The atmosphere of an imminent war was interrupted by Cheng Bin.
Cheng Bin squeezed through from behind, pushing aside the glaring Shao Ze with a slap. He grabbed Qin Cheng’s arm and asked loudly: “Cheng’er, how is our Heng’er? How is he? Ah? How is he?”
“Uh,” Qin Cheng pointed behind him, “you can see for yourself.”
Cheng Bin quickly turned his head, and the moment he saw Jian Heng, tears fell at the speed of light. He rushed to the bedside and collapsed onto the bed, crying.
This strange sense of déjà vu made Qin Cheng feel as if he were looking at himself from last night.
No, he definitely didn’t cry this foolishly.
Shao Ze glanced at him and then went over.
Qin Cheng scoffed. Just wait; once you give your Dad Qin that kind of sharp look again, your Dad Qin will make sure you get a beating you won’t forget.
Jian Heng’s expression was quite calm as he briefly recounted the details of his injury to the two people. It wasn’t a big deal, but once he finished, Qin Cheng felt that if Jian Heng weren’t there, Shao Ze would have already started a fight with him right then and there.
Qin Cheng has been tolerating him all this time for Jian Heng’s sake; elsewhere, anyone who dared to glare at him like that would have been taken down already.
Cheng Bin, on the other hand, didn’t mind much. While shedding tears, he said; ‘Heng’er is truly loyal!’, ‘A man like Heng’er is worth entrusting your life to!’, ‘Whoever misses out will regret it!’…
Last time at the gathering, Qin Cheng was completely clueless. If he still couldn’t understand the subtext this time, then he really is foolish.
He didn’t expect Jian Heng to have told these two so early. So that’s why Shao Ze glared at him, thinking he was a straight man who was playing with his brother’s feelings?
Fuck! Qin Cheng hasn’t even settled the score with his brother yet, and here he is flirting with him every day. Now, he wasn’t even sure if he was a straight man anymore.
Qin Cheng’s mind was in turmoil, but he didn’t show it on his face; he just plopped down on the other side of the bed.
Go ahead and glare; let’s see if you can get Dad Qin blow up in three minutes. I’ve had nowhere to vent my frustration these past couple of days.
“Have you contacted that side?” Cheng Bin asked, his shoulders shaking with sobs.
Qin Cheng really couldn’t tell that Cheng Bin was this type of Alpha. He had such well-developed tear ducts. He wondered if pheromones were somehow related to tears.
But where exactly was ‘that side’?
Qin Cheng suddenly felt annoyed; it was always the three of them knowing something he didn’t.
“Mm, they should arrive tonight,” Jian Heng said.
Qin Cheng shot him a glance. What kind of riddle are you playing?
Jian Heng met his gaze for a moment; obviously he didn’t do anything, but Qin Cheng inexplicably read the meaning of ‘I’ll explain it to you later’ from his eyes.
The corners of Qin Cheng’s mouth couldn’t help but curl up. He cleared his throat and turned his head to hide it, but out of the corner of his eye, he could still see Jian Heng looking at him. His gaze… well, it made all his displeasure turn to ash, leaving his heart feeling warm and fuzzy.
How can this person just poke at his heart like this?
Jian Heng gently stroked the pulse on his wrist with his index finger, the warmth of his fingertips lightly brushing over, yet it spread all the way to the tip of his heart, igniting a flower to bloom with heat.
Looking at the side profile of Jian Heng and Cheng Bin talking, Qin Cheng felt a moment of daze.
Did he, perhaps, get something wrong?
Which straight man casually kisses his brother, wants to kiss him again after kissing, and feels so upset that he wants to jump up and hit the wall when his brother doesn’t tell him something? When his brother does tell him, he immediately breaks into a smile. After his brother confesses to him, his reaction after panicking isn’t to cut ties but rather leaves people wondering what to make of it.
This is way too fucking… straight, right?
Qin Cheng was stunned for a full minute.
It was like a bucket of hot water was poured over him. It left him dazed, then brought him back to his senses.
