Chapter 55 – Turmeric Yellow (Extra 2)
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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⚠️REMINDER: Please be mindful that the events in these extras were prior to the first extra I posted (the Valentine Day special episode). These extras were written first before the special episode was posted on the author’s Weibo.
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Before spring ended, it was He Hao’s wedding.
The last time everyone had dinner together was on Grapefruit’s birthday. He Hao took the opportunity to give invitations to Song Jin and Tang Min, also inviting them to be groomsmen.
“My girlfriend’s bridesmaids are all super beautiful,” He Hao tried to tempt them, “I’ll introduce them to you guys at the wedding.”
Tang Min gave him a look and teased, “Daring to say your girlfriend’s friends are pretty? Are you tired of living?”
He Hao was shocked. He immediately clasped his hands together, praying to the heavens that his girlfriend would never find out he said such a thing.
On the day of the wedding, Song Jin woke up very early because he had to accompany He Hao through what would be one of the most chaotic, exciting, and grand days of his life.
When he opened his eyes, the sun hadn’t risen yet. The sky outside the curtains was covered in a faint white mist. He glanced at his phone: 6:15 AM.
His eyelids felt glued together and wouldn’t open no matter how hard he tried. Song Jin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Someone pushed the door open from outside — it was Song Xinglan.
“Why are you up?” Song Jin heard the footsteps and turned to look at him. “Go back to sleep for a while. I need to get ready to leave. Tang Min will be waiting for me at the entrance of the community.”
“This Tang Min again,” Song Xinglan frowned slightly.
Song Jin found it amusing. “I told you already, he’s also a groomsman.”
Song Xinglan had a bit of morning grumpiness, something Song Jin had only recently discovered. When Song Xinglan had amnesia, he was always full of energy and smiling in the mornings. So Song Jin never imagined that the normal him would be like this upon waking.
“When does the wedding end?” Song Xinglan walked a little closer and asked.
“Around eight or nine in the evening.” Song Jin paused for a moment and then asked, “Are you coming to pick me up?”
This question wasn’t really a request. It was more of a subtle hint, something like a mild attempt to please or coax him.
Song Xinglan still seemed displeased. But his frown softened a bit. “Yeah.”
“Alright, I’ll get up then.” The bed was warm. So Song Jin lingered a little longer before reluctantly crawling out to wash up.
As he was about to leave, already standing at the entryway, he paused. He turned around and touched Song Xinglan’s hair.
Song Xinglan grabbed his hand. In a gesture of mutual affection, he ruffled Song Jin’s hair in return. Then he said, “Go on.”
“Mm.”
It truly was a chaotic day. Song Jin was so busy that he barely had time to eat, though he couldn’t really tell what he was busy with. On the way to the hotel, Tang Min sat in the passenger seat, took a deep breath, and said, “I think I’m scared of getting married.”
Song Jin chuckled as he steered the car, “You’re about to meet the bridesmaids soon.”
Tang Min laughed, “Forget it. Starting a new relationship is even more exhausting. I’ll deal with it later.”
With Tang Min’s good looks and charm, he was always surrounded by girls. But over the past few years, Song Jin hadn’t heard of any girlfriend who had lasted more than six months. Four months was already a rarity. Tang Min’s explanation for this was simple: “If it’s not a good fit, break it off quickly. Don’t stand in the way of a girl finding her true happiness.”
Calling him a playboy might be a bit harsh since he never cheated or toyed with anyone’s feelings. But saying he wasn’t a playboy seemed like giving him too much credit, considering how swiftly he ended relationships. He inevitably hurt people in the process.
“But what about you?” Tang Min turned to look at him. “You’ve never gotten close to any girl. Your family situation… that doesn’t put too much pressure on you, right?”
Song Jin focused on the road ahead and replied, “No. My parents are gone, so what pressure could there be?”
“That makes things simple then,” Tang Min said. “As long as you’re happy with your life, that’s all that matters. A calm, content life is better than anything else.”
Song Jin was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Yeah, I’m doing well now.”
