Antidote - - - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Cheng Ke was thinking of asking Jiang Yuduo what was going on and who “they”

were. But after hearing Jiang Yuduo telling him that “Wherever you go, I’ll be there”, he didn’t care about the questions anymore.

“Can you explain to me the meaning of this?” He looked at Jiang Yuduo.

“It literally means that”, Jiang Yuduo walked beside the windows and looked outside, “Chen Qing is here.”

Cheng Ke wasn’t even concerned whether Chen Qing would be here or not, and he didn’t even want to eat that breakfast. He stood beside the table in a daze. He wasn’t exactly sober since he just woke up and could hardly process what Jiang Yuduo had said because he didn’t get enough sleep last night.

Jiang Yuduo walked over to open the door. Chen Qing was carrying the breakfast as he entered.

“Just throw away this key of yours”, He put the breakfast on the table, “Since you despise him so much.”

“He has decided to change it to a fingerprint lock.” Jiang Yuduo said.

“Fingerprint lock?” Chen Qing paused, “Oh I get it now! You were using fingerprint locks at home. That’s why you’ve never brought keys out?”

“You’ve finally realized.” Cheng Ke replied.

“Your family must not be that rich then, many people use fingerprint locks.” Chen Qing deduced.

“Mm.” Cheng Ke felt that he definitely couldn’t communicate with Chen Qing.

The breakfast were fried dough sticks and fried pancakes that Cheng Ke had always wanted to eat. One look at the food and he instantly got hungry.

He had been skipping breakfast for the past two months. It wasn’t because he woke up late, but because he was too lazy to go out to eat. He didn’t know how to cook, so he would usually drag on till lunch time before ordering take-outs.

Apparently skipping breakfast for a long period of time could cause a person to become stupid. He wasn’t sure whether his intelligence had decreased or not.

But he was constantly blanking out.

“Just make do with these”, Chen Qing told him, “I don’t have money for food like abalone. Third Bro doesn’t even pay me sometimes.”

“Get lost.” Jiang Yuduo told him.

“I’ll get lost in a while”, Chen Qing sat on one side of the table, “I haven’t had my food yet.”

“I quite like these.” Cheng Ke sat down too. He looked at the bag of breakfast and took out a fried dough stick.

“Soy milk.” Chen Qing put the soy milk in front of Jiang Yuduo and him. “There’s fried pancakes as well. I prefer eating fried pancakes. There’s a few meat-stuffed pies. The fully meat-stuffed ones were sold out, so I bought those with vegetables in them.”

“With chives?” Cheng Ke asked.

“Yes.” Chen Qing nodded.

“Oh, I’ll have the fried dough sticks and the fried pancakes then.” Cheng Ke replied.

“Why?” Chen Qing asked.

“I hate the smell!” Jiang Yuduo replied annoyance.

“Such a bother”, Chen Qing sighed and looked at Cheng Ke, “Hey Jaeger, what’s your family background? What kind of job does your father do?”

Cheng Ke did not answer and took a bite on the fried dough stick.

“He definitely runs a business right?”, Chen Qing asked, “What kind of business?”

Cheng Ke just smiled and did not reply.

“Don’t worry, I’ve never thought of you as that rich. After all, those who are exceptionally rich would wear watches that cost over a hundred thousand or even millions of dollars.” Chen Qing explained, “Your watch only costs 170,000.”

“Mm.” Cheng Ke nodded.

Chen Qing stared at him for a while and started getting annoyed. “Say it, I’ve been waiting for some time already.”

Cheng Ke turned his head to look at Jiang Yuduo in hopes that he could stop his head honor guard from this rude questioning. But Jiang Yuduo took a fried pancake and looked at him in amusement as he ate it.

He was seemingly waiting for his answer as well.

“Just,” Cheng Ke sighed, “real estate and such.”

“Oh—— real estate”, Chen Qing replied while dragging his words. “Then it must not be much. The best real estate corporation around here could only be… be… what’s the name of that corporation again?”

