Translator: Lynn
Cheng Ke sent the message but quickly retracted it before Jiang Yuduo’s phone even went dark.
If Cheng Ke hadn’t withdrawn the message instantly, Jiang Yuduo probably wouldn’t have noticed it so quickly.
— No, I just miss you.
When Jiang Yuduo saw this sentence, he decided not to retract it. He did miss Cheng Ke. During the Chinese New Year, he kept checking Cheng Ke’s social media posts, hoping for a chance to go to the store and help Cheng Ke with something, just to be with him.
Whenever they were apart, he would miss Cheng Ke.
After replying to Cheng Ke’s message, Jiang Yuduo felt a little dazed. The meaning of Cheng Ke’s words was probably not as simple as he thought.
“Miss you.”
Chen Qing had also said the same thing to him, often.
“San-ge, let’s have a meal together, I miss you.”
“San-ge, come out and hang out. I haven’t seen you for a few days, and I miss you very much.”
No matter how it was said, it felt different from what Cheng Ke said.
It was different from the feeling of wanting to stay with Cheng Ke.
His phone rang, and Cheng Ke’s message appeared.
“Good night, idiot.”
Jiang Yuduo smiled when he saw these four words and could imagine Cheng Ke’s expression at the moment.
“Good night.”
He sent a message back to Cheng Ke. Just as he was about to send a photo of Meow, his phone rang again. It was a call from Da Bin.
“What’s up?” Jiang Yuduo answered the phone.
“San-ge, I spotted one,” Da Bin said, “but I just followed him around your place and then left. I didn’t let anyone else know, just in case he gets alarmed.” “Alright,” Jiang Yuduo replied, “Where did he go?”
“I followed him on my motorcycle,” Da Bin said, “He headed north on the street. My motorcycle couldn’t continue, so I had to stop following.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo lit a cigarette, “You guys go back. Come out tomorrow when you have time.”
After ending the call, Da Bin sent a photo.
When Jiang Yuduo saw the photo, he thought Da Bin should learn from Chen Qing; it was even blurrier than Chen Qing’s photo. Though it was hard to make out the details, anyone could see that there was a person in the picture.
However, Jiang Yuduo realized that Da Bin was quite adept at recognizing figures in the dark. At such times, one doesn’t rely on the details; it’s all about the outline and movement of the body.
This person was one of the two individuals he had seen today. The one with the white stripes on his clothes had changed his appearance, but the overall feeling remained the same. Jiang Yuduo had a strong impression of him after seeing him twice today.
He sent a message back to Da Bin, instructing him to keep an eye on this person.
Then he put down his phone and walked to the window.
Although Cheng Ke thought he had no “enemies” and believed this person wasn’t coming for him, Jiang Yuduo was almost certain that the individual had targeted Cheng Ke.
If they were after him, they wouldn’t have acted this way.
If someone wanted trouble with Jiang Yuduo, there was no need for so much effort. They would confront him directly, just like Zhang Daqi, or deliver the goods to his doorstep, like Babao.
Today, these two individuals appeared in a completely different manner from their usual street style.
Jiang Yuduo couldn’t be certain of Cheng Ke’s purpose for coming here. The only valuable possession Cheng Ke had the watch, had already been taken by him. However, regardless of the reason or the person he was dealing with, Jiang Yuduo didn’t care. In this world, from the day he arrived until now, there was nothing that scared him.
He understood the ways of this place, he knew the people here, and he understood the role he played in this environment.
He was scared…
Abruptly, he pulled the curtains shut and turned away.
Neglect.
Ignore that person.
Pretend not to see the one who quickly disappeared into the darkness in his field of view.
He clenched his fists, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
Neglect.
He could ignore that person.
He could pretend not to see him.
But he couldn’t ignore the fear that slowly seeped from the depths of his heart.
Fear couldn’t be ignored; it came and went beyond the control of his will.
“Are you afraid? You can’t hide. Face him and defeat him! You have no choice. Just defeat him if you’re afraid!”
When Jiang Yuduo rushed out of the room, he heard Meow lazily calling.
At that moment, it felt like the last connection between him and the world.
“San-ge!” Chen Qing’s voice came from the living room to the bedroom, “San-ge, can I come in?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo replied hoarsely.
“I bought breakfast,” Chen Qing appeared at the bedroom door, “Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
“I didn’t hear it when I fell asleep,” Jiang Yuduo turned his head and glanced at him, “What time is it?”
