Chapter 32 – Grapefruit in Trouble
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 Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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⚠️*TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains depictions of attempted animal abuse. Proceed with caution.
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As evening approached, the winter rain drizzled down, chilling the air. Song Jin released the mouse in his hand, rubbed his sore neck, and paused in front of the keyboard for a few seconds before leaving the room.
Song Xinglan was probably still in the small room. So Song Jin went to the kitchen to cook.
Winter brought early darkness. Just as Song Jin finished chopping vegetables, he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t fed Grapefruit.
It was only then that he seemed to realise Grapefruit hadn’t been around for some time. They had seen him when they came back. But they hadn’t seen him since. Maybe it had found a warm spot to sleep in because of the cold weather. But it usually slept in Song Jin’s room.
Drying his hands, Song Jin went to look for Grapefruit.
After searching every room, the living room, the yard, and even the second floor and the roof, there was still no sign of Grapefruit.
Song Jin’s heart began to race. Grapefruit was very obedient. He always responded when called. He was also lazy and never ventured outside, especially in such cold and rainy weather.
When Song Xinglan heard Song Jin calling for Grapefruit, he opened the door. Their eyes met briefly, and then Song Xinglan asked, “Is Grapefruit missing?”
Song Jin nodded, somewhat panicked. “I’ve looked everywhere. But I can’t find him.”
“He’s not in my room either,” Song Xinglan said as he started to leave. “I’ll go out and look. You stay at home and search a bit more.”
“Be careful. The road might be slippery from the rain. And it’s very dark outside.”
“Okay,” Song Xinglan said.
After Song Xinglan left, Song Jin searched the house again, confirming that Grapefruit was truly not at home. The rain outside grew heavier. Song Jin seemed to snap out of his daze, suddenly remembering that Song Xinglan had gone out without an umbrella.
On such a cold and damp winter night, the rain would be bone-chilling. Without even locking the door, Song Jin grabbed an umbrella and rushed out.
The sound of rain and wind filled the air. The cold wind blew harshly against him. The village’s streetlights were dim, barely illuminating the path ahead. Everything around him was pitch black. Song Jin hurried along the road, questioning several households, confirming that Grapefruit was not with them. Now, he had no idea which direction to go next. Clutching the umbrella tightly, he shouted, “Xinglan, Xinglan!”
“Song Xinglan!” The slanting rain hit his face, the cold stinging. Anxious and unsettled emotions filled Song Jin’s heart and mind. He shouted loudly, “Song Xinglan! Xinglan!”
He continued walking and shouting for several minutes, almost reaching the foot of the mountain. The rain pattered on the umbrella. He felt lost and disoriented, never realising the area was so vast, with so many directions, and he couldn’t determine which way to go.
“Ge,” a voice responded in the distance, followed by the sound of footsteps.
Song Jin quickly raised his hand and used the flashlight on his phone to shine it ahead. He saw a blurry figure running towards him, getting closer and closer. Song Xinglan’s face appeared in the light, his hair completely soaked, his face pale, and his lips colourless.
His cotton-padded jacket was also drenched, rainwater rolling down his chin into his collar. Song Jin ran a few steps forward to hold the umbrella over him, frantically searching his own pockets for tissues.
“Let’s go back. It’s too cold,” Song Jin said, struggling to wipe Song Xinglan’s face. His voice trembled. “Let’s go back, take a shower, and I’ll cook for you.”
“It’s okay, Ge,” Song Xinglan’s teeth seemed to be chattering. He hugged Song Jin and took the umbrella from him, holding it over both of them. “Let’s search a bit more. It’s so cold outside. Grapefruit might freeze to death.”
At the mention of Grapefruit, Song Jin seemed to lose his composure a bit. His confusion and sadness were exposed in an instant. With red eyes, he said, “In such a vast place, I don’t even know where he is… You go back and rest for a while. I’ll keep searching outside.”
“Let’s search together,” Song Xinglan said, putting his arm around Song Jin’s shoulders and leading him forward. “I’ve searched over there. But we haven’t finished searching here. Let’s keep looking.”
Although he felt a chilling cold, his arms were strong and firm. Song Jin raised his hand and held onto Song Xinglan’s hand that was holding him close. It was icy cold. But Song Jin felt that even if the cold rain or snow engulfed them completely, in that moment when he closed his eyes, his chest would still be burning hot.
“You’re not like him,” Song Jin suddenly said. “Xinglan, I’m sorry. I was impatient and had a bad attitude this afternoon. And I lashed out at you.”
Song Xinglan hugged him tighter and said, “Ge, it’s my bad temper. You’re right.”
“But I don’t want you to compare me to anyone,” Song Xinglan continued. “I will always be me. You can scold me, hit me, not forgive me, but don’t always see me as another person. I am your brother. Even if I forget things, even if I change, I am still your brother.”
Song Jin turned to look at the side of his face in the dim light, opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn’t know what to say. There were elusive thoughts slowly rising. But Song Jin didn’t grasp them. It’s not that he couldn’t. But that he didn’t want to.
Song Xinglan kept looking ahead and said, “Ge, I don’t just want you to like me.”
“Just liking me is not enough. Not at all.”
“I want you to love me.”
The heavy rain poured down. Although there was no thunder tonight, Song Jin felt as if distant thunder suddenly descended. Lightning broke through the ignorant sky, illuminating him in a stark white light. The thunder pierced through the clouds and rain, shattering him completely.
He didn’t know how to respond. He also knew that Song Xinglan wasn’t asking for his answer at this moment. Because this matter might not have an answer at all. It was uncertain even who the subject was, destined to forever remain an unsolved case.
Ahead was a bridge. And just as they were about to reach it, Song Jin heard a faint meow.
