Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (6/8)
Cheng Ke couldn’t help but feel that the pleasant mood of the day had been marred by the reappearance of this figure, which was evidently not a figment of imagination. However, he was genuinely baffled about who might be tailing Jiang Yuduo once again.
It seemed highly unlikely that Cheng Yi was behind this, as such tactics had lost their potency. Everything that Cheng Yi could potentially expose to their father had already been laid bare over the past few months. Everything was now out in the open.
So, in these recent months, there had been no threats or issues… or so Cheng Ke thought. The prospect of an adversary following Jiang Yuduo seemed far-fetched.
However, once Jiang Yuduo had drawn his own conclusion, he appeared to dismiss the matter from his mind. Hallucinations were a relatively benign occurrence for him, and he didn’t seem overly concerned. He continued to fiddle with his charged mobile phone.
Cheng Ke stared at Meow for a while, then let out a yawn, feeling the weight of sleep settling in.
“Are you reading novels?” He cast a glance at Jiang Yuduo, who was still engrossed in his phone.
“No,” Jiang Yuduo looked up, slightly embarrassed. “I… I’m just browsing local job listings.”
Cheng Ke was taken aback. “Are you searching for a job?”
“Yeah, I started thinking about it while I was in the hospital,” Jiang Yuduo explained. “I want to find a stable job now that I’m back.”
“What kind of job are you considering?” Cheng Ke leaned in closer and glanced at the phone, which displayed job listings for waiters and security personnel.
“I’m not sure,” Jiang Yuduo admitted. “It’s not like I have many options right now given my background.”
Cheng Ke chuckled. “So, what do you think is available to you at the moment?”
“Just these,” Jiang Yuduo replied, “but even these positions, like security guards and waiters, require at least a junior high school education. These are typically in smaller establishments. I didn’t even attend kindergarten.” As Jiang Yuduo spoke, his voice and expression betrayed a clear sense of disappointment.
“How about trying our shop?” Cheng Ke suggested. “Our waitstaff is all female, so it might be a nice addition to have a handsome guy on the team.”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo firmly declined. “I’m still on medication, and I don’t want… to be a burden to you. If something were to happen, it’s better for me to work in a place where I won’t put others at risk.”
Although Cheng Ke felt a pang of sympathy and unease, he chose to put on some music and share a moment of laughter with Jiang Yuduo.
Jiang Yuduo followed Cheng Ke’s gaze for a while, then shifted his attention back to his phone, engrossed in its contents.
Cheng Ke observed him silently for an extended period, finally breaking the silence by tapping his foot lightly on Jiang Yuduo’s shoulder. “San-ge, I’ll show you the way.”
“Give me a hand,” Jiang Yuduo responded.
“Why not start your own business?” Cheng Ke suggested.
“Start a business?” Jiang Yuduo turned his head to look at Cheng Ke. “I’ve considered it, but… I don’t have enough money.”
Cheng Ke had always assumed that Jiang Yuduo had no money at all, but he was surprised to learn that it wasn’t the case. “How much do you have?” he inquired.
“Somewhere between 60,000 to 70,000 yuan,” Jiang Yuduo pondered for a moment. “It’s not enough to open a store, but it might be sufficient for a small stall.”
“How about opening a milk tea shop?” Cheng Ke suggested. “You really enjoy drinking it, don’t you?”
“…Still not enough money,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
“Cheng Yi can invest in you,” Cheng Ke proposed.
“What?” Jiang Yuduo raised his voice, his eyebrows furrowing deeply. “Are you…”
Cheng Ke simply gazed at him without uttering a word.
“Then there’s still money left in the account?” Jiang Yuduo realized after staring at Cheng Ke for a few seconds.
“Of course, do you think Chen Qing and the others can deplete a million dollars by ordering a glass of orange juice at the bar?” Cheng Ke grinned.
“Oh,” Jiang Yuduo responded, falling silent afterward.
Cheng Ke waited for a moment, then playfully pinched Jiang Yuduo’s cheek. “What’s the matter? When I mentioned Cheng Yi investing, it was just a joke. The money is all under my control. Of course, it’s our useless young master who’s investing for you.”
“I don’t want it…” Jiang Yuduo looked at Cheng Ke, hesitating. “Isn’t this like you supporting me?”
“Come on,” Cheng Ke smiled, “Am I supporting you? Think about it this way: I’ll give you some money, and we’ll share it together.”
Jiang Yuduo made a clicking sound with his tongue.
