Antidote - - - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“The feedback’s great,” Xu Ding looked at the people around him, “You’re leaving now? Not gonna stay? Let’s eat together.”

“No,” Cheng Ke said, “I have no appetite after the performance and I don’t understand these sorts of things.”

“It’s all just nuisances, they’re inferior to you.” Xu Ding smiled.

“Don’t flatter me.” Cheng Ke also smiled.

“Just now…” Xu Ding hesitated, “Cheng Yi was here.”

Cheng Ke was stunned, and frowned, “I didn’t tell anyone about this before.”

“It’s normal for him to know,” Xu Ding said, “I’ve invited so many people, at first I didn’t want him to know too soon but I didn’t expect him to come over.”

“Did he come in?” Cheng Ke asked.

“No,” Xu Ding said, “I blocked him before he could walk in.”

Cheng Ke looked at him and didn’t know what to say for a while. Cheng Yi’s character meant that no matter how skillfully or tactfully he was blocked, he would still be upset.

“It’s okay,” Xu Ding said, “I’ve said before that I won’t get involved with the two of you and I don’t have any business with Cheng Yi but I do what I want either way.”

“I haven’t seen you be so stubborn before.” Cheng Ke said.

“If not today, then when?” Xu Ding looked at Jiang Yuduo, who was looking at a painting with furrowed eyebrows. “Cheng Yi met with Third Bro. I guess we’re still talking.”

“Fuck.” Cheng Ke bit his lip.

“They wouldn’t say anything, it would just be other stuff,” Xu Ding said, “Why didn’t you let him in?”

“I’ve never brought anyone to an event before. Plus there’s no invitation letter,”

Cheng Ke said. “He doesn’t seem too interested as well…”

Xu Ding laughed,”If you bring someone next time, just go straight in.”

“Yeah.” Cheng Ke sighed. He didn’t think much. Jiang Yuduo told him to leave him alone, so he didn’t care. If he had known that he would run into Cheng Yi, he never would have let Jiang Yuduo come with him.

Although Jiang Yuduo doesn’t think of him as a friend, Jiang Yuduo, in his opinion, is no longer a landlord or an acquaintance to him. Any conflict with Cheng YI would make him uneasy.

“Shall I send a car to take you back? It’s so cold.” Xu Ding walked towards Jiang Yuduo.

“No, you still have a lot of things to do here,” Cheng Ke said. “We can just take a taxi.

We came here the same way. There’s a lot happening here, so there must be taxis waiting outside.”

“That’s fine,” Xu Ding smiled at Jiang Yuduo, “Brother, how do you feel?”

“I don’t understand your art,” Jiang Yuduo said, “I just looked at the sand painting and it was interesting. If you were not there tonight, I might as well go out and relax.”

“Okay, next time I’ll invite Xiao Ke to perform, and I’ll definitely send you an invitation letter.” Xu Ding turned around and looked at Cheng Ke after he finished speaking, “You really don’t want to eat together? Not even a grain of rice?.”

“I really don’t want to eat anymore,” Cheng Ke said, “I just wanna go to sleep.”

Xu Ding didn’t insist anymore and sent them out.

Cheng Ke did not know most of the people at this event but there were a few familiar faces. He had been greeting people all the way out and he felt like he had returned to his life from a few months ago.

But he won’t talk about any feelings, no sorrow, no miss, just long-lost familiarity.

But he won’t dwell in the past. No sorrow, no pining, just nostalgia.

Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo walked all the way down the road after leaving the art museum but didn’t see even a single taxi. Cheng Ke took out his phone and depressingly said “Let’s call a car.”

“With this strong wind?” Jiang Yuduo walked to the other side of the intersection,

“we’ll be frozen into stop signs by the time the car arrives.”

“You wanna walk back?” Cheng Ke glared at him, “Don’t go over there then, it’s the wrong way! You have a terrible sense of direction.”

“The subway’s only 100 meters up,” Jiang Yuduo looked back at him, “Have you never taken the subway, young master? I’ll let you experience it today.”

“Sorry to disappoint but I’ve already been on it before.” Cheng Ke looked forward, and indeed saw the subway sign not far away.

“Have you ever swiped a transportation card?” Jiang Yuduo took out a card from his pocket and tossed it back.

Cheng Ke took the card and looked at it, “No.”

“You can play with my card for awhile,” Jiang Yuduo said, “I’ll go buy a ticket.”

“I’m not a kid,” Cheng Ke said, “I won’t play with this.”

“Children these days don’t even play with this anymore, they take the subway with their grandmother every day to buy groceries.” Jiang Yuduo said.

Cheng Ke sighed and put the card in his pocket.

After entering the subway station, Jiang Yuduo seized the card from Cheng Ke and bought a ticket, staring at Cheng Ke the entire time.

