Translator: Lynn
“That’s it,” Cheng Ke struggled to find the right words, “Then you… have a knack for choosing your path in life.”
“Well, Children’s Day,” Jiang Yuduo quickly changed the subject, wearing a smile. “I was just looking for a holiday, starting from New Year’s Day, and realized that Children’s Day is a good choice.”
“Yeah,” Cheng Ke nodded, sensing that Jiang Yuduo’s mention of the past this time was somewhat different from before. Although he couldn’t immediately pinpoint the difference, this state made it easier for him to connect with Jiang Yuduo. While cooking the meat, he asked again, “So, the year of your birth wasn’t randomly filled in, right?”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo smiled, “I’m just that young.”
Cheng Ke clicked his tongue and remained silent.
“As for dinner today…,” Jiang Yuduo pondered for a moment, “Should I go back to the hotel or stay here?”
“Today… I don’t think I’ll make it in time,” Cheng Ke said. “I have to go to the store in the afternoon to take care of the decoration. There are still many things left unpacked in the hotel… I need to sort them out, you know…”
“It’s quite slow progress,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “You might forget some things, or maybe you won’t be able to pack them back the same way they were.”
Cheng Ke chuckled, “That’s not true!”
The hotel was booked for a month, and he hadn’t moved back yet. Until Jiang Yuduo asked him, Cheng Ke hadn’t even considered whether he wanted to move back or when to move back.
Although he was currently captivated by Jiang Yuduo, he still remembered the reason he chose to move out. He was afraid that his presence was causing Jiang Yuduo’s frequent abnormal behavior, so he hoped that by leaving, Jiang Yuduo could find relief and return to the previous state where Chen Qing had never doubted him for ten years.
But now, according to his ostrich-like habits, there are still unresolved issues. Was Jiang Yuduo acting strangely because of his presence? Why did he never mention the existence of “them” due to his own psychological issues? Why did he suddenly admit it now and decide to see a psychiatrist? Has Jiang Yuduo truly been “healed,” as he claimed?
There are no answers to these questions yet. It’s not that Cheng Ke doesn’t want to know the answers, but he is… addicted to the current ambiguous atmosphere. Even if it’s just a meal, they can talk and enjoy the moment.
Cheng Ke didn’t give Jiang Yuduo a definite answer about moving back or when to move back, but it seemed that Jiang Yuduo didn’t mind or had already made the decision for him. If it’s too late to move back today, then tomorrow or the day after would be fine. This left Cheng Ke feeling unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to disappoint Jiang Yuduo, but if he didn’t find out anything… the month of distress would have been in vain.
“Is this wine not as good as the last time?” Jiang Yuduo poured him a glass. “I ran out of the previous one.”
“I can drink whatever you have,” Cheng Ke said. “Someday, I’ll try brewing it myself. A bottle of wine, plum wine, or strawberry wine.”
“Do you know how to do it?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“I’ll just search for a tutorial,” Cheng Ke picked up his phone and tapped on it. “It shouldn’t be too difficult if I follow the instructions. Buy some wine, put in the ingredients, and then wait for it to be ready. That’s about it.”
“Strawberry wine,” Jiang Yuduo immediately chimed in. “I noticed they sell strawberries at the supermarket. Strawberry wine sounds good.”
Cheng Ke glanced at him. “Do you actually believe I can make wine?”
“I don’t really believe it,” Jiang Yuduo said, “I just… like strawberries. If you decide to make it, use strawberries.”
“Okay,” Cheng Ke initially mentioned it casually, but seeing Jiang Yuduo’s eager expression, he decided to take the conversation more seriously. “After brewing, I’ll put a label on it: ‘San-ge Brand Strawberry Wine.'”
“The San-ge is fine,” Jiang Yuduo said happily. “San-ge’s strawberry wine.”
“Alright,” Cheng Ke nodded.
“Then it’s settled,” Jiang Yuduo raised his glass.
Cheng Ke also lifted his glass, nodded in agreement, and drank the wine with his head held high.
“This strawberry wine,” Jiang Yuduo took the bottle and whispered as he poured the wine, “You should be able to drink it in May or June, right?”
