Chapter 22 – Aftermath
Novel Title: 我们已经分手了 (We Have Broken Up)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 刘帆 (Liu Fan -MC), 陈谦 (Chen Qian -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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For various reasons, Liu Fan very naturally stayed in bed the next morning. When Chen Qian finally pulled him out from under the covers, his vision was still blurry.
Chen Qian dragged him to the bathroom, shoved a toothbrush with toothpaste already applied into his hand, and then picked up a razor to start shaving in front of the mirror. “Hurry up. We’ll go out for breakfast, and then I’ll drop you off at work.”
Liu Fan slowly started brushing his teeth. As he did, it seemed like he was about to fall asleep leaning over the sink. Chen Qian, who was glancing at him occasionally, quickly pulled him up, seeing that he was almost dozing off like a hibernating hamster clutching the toothbrush. Unable to bear it, he poured a cup of water for him, “Rinse your mouth.”
After Liu Fan sluggishly followed the instruction, his mind cleared a bit. He looked up to find a towel being handed to his face.
Liu Fan: “……”
He had always felt that as long as he was with Chen Qian, he seemed completely incapable of taking care of himself.
Due to Liu Fan’s work schedule, they didn’t have much time. As Liu Fan was getting dressed, Chen Qian kept checking his watch, looking like he wanted to help him dress himself. “Can you hurry up?”
“Alright, alright. What’s the rush?” Liu Fan buckled his belt, amused. “I’m not in a hurry. Being late is fine.”
“How can you have so little sense of responsibility?” Chen Qian impatiently pulled him out the door. “What do you want to eat? Decide now. No detours.”
“Oh, do you know where to get anything?” Liu Fan asked. “How many times have you wandered around the area?”
Chen Qian moved their joined hands slightly, looking somewhat unnatural. “Why so much talk? Just tell me what you want and I’ll get it.”
Liu Fan made a sound of acknowledgement. He then asked, “Are you free tonight? Come to my place for dinner?”
“What?” Chen Qian frowned in confusion. “Let’s eat out and then go to my place. We’ll check it out and then you can move in some other day.”
Liu Fan was taken aback, “Move into your place? Why?”
Chen Qian’s reaction seemed to catch him off guard. He looked at Liu Fan with a slight surprise, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something. Just then, the elevator doors opened. He closed his mouth, silently leading Liu Fan out the door and onto the street to hail a cab.
Chen Qian’s displeasure was palpable, the sense of being hurt radiating from him so strongly that Liu Fan felt both amused and a bit guilty. His question had been a bit thoughtless.
The truth was, he was used to living here. So moving was particularly troublesome. He hadn’t thought much before asking why.
“Stop here for a moment. Wait for me for five minutes,” Chen Qian instructed the driver at a street corner, getting out without saying a word to Liu Fan. Liu Fan watched as he walked quickly towards a congee shop by the street. He sighed softly.
Chen Qian returned soon, carrying congee and steamed buns. The aroma made Liu Fan sure he would enjoy them.
“All for me? What about you?” Liu Fan asked.
“I’ll eat at the office,” Chen Qian replied, exuding a vibe of ‘I’m upset. Make me feel better,’ which made Liu Fan laugh. He leaned closer, saying, “No rush to move. I have too much stuff. It won’t be easy to move everything at once.”
Chen Qian kept a stern face for a while before showing a disdainful expression. “You’re just lazy. You think I don’t know that?”
Leaning over, Liu Fan playfully nuzzled Chen Qian’s lips. Seeing his reluctant softening, Liu Fan asked, “You didn’t answer me earlier, are you free tonight?”
Chen Qian countered, “What do you really want?”
“I told you, come to my place for dinner,” Liu Fan said, pulling out his phone. “If you’re coming, I’ll let my mom know in advance so she can make something you like.”
Chen Qian, who had been casual, suddenly froze. “What did you say? Did you just mention your mom?”
“Ah… yeah. Why are you so surprised?” Liu Fan couldn’t help but laugh seeing Chen Qian’s face as if he had been struck by lightning. “What’s the matter? It’s not like you haven’t met them before.”
“This is totally different!” Chen Qian shouted. He then frowned. Liu Fan rested his chin on his hand, watching him for a while before understandingly saying, “If it’s inconvenient for you, we can do it another time?”
Chen Qian waved his hand with a bitter and sorrowful expression.
Liu Fan tilted his head, still finding it a bit funny. “Why are you so nervous? You used to come to my house all the time.”
“It’s precisely because your mom knows me that I’m nervous. How does a son’s good friend turn into a boyfriend? What kind of thing is that?” Chen Qian pinched his nose, glancing at Liu Fan, whose face clearly said, ‘What’s the big deal?’ He instructed, “Alright. I’ll go to your house tonight. But don’t tell your parents that we were together back in high school.”
“I know.” Liu Fan rubbed his stomach. “I’m not an idiot.”
Although Sun Yiyi had now accepted her son’s sexuality, that didn’t mean she could accept that her son had been gay since high school, especially with a childhood friend who grew up under her watch. The worst part would be if Sun Yiyi thought Chen Qian had led Liu Fan astray. Her reaction would be unpredictable.
“Really? I have my doubts.” Chen Qian opened the plastic bag and took out a soup dumpling. “Open your mouth. Careful, it’s hot.”
Liu Fan took a bite, and then heard him ask, “What do your parents… like?”
“Huh?” Liu Fan thought for a long time, chewing like a hamster. After finally swallowing the dumpling, he said, “Nothing special… How about you buy my mom some insurance?”
