Translator: Lynn
In fact, when Lin Xu asked Cheng Ke earlier, he did so in a cryptic manner. However, Lin Xu didn’t conceal his intentions too much, so despite the cryptic nature of the question, Cheng Ke could understand what he meant.
Jiang Yuduo’s response was just as Cheng Ke had anticipated. Given Lin Xu’s behavior in front of him, it was clear that he would approach Jiang Yuduo first with such a question. If he could get an answer from Jiang Yuduo, he would never ask Cheng Ke again.
The reason Lin Xu approached Cheng Ke was because Jiang Yuduo had given him a vague and ambiguous answer.
However, it took Cheng Ke some time to fully process things after answering “no,” and he realized that Jiang Yuduo’s response was a bit too imaginative.
Based on Cheng Ke’s impression, Jiang Yuduo wasn’t disgusted when he heard about it before because he considered Cheng Ke a friend. Jiang Yuduo should have been startled by Lin Xu’s similar questions and simply denied them without much thought. Perhaps he would be a bit upset, for example, wondering why someone who wasn’t particularly attractive like him would think he’s Cheng Ke’s boyfriend.
But Jiang Yuduo’s answer was a clear “no.” Not only that, but it also left enough room for Lin Xu’s imagination. If he exaggerated it, it could be seen as a hint.
Cheng Ke had to reevaluate his understanding of Jiang Yuduo.
Jiang Yuduo’s reaction to Cheng Ke’s answer of “no” was also quite peculiar. He didn’t breathe a sigh of relief or call Lin Xu an idiot for asking such a question, instead… he seemed embarrassed.
Cheng Ke wasn’t typically a sensitive person, especially when it came to Jiang Yuduo. He often felt like a wooden person in front of him. However, he was highly attuned to these ambiguous emotions.
After all, he had been immersed in this atmosphere since the day he discovered his sexuality.
Even though he didn’t mind if anyone knew about his sexual orientation, he understood that not everyone could be as open as him. He always found himself encountering these subtle temptations and moments of closeness. While he may be slow and lazy in processing these emotions, he was more sensitive than many others.
At least, he was much more sensitive than Jiang Yuduo.
The shocked and embarrassed Jiang Yuduo probably didn’t fully grasp what he had said or why he had said it.
“It’s up to you,” Jiang Yuduo stared at him for a while before speaking.
“I’ve given my answer,” Cheng Ke said, “but if you’re not satisfied with it, I can tell Lin Xu the truth.”
“Tell him what?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“Tell him that you’re actually…” Cheng Ke glanced at the driver and lowered his voice, “my boyfriend.”
Jiang Yuduo’s eyes widened once again.
“Do you want me to do that?” Cheng Ke asked.
“I…” Jiang Yuduo struggled to squeeze out three words, then fell silent. After a long pause, he turned his head to look out the window. Eventually, he whispered in Cheng Ke’s ear, “That’s not what I meant either. I just… want Lin Xu to stay away from you.”
“Why?” Cheng Ke asked softly.
Yeah, why!
Jiang Yuduo bit his lip.
Because he was concerned about Lin Xu and felt that Lin Xu had ulterior motives, he also believed that Lin Xu still harbored doubts. However, he couldn’t let Cheng Ke know these things. He had to be a “normal person” in front of Cheng Ke.
He didn’t know what kind of answer would appear normal. Throughout the years, he had always spoken his mind and never said things he didn’t want to say.
“I just don’t like him very much,” Jiang Yuduo finally settled on a rather simplistic answer in his own opinion.
“…Oh,” Cheng Ke looked at him and asked again after a while, “Is there nothing else?”
“Nothing,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “What else is there? I simply have this attitude towards people I dislike.”
Cheng Ke smiled but didn’t say anything. This smile didn’t reveal whether he was satisfied with Jiang Yuduo’s explanation.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t have much experience in this area. He hadn’t been so nervous about making up an excuse in a long time. He had never encountered a situation that required this level of experience.
“I wonder if he’s interested in pursuing you,” Jiang Yuduo added after thinking for a moment. “We’ve known each other for a while, but we’ve only met a few times…”
“Four times,” Cheng Ke interjected.