“I know how to swipe cards!” he gritted his teeth.

“Who knows, you can’t even turn on the gas stove,” Jiang Yuduo said, thinking about it and asked in a low voice, “What about your brother?”

“What?” Cheng Ke was stunned.

“I think he probably doesn’t know how to. Anyway, I think that whoever looks rich probably doesn’t know how to use gas stoves,” Jiang Yuduo said. “Whatmore, he can’t even drive a car! With that being said, he’s even more useless than you.”

Cheng Ke couldn’t help but laugh, “Damn.”

He had never thought about Jiang Yuduo’s question. He didn’t have basic life skills, how would Cheng Yi have any?

Either way, Cheng Yi shouldn’t have to be in that sort of situation anyways.

There were a lot of people at the platform where they got to the waiting zone.

Cheng Ke wanted to ask Jiang Yuduo several times about what he said when he met Cheng Yi today, but he never found a chance to ask it. There were people all around them and they were making all sorts of noise.

Jiang Yuduo looked the same as usual, and there was nothing unusual.

While standing by the station, Jiang Yuduo suddenly frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Ke asked immediately.

“I’m hungry,” Jiang Yuduo said, “Xu Ding asked us to eat together, why’d you say no?”

“Huh?” Cheng Ke was stunned. “I thought you didn’t want to. There were other people besides Xu Ding. Plus, I don’t know him very well.”

“I can eat with anyone,” Jiang Yuduo touched his stomach, “I just eat and not talk to people anyways.”

“How about,” Cheng Ke thought for a while, “I’ll treat you to a meal later, and you can choose the place.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yuduo immediately looked up at the name of the subway station, “get off at fourth stop.”

The train entered the station. Before the door opened, two guys squeezed in. As soon as the door opened, they rushed in, fighting against the person who got off the train with their strength. They almost got squeezed in half.

“Let the people go first, then come in!” someone in the sea of people shouted.

The two continued to squeeze as if they hadn’t heard them.

Jiang Yuduo grabbed their clothes and pulled them out directly, they then fell down on the floor.

“What are you doing! What the hell is this!” A man jumped up and pointed at him.

“What I am doing is none of your business!” Jiang Yuduo quickly grabbed his fingers, and then pushed him back to the ground to sit there with another prepared head.

“I’m not even fucking with you.”

The man’s hand dropped immediately.

“Get in the train.” Cheng Ke gave him a push.

Jiang Yuduo let go, and they got into the train. Jiang Yuduo didn’t walk further towards the inside of the train. He stood at the door and turned around, looking at the two people who hadn’t come up yet: “Not getting on?”

Cheng Ke stood behind Jiang Yuduo and couldn’t see his expression, but just as he had imagined, the two stood there and watched the train door close.

“Let’s go there.” Jiang Yuduo turned around and grabbed Cheng Ke’s arm and pulled it aside, and found a place where there were few people and stood there.

“I thought you were going to fight them.” Cheng Ke whispered.

“How is that possible?” Jiang Yuduo said, “Even if I did it, I would only be fighting them singlehandedly. I can’t win anyways.”

Cheng Ke smiled and said nothing.

Jiang Yuduo’s style of getting physical when he didn’t see eye to eye with others, even in the situation just now, he didn’t really appreciate it, but after being with Jiang Yuduo for a while now, seeing him like this actually makes him feel interesting.

Fallen!

This is depravity!

Dad’s voice rang in his ears.

Probably.

After two stops, there were fewer people around him, and Cheng Ke finally had the opportunity to talk to Jiang Yuduo about the past.

“Did you meet Cheng Yi today?” He asked in a low voice.

“Yeah.” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him.

“What did I tell you?” He still suppressed his voice. “He can be very annoying when he speaks, you…”

“What can he tell me,” Jiang Yuduo said, “are you worried that I will beat him up?”

“That’s not true,” Cheng Ke smiled. “You wouldn’t beat him.”

“That’s not necessarily true. If Xu Ding doesn’t come out today, I will do it.” Jiang Yuduo sighed.

Cheng Ke was stunned: “Really?”

“Nope,” Jiang Yuduo sighed, “I’m not a fool. Judging from your brother’s style, I would be giving away my head if I did it. At least I would have to sit in the detention center for a few days.”

Cheng Ke didn’t speak, feeling a little uncomfortable in his heart.

“But there’s something…” Jiang Yuduo lowered his voice.

“What?” Cheng Ke asked.

“…Forget it,” Jiang Yuduo looked around, “It’s okay.”

“Your uncle?” Cheng Ke was a little anxious, “Don’t say it like that if it’s okay.”

Jiang Yuduo smiled: “Let’s talk about it after getting out of the car.”