The person he now called his younger brother was his only family. Their relationship, once filled with bitter resentment and mutual harm, had become like a protective shield. Song Jin sometimes felt it wasn’t real. But he was also certain that he could close his eyes and fall into it without fear.
He knew Song Xinglan too well. His younger brother was relentless when it came to hating someone — swift and brutal. Like with their father, Song Xiangping, who was lost somewhere in a foreign land. Song Jin himself had suffered from this a few years ago. But when that hatred shifted, Song Xinglan’s obsessiveness could offer a deep sense of security, as long as he wasn’t hurting Song Jin anymore.
In normal circumstances, Song Xinglan’s dependence on family perfectly filled the part of Song Jin’s heart that yearned to be relied upon. It was strange how their relationship, once shattered into pieces, could now fit back together seamlessly.
They truly were brothers. The damage caused by their family could only be healed by each other.
The wedding finally ended after nine o’clock. Many guests were still lingering in the banquet hall, unwilling to leave. As a groomsman, Song Jin had helped He Hao drink a lot of the toasts on his behalf. He was an easy target and wasn’t as skilled at dodging drinks as Tang Min. So it was no surprise he got drunk.
“I’ll find someone to take you home,” He Hao said, supporting Song Jin. “Jin, my good brother, I won’t say much. But from now on, you’re my kid’s godfather.”
Song Jin was leaning unsteadily against the table. He was barely managing to stay upright as he replied, “You’re being too modest.”
Tang Min also reached out to steady him, “You’ve really had too much. Let’s get you home first.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Song Jin shook his head and pulled it out. The letters on the screen seemed to be swaying: ‘di’.
“Who’s ‘di’?” He Hao leaned in. “A foreigner?”
“A friend,” Song Jin said.
He answered the call, “Hello?”
“Is it over?” Song Xinglan’s voice was low on the phone. But it stood out clearly against the noisy background, making it easy for Song Jin to hear. “I’m outside the hotel.”
Song Jin nodded, not realising that Song Xinglan couldn’t see him. “I’ll come down now.”
“I’ll come up to get you. You’re drunk.”
“No need…” Song Jin said, “Just wait for me in the car.”
He hung up and, almost talking to himself, muttered, “I’m going now. Someone’s here to pick me up.”
“Are you going in this condition?” Tang Min held onto him and said to He Hao, “I’ll take him down.”
“Alright, alright. Be careful. Make sure you check who’s picking him up before getting in the car. Don’t get into the wrong one.”
“Like I need you to tell me,” Tang Min said, holding onto Song Jin as they walked out of the banquet hall.
Once they got downstairs, the warm evening breeze hit Song Jin, making him feel a bit more sober. He didn’t want Tang Min to meet Song Xinglan, so he said, “I can make it from here on my own.”
“We’re already here. Walking you two more steps won’t kill me,” Tang Min tightened his grip on Song Jin, “Don’t move around or you’ll trip…”
He hadn’t finished speaking when he noticed someone standing in front of them. Looking up, he saw a very young face with a cold, stern expression. He exuded an oppressive aura that didn’t seem to match his age.
It was him again, Tang Min thought. After years of entanglement, who exactly was this person to Song Jin?
From the high school student who embarrassed Song Jin in the dessert shop, to the uninvited guest who made him cry on Lantern Festival day, and now to the person Song Jin trusted to take care of him while drunk. Tang Min recalled what Song Jin had said in the car: “I’m doing well now.” He didn’t think Song Jin was lying. But he couldn’t help worrying about how Song Jin managed to deal with someone like this.
Silently, Song Xinglan pulled Song Jin from Tang Min’s grasp. He wrapped his arm around him and turned to leave.
Tang Min, remembering the ‘di’ on Song Jin’s phone, finally remembered Song Jin had a younger brother.
“I’m Song Jin’s best friend,” Tang Min, slightly drunk, intentionally said, “You should call me ‘Ge’ when you see me in the future, Didi.”
Song Xinglan glanced at him coldly, without saying a word.
Tang Min returned to the hotel. While in the elevator, he finally realised: Oh, Song Jin’s younger brother has always had a bad temper. In the past, he wasn’t even that nice to his own brother. So why would he call me ‘Ge’, a complete outsider?