Chen Qing turned towards Jiang Yuduo. While eating, Jiang Yuduo asked, “What?

How would I know.”

“Weren’t they the ones who were in charge of the development for these few streets around here”, Chen Qing looked like he was trying hard to recall, “It’s that boss who has Cheng as his last name……”

Chen Qing paused half way through speaking before turning his head towards Cheng Ke, “What’s your last name again?”

“Ji*.” Cheng Ke replied.

[*T/N: The Ji was derived from 积家 (jī jiā) which is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s name in Chinese.]

“Fuck you! Your last name is Cheng right!” Chen Qing slammed his palm on the table. This action startled Jiang Yuduo, causing him to drop his fried pancake on the table. Chen Qing continued looking at him enthusiastically, “Cheng Ke! Do you follow your father’s last name? You do, right! Then it must be that corporation! Isn’t it?!”

“What the fuck!” Jiang Yuduo gave Chen Qing’s arm a smack, “Are you crazy?”

“Damn”, Chen Qing was completely indifferent towards this smack and rubbed his arm, “Your family must be pretty rich then…”

“Take your breakfast and get lost!” Jiang Yuduo picked up the fried dough stick, looked at it and took a bite. He pondered before hitting Chen Qing’s arm another time, causing Chen Qing to drop the half a stick of fried dough stick that was on his hand, “Quick, get out!”

Chen Qing stuffed the fried dough sticks into his mouth in two bites, took a look at the time displayed on his phone, grabbed the soy milk and another meat-stuffed pie out of the bag then hurriedly walked over to the door, “I’m out.”

“Don’t spread this around.” Jiang Yuduo added.

“Don’t worry.” Chen Qing went out the door.

Cheng Ke thought that he might have been too careless. It was only after Jiang Yuduo’s reminder that he started getting worried. He wouldn’t want to be ridiculously known as the young master of a certain corporation that had been chased out of the house, who at one time had to even rummage a dustbin…..

“He’s tight-lipped about important things, rest assured.” Jiang Yuduo said.

“Mm.” Cheng Ke nodded.

“That corporation your father owns, is it that good?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

Cheng Ke glanced at him and realized that Jiang Yuduo probably didn’t even know what kind of corporation it was. It instantly made him kind of want to laugh.

The career his father was proud of.

“It was alright”, Cheng Ke laughed. “The house that you have rented to me might be owned by him.”

“Oh”, Jiang Yuduo nodded, “It was pretty expensive, Lu Qian was complaining when she bought it.”

Cheng Ke did not reply. He lowered his head and took a sip of the soy milk. “Do you have sugar? It doesn’t taste nice if it’s bland.”

“In the kitchen, get it yourself.” Jiang Yuduo answered.

Cheng Ke took the soy milk and entered the kitchen. There was a row of little bottles on the counter that had powder-like, small and large particles of similar colors in them.

His understanding of sugar was that they were in cubes. Hesitantly, he opened one of the bottles and used his fingers to pinch a little to taste it. It was salty. But because he accidentally tried a little too much, he almost quivered from the saltiness. Immediately, he went over to the basin to rinse his mouth.

Taking another similar-looking bottle, he opened it and cautiously dipped a little on his finger.

Just as he was about to lick it, Jiang Yuduo’s voice sounded from the direction of the door. “This is the one.”

“…Oh.” Cheng Ke turned and looked at him.

Jiang Yuduo turned around and sat back beside the table.

Cheng Ke took a spoon, put about four scoops in and stirred it before returning back to the living room.

“You’ve put it in already?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“Mm”, Cheng Ke nodded, “It looks just like salt, can’t tell them apart.”

“I can’t tell them apart sometimes”, Jiang Yuduo paused before continuing asking,

“How much did you put in?”

Cheng Ke held out four fingers as he drank the soy milk.

Jiang Yuduo looked at him in silence.

He only drank one gulp of the soy milk before putting the cup down and staring at the drink.

What kind of sugar is this? It’s too sweet.

It’s hurting my throat!

