Antidote - - - Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Both Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo woke up early on the day of the grand opening, not due to their excitement, as the opening wouldn’t require such an early start. The primary reason for their early awakening was the constant ringing of their mobile phones and the flood of incoming messages.

“You guys, I’ll see you in a bit, and if you keep up like this, you’ll drive each other crazy!” Cheng Ke buried his face in his pillow, exclaiming, “It’s just a milk tea shop opening, why are they so enthusiastic? It’s like opening a six-star hotel.”

Jiang Yuduo, with a smile, checked his phone and remarked, “Some people have already arrived.”

“Isn’t the auspicious time at eleven eighteen?” Cheng Ke sighed, “It’s not even eight o’clock yet. What are they doing? Planning to shut down the street or something?”

“Er Tu didn’t sleep at all last night; he was playing cards and dragged everyone over after the game,” Jiang Yuduo chuckled, “Foolish move.”

“Playing cards?” Cheng Ke raised an eyebrow.

“It’s alright,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him, “That’s the situation.”

“Really?” Cheng Ke smiled.

“Absolutely,” Jiang Yuduo had already sat up, then lay back down, placing his arm around Cheng Ke’s shoulder, and whispered in his ear, chuckling, “I’m thrilled.”

“Idiot,” Cheng Ke responded with a grin.

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“Are you awake?” Jiang Yuduo whispered in his ear again.

“…No,” Cheng Ke quickly realized, “Today is going to be a busy day, San-ge let me remind you…”

Jiang Yuduo remained silent and had already begun to caress his waist.

“Get off,” Cheng Ke quickly rolled over and pushed him away, retreating to the edge of the bed, “I…”

“Just get out,” Jiang Yuduo quickly rolled a couple of times and pinned his arm.

“Is there something wrong with you? Are you going to run the business after all that?” Cheng Ke complained with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t you know what’s wrong with me?” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue and said, “I’m a sick person. I need to take a lot of medication when I wake up. Now you’re making me unhappy. I can see it when I go out and see people.”

“Damn,” Cheng Ke playfully patted him on the face and then asked again, “Did you see them a while ago? We’re on our way,”

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Jiang Yuduo buried his face in the hollow of Cheng Ke’s shoulder, biting his shoulder, “Don’t interrupt.”

Before Cheng Ke could utter another word, Jiang Yuduo’s hand had already ventured further south.

Just as Chen Qing called, Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo had just left the house and were waiting for a red light at an intersection.

“We’re at the intersection,” Jiang Yuduo answered.

“Which intersection?” Chen Qing inquired.

“Just… that intersection,” Jiang Yuduo replied, casting a sidelong glance at Cheng Ke.

“Why the heck are you asking me? Did I not tell you to leave the house?” Cheng Ke leaned over to grab a glutinous rice ball and shouted, “Qing’er, we’ve just left the house.”

“Damn!” Chen Qing responded, his voice loud and frustrated. “I knew you two had just left, and you’ve returned to the intersection without specifying which one!”

Jiang Yuduo quipped, “You’re too impatient.”

“I’m not impatient! I knew you two were unreliable, so Xiao Sun and I were all set!” Chen Qing complained, “I called to remind you to get up.”

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“We’re already up,” Jiang Yuduo said.

“Then I can relax,” Chen Qing replied before ending the call.

“How would you manage today’s business without the chief guardian?” Cheng Ke quipped with a grin.

“If it weren’t for him, I’d probably… be busy with other stuff this morning,” Jiang Yuduo admitted.

“Why don’t you write him a thank-you note?” Cheng Ke suggested. “Thank him for giving you the opportunity to work out in the morning.”

“Give me a bite,” Jiang Yuduo said, eyeing the rice ball in Cheng Ke’s hand.

“You just had one,” Cheng Ke replied, taking a hearty bite. “And you had soy milk.”

“Just give me a bite!” Jiang Yuduo raised his voice.

Cheng Ke sighed and handed the rice ball to Jiang Yuduo, saying, “Fine, here you go.”

Jiang Yuduo took a bite and nodded with satisfaction.

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“You could sell rice balls here,” Cheng Ke suggested, “and enjoy them while working.”

“I actually thought about it, but the store is too small,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at the rearview mirror, where Meow was snoozing on the back seat. “There’s not much room, and the machines are taking up most of the space. We can consider it in the future.”

“Well, with the three of you as employees now,” Cheng Ke said, “do you plan to hire more?”

“Not yet, usually it’s just the two of them, and I fill in when they’re off,” Jiang Yuduo explained, “or the two of us.”

“…Will you pay me?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“No,” Jiang Yuduo replied, “You’re an investor; what do you need a salary for? You get a share of the profits, don’t you?”

“Okay, then how about a dividend?” Cheng Ke asked.

“Let’s discuss it,” Jiang Yuduo said, “It depends on how the business goes.”

“You’re a tough negotiator,” Cheng Ke teased.

Jiang Yuduo’s phone rang in his pocket, and Cheng Ke retrieved it for him. He glanced at the screen and said, “It’s a call from Lu Qiang.”

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“Let me hear it,” Jiang Yuduo said. “She’s been traveling with her grandmother these past few days, so she can’t make it to the opening.”

Cheng Ke held the phone to his ear.

“San-ge! Congratulations on your grand opening! Wishing you prosperity! I can’t make it today, but I’ll bring someone over to support you when I return!” Lu Qiang’s voice sounded joyful. “Hey, you’re on the path to success; don’t forget to designate me as a VIP! Keep this red envelope; it’s my way of saying thank you for all your help over the years. Thanks, brother.”

“Did she transfer the money to me?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“Yeah,” Cheng Ke glanced at the phone. “It’s thirty-eight thousand eight hundred.”

“That’s quite a sum,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.

“Are you going to accept it?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“I will,” Jiang Yuduo grinned, “If I don’t, she’ll scold me, and she usually gives me red envelopes during Chinese New Year, which is like a year-end bonus.”

“You’ve been here for so many years,” Cheng Ke remarked, “Lu Qiang has given you a lot of money. Where has it all gone?”

“I have no idea,” Jiang Yuduo pondered for a while. “I really don’t know. I treat my friends to meals, help out if anyone’s short on cash… I’ve never really thought about saving money. I spend when I have it and don’t spend when I don’t, so I’ve been living day by day.”

“We should start keeping track of our finances from now on,” Cheng Ke suggested.

“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “Can you manage my money for me?”

“…I can’t even keep track of my own spending,” Cheng Ke chuckled after a moment’s thought. “We’re both not very reliable when it comes to money.”

“Forget it, I’ll handle it. At least I won’t randomly give expensive watches to people I don’t even know,” Jiang Yuduo said.

Mentioning the watch, Cheng Ke suddenly drifted into thought.

That day, Jiang Yuduo had appeared before him with a determined and audacious expression.

“If you don’t take it back, I’ll make things difficult.”

Jiang Yuduo’s words and demeanor had been crystal clear when he said this.

However, Cheng Ke had never expected that the person who could utter such audacious words would be as innocent as a three-and-a-half-year-old child.

But now, things were far from that simple.

“What are you thinking about? You’re grinning like a rascal,” Jiang Yuduo remarked beside him.

“Was I smiling?” Cheng Ke snapped back to reality and touched his own face.

“You were laughing, looking like a fool,” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue.

“Where’s my watch?” Cheng Ke smiled and turned to look at him.

“Didn’t you give it to me?” Jiang Yuduo responded.

“I’m just asking,” Cheng Ke replied. “What happened after I gave it to you? Is it still with you?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo affirmed. “Why, do you want it back?”

“No, I was just curious,” Cheng Ke clarified.

“It’s still in my possession, in the closet, in the same box where I keep my underwear,” Jiang Yuduo disclosed. “Don’t take it back; I’ve already figured out what to use it for.”

“What are you planning to use it for?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.

“Regardless, you don’t need to worry about it too much. It was a gift from Cheng Yi, but if I dismantle it and create something new, it’ll have a different meaning,” Jiang Yuduo explained.

“Dismantle it?” Cheng Ke was still surprised.

“Yes, I plan to take it apart and craft a little surprise for your birthday next year,” Jiang Yuduo revealed. “How does that sound?”

“Do you even know what a surprise is?” Cheng Ke couldn’t help but quip.

“It’s something unexpected, huh? I surprised you out of the blue,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.

“Yeah! I’ll know about next year’s birthday surprise now,” Cheng Ke replied, sounding a bit frustrated. “So, next year on my birthday, you’ll still be secretive about it? What’s the point?”

“Hmm,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him. “Yes?”

Cheng Ke let out a sigh.