“Eight o’clock. It’s getting late,” Chen Qing said, “I’m off duty today. Should I go to the rental house?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo said, lowering his head. He closed his eyes to calm himself down, and after a few seconds, his legs started to feel numb. He frowned and took a deep breath.
His back and waist were also sore, as if someone had hooked a barb into his muscles and was pulling them up and down.
He sat on the ground, leaning against the wall. He wasn’t sure how long he maintained this position. His phone was at his feet. When he picked it up to check, he noticed that the upper right corner of the screen had cracked into a spider web.
However, it still worked. He turned on the screen and checked the time when he said goodnight to Cheng Ke the previous night.
It had been less than ten hours; that was okay.
He rubbed his hands on his legs, and after the numbness subsided, he stood up, leaning against the wall, and sighed softly.
Thank goodness he didn’t spend the night at Cheng Ke’s house yesterday.
But he still felt depressed.
He didn’t know why.
Why couldn’t it be ignored?
Why couldn’t it be done?
Why was it so difficult to appear like an ordinary “normal person”?
Why?
Besides wanting to make him never find peace, what else did they want?
Jiang Yuduo threw himself onto the bed.
He had always believed that he had stronger self-control and willpower than others… or perhaps he had overestimated himself.
“Did you sleep at all yesterday?” Chen Qing asked as he approached the bedroom after feeding the cat. “Why are you lying down again?”
Jiang Yuduo wiped away the moisture from the corners of his eyes, then got up and left the bed.
As he washed up, he felt a burning sensation on the back of his hands. He looked down, frowned, and clenched his fists again. The wounds on the joints were just abrasions, but the pain intensified after squeezing them.
He raised his hands, clenched both fists and slowly pressed them against the wall, applying some force until all the wounds adhered to the wall.
Perhaps it was two punches or maybe more.
Apart from the pain of superficial abrasions, there was also a faint dull ache, but there didn’t seem to be any broken bones.
Back in the living room, he took out the medicine box and casually applied a few band-aids to the back of his hand.
“Did something happen to you yesterday?” Chen Qing watched him put on the Band-Aid while eating.
“I haven’t done anything in the past few days,” Jiang Yuduo said. “How’s Erbao’s leg?”
“It’s being rested at home,” Chen Qing said. “That’s definitely not the end of it.”
“He wants me to bow down to him.” Jiang Yuduo took a bun and took a big bite.
“Keep your voice down,” Chen Qing frowned, “Do you want to go?”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo said, “He didn’t do anything. He got what he wanted, and I have nothing to say if I confront him.”
“Then what should we do?” Chen Qing asked.
“I’ve met Zhang Daqi countless times over the years,” Jiang Yuduo said, “There’s nothing to do, and I’m not in a hurry.”
“True,” Chen Qing nodded, “Zhang Daqi is pretty much a mess. He might retire in a few years, just like those old guys who fade away quietly.”
Jiang Yuduo took a sip of soy milk and didn’t speak.
“We’re still young,” Chen Qing waved his hand, “Let him go first.”
Jiang Yuduo buried his head in his food and didn’t respond to Chen Qing’s words.
He couldn’t bear it.
He suddenly felt scared.
This was a new kind of fear.
When Chen Qing said, “We’re still young,” he felt fear for the first time.
He was only 21 years old, and he would be turning 22 in a few months. He had many years ahead of him—five years, ten years, twenty years, thirty years—in this life.
A life that was dull and peaceful, but also filled with hopelessness.
He was different from everyone else here, even though he had wanted to believe he was just like them.
But Chen Qing and those little brothers had parents, families, and everything seamlessly integrated into this place.
And he, year after year, had been lost in this bustling area, invisible to everyone. He was that kid who appeared out of nowhere ten years ago, the third child, the legend of the painless nerve.
In the end, no one would remember him because no one had ever really seen him.
He was just a passerby in his own story.
Yesterday, when he was working in the store with Cheng Ke, he felt the urge to do something for the first time.
When Sister Luo mentioned this, he had no idea what she was talking about. He just felt irritated and annoyed. But yesterday, he suddenly felt the urge to do something.
Simply to stand somewhere.
But…
Maybe it was just an “urge.”
He wanted to fight back but didn’t know where to start.
How should he start?
