Antidote - - - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Jiang Yu Duo said nothing more, lying on the sofa with his eyes closed and his head rested on his arm. It looked as if he was sleeping.

But Cheng Ke could tell by looking at his tightly furrowed eyebrows and his shaking eyelashes that he was not asleep, and he was feeling uncomfortable.

Beautiful thing?

Cheng Ke didn’t understand what Chen Qing said, but searching up the word

“beautiful thing” on his phone, and the result showed ‘Meniere Disease’.

(T/N: ‘Beautiful thing’ sounds similar to Meniere’s Disease in Chinese. Meniere’s disease is a disorder in the inner ear, the endothelium is swollen. As peripheral arterial anesthesia, the disease appears in attacks, its 3 prominent symptoms are dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss.)

Even when Chen Qing said it was just guessing, he never went to the hospital to check. But he had actually read about this syndrome once before.

When the patient gets sick, they can’t open their eyes and also can’t stretch their body… They need to lay still, not to be impatient and eat frugal, low-salt food… Stay away from smoking, drinking, and tea…

He felt that if this really was the case, Jian Yu Duo could only probably lay still like this. He had to lay still because he didn’t have the strength to move.

Meow was lying down on Jiang Yu Duo’s chest. He wasn’t moving, but his brows tightened because of the extra weight. Cheng Ke quickly picked Meow up and placed him beside Jiang Yu Duo.

Even so, Meow quickly climbed back on. Cheng Ke picked him up again, but Meow was very determined, and once again jumped on Jiang Yu Duo. Cheng Ke had no choice but to pick it up and place it on his lap.

“Does Meow have a cage?” Cheng Ke asked.

Jiang Yu Duo snorted, making Cheng Ke wonder what he snorted at.

Cheng Ke got up, walked around the room, and found a reuse fabric bag. He put Meow inside and hung it on a chair. He didn’t know why he did that, probably out of boredom.

But the strange thing was when Meow was put inside the bag, it only peeked out of the bag twice. It then curled up at the bottom of the bag and stopped moving.

Cheng Ke sat back down to the sofa, continuing to watch Jiang Yu Duo.

The situation was very awkward.

He hadn’t taken care of a patient like this before, not to mention that him and Jiang Yu Duo weren’t close. Just sitting here quietly, after all, wasn’t very comfortable.

Looking at the pitiful Jiang Yu Duo right now and comparing him with the normal, aggressive, and evil Jiang Yu Duo was as different as chalk and cheese was.

He (Cheng Ke) hasn’t had any serious illness. Only catching a cold occasionally would make him stay home and do nothing. He could call for people at any time and tell them to make anything he wanted to eat. He didn’t ever feel helpless.

Yeah, just helpless.

He didn’t know why, but that ‘thank you’ from Jiang Yu Duo with the “Not going to the hospital” made him feel that the person laying in front of him was helpless.

Thinking about it, he might be sensitive. Cheng Ke smiled as his mood right now wasn’t the same as before. Until now, he hadn’t fully adapted to the ups and downs of his changing life.

The door was knocked on lightly for a few times. ‘Maybe Chen Qing’s here’, thought Cheng Ke.

Cheng Ke stood up and was about to open the door. Jiang Yu Duo, who had been furrowing his brows with his face covered in sweat suddenly said: “Look first.”

“Huh?” Cheng Ke was shocked before reacting, “Ah.”

He really couldn’t understand Jiang Yu Duo, and he couldn’t see anyone else besides other rogues, who were threats to his life.

However, he followed Jiang Yu Duo’s request and looked at the peephole first.

“It’s Chen Qing.” He was certain that it was Chen Qing outside. When he reached out to open the door, he added, “Just him alone.”

“Mm.” Jiang Yu Duo answered.

As soon as the door opened a little bit, Chen Qing squeezed in through the gap.

Cheng Ke had always thought that Chen Qing was quite thin, but he didn’t expect him to be that slim.

“Third Bro,” Chen Qing looked worried. He didn’t seem to see Cheng Ke and threw himself beside the sofa, “I’m here, what happened?”

“Got dizzy.” Jiang Yu Duo said.

“For how long?” Chen Qing turned around and looked at Cheng Ke.

