AD Chapter 79

Translator: Lynn

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Emerging from the coffee shop, the overcast sky had already begun to drizzle lightly.

“Do you feel a bit chilly?” Jiang Yuduo gazed skyward. “Rain is colder than snow.”

“I’m alright,” Cheng Ke replied, zipping up his jacket. “Shall we take a taxi back?”

“Is it possible to take a bus?” Jiang Yuduo queried. “I haven’t taken a bus in a long time.”

“Sure, are there any stops around here?” Cheng Ke scanned their surroundings.

“Up ahead,” Jiang Yuduo told him as he led him down the road.

Not far away, they spotted a bus stop. Standing together beneath the shelter, they remained silent.

Cheng Ke inhaled deeply.

Early spring rain carries a distinct scent, diverging from other seasons. It’s cool, accompanied by a subtle earthiness. Even on such an overcast day, with the northern wind brushing by, the damp ground, tree trunks, pedestrian umbrellas, hair—everything—seemed to shimmer with a delicate glimmer.

“I’ve been living here for a year,” Jiang Yuduo disclosed.

“Really?” Cheng Ke was caught off guard by his sudden revelation and blinked.

“With another child,” Jiang Yuduo continued, “Sister Luo wanted to assist us.”

Cheng Ke pivoted, facing him directly, and gently squeezed his shoulder.

“Then I fled,” Jiang Yuduo admitted. “I ran far away and rarely returned. I phoned that kid once.”

“What did you say?” Cheng Ke inquired softly.

“He said he wanted to end his life,” Jiang Yuduo disclosed.

Cheng Ke’s heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly realized that this was the child who had taken his own life, the one Sister Luo had mentioned.

“I didn’t tell Sister Luo,” Jiang Yuduo said, meeting Cheng Ke’s gaze, “Later, he passed away.”

“You…” Cheng Ke was taken aback, promptly gripping his shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”

“I don’t believe it’s my fault,” Jiang Yuduo murmured. Lowering his head, he produced a cigarette, lit it, and then stated, “He makes his own decisions, and death is a release from life’s torment, so he embraced it.”

Cheng Ke didn’t remove his hands from Jiang Yuduo’s shoulders. As Jiang Yuduo brought the cigarette to his lips, Cheng Ke spoke up, “And you?”

“I don’t want to die,” Jiang Yuduo murmured around the cigarette in his mouth. “I won’t permit them to claim my life. I won’t be taken by their hands.”

Cheng Ke exhaled a soft sigh, leaning in without uttering another word. He lowered his head, resting his chin on Jiang Yuduo’s shoulder, wrapping his arms tightly around him from behind.

Cheng Ke exchanged WeChat contacts with Sister Luo. Upon returning to the hotel, he received a message from her, offering her assistance if he ever needed it.

Sitting beside him, Jiang Yuduo observed as Cheng Ke read the message. Without immediately replying to Sister Luo, he slid his phone back into his pocket. “Can I ask the hotel to deliver some food to the room?”

“I feel like having some bread,” Jiang Yuduo mentioned. “Do they offer anything with sweet fillings?”

“Or we can head straight to the restaurant on the second floor,” Cheng Ke suggested, looking at him.

Jiang Yuduo hesitated briefly before agreeing, “Okay.”

The hotel’s restaurant had a pleasant ambiance. Cheng Ke ordered a bowl of noodles for himself, and the sweet-filled bread Jiang Yuduo desired, red bean paste filled, was available.

“Is it tasty?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“Delicious,” Jiang Yuduo replied, offering him a bite of bread. “Give it a try.”

Cheng Ke took a bite. “Mmm, it’s quite good.”

“Whenever you need to message Sister Luo, please don’t do it in front of me,” Jiang Yuduo suggested.

“Huh?” Cheng Ke was caught off guard.

“I’ll get… nervous,” Jiang Yuduo admitted, his brows furrowed.

“Alright, to be honest, I don’t communicate with her that frequently,” Cheng Ke stated. He sensed that even though Jiang Yuduo was currently willing to confront his illness and acknowledge it, an underlying unease still lingered, making him suspicious.

Initially, Cheng Ke thought about going out with Jiang Yuduo in the evening, but upon learning that this place held meaningful memories for Jiang Yuduo, he refrained from suggesting it.

After returning to their hotel room from the restaurant, they both took showers. Cheng Ke sprawled on the bed, switching on the TV.

When reserving the room, Cheng Ke opted for a standard room rather than a twin room. He was concerned that the front desk might make assumptions, so he played it safe. However, now that he was lying on the bed, he felt a tad regretful.

He wanted to share the bed with Jiang Yuduo, yet he believed it might be unreasonable to ask him to do so. Although Cheng Ke harbored no inappropriate thoughts, given their current situation, it just didn’t feel entirely appropriate. A bed would have eliminated this worry.