Jiang Yuduo stood up, brought his cup of soy milk into the kitchen and came out after a while. Then he put his cup of soy milk in front of Cheng Ke and swapped it with the previous cup.

“Mm?” Cheng Ke looked at him.

“I only took a sip,” Jiang Yuduo answered, “You can drink my cup, I like it sweeter.”

“Okay.” Cheng Ke picked up Jiang Yuduo’s cup of soy milk and tasted it. It wasn’t bad.

Jiang Yuduo took a sip of the soy milk. With a pained expression, he frowned.

“Which spoon did you use?”

“It’s… that round plastic spoon,” Cheng Ke felt a little apologetic, “I think we should just change it back.”

“No worries.” Jiang Yuduo finished the soy milk in one gulp before drinking a cup of water, “You… take your time.”

Cheng Ke was getting ready to go back after finishing his breakfast. He stood up and realized that he didn’t have a jacket with him.

“The malls should be opened by now right?” He walked over to the window for a peek, “Fuck? It’s snowing!”

“You can wear mine first”, Jiang Yuduo went into the bedroom to get a down jacket and handed it to him, “Since you have more than one jacket, don’t loiter outside today.”

“Only two down jackets.” Cheng Ke took the jacket.

“Wear that at the moment then.” Jiang Yuduo told him.

“That jacket is too thin, plus…” Cheng Ke sighed, “It gets lumpy after washing.”

“…Wear mine first”, Jiang Yuduo opened the door, “I’ll send you back.”

“Alright then.” Cheng Ke took the key and followed him out of the door.

Cheng Ke ducked his head almost instantly after stepping out. The weather seemed to have gotten much colder than yesterday. He took out his phone for a glance. The temperature was about 10 degrees cooler.

Fortunately, the down jacket that Jiang Yuduo gave him was thick enough. He wore his hat then took a look at Jiang Yuduo.

This guy was still wearing a long sleeve T-shirt with a cotton-padded jacket on the outside and the zip wasn’t even pulled up. Also, he only had a snowboarding hat on yet he was able to stride comfortably in the wind.

“Aren’t you cold?” Cheng Ke couldn’t help but ask.

‘A little.” Jiang Yuduo replied.

“If it’s cold, then zip it up” Cheng Ke thought it was absurd, “Are you trying to play it cool?”

“I’m used to it.” Jiang Yuduo answered.

“Used to what?” Cheng Ke didn’t get it.

“It’s just, when you only have a thick jacket with you during a winter day like that,”

Cheng Ke explained, “if you were to wear it right when it starts to get cold, what’s going to happen when it gets colder and colder?“

Cheng Ke stared at him.

“If it’s super cold, then add on another long sleeve”, Jiang Yuduo further explained,

“and when it’s freezing, I can wear another wool sweater. Then… so on and so forth, understand?”

“So on and so forth, my ass”, Cheng Ke pulled up his clothes to cover half of his face, “Do you only have one thick jacket at the moment?!”

“I used to”, Jiang Yuduo replied and pulled up the jacket’s zip, “but I can handle the cold quite well.”

“Really?” Cheng Ke didn’t know what to reply.

Used to? How long ago was it? Was it the time when he was young and when “It wasn’t that good”?

Jiang Yuduo didn’t speak. All of a sudden, he put his hand into the pocket of his down jacket and grabbed Cheng Ke’s hand.

Cheng Ke was feeling a little lightheaded after he realized what Jiang Yuduo had done. He staggered for about two steps when the wind came blowing from behind, then turned his head and stared at Jiang Yuduo.

“How is it?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“What?” Cheng Ke was still glaring at him.

“My hand is warm even when it was outside”, Jiang Yuduo said with a slightly smug look on his face, “Yours was in the pocket all along but it is still cold.”

“…Oh!” Cheng Ke finally realized what Jiang Yuduo was trying to do. ”Oh!” he awkwardly repeated in a higher tone to emphasize what he realized.

“Oh, your ass.” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him.

