face.
“Are you back?” Jiang Yuduo asked, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
“Yeah,” Cheng Ke replied. “Just came back to take a look.”
“Do you want to terminate the lease?” Chen Qing’s voice came again. “There are still a few days left.”
This time Cheng Ke finally spotted him, but he was quite surprised because Chen Qing was squatting next to Jiang Yuduo, and he hadn’t noticed him at first glance.
Having such a strong presence could be considered a significant advantage in group fights.
“Let’s go,” Jiang Yuduo waved his hand.
The group of people departed slowly, and as they passed by Cheng Ke, they were quite polite, addressing him as “Jaeger-ge.”
What the hell was this “Jaeger-ge”?
Cheng Ke forced a smile and tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Then I’ll head back first,” Chen Qing said, being the last to leave. Before he departed, he informed Jiang Yuduo, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
“Sure,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.
Chen Qing took a couple of steps and then turned around. “How about…I’m calling Jaeger-ge?”
“Get lost,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
Chen Qing turned back around and left.
Once everyone had left, Cheng Ke felt a bit more at ease and approached Jiang Yuduo. “When did you come back?”
“Yesterday,” Jiang Yuduo replied, hopping off the flower bed and extinguishing his cigarette.
Cheng Ke wanted to ask why he hadn’t been informed, but he felt it wasn’t his place to say such a thing.
“I wanted to call you,” Jiang Yuduo said.
“But you didn’t,” Cheng Ke remarked.
“I was afraid that if I called, you would say you wanted to move out,” Jiang Yuduo frowned. “So I didn’t call.”
“Whether you call or not, if I want to move out, I’ll move out,” Cheng Ke asserted.
“Move out?” Jiang Yuduo quickly caught onto the key point.
“No,” Cheng Ke felt a bit embarrassed. “I haven’t started looking for another place. I’ve been staying in a hotel.”
“Oh,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “You can continue living in that house. No one has asked you to leave. Just stay there.”
Cheng Ke glanced at him but remained silent.
“Have you eaten yet?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“No,” Cheng Ke replied. “Can you buy me something to eat?”
Jiang Yuduo furrowed his brow. “Did you stay in the presidential suite?”
“Huh?” Cheng Ke didn’t understand.
“I mean, did all your money go towards food?” Jiang Yuduo clarified.
“…I just wanted you to treat me to a meal. If you don’t want to, then I’ll treat you,” Cheng Ke felt a bit helpless.
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.
“What?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.
“You treat me to a meal,” Jiang Yuduo pondered for a moment. “Let’s have a hot pot. It’s been a while since I last had hot pot.”
“…Alright,” Cheng Ke sighed.
As they walked towards the hotel together, Cheng Ke couldn’t help but keep glancing at Jiang Yuduo’s face.
He didn’t intend to be so obvious, but he couldn’t control himself. After all, they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, and he had thought they would never meet again. Now that he unexpectedly saw Jiang Yuduo, all his composure and minimum courtesy flew out the window.
Jiang Yuduo had lost weight, and it was evident from his profile that he had shed quite a few pounds.
Cheng Ke wondered what kind of “journey” Jiang Yuduo had embarked on during this time, causing him to lose weight so rapidly with visible results.
“What are you looking at?” Jiang Yuduo turned his head and asked. “Am I a street attraction?”
“…Are you losing weight?” Cheng Ke asked anxiously.
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo touched his face. “Chen Qing said the same thing when he saw me. I weighed myself yesterday and lost about ten kilograms.”
“How did you manage to lose so much weight?” Cheng Ke examined him closely.
“I don’t know,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him. “How much weight have you lost?”
“What?” Cheng Ke asked, puzzled.
“Your chin looks slim and pointed,” Jiang Yuduo raised his hand and flicked Cheng Ke’s chin. “Didn’t anyone deliver food to you during Chinese New Year?”
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