These few stops made Cheng Ke feel a bit suffocated. In fact, he can guess what it is. The things that curious babies like Jiang Yuduo want to ask but are embarrassed to ask in crowded places are nothing more than those.

It’s just that he wants to know if Cheng Yi really said it, and what he had said.

He doesn’t mind if the fact that he likes men is known, but he does mind if Cheng Yi mentions this to Jiang Yuduo under such circumstances.

After leaving the subway station, Jiang Yuduo leads him from the bustling street into an old side alley.

“Where did you pick?” Cheng Ke asked.

“You like hot pot.” Jiang Yuduo said, “I’m taking you to a good and inexpensive meal”

“I thought you only knew your side of the city.” Cheng Ke said.

“There’s no place in this city that I haven’t been to,” Jiang Yuduo waved his arm. “I know more than a taxi driver.”

“Really,” Cheng Ke smiled, “You’re really easygoing.”

“No,” Jiang Yuduo said, “I’m working for Lucy. Everything she doesn’t want to do is thrown to me.”

“Is the salary high?” Cheng Ke asked.

“Depends on her mood,” Jiang Yuduo pulled him into a side street again, “but she has always been in a good mood.”

The street looks like a typical side street in the old town. Small restaurants on both sides, the occasional convenience stores, and milk tea shops. It’s not dirty, but they’re all very old. The houses look older than him.

“This one,” Jiang Yuduo pointed to the front door face, “If our timing’s right, then great. If not, We’ll have to wait for a seat later.”

Cheng Ke glanced at a very humble store that blended in perfectly with the street.

“Little Zhuge Hot Pot Branch No.2.” he glanced at it. There were cars parked at the door of such a little shop. “Are the other branches still open?”

“The branches are bullshit.” Jiang Yuduo said, “I asked the boss, this is only one.”

“Then why call it number two?” Cheng Ke didn’t understand.

“It looks magnificent. If I were the boss, I would’ve called it number eighteen. It would make me look successful as fuck.” Jiang Yuduo said.

“What if people ask where branch seventeen is?” Cheng Ke asked.

“Duh, A ‘this is our first branch in this city.’” Jiang Yuduo raised the curtain, “Does it smell good?”

The heat from the curtain and the scent of pepper and spices made him feel hungry immediately.

Jiang Yuduo picked a small table in the back and said, “Sit here. It’s a bit crowded, but you don’t have to fight others for a seat.”

“There are people that fight for a table in this shop?” Cheng Ke asked.

“Don’t look down on it.” Jiang Yuduo took the menu and quickly chose what he wanted “You’re paying right?”

“Yeah.” Cheng Ke nodded.

Jiang Yuduo checked a few more boxes again and then shouted “Waiter!”

Jiang Yuduo’s shout had shaken Cheng Ke, who had been unwrapping a pair of chopsticks. The chopsticks flew out of his hands and onto the ground.

“Get out another pair of chopsticks!” Jiang Yuduo shouted again.

“Alright—!” a waiter replied, equally as loud; Perplexing Cheng Ke.

The shop isn’t big; 20 to 30 tables at the most. There are still a few empty tables, but the shop is full of people, and he feels that everyone is either shouting, talking, or laughing.

Cheng Ke was a little stunned. In the heat and fragrance that was wafting around him, there seemed to be people all around; All kinds of voices were ringing out, and sentences that could not be heard clearly.

But this noisy atmosphere didn’t irritate him. It was a bit new to him but there was a sense of inexplicable joy.

When the dishes came, Jiang Yuduo stretched out his hand and flicked Cheng Ke’s forehead.

“I’ll start putting in the ingredients.” Jiang Yuduo said, pouring him a full glass of wine.

“Alright.” Cheng Ke nodded.

Jiang Yuduo took a plate of meat and dumped it into the pot. It was then that Cheng Ke recalled that Jiang Yuduo ate like a starved man.

“Hurry up!” Jiang Yuduo said to him, “It’ll get cold in a bit!”

“It won’t get cold if you leave it in the pot.” Cheng Ke said helplessly.

“That’s boring,” Jiang Yuduo placed a large piece of meat onto Cheng Ke’s bowl.

“You have to fill your mouth up with meat with every bite.”

Cheng Ke hesitated before dipping the meat into the sauce and shoving into his mouth.

“Good?” Jiang Yuduo looked at him.

“I can’t chew,” Cheng Ke said with his eyebrows furrowed, cheeks puffed up. “Fuck.

It… It’s hot.”

Jiang Yuduo was amused by him.

After eating several bites of meat, Cheng Ke put down his chopsticks and took a sip of wine.

Although refreshing, his cheeks were tired. A few mouthfuls has Cheng Ke feeling full.

“What were you trying to say on the subway?” He looked at Jiang Yuduo.