Cheng Ke was at a loss for words.

Jiang Yuduo stopped and turned around when they reached the intersection.

Cheng Ke followed suit and turned around, but all he could see were people with their heads ducked down and rushing past alongside the wind.

“The “they” you were talking about yesterday…”, Cheng Ke asked, “What was that about?”

“They have been following me for many years.” Jiang Yuduo replied.

“Who are they?” Cheng Ke asked.

Jiang Yuduo did not answer.

“Your injuries yesterday, was it caused by them?” Cheng Ke asked again.

“Mm.” Jiang Yuduo frowned.

“Why don’t you call the police?” Cheng Ke continued asking.

“Call the police?” Jiang Yuduo turned his head around, “Since when have you ever seen those in gangs on the streets calling the police?”

“But you’re getting threatened physically.” Cheng Ke answered.

“These wounds?” Jiang Yuduo laughed, “These are nothing.”

Cheng Ke opened his mouth but no words came out.

“If one day I am too wounded to move”, Jiang Yuduo said, ”you may call the police for me.”

Cheng Ke didn’t know what to reply.

Sometimes he felt that Jiang Yuduo might have lost his mind, sometimes he felt that he was being over sensitive, other times he felt that the things he said could be all true.

If it’s all true, this meant that he might have been implicated too. Should he call the police?

What should he say to the police then?

Halfway through, Jiang Yuduo gave him a push. They turned into a small street and entered a seemingly old market full of spices. As soon as they entered, they were welcomed by all kinds of unique smells.

Cheng Ke had been staying in this area for about two months now, but it was the first time that he learned about such a place.

They came out again from the side of the market. After crossing the street and turning into the intersection, he saw a gate with the name of their residential district written on it, but it was not the one he would usually enter and exit from.

“This is the back gate?” Cheng Ke asked.

“The east gate”, Jiang Yuduo replied, “the one that you usually used was the north gate.”

“Oh.” Cheng Ke responded.

Jiang Yuduo stopped moving when they reached the building. “I’m not going up.”

“Alright”, Cheng Ke replied. He hesitated before adding on another. “Thank you.”

“Just do what everyone here does. You don’t have to be so courteous to all of us”, Jiang Yuduo put his hands into his pockets, “I don’t want to speak anymore after every single time you thank me.”

“I’m just saying it out of habit.” Cheng Ke saw him taking out a piece of used cigarette pack from his pocket and was left speechless, “Can I ask something?”

“Go ahead.” Jiang Yuduo reached into his pocket again and took out a pen, then started writing something on the used cigarette pack.

“Do you bring along a stack of used cigarette packs out everyday?” Cheng Ke asked, “why not sticky note pads? You can carry more of it.”

“It doesn’t get crumpled easily”, Jiang Yuduo finished writing on the used cigarette pack and passed it to him, “This is Chen Qing’s phone number. If anything happens here and you can’t reach me, you can call him.”

“…Oh.” Cheng Ke took the used cigarette pack.

“Go on up”, Jiang Yuduo said, “Call me if you see anyone suspicious.”

Since Cheng Ke was staying at the highest level, only the top of his head could be seen if he was looking below. Even so, he still went ahead and nodded his head before turning around and going upstairs.

“That lumpy down jacket of yours” Jiang Yuduo added.

“Mm?” Cheng Ke turned around and looked at him, “Why?”

“Get a clothes hanger and pat it”, Jiang Yuduo said, “It will loosen the cotton. Next time lay it flat after washing.”

“…Ah.” Cheng Ke nodded.

He took it off after entering the house and sat on the floor beside the heater. It took him some time to finally get to disperse this bone-chilling cold that had accompanied him along the way.

Why didn’t he call a cab?

Right, why was that so?

It did not occur to him as Jiang Yuduo didn’t mention anything about calling a cab.

He let out a sigh, stood up, picked up Jiang Yuduo’s down jacket that was tossed on the sofa and shook it before folding it and putting it into a bag.

