Translator: Lynn
Thank you Hayl for the ko-fi! Here’s your bonus chapter <3
Sponsored chapter (1/2)
After completing the notes and preparing to head home, Cheng Ke started to feel a slight dizziness in his head. The tension that had gripped him for several hours suddenly eased, and he felt a bit unsteady as he walked.
Jiang Yuduo, on the other hand, appeared to be in good shape. After all, he was the type of person who could go without sleep for days without developing dark circles under his eyes. Now, he was strolling ahead, wearing two slippers of different styles and colors, accompanied by the police officer who knew him.
“Let’s get those people outside to disperse quickly,” the police officer suggested. “Or I can go out and bring them in for questioning one by one.”
“Let them go,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
As they exited the building, Cheng Ke noticed a group of twenty or thirty people standing or sitting by the flowerbed across the street. When they saw Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo emerging, they promptly stood up and greeted them.
“What’s happening here? Did you make a call?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“With such a commotion, in half an hour at most, everyone in our area will know about it,” Jiang Yuduo remarked. “They had to come and see.”
Leading the way, Chen Qing walked in front, seemingly having jumped out of bed directly. He was only wearing a vest and slippers.
“What’s going on?” Chen Qing didn’t shout this time but glanced at Jiang Yuduo’s hand. He asked in a low voice, “I heard someone enter your room?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo confirmed. “Tell them there was a thief, a desperado, armed, and we could barely subdue him.”
Chen Qing glanced at him, nodded, and turned around to wave his hand. “It’s okay, There was a thief who tried to rob us, but we managed to handle it. Let’s go back and get some sleep.”
Jiang Yuduo remained in place, waiting until all his associates had departed before turning to look at Chen Qing once more. “Are you coming with me?”
“I’ll wait for you to give me a proper explanation,” Chen Qing replied.
“It’s already been explained,” Jiang Yuduo retorted.
“Don’t play coy with me, San-ge,” Chen Qing insisted. “‘Tell them’ implies official notification.”
Jiang Yuduo hesitated briefly, then turned to Cheng Ke. “Are you hungry?”
“Let’s grab something to eat,” Cheng Ke suggested, checking his phone. “We can take our time and have breakfast later.”
“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo agreed, waving his hand.
Chen Qing was aware of some aspects of Jiang Yuduo’s childhood, but he wasn’t fully aware of the severity of its impact on him.
“Damn,” Chen Qing grumbled while munching on a chicken wing, “it was incredibly dangerous.”
“Thankfully, Cheng Ke was with me,” Jiang Yuduo remarked, “otherwise, I might have been in real trouble on my own.”
Chen Qing shot a glance at Cheng Ke. “You two…” He paused, clicking his tongue, then lifted his glass for a sip of wine, sighed, and shook his head. “I probably won’t be able to spend a night with San-ge in my entire life.”
Cheng Ke found himself at a loss for words and awkwardly bit into a mutton skewer.
“Come on, let’s go today,” Jiang Yuduo declared. “If you hesitate later, I’ll beat you up.”
“I won’t hesitate,” Chen Qing retorted. “You’d have to beat me to death.”
Jiang Yuduo ignored him and took a sip of wine. “Did you inform the shop about your resignation?”
“Yes,” Chen Qing confirmed. “I’m just waiting for your signal, and then I’ll join you.”
“Good,” Jiang Yuduo replied.
“Just about today,” Chen Qing paused between bites. “Are there any other accomplices?”
“No, no one else,” Jiang Yuduo assured him.
“Are you absolutely sure? Do you want to bring in a few more people?” Chen Qing expressed concern. “For what happened today, if we had known even a few minutes earlier that someone else was involved…”
“No,” Jiang Yuduo swiftly interrupted him. “Absolutely not, don’t get involved in this matter.”
Chen Qing looked at him, then, after a while, he picked up his glass and downed the wine in one go. “Understood, I’ll follow San-ge’s lead.”
“It’s only him, there won’t be anyone else,” Jiang Yuduo sighed softly. “It’s over, it’s truly over.”