“But not knowing what it is can also be a surprise, right?” Jiang Yuduo suggested.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ke felt like he was reliving his recent birthday. He rubbed his temples and said, “From now until the moment you give me my birthday present next year, you’re not allowed to mention a single word about it.”

“Okay, I got it,” Jiang Yuduo nodded solemnly.

The opening of Meow was much simpler compared to the opening of Cheng Ke’s restaurant. Jiang Yuduo had invited all his friends, primarily to create a lively atmosphere.

However, as soon as they turned into the small street leading to the mall and approached the store, Cheng Ke sensed that something extraordinary was happening.

“Weren’t you expecting fifty people over the course of three days?” Cheng Ke remarked, observing the crowd standing in line three steps away from the street, handing out meow cards. “There are more than fifty people just distributing cards!”

“It’s fifty per day for three days,” Jiang Yuduo chuckled as he looked out the window. “Damn, if people don’t know the context, they might think this entire mall floor belongs to Meow.” After parking the car, Cheng Ke looked again and saw that there were only ten beautiful flower baskets at the entrance, but they were all crowded, with quite a few people even standing across the street.

Once Jiang Yuduo stepped out of the car, a chorus of shouts erupted in their direction.

Among the indistinct chatter, the words “San-ge” were clearly audible.

“San-ge’s business is thriving!”

“San-ge is raking in the money!”

“San-ge’s business is booming!”

“San-ge has a bright future!”

As Cheng Ke got out of the car with Meow in his arms, he even heard someone say, “San-ge is lucky”…

“Hurry up!” Jiang Yuduo waved to Chen Qing. “Is it almost time?”

“Five minutes,” Chen Qing rushed over and turned to Sun Qinqin, who was following him. “Have them prepare the firecrackers.”

“Oh, right!” Sun Qinqin seemed a bit nervous, possibly because of the intimidating-looking group of people nearby.

“San-ge, can you make a speech?” Chen Qing asked.

“Get lost!” Jiang Yuduo retorted in surprise. “I’m not in the mood for speeches! Let me know when it’s time, and I’ll light the fireworks. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Once the time is up, it’s showtime,” Chen Qing responded.

“Good enough,” Jiang Yuduo said, glancing at Cheng Ke. “Where are you going to stand?”

“I’ll watch from here,” Cheng Ke replied, standing beneath a parasol and preparing to take photos with his phone.

“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.

The surrounding area was teeming with people, and even the neighboring shops’ patrons joined in to witness the excitement. It seemed that no small shop on this street had managed to block the sidewalks entirely.

When Xu Ding emerged from the crowd, Cheng Ke was surprised. “Did he invite you here?”

“If he did, then I must have been invited,” Xu Ding replied with a smile. “This shop has some connection to me. I helped secure the lease.”

“What’s it like mingling with these youngsters?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“It’s quite enjoyable,” Xu Ding answered. “A simple sense of satisfaction.”

“Let’s have a drink later before you go,” Cheng Ke suggested.

“Sure, the third guy’s friend, Chen Qing, recommended their signature milk tea, so I have to try it,” Xu Ding said with a smile.

“Signature milk tea? Who’s the mascot?” Cheng Ke inquired.

In Jiang Yuduo’s shop, all the milk teas were called “meow,” not just “milk tea.”

“It’s the one with fresh milk and ginger juice,” Xu Ding explained.

“That sounds cute…” Cheng Ke smiled and playfully pinched Meow’s ears. “Are you ready to order?”

Meow shook its head playfully and slipped its ears from Cheng Ke’s fingers.

Before Cheng Ke could tease it further, Jiang Yuduo set off the firecrackers nearby.

The firecrackers exploded amidst cheers and whistles, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Cheng Ke immediately grabbed Meow’s paws, worried that it might get scared and run away.

However, Meow, being the one featured on the signboard, handled it surprisingly well. After a brief flurry of activity, it settled down and fixated its gaze on the sparks erupting from the ground.

Jiang Yuduo removed the red cloth covering the signboard and rushed over, covering his ears, and shouted to Cheng Ke, “It’s so damn loud!” He seemed a bit excited and got a bit too close, almost touching Cheng Ke’s nose.

Surprised, Cheng Ke stepped back and exclaimed, “Seriously! Anyone who didn’t know might think you were about to kiss me…”

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yuduo leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.

“Damn it!” Cheng Ke was taken aback and quickly looked away.

Fortunately, everyone’s attention was focused on the firecrackers, and it seemed that no one noticed their brief moment. However, Xu Ding had likely seen it. When Cheng Ke turned to look, Xu Ding was gazing at the firecrackers on the ground with a knowing smile.

After the firecrackers had been set off and the red cloth removed, the store officially opened for business. Chen Qing and Sun Qinqin began working behind the bar.

Jiang Yuduo gently placed the cat in the cat nest next to the climbing frame, securing it with a small strap. Surprisingly, the cat remained calm and didn’t attempt to escape.

Chen Qing gestured for the group of young men crowded into the room to leave, saying, “Give the customers some space! Don’t come in here to join the fun! I’ll prepare for you later when it’s less crowded!”

Due to the discounts and the lively atmosphere, customers were lining up to buy milk tea at this moment. Jiang Yuduo sat under the parasol at the entrance, unable to contain his laughter. “Business is booming,” he exclaimed.

“It’s a great start,” Cheng Ke agreed.

“I’ll make two cups for you,” Jiang Yuduo stood up and offered, “I’ve learned from Xiao Sun, so I can prepare a signature cat for you.”

“San-ge, don’t bother. They’re already busy enough,” Xu Ding chimed in with a smile.

“I insist. Wouldn’t you like to try the milk tea I make?” Jiang Yuduo responded. “I doubt I’ll have the chance to make it in the future… And if I do, no one will drink it…”

The ginger juice and fresh milk meow was quite complex to prepare. Jiang Yuduo struggled for a while behind the counter before reaching for the juicer. However, Sun Qinqin immediately intervened.

“San-ge, what are you doing?” She asked nervously.

“I want to make a signature cat,” Jiang Yuduo explained.

“Please, let me do it,” Sun Qinqin pleaded, growing even more anxious. “I’ll handle it. You should go greet your friends.”

“Who’s the boss here?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“You are,” Sun Qinqin responded, handing him the fresh milk. “Hurry up and make it. The machine is very busy right now.”

Jiang Yuduo reluctantly took the ingredients to a table near Miss Lucky Cat and spent quite some time crafting two cups of signature Meow.

“Give it a try!” He placed the two Meow drinks in front of Xu Ding and Cheng Ke.

“Thank you, Boss Jiang,” Xu Ding said, taking a sip.

“How is it?” he asked immediately.

Xu Ding gave him a thumbs up while sipping through a straw.

Feeling victorious, Jiang Yuduo turned to Cheng Ke. “What do you think?”

Cheng Ke took a few sips, leaned back in his chair, and burst into laughter, unable to stop.

“Why are you laughing so hard?” Realizing that something might be off, Jiang Yuduo grabbed a cup and took a sip.

The taste was indeed a bit unusual. Perhaps he had misremembered the recipe?

“You’re such a hypocrite,” Jiang Yuduo teased Xu Ding. “You wouldn’t give me a thumbs up just for the taste, would you?”

“If you ask Cheng Ke to make a cup and we compare them, I’ll definitely give you a thumbs up,” Xu Ding replied with a smile. “He goes to great lengths to squeeze juice at his restaurant.”

“Brother Xu, Brother Ke,” Sun Qinqin approached with two cups of milk tea, “This is our signature milk tea, fresh milk with ginger juice, Meow. Give it a try.”

“What’s the catch?” Jiang Yuduo questioned.

“Brother Qing asked me to make it and bring it here,” Sun Qinqin explained with a smile before returning to the shop.

Jiang Yuduo glanced inside the store and saw Chen Qing standing behind the bar, waving at him.

“I’ll walk you out,” Xu Ding offered, holding two cups of milk tea. “I still have to go back to the company. I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, and I have a lot to prepare.”

“You’re a busy man,” Cheng Ke remarked.

“San-ge, your business is thriving,” Xu Ding congratulated Jiang Yuduo.

“Thank you,” Jiang Yuduo replied. He had heard that phrase numerous times today, but each time it brought him joy and novelty. Hearing it from a prominent figure like Xu Ding made him particularly satisfied.

After Xu Ding departed, Jiang Yuduo continued to ponder.

“Boss Jiang,” Cheng Ke said while fiddling with his phone, “think of a caption.”

“What?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“I’m posting this on Moments, ‘Meow opened Jiugongge,’” Cheng Ke explained. “What caption do you think would be catchy?”