His heart was almost in his throat as he blurted out, “Grapefruit?!”
“Meow… meow…” The faint meowing was almost indiscernible amidst the heavy rain and the sound of rushing water. But Song Jin heard it clearly.
Song Xinglan heard it too. He said, “He should be under the bridge.”
Under the bridge was a riverbank littered with rocks and weeds, about three metres high from the ground, with a steep slope. Song Jin and Song Xinglan hurried to the edge of the bridge. Song Jin squatted down, holding his phone, desperately trying to shine light below. Finally, through the curtain of rain, he saw an orange cat crouched next to a rock under the bridge – it was Grapefruit.
It was soaking wet, curled up as if it wouldn’t move. Song Xinglan stared at it for a moment and said, “Its foot is tied to a large rock.”
“Why would someone…” Song Jin’s words were cut off as his pupils suddenly contracted.
Song Xinglan turned to him and said, “It must be because of what happened this afternoon.”
“Tying it up like this, with the rain so heavy…” Song Jin said absentmindedly, “The river will definitely rise. Grapefruit will be drowned.”
Song Jin didn’t want to speculate maliciously about others. But he knew, that was probably the case.
“I’ll go down and pick him up. Ge, you shine the flashlight,” Song Xinglan handed the umbrella to Song Jin, “There are many stones below. You don’t need to move. I’ll go.”
Song Jin nodded, “Be careful. Take it slowly.”
“Okay.”
Song Xinglan slowly climbed down along the stone pillar at the bridgehead, rain hitting his hair and face. He wiped his face with his hand and then moved slowly towards the riverbank. Song Jin kept his hand outstretched to hold the umbrella over him, until Song Xinglan was out of the umbrella’s coverage. He lifted his head and said, “Ge, make sure to keep the umbrella with you. Don’t get wet.”
The light from the phone illuminated his wet and pale face. His pair of dark eyes were clear in the mist. Song Jin frowned anxiously, “Be careful. The river is fast-flowing now. Walk slowly.”
“Okay,” Song Xinglan replied and continued moving downwards.
Grapefruit probably saw Song Xinglan approaching and meowed even louder, more plaintive and pitiful. Song Jin’s nose tingled with emotion. He comforted it from a distance, “Don’t be afraid. Be good and don’t move. I will bring you up.”
It took Song Xinglan some time to reach Grapefruit. The slope was too steep. A slight slip could lead to a disastrous fall on the stony ground. He stepped on the muddy and stony riverbank, touched Grapefruit’s head, and then slowly untied the rope from its legs. The rope was tied tightly. Grapefruit was afraid and kept moving, making it difficult to untie. Song Xinglan squatted in the river for a while before finally managing to lift it up.
As he saw Song Xinglan stand up, Song Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Take it slow. Don’t rush. Watch your step.”
Song Xinglan unzipped his jacket, held Grapefruit close to his chest, and started to climb up, using one hand to support himself on the slope. The rain seemed to have intensified, hitting his face, blurring his vision, making the climb even more difficult than coming down.
Song Jin kept his hand outstretched to illuminate the path for Song Xinglan. With his hand covered in wet mud, one hand supporting himself on the slope and the other holding the cat. When he was still some distance from the ground, he said, “Ge, I’ll pass Grapefruit up to you first. Then you can take it.”
“Okay.” Song Jin threw away the umbrella and reached out his hand to Song Xinglan. “Be careful. Hold on tight.”
Song Xinglan lowered his head, intending to lift Grapefruit out of his jacket. However, as he stepped on a stone, it suddenly slipped, causing him to lose his balance. He staggered and fell, almost disappearing from view in a split second, with only the sound of his fall echoing.
Song Jin was still reaching out to catch the cat. But the accident happened so quickly that he didn’t even have time to react.
“Xinglan!” Song Jin panicked, clutching his phone tightly and shining the light downward. In the shaky and blurry light, he saw Song Xinglan fall by the riverbank, motionless, with half of his head submerged in the water and surrounded by rubble.
Without hesitation, Song Jin propped himself up and almost slid down over the rocks. The pain all over his body had numbed him. But he didn’t care. He stumbled to Song Xinglan’s side, kneeling on the rocky ground. In the light, the mud on Song Xinglan’s face and the fresh blood on his forehead were stark contrasts. The blood was mixed with the muddy river water.
Grapefruit poked its head out from Song Xinglan’s jacket, unharmed but trembling all over.
Song Jin took off his own jacket and covered Song Xinglan with it. He didn’t dare move Song Xinglan’s head and could only use the sleeve of the jacket to gently support his head. Then, he leaned over to shield him from the rain. His phone screen was soaked. With trembling hands, he unlocked it and called the doctor at the village health centre.
After reporting the location and briefly describing the situation, Song Jin hung up. He carefully wiped the mud and blood from Song Xinglan’s face with the sleeve of his sweater, choking back sobs as he called out to him, “Xinglan, Xinglan, open your eyes…”
“Grapefruit is okay. Let’s go home…”
But Song Xinglan kept his eyes tightly shut. Half of his face soaked by the water, the other half stained with blood. His skin was ice-cold.
The rain continued to pour. The river water rushed fiercely. Song Jin felt a bone-chilling cold spreading through his body. He had never felt so cold before.
He truly hated rainy days, whether it was the autumn rain three years ago or the winter rain tonight. They both brought him experiences that were too profound and too agonising.
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*Translator’s Note: I hate cruelty to animals the most. Just wait until SXL turns evil again. He’ll get revenge on the grandfather and the child haha. I have not proofread any of the chapters. Please do inform me if there are any mistakes. Thanks! -K
*P/S: Thanks to Lola for reminding me to put up the warning ahead in the chapter!
Next update: -Daily-
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