Cheng Ke instantly understood what Jiang Yuduo meant.
“It should be around that time,” he replied. It seemed like brewing this wine was a must, and if it couldn’t be brewed, they would have to buy a bottle.
Usually, Cheng Ke would have a few ounces of wine when eating hot pot, and that would be enough. But every time he drank hot pot with Jiang Yuduo, he would end up getting tipsy.
Today, they had eaten hot pot for lunch and had already consumed almost two bottles of wine. Jiang Yuduo wanted to finish the remaining bit, but Cheng Ke quickly stopped him. “I can’t drink anymore. I have to supervise the work in the afternoon. What if I fall asleep? Just let it be.”
“Well, then you can’t,” Jiang Yuduo put down the bottle. “If I get drunk, I might go out and pick a fight on the streets.”
“Come on, that’s not the same thing,” Cheng Ke chuckled. “If I drink too much, I won’t go fight people on the streets. It’s just like Chen Qing’s fighting style. I can take on eight people with one hand.”
“I can take on ten Chen Qing,” Jiang Yuduo boasted.
Cheng Ke leaned back in his chair and smiled for a while. “Chen Qing might sneeze from hearing that.”
“If you drink too much, are you really going to fight?” Jiang Yuduo leaned on the chair, took out all the hot pot soup noodles from the bowl, and touched his belly.
“No,” Cheng Ke replied with a grin. “The first time I fought someone on the streets was when I met you.”
“I’m waiting for Chen Qing to come and help me choose a cat,” Jiang Yuduo thought for a moment and chuckled. “It was barking inside, but you kicked it away when you approached.”
“I didn’t know. I didn’t hear it barking,” Cheng Ke said. “You’re just easily annoyed.”
“Well, you didn’t hesitate at all when you fought back,” Jiang Yuduo tidied up the things on the table while speaking. “I thought to myself at the time, this person seems to be well-trained.”
“Are you sure you can beat me?” Cheng Ke asked.
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo confidently replied.
Cheng Ke clicked his tongue in response.
“I’m sure I can beat anyone,” Jiang Yuduo grabbed the pot and headed towards the kitchen.
“Where does that confidence come from?” Cheng Ke raised his voice and followed him.
“Since childhood,” Jiang Yuduo turned his head, “you have to be sure.”
Cheng Ke remained silent but gazed at him. His head was still spinning, and just looking at Jiang Yuduo made him feel dizzy. Unintentionally, he asked, “Will you die if you don’t win?”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo smiled. “That’s not possible.”
“Oh,” Cheng Ke replied.
Jiang Yuduo turned around and entered the kitchen.
Cheng Ke wasn’t particularly interested in pondering over it at the moment. He didn’t want to strain his mind while feeling dizzy. However, he could sense that Jiang Yuduo had no resistance to discussing the past as if it were an ordinary topic of conversation.
But just a little over a month ago, Jiang Yuduo had erupted almost instantly because of a single word, “dog.” Cheng Ke vividly remembered that expression, and it would likely remain etched in his memory forever.
When Jiang Yuduo emerged from the kitchen with a glass of water, he still seemed lost in thought.
“Regardless, at least help with the cleanup, young master,” Jiang Yuduo placed his cup down.
“Oh,” Cheng Ke stood up and realized he must have been quite thirsty after eating hot pot and drinking wine. He took Jiang Yuduo’s half-full glass of water and drank it, then gathered the dishes and followed Jiang Yuduo into the kitchen. “How about… I’ll do the washing.”
“I don’t have a dishwasher here,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.
“Hand wash,” Cheng Ke replied.
Jiang Yuduo glanced at him and nodded after a moment. “Alright, you can wash them.”
Cheng Ke rolled up his sleeves, placed all the dishes in the sink, turned on the faucet, and waited for a while. He then reached out to test the water’s temperature, shivering from the cold sensation. “Why hasn’t this water gotten hot after so long?”
“It won’t be hot even tomorrow morning,” Jiang Yuduo stated.
“Huh?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.