“Ask me?” Jiang Yuduo pointed to himself. “I don’t usually post on Moments, and if I did, it would probably be nonsense… Let me see what photos you have.”

Cheng Ke placed his phone on the table, and Jiang Yuduo leaned over to take a look.

There were several pictures, including some of him goofing around, the Meow signboard, customers queuing up for milk tea during the firecracker show, and a close-up of the Meow Milk Tea signboard.

“This is quite an advertisement,” Jiang Yuduo observed.

“It’s not just an advertisement,” Cheng Ke grinned. “It’s more like… a spectacle.”

“What kind of spectacle?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“A showcase of my happiness,” Cheng Ke said, clearing his throat. “Sounds a bit cheesy, but that’s what it is.”

“That’s fine,” Jiang Yuduo laughed, looking at the pictures. “Otherwise, ‘happiness’ wouldn’t suffice as a caption.”

“…You used the wrong word,” Cheng Ke pointed out.

“Regardless, it conveys the meaning,” Jiang Yuduo replied, clicking his tongue. “Hurry up and post it.”

“Sure thing,” Cheng Ke nodded, added a smiley face, and sent the picture.

Jiang Yuduo swiftly retrieved his phone and tapped the “like” button.

“You’re so positive,” Cheng Ke remarked with a smile.

“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo replied as he put away his phone and gazed at Cheng Ke.

“Why?” Cheng Ke suddenly seemed a bit anxious. “There are fewer people around now, and everyone can see what you’re doing!”

“I didn’t intend to do anything,” Jiang Yuduo maintained his gaze, “I just wanted to say…”

“Hmm?” Cheng Ke looked at him expectantly.

Jiang Yuduo hesitated, feeling somewhat embarrassed even though he was still filled with excitement.

“I love you.”

Cheng Ke was taken aback, and it took a moment before he softly responded, “I love you too.”

* * *

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

^^

Ch. 100 Extra 1 September 8, 2023

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Translator: Lynn

Thank you to Ananas for the ko-fi! Here’s your bonus chapter <3

Sponsored chapter (1/2)

* * *

Self-brewing sorghum wine technique.

Cheng Ke sat on a chair in the corner of the second-floor terrace of the restaurant, engrossed in his mobile phone. Nearby, a group of guests was engaged in sand art.

“Brother Cheng,” a girl turned to him, “Could you help me with the details of this sand painting? I want to take a photo.”

“Sure,” Cheng Ke put down his phone and got up. He walked over to examine the sand painting.

The artwork depicted a cat, or at least Cheng Ke assumed it was a cat. Having a cat at home, he was accustomed to observing its various lounging poses and preferences.

“The eyes,” Cheng Ke manipulated the sand, carefully shaping the cat’s eyes, adding two small dots for brightness. “And the edge of the ear, it’s better like this…”

A hushed chorus of admiration swept through the group. “A true master can capture a likeness with just a few strokes; it’s incredible.”

One of them grinned, “It’s pretty clever to take photos like this.”

After they snapped some photos with their phones, Cheng Ke returned to his chair and continued to peruse the instructions for brewing sorghum wine at home.

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Jiang Yuduo’s birthday was still over six months away, but time was ticking, and Cheng Ke needed to choose the simplest and most likely-to-succeed method among several plans.

Soak the sorghum for 24 hours, changing the water every six or seven hours?

Place it in a pot and steam it until it blooms… What kind of pot was meant? How to steam it? What do they mean by “blooms”? What kind of flowers are they referring to?

Let it cool and mix in the koji.

That part seemed straightforward, much like adding yeast when making strawberry wine.

Fermentation. Transfer it into a bucket—what type of bucket, though? Cover it with cling film, then top it with a plastic sheet… Let it sit for two or three months? That long?

Cheng Ke quickly recalculated the time frame. It seemed about right.

Then there was…distillation.

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A distiller? What the hell was that? Did they really intend to use such a device?

Cheng Ke quickly revisited the distillation apparatus, observing several massive stainless steel barrels connected by numerous pipes. This equipment alone could probably occupy Jiang Yuduo’s small backyard.

He decided to abandon this brewing plan altogether.

Instead, he shifted his focus to crafting a cat fur scarf.

The new store opening was just around the corner, and there was a multitude of tasks to attend to. It wasn’t until he left the restaurant, close to the end of dinner service, that Cheng Ke realized he might be hungry.

The distance from his current location to Jiang Yuduo’s place wasn’t too far, just four subway stops away. Cheng Ke sent Jiang Yuduo a message inquiring if he had eaten, but there was no response.

Jiang Yuduo had been exceedingly busy ever since Meow’s business had taken off. When Xiao Sun and Chen Qing were on break, he had to step in and manage the shop.

Cheng Ke had witnessed him shed pounds over the course of a few months, but it hadn’t registered as anything unusual. Jiang Yuduo continued to visit the store every day with boundless enthusiasm, as though it were a delightful outing.

As Cheng Ke neared Meow, he spotted Jiang Yuduo standing beside a trash bin on the street, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He appeared lost in thought, gazing across the street at a T-junction.

Cheng Ke glanced in that direction but couldn’t discern anything out of the ordinary.

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Nevertheless, Jiang Yuduo was clearly not lost in thought. When Cheng Ke approached within four or five meters, Jiang Yuduo turned his head, broke into a smile, and called out, “Why are you here?”

“Remarkable, how did you sense me coming?” Cheng Ke strolled over, grinning.

“I could smell it,” Jiang Yuduo replied.

“What smell?” Cheng Ke tugged at his clothing and sniffed it. “It’s chilly out, so there shouldn’t be any smell.”

“Perfume,” Jiang Yuduo clarified. “Didn’t you change your perfume recently?”

Cheng Ke chuckled, then cast a glance at Chen Qing, who was busy alone in the store. “Why aren’t you helping him?”

“Have you eaten yet?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“…No, I planned to invite you to join me, but you didn’t respond to my message,” Cheng Ke sighed.

Jiang Yuduo swiftly pulled out his phone to check. “I missed it; I was eating at that time… Let me grab you something to eat. The braised pork noodles next door are exceptionally delicious, but their portions are enormous, almost as big as your fist.”

“Sounds good,” Cheng Ke agreed.

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“Let’s head inside. There’s space indoors, and it’s chilly out here,” Jiang Yuduo suggested.

“I don’t want to occupy a customer’s seat any longer,” Cheng Ke replied with a smile, taking a seat beside him. “Here will do.”

Jiang Yuduo dashed to the neighboring shop and procured three hefty servings of braised pork noodles, serving them in bowls on the table. Cheng Ke sampled a spoonful, finding the taste quite enjoyable and aromatic.

“Still want more?” He inquired, holding up a chopstick laden with noodles.

“I’m stuffed,” Jiang Yuduo patted his belly, “Watching you eat makes me anxious.”

“Then don’t watch,” Cheng Ke quipped, focusing on his meal.

“I still need to watch, I can’t just see you for a few hours a day,” Jiang Yuduo remarked, fixing his gaze on Cheng Ke. “If you don’t come to keep me company, I’ll be alone for several hours every evening.”

“Just hire someone else,” Cheng Ke suggested. “That way, you won’t have to work so hard.”

“No,” Jiang Yuduo replied, grinning. “Chen Qing refuses.”

“Why’s that?” Cheng Ke was perplexed.

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“The cost is too high,” Jiang Yuduo explained. “Three people are manageable, but there’s a higher workload during meal times, and the rest of the time involves preparing milk tea and such.”

“Figure it out later,” Cheng Ke said. “You’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”

“Why worry about being thin?” Jiang Yuduo reclined in his chair, lifted his shirt, and slapped his stomach twice, producing crisp sounds. “See? No fat.”

The loud slaps attracted the attention of passersby.

“Hey,” Cheng Ke hastily adjusted his clothing, “What are you showing off? I see it every day, not only do I see it, but I also touch it.”

“You even bit and licked it,” Jiang Yuduo teased.

“Shush!” Cheng Ke whispered loudly.

Jiang Yuduo chuckled, and after a good laugh, he lay his head on the table next to Cheng Ke. “I enjoy these kinds of moments.”

“…What kinds?” Cheng Ke asked, taking another hearty bite of noodles.

“When you bite my stomach,” Jiang Yuduo replied.

Cheng Ke nearly choked on his noodles and tapped the table with his chopsticks. “Jiang Lao San, did Dr. Li put any aphrodisiacs in the medicine she prescribed for you last time?”

Jiang Yuduo burst into fits of laughter.

After Cheng Ke finished his meal, he took advantage of Jiang Yuduo’s relaxed demeanor to inquire, “What were you doing standing there just now?”