“Ah…” Cheng Ke quickly pulled out his phone, “He got dizzy right before I called you, so about 40 minutes.”

“Then it should be just a short while more…” Chen Qing took a wet towel from the restroom and wiped down the sweat on Jiang Yu Duo’s face. He then stood by the sofa and looked at Jiang Yu Duo.

“How long does his dizziness usually last?” Cheng Ke walked over and gently asked.

“Can’t say,” Chen Qing said, “sometimes half an hour, sometimes he can’t move for hours.”

“Ah.” Cheng Ke nodded, then how did he know it would last for a short while more?

But he didn’t want to ask, after all, he was Chen Qing.

After these few words, the room once again became quiet.

It was because Jiang Yu Duo couldn’t talk. He and Chen Qing had nothing to say to each other. In fact, he was quite ready to go now. He and Jiang Yu Duo were not close enough for him to take care of him, and Chen Qing had already come.

Obviously, Chen Qing was very familiar with Jiang Yu Duo’s problem.

But being this quiet made him unable to find the opportunity to speak. What he had to say didn’t matter, it’d be a bit abrupt and awkward.

“You two” Jiang Yu Duo said with difficulty, “Don’t be here just to mourn together.”

“What?” Cheng Ke glanced at Chen Qing.

“Saying your last goodbyes to the remains of my body.” Jiang Yu Duo slightly opened his eyes and closed it quickly.

“What nonsense are you saying?” Chen Qing recollected himself and shouted.

“Fuck,” Jiang Yu Duo was frightened. His hands shook, and he gritted his teeth and cursed.

“Then Ji…Ke…” Chen Qing turned around to look at Cheng Ke. Based on his facial expression, you could tell he was trying to remember the name.

“Cheng Ke,” Cheng Ke helped, “If you can’t change it, just keep it as Jaeger-LeCoultre, don’t try too hard.”

“You can go now.” Chen Qing said.

“…Okay.” Cheng Ke felt that Chen Qing’s relationship with Jiang Yu Duo must be good because they have a very effective way of speaking.

When he took his coat and walked towards the door, a miracle suddenly happened.

Chen Qing seemed to come back to his senses: “Thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re welcome.” Cheng Ke said.

“Have you had breakfast…” Chen Qing walked to the table and neatly put the barely touched breakfast in the bag, “Haven’t eaten yet? Take it with you. Put it in the microwave for a little bit. No need to cook for lunch.”

“No need.” Cheng Ke quickly said, all of these, especially that box of Liu Sha Bao, he really didn’t want to eat.

“Why?” Chen Qing asked.

“Why what?” Cheng Ke said.

“You haven’t eaten breakfast either, why don’t you take it?” Chen Qing said

“I…” Cheng Ke once again fell into a difficult situation, unable to find an excuse.

“Take it, throw it away in the trash if you don’t want it,” Jiang Yu Duo’s sore throat, speaking with difficulty, “Don’t push it back and forth here, I want to fake death.”

Cheng Ke took the two bags of food in Chen Qing’s hand and brought it out with him.

Even so, he didn’t throw these in the trash. He was a little hungry. He also didn’t want to waste it. Even when he doesn’t eat Liu Sha Bao, there were many other things in the bag.

When he walked downstairs, he saw a Land Rover at the entrance of the corridor.

The license plate number was 888.

Both of Cheng Yi’s cars’ plate numbers ended in 888. Cheng Ke never understood why a young man could be this superstitious.

Maybe he got influenced by his family. His mom always chanted the Amitabha everyday…

Walking over to the side of the car, he saw the driver open the door. When Cheng Yi got out of the car, he suddenly recovered his thoughts.

“Why are you here?” He looked at Cheng Yi.

“You didn’t contact me and didn’t go home to get your things either,” Cheng Yi said,

“I can only help you bring things here. These are all basic daily items. I was afraid that you wouldn’t be comfortable.”

“I was asking you, how’d you know I’m here?” Cheng Ke asked.

“You’re my older brother,” Cheng Yi said, “How can I not know where you are?”

The driver turned off the car, got out of the car and walked over. With a blank face, Cheng Ke nodded casually. “Young master.”

Cheng Ke didn’t say a word, nor did he look at him.

