Translator: Lynn
Thank you to Iris for the ko-fi! Here is a chapter for you^^
Sponsored chapter (1/1)
Cheng Ke couldn’t help but feel that life was being unkind to him. Not being able to use his right hand was already miserable, and now there were so many things he still needed to do.
He called for a car, which normally could have driven all the way downstairs before parking. However, today, just a hundred or so meters away from his building, two cars belonging to other residents had collided, and their owners were engaged in a heated argument.
Having lived here for so long, Cheng Ke only knew of two routes that led to his building—this one and the entrance from the east gate. But under the circumstances, it was impossible for him to ask the driver to take the detour through the east gate. He had no choice but to get out of the car.
In moments like these, he realized the value of having Jiang Yuduo by his side. Regardless of Jiang Yuduo’s goals or living habits, he seemed to know the layout of many places they visited. In this situation, Jiang Yuduo would have been able to direct the driver to take at least two alternative routes.
After stepping out of the car, he hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a gust of wind numbed half of his body. He struggled for a while, attempting to use his left hand to reach behind and pull the unzipped coat back in place, but he failed. He had no choice but to grab the coat from the right side with his left hand and pull it to the front, resembling a monk’s robe. He continued this way until he reached the corridor, completely frozen.
Thankfully, the security room was on the left, and the security guard was busy answering the phone once again. Upon seeing Cheng Ke, he simply called out, “Mr. Cheng is back.”
“Ah, you’re busy,” Cheng Ke replied as he grabbed his coat and hurried into the elevator.
As soon as he arrived home, feeling a little annoyed, he tossed his coat onto the ground and stood in the middle of the living room, unsure of what to do next.
This house, which he had left vacant for a month, felt unfamiliar as he returned to stay for the night. He felt somewhat lost.
Should he first dust off the ashes, or boil some water, or make the bed…?
After standing there for a while, contemplating his options, he finally decided to start dusting. He grabbed a rag and began wiping away the dust.
Dusting was perhaps the easiest task of all. He could easily swipe the flat surfaces a few times with his left hand.
Once he finished, which didn’t take long, he walked into the bedroom. However, any sense of accomplishment he had quickly vanished.
After vacuuming the mattress once, he opened the cupboard, feeling the strong urge to call Jiang Yuduo and ask for help with changing the bed cover and quilt cover.
But he gritted his teeth and resisted the urge. Not only had Jiang Yuduo asked him to hold back, but he had also specifically told Jiang Yuduo not to be too considerate. And as soon as he finished speaking, he arranged for someone to come and make the bed. No matter how he looked at it, he felt ashamed.
In the end, he resorted to a makeshift solution. He shook the bedsheet a few times randomly, unable to spread it flat. He simply made a small area where he could sleep, threw the quilt cover on, and then placed the quilt on top. It may have looked a bit messy, but he didn’t mind as long as he could sleep.
He didn’t want to dwell on his handiwork even for a moment, so he left the bedroom and planned to freshen up and watch some TV before going to sleep.
The sound of the phone ringing interrupted his thoughts.
He picked it up and saw that it was Jiang Yuduo calling.
“Is everything packed?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
Cheng Ke replied, “It’s all packed.”
Before he could hang up the phone, Jiang Yuduo called again.
“Didn’t I say it’s packed?” Cheng Ke answered the phone.
“And the bed is made?” Jiang Yuduo sounded surprised. “Can you make the bed?”
“Well, it’s made, anyway…” Cheng Ke hesitated for a moment. “It’s made, anyway.”
“One layer at a time, it should be piled up layer by layer,” Jiang Yuduo advised.
“…Yes,” Cheng Ke glanced at the pile of things on the bed. “But it won’t affect sleep.”
“I want to tell you,” Jiang Yuduo said, “you can… go in directly through the opening of the quilt cover, and then put the quilt on top. That way, it won’t slip away and won’t get tangled.”
“Like a sleeping bag?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.
“That’s right,” Jiang Yuduo confirmed.