“When did you arrive?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“Just now,” Cheng Ke answered with a nod.

Jiang Yuduo glanced in the direction he had been staring at earlier. “I might be too busy lately, and I’m feeling a lot of pressure…”

“Did you see something?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo replied, furrowing his brow, “But it’s not like before. It was… more like I saw Small Ant.”

Cheng Ke was taken aback. “Did you tell Dr. Li?”

“I did,” Jiang Yuduo confirmed. “Dr. Li mentioned that Small Ant hasn’t left and is still confined to the hospital he was transferred to… Of course, I’m aware it hasn’t left, and it can’t. That appearance at the time, it’s impossible not to be somewhat unsettling,” Cheng Ke touched his face. “And you know, sometimes even I get startled when I hear the window rattling.”

“Idiot,” Jiang Yuduo remarked. “When I hear the window rattling, I know it’s either Meow or just the wind.”

“Oh,” Cheng Ke clicked his tongue.

“When I saw Small Ant,” Jiang Yuduo took hold of Cheng Ke’s hand, lowered his head, and nibbled on his fingertips. “I immediately reminded myself it wasn’t real, it was just an illusion, and it posed no threat to me. Cheng Ke wouldn’t be in danger… but I would still feel afraid.”

“I understand,” Cheng Ke responded softly. “Do you want to have a thorough conversation with Dr. Li?”

“Let’s wait until after your birthday, a year from now. For now, I’m fine. Small Ant disappeared when I sensed your presence,” Jiang Yuduo explained. “When I’m with you, I rarely see it.”

“In that case, I’ll ask for some time off and be with you every day,” Cheng Ke proposed.

“No need,” Jiang Yuduo chuckled. “I didn’t mean that… I might be like this for the rest of my life—taking medication, seeing a doctor, occasionally glimpsing Small Ant or something else, and then feeling anxious and scared. But it’s just a part of my life, like eating, sleeping, or goofing around. It’s much better to accept this.”

“San-ge,” Cheng Ke observed him for a while. “I’ve noticed that you’ve matured quite a bit all of a sudden.”

“I was already quite mature,” Jiang Yuduo raised an eyebrow, “especially compared to you.”

“Oh,” Cheng Ke glanced at the finger Jiang Yuduo had been nibbling on. “Mature compared to me?”

“You didn’t wash your hands before coming out today, did you?” Jiang Yuduo released his fingers, turned his head, and playfully spat.

“…No, I didn’t,” Cheng Ke admitted. “Why, is it salty?”

“No, I got a bit of sand,” Jiang Yuduo explained. “Have you ever played with sand?”

“Yes,” Cheng Ke withdrew his hand, stood up, and headed towards the store. “I’ll wash my hands, then you can continue eating.”

“Let’s have dinner together tonight,” Jiang Yuduo whispered after him. “Keep me company.”

“That’s the plan, isn’t it?” Cheng Ke turned his head.

“Is it confirmed?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“…Yes,” Cheng Ke replied, somewhat resigned.

Ever since Jiang Yuduo discovered the effectiveness of suppressing surprises, it had become a frequent practice. Even during the few days of rest during the Chinese New Year, Cheng Ke felt like he hadn’t rested at all, as he was essentially assisting Jiang Yuduo in suppressing his reactions.

They helped each other suppress the startles, with the background music being the sound of exploding firecrackers and fireworks.

“I’ll be busy again starting tomorrow,” Cheng Ke reclined against the headboard and glanced at a toothmark on his belly. “Tonight’s sleep is just for sleeping. I have no other plans. There’s a meeting in the morning.”

“I have a meeting too,” Jiang Yuduo crouched beside him. “Chen Qing mentioned having a meeting to discuss next year’s business plan.”

Cheng Ke couldn’t help but laugh for a while. “He’s quite motivated.”

“He has to be motivated,” Jiang Yuduo commented. “I calculated the shares for him, and he’ll also be receiving a year-end dividend.”

“What are your plans for next year?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“We’re thinking of acquiring the fish ball shop upstairs,” Jiang Yuduo explained. “It’s located on the second floor, at the corner of the shopping mall. Most shoppers don’t notice it, and their business isn’t doing very well. They might be interested in selling it. If we take it over, we can expand our area and offer something different.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Cheng Ke agreed.

“The transfer fee might be quite high,” Jiang Yuduo sighed.

“I’ll cover it,” Cheng Ke offered.

“No,” Jiang Yuduo firmly declined. “Do you think I’m short of the transfer fee?”

Cheng Ke chuckled and rubbed his face.

Cheng Ke’s birthday would soon pass after the new year, and Jiang Yuduo was busy discussing the grand plan of acquiring the fish ball shop. In the evenings, he spent his time at the table in the adjacent room disassembling watches.

Cheng Ke found it somewhat challenging. The room was quite small, and Jiang Yuduo had intended to surprise him for his birthday, but it was almost impossible for Cheng Ke not to see what was happening. Additionally, Jiang Yuduo had no sense of secrecy and didn’t bother cleaning up the mess halfway through, making it clear to Cheng Ke what he was up to.

The watch had been completely taken apart, and its components were neatly arranged on the table. In the middle, there was a glossy black square tea tray, along with adhesive tweezers and other tools.

A quick glance revealed that it was likely going to be an artwork.

“Don’t peek!” Jiang Yuduo called out from the door. “If you peek, the surprise will be ruined!”

Cheng Ke was quite exasperated. “I have to walk through here to hang up my laundry!”

Jiang Yuduo grabbed a newspaper and approached, using it to cover the pile of items. “Will this work?”

“…Alright,” Cheng Ke sighed.

“Where’s my birthday gift?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“It’s a secret,” Cheng Ke replied.

“I ordered you not to keep secrets,” Jiang Yuduo grumbled. “Can’t you make it?”

“Is your birthday already here?” Cheng Ke stared at him. “Has it arrived?”

“No,” Jiang Yuduo admitted.

“Then how do you know I can’t do it?” Cheng Ke questioned.

Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue and walked away.

It seemed increasingly likely that his initial idea wouldn’t work out. After giving up on sorghum wine, Cheng Ke turned his attention to a different project: crafting a keychain or something similar for Jiang Yuduo using Meow’s fur.

The plan was to create small cat head shapes with cat fur and attach them to a keychain. However, this turned out to be quite challenging. Meow’s fur had a tendency to form into little balls. Cheng Ke aimed to replicate the image on the signboard of Jiang Yuduo’s milk tea shop – a cat’s head complete with two ears and a tail affixed to the back. He even sketched out an exploded diagram and purchased some wool to practice with during his free moments at the restaurant. He was cautious not to waste Meow’s precious fur, but despite practicing extensively, the best result he achieved was a somewhat round ball.

In contrast, it seemed that Jiang Yuduo’s gift was already prepared, and all the parts had disappeared. On the table, there was a black box adorned with a red bow.

Jiang Yuduo had executed the surprise with such thoroughness that Cheng Ke even saw the heartfelt message he had written on the box using a golden lacquer pen.

Hello Cheng Ke,

Happy birthday.

This is your second birthday gift.

It’s a painting.

I disassembled more than one watch, and I bought several to disassemble, as there weren’t enough parts.

Hope you find as much joy in life as these flowers do every day.

I love you.

It appeared that Jiang Yuduo had disassembled several watches and created a painting featuring numerous flowers.

Cheng Ke didn’t mind the absence of surprise. One of the reasons he was enamored with Jiang Yuduo was his genuine and straightforward nature, often rendering words unnecessary.

Moreover, the sincerity of these words was so heartfelt that it could melt anyone’s heart.

This birthday was celebrated only by the two of them, without any calls to friends or outings.

They hadn’t ordered food either; instead, they enjoyed a hot pot prepared by Jiang Yuduo himself.

As Cheng Ke ate, he reminisced about many past moments, feeling that his taste buds were connected to these cherished memories.

After their meal, Jiang Yuduo stood up and said, “I have a surprise for you.”

“Sure,” Cheng Ke smiled, anticipating that Jiang Yuduo would bring the black gift box from the other room.

However, Jiang Yuduo walked into the kitchen and emerged with a cake box.

“You bought a cake?” Cheng Ke was surprised. This was indeed a surprise, especially since he hadn’t expressed a desire for cake.

“I didn’t buy it,” Jiang Yuduo placed the cake on the table and opened the lid. “Ta-da! Take a look!”

Surprise.

This was undoubtedly a surprise.

“Wow,” Cheng Ke exclaimed, standing up. “Did you make this?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo nodded, somewhat surprised. “How did you know I made it?”

“Come on, who else would make such an ugly cake? No cake shop would sell something like this,” Cheng Ke stated.