He was having second thoughts as he went over to the wardrobe to get that lumpy down jacket. His initial plan was to throw it away.

But now he wanted to try out the method that Jiang Yuduo mentioned.

He held the down jacket by the collar and hit it twice with the clothes hanger.

It seemed fine for him to continue.

He proceeded to wield the clothes hanger up and down, inside and out against the down jacket.

Feeling it again, it seemed to be a little more solidified now?

But his arms were hurting a little. This was a type of physical labor.

Cheng Ke tossed the jacket back into the wardrobe. He should just get a new one.

He took the clothes he wanted to change into and entered the bathroom. He intended to take a bath before getting some sleep.

Cheng Ke walked past the windows in the living room after he got out of the bathroom. Stopping beside the windows, he took a look outside.

He seldom looked downstairs. Now that the weather got colder, the plants in the little garden below were turning yellow and had started withering. It looked dull and lifeless. Not even people could be seen, it felt exceptionally lonely.

He looked at it for a second and froze, then continued staring at the long bench next to the fountain in the little garden for a little while more.

To make sure that he wasn’t seeing things, he took a photo of the bench using his phone so as to have a closer look.

Jiang Yuduo was seated on the bench with a cigarette between his lips and his arms were on his knees while he used his phone.

The little garden looked desolated. Seeing Jiang Yuduo seating there made it seem even lonelier.

Cheng Ke stood near the windows for almost 10 minutes. Jiang Yuduo just sat there and was still focused on his phone even after the cigarette had finished burning.

He was probably reading that deity cultivation novel.

Cheng Ke had really got to hand it to Jiang Yuduo. He continued to stare at him for a while. It doesn’t seem that Jiang Yuduo was going to leave anytime soon, so he picked up his phone and dialed Jiang Yuduo’s number.

Jiang Yuduo heard his phone vibrating and ringing, he raised his head and glanced at Cheng Ke’s windows before answering his phone. “What’s up? Have you seen any suspicious people?”

“Third Bro”, Cheng Ke opened the windows and leaned on the window panes.

Waving his arm vigorously, he pointed all around the little garden. “Take a look. Is there anyone else downstairs other than yourself!”

“Then what are you nervous about.” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“I’m not.”, Cheng Ke retorted, “I just wanted to tell you to go back.”

“I’ll go in a bit.”, Jiang Yuduo said, “After finishing this chapter.”

“You should go now”, Cheng Ke only opened the windows for a short while but his face was already freezing, “Get a cab and go back, it’s too cold.”

“Mm.” Jiang Yuduo replied and stood up.

“If there really is something wrong, I’ll definitely give you a call”, Cheng Ke said,

“You don’t have to keep watching over like this.”

“Alright.” Jiang Yuduo turned towards the gates of the residential district.

“I’ll be hanging up.” Cheng Ke wasn’t feeling good as he watched Jiang Yuduo from the back and he felt his heart sink a little.

“Alright.” Jiang Yuduo replied.

Jiang Yuduo didn’t appear under his apartment and didn’t contact him for the next few days. Cheng Ke felt a little relieved.

He had never been in contact with people like Jiang Yuduo, who seemed to be living on the edge. It was thrilling yet lonesome. Perhaps people like that tend to live everyday idling and would constantly be in need to find something fun to do.

Cheng Ke woke up earlier than usual. The performance was scheduled to start at 11am. Xu Ding was afraid that he might oversleep and even gave him a morning call.

Cheng Ke looked at the time after washing up. It was still early, so he took his phone to order takeout just in case he got hungry even before his performance started.

There weren’t many choices for breakfast, it was just those few restaurants. He browsed through the different pages on his phone then headed towards the window and lit a cigarette.

Although he felt that Jiang Yuduo might have done this for fun, he still couldn’t resist looking downstairs whenever he stood by the windows.

There wasn’t anyone that looked suspicious. He can leave the house without worrying.

Honestly, there wasn’t even anyone that looked unsuspicious. In such weather, not even a single uncle could be seen doing their fancy morning exercises.