“This is a faucet. Why do you think it can produce hot water?” Jiang Yuduo looked at him.
Cheng Ke stared at the faucet again, feeling a bit shocked. “So, you use cold water to wash the dishes?”
“Just start already,” Jiang Yuduo picked up a kettle from the gas stove and poured half of the hot water into the sink. “Wash them, add more if it’s not enough, and rinse them with cold water after washing.”
“Oh,” Cheng Ke nodded, took the dish soap, and squeezed it in.
Jiang Yuduo quickly turned his head away.
“What’s wrong?” Cheng Ke asked, concerned.
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “Go ahead, use it, squeeze it all in.”
“Is it too much?” Cheng Ke asked again.
“I’m right here next to you!” Jiang Yuduo exclaimed. “Don’t be so loud!”
“Was I being loud?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.
“You should record yourself,” Jiang Yuduo said.
Cheng Ke laughed. “Hey, I might be a bit lightheaded from the alcohol… So, what should I do if I put in too much?”
“Then just don’t make any noise,” Cheng Ke said. “Every time you make a sound, I get nervous, afraid of making a mistake.”
“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.
Cheng Ke tested the water temperature, lowered his head, and began washing the dishes.
It was Cheng Ke’s first time washing bowls and plates after having hot pot. The oil and sauce stains were not easy to remove. Normally, he would just put his instant noodle bowl in the dishwasher. This experience of hand-washing dishes felt quite challenging for him.
“I think you’re strange,” Jiang Yuduo whispered.
“Huh?” Cheng Ke glanced at him.
“I think you’re very stylish when you perform, shoot videos, and interact with people,” Jiang Yuduo said. “Why do you get nervous when it comes to washing dishes?”
“Because I can’t do it well, I’m not good at it,” Cheng Ke explained. “I know I can do sand painting well, so I have confidence in myself.”
“But you didn’t start off being great at sand painting,” Jiang Yuduo pointed out.
“No one was watching in the beginning,” Cheng Ke smiled. “I’ve been hiding in my house and practicing for several years.”
“Huh?” Jiang Yuduo seemed surprised.
“I… actually, I don’t have much confidence in many things. I won’t let people see until I’m sure I can do it,” Cheng Ke confessed.
“Ah?” Jiang Yuduo was still taken aback. “You don’t seem like someone who lacks confidence.”
“Can you see through me?” Cheng Ke retorted. “Besides, aren’t you always calling me trash?”
“I may call you trash, but I don’t really think you’re trash,” Jiang Yuduo said. “I think you’re amazing.”
Cheng Ke glanced at him. “I know, but my dad called me trash. When I was trash, he thought I was trash.”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent, looking at him for a long time.
Cheng Ke lowered his head and continued washing the dishes slowly. In truth, he was fine in front of Jiang Yuduo. It didn’t bother him if Jiang Yuduo knew he couldn’t do everything perfectly.
“When will you teach me sand painting?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“Do you have the materials?” Cheng Ke responded. “Didn’t you ask me to teach you martial art before?”
“I thought you forgot,” Jiang Yuduo admitted.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Cheng Ke assured him. “I may be 28, not 82, but I won’t forget the promises I make.”
“Then teach me sand painting while you’re at it,” Jiang Yuduo suggested.
“Sure,” Cheng Ke replied. He wanted to nod to emphasize his agreement, but he felt quite dizzy at the moment. He was afraid that if he nodded, he might accidentally dunk his head into the sink.
“And there’s also the strawberry wine,” Jiang Yuduo added. “Remember? I think you’re unreliable, the one who forgets all the keys.”
“Keys and this are two different things,” Cheng Ke remarked, suddenly feeling distracted.
In the relaxed atmosphere after their meal, within the confines of the narrow kitchen space, Jiang Yuduo, someone he thought he would never meet again, was now standing beside him and speaking softly.
Even if they had touched upon sensitive topics in the past, it didn’t affect Cheng Ke’s current mood.
In this moment of comfort, exclusive to their presence, his thoughts became somewhat ambiguous, his guilty conscience mingling with a strange sense of enjoyment—choosing to “not think too much.” His grip loosened, and the bowl slipped back into the sink.