“Fuck!” Jiang Yuduo chuckled. “Is it really that ugly?”

“Very ugly,” Cheng Ke replied, looking at the cake. He laughed for a moment but then seemed on the verge of tears. He took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of the cake. “It’s incredibly ugly.”

“Do you like it?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“I love it,” Cheng Ke responded, embracing him tightly and playfully biting Jiang Yuduo’s neck. “I absolutely adore it.”

“This wasn’t part of the surprise!” Jiang Yuduo gasped, rubbing his neck vigorously. “Did you have to bite me so hard?”

Cheng Ke grinned and kissed him again before turning his attention to the cake.

The cake was simple, square in shape, entirely white, with two red hearts side by side in the center.

The frosting appeared uneven, and the cream flowers on it varied in size from left to right. However, the two hearts in the middle were exceptionally well-drawn.

“I filled it with fruits, lots of fruits,” Jiang Yuduo informed him as he moved around behind Cheng Ke. He produced a single candle, taking only the numeral “3,” and lit it. Then, he inserted it into the center of the cake and whispered into Cheng Ke’s ear, “Young master, you’re three years old now.”

“Yeah,” Cheng Ke agreed.

“Make a wish and blow out the candles,” Jiang Yuduo instructed, his arms encircling Cheng Ke’s waist. He leaned in, resting his chin on Cheng Ke’s shoulder, and gazed at the cake.

Cheng Ke closed his eyes.

In truth, he wasn’t sure what kind of wish he wanted to make.

The life he desired, the person he cherished, stood right before him.

What more could he wish for?

Cheng Ke leaned back against Jiang Yuduo, closed his eyes, and made his wish, hoping it would last a lifetime.

* * *

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

^^

Ch. 101 Extra 2 September 8, 2023

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Translator: Lynn

Sponsored chapter (2/2)

* * *

“Try it again,” Cheng Ke observed Jiang Yuduo’s third attempt at a side kick, which had a highly unorthodox posture, and sighed, “Your center of gravity is too far forward.”

Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue and replied, “I think it’s getting better.”

Cheng Ke didn’t respond. Instead, he lifted his leg to the side and delivered a side kick to Jiang Yuduo’s arm. “Is it similar to how I do it?”

Jiang Yuduo let out a sigh.

“Let’s try it again,” Cheng Ke lifted his chin, “First, visualize the correct form in your mind…”

“Hah!” Jiang Yuduo roared before Cheng Ke could finish his sentence, delivering another sideways kick that was still far from standard.

The kick had quite some force, causing Cheng Ke to stagger a step.

“I told you to visualize the form in your mind before moving your legs!” Cheng Ke scolded him.

“I visualized it,” Jiang Yuduo claimed.

“What’s wrong with you?” Cheng Ke stepped behind him and grasped his shoulders, using his hands to correct his posture. “Sideways! Right foot grounded! Shift your weight to your left foot, pivot! Hips lead the leg! Raise your knee! Extend your calf!”

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Jiang Yuduo was in the middle of a kick when he was interrupted by Cheng Ke, causing him to fall backward and collide with him.

“This form is so awkward,” Jiang Yuduo frowned, “You can kick however you want, why are you so picky?”

“Having the correct form allows you to generate more power in your kicks,” Cheng Ke said helplessly, “Why don’t you try something else? Let’s put aside the side kick for now and focus on some other kicks, then I can teach you the side kick later.”

“But you said the side kick is the most commonly used one. If I can’t get the side kick right, I won’t truly understand Taekwondo,” Jiang Yuduo complained.

“Then you’ve been messing up for quite a while now,” Cheng Ke retorted, “Let’s change it up…”

“No,” Jiang Yuduo interrupted him.

“… Damn it,” Cheng Ke muttered, growing a bit frustrated. “Fine, then…”

“Ah!” Jiang Yuduo kicked him in the back once more.

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Cheng Ke suddenly became irritated and turned to face him. “Dude! I’ve been telling you to visualize the movements before you kick! After so many attempts, have you even thought about it once?”

“I did think about it!” Jiang Yuduo responded, also feeling annoyed.

“What the hell were you thinking then?” Cheng Ke raised his voice.

Jiang Yuduo remained silent.

“You need to either think about it before kicking or practice something else first,” Cheng Ke said, turning and stepping aside.

“No more practice,” Jiang Yuduo impatiently kicked a foot target on the ground, causing it to fly forward and hit Cheng Ke’s heel. “This is so frustrating, all this nonsense.”

“Did I force you to practice?” Cheng Ke, now in pain, suddenly became angry. He turned around and glared at Jiang Yuduo. “Who kept insisting every day that I agree to teach?”

“Did you teach me the right way?” Jiang Yuduo retorted. “It’s all wrong, it’s completely wrong! Have I managed to get it right even once after kicking for so long?”

“No!” Cheng Ke exclaimed, “Then just show me once if you’ve got it right!”

“No more practice,” Jiang Yuduo waved his hands.

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“Who are you trying to scare?” Cheng Ke said, his anger rising. “Do you think I really want to teach you?”

“I can still kick you away even without practicing,” Jiang Yuduo stated.

“Come here!” Cheng Ke grew even angrier, spinning around and extending his arms toward Jiang Yuduo. “Let me have a go. San-ge is so amazing; do I really need to learn this shit? He can blow you away with just a breath and make you fly to the sky.”

Jiang Yuduo rushed toward him and delivered a kick to Cheng Ke’s chest.

Cheng Ke’s initial reaction was that Jiang Yuduo’s posture was still incorrect. However, his second thought was that he didn’t have time to react. Jiang Yuduo was incredibly fast, even though he had been on medication for a year and struggled every day with forgetfulness. His speed was unmatched by ordinary individuals, and his kick was powerful.

Cheng Ke was kicked back several steps, and he had to grip a nearby shelf to steady himself.

“Aren’t you amazing? Perfect posture, elegant movements! Center of gravity, straight line, hip joints, knee joints!” Jiang Yuduo pointed at him, displeased. “I’m so far from the standard…”

Cheng Ke didn’t let him finish. He raised his leg and executed a textbook downward chop, striking Jiang Yuduo firmly on the shoulder. Cheng Ke particularly liked using the downward chop; it was highly effective. Although he didn’t use full force this time, it still forced Jiang Yuduo to stagger sideways.

“Downward chop! I’ve taught you this!” Cheng Ke didn’t give Jiang Yuduo a chance to regain his balance. He suddenly spun around and delivered a backswing kick straight into Jiang Yuduo’s face. Again, Jiang Yuduo couldn’t respond in time and was kicked to the ground.

“It’s the backswing now!” Cheng Ke shouted, turning Jiang Yuduo onto his back. Cheng Ke then knelt on one knee and executed a kick while still on the ground, knocking Jiang Yuduo down.

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As Jiang Yuduo fell, Cheng Ke grabbed his foot and gave it a hard tug.

The ensuing scene descended into chaos as the two grappled on the ground.

Jiang Yuduo had always been unconventional, doing things his way, while Cheng Ke fought to maintain his technique and adhere to proper form amidst Jiang Yuduo’s unpredictable style. Cheng Ke aimed for precision in every strike, even though he couldn’t identify the specific moves he executed during the brawl. To level the playing field, Cheng Ke even tore off the protective gear from Jiang Yuduo’s head in the midst of the melee.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Coach Xiao Yang’s voice rang out from the sidelines. “Stop fighting! You’re both adults!”

Several coaches rushed over to intervene.

Cheng Ke had no intention of stopping, and it seemed Jiang Yuduo shared that sentiment. Even as they were forcibly separated, they managed to land a few more kicks on each other.

“Brother Cheng!” Xiao Yang yelled, “What are you doing? Calm down!”

“Why are you and Brother Cheng fighting?” Jiang Yuduo shouted back. “He’s breaking all the teaching standards and pretending to be a coach!”

“This is Shengyuan’s training session!” Cheng Ke retorted. “I can damn well teach you!”

“Shengyuan?” Jiang Yuduo appeared bewildered.

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“Figure it out for yourself,” Cheng Ke shrugged off the person restraining him. “I’m out of here.”

Jiang Yuduo didn’t say another word. After a brief moment, the onlookers also tried to mediate and eventually dispersed.

Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo stood still, not acknowledging each other.

Cheng Ke had no desire to talk, and the fight with Jiang Yuduo wasn’t the primary reason. It was the fact that they had fought in the gym, in front of a dozen bodybuilders and numerous coaches, that left him feeling most ashamed.

Shame.

Their arguments with each other were rare, and today, he couldn’t fathom why they had become so angry.