Today, Chen Qing was driving a Beetle, parked outside with the hood open.
After Jiang Yuduo got into the car, he turned to look at Chen Qing, who was also looking back at him while driving: “What’s wrong?”
“What month is it now?” Jiang Yuduo asked him, “How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Are you talking about the tent?” Chen Qing asked.
“I’m not talking about the canopy,” Jiang Yuduo said, “I told you to close the hood!”
“No, Third Brother,” Chen Qing said with some embarrassment, “There was no suitable car available at the shop today. This one is here for repairs, and its hood… can’t be closed.”
Jiang Yuduo couldn’t describe his feelings: “You drove it out like this? I’m really grateful it didn’t snow today.”
“It hasn’t snowed in several days, I don’t think it will.” Chen Qing turned the car onto the street.
“The old north wind isn’t blowing anymore?” Jiang Yuduo said irritably.
“Wrap up better,” Chen Qing replied, pulling his coat tighter around himself.
Jiang Yuduo sighed and then zipped up Chen Qing’s coat to his head. He then pulled the hood of his own coat down as far as possible to cover his face and leaned his head against the back of the chair.
“Third Brother, it’s useless to cover your face,” Chen Qing said, “Anyone who knows me knows that the person next to me is you.”
“It’s Cheng Ke, and this outfit belongs to him.”
“…Damn,” Chen Qing was momentarily stunned and then burst into laughter, “Hey! I was just saying that I haven’t seen you wear this outfit before, but it looks familiar. Is it from Jaeger-LeCoultre?”
“En, he exchanged this one for my thicker one,” Jiang Yuduo said.
“He’s really a young master. His watch alone can buy 20 pieces like yours,” Chen Qing remarked, “He’s short-sighted.”
“The key is not whether he can afford it,” Jiang Yuduo smiled. Sometimes, when he thinks about Cheng Ke, he finds him to be quite a unique and dreamy person.
“Ask him if he wants mine,” Chen Qing suggested, “I have a thicker one, and I haven’t worn it twice. Let him exchange it for his thick short trench coat. I bet it’ll look good on him.”
Jiang Yuduo playfully tapped the brim of his hat and looked at Chen Qing. “You need to show some restraint, my friend. If I tie a wooden plank to your shoulders and see if you can support that dress.”
“I’ve put on some weight, gained a few pounds during the Chinese New Year,” Chen Qing reluctantly admitted.
“Enough chitchat. Just drive the car!” Jiang Yuduo pulled his hat back on.
The ground outside the rental house was strewn with red firecracker remains, new and old, and all kinds of fireworks tubes soaked in snow and crushed into black mud cakes by people and passing cars.
Jiang Yuduo looked around, his eyes taking in the festive redness of the Chinese New Year, but it somehow made him feel melancholic and isolated.
“Let’s go to Building 3 first,” he said as he walked ahead.
“Alright,” Chen Qing followed him, “Should I notify each family to clean up?”
“Why not,” Jiang Yuduo said.
“We should appoint a building manager, just like the owners’ committee in other communities. It’ll make things more convenient,” Chen Qing suggested.
Jiang Yuduo glanced at him and didn’t feel like discussing it further.
“I was just throwing ideas out there,” Chen Qing said casually.
“Don’t be so casual next time,” Jiang Yuduo said.
Chen Qing laughed heartily.
Informing the tenants to clean the hallways and the downstairs area was quite a hassle, and Jiang Yuduo had to explain the situation to them.
“Why should we clean the downstairs area? I didn’t set off any fireworks at home,” a woman complained while holding her child. “Besides, it’s the street. The cleaners should clean it.”
“The cleaners don’t care about this place. If you don’t want to clean, you can hire someone to do it,” Jiang Yuduo said, “and the hiring fee will be added to this month’s rent.”
“Why increase the rent!” the woman raised her voice.
“Because the rent here is the lowest in the area,” Jiang Yuduo responded sternly, “Other houses are cleaned by the tenants, and their rent is higher than yours. You can decide for yourself. If you don’t want to clean, let me know. I’ll add fifty to your monthly rent, and you still have to clean.”
Chen Qing followed and chimed in, “Each family only needs to clean an area as small as their hand. I sit on my butt, and it’s bigger than that area. I don’t ask you to clean it all year round. What’s the big deal? If you don’t like it, move to another building and pay fifty more per month, but you’ll still have to clean there.”