“Jaeger-LeCoultre, have a drink,” Chen Qing said, lifting his glass. “If it weren’t for you today… Are you hurt at all?”
“No,” Cheng Ke replied, raising his glass and clinking it with Chen Qing.
“Be careful with your hand. The doctor said it would be really troublesome if you get injured again,” Chen Qing cautioned.
“I will, I’ll be cautious,” Cheng Ke said with a smile as he sipped his wine.
Chen Qing drove them back home, and as soon as they arrived, Jiang Yuduo hopped out of the car, pulled Chen Qing along, and insisted he spend the night.
“Come on,” Jiang Yuduo said, gripping his arm and led him into the hallway. “It’s almost dawn anyway, so you can stay over.”
“San-ge!” Chen Qing protested, struggling. “Please forgive me, I’ll just go…”
“Fuck you,” Jiang Yuduo quipped.
“Let me go,” Chen Qing continued to resist.
Jiang Yuduo released him, giving his arm a playful slap. “Go on, get back to your car.”
Chen Qing turned and hurried back to his car.
Watching Chen Qing’s car disappear around the corner, Jiang Yuduo entered the corridor with his head down.
Cheng Ke opened the door but didn’t see Meow coming to greet them.
“Meow?” Cheng Ke called out, looking around the room.
“Under the sofa, or beneath the cabinet, or maybe in a drawer,” Jiang Yuduo suggested, sitting down on the sofa and lighting a cigarette. “It got too scared with all the commotion earlier.”
Cheng Ke went to check Meow’s food bowl, scooped out some canned food, poured a glass of water, and then joined Jiang Yuduo on the sofa.
Once Chen Qing’s car had started moving, Jiang Yuduo’s tension seemed to dissipate entirely. Cheng Ke noticed his trembling fingers as he held the cigarette, and the smoke rising from it wasn’t straight but rather wavering, disappearing after a few short wavy lines.
Since the day Little Ant appeared, it had brought anxiety into Jiang Yuduo’s life. Cheng Ke still shuddered when he recalled the way Little Ant’s eyes had turned red with murderous intent. For Jiang Yuduo, the impact was even more profound.
“Do you want some water?” Cheng Ke offered him a cup.
Jiang Yuduo took the cup and drank it all in one go, letting out a long sigh afterward.
“Get some sleep,” Cheng Ke suggested. “Don’t stay up all night.”
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo replied, taking another drag from his cigarette. “I’m surprisingly tired and sleepy right now.”
“It’s understandable… It’s been quite an ordeal,” Cheng Ke said.
“I just wanted to see Little Ant one more time, but they wouldn’t let me,” Jiang Yuduo murmured. “But… I don’t think I’ll have another chance to see him now.”
Cheng Ke stroked his legs affectionately. “Do you want to convey something to him?”
“I want to ask him,” Jiang Yuduo leaned back on the sofa, gazing at the light above his head. “What is he competing in? What kind of competition is he pursuing? And what’s the outcome he seeks?”
“Would knowing that really make you feel better?” Cheng Ke inquired. “You could ask Sister Luo or Dr. Li; they had some contact with the kids from your past.”
“I think I can guess,” Jiang Yuduo replied, “Back then, I just hoped the competition would end soon. After it ended, I thought I wouldn’t be as afraid anymore. But there always seemed to be more competition.”
“Yes,” Cheng Ke nodded in understanding.
“I used to think,” Jiang Yuduo turned his head to look at Cheng Ke, “that if the other puppies were dead, I wouldn’t have to compete with them anymore.”
Cheng Ke felt a chill run down his spine.
“But we won’t die in the game,” Jiang Yuduo frowned and spoke softly. “Failing means it’s all over, but our opponents will always be there, and the game will never end.”
“Do you think Little Ant… You think he sees it that way, right?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“Well,” Jiang Yuduo twitched the corners of his mouth, “We’re all dead, so he has no next opponent.”
Cheng Ke reached out and gently touched his face. “Maybe that’s the case, but your match is over. It’s done. Since the day you decided to go to the hospital, you no longer have to compete.”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo acknowledged, “I still have an opponent.”
“Who?” Cheng Ke asked, feeling a touch of unease.