Chen Qian: “…”
“I was an idiot to count on you.” Chen Qian couldn’t bear it anymore and wiped the soup off Liu Fan’s mouth, complaining as he cleaned Liu Fan’s hand. The taxi stopped, and he leaned over to open the car door for Liu Fan. He gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll pick you up after work. Wait for my call.”
“Okay, mwah.” Liu Fan took the breakfast with him. “Talk to you then.”
As soon as Liu Fan got out of the car, he called Sun Yiyi. “Mom, are you buying groceries?”
Sun Yiyi’s job didn’t require her to clock in daily, so she was usually at the market with Liu Xing around this time. “Yes, your dad said he wanted oxtail soup. It’s fresh to buy the ingredients in the morning.”
Oxtail soup, huh? Chen Qian liked that too. Liu Fan said, “Alright. I’ll come home for dinner tonight.”
“Okay. Hey Lao Liu, get some green onions! Not the big ones, the small ones.” After instructing Liu Xing, Sun Yiyi turned back to the phone. “Shall we get some chicken too? How about braised chicken with chestnuts?”
Braised chicken with chestnuts, Chen Qian liked that as well. Liu Fan said, “Sure, whatever you decide. By the way, I’ll be bringing someone over tonight.”
“This tomato looks good, Lao Liu, get some- What did you say?” Sun Yiyi paused, then raised her voice like she’d been stepped on. “What did you say?!”
From the other end came Liu Xing’s voice asking, “What’s the matter?” “Fan Fan said he’s bringing someone home! After all these years! He said he’s bringing someone home!” “Quick, ask if it’s a boy or a girl.” “Right, ask if it’s a boy or a girl.”
Sun Yiyi brought the phone closer and asked gently, “Is it a boy or a girl?”
Liu Fan: “…A boy.”
“A boy. A boy.” Sun Yiyi, excited, moved away from the phone and chatted with Liu Xing for a while before turning back to Liu Fan. “Alright, alright. Your dad and I will be waiting for you at home. Don’t let him buy anything, we have everything at home. What does he like to eat? Is it that Zhang Zhou from last time? I told you, he’s a good guy…”
“Mom, it’s not Zhang Zhou.” Liu Fan quickly interrupted her. “It’s Chen Qian. You know Chen Qian, right? From childhood, our neighbour’s kid. We went to school together until high school.”
“Chen Qian?” Selling insurance had made her excellent at remembering people, and besides, Chen Qian and her son were very close back then. But they hadn’t been in touch since high school graduation, which had puzzled Sun Yiyi. “Oh, your old classmate…”
Her tone betrayed her disappointment, making it sound almost heartbreaking.
Liu Fan: “…”
“No. Mom, listen.” Liu Fan coughed. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“What…” Sun Yiyi sounded very surprised. “He… he is… gay?”
“Uh, yeah, I was surprised too. You know, I went to the last class reunion, and he was there. We reconnected and kept in touch, and realised we’re quite similar.” Liu Fan walked into the office building lobby, casually simplifying the story. “Hey, I’m getting in the elevator. I’ll tell you more tonight.”
As usual, Liu Mengjiao was the only one early in their small office. But she seemed a bit anxious. Liu Fan placed his breakfast on the table. “Want some soup dumplings? They’re famous in my area.”
Liu Mengjiao shook her head.
“What’s up?” Liu Fan began taking items out of the plastic bag one by one: a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee, a cup of jujube soy milk, a bag of soup dumplings, a tea egg, and a small pack of pickles. With so much food spread out, Liu Fan took a deep breath in satisfaction. “How about some dumplings?”
Liu Mengjiao’s mouth twitched. “What did you do this morning… No, what did you do last night? Damn, are you trying to replenish yourself?”
With a snap, Liu Fan broke open the disposable chopsticks and winked at her. “If you know, no need for details.”
“You two are moving really fast…” Liu Mengjiao suddenly remembered something and her expression turned anxious again. “Last night, when I got home, Zhou Xiang told me that she and Zheng Nian are planning to get their marriage licence this National Day.”
Liu Fan paused while peeling the egg. “That’s still a few months away…”
“But…” Liu Mengjiao rubbed her forehead in distress. “They’re planning to get married! I mean, I know Xiang Xiang is serious about her relationships and is looking towards marriage. But I can’t let her walk blindly into this trap. My conscience is screaming at me.”
After a moment of silence, Liu Fan said, “Calm down. You know, if you tell her, you might end up not being friends anymore.”
Mengjiao sighed heavily. “I know…”
They weren’t sure how Zhou Xiang would react. She might be the kind of girl who prefers to believe in a false happiness, making Mengjiao’s interference seem like cruel meddling.
“Doesn’t Zhou Xiang have an older brother?” Liu Fan stuffed the egg into his mouth. “Why not contact him? He probably knows his sister better. Tell him what’s going on and discuss it with him.”
Mengjiao’s mouth fell open in surprise. “How can I randomly ask someone for her brother’s number? Isn’t that weird?”
“How can you not figure out something so simple. Tsk.” Liu Fan gestured with his finger. “Is her brother single?”
Liu Mengjiao frowned and thought for a moment. “It seems so.”
Liu Fan smiled. “Then are you single?”
Liu Mengjiao: “…”
Liu Fan nodded. “I knew you’d get it. Isn’t this reason just great and convincing?”
Liu Mengjiao: “…Have you been on too many blind dates?”
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*Translator’s Note: Meow CQ is soooo susssss… He must’ve lingered around LF’s residence a lot hahahaha! -K
*P/S: To those who have read my previous translation ‘Ephemeral Light’ before, do note that I have bought the physical copy of the novel and will start posting six more extra chapters (which are not available on the web) probably by next week Monday (2024.09.30) or perhaps earlier.
Next update: 2024.09.27
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