“That,” Qin Cheng said, his hand trembling slightly as he took out a pack of cigarettes and pointed toward the door. “I’m going out for a smoke.”
Jian Heng looked at him and replied: “Come back soon.”
“Mm.” Qin Cheng didn’t look at him and walked straight out.
Qin Cheng didn’t go to the restroom; instead, he walked to the end of the corridor, opened a window, and, with shaking hands, lit a cigarette and began to smoke.
His feelings for Jian Heng had been trapped by his eighteen years of straight man mindset. Qin Cheng pinched his fingers, his heart pounding.
In his eyes, Alpha and Alpha could only be brothers or enemies; they either fought together or fought against each other. There was simply no option for dating.
So when he saw Jian Heng’s face and heard Jian Heng’s voice, his blushing and racing heart were all interpreted through his ‘straight man’ lens——everyone has a love for beauty, and that really is a fucking versatile1萬金油 (wàn jīn yóu): (colloquial) tiger balm; heat rub; liniment; (figurative) jack of all trades (and master of none)(slang). saying that fits anywhere.
Qin Cheng took a deep drag of his cigarette, unsure if he had truly lost his mind; the smell of tobacco seemed to mix with incense, and in a daze, he couldn’t help but wish he could roll back to the ward and kiss Jian Heng right away.
This impulse lingered in his heart, refusing to fade. Qin Cheng realized that he might——really——be done for.
Watching the cars come and go downstairs, Qin Cheng felt that all of this was just too unbelievable.
Since when did a perfectly straight man start to not be so straight anymore?
This has to be asked of Jian Heng——since when did he start flirting with him?
Was it when he bought him lunch in the morning or cooked for him in the evening? Was it when he forced him to quit cola or when he watched him eat breakfast?
Or was it all of it? Including that stunningly handsome appearance that could blind anyone just by standing there, and that all-encompassing personality with a cool and charismatic aura——everything combined made it impossible for him to look away, even though he knew this guy was an Alpha.
Actually, he must be a face dog2顏狗 (yán gǒu): (Internet slang) someone who treats good-looking people especially well. Similar, but not quite the same as face-con [顔控 (yán kòng)], (neologism) one who is “appearance-obsessed”; “face-judger”; face control; a person who is overly focused on looks.. Qin Cheng exhaled a puff of smoke, unable to suppress a laugh.
Damn it, thinking back to that kiss last night, his heart just can’t cool down; his whole body is hot and bothered.
Fuck, how could he bend so easily?
This is a disaster; it seems like he didn’t even struggle. He accepted it faster than when he found out Jian Heng was gay.
But that’s not right either; after all, he acted like a fool and was ‘straight’ for so long, even enduring Jian Heng’s confession.
He’s really been slowly boiled like a frog in warm water.
Qin Cheng sighed.
He felt a sense of guilt inside, not directed at anyone in particular, but purely a guilt about his sexual orientation, which had been straight for eighteen years.
However, compared to Jian Heng, this guilt suddenly felt like nothing at all.
Nothing at all.
***
By the time Qin Cheng finished smoking and returned, Cheng Bin had stopped crying. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, peeling an orange, while Shao Ze sat next to him, talking to Jian Heng with a frown that suggested he didn’t quite agree with him.
Before Qin Cheng came in, he didn’t knock. Whenever he was with Jian Heng, he never had that mindset; he was completely relaxed doing anything.
Therefore, when Cheng Bin and Shao Ze suddenly turned their heads to look at him at the same time, he felt a strange illusion, as if he were being stared at by that broken doll, Mary Shaw3瑪麗肖 (Mǎlì Xiào): Mary Shaw is the main antagonist of the 2007 supernatural horror film Dead Silence. She is an undead ventriloquist who has lost her voice and seeks vengeance against the small town of Raven’s Fair..
Of course, a straight man wouldn’t be afraid of this; if it weren’t for the chaos in his mind, he would definitely have calmly glared back at them with his mouth shut.