Jiang Yuduo smiled. “Myself.”
“If that’s what you want to call it, that’s okay,” Cheng Ke pondered for a moment. “You…”
“Isn’t it a bit like a motivational quote?” Jiang Yuduo interrupted with a hint of humor. “My opponent is myself or something.”
Cheng Ke looked at him and, after a pause, clicked his tongue. “Are you rather pleased with this philosophical conclusion?”
“Well, isn’t it quite profound?” Jiang Yuduo raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Ke nodded. “Yes.”
“Such hypocrisy,” Jiang Yuduo teased, “It’s as if you’re the hero of your own story.”
Cheng Ke laughed. “It depends on the context, doesn’t it?”
“I will win,” Jiang Yuduo declared.
“Yeah,” Cheng Ke responded, leaning in to kiss the corner of his lips.
While Jiang Yuduo appeared to speak about it casually and lightheartedly, Cheng Ke could sense that he wasn’t as relaxed as he let on. After all, the wavy lines of smoke from his cigarette had only just started to straighten out.
As they lay down together, Jiang Yuduo immediately pulled Cheng Ke into an embrace, and they slept until noon the next day without letting go.
Cheng Ke had been awake for half an hour, but Jiang Yuduo was still peacefully asleep. He didn’t dare to move, cherishing the rare sight of Jiang Yuduo sleeping soundly without nightmares. He wished for Jiang Yuduo to continue resting undisturbed for a while longer.
However, after maintaining this position for nearly an hour, Cheng Ke couldn’t endure it any longer. His entire back felt numb. It began with soreness but soon turned into a numb, almost unconscious sensation.
Meow, who had been missing for most of the day, emerged from under the closet, leaped onto the foot of the bed, and raised one paw to gaze at them warily.
“Meow,” Cheng Ke called to it in a hushed tone, “everything is fine.”
Meow observed him without making any movements.
“Go step on your San-ge’s face,” Cheng Ke suggested, “I’m on the verge of perishing.”
While he wished for Jiang Yuduo to continue sleeping, Cheng Ke couldn’t maintain his current position any longer. He decided to entrust this vital mission to Meow.
Surprisingly, it was Meow who managed to wake Jiang Yuduo, not Cheng Ke.
However, Meow was not particularly cooperative. She wasn’t known for her cooperative nature, and today, after experiencing some fright, she was even less willing to cooperate. She simply sat at the foot of the bed, unmoving.
Just as Cheng Ke was contemplating pushing Jiang Yuduo to awaken him, Jiang Yuduo’s mobile phone on the bedside table began to ring.
Grateful! Cheng Ke was thankful for this unknown caller.
Jiang Yuduo let out a reluctant and uncomfortable hum, almost as if he was about to wake up.
Cheng Ke breathed a sigh of relief.
“Answer the phone,” Jiang Yuduo mumbled.
“Sure.” Cheng Ke gently pushed him aside, reached for the phone, and glanced at the caller ID. “It’s Sister Luo. Did the police get in touch with her after learning about Little Ant’s value?” Jiang Yuduo opened his eyes.
“You can take it,” Cheng Ke said.
“Alright.” Jiang Yuduo accepted the call, hesitatingly answered, “Sister Luo…yes, it’s…Little Ant…I’m fine…” Cheng Ke got out of bed and left the room.
In the living room, the large cardboard box that Dabin and the others had sent the previous day remained unopened.
The box was rather heavy, and when Chen Qing and the others had carried it from the car, it had been quite uncomfortable, leaving them curious about its contents.
Cheng Ke returned after freshening up. Jiang Yuduo was still on the phone with Sister Luo. Cheng Ke hesitated, grabbed a pair of scissors, walked to the bedroom door, and signaled to Jiang Yuduo that he intended to open the box.
Jiang Yuduo nodded, his expression seeming slightly puzzled as to why Cheng Ke was seeking his approval again.
Cheng Ke walked to the box and began cutting through the tape with the scissors.
