Translator: Lynn
Thank you Sandiiiahh for the ko-fi! Here’s your bonus chapter <3
Sponsored chapter (1/1)
An escaped lunatic from a mental hospital.
Cheng Yi’s utterance of the sentence about his boyfriend being an escaped lunatic from a mental hospital was likely intended to shock Cheng Ke. Whether Cheng Yi was aware of its impact or not, he knew this revelation would stun Cheng Ke for a while.
However, Cheng Ke’s reaction to this statement wasn’t what Cheng Yi had expected. Instead of being shocked, it triggered a wave of overwhelming anger within Cheng Ke.
Throughout his life, Cheng Ke had learned to control his emotions, avoiding moments of intense anger and preventing himself from reaching a state of explosive rage. But in this moment, the anger he had felt when he first saw the photo on the phone was nothing compared to what he felt now upon hearing Cheng Yi’s words. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and his anger broke through all limits.
In a split second, everything around Cheng Ke seemed to explode in his head.
Cheng Yi took a step back and lit a cigarette, saying, “I’m worried…”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Cheng Ke grabbed a wooden shelf with a vase next to him and swung it towards Cheng Yi.
His last bit of sanity stopped him from aiming directly at Cheng Yi’s head, but the shelf struck Cheng Yi’s right shoulder with great force.
Cheng Yi was sent staggering a few steps to the side, crashing into a partitioned bookshelf in the office. Books fell to the ground, and a vase shattered with a loud clatter. As the broken vase scraped against Cheng Yi’s side, he let out a roar, “Cheng Ke, have you lost your mind too?”
The impact of Cheng Yi falling against the bookshelf caused it to collapse, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Such a situation was beyond anything Cheng Yi had ever encountered or even imagined in his life. No matter how much he could endure or pretend, it was impossible for him to remain calm at this moment.
As he lay on the ground, Cheng Yi kicked out at Cheng Ke’s knee in retaliation.
As Cheng Yi raised his leg, Cheng Ke anticipated his move, realizing that this kick was aimed directly at his knee. He understood that if he didn’t dodge it, the consequences would be much worse than the impact of the wooden frame on Cheng Yi’s shoulder.
With a rush of anger, Cheng Ke regretted his earlier self-control; he should have delivered a decisive blow to Cheng Yi’s head. But it wasn’t too late now.
He swiftly lunged at Cheng Yi, straddling him, and he felt the urge to deliver heavy blows to Cheng Yi’s head with his fists.
Cheng Yi had always been the model child, rarely engaging in fights outside the home. However, compared to someone like Cheng Ke, who had undergone professional training and was fueled by overwhelming anger, Cheng Yi had little chance to fight back. Each punch from Cheng Ke landed heavily on Cheng Yi’s face, one after another.
Cheng Ke’s anger towards Cheng Yi wasn’t just about the investigation into Jiang Yuduo or Cheng Yi’s offensive comment about him being a lunatic who escaped from a mental hospital. It carried all the pent-up dissatisfaction and anger he had accumulated over the years.
As the office door was pushed open, Cheng Ke was still on top of Cheng Yi, continuously landing blows.
“Call the police! Call for an ambulance!” Xiao Tang shouted, but before she could finish, she was dragged out of the office.
Amid the chaos, Chen Qing’s voice rang out, forbidding anyone from entering.
The sound of iron bars hitting the door followed.
Jiang Yuduo grabbed Cheng Ke and tried to pull him away from Cheng Yi. Cheng Ke was still gripping Cheng Yi’s collar with his left hand.
“Cheng Ke!” Jiang Yuduo urgently said, grabbing his wrist, “Let go! Let go!”
Coming back to his senses, Cheng Ke finally released his grip.
As Jiang Yuduo dragged Cheng Ke away, Cheng Yi, who was lying on the ground, unexpectedly raised his leg and kicked Cheng Ke in the lower abdomen.
“F*ck you!” Jiang Yuduo’s voice was filled with anger as he pulled Cheng Ke away and stepped on Cheng Yi’s ankle.
Cheng Yi’s scream echoed in the office, the aftermath of the intense altercation still lingering in the air.
“San-ge!” Da Bin hurried over and restrained Jiang Yuduo, “San-ge! Go first! Take Cheng Ke away!”
Jiang Yuduo glanced at Da Bin, then turned his attention to Cheng Ke.
“I’m okay.” Cheng Ke clutched his belly, his face visibly pale.
Jiang Yuduo gritted his teeth, suppressing the urge to throw Cheng Yi out of the window, and instead supported Cheng Ke.
As they headed toward the office door, the company’s security personnel rushed in. “No one is allowed to leave! Protect Mr. Cheng! Quick! Control them all!” Two security guards hurried to Cheng Yi’s side.
Da Bin confronted the other security guards, shaking his arm to reveal a knife hidden up his sleeve. “Come on.”
The remaining security guards took out electric batons, slowly pushing forward.
“Let them go,” Cheng Yi’s voice called from behind.
Jiang Yuduo glanced back.
