SPDO Chapter 13

“Hmm?” Qin Cheng’s eyelids were half-open as he tried to twist his head to look, “Can you rub my arms and ribs? It hurts so much… Fuck!”

Jian Heng got off him and sat aside, flicking his waist with his index finger: “Get up.”

Qin Cheng dodged because of the itch, took a deep breath, and sat up. His abdominal muscles and ribs exerted force together, causing him so much pain that he didn’t even want to curse.

It wasn’t the first time he had suffered such a serious injury, but in the past, he had always rushed into the encirclement with knives, guns, sticks, and clubs to save others in the midst of danger. Then he would come back with injuries all over his body and ask Tan Qi to help him, all the while hiding from his mother.

Today was the first time someone had rushed to save him, and after returning, he didn’t have to find shelter everywhere. Someone could even apply medicated oil to him while he was lying here… It was truly the best treatment he had received in all these years.

It feels… kinda marvelous.

At least he felt that he was now delicate from the inside out.

After all, those who were rescued had to be delicate, right?

“I’m sitting?” Qin Cheng crossed his legs and stretched his arms forward. “Isn’t it not too convenient? Why don’t I lie down.”

Jian Heng held his hand, straightened it out, and poured some medicated oil on the bruise. “Pressing on your back, would you call Auntie Song to coax you if you cry from the pain?”

“How can I cry? There is no such word as crying in my dictionary.” Jian Heng’s fingers pressed on his arm, and the light shone down, making the joints look particularly beautiful.

Qin Cheng averted his gaze and looked at the ceiling to reminisce. “I’ve never been good at anything else since I was a child, but I’m good at enduring pain, which is really awesome.”

“I used to hide in my room to apply medicine to my wounds. There was no iodine at home, so I used alcohol. I held a piece of clothing in my mouth in case my mother would find out. I didn’t make a sound from beginning to end, and I didn’t cry even though I was sweating in pain.”

“Isn’t it amazing?”

Qin Cheng said it lightly, there was even a hint of a smile on his face.

Maybe it was because the room was a little hot, or the atmosphere was too quiet. He sat in a relaxed posture, looking at Jian Heng with an inexplicable meaning that he himself was not aware of.

Jian Heng didn’t say anything, only his gaze became deeper and deeper.

Qin Cheng was totally oblivious to the atmosphere. He leaned forward, tilted his neck, pointed at his chest, and said, “My arm is fine, but my ribs hurt. You can rub them for me first, I feel like they’re about to break… The steel pipe is more powerful than a wooden stick…”

Qin Cheng trembled the moment Jian Heng pressed his finger on him. His ribs were indeed the most painful part of his body.

In the past, he would have gritted his teeth and endured it, but now he was like a delicate flower. Not only did he not grit his teeth, but he was also trembling vigorously. “Hey, be gentle. Qin-ge is about to die from the pain…”

Jian Heng looked into his eyes and did not move.

Qin Cheng also looked back.

Jian Heng’s face was obscure under the light, his thin lips were pressed into a straight line, his eyes were dark, and his emotions could not be seen clearly.

Qin Cheng was stunned.

Angry? Not pressing anymore? It couldn’t be, right? Don’t——

Jian Heng pressed hard with his palm.

Qin Cheng: “Holy shit! Fuck, fuck, fuck——Jian Heng!!!”

The feeling of tears falling on his face was so strange that Qin Cheng didn’t react at first. Jian Heng’s hand was still on his ribs, and he didn’t even bother to push it away. It just kept pressing on his ribs.

The pain lingered briefly on the bones, and then rushed straight into the brain, controlling the tear glands, and tears flowed.

“Jian Heng, you fucking… I’ll rub it myself,” Qin Cheng wiped his face and snatched the medicine bottle from Jian Heng’s hand. It took him a long time to calm down the pain. “I’ll kill you sooner or later.”

Jian Heng didn’t move. He just sat aside and watched Qin Cheng tossing and turning without any care.

Two minutes later.

“Jian-ge.” Qin Cheng said with an expression of detachment. With a heart like a dead ashes, he looked up. His forehead and neck were all glistening with sweat——it hurts.

“Um.” Jian Heng looked at him with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

“I was wrong,” Qin Cheng pulled Jian Heng’s hand and placed the medicine bottle solemnly in his palm, “You do it.”