Jiang Yuduo sighed and stood beside him. “Let me handle this. At this rate, you’ll be washing dishes until nightfall.”
“No, your hand is still injured,” Cheng Ke felt a tinge of embarrassment.
“This injury won’t hinder me from washing dishes,” Jiang Yuduo insisted, submerging his hand into the water. “I can manage with this level of wound.”
“I’ll do it, I’ll do it…” Cheng Ke hastily reached out to grab a bowl from the water and begin washing it.
Bowls, plates, spoons, chopsticks—there were numerous items cluttered in the sink.
At that moment, his hand inadvertently grasped Jiang Yuduo’s.
…If this had happened with anyone else, it might be perceived as an intentional act, an attempt to touch their hand—a repugnant and shameless act of a street thug.
Yet, when it happened to him, he felt wronged.
As much as he desired a casual touch, he truly hadn’t intended to hold hands while washing dishes.
But to his surprise, he didn’t let go.
He continued to hold onto Jiang Yuduo’s hand.
What was even more astonishing was that Jiang Yuduo remained motionless, frozen in place as if struck by a dagger, one hand still in the water and the other gripping the edge of the sink.
At that moment, Cheng Ke felt a surge of energy coursing through him, his hands growing slick in the warm water.
When he turned his head, he saw Jiang Yuduo looking back at him, his face devoid of expression, his eyes bearing a complex and mostly vacant gaze.
Neither Cheng Ke nor Jiang Yuduo made a sound judgment in that instant. Cheng Ke’s reckless and impulsive nature, amplified by the effects of alcohol, took hold.
Closing the distance between them, Cheng Ke could see Jiang Yuduo’s eyes widening with shock, meeting his own.
He kissed Jiang Yuduo’s lips.
Then, losing some restraint, he seized Jiang Yuduo by the collar as he attempted to retreat, pulling him forcefully toward his side.
Jiang Yuduo’s feeble resistance likely failed due to his own fright, and he merely leaned against the sink, still trying to conceal himself. With each evasion, his back became pressed against the desk.
Cheng Ke raised his hands to support his head and passionately continued to kiss him, refusing to let go.
Just as he was about to escalate things further, he suddenly lost his footing, perhaps having stepped on some dish soap spilled from the sink…
As Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo fell together, a sense of unease washed over him. Why was there so much dish soap?
The impact of the fall was quite solid. Although Cheng Ke tried to cushion the fall by landing on Jiang Yuduo, and Jiang Yuduo attempted to brace himself, using his hands to prevent their faces from colliding, the overwhelming force generated by their momentum was borne entirely by Cheng Ke’s right wrist.
The moment he hit the ground, a numbing sensation coursed through his wrist, followed by a searing pain that forced him to lie atop Jiang Yuduo’s body.
Then, a blow struck the back of his head, and at that moment, scalding hot water cascaded over them—water that had been left unused in the pot.
Fuck!
Fortunately, the dishwashing progress was slow!
The water was no longer scalding hot!
Fuck!
Although the chaos only lasted a few seconds, to Cheng Ke, it felt like the second-longest few seconds of his life.
The first longest seconds were only just beginning.
After the tumultuous whirlwind caused by his impulsive actions had subsided, an eerie silence enveloped them.
Lying atop Jiang Yuduo’s body, the effects of the alcohol had dissipated, and his hooligan persona lay defeated on the ground. He no longer possessed the strength to rise and walk away; all he wished for now was a slap from Jiang Yuduo to render him unconscious.
Jiang Yuduo broke the silence, speaking for the first time after an unknown duration. “Your wrist is broken,” he said.
“What?” Cheng Ke was caught off guard.
“I heard it,” Jiang Yuduo moved and grasped the top of Cheng Ke’s right wrist. “Don’t move, it’s broken.”
“Ah—!” Cheng Ke felt the same piercing pain as before, unable to contain his howls. “Fuck! It hurts—”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent, firmly holding his wrist without letting go. Then, he pushed Cheng Ke gently, helping him sit up and lifting him off his body.