Jiang Yuduo stood by the window for a while before eventually turning around.

Cheng Ke didn’t look at him; his gaze remained fixed on the TV.

Jiang Yuduo made his way to the bed by the window, pausing for a moment before he walked over, then finally lying down beside Cheng Ke. He shuffled closer until their bodies were pressed together, sidling up against him.

Snuggling in, he held Cheng Ke tightly.

“Feeling sleepy?” Cheng Ke glanced down at him.

“They’re downstairs,” Jiang Yuduo mumbled against Cheng Ke’s waist. “I saw them.”

Cheng Ke cast a glance at the window. “It’s alright; you can’t see them now.”

“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo responded with a subdued tone.

Cheng Ke increased the TV volume.

Jiang Yuduo remained still, enveloping Cheng Ke in his embrace for a considerable period of time.

When Cheng Ke attempted to check if the man was asleep, Jiang Yuduo caught hold of his clothes and tugged him closer: “Move down a bit.”

Cheng Ke adjusted his position and reclined on the pillow. “Why? Are you awake?”

Jiang Yuduo didn’t reply verbally. Instead, he propped himself up, gazing at Cheng Ke for a moment. Carefully, he lifted Cheng Ke’s right arm, encased in a plaster cast, and placed it beside the pillow. “Put it here.”

“Why?” Cheng Ke shifted his arms. “I’m not asleep yet; I won’t accidentally touch you.”

Jiang Yuduo maintained his gaze fixed on him.

“Alright, I’ll place it here,” Cheng Ke relented, lowering his hand.

Jiang Yuduo lowered his head, his lips gently brushing against the corner of Cheng Ke’s mouth.

Cheng Ke was momentarily stunned.

Jiang Yuduo pressed his lips once more, his tongue’s tip lightly tracing the corner of Cheng Ke’s mouth.

Cheng Ke rapidly regained his senses, looping his left arm around Jiang Yuduo’s neck, and pulling him in for a deep, fervent kiss.

However, Jiang Yuduo’s subsequent reaction caught him off guard – his breathing altered almost immediately.

Jiang Yuduo’s hand slipped beneath Cheng Ke’s clothing along his waistline.

It felt like planting a ticking time bomb inside his mind.

Then came the explosion.

As Cheng Ke rolled over and pushed Jiang Yuduo down, he momentarily forgot about the plaster on his arm. It wasn’t until Jiang Yuduo pinned him back against the pillow that a faint soreness in his wrist registered.

“I told you to put it here!” Jiang Yuduo panted heavily, returning his hand to its place beside the pillow and pressing it there.

“Is this fucking alright?” Cheng Ke too, was breathing heavily. “You nearly stripped my clothes off. Can I see now?”

“I didn’t,” Jiang Yuduo pointed at him. “I just lifted it!”

“Is there a distinction?” Cheng Ke glanced down at his slightly lifted shirt.

Swiftly, Jiang Yuduo reached out, tore away Cheng Ke’s shirt, and even playfully patted his stomach twice.

“What on earth are you doing?” Cheng Ke couldn’t help but laugh.

“Just making it clear that I didn’t undress you,” Jiang Yuduo explained.

“In that case, I’ll undress you,” Cheng Ke playfully said, grabbing at Jiang Yuduo’s shirt and pulling it up. He seized his waist firmly and, while moving his hands upward to his hips, Jiang Yuduo caught his hands.

“Don’t grope around randomly,” Jiang Yuduo chided, pressing down with his left hand against the bed.

“Fuck,” Cheng Ke sighed in exasperation. “Alright, can we at least continue kissing blindly?”

“Sure,” Jiang Yuduo agreed, leaning in to resume their kiss.

A mixture of desire and restraint filled the air.

Cheng Ke finds human beings to be fascinating creatures. The worse your mood is, the more emotionally tangled you become, and the more your mind is clouded with confusion, the harder it becomes to quell the ignited turmoil.

It’s akin to waiting for someone to voluntarily ignite themselves and consume unnecessary emotions.

However, Jiang Yuduo was already asleep beside him… Even if he wasn’t, trying to ignite himself would only be met with Jiang Yuduo’s resistance.

Thankfully, fatigue had taken a toll on him today. His mind was weary, and his heart was fatigued. After the tumultuous rush of thoughts upon opening the emotional floodgates, his body succumbed to weariness.

Soon, the rhythm of Jiang Yuduo’s breathing lulled Cheng Ke to sleep.

Cheng Ke didn’t hear the morning alarm he had set. Surprisingly, even the usually vigilant Jiang Yuduo didn’t respond to it. Fortunately, they had ordered breakfast the day before, and a call from the waiter inquiring about delivering it to their room roused them from slumber.