The security guards lifted Cheng Yi from the ground. Cheng Yi appeared disheveled, with a pale face, blood at the corners of his mouth, and swollen eyes. The ankle Jiang Yuduo had stepped on earlier seemed to be injured, leaving Cheng Yi unable to put weight on it.
“Let them go,” Cheng Yi repeated, “Everyone, return to work! What are you doing here?” The security guards blocking the door hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside, allowing the employees gathered there to disperse.
Jiang Yuduo continued to support Cheng Ke as they made their way out, while Cheng Yi called out to Cheng Ke from behind: “Brother.”
Cheng Ke didn’t stop or look back, moving forward without a word.
“What happened today is in the past,” Cheng Yi said, “You were just caught in the heat of the moment.”
Jiang Yuduo felt irritated, not knowing what Cheng Yi was trying to convey. If they weren’t in Cheng Yi’s company and he wasn’t worried about potential trouble for Cheng Ke, he would have considered going back and giving Cheng Yi a taste of his own medicine.
“Brother,” Cheng Yi continued, “I’ll say it again. I worry about you. No matter what you think of me, deep down, I still hope you’ll come back… Turn back to us.”
Turn back?
“Why are you bringing up such nonsense?” Jiang Yuduo’s brow furrowed, finding Cheng Yi’s sudden eloquence both touching and unsettling.
“No one would want their family members associated with psychiatric patients,” Cheng Yi remarked.
Psychiatric patient.
Those four words struck Jiang Yuduo like a bolt of lightning, freezing him in his tracks.
He turned to look at Cheng Yi, who met his gaze with an inscrutable expression.
“What the hell did you just say?” Chen Qing turned around and confronted Cheng Yi, pointing the stick in his hand directly at him. “Haven’t you had enough beatings already?” Several security guards quickly intervened to stop him, heightening the tension in the room.
“I think you’re the one who’s truly sick!” Chen Qing wasn’t concerned about the security guards around him and continued to berate Cheng Yi. Despite not engaging in a physical fight, he exuded an intimidating aura. “Don’t think that money gives you the right to spew nonsense. I can make you eat your words when I roll up my sleeves. If you have a grudge against your brother, settle it like a man. If you can’t win, endure it. If you can’t endure it, find a bathroom…”
Psychiatric patients.
Jiang Yuduo couldn’t hear the rest of what Chen Qing was saying; he was fixated on Cheng Yi, those four words echoing in his mind.
Psychiatric patient.
An overwhelming sense of panic engulfed him.
He wasn’t mentally ill!
He wasn’t sick!
How did Cheng Yi find out?
“San-ge,” Cheng Ke grasped his hand, “Look at me.”
Jiang Yuduo felt as though his voice was coming from a distance as if he were separated from reality by a thick layer of cotton.
“Jiang Yuduo, look at me,” Cheng Ke repeated.
With some effort, Jiang Yuduo withdrew his gaze and turned to face Cheng Ke.
“Let’s go,” Cheng Ke said.
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo responded.
“Qing’er,” Cheng Ke turned his head again, cutting off Chen Qing’s ongoing tirade. “Let’s leave.”
“Do you see this? These are your boyfriend and his friends,” Cheng Yi sneered. “Is this the kind of person you want to hang out with now?”
“Do your own thing,” Chen Qing retorted. “If you can’t accept it, find a boyfriend who has friends you approve of!”
Cheng Ke was slightly surprised by Chen Qing’s response. He probably didn’t fully grasp the meaning of the term “boyfriend.” Da Bin and the other friend who was recently released from prison might have understood, as their expressions changed, but they remained silent.
“Now listen carefully,” Cheng Ke looked at Cheng Yi, whose face appeared somewhat unfamiliar after the beating. “From this moment on, I have nothing to do with you or our family. Whatever I do, whoever I love, in three simple words: I am happy. Whether I live or die, whether I flourish or struggle, it’s none of your business. Got it? Absolutely none.”
Chen Qing looked at him in astonishment.
“There’s one more thing I didn’t want to rush into, but since we’re talking about it,” Cheng Ke continued, locking eyes with Cheng Yi. “I plan to sell the restaurant you helped me with. If you’re interested, I can sell it to you at a discount. If not, I’ll find another buyer.”
Cheng Yi’s expression froze momentarily.
“Let’s go,” Cheng Ke said firmly.
From the company’s entrance to Cheng Yi’s office, it hadn’t even taken thirty seconds to walk in, but for Cheng Ke, the walk back from Cheng Yi’s office to the entrance felt like an agonizingly long time.
He paid no attention to the prying or disdainful glances directed at him. He also ignored the throbbing pain in his right wrist, which felt like it was about to explode.
The only thing he felt anxious about was getting out of there as soon as possible to rescue Jiang Yuduo from this hellish environment.
He deeply regretted bringing Jiang Yuduo along and regretted losing control and attacking Cheng Yi, causing him to retaliate by revealing hurtful words in front of Jiang Yuduo and his little brother.
His heart throbbed with pain now, a pain much sharper than the one in his wrist.