Jian Heng laughed.

Qin Cheng looked up at him. The laugh just now was low and short, but it was the first time he observed Jian Heng’s smiling face so closely. It was not the kind of smile of a younger generation when he was facing his mother, but the kind of smile that carried a little teasing and ridicule.

Jian Heng’s face was the most suitable for looking cold and pretending to be cool that Qin Cheng had ever seen. Coupled with the short hair, it gave off a feeling that this person was just so cool, so cold, and so dismissive of others, acting all cool naturally.

Just now, he suddenly smiled, a slight inconspicuous curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. His narrow eyes lost their coldness and instead gained a few hints of… tenderness?

This person was so good-looking that any expression seemed to suit him perfectly. Qin Cheng sighed. He thought that if someone were to label Jian Heng as an ultimate warm-hearted guy now, he would believe it.

However, he soon lost interest in thinking about whether Jian Heng was warm-hearted or not.

Maybe because he screamed in pain too much just now, Jian Heng’s movements were particularly gentle this time.

His fingers lightly pressed on the bruise, then his palm slowly touched it, pressing gently as it hovered over his chest, ribs, and abdominal muscles. The skin he touched felt hot and feverish… Especially now that the two of them were sitting face to face, their breaths intertwined and fell on each other.

It got even hotter.

Qin Cheng always thought he was quite good at facing difficulties. For example, in the third year of junior high school, an Omega in the class suddenly went into heat, making all the Alpha students blush, except him. He calmly knocked the person out with a hand chop and took them to the medical room without changing his expression…

In Tan Qi’s words, ‘Qin-ge, you must have been a monk in your previous life. When someone threw themselves into your arms with a flushed face, you didn’t say a word of comfort and instead knocked them out? It’s a fucking pity that you don’t apply for the Guinness Book of Records for this level of determination‘.

Facts proved that the determination was only because he was ‘sick’, not a natural buff, which doesn’t fucking count.

He is now sure as well as certain that he was not a monk in his previous life. Because he is fucking stood at attention again.

Jian Heng is poisonous. He just rubs it so gently, slowly, and repeatedly. Who are you teasing…

It’s so tempting that he has started to recite poems. Really • Poisonous.

The situation can still be controlled. At least the loose school uniform pants bought Qin Cheng enough time. Qin Cheng slapped his hand away and acted like a pro: “Okay, okay, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I’ll go wash up first, you rest for a while.”

Jian Heng withdrew his hand. It was unknown whether it was intentional or not, but the tip of his index finger lightly touched his abdominal muscles. Qin Cheng felt that his nerves followed the fingertips, which was brief and stimulating.

Fuck, what’s with this guy?

Qin Cheng stood on the floor, turned his back to him, and walked out, asking as he walked: “Can I use the bathroom?”

“Um,” Jian Heng said, “There are spare bath towels in the cabinet outside the bathroom.”

Qin Cheng let out an ‘Um’, walked to the cabinet, and opened it——toothbrushes, toothbrush mugs, towels, and bath towels were neatly arranged, all in duplicate…

Could it be that Jian Heng has a girlfriend who is coming to visit him in a couple of days, so he prepared so many things? Qin Cheng thought a little distractedly, if that’s the case, it’s too unreasonable for him to stay here. He has to ask him when he has time.

Qin-ge is indeed short of money, but it’s still possible to earn enough money to stay at the hostel if he livestreams a bit longer.

The bathroom was exceptionally clean. Even the mirror, which was the most easily to get dirty was carefully wiped. Shampoo, facial cleanser, and toothpaste were lined up like standing in a military position.

In this respect, he still admires Jian Heng. It was not easy for a boy to be so neat.

He was just very rude.

Qin Cheng took off his pants and hung them on one side. He turned on the water, adjusted it to cold, and poured it over his head.

It didn’t hurt that much to pour cold water on his body. Moreover, he really needed cold water now…

The feeling of Jian Heng’s hands moving on his skin was still in his mind, strong and bony, with thin calluses on his fingertips, rubbing against his skin and creating a sense of heat…

It couldn’t be wiped off for a while.

Qin Cheng’s ears felt a little hot.