Cheng Ke felt enlightened in an instant, his mind clearing up. “Little Brother, you’re so clever!”
“Should I come to find you and we can go to the hotel together to get the things?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
Cheng Ke was in such a good mood that he didn’t even think about his reaction to the “pretty cutie,” and he momentarily forgot to consider whether he should move back immediately or not. He replied, “Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, he snapped back to reality, realizing that he had already made the commitment to move back. So he had no choice but to start the process.
Compared to deciding whether to move back, the most challenging aspect for him right now was figuring out how to take a shower. He knew he definitely wouldn’t be able to take a shower today, but he still stood under the shower head and tried to simulate the motion while washing. He attempted to lift his right arm and lean against the wall, holding the showerhead in his left hand, and he could manage to wash himself almost adequately…
Satisfied with his makeshift solution, he returned the showerhead to its place, and that’s when a vivid image of Jiang Yuduo helping him bathe suddenly flashed in his mind.
And it wasn’t just a simple scene of two good friends showering together.
It was simply an unsightly scene.
He quickly turned around and grabbed the toothbrush, looking at his reflection in the mirror, constantly reminding himself, “Mr. Cheng Ke, please exercise some self-control.”
But honestly, it wasn’t working very well, especially when the image hadn’t faded yet, and he remembered the kiss Jiang Yuduo had planted on the tip of his nose.
Although there were no particular feelings… yes, no feelings at all, the action itself was quite impactful, especially when combined with his imagination.
Mr. Cheng Ke was not exercising much restraint.
Fortunately, his rationality reminded him that his left hand was not dominant, so he managed to stop himself in time.
Jiang Yuduo stood behind the curtain, peering out. One of the streetlights across the street had been out since the Chinese New Year, and it still hadn’t been fixed. Now, the corner diagonally opposite was darker than before, making it difficult to see if anyone was there.
If it were before, he would have patiently waited or gone out to investigate if he sensed someone’s presence. But today, he didn’t. After standing behind the curtain for a few minutes, he turned and walked away.
Sister Luo once said that when you feel unable to get rid of certain thoughts or feelings, try to ignore them.
Although that advice was given in the context of his “condition,” he decided to give it a try when the other party didn’t take any further action and he should be capable of handling any emergencies.
Try to ignore it.
For him, this was somewhat risky. Once they appeared and were out of his sight, anything could happen.
…or maybe nothing would happen at all.
Jiang Yuduo gazed down at the scar on his palm.
He may or may not fully comprehend how those scars came to be, and at times, he struggled to decipher what had transpired.
Perhaps anything could happen, or perhaps nothing could happen.
Many times, the only thing he could be certain of was his own fear.
He could ignore many things, even the truth.
But fear alone couldn’t be ignored.
Fear was a tangible reality, not derived from mere imagination or emotion, but from the actuality of his experiences. Jiang Yuduo had never longed to “become” a “normal person” as intensely as he did in this past month. His life had always appeared normal to him—his friends, his younger siblings—all their interactions felt natural and ordinary. Those who harbored doubts and hesitations eventually faded away, leaving his world undisturbed.
Until Cheng Ke came into the picture.
He had never experienced such a state as when he was with Cheng Ke, and perhaps he had never encountered such an embarrassingly helpless young master before, someone who couldn’t even operate a gas stove or a water heater. His concern for Cheng Ke went beyond that of a normal, non-threatening stranger.
Cheng Ke, with his unfamiliar yet captivating aura, managed to create a strong sense of presence.
Their subsequent interactions seemed natural, but they also existed outside of his usual realm.
He had never encountered a person like Cheng Ke before, someone from a different world—a sand painting master who commanded high fees for performances, a conversationalist capable of evoking emotions with his poetry…
And when facing Cheng Ke, there was no need for him to put up any facades. Without even realizing it, he would let go of pretenses, react in the most genuine manner, and speak without overthinking.
Perhaps that’s why he desired to have this friend who made his world feel more authentic by his side at all times.
He was afraid that Cheng Ke would vanish.
