Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (7/8)
I am Little Ant
What kind of Little Ant? A little grasshopper, a dung beetle, or just a Little Ant?
Cheng Ke felt somewhat perplexed by this statement. The spot on his face where the Little Ant’s elbow had struck him still throbbed with heat and pain. Yet, he couldn’t dwell on the discomfort he felt.
The phrase “it’s a puppy” that Jiang Yuduo had uttered while rushing past him sent shivers down his spine.
If this person truly was the puppy from Jiang Yuduo’s past… All the fears that had been lurking in Jiang Yuduo’s mind, whether they were hallucinations or memories, had suddenly gained tangible existence because of this little dog. It was now evidence that turned those fears into a stark reality.
Cheng Ke kept his gaze fixed on Jiang Yuduo, but he also kept a watchful eye on the Little Ant’s every move.
“…Little Ant?” Jiang Yuduo finally asked softly, after being stunned for a considerable time.
“Yes,” the Little Ant replied, “I am Little Ant.”
Jiang Yuduo slowly released his grip on the man’s collar, taking a step back. He stared at the man for a prolonged moment before speaking again, “What brings you here?”
“I’ve been searching for you for a long time,” the Little Ant replied, “I looked for several people, but only found you. Little Brick, before ending his own life, mentioned that you might be here, but I didn’t dare to come until now.”
“Why now?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
The Little Ant smiled at him but didn’t provide an immediate answer.
Jiang Yuduo fell silent for a while before offering, “Have you eaten?”
“I haven’t eaten since yesterday,” the Little Ant replied.
Jiang Yuduo glanced at Cheng Ke, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said, “I’ll take you to get something to eat.”
“Okay,” the Little Ant replied, lowering its head and tugging at its clothes before nodding politely.
Cheng Ke had thoughts he wanted to express, but he kept them to himself. The Little Ant’s demeanor bore some resemblance to Jiang Yuduo’s, but there were also significant differences, making it difficult for Cheng Ke to discern the details.
“Go buy cigarettes,” Jiang Yuduo whispered to Cheng Ke.
“No,” Cheng Ke flatly refused. Under these circumstances, he couldn’t allow Jiang Yuduo to be alone with the Little Ant, who essentially represented Jiang Yuduo’s traumatic childhood, not even for a moment.
Jiang Yuduo glanced at him and didn’t say anything more.
The Little Ant must have been famished, so Jiang Yuduo quickly located a nearby small restaurant. His mouth watered as soon as they stepped inside.
Jiang Yuduo ordered several dishes but abstained from requesting any alcohol. The Little Ant probably didn’t need alcohol either. He filled a generous bowl of rice, adding an extra spoonful for good measure, and then began to eat without much conversation.
It was earlier than Cheng Ke and the others typically dined, and Cheng Ke hadn’t developed an appetite yet. Observing the Little Ant’s voracious appetite, both Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo refrained from eating, perhaps concerned that the few dishes wouldn’t suffice for the Little Ant.
After devouring three substantial bowls of rice and finishing several dishes, the Little Ant wiped his mouth and asked, “I’m full. Do you have any cigarettes?”
Jiang Yuduo retrieved cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket and placed them in front of the Little Ant.
The Little Ant took one, lit it, inhaled deeply, pocketed the cigarette case, and then glanced at Jiang Yuduo. “I didn’t dare to ask around when I arrived here, so I’ve been searching for you for almost two days. It’s been a month, and I finally found you.”
“Are you the one who was following me before?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“Yes,” the Little Ant said between puffs of smoke. “I can hardly remember what you look like. I only recall the scar on your face, so I had to make sure first. I knew it must be you when you first chased me. You’re the only one who can run faster than me.”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent.
The Little Ant took a couple more drags from his cigarette and cast a glance at Cheng Ke. “Is this your friend? You’re doing well.”
Just as Cheng Ke was about to respond, Jiang Yuduo interjected, “My landlord.”
“Yes,” Cheng Ke swiftly affirmed, aligning with Jiang Yuduo’s response. He assumed that Jiang Yuduo had his own reasons for this choice, although the “landlord” excuse wasn’t much better than the one he had employed with his mother previously.
The Little Ant smiled.