Tang Min thought about that cold, piercing gaze…
He was taken aback for a moment, then pressed his hand against his forehead and let out a chuckle to himself—so what if he didn’t call me ‘Ge’? Why do these young people get so fired up?
Still, that younger brother seemed pretty ill-tempered. With Song Jin drunk tonight, if he becomes helpless, will he end up getting lectured by his brother?
Song Jin sat in the passenger seat. After drinking too much, he didn’t have any big reactions. He didn’t throw a fit or act out. But he did seem more relaxed. He had a faint smile on his face the whole time. His eyes were bright, like he was genuinely happy.
“What are you smiling about?” Song Xinglan asked while driving.
Song Jin touched his face and asked, “Am I smiling?”
Song Xinglan adjusted the rearview mirror to reflect Song Jin’s face and said, “See for yourself.”
Song Jin seriously stared into the mirror for a few seconds. He then leaned back in his seat and said, “I guess I am smiling.”
“So, what are you smiling about?” Song Xinglan returned to his question.
“I don’t know,” Song Jin said, “I’m just happy.”
After thinking for a moment, he added, “Today, during the ceremony, He Hao was putting the ring on the bride, and everyone started cheering, telling him to kneel on one knee and kiss the back of her hand.”
At this point, Song Jin started laughing to himself. He laughed and said, “Then He Hao got so nervous that, in front of everyone, he just dropped down on both knees in front of the bride…”
As he finished, he burst into quiet laughter. Song Xinglan glanced at him, then turned his attention back to the road, saying, “Idiot.”
Song Xinglan’s tone was unusually gentle. But Song Jin didn’t notice. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and said, “You’re the idiot.”
Then he unlocked his phone, opened the photo gallery, and pulled up a video. He reached his hand over to show it to Song Xinglan in the driver’s seat.
In the video, Song Xinglan was leaning on the small couch in Song Jin’s room in their countryside house, watching something on a tablet. Whatever video was playing must have been funny because Song Xinglan was laughing foolishly, completely absorbed in it. At that time, his hair was buzzed short. Although he still looked handsome, his expression made him seem not particularly bright.
Then, in the video, Song Jin’s voice could be heard off-screen, saying, “Stop laughing, you idiot.”
Song Xinglan immediately raised his head in the video. His expression turned serious as he replied, “I’m not an idiot!”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m your Ge,” Song Xinglan said.
“You’re my Didi,” Song Jin corrected him.
“No, I’m the Ge,” Song Xinglan sat up and put down the tablet. He suddenly raised one hand, energetically shouting, “I’m a handsome guy!”
The video ended in a messy blur, clearly because Song Jin was laughing too hard to keep the camera steady.
Even though Song Xinglan didn’t turn his head to watch the video, just hearing his idiot self’s voice was enough to remind him of the scene at that time.
Song Jin noticed that Song Xinglan’s hand gripping the steering wheel was tense, with veins popping out. Normally, Song Jin would never play such a video in public. But the alcohol had emboldened him. Not only did he play it, but he laughed happily as he did.
“So who’s the idiot?” Song Jin said smugly as he turned off the video. “You’re the idiot.”
“Hm.” Song Xinglan pressed his lips tightly together, letting out a sound through his nose in response.
Song Jin, completely unaware of the impending danger, continued smiling as he repeated, “Song Xinglan is an idiot.”
When the car stopped outside the garage by the back door, and Song Jin was pinned in the back seat by Song Xinglan, he finally realised who the real idiot was.
Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting mottled shadows on the car window. The faint movement of the tree’s shadow reflected outside while Song Jin leaned against the car door. His head was resting against the window while his hand was pushing against Song Xinglan’s shoulder as he laughed breathlessly from the tickling.
Song Jin didn’t know whether he was laughing so hard that tears came out or if he suddenly felt like crying for no reason. But what he did know was that, in this moment, he felt peaceful, overwhelmingly happy.