“That’s right,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “It’s too unreliable. Let’s make him… stop thinking about it.”
“Well, that makes sense,” Cheng Ke agreed. “I’ll tell him then that you’re my boyfriend.”
Cheng Ke didn’t bother lowering his voice when he said this, and the driver in front probably overheard. The driver turned his head in surprise.
“Keep your eyes on the road,” Jiang Yuduo calmly said to the back of the driver’s head.
The driver immediately straightened up and focused on the road.
Jiang Yuduo’s gaze turned back to Cheng Ke, who had already turned away. Cheng Ke leaned against the car window, looking outside, his initial shock fading away, leaving Jiang Yuduo to grapple with it on his own.
This was just great.
Fantastic.
He managed to secure a boyfriend for himself.
And Cheng Ke, well, Jiang Yuduo wasn’t sure what he was thinking… Cheng Ke usually appeared carefree and indifferent, not bothered by anything, but the questions he asked that day were quite probing.
The car stopped at the entrance of a shopping mall. Jiang Yuduo got out of the car first, then turned around and extended his hand.
“I can get out on my own,” Cheng Ke said as he moved toward the car door.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t say anything. He simply grabbed Cheng Ke’s left hand and pulled him out of the car.
“Damn it!” Cheng Ke exclaimed as he was yanked out in a jumble. “Where are you dragging me?”
“The driver keeps staring at us,” Jiang Yuduo frowned.
“He can stare all he wants,” Cheng Ke said. “Why do you care if others watch?”
“It’s uncomfortable,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
Cheng Ke let out a sigh. “I spoke a little too loudly, but it’s not a big deal, even if he thinks you’re gay. So what? At the end of the day, he’ll go back and tell his friends that he encountered two gay guys today, and later on, he won’t even remember what you look like.”
“Really?” Jiang Yuduo looked at him.
“Look,” Cheng Ke casually pointed toward the crowd coming out of the shopping mall. “That man over there, the one with the bag, is gay.”
Jiang Yuduo glanced in that direction.
Cheng Ke tilted his head and turned his face back. “Alright, let’s count to ten.”
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,” Jiang Yuduo started counting with an inexplicable expression, “Why are we counting?”
“Now let me ask you,” Cheng Ke said, “What does that person look like?”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent.
“Don’t you remember?” Cheng Ke asked.
Jiang Yuduo looked at him, and after a few seconds, he said, “I remember.”
“…Seriously?” Cheng Ke was speechless. “Just by taking a glance, you remember.”
“I’ve seen people with a half-closed eye that I can remember,” Jiang Yuduo stated.
“Exaggerating much,” Cheng Ke was annoyed that Jiang Yuduo had disrupted his on-site lesson on the art of mind tricks.
Suddenly, Jiang Yuduo grabbed his arm and walked back.
“Where are we going?” Cheng Ke looked at the shopping mall’s entrance which was getting farther away with each step.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t answer, but instead pulled him across the street. They walked ahead for a while, and then Jiang Yuduo pointed forward. “That’s him.”
“What?” Cheng Ke didn’t understand.
“The guy you said was gay earlier,” Jiang Yuduo pointed at the man in front of them. “His nose is slightly crooked to the left, maybe he fell when he was a child…”
“You’re fucking…” Cheng Ke stared at the back of the man. “Just by looking at the back of his head, you can tell his nose is crooked…”
“Hey!” Jiang Yuduo suddenly shouted.
Cheng Ke was startled by him, and before he could react, everyone around them turned to look, and the man in front of them also turned his head.
Damn it!
His nose is indeed slightly crooked to the left!
Fuck!
After Cheng Ke recovered from his astonishment, he suddenly realized that he had never been surrounded by people on the street due to someone’s inexplicable yelling since he was a child.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” He whispered, “I’m fucking convinced!”
Jiang Yuduo turned around satisfied and walked back.
After taking a couple of steps, Cheng Ke abruptly stopped. “That man doesn’t have a handbag in his hand! It’s not him!”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo responded. “There are four of them, and the handbag was given to another man. That person is holding it to the side…”
Jiang Yuduo said while looking towards a nearby street. “There’s a parking lot over there, follow me…”
“No! No, no, no, no!” Cheng Ke quickly grabbed him and pulled him towards the shopping mall. “Thanks for the performance, it was quite thrilling. I completely believe you now, no doubt whatsoever.”