Even though Cheng Ke never uttered a direct word, and even if he harbored suspicions, he rarely displayed them. But every question Cheng Ke posed would accurately strike the most sensitive chord within him.
He had to strive to be a “normal person.”
It was tiring, but he had no regrets.
That night, Meow got in and out of bed several times and even perched on his head. He was aware of the passing cars outside and a young couple quietly quarreling in the backyard as the roosters crowed.
The man was quite talkative, incessantly questioning the girl about her relationship with a male colleague, even going as far as mentioning the fact that the male colleague had given each female colleague a piece of chocolate on Valentine’s Day.
So tedious and foolish.
The girl seemed to share his sentiment and ultimately ended the argument with a slap to the man’s face.
As they walked away together, Jiang Yuduo found it amusing.
Love requires so much effort… What if it involves two men? Jiang Yuduo thought of Cheng Ke. Cheng Ke was 30, no, 28. A reserved middle-aged man would surely have had past relationships. Would he be foolish enough to engage in such a situation with another man?
Probably not. When Cheng Ke was focused on work, he appeared calm and straightforward. If he were in a relationship, he shouldn’t be so troublesome.
So, if this beautiful… cutie turned out to be a nuisance, how would Cheng Ke handle it?
Tsk.
It was truly a trivial matter to be idle at night, lying in bed, worrying about whether Cheng Ke’s love life would become a foolish problem.
He rolled over, scooped up Meow, buried his face in its belly, and tried to sleep. Even if he couldn’t fall asleep, he would at least rest his eyes for a while, allowing his body to trick itself into thinking he had already drifted off.
Today was the Lantern Festival, and Cheng Ke was awoken early in the morning by the sound of firecrackers echoing downstairs.
Despite the community’s numerous notices prohibiting fireworks and firecrackers, the festive atmosphere filled the air, far livelier than what he had experienced in the hotel.
Yawning, Cheng Ke realized that the commotion would only grow louder, making it impossible for him to go back to sleep.
He intended to get up since Jiang Yuduo had planned to accompany him to the hotel to retrieve his belongings. However, Jiang Yuduo also needed to visit the store, particularly the leisure area where they were adding bricks to the wall and arranging the delivery of some green plants. He had to coordinate their placement.
As he sat up, Cheng Ke automatically reached out his right hand to support the bed, but the contact between his cast and the mattress caused a sudden numbness that jolted him.
Ahhhhhhhhh! Damn, my wrist is still fucking broken!
Afraid to exert any pressure, he quickly withdrew his hand, allowing himself to collapse back onto the bed, assuming a doggy-like position, before finally sitting up with his left hand supporting him.
“Fuck,” he muttered, glancing at his right hand. Fortunately, he reacted in time.
Just as Cheng Ke finished washing up, Jiang Yuduo called. Answering the phone, he was greeted by Jiang Yuduo’s cheerful voice.
“Are you up? Don’t eat breakfast, I’ll bring it to you,” Jiang Yuduo’s voice sounded like that of a primary school student going on a spring outing. “Do you still want to eat those sticky rice dumplings we had last time?” Though Cheng Ke didn’t find the early morning particularly delightful, he couldn’t help but be influenced by Jiang Yuduo’s excitement. “Sure, can you get me a larger one this time? The last one wasn’t enough.”
“I’ll buy you two. The bigger ones aren’t as tasty as the smaller ones,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
“Okay,” Cheng Ke agreed.
“Did you brush your teeth?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“…I did,” Cheng Ke responded, “Even though I haven’t showered, I managed to brush my teeth and wash my face.”
“Can you brush with your left hand?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“I have an electric toothbrush. I just put it in my mouth,” Cheng Ke sighed. “You’re not suggesting you’ll help me brush my teeth, are you, Third Brother?”
“No, I was thinking of bringing you a pack of mouthwash,” Jiang Yuduo explained.
“No need, just bring the two sticky rice dumplings,” Cheng Ke insisted.
After ending the call, he remembered that he forgot to inform Jiang Yuduo about his busy schedule for the day, preventing him from going to the hotel to retrieve his things and leave.