“What time is it?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“Seven thirty,” Jiang Yuduo checked his phone, “Isn’t that cutting it a bit fine?”

“It is,” Cheng Ke said with a relieved sigh. “We won’t make it if we don’t leave before eight o’clock. Let’s book a ride.”

Jiang Yuduo darted out of bed and onto the floor. “Time is ticking.”

Cheng Ke glanced at his crotch and grinned.

Jiang Yuduo lowered his head. “Don’t grin, you’re not packing anything impressive, are you?”

“I’m not grinning, and I wasn’t leaping about with a loaded gun,” Cheng Ke retorted.

“You definitely weren’t,” Jiang Yuduo retorted, retreating into the bathroom.

Cheng Ke sat on the bed, his laughter echoing for a while, though he couldn’t quite fathom what he found so funny.

Perhaps he was simply feeling lighter, even if the path ahead seemed obscured. The wall was gone, and all he had to do was keep moving forward to find the ground beneath his feet.

Jiang Yuduo had never flown before, and naturally, he had never experienced first-class travel.

Once aboard the plane, he settled into his seat, staring around for a while before leaning in towards Cheng Ke’s ear and whispering, “This first-class cabin isn’t that great.”

“What did you expect it to be like?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“I’m not sure,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “It just feels a bit roomier compared to when I came here.”

“Then we should pick a different first-class cabin next time,” Cheng Ke quipped.

“Next time?” Jiang Yuduo immediately questioned. “When? Where are we going?”

“…Next time is just a vague notion,” Cheng Ke explained. “It’s for the future, when we have an opportunity, or when we decide to travel…” His words were cut short by Jiang Yuduo.

“Where would we even travel to?” Jiang Yuduo pondered.

Cheng Ke chuckled, leaning back against the chair. “Anywhere really. Is there any place you’ve always wanted to visit?”

Jiang Yuduo remained silent for a while, deep in thought, before finally furrowing his brows. “No.”

“No?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“No,” Jiang Yuduo answered, a hint of loss in his voice. He sighed, his head lowered. “I just don’t feel like going anywhere.”

“Why?” Cheng Ke inquired further.

“I’m afraid,” Jiang Yuduo said, his frown deepening.

“I understand,” Cheng Ke reassured, squeezing his hand gently. “Then we won’t go anywhere. We’ll embark on a journey when you’re ready and no longer afraid.”

“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo murmured, closing his eyes.

Jiang Yuduo hadn’t openly displayed his fear, but once they were back home, Cheng Ke could clearly sense him unwinding.

Lying on the couch, Jiang Yuduo looked content as he affectionately interacted with the cat.

For him, a familiar and controlled environment held paramount importance. Stepping out of that comfort zone would lead to tension, a nervousness so overwhelming that he could fall asleep in an unfamiliar place, even missing the sound of the alarm.

Although Jiang Yuduo had resolved to confront his inner darkness, this wasn’t akin to quitting smoking or breaking a bad habit. It wasn’t merely facing a psychological shadow. What Jiang Yuduo was fighting against were the unhealable wounds that would persist throughout his lifetime.

Right after he stowed his luggage back into the locker, a call came in from Chen Qing, who invited him to dinner tonight.

“I’m not really up for moving anymore,” Jiang Yuduo responded. “You can go ahead and eat without me.”

“Hey, San-ge, how’s your injury? Feeling any better?” Chen Qing inquired.

“Can it even get better?” Jiang Yuduo retorted. “It’s manageable.”

“If you’re not up to it, you don’t need to come out,” Chen Qing reassured. “After dinner, I’m planning to hit the bar with Da Bin.”

“How’s the turnout?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“Pretty good!” Chen Qing’s voice exuded excitement at the mention of this matter. “Without any promotion, we had seventy or eighty people there yesterday. The place was packed. Expect even more tonight.”

“Sounds good,” Jiang Yuduo replied with a smile.

“Actually, when people got wind of you being there, they all flocked in,” Chen Qing explained. “I’m managing it carefully. After all, it’s Jaeger-LeCoultre’s money. We can’t spend it all at once, even when the profits are rolling in.”

“Has Zhang Daqi made any progress?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“We haven’t seen each other in two days, but their security personnel have been keeping an eye on us,” Chen Qing disclosed. “I figure we can secure the venue in a couple more days. I’ll hold out for a week.”

“No problem,” Jiang Yuduo agreed. “Impatience is not my style.”

Once the call ended, Cheng Ke approached and inspected the bandage on his head. “It needs changing. There’s some blood seeping through.”

“It’s a bit swollen,” Jiang Yuduo commented, touching his head.