Cheng Ke playfully flicked his nose. “That’s you. A clever person like me, if I were someone else, I’d just pay for opening a shop, and you’d work there…”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo quickly took over, finishing Cheng Ke’s sentence.
“Huh?” Cheng Ke was surprised.
“You open a shop, and I’ll work for you,” Jiang Yuduo declared. “That works.”
“But didn’t you say you’d harm other people’s businesses?” Cheng Ke reminded him. “That’s why I suggested giving you the investment. If you invest, you become half the owner, and harming the business would be harming yourself.”
Jiang Yuduo fell into deep contemplation.
“Let’s go to bed for now,” Cheng Ke said as he put his arm around Jiang Yuduo’s shoulder. “Think it over slowly. Tomorrow, I have to go to the store to report the results of the inspection.”
“What can you report?” Jiang Yuduo questioned, standing up.
“You underestimate me,” Cheng Ke got up and stretched. “I used to write every day when I wasn’t at the hospital.”
“Writing? Is it for Xu Ding or for the people at the store?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“Forget about it, I don’t need to show it to anyone. I’m just drafting the plan, and I’ll discuss it with them tomorrow,” Cheng Ke explained. “You haven’t experienced the ‘fart sensation’ yourself, have you?”
“What’s the ‘fart sensation’? Oh, I see, but right now, I’m not feeling very comfortable with the ‘fart sensation,’ and I might not be able to experience anything else,” Jiang Yuduo admitted.
“Get out,” Cheng Ke turned and headed into the bedroom.
“Cheng Ke,” Jiang Yuduo quickly followed him, “You…”
“I’m sleeping tonight, I don’t have any other plans,” Cheng Ke replied swiftly.
“I know, I didn’t even consider it!” Jiang Yuduo responded.
Cheng Ke finally detected a hint of embarrassment in his tone and couldn’t help but look back at him. “Good.”
Jiang Yuduo indeed seemed to be in good spirits. It could have been due to fatigue or simply a sense of relaxation, but he drifted off to sleep briefly. Cheng Ke, on the other hand, was still engrossed in his mobile phone, but eventually, he too fell asleep, his head resting on the pillow.
As Cheng Ke lay there, he couldn’t resist gently pinching and tugging at his own eyelashes, but it didn’t stir Jiang Yuduo.
“Good night,” Cheng Ke whispered softly.
It had been a while since he had said those two words to Jiang Yuduo, and as he said them now, a rush of emotions overwhelmed him, bringing back all the memories of the past few months.
Jiang Yuduo stirred, muttering sleepily, “…good night.”
Everything in the store appeared to be normal. When Cheng Ke entered the store, he noticed that a few more potted plants had been added.
He could instantly tell that they hadn’t purchased these themselves; such pots weren’t their preference when they shopped for the store, considering them too expensive and wasteful.
“Where did these come from?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“Brother Xu said they were from a benefactor,” Huihui replied.
“…Xu Ding’s benefactor?” Cheng Ke couldn’t quite fathom it.
“I’m not sure,” Huihui chuckled. “That’s what he said.”
“I suppose he must have come into some money from somewhere,” Cheng Ke mused. “Didn’t he think this place was too small before? I’ll ask him later.”
When Cheng Ke introduced Jiang Yuduo to the staff at the store, he initially wanted to say, “This is my boyfriend,” but Jiang Yuduo seemed a bit nervous. Instead, he simply referred to him as a buddy and then led Jiang Yuduo to the third-floor building.
“In the mornings, the first floor usually has people, but the upstairs is usually empty,” Cheng Ke explained to Jiang Yuduo as they ascended the stairs.
“Got it,” Jiang Yuduo followed behind him. “I was a little nervous earlier, but I’m not sure why.”
“It’s alright,” Cheng Ke turned around and gently touched his face. “You’ll get used to it over time. I’ll have a brief meeting with them later. You can explore the third floor?”
“I’ll be on that terrace,” Jiang Yuduo pointed out. “I’ll catch some fresh air.”
“Sounds good,” Cheng Ke smiled.
Following a brief meeting with the staff, Cheng Ke dialed Xu Ding’s number while ascending the stairs. “Where did you find a backer? If you’re looking to invest, why not do it yourself? Do you need to seek external investors?”
“The backer reached out to me, but they don’t intend to invest immediately,” Xu Ding explained with a smile. “If you have some free time, you could scout for a suitable location. If things go well here, I’d like to try it again. What do you think?”
“I have no objections; the decision is up to you,” Cheng Ke replied.
“How did the inspection go?” Xu Ding inquired.