The driver’s name was He Yuan. He had been with Cheng Yi for several years, but he couldn’t really be regarded as Cheng Yi’s confidant. Cheng Yi had no confidant.

He couldn’t believe anyone, but He Yuan knew Cheng Yi very well, and he was able to fight for him. If Cheng Yi couldn’t show an attitude, He Yuan could show the attitude in his place.

“Go get the luggage.” Cheng Yi said.

He Yuan opened the trunk and took out all the luggage in the backseat. There were several large boxes. Others couldn’t tell what was in it, but when all the things were removed, he could tell what it was with a single glance.

His computers, sand painting table, the sand hadn’t even run out yet, and his favorite chair was there as well.

When Cheng Ke saw these things, he suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed, as if his very self was stripped naked and put out on the street for exhibition.

These things were all in his bedroom and study room. If you look at each and every one of them, each item could be seen by others by ordinary, but these things belonged to him. Once there was this connection and it was shown in this way, it felt completely different.

Cheng Yi entered his room, no, not only Cheng Yi, but He Yuan must have also gone in. After all, Cheng Yi wouldn’t be able to move things by himself, maybe there was someone else, too.

These people walked around in his room, looked around, picked his things up one by one…

“I don’t need it.” Cheng Ke said.

“Can you be more realistic?” Cheng Yi looked at him and whispered, “You need all of this. You can’t buy everything again. Won’t it cost a lot of money? You can’t be the same as before, spending without thinking about money.”

Cheng Ke didn’t say anything and frowned at him.

“I know you don’t like me to enter your room,” Cheng Yi said, “I haven’t entered it once during all these years, right? You just keep leaving like, without any saying, what else could I do? If I don’t go in and help you, do you want dad to do so?”

“I’ll say it again,” Cheng Ke said, “I don’t need all of this, I also don’t need anyone to help me deliver it either. When I leave the house, it is what it is.”

Cheng Yi looked at him, his eyes became a little cold, and after a while, he smiled again. “At least you have to get your computer, don’t you want such a personal thing?”

“I’m not you,” Cheng Ke squinted his eyes and smiled. “There is nothing private in my computer that needs to be kept secret.”

The smile on the corner of Cheng Yi’s mouth disappeared. He stared at him for a while, then turned and waved at He Yuan: “Throw it out in the garbage.”

He Yuan closed the trunk and helped Cheng Yi open the passenger’s door.

Cheng Ke turned and walked into the corridor.

“Cheng Ke,” Cheng Yi called him from behind, “Despite living this long, this is the first time I saw you making such progress. I hope you can press on. Don’t let me see you turn around and beg dad to let you home.”

Cheng Ke didn’t look back, nor did his footsteps stop. After entering the corridor, he didn’t press the elevator’s button. He opened the fire exit door and walked in.

He didn’t know how Cheng Yi knew where he lived, but at least he didn’t know what floor he was on yet. The security guard downstairs was very serious. Without his permission, he wouldn’t tell a stranger his room number.

Although he didn’t know why he couldn’t let Cheng Yi know which floor he lived in, what would happen if he knew it… And yet, he still chose to use the stairs.

Was it because of Jiang Yu Duo?

Didn’t know lunatics can be this contagious…

The fire exit was a bit stuffy. It was cleaned every few days, but you could still smell the dusty concrete in the air.

He tilted his head. Although there was a window, he could only see the side of another building from it. Looking up and down, top and below, all there was was a gray wall.

Cheng Ke sighed and walked up the stairs step by step.

This was the first time ever in his life that he was walking up 15 flights of stairs, and he was also carrying two bags of breakfast food.

Getting so tired, his knees became a bit sore, but he didn’t stop at all, he was afraid that once he stopped, he wouldn’t want to keep going anymore.

Why not take the elevator?

What if Cheng Yi was still outside, waiting to see the numbers on the elevator?

He smiled, thinking he was crazy.

When he reached the door, he let out a sigh of relief. He finally arrived, but after taking out the key, he felt that all the strength in his body was gone.

Clearly, he only needed to put the key in the keyhole, twist it, and then he could enter the door. Pounce on the sofa to rest, then heat up all the food, and sleep after eating, but he was leaning against the door and wouldn’t move no matter what.

He didn’t even want to raise his hand.