“Do you want me to change it for you?” Cheng Ke offered.

“No need,” Jiang Yuduo said as he retrieved a small medicine kit. “Let’s swing by the supermarket later.”

“What do you need to buy?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“There’s just a lot to restock, and the fridge is almost empty,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at the refrigerator, which held a rather sparse assortment of food. They needed to replenish it, otherwise, he and Cheng Ke would be ordering takeout every day…

He stole a glance at Cheng Ke.

“What’s up?” Cheng Ke chuckled. “It’s not like I devoured it all. I barely took a few bites.”

“Are you still hungry?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“Why can’t I eat?” Cheng Ke retorted. “Do I need to pay for my food? How about I treat you today.”

Jiang Yuduo’s heart suddenly eased, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’re not heading back today, are you?”

“At least I’ll be staying here until the store’s opening,” Cheng Ke responded, tapping his nose playfully. “These days, I’m quite swamped. With just one arm, I need someone to look after me.”

“Me?” Jiang Yuduo asked promptly.

“Otherwise, Chen Qing?” Cheng Ke made a clicking sound with his tongue.

“He won’t be of service to you,” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue as well. “He’s got a major bone to pick with you.”

“I’ve got a bone to pick with him,” Cheng Ke chuckled. “You two are quite the pair, always at it for so many years.”

A smile crept onto Jiang Yuduo’s face, ready to speak, when Cheng Ke’s cellphone chimed.

“Who’s calling?” he asked nonchalantly.

“I’m not sure, probably Xu Ding…” Cheng Ke retrieved his phone and glanced at it, but then his expression turned sour.

“Who is it?” Jiang Yuduo leaned over for a peek. The screen only displayed a number without a name, but Cheng Ke’s abrupt change in demeanor indicated that he recognized the number even without a contact name.

“Damn,” Cheng Ke bit his lip and looked up at Jiang Yuduo. “It’s my dad.”

Jiang Yuduo was taken aback. “Your dad? Why’s he calling?”

Before Cheng Ke could respond, Jiang Yuduo got up and stated firmly, “It’s about that idiot Cheng Yi!”

“Let me take the call first. In the meantime, you can make a list of what you want to buy at the supermarket,” Cheng Ke suggested, patting Jiang Yuduo’s cheek.

If it were only about Cheng Yi, his dad wouldn’t call so urgently. He was well aware of Cheng Yi’s situation, and receiving one million yuan from Cheng Yi wasn’t a major issue in his eyes.

There was only one possibility.

It was because of Jiang Yuduo.

Jiang Yuduo pulled out a cigarette case, clearly dissatisfied. He sat down at the table and began to jot down a shopping list, while Cheng Ke headed to the backyard to take the call. “Dad? Do you have a minute?”

His dad’s voice came through the void of emotion, sounding cold. “What’s the matter?” Cheng Ke asked.

“I’m right outside your boyfriend’s place,” his dad replied. “If you’re free…”

“Where are you?” Cheng Ke’s tone turned sharp.

“I’m outside your boyfriend’s place,” his dad said, providing Jiang Yuduo’s address. “There’s a newsstand here. Can you make it in five minutes?”

“Just say it over the phone,” Cheng Ke retorted, his voice now as chilly as his dad’s.

“Five minutes,” his dad hung up.

Cheng Ke stood there in a daze for a moment before returning to the house. He spotted Jiang Yuduo by the window, hastening over. “You… is that… your dad’s car?” Jiang Yuduo gestured out, then turned to him. “I couldn’t catch the entire license plate, but I saw three 1’s.”

“Why… did you listen?” Cheng Ke felt a pang of distress.

“I overheard you asking where he was,” Jiang Yuduo shrugged. “Don’t look so surprised. I figured your reaction would only be like this if he showed up at your door.”

Feeling a bit dejected, Cheng Ke tossed his phone onto the sofa. “Fine, I’ll let him wait there.”

“Someone’s still in the car,” Jiang Yuduo pointed out. “If you don’t go, he’ll come in… Go, I’ll be alright.”

Cheng Ke remained silent.

“I’m serious,” Jiang Yuduo reassured. “I’m in a good mood now. I’ll be fine.”

“Stay right here,” Cheng Ke said, pointing to the window. “Just keep watching me.”

“Sure,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.

“Keep your eyes on me until I return,” Cheng Ke requested.

“Okay, don’t worry,” Jiang Yuduo rubbed his face with his hands. “I’m here watching. No one can harm you when I’m here.”

Cheng Ke smiled, donned his coat, and left.

He asked Jiang Yuduo to keep an eye on him because he wanted Jiang Yuduo to stay focused on this matter, preventing him from getting distracted by other thoughts.

But Jiang Yuduo’s response truly tugged at his heartstrings.

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