“It went smoothly,” Cheng Ke reported. “When you have some time, let’s go out for a meal.”
“Sounds good. You can bring San-ge too,” Xu Ding suggested.
“Alright,” Cheng Ke hesitated, “I’ll ask him.”
Jiang Yuduo was sitting on the balcony chair, engrossed in his phone, and he raised his head when he heard Cheng Ke mention dinner. “Xu Ding is inviting me to dinner?”
“He asked if you’d like to join us, do you want to?” Cheng Ke settled into a chair and glanced at Jiang Yuduo’s phone, which was still active with several red-marked “milk tea shops.”
“If you want me to go, I’ll go,” Jiang Yuduo locked his phone screen. “What are you smiling about?”
“Have you made up your mind?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“…I did some research and found that it’s not too difficult, but the primary challenge is the location,” Jiang Yuduo replied thoughtfully. “Winters are cold here, and if we don’t opt for a mall location, business could be slow during winter. However, entering a mall comes with a hefty cost, and it’s not easy to secure a spot.”
Cheng Ke was somewhat surprised to find Jiang Yuduo being more serious and meticulous than he had anticipated.
“Getting into a mall shouldn’t be a major issue,” Cheng Ke reassured him. “You can seek help from Xu Ding; he’s your friend and has extensive connections in the mall.”
Jiang Yuduo looked at Cheng Ke, paused for a moment, and then smiled. “I never thought Xu Ding would be my friend.”
“San-ge, the concept of ‘friends’ in this context doesn’t necessarily adhere to your previous definition…” Cheng Ke began to explain.
“I understand,” Jiang Yuduo cut him off, lighting a cigarette. “I never imagined I’d one day call someone like Xu Ding a ‘friend.'”
“Do you want to pursue this venture?” Cheng Ke took a cigarette from him. “There are many things you haven’t thought of yet.”
“I never thought I’d meet someone like you or have a boyfriend like you… No, I never thought I’d have a boyfriend at all… Damn it,” Jiang Yuduo scowled. “I never even considered it, not once, not once…”
“Don’t regret it now,” Cheng Ke squinted with the cigarette between his lips. “It’s not like I’m some scrawny fellow.”
“Huh?”
“For the next ten or twenty years,” Cheng Ke said.
“Can it really last that long?” Jiang Yuduo looked at him skeptically.
“I can hold a grudge for some things. As long as you’re around, I’ll never forget this grudge,” Cheng Ke declared.
“Is that so?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“Yes,” Cheng Ke nodded solemnly.
“That’s great,” Jiang Yuduo replied with a smile.
After carefully weighing the pros and cons of finding a job versus opening a shop, Jiang Yuduo decided to venture into the world of entrepreneurship. He recruited Chen Qing as his clerk but found himself torn between opening a milk tea shop and a fried chicken shop.
Cheng Ke had initially considered suggesting that both options could coexist – a milk tea shop could sell fried chicken, after all. However, he refrained from speaking, wanting Jiang Yuduo to fully experience the joy of running a shop independently.
After a day of deep contemplation, Jiang Yuduo finally made his decision.
“I’ve made up my mind,” he declared, slamming the table. “We’ll sell both!”
“Great choice,” Cheng Ke applauded.
“Isn’t it quite innovative?” Jiang Yuduo asked with a hint of smugness.
“Very innovative indeed,” Cheng Ke continued to applaud.
Jiang Yuduo gleefully grabbed his phone and dialed Chen Qing’s number.
A minute later, he returned to the living room looking somewhat dejected. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?” Cheng Ke inquired, concerned.
“Am I under some kind of spell?” Jiang Yuduo pointed toward the window. “Over there, the shop where I used to buy your milk tea, they only sell fried chicken, and that place is selling takoyaki and Kanto cuisine.”
“Oh, really?” Cheng Ke tried not to laugh but couldn’t help it. “I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at you.”
“Then who the hell are you laughing at?” Jiang Yuduo glared at him. “I’ve been racking my brain for two days, and you’re just laughing at me!”
“But you came up with this idea on your own, right? You didn’t copy anyone,” Cheng Ke said with a smile.
“It’s like saying it’s my brilliant idea that people have to wear pants when they go out. What’s the point?” Jiang Yuduo grumbled.
Cheng Ke initially didn’t intend to laugh much, but when he heard Jiang Yuduo’s retort, he burst into laughter and couldn’t stay seated, ending up on the sofa.
“Young master,” Jiang Yuduo teased, “how old are you, and you still tease people like this?”