Frowning, he realized that this “long-awaited reunion” was perhaps a bit too exhilarating. He often found himself getting caught up in Jiang Yuduo’s thoughts, forgetting important matters during their conversations.
He wondered if it was an unintentional oversight or if, deep down, he subconsciously desired this kind of distraction.
“After entering the door, Jiang Yuduo took out two dumplings from his clothes. “Is it enough?” he asked.
“Enough,” Cheng Ke replied, taking the dumplings from him. They were still hot. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No, let’s eat together. I’ll finish it first; it hurts to watch you eat,” Jiang Yuduo said, taking out three more dumplings and two packs of soy milk. “And soy milk.” Cheng Ke looked at him skeptically.
“You stuffed this big pile in your pockets. Won’t it fall out?” Cheng Ke asked.
“Just hold it in your pocket,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “Can’t you figure it out?”
“Why did you eat three?” Cheng Ke changed the subject.
“Because I want to eat three. You said you want two, and a moment ago you said ‘enough,'” Jiang Yuduo stepped back playfully. “Are you trying to snatch them?”
“Not necessarily,” Cheng Ke said, picking up a dumpling and taking a bite. “If I don’t have enough, I’ll…”
Before he could finish speaking, he raised his eyes and found that Jiang Yuduo had already eaten half of the dumpling in his hand.
“What the hell are you doing!” Cheng Ke was speechless.
“Who knows? If you really wanted to snatch it, I couldn’t beat you, a disabled person,” Jiang Yuduo said nonchalantly while continuing to eat.
“When you go back and see that you’re three and a half years old, remember to call him ‘brother,'” Cheng Ke said, taking a sip of soy milk.
“He’s four years old,” Jiang Yuduo corrected.
“Oh, then you have to call him ‘uncle,'” Cheng Ke chuckled.
Jiang Yuduo laughed for a long time.
After breakfast, they went downstairs and noticed a taxi approaching. Cheng Ke suddenly realized that he hadn’t discussed today’s plans with Jiang Yuduo.
He had a strange feeling that Jiang Yuduo might have done this on purpose. He had already told Jiang Yuduo not to be too considerate, but he had forgotten to mention that he might have to spend most of the day with him.
“I forgot to tell you,” Cheng Ke hurriedly looked at Jiang Yuduo. “I can’t leave right away. I have to go to the store. The workers are working today, and the green plants are being delivered.”
“Hmm,” Jiang Yuduo responded.
Cheng Ke didn’t understand his reaction, so he added, “Do you want to wait until I’m done working?”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier then? I came all the way here. I’ll give you the two dumplings and leave,” Jiang Yuduo glared at him. “You’re quite the cunning young man, tricking someone into giving you breakfast! Who the hell am I walking with!”
Cheng Ke looked at him and suddenly felt very happy.
Jiang Yuduo’s current state as the third brother was…very adorable, and also very…alluring.
“Are you going back now?” Cheng Ke asked.
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo walked over to the taxi. “I have the day off.”
“You still have the day off?” Cheng Ke whispered after getting into the car.
“Of course,” Jiang Yuduo whispered back. “On such a significant festival, we don’t collect rent, demand rent, or get into fights. That’s how we’ve always been.”
“Oh,” Cheng Ke nodded.
“Will you be able to finish your work tonight?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“It should be done by the afternoon,” Cheng Ke replied. “The workers need to go back for the holidays.”
“That’s good,” Jiang Yuduo nodded and then hesitantly asked, “Then… Chen Qing, he invited you to have dinner together at his place.”
“Is it for the Lantern Festival celebration?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“Well, I didn’t want to invite you at first because I was afraid you wouldn’t be comfortable. Chen Qing’s parents, like us, are quite… unrefined,” Jiang Yuduo looked at Cheng Ke. “But I also feel that leaving you alone on this occasion would be pitiful. After all, no one has cared for you in the past year.”
“Are you still talking about it?” Cheng Ke retorted.