He wonder if Jian Heng noticed it or not. If he didn’t, it would be fine. But if he did, like the last time when we were riding a bike, he would not say anything now and suddenly ask him a question tomorrow… that would be unbearable.

He had to divert his attention. He increases the water flow, runs his hand over his face, and pushes his hair back, revealing his forehead. The water pouring on his face stung a bit, dripping down his straight nose, passing his chin, brushing against his Adam’s apple, and finally dripping onto the ribs that Jian Heng had pressed…

Qin Cheng muttered a curse vaguely in the flowing water, took a mouthful of water, and spat it out.

He braced his hand against the wall, looking at a certain misbehaving place that was still standing at attention, scorned for a few seconds, and then began to cleanse his impure body and thoughts with the power of knowledge.

“One autumn night by Xunyang River, I went to send off friends visiting from afar. Maple leaves and cattails rustle in the autumn breeze…” The deep, slightly hoarse voice echoed in the bathroom, carrying a strange sense of devotion.

This was the only ancient Chinese text he could recite. At first, Lao Xu slammed the book on his head and forced him to memorize it. Later, he skipped Chinese class for three days in a row, and Lao Xu gave up.

“…Lowering her brows, she went on playing skillfully, pouring forth all that was in her heart. The strings she tenderly plucked to warm them up——” Jian Heng’s fingers’ touch flashed by.

“Damn it!” Qin Cheng cursed in despair.

“Gently plucking and slowly strumming, picking with her little finger. She played first the 《Nichang¹霓裳 (ní cháng): rainbow-coloured clothes worn by the eight immortals; Nichang, abbreviation for the Tang Dynasty song “Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers” (霓裳羽衣曲 (Ní cháng yǔ yī qǔ)), (archaic) Song of rainbow skirts and feather robes. More information: Video Link.》, followed by the 《Liuyao²六幺 (liù yāo): (historical) Name of a composition in the Tang dynasty. 》.” Suddenly, Jian Heng’s voice came from outside the door. Qin Cheng jumped up on the spot, and punched the door, making a ‘clang’ sound.

“You break it, you pay for it,” Jian Heng knocked on the door, half leaning against the wall, “You forgot to take your bath towel.”

“Oh, the water’s not cold, no, ah, right, I forgot…” Qin Cheng covered his hand. He was so startled by Jian Heng’s sudden appearance that he immediately wilted. Could this be the legendary ‘the one who tied the bell should untie it³解铃还须系铃人 (jiě líng hái xū xì líng rén): lit. Untying the bell (on the tiger’s neck) requires the person who fastened the bell; whoever hung the bell on the tiger’s neck must untie it (idiom); fig. whoever started the trouble should end it; the only one who can fix the problem is the one who created the problem; an idiom derived from a fable. Those who created the problem should be the ones to undo it, or more accurately, Let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off. More information: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3. P.S. Some source describes this as idiom, while some other as proverb.‘?

“Open the door, here’s your towel,” Jian Heng said.

Qin Cheng opened the door a little, quickly took the towel from Jian Heng’s hand, and slammed the door.

A series of quick and stupid actions.

Jian Heng looked at his empty left hand, his eyelids half drooping. After a while, he slowly retracted his hands, folded his arms across his chest, and looked up at the ceiling.

There was the sound of water splashing in his ears, accompanied by the occasional muffled groan from Qin Cheng as he rubbed his injuries. The smell of damp wood mixed with the water vapor passed through the crack of the door and surrounded him, evoking a faint smell of incense.

Jian Heng paused and walked back to the bedroom, his pace unusually fast.

When all is said and done.

Qin Cheng is not the only one who stands at attention.

Qin Cheng came out of the shower and saw no one in the living room.

“Jian Heng?” Qin Cheng walked towards the bedroom, “Do you have a long-sleeved shirt? Lend me one.”

Jian Heng was lying on his side on the bed as if he was asleep. He slowly opened his eyes when he heard the sound and pointed to the wardrobe.

“Thanks,” Qin Cheng opened the wardrobe door. It was not good to take a new one, so he just picked a set of black sportswear that Jian Heng often wore for morning exercises. “I’ll return it to you after washing it.”

“Um,” Jian Heng said.