He always felt that Cheng Yi would not have any influence on him, no matter what he did, but the fact is that Cheng Yi once again pulled him back more than a month ago.

He felt as down as the day he left that house.

“Fuck.” Cheng Ke pressed his forehead against the door and cursed in a low voice.

After several minutes, he opened the door and entered the room.

Right now, he decided to force himself to be happy. No matter how unsatisfactory his new life was, it had already begun. Whether he were to live well or not, it was his decision.

Plugging in the gas card, he wanted to heat up the cold food… but he had no clue how to do it. He decided to eat, then sleep for a while after eating and get up…

Just fuck it.

Cheng Ke laid down on the sofa, closing his eyes. Forget it, plug in what card? Heat up what damn food? Let’s just sleep first.

What new life?

Funny.

Cheng Ke felt that, with his mood right now, sleeping straight till dusk wouldn’t be a problem.

But then, he guessed wrong. He couldn’t fall asleep for even a second. Closing his eyes, he tried to sleep. Both his neck and back felt numb, so he couldn’t help but sit up.

Glancing over to his phone, his sleep lasted two hours.

He turned on his phone, scrolling through his contacts a few times, and finally decided to call Xu Ding.

“Let’s go get some drinks tonight.” Cheng Ke said.

“Tonight?” Xu Ding paused for a sec, “Okay, where though?”

“I don’t know. How about my place? I’m too lazy to go far, I have to take a taxi also,”

Cheng Ke said, “You find a place.”

“Okay.” Xu Ding said, “I’ll pick you up. I’ll call you when I’m at your apartment gate.”

“Uh.” Cheng Ke paused, “Did you tell…”

Halfway through the sentence, he stopped. Xu Ding was not that kind of person, and Xu Ding didn’t know where he rented his room.

“Xiao Yi (Cheng Yi) knew where you’re at?” Xu Ding was keen and asked immediately.

“He was waiting for me downstairs,” Cheng Ke was a little embarrassed. “I didn’t mean anything, just wondering how he found this place.”

“I could find it if I wanted to,” Xu Ding smiled, “You and Xiao Yi are really not like two brothers.”

“…Is that so.” Cheng Ke sighed.

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Ke tried to find out how food should be heated, and finally chose the microwave, because the sign on the packing box was ‘PP5’. He can put it in the microwave oven.

(T/N: PP (polypropylene) is a white or almost transparent plastic used for food containers. This substance is durable and light, withstands temperatures of 167

degrees Celsius, so it can be reused and heated in a microwave.) He stuffed a few boxes into the microwave and was a little surprised that he actually knew such knowledge, but he couldn’t remember where he learned about that.

This is the first time he had used this microwave. He wanted to find the manual first, but after looking at the buttons, he found that this microwave is very trash-friendly for trash like him. It has words written on every button.

He studied for a little and then chose “steam buns.”

Definitely friendly.

The food was heated. It was not spoiled, not burned, and it didn’t explode either…

Cheng Ke turned on his TV, sat on his sofa and ate slowly.

It had been a while since he had Fu Lou’s breakfasts, but he could still remember the taste of it. When he ate it, he suddenly wanted to recall something, but clearly he had nothing to remember.

Maybe it was just the memory of taste, such as this chicken feet, such as this shrimp dumpling, and even this Liu Sha Bao…

Cheng Ke glanced at the Liu Sha Bao in his hand. It was half bitten, to be exact, this was his third one.

“…Fuck.” He put down the last half of Liu Sha Bao.

In fact, he was not that well-bred, yet he never talked about disgusting topics while eating out of politeness. Even if he would mention them, it wouldn’t be to the extent that made him unable to stomach his food. Just that, he actually saw the act happening in front of his own eyes.

Once he saw it with his own eyes, and thought about the food in his hand, it wouldn’t be the same.

Thinking of Jiang Yu Duo, he sighed. He didn’t know how Jiang Yu Duo was right now. Maybe he was still dizzy? Or maybe Chen Qing had woken him up.

“Did Sister Qian tell us to get anything?” Jiang Yu Duo looked at the items on the shelf.

“Sesame oil, hoisin sauce.” Chen Qing pushed the cart, “What else are you having?

Mapo Sauce?”