After Jiang Yuduo settled the bill, the Little Ant accompanied them outside the restaurant. He didn’t disclose where he intended to go or what he planned to do with Jiang Yuduo. Instead, he silently followed them back to the intersection.
“Where do you live?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“Where can I live?” replied the Little Ant. “I can’t afford food; can I afford a place to stay?”
Cheng Ke cast a brief glance at the Little Ant. He hadn’t bathed for a day, so he must have had an odor, but Cheng Ke couldn’t detect any unpleasant smells.
“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo conceded, turning around. “I’ll head back first.”
“Jiang Yuduo,” the Little Ant called out, “I’ll come over to rest at your place, and I’ll return later. Let’s go.”
Jiang Yuduo turned back to him and firmly stated, “No.”
“Why not?” The Little Ant appeared unsurprised by his response, maintaining a blank expression as he tilted his head. “We’ve endured hardships together. Is it too much to ask for a place to rest at your home?”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo reiterated.
As Cheng Ke walked alongside Jiang Yuduo back to their place, he glanced back.
The Little Ant remained stationed at the restaurant’s entrance, lighting a cigarette and swaying it from side to side. He gazed at them from a distance and exhaled a puff of smoke when Cheng Ke turned his head.
“Are you going to buy cigarettes?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“Well,” Cheng Ke replied, “You can get some tomorrow; do you still have some now?”
“Go buy them now; it’s fine,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
After purchasing the cigarettes, Jiang Yuduo didn’t request any wine from the shop owner. He and Cheng Ke instead opted for some beer to bring back home.
As they passed the lottery station, Cheng Ke went in quickly to place a bet to avoid missing the date.
“You’re quite particular,” Jiang Yuduo remarked, clicking his tongue. “Chen Qing usually buys more than one bet.”
“Chen Qing is aiming for wealth,” Cheng Ke responded with a grin.
“What numbers did you pick?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“No specific numbers, just whatever came to mind,” Cheng Ke replied with a smile.
“Your chances of winning the lottery are probably lower than Chen Qing finding a girlfriend this year,” Jiang Yuduo teased.
Upon arriving home and entering the corridor, Jiang Yuduo examined both sides of the hallway before proceeding inside. He locked the door behind them.
“What’s going on?” Cheng Ke asked.
“Just being cautious,” Jiang Yuduo explained, moving to the window to peer outside.
“That Little Ant,” Cheng Ke furrowed his brow, “Is he really a puppy? Did you two… grow up together?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo nodded, carrying the beer into the kitchen and placing it in the fridge. “He was abducted. He must have been around four years old when he arrived here. He was very young and couldn’t remember where he came from. The police searched for a long time but couldn’t find his family.”
“So…” Cheng Ke hesitated, unsure of what to ask.
He sensed that Jiang Yuduo’s encounter with the Little Ant was different from the typical narrative of having experienced darkness and surviving together during their youth. Except for the moment when he heard the term “Little Ant,” Cheng Ke didn’t sense any emotions related to “reunion after a long absence” or “shared adversity” due to the Little Ant’s appearance.
In fact, it felt tense and defensive.
Cheng Ke didn’t hold a favorable view of the Little Ant. The Little Ant was slightly thinner than Jiang Yuduo, but his strength was on par with Jiang Yuduo’s. Cheng Ke felt that if he hadn’t fled but confronted the Little Ant head-on during their initial encounter, he might have been injured.
It wasn’t just the strength; the Little Ant’s eyes and overall aura were distinct from Jiang Yuduo’s.
No matter how hard Jiang Yuduo pretended to attack Third Brother, he would never exhibit the kind of murderous look the Little Ant had. It was a genuine, potentially lethal intent.
“Puppy is very dangerous,” Jiang Yuduo stated, taking out an ice pack, wrapping it in a towel, and gently applying it to Cheng Ke’s face. “We used to huddle together for warmth every day, but any one of us could have attacked at any time.”
Cheng Ke shivered as goosebumps rose on his skin.
“So, why do you think… this Little Ant came to you?” he inquired.
“I don’t know,” Jiang Yuduo replied, furrowing his brow. “He said he couldn’t find any other puppy, just me.”
“If that’s the case, maybe he was searching for a puppy in general, not specifically you,” Cheng Ke suggested.