Jiang Yuduo acted foolishly, perhaps because he hadn’t fought anyone in a long time and had no self-restraint initially. Although both were strong, they lacked finesse in their fighting, resorting to brute force rather than technique. Their blows landed haphazardly.

Awkward.

Painful.

Embarrassing.

Cheng Ke was deeply unsettled by the experience. He grabbed his coat, put it on, and walked towards the gym’s exit without acknowledging Jiang Yuduo.

“Aren’t you going to shower?” Jiang Yuduo’s voice followed him.

“Forget it,” Cheng Ke replied without looking back.

“Damn,” Jiang Yuduo muttered.

Outside, Xiao Yang stood by the door, looking surprised as Cheng Ke exited. “Brother Cheng, are you leaving?”

“Yeah,” Cheng Ke replied.

Xiao Yang sighed, as if he wanted to say more but didn’t know how. “Is San-ge leaving too?”

“In the gym,” Cheng Ke said.

Xiao Yang sighed once again.

After a few steps, Cheng Ke turned his head slightly, seemingly undecided.

Jiang Yuduo was trailing closely behind Cheng Ke. When Cheng Ke stopped abruptly, Jiang Yuduo nearly collided with him.

Cheng Ke raised an eyebrow, asking, “What are you doing? Did you get beaten up?”

Cheng Ke continued, “Did you roll around on the ground with your head covered or run all over the place? Did someone beat you up? You didn’t fight back at all, did you?”

“Then say you didn’t beat me!” Jiang Yuduo shot back, glaring.

“Did you beat me?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“I beat you up,” Jiang Yuduo admitted, “and then you beat me up too! You lifted my helmet and went at it!” Jiang Yuduo insisted on calling it a “helmet.”

“Get lost,” Cheng Ke said, turning his head to resume walking.

Jiang Yuduo continued to follow him in silence. Cheng Ke had the urge to glance back several times to check if Jiang Yuduo was still there, but he resisted and refrained from doing so.

He did, however, sneak a peek at the ground’s shadow as they turned a corner.

He saw the shadow of Jiang Yuduo, swaggering and swinging his arms as he walked.

Suddenly, Cheng Ke felt a slight urge to chuckle.

Jiang Yuduo was likely still miffed, exiting the gym in a huff.

However, Cheng Ke restrained his laughter and didn’t look back.

He acknowledged that he had been somewhat irritable today, but Jiang Yuduo had shown no patience and had displayed a disrespectful attitude. Cheng Ke had no intention of tolerating such behavior.

He was not Chen Qing.

Once inside the room, Cheng Ke grabbed his clothes and headed for the shower. Jiang Yuduo approached, seemingly wanting to say something, but Cheng Ke shut the bathroom door in his face.

“Are you genuinely upset?” Jiang Yuduo’s voice came from outside the door.

“Of course,” Cheng Ke replied, opening the door to look at him. “Do you want to claim you’re not upset?”

“I’m done,” Jiang Yuduo said.

“I’m not done!” Cheng Ke retorted and closed the door again.

“This door can’t stop me,” Jiang Yuduo twisted the doorknob.

“If you dare come in, I dare to use the shower nozzle on you without mercy,” Cheng Ke warned as he stripped off his clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket with force.

As soon as Cheng Ke finished his sentence, the door was pushed open by Jiang Yuduo, who leaned against it, holding a small wire in his hand.

Cheng Ke brandished the shower nozzle.

“I didn’t come in,” Jiang Yuduo clarified, “I just opened the door.”

Cheng Ke held the shower nozzle in the air, ready for whatever might come next.

After a few seconds of silence, Cheng Ke placed the showerhead back in its holder, stripped off his clothes, and began showering.

“Why are you so angry?” Jiang Yuduo inquired. “You’ve been upset for half an hour.”

“Was it you who wanted to learn Taekwondo? Was it you who couldn’t perform standard moves? Was it you who didn’t want to practice diligently?” Cheng Ke retorted. “It wasn’t you, was it? Wasn’t it you who refused to practice and initiated the fight?”

Jiang Yuduo remained silent.

“I’m still upset now,” Cheng Ke continued, “I don’t have much patience, but I’ve been holding it in all this time. When you’re done being angry, you come and pick a fight with me. I’ve been annoyed for half an hour. Do you think that’s too long? Let me tell you my plan. If you’re still upset for another twenty-four hours, then just wait and see.”

Jiang Yuduo didn’t respond, and Cheng Ke didn’t turn to look at him. He continued to shower.

After a while, Jiang Yuduo finally sighed and said, “I didn’t mean to.”

Cheng Ke ignored him.

“I’ve grown up,” Jiang Yuduo said, “but it seems like I haven’t learned anything, and I keep messing up. It’s really frustrating.”

“Learning something isn’t just about playing around,” Cheng Ke remarked.

“That’s why I got frustrated,” Jiang Yuduo added after a brief pause. “And I feel… quite embarrassed.”

Cheng Ke was surprised and turned his head to look at him.

“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.

“What’s embarrassing?” Cheng Ke asked.

“I can’t seem to learn anything,” Jiang Yuduo furrowed his brow. “I can’t beat you, and you always find fault with me. I’m not afraid of anyone in a fight, but in the end, I still can’t learn it, so it’s embarrassing.”

Cheng Ke observed him for a moment and said, “You’re not learning to fight right now, and I’m not teaching you how to fight. Those are two separate things. Being good at fighting doesn’t matter.”

“Oh,” Jiang Yuduo replied.

“Forget it,” Cheng Ke turned his head and resumed his shower.

“So, are you still going to teach me?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“Once my anger subsides,” Cheng Ke replied.

“When will your anger subside?” Jiang Yuduo asked immediately.

Cheng Ke sighed and turned to look at him again.

“Do you want me to apologize to you?” Jiang Yuduo asked.

“No,” Cheng Ke said, “I know it’s difficult for you to apologize, and it’s difficult for me to accept.”

“So when will you calm down if I don’t apologize?” Jiang Yuduo persisted.

“It’ll pass after I finish showering,” Cheng Ke said. “Don’t disturb me.”

“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo conceded and turned to leave the bathroom, returning to the living room.

When Cheng Ke emerged from the shower, Jiang Yuduo sat on the sofa, holding a meow-shaped creation in his hand.

This meow head was Cheng Ke’s handcrafted gift, a product of his nonexistent DIY skills, completed just in time for Jiang Yuduo’s birthday.

It featured two small round fur balls atop a larger round fur ball, with two tiny buttons serving as the eyes. Other than the eyes, it had no nose, mouth, or whiskers.

“Mickey Mouse!”

“Hamster!”

“Bamboo Rat!”

“Golden Silk Bear!”

“Pig!”

“Me!”

“You!”

Despite several guesses, Jiang Yuduo failed to identify it as a representation of Meow.

Cheng Ke wasn’t surprised by these guesses; his creation didn’t resemble a cat at all after he had finished crafting it.

However, Jiang Yuduo didn’t mind the meow wool scarf’s unconventional appearance. He cherished it, placing it next to his pillow at night and occasionally rubbing his face against it.

Thinking of this, Cheng Ke’s heart softened, and he reached out to pat Jiang Yuduo’s head affectionately.

“Have you cooled off now?” Jiang Yuduo immediately inquired, lifting his head.

“Yeah,” Cheng Ke sighed and headed to the backyard with his freshly laundered underwear to hang it up to dry.

“I was just thinking,” Jiang Yuduo followed him, “I was mentally rehearsing a certain move.”

“Which move?” Cheng Ke entered the bedroom.

Jiang Yuduo followed him in, saying, “I was rehearsing the side kick.”

“The issue with your side kick is your balance,” Cheng Ke stated as he retrieved a T-shirt from the closet and put it on. “It’s strange; when you’re sparring, your balance and positioning are excellent, but when you attempt a side kick, you struggle to maintain your equilibrium.”

“Now I’ve figured it out; watch!” Jiang Yuduo swiftly assumed a fighting stance. Before Cheng Ke could intervene, he executed a side kick that struck the cabinet. “Ah!”

A black square plate that hung on the cabinet door clattered to the floor.

“Damn it!” Cheng Ke exclaimed, “You hurt your foot!”

“What do you think?” Jiang Yuduo raised his leg and massaged the back of his foot. “Is it right?”

“…It is,” Cheng Ke responded, taken aback. Jiang Yuduo’s kicking form was indeed correct, not only correct but also quite impressive. “Does your foot hurt?”

“No, I didn’t use much force…” Jiang Yuduo inspected the fallen plate on the ground, “Oh no, is it broken?”

“You’re even more troublesome than Meow,” Cheng Ke commented, picking up the plate. Meow had knocked it down at least five times since it was hung there, causing some of the paint on the corners to chip.