He browsed through his phone for a while, but couldn’t find anything he wanted to eat. Cheng Ke let out a sigh and sat down on the sofa. He then set an alarm before lying down.

His alarm rang an hour later. He got up, packed up and went out.

He intended to go grab some food before heading straight to the event venue.

The jacket he was wearing was the one Jiang Yuduo gave him. He was feeling lazy lately and only went to the supermarket twice. He wanted to go shopping for clothes at the mall on several occasions, but eventually gave up.

People would tend to lose courage when the weather was turning cold. Getting out of the house to get some food would be an act of extreme bravery.

Jiang Yuduo’s jacket was pretty thick and very warm. It had a nice design as well. If Cheng Ke had a chance, he would ask where he bought it… The north wind blew

against his face just as he stepped out of the corridor which made him sneeze from the cold.

He decided to exit from the east gate. When Jiang Yuduo sent him back earlier on, he discovered that the street leading to the east gate was much more busy, hence it should be easier to hail a cab.

He only took a few steps when he heard footsteps behind him.

The sound of the footsteps were indistinguishable from his as they were stepping on the snow almost simultaneously. He wouldn’t be able to hear it if he didn’t listen carefully.

Cheng Ke instantly stopped walking and turned his head.

He was speechless for at least 10 seconds when he saw that it was Jiang Yuduo that was behind him.

“Where are you going?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“…To do art.” Cheng Ke replied.

“Oh.” Jiang Yuduo nodded.

Cheng Ke saw that the tip of Jiang Yuduo’s nose was red from the freezing weather.

He didn’t know what kind of emotions he was feeling right now: Was it anger, helplessness, agitation or inexplicably moved?

Both of them were staring at each other for some time before Cheng Ke started speaking. “Are you here to collect rent?”

“You’ve come to realize that you’re late for a week?” Jiang Yuduo answered.

“I forgot.” Cheng Ke replied.

“Let’s go together.” Jiang Yuduo tilted his head, “You can pay your rent after you’re done with your art.”

At this moment, Cheng Ke finally understood that Jiang Yuduo was a man of his words. He said that he would be following Cheng Ke wherever he went and he really did.

“You couldn’t have been downstairs all along these few days right?” Cheng Ke asked.

“Nah”, Jiang Yuduo replied, “I’ll only come over when I am free.”

I feel like you are free 24 hours a day.

Cheng Ke didn’t dare to say this sentence out loud.

“You can ignore me”, Jiang Yuduo told him, “I’m just… afraid someone will get into trouble again because of me.”

Cheng Ke sighed. At that moment, he actually hoped that the head honor guard could be around. Being a talkative person, Chen Qing would be able to get something out of him in such a situation.

“The event today…” Cheng Ke was a little bothered when explaining, “Is a private event. Only invitees are allowed to enter…”

“I’m not going in anyway.” Jiang Yuduo said.

Cheng Ke stared at him for a while, and then finally turned around. “Let’s go.”

Hello head honor guard.

Was there something wrong with your Third Bro?

“Have you eaten your breakfast?” asked Jiang Yuduo.

“Not yet.” Cheng Ke replied.

Jiang Yuduo took something out of his pocket and handed it to him.

Cheng Ke took a glance. It was a piping hot glutinous rice ball.

“This is super delicious”, Jiang Yuduo told him. “You have to queue for it early in the morning for at least for half an hour to be able to buy this.”

“You queued for half an hour?” Cheng Ke took the rice ball.

“No”, Jiang Yuduo laughed, “I went over, bought it instantly and left.”

Cheng Ke looked at the rice ball and took a bite.

The glutinous rice was soft and chewy. There was sweet bean paste and bits of sausages in it. It was quite tasty.

“How is it?” Jiang Yuduo asked, “It’s delicious right? If you had came down 5

minutes later I would have finished it.”

“Mm.” Cheng Ke nodded. He couldn’t figure out why but he was overwhelmed by sadness just looking at Jiang Yuduo’s smile.

解药

(Antidote)