“Perhaps,” Jiang Yuduo nodded, cracking open a beer can and taking a sip.
“Why would he be looking for a puppy after all these years?” Cheng Ke pondered. “It’s been so long.”
“Maybe he’s been searching all these years,” Jiang Yuduo mused with a smile. He shook his hands, spilling beer over himself. “He couldn’t find it… No, he found Little Brick.”
Cheng Ke stared at his trembling hand for a moment, then walked over, took the beer can from his hand, and held it for him.
Indeed, Jiang Yuduo’s hands were shaking.
Cheng Ke was momentarily anxious and swiftly knelt in front of Jiang Yuduo, gently touching his face. “Jiang Yuduo.”
“I’m feeling a bit… scared,” Jiang Yuduo furrowed his brow, looking up at Cheng Ke. “What he said is related to Little Brick’s suicide.”
“Do you think he might be connected to… the puppy’s suicide?” Cheng Ke asked.
“I don’t know. It wouldn’t be surprising if any puppy contemplated suicide,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “Survival is the toughest part.”
“What’s your plan now for this Little Ant… locust?” Cheng Ke inquired. “Do you want to have someone keep an eye on him?”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo quickly shook his head. “He’ll catch on. He’s not an ordinary person. If Da Bin and the others tail him for just ten minutes, he’ll sense it. It’s too risky… I don’t even know how he found me. How long has he been following me?”
They both skipped dinner the previous night, and with the Little Ant’s whereabouts uncertain, they decided to stay home. Cheng Ke called for some takeout, and they ate at home.
Jiang Yuduo’s mood remained relatively stable; he didn’t experience outbursts or hallucinations, but he was persistently fearful.
In the past, Jiang Yuduo had also experienced fear, but unlike now, he used to armor himself against it. This armor was like scars on a wound, formed from the pain and fear itself. However, that layer of armor had now been removed.
The Jiang Yuduo before Cheng Ke was a lot more fragile but also much more authentic.
The entire night, Cheng Ke sat with Jiang Yuduo on the sofa, watching TV. He knew that Jiang Yuduo wasn’t truly focused on the TV; he was constantly monitoring movements outside the window and in the backyard. Occasionally, he would glance at Meow, who was snuggled up next to him.
Cheng Ke was in a similar state, highly vigilant.
When they went to bed, Jiang Yuduo carried Meow into the bedroom, closed and locked the door, and placed several beer cans on the windowsill and under the bedroom door. They leaned against each other so that even the slightest movement would cause the cans to topple over.
Jiang Yuduo sat at the edge of the bedside table, took his medication, and swallowed it.
Cheng Ke knew that, in addition to his regular medication, Jiang Yuduo had taken a sleeping pill. He reached out and gently patted his back. “Are you worried about not being able to sleep?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo lay down, “I don’t want to stay awake all night, but if there’s any activity during the night, I want to be alert.”
“I understand,” Cheng Ke said with a smile, turning over to hug him.
That night, the Little Ant didn’t appear, and the following day remained peaceful. This tranquility lasted until Jiang Yuduo’s birthday.
The only person who wasn’t calm was Chen Qing.
Starting at 10:00 in the morning, he called every half hour, inquiring about the exact time for their noon pick-up.
It was San-ge’s birthday, and after being absent for several months, the celebration had to be grand. They would feast at noon, continue the festivities into the night, and not forget the late-night supper.
Cheng Ke hadn’t initially anticipated spending this birthday alone with Jiang Yuduo, and he certainly hadn’t expected the festivities to commence at noon.
“Damn it, change your birthday,” he grumbled while sitting on the bed. They had a passionate night the evening before, and today they hoped to sleep in until the afternoon. However, the diligent chief guardian had other plans. “Your birthday is practically random, anyway.”
Jiang Yuduo smiled, got out of bed, and began dressing. “Why don’t you check your birthday in the lunar calendar? We can celebrate according to the lunar calendar in the future.”
“Great idea!” Cheng Ke clapped his hands. “I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
“Where’s my gift?” Jiang Yuduo stood before him. “I thought you’d give it to me at midnight.”
“I want to give you ‘midnight,'” Cheng Ke teased. “Don’t you know what we were doing at midnight?”
“But you didn’t give it to me after we finished,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.