Every time Cheng Ke saw the plate, which Jiang Yuduo had crafted, he was amazed. It was an assortment of disassembled watch components, arranged chaotically. The upper section consisted mostly of circular parts: gears of various sizes, balance wheels, dials of different sizes, while the lower half featured an array of irregularly shaped components: bearings, hands, springs, some stacked, others interlocked.

Clouds and Dandelions

This painting was named by Jiang Yuduo.

At the top were dandelions, and at the bottom, there were clouds.

Even though this creation, much like Jiang Yuduo’s lamp, was a bit perplexing, Cheng Ke still admired Jiang Yuduo’s messy creativity.

At times, it reminded him of himself – intricate and disorderly, yet profoundly simple.

“It’s not broken,” Jiang Yuduo assured as he took the plate and rehung it on the cabinet door.

“Go take a shower,” Cheng Ke suggested.

“Wasn’t I handsome just now?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.

“…Yes,” Cheng Ke nodded.

“Are you really not angry anymore?” Jiang Yuduo asked once more.

“I’m no longer angry,” Cheng Ke confirmed.

“In that case, I’ll go shower,” Jiang Yuduo said with a cheerful tone, grabbing his clothes and heading out of the bedroom.

Cheng Ke stretched out on the bed, gazing at the plate in a trance.

Jiang Yuduo swiftly returned to the bedroom after his shower, dried his head with a towel, and approached Cheng Ke.

“Cheng Ke.”

“Hmm?” Cheng Ke glanced at him.

“When you’re angry… you look handsome,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.

“…So?” Cheng Ke replied, “Shall we continue next time?”

“No,” Jiang Yuduo smiled and placed a hand on his stomach, “Just…”

Cheng Ke clicked his tongue. “Let’s eat first; I’m hungry…”

“Eat me when you’re hungry,” Jiang Yuduo interrupted, tossing the towel aside and pouncing on him.

* * *

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

^^

Ch. 102 Extra 3 September 8, 2023

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Translator: Lynn

This is the last chapter, thus I bring you this bonus chapter. Thank you for reading!

* * *

“I don’t need you to pick me up,” Jiang Yuduo yawned over the phone. “I’ll manage my own way back.”

“It’s so convenient for me to drive to the airport and pick you up,” Cheng Ke said, lying on the bed. He picked up the cat from his pillow and tossed it onto Jiang Yuduo’s pillow. “No need to take a taxi or wait for a bus.”

“Aren’t you quite busy these days, Mr. Cheng?” Jiang Yuduo teased. “Don’t run away from your work.”

“Are you holding a grudge against me?” Cheng Ke playfully clicked his tongue.

Jiang Yuduo visited Dr. Li twice a year, and each time Cheng Ke would make time to accompany him. However, this year, with the recent opening of their fourth restaurant, Jiang Yuduo didn’t ask Cheng Ke to accompany him and went alone.

Cheng Ke wasn’t particularly worried. Jiang Yuduo had been in good health overall, with occasional minor fluctuations that could usually be stabilized within a few days with some adjustments. So, it wasn’t a major issue for him to go alone.

However, hearing Jiang Yuduo’s tone now, Cheng Ke couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy.

“No grudges here,” Jiang Yuduo replied. “You’re a busy boss. Should I expect you to come and pick me up?”

“Enough of your nonsense,” Cheng Ke chuckled. “I’ll be waiting for you at the exit.”

“Alright, since you’re so sincere, then fine,” Jiang Yuduo agreed. Then, after a moment of thought, he asked, “Have you had any trouble while I’ve been away these past few days?”

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“What kind of trouble could there be?” Cheng Ke replied with a smile.

“Didn’t you mention that Cheng Yi is back?” Jiang Yuduo inquired. “Knowing him, he’d probably want to visit every restaurant and boast about how much he cares for his brother.”

“I haven’t heard from him, and he hasn’t reached out to me either,” Cheng Ke explained. “We haven’t been in contact for several years, so I don’t see a reason for him to bother me now.”

“Well, when you pick me up tomorrow,” Jiang Yuduo said, “bring a bouquet of flowers.”

“… Flowers?” Cheng Ke was surprised.

“Aren’t you planning to give me flowers on our anniversary?” Jiang Yuduo reminded him.

Cheng Ke was caught off guard. “I do know about our anniversary…”

“Flowers,” Jiang Yuduo insisted.

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“Alright, flowers it is,” Cheng Ke agreed.

Tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of their meeting and the anniversary of their very first argument.

This anniversary was something Cheng Ke had casually mentioned when they first got together. However, Jiang Yuduo took it quite seriously, and three years had passed since then.

But it was their first time celebrating it together.

Originally, Cheng Ke had planned to give him some lottery tickets he had saved up. Unlike birthdays, Jiang Yuduo had never asked for anniversary gifts. Typically, they would just share a meal. It was only this year that he requested something different, and Cheng Ke wasn’t sure if it was influenced by some romance novel he had been reading.

The request itself was rather simple – a bouquet of flowers. But Jiang Yuduo’s intention was clear: he wanted Cheng Ke to hold the flowers at the airport exit and greet him with them when he arrived.

Imagining himself, now in his thirties, holding a bouquet of flowers and waiting for for someone like an old man, Cheng Ke couldn’t help but find it amusing as he lay in bed.

It was strange how, with age, he had become more attached to such sentimental gestures. In the past, he had been carefree and didn’t pay much attention to these things. But now, he could actually visualize the scene in his mind.

“I find your San-ge quite something,” Cheng Ke said as he turned over and gently touched Meow’s nose. “He asks for flowers, and suddenly it feels like we’re back to those silly days ten years ago.”

Meow remained indifferent to his musings.

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“It’s rather nice,” Cheng Ke continued. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time.”

Jiang Yuduo’s flight was scheduled to arrive at eleven o’clock. Cheng Ke woke up at eight, first buying some lottery tickets, and then heading next door to the florist to purchase a bouquet of roses.

The lottery station owner mentioned that he would be returning to his hometown next month and closing the store. Cheng Ke had initially planned to give Jiang Yuduo the lottery tickets he had saved up for their anniversary, and then find another lottery station.

However, being in this store, which had been there for so many years, and hearing the owner talk about the regular customers and their family affairs, it brought a sense of nostalgia. Life had a way of passing by unnoticed.

Sometimes, changes happen so subtly, and you don’t realize when you’ve become accustomed to them. Cheng Ke had always been somewhat reluctant to share his space with others, but he couldn’t pinpoint when Jiang Yuduo had appeared in his life and how he had grown so accustomed to it.

Not only had he grown accustomed, but he had also come to enjoy it.

Despite their occasional arguments, Jiang Yuduo was truly a remarkable person. Spending time with him had made Cheng Ke less prone to quarrels, as they would often cut right to the chase.

As Cheng Ke maneuvered the car out of a side street, he found himself briefly stopped at an intersection by a van.

He recognized the license plate instantly. It belonged to Jiang Yuduo and Chen Qing’s car, the one they used to transport goods for Miao Milk Tea. Usually, it was Chen Qing who did the driving.

Currently, the car was parked quite aggressively in his parking spot, leaving only a one-meter gap from the side of the road.

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Cheng Ke honked the horn to signal his displeasure.

After about a minute, Chen Qing emerged from a nearby small supermarket with an impatient expression on his face.

“Damn,” Chen Qing exclaimed in surprise when he saw his car and approached Cheng Ke. “What’s with this parking job?”

“I’m heading to the airport,” Cheng Ke replied. “Move this car out of the way.”

“That’s my brother’s car as well,” Chen Qing clarified. “You’re picking up my brother?”

“Yeah,” Cheng Ke confirmed.

“Wait, I’ll move it forward,” Chen Qing said and swiftly headed towards the van, muttering as he walked, “If I tell those two to move it, they won’t budge. Now we’ve got it crammed here. Look at the road; I can’t even get another car through…”

The van inched forward slightly and stopped along the sidewalk.

Cheng Ke drove his car closer and lowered the window as he passed by Chen Qing. “Join us for dinner tonight.”

“Is it your anniversary of kicking out the trash?” Chen Qing asked.

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“Yes,” Cheng Ke replied. “And bring Xiaosun along.”

“Sure thing,” Chen Qing agreed happily.

Miao Milk Tea was thriving, with a constant stream of customers on both the first and second floors. However, Jiang Yuduo had no interest in expanding the business or getting overly involved, so it had remained relatively unchanged for the past few years. Chen Qing had no objections to his brother’s decision; he knew that Jiang Yuduo had his reasons.