Jiang Yuduo reached the third floor, and Chen Qing followed one level behind. He knocked on a door on the third floor.
“Uncle Zhang,” Jiang Yuduo greeted the person who opened the door, “I need to talk to you.”
“What’s the matter?” Uncle Zhang asked.
“I was here last time, and I noticed you have a lot of sticks and pieces of wood, right?” Jiang Yuduo stepped into the house.
“There are quite a few,” Uncle Zhang pointed to the pile of sundries next to the toilet, “They’re all there. Why? Do you want them?”
“I remember seeing a kind of wooden strip with a beautiful design and color,” Jiang Yuduo said as he rummaged through the pile of things. He pulled out a finger-wide strip of wood from a broken plastic box, “This is it.”
“This is chicken wing wood1
, and it’s all scraps. What do you need it for?” Uncle Zhang asked.
“I’m making something,” Jiang Yuduo replied as he searched through the pile, “this one is quite suitable. How many of these do you have?”
“They’re all in that box, take a look,” Zhang Shu said, “What are you making?”
“A lamp,” Jiang Yuduo said, dragging the box out. He rummaged through a pile of broken wood inside and found seven or eight pieces of various lengths, “I’ll buy these. How much do you want for them?”
“You can have them,” Uncle Zhang said, “I brought these back to make chopsticks, but you can keep two for me.”
“Sure.” Jiang Yuduo took out two short pieces and put them back, “Lend me your tools. Just a hammer, a saw, and some sandpaper… And do you have any leftover tung oil? I could use some.”
“What kind of lamp are you making?” Uncle Zhang looked puzzled.
“I can’t explain it clearly right now, but I’ll show you a picture when it’s done. Maybe it’ll inspire you,” Jiang Yuduo said, “I want to improve my skills for making furniture for others.”
“I got it,” Uncle Zhang chuckled.
Jiang Yuduo had initially planned to use the leftover preservative wood from Cheng Ke’s tables and chairs to make the lamp, but Cheng Ke’s annoying behavior changed his mind. In order to add some surprise to the project, he decided to use a different type of wood instead.
With two packs of cigarettes as a token of gratitude, Jiang Yuduo left Uncle Zhang’s place with a bunch of materials. He was excited at the thought of turning these items into a lamp by tomorrow, even though he had no clear idea of how to do it. Nevertheless, he felt as though he could accomplish it.
After taking care of the tasks on several floors, Jiang Yuduo and Chen Qing had a casual meal together. They then planned to go to Cheng Ke’s shop to continue working on the construction site-style cement table.
“I’ll drive you there,” Chen Qing offered, “No need to take a taxi.”
“Is this your only car?” Jiang Yuduo asked him, concerned about his well-being. “You might catch a cold driving back to the store.”
“I’ve got my own car! It’s not like I don’t have one,” Chen Qing replied.
Jiang Yuduo sighed, “Let me borrow your car. I’ll drive there, and in the afternoon, I can bring Cheng Ke back, or we’ll have to take a taxi.”
“Alright,” Chen Qing agreed.
As Jiang Yuduo was driving Chen Qing’s car to the intersection, he received a phone call from Cheng Ke.
“I’m heading there now,” he answered the call.
“Have you had lunch?” Cheng Ke asked.
“Yes, I had lunch with Chen Qing,” Jiang Yuduo replied, checking the time. “It’s already one o’clock. What’s up?”
“Can you bring me something to eat later? I skipped breakfast,” Cheng Ke requested.
“You haven’t eaten anything all morning?” Jiang Yuduo was surprised.
“I don’t feel like eating,” Cheng Ke explained. “I’m hungry now, but I checked the takeaway options on my phone, and there’s nothing I want.”
“What do you want to eat then?” Jiang Yuduo asked, slowing down at a red light and glancing at the rearview mirror out of habit.
“I’m not sure. You can bring something, and I’ll leave it up to you,” Cheng Ke suggested.
“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo agreed, and at that moment, he noticed a very ordinary black car, but the person sitting in the front passenger seat, pretending to play with their phone, seemed suspicious.
He immediately recognized the person as someone who had followed him and Cheng Ke yesterday.
After ending the call with Cheng Ke, Jiang Yuduo dialed Chen Qing’s number, “You and Da Bin, get a few people together and head to Cheng Ke’s shop. I’ll send you the address later.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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