As if he were trying to recapture the times of their childhood, Song Xinglan indulged in this childlike game, seemingly determined to see Song Jin cry and beg for mercy before stopping.
“Ge,” Song Xinglan finally spoke. But it was an out-of-the-blue comment, “You should wear suits more often.”
Song Jin was still in a daze when Song Xinglan leaned closer and said something else to him.
Sweat covered Song Jin’s body from all the roughhousing. The small space of the car felt stifling, as if it was hard to breathe. He spoke with difficulty, “Stop messing around… I’m about to…-”
His voice carried a sobbing tone as he pleaded, “Ge, I’m begging you…”
It didn’t work. In fact, it only made things worse. In the end, he was forced to both laugh and cry.
Satisfied, Song Xinglan sat upright and said nothing. Song Jin, utterly drained, looked out at the night outside the car window. His voice was thick with emotion as he said, “You said you’d stop if I called you ‘Ge’…”
“Don’t believe those kinds of promises anymore,” Song Xinglan replied.
Song Jin: “…”
Such a wicked and childish younger brother—maybe it’s still not too late to throw him out?
Song Xinglan entered the room and only turned on the bedside lamp, casting a soft, warm yellow light. Song Jin lay on the bed. He was still drunk. His head was spinning.
He did look very good in a suit. His figure was well accentuated, appearing gentle and attractive without being aggressive. He carried a warm elegance that softened the formality of the suit, making him very appealing.
When Song Xinglan helped him take off his jacket, he grasped Song Jin’s wrist. Once again, he saw the scar on the inside of his wrist. Song Xinglan paused for a moment before putting the jacket aside.
Song Jin, half-closed eyes seemingly lost in thought, asked softly, “You can’t bear to look at it?”
Song Xinglan didn’t lie and replied, “Yeah.”
Whether it was regret, fear, or self-loathing, he admitted to it.
“You can forgive,” Song Xinglan said. “But I can’t forgive myself.”
Song Jin bit his lip and said, “I haven’t forgiven you.”
When he noticed Song Xinglan staring at him, Song Jin turned his head away. He closed his eyes and said, “I’ve forgotten about it. So I don’t need to forgive you.”
Song Jin offered a near-indulgent kindness and leniency, stubbornly searching for a reason to avoid confrontation. Song Xinglan gave a small smile and said, “I understand, Ge.”
He reached out for a warm towel and gently wiped him down.
That night, Song Xinglan stayed up unusually late. Seeing that Song Jin was uncomfortable from the alcohol and couldn’t sleep, he decided to bring him over to the bay window.
The curtains fluttered softly. Song Xinglan looked into Song Jin’s eyes, saying, “Ge, I’ll show you the moon.”
Song Jin opened his eyes and looked up. The moon was full tonight, partially obscured by the window frame. It seemed close. The moonlight streaming in as if carrying a distant breeze.
He turned back to look at Song Xinglan, whose face was half-illuminated by the moonlight, the other half hidden in shadow. Their eyes met at a close distance. Neither of them spoke. Yet, it was as though they both understood what the other wanted to say, given how close they were in that moment.
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*Translator’s Note: Has TM forgotten that SXL had kissed SJ in front of him before??? By the way, the caller ID in SJ’s phone is ‘di’ like it is not in Chinese characters. It’s d and i, small letters. Oh! They were only tickling in the car, okay? Don’t get your head way too far with obscenity (like I did hahaha).
Yes. I bought the book! It’s damn expensive😭. There are six extra chapters from the physical copy of the novel which are not available online. So, I guess there’s no MTL-ing them. Or maybe some people who know their way could get access to them, I don’t know. But I will translate these to the best of my abilities. The author named the titles of these extras with colours. I’m not sure if they have a hidden meaning in them but I’m not gonna go guessing or venture much into it. You may do so if you all want. -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Gege/Ge = (Big/Older) Brother
- Didi/Di = (Little/Younger) Brother
☝🏻Reiteration
☝🏻The physical copy of the book. It took a month to get to me. Some sides were slightly ‘hurt’ in the process of delivery and I have to tape them, but everything else is fine…
Next update: 2024.09.28
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