After leaving Cheng Yi’s company and entering the elevator, he stole a glance at Jiang Yuduo.
Jiang Yuduo’s face showed no emotion, just a slight frown.
“Ke-ge,” Da Bin said, “Your hand needs to go to the hospital immediately.”
Cheng Ke lowered his head and looked at his hand. The pain in his wrist was amplified several times.
“Chen Qing will drive us to the doctor shortly,” Jiang Yuduo holding Cheng Ke’s arm, “Da Bin, you two can take a taxi home. There’s nothing else to do here, so no need to follow us.”
“Alright,” Da Bin nodded, “Brother Qing, call me if you need anything.”
“What else can you do? Just go home for dinner,” Chen Qing waved them off.
Da Bin and the recently released little brother got off on the first floor and took a taxi back home.
As the elevator continued its descent, Chen Qing leaned against the wall and let out a sigh of frustration. “Damn it, your brother is really something.”
Cheng Ke remained silent.
“I couldn’t even fight back. Those security guards surrounded me, and I couldn’t lay a finger on him,” Chen Qing gritted his teeth, “If I could get a hold of him, I swear, I’d make him suffer.”
“In your state, can you drive later?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“I’m fine. I’m calm as soon as I touch the steering wheel,” Chen Qing sighed. “I can even race like a maniac if you want.”
Jiang Yuduo glanced at him and said, “I’ll drive.”
Chen Qing shrugged and said, “I’m fine now, I’ll drive.”
In truth, Cheng Ke didn’t want Chen Qing to drive them to the hospital, but Jiang Yuduo couldn’t handle supporting him alone; it would be too strenuous. What he really wanted was some private time with Jiang Yuduo—not to offer comfort, as it would be futile at this moment. He just longed to embrace Jiang Yuduo tightly, rub his back, kiss, and pat his hair.
“I’ll park the car by the entrance,” Chen Qing suggested, “San-ge, you drive to the parking lot and wait for us.”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo declined, “You park at the entrance, I’ll go in with Cheng Ke. You can go park and join us.”
Cheng Ke was taken aback, then turned his head to look at Jiang Yuduo in surprise.
Chen Qing was also surprised, “What?”
“Just wait in the parking lot,” Cheng Ke softly advised, “Things will be sorted out quickly.”
“I’ll go in,” Jiang Yuduo insisted.
“No,” Chen Qing stopped the car by the roadside, “San-ge, you…”
“Park at the entrance,” Jiang Yuduo stared at him, “Don’t you understand?”
Chen Qing hesitated for a moment but didn’t argue. He parked the car at the hospital gate.
Jiang Yuduo opened the car door and got out, immediately reaching for Cheng Ke’s right arm, as if the arm might fall off if he didn’t act quickly.
As Cheng Ke got out of the car, he could barely bear the pain. Even the slight jostle when exiting the car intensified the pain in his wrist.
“I’ll be right there after parking the car,” Chen Qing called out worriedly from the car window, “San-ge, take him to the emergency room. Do you know where it is?”
“You coming soon?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“…Alright.” Chen Qing withdrew his head and drove to the parking lot.
As Jiang Yuduo held Cheng Ke’s arm, walking toward the hospital entrance, Cheng Ke sensed a slight stiffness in his body. Despite this, he didn’t hesitate, and his steps didn’t falter.
“Jiang Yuduo,” Cheng Ke gazed at him, “You…”
“I’m not…” Jiang Yuduo turned to face him.
“What?” Cheng Ke asked gently. Previously, Jiang Yuduo had no expression on his face, but now his brows were deeply furrowed. Cheng Ke quickly patted Jiang Yuduo’s hand, saying, “It’s okay, I can go in by myself. You…”
“I’m not… mentally ill,” Jiang Yuduo frowned, speaking with some difficulty, “I’m not… I’m just… I’m just…”
Cheng Ke’s nose tingled, and he reached out to hug Jiang Yuduo’s shoulder, saying, “I know, I know.”
“I won’t hurt you,” Jiang Yuduo murmured softly, “Truly, even though I have…I never…”
“I know,” Cheng Ke assured him, patting him gently on the back and cutting off his words, “I really know. I trust that you won’t hurt me, otherwise, I wouldn’t have come back.”
Jiang Yuduo fell silent, just standing there quietly.
There were many people around—the hospital entrance, doctors, and patients bustling in and out—everyone glancing their way as they passed.
Cheng Ke paid no attention to the onlookers, but he was a bit surprised that Jiang Yuduo didn’t move. Even in the store, Jiang Yuduo’s place was public to some extent, but now, in broad daylight with the public eye, he didn’t shy away.
“I’m feeling a little nervous,” Jiang Yuduo admitted softly after a moment.
Hearing this, Cheng Ke grew concerned, and he rubbed Jiang Yuduo’s back with his hands. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’m here with you.”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo blushed slightly, “It’s just that… I don’t know where the emergency room is.”
Cheng Ke smiled and sighed, “It’s alright, I know.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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