“Whatever. Is she opening a sauce store? Does she need this much sauce?” Jiang Yu Duo casually took a few bottles of soy sauce, “Just take a few.”

“Did you tell her that I’m coming over too?” Chen Qing asked.

“I did.” Jiang Yu Duo walked toward the cashier, “Don’t tell her what happened today.”

“Okay, you can trust me.” Cheng Qing said, “But isn’t the reason why you got sick this time is because you didn’t rest well? I always feel that you’re sleep-deprived.”

“Probably,” Jiang Yu Duo said, “It doesn’t have any cause, but after that, it’s okay, maybe it is because l keep getting angry at you.”

“Jaeger-LeCoultre must’ve been very scared, he probably hasn’t seen such a scene.”

Chen Qing said.

“Put it down. When you came over, you looked like you were going to my funeral. I was afraid that you would cry in front of him.” Jiang Yu Duo took two boxes of mints and put them next to the cashier. After being dizzy, his throat was better, but it was still a bit uncomfortable for him to speak.

“But didn’t I bite the bullet and not cry…” Chen Qing thought about it after speaking, “…I didn’t plan to cry either.”

Coming over to Sister Qian for food was a very pleasant trip. You didn’t have to worry about anything. Jiang Yu Duo only needed to sit on the sofa with Chen Qing and four dogs, watch TV for an hour, and then he can eat.

After eating, he could sit on the sofa and chat.

At Lu Qian’s place, he can relax. He didn’t have to think whether there was someone following him outside or not.

He was supposed to go back after eating, but he relaxed and stayed for two hours without even moving.

It wasn’t until Lu Qian drove them away that he got up and went downstairs with Chen Qing.

“I’m taking the day off tomorrow,” Chen Qing said while getting in the car, “Should I go with you have your cast taken off? Didn’t the doctor say you can take it off already?”

Jiang Yu Duo didn’t say anything.

He didn’t want to take it off.

Suddenly, he felt unsteady, and he turned his head to look at the lights flashing back and forth outside the car window

“I’m picking you up tomorrow then?” Chen Qing asked.

“Yeah.” Jiang Yu Duo answered.

When he was about to get home, the phone in his pocket rang. He took out the phone and the screen showed ‘Cheng•Intelligence Handicapped•Ke’.

“Who is it?” Chen Qing asked.

“Jae… Cheng Ke.” He picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Are you not at home?” Cheng Ke’s voice came out, sounding a little down.

“Almost home,” Jiang Yu Duo said, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Again?” Cheng Ke paused, “Nevermind.”

“Huh?” Jiang Yu Duo was confused, “What?”

Cheng Ke hung up his phone.

“What the-?” Jiang Yu Duo held the phone out to look.

“What’s wrong with him?” Chen Qing asked.

“I don’t know.” Jiang Yu Duo frowned and put his phone back into his pocket.

As the car turned into a small road, he habitually glanced across the sidewalks on both sides. He didn’t see any suspicious figures, but he saw Cheng Ke.

“Is that Jaeger-LeCoultre?” Chen Qing pointed to the sidewalk on the right.

“Yeah.” Jiang Yu Duo raised his hand to honk, “Go over there.”

Cheng Ke was slowly walking towards them in the opposite direction, strolling along the sidewalk, not responding to the sound of the horn.

Chen Qing parked the car on the side of the road. The headlights shined on Cheng Ke’s face, he just raised his hand to block them and continued on.

“Hey, if I saw a person like him and I didn’t know him, I would’ve definitely robbed him today,” Chen Qing honked again. “This person really isn’t as vigilant as the kid next door.”

“I’ll let you rob later on, make your years-long dream come true. If you can’t rob anything tonight, watch how I’ll kill you.” Jiang Yu Duo opened the door and grabbed Cheng Ke as he walked over to the door, “Is the Young Master sleepwalking?”

At this time, Cheng Ke just put his hand down and raised his head.

Jiang Yu Duo smelled alcohol on his body, “Are you drunk?”

“No.” Cheng Ke said.

“Why are you looking for me?” Jiang Yu Duo asked.

Cheng Ke held the car door and looked at him, as if he was making up his mind.

After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, “I forgot to bring the key when I went out.”

解药

(Antidote)

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