“I also know the brand of the bag,” Jiang Yuduo mentioned.
“Shut up!” Cheng Ke exclaimed.
Jiang Yuduo immediately fell silent and refrained from speaking further.
Cheng Ke’s head was spinning as he walked all the way back to the mall entrance. It was only then that he realized the reason why he had asked Jiang Yuduo to look at that man.
Every time, Jiang Yuduo could skillfully divert the topic using various magical mental pathways…
“I was simply telling you what that person meant,” Cheng Ke sighed. “I wasn’t testing your observation skills.”
“I know,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
“What do you know?” Cheng Ke squinted at him.
“You wanted to prove that the driver wouldn’t remember us after a while,” Jiang Yuduo said.
“Yes,” Cheng Ke breathed a sigh of relief. “Many things are like that—good things, bad things, painful things, embarrassing things—all things, in fact. Only you can remember them. Others can’t remember, no matter how significant they are. Most people will never remember.”
Jiang Yuduo stopped and turned to look at him. “Really?”
“Basically,” Cheng Ke said. “You scroll through the news on your phone every day, so much news that it’s overwhelming. But how long can you remember? Last week, there was news about a sick child I donated money, but now I can’t remember the child’s name. There are many people like you, right?”
Jiang Yuduo said.
“There are quite a lot,” Cheng Ke confirmed.
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo looked around at the bustling crowd. “There are so many people. Their past pains, current experiences, and future outcomes—except for themselves, no one else will know, right?”
“You’re taking it to the extreme…” Cheng Ke felt his words sounded pessimistic, and just as he wanted to explore further, Jiang Yuduo had already turned around and headed towards the elevator.
“What do you want to buy?” Jiang Yuduo turned his head and asked.
“I don’t know,” Cheng Ke replied. “Maybe wine, a ginseng gift box, and so on.”
“Ginseng?” Jiang Yuduo was taken aback. “If you plan to spend so much money, it’s better to give a red envelope to Chen Qing’s mother. Otherwise, she’ll have to carry it back after you’re done shopping. And if she can’t return it, she can sell it to someone at the commissary…”
“What kind of scheme is this?” Cheng Ke was greatly surprised.
“The scheme of cashing out during Chinese New Year,” Jiang Yuduo explained. “Lu Xi also took those things and sold them. If you really give away such items, maybe Chen Qing will ask me to help sell them.”
Cheng Ke found it amusing and burst into laughter. “I really didn’t expect that.”
“During Chinese New Year, when your family accumulates a lot of things, what do you do with the unusable and inedible stuff?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“My mother usually throws some away, and some aunts at home give them to other aunts if they like them,” Cheng Ke said.
“Those aunts might just sell them,” Jiang Yuduo said.
“…Get out,” Cheng Ke laughed again.
“Isn’t the world fun?” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue. “You little elf.”
“Get lost,” Cheng Ke turned and entered the elevator.
Giving a red envelope directly isn’t very polite, especially when the recipient is an unfamiliar elder. Even if Cheng Ke were to give a red envelope, he wouldn’t know the appropriate amount. So, he still believes it’s more suitable to buy something.
“Then let me give you an idea,” Jiang Yuduo suggested. “Buy a set of cute cat, dog, and bear hats, scarves, and gloves.”
“What?” Cheng Ke looked at him in surprise.
“Chen Qing’s mother really likes those. She wanted to buy them before, but his father refused,” Jiang Yuduo explained.
“No, no one needs to give up. How old are you?” Cheng Ke said.
“It’s good to make her happy,” Jiang Yuduo said. “There are so many things we desire but can’t have. So, let’s buy what we want and can get.”
Cheng Ke looked at him and found his words to be quite reasonable.
“Okay, let’s just buy a three-piece set,” Cheng Ke nodded.
Upon arriving at Chen Qing’s house, firecrackers were being set off by someone. They were hung from the sixth floor down to the first floor, creating a lively atmosphere.
Chen Qing rushed out of the corridor, and as he ran up to them, Cheng Ke recognized him.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” Chen Qing waved at them. “I’ve been leaning on the windowsill and watching. When I saw you getting out of the car, I hurried down.”