“You were sleeping like a log afterward!” Cheng Ke retorted. “What was I supposed to give you?”
“You didn’t even give me a fart,” Jiang Yuduo teased.
“Shut up, I’m warning you,” Cheng Ke playfully scolded.
“Gift,” Jiang Yuduo reminded him.
“Wait!” Cheng Ke donned his clothes and left the bed.
“Where are you going?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“To the living room. Sit up straight and wait,” Cheng Ke instructed.
Cheng Ke had stored the bottle of strawberry wine inside a yogurt box in the refrigerator’s most conspicuous spot, yet Jiang Yuduo had never noticed it. He retrieved the strawberry wine from the yogurt box and a gift box he had purchased and concealed in the cabinet a while ago. He carefully placed the wine inside.
The wine had a slightly different color from before, a lovely clear red. Coupled with the black bow adorning the bottle, it looked quite upscale.
“Hurry up! Where’s the gift?” Jiang Yuduo called from the living room.
“Coming right up!” Cheng Ke bellowed as he picked up the tray and made his way out.
Jiang Yuduo sat upright at the table, ready to rise when Cheng Ke entered the room. However, he hesitated and remained seated, his gaze fixed on the gift box in Cheng Ke’s hands.
“What is it? Looks like an expensive box,” Jiang Yuduo couldn’t contain his excitement as he rambled on. “Did you get me a box? What’s inside? A watch, maybe? Or a mobile phone? I’ve been wanting to replace mine; it’s been acting up. Is it cat food? Or a belt? Handmade, perhaps?”
“Enough chatter,” Cheng Ke interrupted him.
Jiang Yuduo quickly fell silent.
Cheng Ke placed the gift box on the table and pushed it toward Jiang Yuduo, saying, “Jiang Yuduo, happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” Jiang Yuduo replied, encircling the gift box with both hands and offering a warm smile.
“This is our first birthday celebration together,” Cheng Ke remarked. “So, I put some thought into it, and I hope you like it.”
“I really do,” Jiang Yuduo replied with a smile. “May I open it?”
“Certainly, but before you do,” Cheng Ke began, “I hope we can spend every future birthday together. I want to be there for each one.”
Jiang Yuduo nodded in agreement.
Cheng Ke contemplated his words for a moment but couldn’t find more to say, so he waved his hand and urged, “Go ahead and open it.”
Without waiting for his last word to settle, Jiang Yuduo swiftly lifted the box’s lid and exclaimed, “Wow! This is stunning!”
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Cheng Ke inquired with a smile.
“It’s exquisite!” Jiang Yuduo delicately removed the wine bottle and held it up to the light. “What kind of paint did you use for this? You artists…”
“Wait a moment,” Cheng Ke interjected. “Paint?”
“Ink?” Jiang Yuduo also looked puzzled.
“Can you keep your distance from Chen Qing in the future?” Cheng Ke inquired.
Jiang Yuduo was momentarily puzzled, gazing at the wine bottle for a few seconds, then suddenly leaped up. “Strawberry wine? Seriously! Incredible! It’s strawberry wine, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Cheng Ke affirmed.
“You really made strawberry wine?” Jiang Yuduo shook the bottle once more, exclaiming, “Strawberry wine is this color! It’s so beautiful! You can actually make strawberry wine? When did you make it? Why didn’t I know?”
“You were gone when I made it,” Cheng Ke responded with a click of his tongue.
Jiang Yuduo paused, fixed his gaze on the wine, and remained silent for a while. Eventually, he carefully placed the wine bottle back into the gift box, then embraced Cheng Ke, saying, “Cheng Ke.”
“Hmm?” Cheng Ke replied, gently patting his back.
“Thank you,” Jiang Yuduo expressed.
“It’s unlike you to keep saying thank you,” Cheng Ke teased with a smile.
“I never imagined you’d actually make strawberry wine,” Jiang Yuduo said, hugging him tightly. “I thought you had forgotten.”
“I promised you,” Cheng Ke replied.
“Can you promise me one more thing?” Jiang Yuduo asked.
“Of course, what do you want me to promise?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“Make some sorghum liquor next year,” Jiang Yuduo requested.
“…Alright,” Cheng Ke conceded with a helpless smile, nodding in agreement.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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