Lying on the ground, Cheng Ke faced Jiang Yuduo’s furrowed brow as the latter peered down at him. Closing his eyes, Cheng Ke groaned, “It hurts!”
“Get up,” Jiang Yuduo pulled him with care. “Stop swearing, you’re thirty years old!”
Exerting strength, Cheng Ke managed to sit up and slowly stood against the desk. He examined his hands, which appeared swollen.
Jiang Yuduo led him back to the living room, made him sit on a chair, and placed his hands on the table. “Don’t move,” he instructed.
“Yes,” Cheng Ke complied, feeling extremely embarrassed as he lay on the table.
He could hear Jiang Yuduo calling Chen Qing and asking him to drive them to the hospital.
Cheng Ke didn’t want Chen Qing to come over. He could take a taxi or walk to the hospital. It didn’t matter if he went to the hospital or not, as long as he could quickly disappear from Jiang Yuduo’s presence.
But he remained silent, too embarrassed to speak.
It wasn’t until he heard Chen Qing’s car stopping outside Jiang Yuduo’s house that Cheng Ke gritted his teeth and raised his head. “I’m sorry.”
Jiang Yuduo, who had been sitting across from him, had his head lowered, engrossed in his phone. He raised his head and glanced at Cheng Ke. “Huh?”
“About what happened just now,” Cheng Ke bit his lip. “I think… I had a bit too much to drink.”
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo frowned, setting aside his mobile phone. He raised his hand to touch his mouth again. “It’s… fine.”
Cheng Ke remained silent, his gaze fixed on Jiang Yuduo.
“Just…” Jiang Yuduo also looked at him. “I’m not angry.”
Cheng Ke breathed a sigh of relief, but this response surprised him.
“This is the third time,” Jiang Yuduo said. “I’m starting to fucking get used to it.”
Before Cheng Ke could respond, Jiang Yuduo stood up and went to open the door for Chen Qing.
Amidst the embarrassment and shock, Cheng Ke noticed it. He didn’t immediately look into Jiang Yuduo’s eyes.
“What happened?” Chen Qing exclaimed as he entered the door, glancing at the water-soaked Jiang Yuduo and then turning his head to see Cheng Ke in a similar state. He exclaimed again, “Fuck! Did a pipe burst upstairs?”
“The water leaked so much that the damn floor collapsed,” Jiang Yuduo sighed.
“The water pipe exploded?” Chen Qing continued his shocked speculation. “Fuck! Did the sewer explode?”
“I fell while holding the kettle,” Cheng Ke provided an unreasonable explanation, but it was sufficient for Chen Qing.
“You…” Chen Qing stared at him. “I give up! Hurry up! Is your wrist broken? Let’s go to the hospital!”
“It’s a fracture,” Cheng Ke stood up and glanced at Jiang Yuduo. He noticed that when Jiang Yuduo handed him his coat, he also grabbed his own coat.
“Third brother, are you coming too?” Chen Qing asked.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
“Both of you should dry your heads first,” Chen Qing suggested. “Don’t go out and catch a cold.” Jiang Yuduo didn’t say anything, he turned around and went into the bathroom, fetching two towels. He casually placed one on his own head and approached Cheng Ke with the other.
Cheng Ke could sense that Jiang Yuduo intended to dry his head for him, and just as he was about to decline, Chen Qing had already handed him the towel. “I’ll wipe Jiang-LeCoultre’s head, and you can dry yours.”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo acknowledged, lowering his head to dry off the water.
“Take a seat,” Chen Qing gestured to the chair. “Hurry up, it’s fractured.”
Cheng Ke sat down.
Chen Qing vigorously rubbed the towel against his own head. “I’ve said it before, how can you be so clumsy? Someone who can fall on flat ground, why don’t you fall during a fight?”
“I didn’t have a water bottle with me during the fight,” Cheng Ke sighed.
“Oh,” Chen Qing responded.
Cheng Ke heard Jiang Yuduo’s laughter, and he looked up to confirm that Jiang Yuduo was indeed smiling.
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