“Then are you going?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“Go ahead. In my pitiful state, from being a lonely 30-year-old to being pitied during the Lantern Festival, it’s finally something,” Cheng Ke clicked his tongue.
Jiang Yuduo laughed and turned his head to look out the window.
The taxi arrived at the hotel first, and Jiang Yuduo helped Cheng Ke pack all his belongings. Although he didn’t appear very skilled, he was much more efficient than a one-armed person would be expected to be.
“I’ve realized you’re truly extravagant,” Jiang Yuduo commented as he looked at the room after covering the two boxes. “Living alone and still needing a suite.”
“When I booked the room, there were no single rooms available,” Cheng Ke explained. “I inspected the room once, and I booked it using Xu Ding’s membership card, so I could get a discount.”
Jiang Yuduo didn’t say anything more; he simply sighed.
After finishing packing, they went to the store with Cheng Ke’s luggage. They arrived around the same time as the workers, who had just entered the site.
“Master, you worked hard today,” Cheng Ke said to the worker.
“It’s alright. I can probably finish it by tomorrow morning,” the worker replied. “If it weren’t for your high standards, I could have done it faster.”
“Quality is a priority. Don’t worry,” Cheng Ke smiled.
Jiang Yuduo carried the two boxes to the inner room on the first floor and put them away. Then he came out and walked around the store.
“How does it look?” Cheng Ke asked.
“It looks good,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “It has a very upscale appearance.”
“In a few days, I’m going to make a set of tables and chairs upstairs,” Cheng Ke said. “But now that your hand is injured, you… come when the time comes. Can you help me?”
“You can also do carpentry?” Jiang Yuduo was a little surprised.
“It’s not made of wood, it’s made of cement…” Cheng Ke explained.
“You know how to work as a mason?” Jiang Yuduo was even more surprised.
“No,” Cheng Ke pondered for a moment and then gave up, “You’ll see when the time comes.”
“Then I guess I won’t be of much help,” Jiang Yuduo frowned. “How can I assist?”
“I told you it’s easy,” Cheng Ke said.
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.
Just as he was about to ask further, a horn sounded at the door.
Jiang Yuduo turned his head to look outside the door and saw a pickup truck approaching.
“I’ll go and take a look,” Cheng Ke said, walking out. “Maybe the green plants have been delivered.”
Jiang Yuduo couldn’t clearly see the people in the cab as they were blocked by the co-pilot. Is it someone familiar? He decided to follow Cheng Ke. Logically, he should have walked in front of Cheng Ke, but he chose to follow behind him.
As soon as they went out, the passenger door opened, and a person inside jumped out and greeted Cheng Ke, saying, “Brother Cheng.”
“Lin Xu?” Cheng Ke was stunned. “Why are you…”
“I have a friend who runs a nursery,” Lin Xu smiled. “Brother Xu saw the photos on Moments last time and found the green plants in his house to be quite unique, so he asked me to help you pick some.”
“Oh,” Cheng Ke nodded.
When Lin Xu’s eyes met Jiang Yuduo’s, he seemed visibly taken aback.
Jiang Yuduo also struggled to find a suitable expression, so he simply looked at him.
“Third Brother,” Lin Xu paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded at him.
Jiang Yuduo twitched the corner of his mouth.
He couldn’t quite manage a smile.
Logically, there shouldn’t be a problem with Lin Xu. After all, Cheng Ke had been away from his protection for a month, and Lin Xu had many opportunities to get close to Cheng Ke. Yet Cheng Ke had never been in any danger.
But even so, it should be appropriate for him to line up with Lin Xu, but he still couldn’t bring himself to smile.
However, there was something that needed to be said.
“About what happened last time,” he looked at Lin Xu, “I’m sorry.”
“Oh,” Lin Xu waved his hand with a smile. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I misunderstood. Don’t worry about it, Third Brother.”
Yeah, right.
Jiang Yuduo looked at him with a cold expression and twitched the corners of his mouth again, but he couldn’t even manage a forced smile.
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