Chapter 3 – Don’t Come Back
Novel Title: 一屋暗灯 (Ephemeral Light)
Author：麦香鸡呢 (McChicken)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 宋谨 (Song Jin -MC), 宋星阑 (Song Xinglan -ML)
*Please read at sin.Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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The college entrance examination was approaching. Song Jin’s pressure grew day by day. Whenever he looked up at the sky, even if the sun was glaring, he felt everything was bleak.
His grades were very good. But he still felt suffocated.
Song Xiangping occasionally sent things to the school and called Song Jin to ask if he needed a driver to pick him up and take him home every day, as the conditions at home were better than at school.
Song Jin refused. While the conditions at home were good, he didn’t want to run into Song Xinglan.
Since that conversation on New Year’s Eve, Song Jin had hardly communicated with Song Xinglan. He realised he hadn’t been home many times since then.
On the day the college entrance examination ended, it rained heavily. The driver picked Song Jin up and took him to a restaurant where Song Xiangping was waiting in a private room.
To his surprise, Song Xinglan was also there.
Song Jin had just come down from the exam hall, looking tired and worn out. All he wanted was to quietly have a good rest, ignoring everything else.
“Baba,” Song Jin walked to the table and called out.
“Sit down. You must be tired. After eating, go back and rest well. A holiday of more than three months is waiting for you,” Song Xiangping said with a smile.
Song Xinglan was playing with his phone without lifting his head despite Song Xiangping’s repeated hints. He could only helplessly give up.
“I’ve already found a summer job,” Song Jin sat down and said, “I start the day after tomorrow, with meals and accommodation provided.”
“Kid, we have money at home to support you. Why do you want to take on a summer job and suffer through the hard work?” Song Xiangping frowned. “Don’t go. Just stay at home and relax. If you want to travel, just tell me. I’ll arrange it for you.”
Song Jin shook his head. “I just want to challenge myself.”
With his head down, Song Xinglan coldly snorted, “If you don’t want to stay at home so much, why did you come back in the first place?”
Song Xiangping’s face changed: “Is this how you talk to your brother?”
Song Jin was completely exhausted from dealing with all this. He just said softly, “It’s okay. Let’s eat.”
Song Jin had heard the worst words coming out of that mouth. So this sentence was nothing.
The table was always surrounded by a faintly awkward atmosphere. Song Xiangping asked Song Jin what schools and majors he was planning to apply for. Song Jin just said he wasn’t sure yet. He would first look through the application guide and it would depend on how well he scored.
In fact, he already had a goal. It was a university in the province and he was more interested in the engineering majors there.
He just felt there was no need to say it.
Song Xinglan didn’t say a word, ate a few bites, then put down his chopsticks and stood up to walk out.
“Where are you going?” Song Xiangping asked him.
Song Xinglan didn’t look back, “I’m full. I’m leaving.”
“Are you behaving properly? How can you have no manners at all!”
“I said I didn’t want to come. But you forced me.” Song Xinglan turned impatiently, “I’m feeling nauseous now. I can’t eat. You still won’t let me leave?”
Seeing that Song Xiangping was about to slam the table, Song Jin said, “Baba, don’t get angry. The high school entrance exam is coming soon. Don’t affect Xinglan’s mood.”
Before Song Xiangping could say anything, Song Xinglan sneered, “Whoever makes me feel nauseous knows it himself.”
“Song Xinglan!” Song Xiangping angrily exclaimed.
Ignoring him, Song Xinglan opened the door and left.
“This kid has been spoiled rotten.” Song Xiangping sighed, “I always felt guilty towards him before, indulging him in everything, pampering him too much. Now he’s in his rebellious phase. He’s even more disobedient.”
Song Jin said, “He’ll get better as he grows older. If he’s in a bad mood, I’m also responsible for this.”
I shouldn’t have appeared in this family, shouldn’t have been his brother, shouldn’t have been gay.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s just too stubborn. After all, you guys… haven’t been together for many years. He can’t deal with anything now, can’t understand many things, and has a terrible temper.”
Song Jin didn’t say anything. He just nodded quietly.
***
Song Xiangping couldn’t persuade Song Jin. So he finally agreed to let him take the summer job.
In fact, Song Jin lied. The summer job didn’t include meals and accommodation. He had found a tutoring job, with only lunch provided daily.
As for accommodation, the room he had lived in with his mother in the old city was still there. It just needed to be cleaned up and it would be suitable for him to live there. That was his true home.
Song Jin rested for a day, then packed his things and put them in his suitcase.
When he came to the Song family house, he only brought one suitcase. After living here for a year, his belongings hadn’t increased at all. He still only needed one suitcase to pack everything.
Yesterday afternoon, Song Xiangping went on a business trip. Song Jin refused his offer to have a driver take him and said he would just take the bus.
As he carried his suitcase downstairs, he unexpectedly felt light-hearted. He truly didn’t belong here.
Just as he reached the gate, it opened first. Song Xinglan came in, carrying a backpack over one shoulder. His expression was blank.
Behind him was the bright morning sun of summer, shining on the youth, making him look lively and full of vigour. Even if his expression was sour, it couldn’t hide the vigorous aura of youth that belonged to a teenage boy.
Song Jin was slightly taken aback. Song Xinglan had something he had never possessed. Even at the same age three years ago, Song Jin had never exuded such a domineering and arrogant aura.
It seems like some people are just born different, even if they are siblings.
Then Song Jin asked, “Isn’t the high school entrance exam tomorrow? Why are you suddenly…”
“What’s it to you?” Song Xinglan frowned slightly, “Is it your turn to question me?”
Song Jin closed his mouth and dragged his suitcase out.
“I heard you’re going to be a tutor.” As they passed by each other, Song Xinglan suddenly spoke, “Does tutoring include accommodation?”
“It does.” Song Jin said with his head down.
“Who are you trying to fool?” Song Xinglan sneered, “Maybe you’re going to live with some random guy.”
Song Jin had never thought that Song Xinglan could be so paranoid. It seemed that in Song Xinglan’s eyes, the only thing he could do besides messing around with random guys was live with them.
“It doesn’t matter who I live with.” Song Jin lifted his suitcase slightly and placed it outside the door. He said lightly, “I won’t disgust you anymore. You don’t have to see me again.”
“That’s for the best.” Song Xinglan’s voice sounded somewhat cruel, “Once you’re out, don’t come back.”
“I won’t.” Song Jin said.
Then he pulled his suitcase across the small garden, pushed open the gate, and finally stepped out of the domain that belonged to the Song family.
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*Translator’s Note: How can SXL know about SJ’s summer job? I’m even more convinced he was monitoring him. Hmm… -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Mama = mom/mommy
- Gege/Ge = (Big) Brother
- Baba = Dad
- Shushu = Uncle
- Ayi = Auntie
- Didi = (Little) Brother
☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation. I won’t be using English words for most titles that are being called out.
Next update: 2024.06.24
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