“It’s so grand,” Cheng Ke remarked.
“That’s for sure,” Chen Qing smiled. “After all, this is the first time my third brother has brought someone to my house. I’m so excited. It feels like you’re introducing your wife to in-laws…”
“Damn you!” Jiang Yuduo playfully slapped him on the back. “You want to act like an elder!”
Cheng Ke felt that Jiang Yuduo was probably focusing on the wrong thing in his desperation.
“No,” Chen Qing rubbed his arms. “Just look at the two of you. You’re dressed differently. I was stunned when you got off the bus. If you really say that you’re a young couple meeting their parents…”
“Get out!” Jiang Yuduo roared, finally grasping the key point this time. “Let’s go upstairs!”
Chen Qing hurried upstairs, and Jiang Yuduo turned his head. “His apartment is on the seventh floor, and there’s no elevator. Do you have any questions about that?”
“…Why? Will you carry me if I have questions?” Cheng Ke asked.
“I’m just asking,” Jiang Yuduo replied, turning around and heading up.
Cheng Ke followed behind him, feeling a slight urge to laugh.
Chen Qing’s parents were very warm and welcoming. They seemed to be a combination of a strict father and a loving mother, although the strict father part felt a bit out of place. When they entered the house, he covered his face and scolded Chen Qing for not closing the door when he went downstairs. After about a minute, he turned his head and noticed Jiang Yuduo and Cheng Ke still standing at the door.
“Hey! Come in! Why are you standing there?” Father Chen waved them in quickly.
“You don’t need to watch the third one. How many times have you watched him?” Mother Chen remarked.
“He’s my friend, Cheng Ke,” Jiang Yuduo entered the house and introduced Cheng Ke who was behind him.
“Happy New Year, uncle and aunt,” Cheng Ke greeted.
“Happy Chinese New Year,” Mrs. Chen replied. “At first sight, our third friend doesn’t seem like an ordinary person. Is he here to play with Qing’er and the others?”
Chen Qing seemed unconvinced. “Maybe we’re the ones who don’t want to take him to play?”
Cheng Ke smiled.
This was the first time Cheng Ke spent the Lantern Festival somewhere other than his own home or relatives’ homes. But considering the unique experiences he had throughout the year, he didn’t feel particularly sentimental today. It was actually quite nice—he was at someone’s home, surrounded by people busy preparing a table of dishes, and he could sit at the table with everyone to eat and drink.
Although he wasn’t entirely accustomed to the atmosphere of Chen Qing’s house, he still thought it was quite enjoyable.
Chen’s father was indeed vulgar, just as Jiang Yuduo had described. He frequently made explicit and lewd jokes. Chen’s mother was somewhat similar, but her temperament was much better. Especially when Cheng Ke presented the gift set of hats, scarves, and gloves, she was thrilled throughout the night.
“Chen Qing said you’re a young master,” Chen’s father raised his wine glass, extending it towards Cheng Ke. “You certainly look the part. Look around our neighborhood, you stand out so much. You don’t seem like you belong here at first glance.” Cheng Ke picked up his glass, smiled, and remained silent.
“My son must have stepped on shit to know a young master like you,” Father Chen jokingly tapped his glass. “This shit…” Chen Qing cleared his throat beside him.
“Why are you teasing him?” Chen Qing turned his head and stared at his father.
“Just joking around during the meal,” Chen’s father said. “You make people wait… Brother Ke, do you still want to eat?”
“It’s all finished!”
“That’s the end of the drinking session! Understand?” Father Chen continued to stare at him.
“Uncle and aunt, I wish you good health,” Cheng Ke smiled, lightly tapping his glass, and then raised his head to drink the wine.
Father Chen also raised his head and drank his wine.
After dinner, Jiang Yuduo didn’t stay at Chen Qing’s house for too long. He had plans to entertain his mahjong friends later in the evening. Once the dinner table was cleared, Mother Chen set up the mahjong table.
“Let’s go,” Jiang Yuduo suggested. “Let’s go see the lights.”
“I’ll come too,” Chen Qing immediately stood up.