Qin Cheng stood at the door without stepping inside, pointing outside: “If it’s not convenient, I’ll go out first——”
“Come here,” Jian Heng looked at him and patted the edge of the bed. “You’ve been gone for so long; how many cigarettes did you smoke?”
Qin Cheng suddenly felt as if he had been granted a special privilege. He calmly closed the door, then walked over and sat down next to Jian Heng, reaching out to check his forehead.
No fever.
As he withdrew his hand, Qin Cheng had to admit he was somewhat reluctant. You see, once a person realizes their feelings, it’s as if they’ve been enlightened by a Bodhisattva, and they can’t help but want to correct all their past mistakes in one fell swoop.
For example, right now, he just wanted to snuggle up next to Jian Heng, lifting his head to steal a kiss on his chin and leaning down to nibble at his Adam’s apple.
Just thinking about Qin Cheng makes him feel hot. The idea of a leek turning into a spirit isn’t just talk.
However, Qin-ge’s Oscar-worthy acting isn’t just for show; although his mind is a winding mountain road, he appears calm, as if he has attained enlightenment.
Qin Cheng is deep in thought. Once these two leave, how is he going to say it?
Jian Heng, I was the fool before; I’ve been fucking bent for a long time, and I like you too. Can you keep liking me? Let’s be together.
Not romantic at all, too perfunctory.
“I only smoked one. Have I been out for a long time?” Qin Cheng said, looking into his eyes.
“Mm, eight minutes.” Jian Heng replied, staring at him for a moment. Qin Cheng felt a sudden wave of anxiety.
Jian Heng was too perceptive; he could see right through him, and it only took a few words for him to figure it out.
Qin Cheng wanted to take the initiative to confess; after all, it was Jian Heng who had spoken first, so it was only fair that it was his turn now.
Although he still hadn’t figured out how to say it yet.
Shao Ze asked again: “They might send someone over there; do you need me to stay here——”
“No need,” Jian Heng said, interrupting him.
Shao Ze glanced at Qin Cheng again. With important matters on his mind, Qin Cheng couldn’t care less about this; if you want to glare, then glare as much as you want. Your brother is about to be mine, and no amount of glaring will stop that.
Jian Heng signaled with his eyes for Shao Ze to stop glaring, and although Shao Ze frowned, he ultimately looked away.
The three people started chatting again about things that Qin Cheng couldn’t understand, but this time, the discomfort in his heart wasn’t as strong.
He had the feeling that the secret was not important now that the person was his.
Looking at Jian Heng’s handsome face, Qin Cheng suddenly felt disdain for himself.
Such an outstanding person; did he really want to win him over with just a few casual and unromantic words?
Although he believed that Jian Heng would definitely agree, he still needed to take it seriously and find words worthy of Jian Heng.
Poor Qin-ge, who has been conscientiously straight for eighteen years, is not even interested in an Omega; he’s also a complete school slag——the kind that scores only a few points in Chinese composition.
Qin Cheng couldn’t help but secretly use his mobile phone to send a message to Tan Qi.
Earning money to support the family: If you don’t reply to me within one minute, you will jump off the building.
Tan Qi replied instantly.
Tan Qi’er: Have some fucking compassion! I’m still a kid!
Qin Cheng chuckled, thought about his wording, and sent it.
Earning money to support the family: Can you write a love confession letter?
Tan Qi’er: ??? The little friend has a lot of question marks.jpg
Qin Cheng was impatient; he was in a hurry.
Earning money to support the family: Your uncle! I’m asking this; just say whether you can or not.
Tan Qi’er: My aunt will definitely not agree4T/N: For those who are confused with this, I’m also confused about how to word this. This is basically QC & TQ’s ways of communication (look at Chapter 8). Usually, when cursing (which I usually translate as ‘fuck’ or ‘fucking’), QC use 他媽 (tā mā), lit. your mother. But with TQ, QC usually use 你二大爺 (nǐ èr dà yé), lit. your second uncle (I simply translate it as uncle), then TQ will reply with 我二大媽 (wǒ èr dà mā), lit. my second aunt (I simply translate it as aunt). I hope this wasn’t too confusing.!