Jiang Yuduo took a sip of wine and leaned on the table towards him “You…”

Cheng Ke looked at him.

“You used to…” Jiang Yuduo hesitated. Saying it even harder than stuffing burning hot meat into his mouth. “You — You used to have a boyfriend right?

Cheng Ke squinted, “Just that?”

“No,” Jiang Yuduo paused, picked up another plate of meat, and dumped it into the pot, stirring with a ladle, “Your brother said that you only like— Your type is…”

Cheng Ke took a sip of the wine slowly, patiently listening to him.

“Are those…” Jiang Yuduo grit his teeth. “Cute and pretty ones?”

Cheng Ke choked and turned away from him.

“Is your type…” Jiang Yuduo picked at some more meat in the pot. “A twink?”

“What?” Cheng Ke coughed twice, his voice scratchy with disbelief and questions.

Jiang Yuduo suddenly said reluctantly, “Cute and pretty people.”

“Shut up!” Cheng Ke lashed out almost demonically, “Jiang Yuduo, are you a fucking idiot?”

“I’m not fucking gay,” Jiang Yuduo stared, “I don’t know what your tastes are! If I knew what they were then I wouldn’t be asking you!”

Cheng Ke sipped more wine trying to suppress his school. “What did Cheng Yi say?”

he said with raised eyebrows.

“He didn’t talk about anyone, just pretty and cute… things.” Jiang Yuduo poured more wine for him.

Cheng Ke sighed.

“He probably thought that I…” Jiang Yuduo cleared his throat, “So, he wants to scare me.”

“Does he think that you’re my new boyfriend?” Cheng Ke smiled.

“Well,” Jiang Yuduo nodded, his face returning to his usual expression; Relaxed after asking. “You’re brother’s smart. Cunning. He really doesn’t wanna let you go that easily. If I were really your new boyfriend I’d be upset after hearing such a thing.”

“What’s wrong with you, can’t my taste change?” Cheng Ke said.

“I’m not your fucking boyfriend, what d’you mean change?” Jiang Yuduo looked at him.

Cheng Ke smiled and said nothing.

“Hey,” Jiang Yuduo took a couple of bites and couldn’t help but lean over, “Is it true?”

“What?” Cheng Ke looked at him, “Twinks?”

“Yeah.” Jiang Yuduo nodded.

“Yes.” Cheng Ke took a sip of wine.

“I don’t quite understand,” Jiang Yuduo curled his eyebrows, “You like twinks. Why don’t you find a girl? Any girl is prettier than a man, right?”

“Girls can’t handle it.” said, stunning himself alongside Jiang Yuduo.

He glanced at his glass, it was his second one. Then he looked at the wine bottle.

Must be fucking fake wine.

“I really…” Jiang Yuduo glared at him, “I underestimated you.”

“Thank you.” Cheng Ke raised his glass and took another sip of wine to hide his shock.

One’s environment can really change a person.

In twenty-seven years, he’s never spoken about this sort of thing. Let alone ever thought of it.

Jiang Yuduo was probably too shocked. He lowered his head and ate several mouthfuls of meat before raising his eyes to look at him again.

“Are there any more unsolved mysteries that I need to explain to you?” Cheng Ke asked.

“No,” Jiang Yuduo said, “It’s a bit unclear but at the same time there’s not sense of mystery. What’s the point?”

“I can’t tell you why,” Cheng Ke said. Back then, the people that found out he was gay wouldn’t show much reaction. Even if it’s out of politeness, there’s no one that would throw it away and inquire more details from him. But seeing Jiang Yuduo like this, he didn’t feel disgusted, but thought it was quite interesting, “Why don’t you find a twink and try it for yourself?”

“Fuck off!” Jiang Yuduo suddenly leaned back onto his chair, “That’s disgusting.”

People that say fuck all to being polite and nice can be cute, but sometimes, they only serve to reinforce insecurities.

To be honest, Jiang Yuduo’s straightforward and sincere response hurt Cheng Ke a bit.

“You should really think about it,” he smiled. “Unfortunately, I won’t fuck off.”

Jiang Yuduo looked at him and said nothing.

Cheng Ke didn’t say anything else. He simply picked up his glass of wine and ate more vegetables from the pot.

“Cheng Ke,” Jiang Yuduo sat stunned for a while then pulled the chair toward him,

“Are you angry?”

“No,” Cheng Ke said, “If I were to get angry over this, then I would’ve been dead over ten years ago.”

“I’m not saying you’re disgusting,” Jiang Yuduo said in a low voice, “You — You don’t disgust me. It’s when you insinuate that I’m you know… that’s when I feel— I feel a little disgusted.”

“Well,” Cheng Ke glanced at him, “eat your food.”