Jiang Yuduo’s style wasn’t particularly about surprises or being surprised, and they didn’t need to open the gift together. Cheng Ke had wanted to open it with him initially, but at this moment, with Jiang Yuduo on the phone with Sister Luo, he couldn’t sit still and needed to do something to distract himself.
Furthermore, Cheng Ke was genuinely curious about what kind of birthday present a group of friends like Da Bin and the others would give their boss.
After cutting the tape three times, Cheng Ke opened the box and then stood frozen.
“What is it?” Jiang Yuduo emerged from the bedroom.
“Did you finish the call?” Cheng Ke turned around.
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo nodded, “What did they give me?”
“It’s… it’s…” Cheng Ke had originally intended to inquire about how he and Sister Luo were doing first, but the gift in the box truly caught him off guard. “It’s a giant beckoning cat.”
“What?” Jiang Yuduo was also taken aback, walked over to his side, and glanced into the box. “Damn!”
Together, they tore open the box and could see clearly that there was indeed a large beckoning cat, about half the height of a person, perched on a wooden base.
After the initial shock wore off, Cheng Ke leaned on the table and chuckled, “Da Bin and the others must know you’re opening a shop?”
Jiang Yuduo crouched in front of the Lucky Cat and examined it. “It’s just a milk tea shop; why is it so massive? Lucky Cat, where can I even place it?”
“Just put it against the wall,” Cheng Ke suggested with a grin. “That’s how it’s usually displayed, but not usually… this big.”
“Alright, I haven’t even found a store yet,” Jiang Yuduo patted the Lucky Cat’s head. “Why don’t I… no, should I call Xu Ding? Can he help us secure a spot in the mall? Is it appropriate for me to contact him…”
“There’s nothing inappropriate about it,” Cheng Ke reassured him. “He’s a nice guy, and if he can help you, he definitely will.”
“I’m a bit nervous,” Jiang Yuduo admitted, taking out his phone and looking at it. “I… I’ve never really asked anyone for help with anything significant before.”
“Then you can call him later,” Cheng Ke suggested. “Think about how to approach it.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.
Meow jumped down from the sofa and cautiously surveyed the area around the Lucky Cat.
“This is your sister,” Jiang Yuduo introduced, “Say hello to your sister.”
“Why sister?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“Just… casually speaking, this room is full of men, it’s a bit boring, isn’t it nice to have a lucky girl around?” Jiang Yuduo explained.
Cheng Ke chuckled, “It’s nice.”
Jiang Yuduo squatted there for a while, then turned to Cheng Ke. “The police asked Sister Luo to inquire about the situation.”
“Really?” Cheng Ke was surprised. “So fast?”
“Little Ant has a criminal record, so it can be found out quickly once checked,” Jiang Yuduo explained.
“A criminal record?” Cheng Ke was taken aback. He walked over to Jiang Yuduo, knelt down, and inquired, “What kind of criminal record?”
“She didn’t give me the specifics; she just wanted to know about your condition when she called and seemed to want to check on how you’re doing.”
“How am I doing? What about you?” Cheng Ke asked.
“I’m doing well,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “I feel a bit confused, but… it’s okay.”
Cheng Ke felt somewhat relieved and patted Jiang Yuduo on the head.
“To be honest, I’m a bit scared,” Jiang Yuduo admitted, “But with you by my side, I feel more at ease.”
“I’ll always be by your side,” Cheng Ke assured him.
“In that case…” Jiang Yuduo rubbed his nose bashfully, “I don’t want to keep mentioning it, but… just… sorghum wine…”
“What?” Cheng Ke looked at him.
“You agreed, didn’t you?” Jiang Yuduo said.
“I did,” Cheng Ke sighed. “Tell me, what else do you want? You can list five years’ worth of requests first. Let’s get a notebook and write them down and check them off one by one.”
“Sorghum wine, Meow, a scarf…” Jiang Yuduo began counting.
“Wait!” Cheng Ke interrupted, raising his voice. “What scarf?”
Jiang Yuduo grabbed Meow, poked around in her fur with his finger, pulled out some hair, and rolled it into a ball. “This is it, a scarf made from her fur.”
Cheng Ke felt like he had dug himself into a hole and finally managed to say, “Oh.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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