“Just you wait; I’ll throw you a big birthday party and let the entire neighborhood know that you might not look mature, but you’re actually in your forties,” Jiang Yuduo joked.
“I’ll be sure to attend,” Cheng Ke retorted as he grabbed his phone. “I’ll book it tonight.”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent and focused on his phone. “It’s not your turn yet.”
“Seriously?” Cheng Ke was rendered speechless and made a playful move to grab the phone. “Are you keeping count?”
“I’m just considering it,” Jiang Yuduo swiftly evaded, tucking his phone into his pocket. “I’ll summarize it at the end of the year…”
“…I’m running away from home,” Cheng Ke announced as he headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“The Corner Tobacco Hotel,” Cheng Ke replied.
“In that case, ask the boss to bring a case of beer,” Jiang Yuduo instructed. “There’s none left in the fridge.”
“Sure thing,” Cheng Ke nodded and exited.
In reality, he could have asked the shop owner to deliver cigarettes and alcohol. However, Cheng Ke also wanted to buy a lottery ticket. He had never played the lottery before, but Chen Qing bought one for every drawing, and he had started doing the same, using both his and Jiang Yuduo’s birthdays.
The main purpose wasn’t to win the lottery; it was to collect the tickets. Each ticket featured both him and Jiang Yuduo, with the date advancing day by day. Whether he saved up 1,000 tickets to give to Jiang Yuduo or couldn’t wait that long, it was all part of the fun.
Jiang Yuduo had always harbored insecurities, fearing that no one would remember him. These lottery tickets could serve as a tangible reminder of the days they spent together.
Cheng Ke thought he was being quite creative and a considerate boyfriend.
Recalling the expression on Jiang Yuduo’s face when he saw a stack of lottery tickets, Cheng Ke couldn’t help but smile at a stranger standing in the corridor.
However, the stranger’s reaction was quite exaggerated. As soon as he noticed Cheng Ke’s smile, he turned and dashed out of the corridor, colliding with a rickety chair placed there by his elderly grandmother. Cheng Ke was momentarily stunned before he gave chase. Passing by a window, he yelled, “Jiang Yuduo!”
He felt that he could catch up to Jiang Yuduo’s pace.
After a few quick steps, the person turned into a narrow alley diagonally opposite.
Cheng Ke had memories of this narrow alley; it was where he had first seen Jiang Yuduo chasing “them.”
But this person was definitely not part of “them” and certainly not just an ordinary passerby.
As Cheng Ke pursued him vigorously, he considered that this might be a petty thief who had come to case the area. Regardless, he couldn’t let this opportunity slip by, even if it was a one-in-a-million chance.
The person didn’t seem too familiar with the terrain and stumbled over a removed concrete ridge that was still a few centimeters high.
Seizing this opportunity, Cheng Ke closed in and almost managed to grab the person’s arm.
“Let go of me!” The man, after being brought down by Cheng Ke, attempted to strike him in the face with an elbow.
Cheng Ke, carried forward by inertia, was unable to evade entirely but still clung to the man, refusing to release his grip.
The man seized Cheng Ke’s wrist a second time, giving it a squeeze, a twist, and a downward push.
A sudden numbness surged through Cheng Ke’s wrist, and he broke free.
However, in that moment, Cheng Ke had already deduced that this person was no ordinary thief or gangster!
This familiar yet unorthodox move…
The man leaped up from the ground and resumed his sprint before Cheng Ke could fully recover.
Then, like a shadow, he swiftly vanished into the distance.
Cheng Ke heard Jiang Yuduo’s voice calling out, “It’s just a dog.”
“Damn it,” Cheng Ke muttered, and quickly followed Jiang Yuduo.
Jiang Yuduo was much swifter than him and emerged from the alley ahead of Cheng Ke. As Cheng Ke caught up, he saw Jiang Yuduo had already cornered the man against a wall. Jiang Yuduo gripped the man’s collar with one hand and held the bag with the other. An iron nail, seemingly materializing out of nowhere, was pressed against the man’s eyelid.
“Jiang Yuduo,” Cheng Ke called out urgently, his voice low.
Jiang Yuduo removed the iron nail from his hand and fixed his gaze on the man’s face. “Who are you?”
“You don’t recognize me, do you?” The man also gazed at Jiang Yuduo. “But I also… I don’t recognize you anymore.”
“Who are you?” Jiang Yuduo tightened his hands and asked again.
“I’m Little Ant,” said the man.
Jiang Yuduo was stunned.
The author has something to say:
“I am a little praying mantis.” San-ge said.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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