Just as Qin Cheng was about to scold him, he received another message.
Tan Qi’er: Who do you want to write to? Or who wrote it for you?
Qin Cheng rubbed his nose, thinking that he might as well not hide it from his own brother.
Earning money to support the family: I’m writing to Jian Heng.
For a full five minutes, no matter how many death threats Qin Cheng sent, there was no response from the other side.
“This dog son,” Qin Cheng couldn’t help but curse. After he finished cursing, he realized that he had also included himself in the insult, so he couldn’t help but add, “deserve to be slapped.”
Qin Cheng put away his phone and looked up, only to find three heads and six eyes staring at him.
Qin Cheng was startled. “What are you doing?”
Jian Heng glanced at his phone and said pointedly: “Nothing much.”
Qin Cheng now spoke to him with a hint of caution.
He was about to confess his love to someone for the first time in eighteen years of his life, and the person he was confessing to was lying in front of him.
Qin-ge was excited.
“Then we’ll go and pick up the person first.” Shao Ze said as he stood up.
Jian Heng responded with a sound of agreement: “Be careful.”
“What could possibly happen?” Cheng Bin looked at Qin Cheng, his tone serious, “Cheng’er, our Heng’er…”
“Just leave it to me,” Qin Cheng solemnly said, taking over the statement.
Cheng Bin felt satisfied, patted him on the shoulder, and went out with Shao Ze.
The author has something to say:
You didn’t see that coming, did you? You didn’t think of that, did you? You didn’t expect that, right!
(The author takes a sip from the tea cup, exhales steam while shaking his head, and says: I must be too much of a dog. You all didn’t even dare to guess. Sob!) Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions during the period from 2020-05-14 12:39:43~2020-05-15 16:13:28~
Thank you very much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
So, I just learned from a certain US-born Chinese influencer who went to China… Turns out, because of the long-standing one-child policy in China (obsolete since 2016), the meaning of 哥哥 (gē ge) has changed. Originally, 哥哥 (gē ge) strictly means biological older brother; other older brother that wasn’t biological would be called (name)-哥. But, since the one-child policy has been going from 1980 to 2016, a lot of families don’t have 兄弟姐妹 (xiōng dì jiě mèi), siblings. So, 哥哥 (gē ge) doesn’t mean biological older brother anymore, but boyfriend, which really baffled this influencer (and me too LoL). How is this related to this story, you ask? Well, because QC likes to call JH 兄弟 (xiōng dì), and I usually translate this as brother. Should I translate it as buddy? IMO, buddy doesn’t feel as intimate as brother…
List of Idiom in Chapter 43
驚慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò): to lose one’s head over fear; to panic; to be thrown into a panic; to be frightened out of one’s wits; to be in a state of panic; be thrown into panic; be seized with panic; be panic-stricken; be caught/freeze like a deer in the headlights; be caught like a rabbit in the headlights; be at a loss of what to do due to panic.割袍斷義 (gē páo duàn yì): lit. cutting off the robe; to rip one’s robe as a sign of repudiating a sworn brotherhood (idiom); to break all friendly ties; to cut off the robe and sever the friendship. It means to sever ties with a sworn brother. It also refers to the end of friendship between friends.
尚方寶劍 (shàng fāng bǎo jiàn): (historical) imperial sword; a permission allowing someone to exercise another person’s power arbitrarily (or something certifying this permission); authority; mandate; special privilege; symbol of power; refers to the sword that the ancient Chinese emperor kept in his imperial palace. The ministers who held the imperial sword had the power to execute first and report later, etc., representing the imperial power. The idiom 尚方寶劍 (shàng fāng bǎo jiàn) is a metaphor for the power granted by the superior.
徹頭徹尾 (chè tóu chè wěi): lit. from head to tail (idiom); thoroughgoing; through and through; out and out; from top to bottom; downright; to the core.
Check out my completed & current project at my carrd. If you like my translation, you can buy me coffee at Ko-fi~ Thank you.
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