“Can you help me with something?” Chen’s mother asked. “I need some errands done. What kind of lights are you going to see? You haven’t seen them twice since you were a child. There’s a desk lamp over there. Hold it and look at it.” Chen Qing sat back down feeling dejected.
“I’ll take some pictures for my social media,” Cheng Ke said. “I’ll share them after we enjoy the lights.”
“Okay, you guys go ahead and drive. You probably won’t be able to find a parking spot right now,” Chen Qing tossed the keys to them. “Capture a little video too. I heard the scale is even bigger this year.”
“Alright,” Cheng Ke nodded.
As they left Chen Qing’s house and returned to the smoky street filled with fireworks, Cheng Ke let out a sigh of relief and looked at the keys in his hand. “What kind of car is this?” he asked.
“It’s Chen Qing’s own car,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
“Chen Qing has a car?” Cheng Ke was surprised, quickly examining the car keys in his hand. “Isn’t it an electric scooter?”
Jiang Yuduo explained, “It’s a car worth less than 40,000 yuan. His mother bought it for him.”
“Oh,” Cheng Ke tried pressing the remote control, and a car beeped about five meters away from them. He walked over to take a look and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Can the two of us fit in this car?”
“Yes, it’s quite spacious inside,” Jiang Yuduo said. “Chen Qing will follow us, and he can fit in the trunk.”
“And the trunk?” Cheng Ke turned to the back of the car and attempted to open it. It opened, revealing a gap of about 20 centimeters behind the two seats. “This is the trunk?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. He took off his coat, rolled it up, and placed it in the gap. “See, you can even fit clothes in there.”
Cheng Ke looked at the clothes, unable to contain his excitement. He leaned against the back of the car and smiled. “Hey, that’s really something… Come on, help me take off my coat, I’ll put it in too…”
As he said this, he felt a bit awkward. However, he realized that it was mostly his own awkwardness, so he glanced at Jiang Yuduo.
Jiang Yuduo didn’t say anything. He helped Cheng Ke take off his coat, rolled it up, and placed it in the trunk.
At that moment, Cheng Ke could tell that he wasn’t the only one who felt that something was off.
Jiang Yuduo’s mindset as a straight man had likely changed a bit due to his relationship with his boyfriend. A statement that he would usually pay no mind to could now make him feel embarrassed.
Cheng Ke let out a sigh, opened the car door, got in, and sat in the passenger seat.
Tonight, there was a lantern festival taking place at the square, and it kicked off with a mesmerizing fireworks display. By the time they arrived in a two-door car with a trunk, the fireworks had already begun, illuminating the sky with cascading golden sparks.
“Do you want to stay here for a while? There’s a traffic jam up ahead,” Cheng Ke suggested. “This angle seems quite good at the moment.”
“I can see the intersection up ahead,” Jiang Yuduo replied as he continued driving. He stopped the car after crossing the next street. “Right here should be fine.”
“Agreed.” Cheng Ke peered out of the car window. From this vantage point, he could see the entire spectacle, including the smaller fireworks closer to the ground.
In this instance, Chen Qing’s compact car had a definite advantage. Jiang Yuduo skillfully maneuvered the car into the space between two parked cars by the roadside.
“How’s this?” Jiang Yuduo grinned, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag. He rolled down the car window halfway and leaned back comfortably in his seat.
“Perfect.” Cheng Ke also lit a cigarette.
“Do you enjoy watching fireworks?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“I love it,” Cheng Ke replied. “I particularly enjoy the ones with solid colors, like silver and gold. Especially the ones that have a textured effect.”
“I enjoy all types,” Jiang Yuduo said. “The first time I saw fireworks, I was completely captivated. They’re so beautiful and dazzling that they light up the dark sky.”
“When was the first time you saw fireworks?” Cheng Ke asked with a smile.
“It was when I left my parents’ house,” Jiang Yuduo reminisced. “Someone took us to compete. We happened to pass by a building where they were setting off fireworks. It was just a small display.”
Cheng Ke’s smile faded as he took a drag of his cigarette. He asked, “What kind of competition was it?”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent, his expression calm, as if he was lost in thought.
After a while, he turned to Cheng Ke and asked, “Do you know how to cook an eagle?”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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