Qin Cheng was about to take off the bath towel when he suddenly realized that there was a big living person lying behind him. His whole body froze.

If this big living person was Tan Qi, he could immediately take off all his clothes and even dance with his hips, but Jian Heng… I’m sorry, those hands were too sinful. The touch was something he would never forget in a year.

Although he had a clear conscience and had no improper thoughts about Alpha; especially an Alpha like Jian Heng, who looked very A at first glance. But if he took his clothes to the living room to put them on, no matter how you looked at it, it would make him look like he had something to hide in his heart.

Qin Cheng gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and took off the bath towel. He quickly put on Jian Heng’s pants at the fastest speed in his life, even skipping the T-shirt and putting on the jacket directly.

“Wearing a jacket now?”

Qin Cheng turned around, Jian Heng was looking at him with his chin supported by his fingers, his tone calm.

“Ah,” his frantic hurry to put on clothes as if his butt was on fire was all seen just now, making Qin Cheng a bit embarrassed. He dragged his injured leg and walked out bravely, “I have to go home to livestream. My mom should be asleep at this hour, but in case she’s awake, I can’t let her see that I got into a fight.”

“Still livestreaming?” As if he didn’t expect him to work so hard, Jian Heng’s tone was a little low. Not depressed, more like questioning.

Questioning? Why would he question him? He’s such a bright and positive young man.

“If I don’t stream, I won’t have perfect attendance,” Qin Cheng walked to the door, remembered something, rubbed the back of his head, then turned to look at him, “That, I have an awkward request.”

“No way.” Jian Heng said.

Qin Cheng: “…”

The author has something to say:

The author sat cross-legged on the edge of a kang, holding a teacup and drinking tea, and took a long breath: This book should be renamed 《The Straight Man’s Road to Death》, okay…

The ancient Chinese text QC recites in the bathroom (and continued by JH) is called 《Pipa Xing》 [琵琶行 (Pí pa Xíng)], variously translated as “Song of the Pipa” or “Ballad of the Lute”, a Tang dynasty poem composed in 816 by the Chinese poet Bai Juyi, one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. The poem contains a description of a pipa performance during a chance encounter with a performer near the Yangtze River. More information: Link, Video Link 1, Video Link 2.

List of Idiom in Chapter 13

東躲西藏 (dōng duǒ xī cáng): to go into hiding in many places; hide oneself from place to place; dodge about; flee in all directions for cover; hide/flee here and there; hiding everywhere in order to avoid disaster.

沒輕沒重 (méi qīng méi zhòng): (of behaviour) without manners; (of utterances) untimely and thoughtless; rash and rude; tactlessly or indiscreetly; reckless words or actions.

心如死灰 (xīn rú sǐ huī): one’s heart is like dead/cold ashes—lose heart completely; be heartsick; utterly dissipated; originally meant to be indifferent and emotionless; now it also refers to depression and extreme indifference.

面不改色 (miàn bù gǎi sè): one’s facial expression remains unchanged; without batting an eyelid; not change colour—remain calm; not turn a hair; keep one’s composure.

問心無愧 (wèn xīn wú kuì): lit. look into one’s heart, no shame (idiom); with a clear conscience; to feel no qualms upon self-examination; to have a clear conscience.

Check out my completed & current project at my carrd. If you like my translation, you can buy me coffee at Ko-fi~ Thank you.

• 1
  霓裳 (ní cháng): rainbow-coloured clothes worn by the eight immortals; Nichang, abbreviation for the Tang Dynasty song “Raiment of Rainbows and Feathers” (霓裳羽衣曲 (Ní cháng yǔ yī qǔ)), (archaic) Song of rainbow skirts and feather robes. More information: Video Link.
• 2
  六幺 (liù yāo): (historical) Name of a composition in the Tang dynasty.
• 3
  解铃还须系铃人 (jiě líng hái xū xì líng rén): lit. Untying the bell (on the tiger’s neck) requires the person who fastened the bell; whoever hung the bell on the tiger’s neck must untie it (idiom); fig. whoever started the trouble should end it; the only one who can fix the problem is the one who created the problem; an idiom derived from a fable. Those who created the problem should be the ones to undo it, or more accurately, Let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off. More information: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3. P.S. Some source describes this as idiom, while some other as proverb.