The only change at the store was the addition of a few more waitstaff. This allowed Jiang Yuduo, Chen Qing, and Sun Qinqin to have some free time, especially for Chen Qing and Sun Qinqin to nurture their budding romance.

Cheng Ke thought this arrangement was excellent. Jiang Yuduo found comfort in familiarity, and it was his sense of security. That’s why they had stayed in Lucy’s old house for so many years. When the time came for Jiang Yuduo to consider moving, they would do it together.

Upon arriving at the airport and opening the trunk to retrieve the bouquet of roses, Cheng Ke suddenly felt somewhat self-conscious.

In all his years, he had never bought roses, let alone given them to someone.

As he stood near the exit, he sensed that he had become the center of attention.

“Waiting for his girlfriend,” an elderly lady nearby whispered to her companion, a smile playing on her lips.

Waiting for a girlfriend?

Don’t be shocked when the “girlfriend” emerges in a while.

The “girlfriend” in question was the boss of several streets, a towering figure at over 1.8 meters with a tough visage and facial scars.

But most of the time, ‘she’ was quite endearing, still displaying a childish charm, and hadn’t matured much despite the years.

Cheng Ke stole a glance at the glass door in front of him, observing his reflection.

…Much to his surprise, his face displayed a faint grin, and he wasn’t even aware of it.

Clearing his throat, he suppressed the smile and checked the time.

The plane had been delayed by 20 minutes, and when Jiang Yuduo called, Cheng Ke answered almost immediately.

“I see someone coming out, is that your group?” he inquired.

“No,” Jiang Yuduo’s voice quivered, indicating he was in a hurry. “I’m dashing out right now, I’ll be out soon.”

Cheng Ke grinned, “Alright, I’ll be waiting by the exit. I’ll stand on the side near the glass wall. I’m wearing…”

“Where’s your face?” Jiang Yuduo interrupted, “I still can’t recognize you!”

“…Then hurry up and come out,” Cheng Ke chuckled.

“I told you to bring flowers, did you bring them?” Jiang Yuduo asked as he ran.

“I brought them,” Cheng Ke confirmed.

“What kind of flowers?” Jiang Yuduo continued, “Carnations or roses?”

“What do you care about carnations? Are you my mother? It’s roses…” Cheng Ke hesitated for a moment after saying those two words, “Wait, you…you do want roses, right?”

“You bought roses?” Jiang Yuduo’s voice brightened as he ran, “You really got roses?”

“Of course, what else would I bring when you specifically asked for flowers?” Cheng Ke replied.

“Well, they’re actually red roses,” Jiang Yuduo happily disclosed as he continued running.

“You really need to learn to be more subtle,” Cheng Ke grumbled in a hushed tone.

“Cheng Ke!” Jiang Yuduo shouted.

Cheng Ke felt like his eardrums were about to burst. “What’s going on?”

“Look at me! I’m out!” Jiang Yuduo roared again.

This time, Cheng Ke heard his voice in both ears and quickly looked inside the exit.

Jiang Yuduo ran out, waving his arms.

Cheng Ke locked his gaze on Jiang Yuduo, and from the corner of his eye, he noticed a bunch of people waiting to pick him up. The elderly lady who had assumed he was picking up his girlfriend had her eyes wide in amazement.

“Did you miss me?” Jiang Yuduo rushed over and hugged him, roses included.

“I did,” Cheng Ke responded, sensing the roses getting slightly crushed, “Very much.”

“Me too.” Jiang Yuduo released the hug and took the rose from Cheng Ke’s hand. “The discounted flowers you bought are all squashed.”

“Well, they’ll get even more flattened if you squeeze them harder,” Cheng Ke remarked, slightly exasperated.

Jiang Yuduo sported a very contented smile. “This is the first time I’ve received roses.”

“Same here,” Cheng Ke admitted. “I’ve never gifted roses before.”

“Really?” Jiang Yuduo scrutinized him, then said, “You’re not very romantic, huh?”

“I guess I’m not one for grand gestures,” Cheng Ke confessed.

Jiang Yuduo burst into laughter, glanced around while chuckling, then suddenly dropped his smile. “Damn, everyone’s staring at us.”

“Let them look,” Cheng Ke said casually, “We’re not an eyesore.”

“Let’s get going,” Jiang Yuduo said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“I called Chen Qing over for dinner tonight,” Cheng Ke mentioned as he opened the trunk and placed Jiang Yuduo’s bag inside. “Did they have a fight last week?”

“Xiao Sun scratched Chen Qing’s face,” Jiang Yuduo replied, his face partially buried in the flowers.

“Really? I met Chen Qing briefly when I was on my way,” Cheng Ke recalled, “I didn’t pay much attention… I don’t think I looked at his face.”

“Just look at mine,” Jiang Yuduo suggested as he opened the driver’s side door, “I’ll drive.”

Cheng Ke took the passenger seat. “Why not enjoy the ride? I offered to buy you one, but you declined.”

“I’m not interested in luxury like you,” Jiang Yuduo stated, “The van can carry both goods and people, and it’s not a hassle to drive anywhere.”

“Then why bother driving?” Cheng Ke questioned, eying him.

“Shut up,” Jiang Yuduo quipped before starting the car.

“San-ge is quite impressive,” Cheng Ke remarked with a smile.

Suddenly, Jiang Yuduo turned off the engine and faced him.

“What’s wrong? Are you going to fight?” Cheng Ke joked.

“Kiss.” Jiang Yuduo grabbed Cheng Ke’s collar and leaned in, planting a passionate kiss on his lips.

They only broke apart when a car nearby honked, and someone approached. Jiang Yuduo wiped his mouth and restarted the engine.

“Did Dr. Li have anything to say?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“He mentioned that it’s relatively stable,” Jiang Yuduo replied, “but he suggested I see a local psychiatrist.”

“Did you decline?” Cheng Ke asked.

“No, I just… suggested we meet and talk first,” Jiang Yuduo explained, “I’m skeptical, but I’m willing to meet. Dr. Li mentioned that this psychiatrist has more experience with cases like mine and has treated similar patients.”

“Alright,” Cheng Ke touched his face, “Let’s make an appointment to see him.”

“You’ll come with me, right?” Jiang Yuduo requested.

“Of course,” Cheng Ke assured him.

“Do you find it bothersome?” Jiang Yuduo questioned, “It’s been like this all my life. It’s manageable when it’s stable, but I never know when it will…”

“It’s alright,” Cheng Ke reassured, “It can be frustrating at times, but it’s not unbearable. I mean, it’s not as if you’ve never had an episode, and my primary emotion is concern, not annoyance.”

“True,” Jiang Yuduo conceded, stealing a glance at him.

“Actually, you mentioned that no one goes through life without experiencing something. Isn’t it similar to catching a fever or a cold?” Cheng Ke offered. “We go through it together.”

“You’ve never been sick before,” Jiang Yuduo pointed out.

“I’ve played my hand; you’ll have to anticipate my illness,” Cheng Ke quipped with a smile. “I’m not incapable of cooperation…”

“No, you absolutely must not cooperate,” Jiang Yuduo insisted, his brow furrowing.

“Will you take care of me when I’m unwell?” Cheng Ke inquired with a playful smile, looking directly at him.

“Ridiculous,” Jiang Yuduo scoffed, “What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

“Then don’t ask me in the future if I find it bothersome,” Cheng Ke chuckled, “It’s almost as nonsensical.”

“…Oh,” Jiang Yuduo responded with a smile and playfully squeezed his chin.

“Watch the road!” Cheng Ke rubbed his chin in response.

In the evening, there was an anniversary celebration planned, so they didn’t intend to have a heavy lunch. They stopped at a small noodle shop before heading home.

As Meow grew older, it became increasingly dog-like and had been glued to Jiang Yuduo’s side since they entered the house. It meowed and rubbed against his legs, and once Jiang Yuduo sat on the sofa, it promptly climbed onto his shoulders, rubbing its head against his face and nearly wagging its tail.

“Hey,” Jiang Yuduo gently pulled it down and placed it on his lap, “Brother Ke, I wish you were half as affectionate.”

Cheng Ke entered the bedroom, retrieved a box from the cabinet, and placed it on the coffee table. Then he sat beside Jiang Yuduo, snuggled close, and playfully touched his clothes a few times. “Is this affectionate enough?”

“Not quite,” Jiang Yuduo teased with a smile.

Cheng Ke pushed him down onto the sofa, leaned in closer, and whispered, “How about this?”

“Is that enough?” Jiang Yuduo replied, turning his head and nibbling on Cheng Ke’s ear.

Their playful intimacy, a mischievous routine they had engaged in for years, always seemed fresh and exciting to Meow, who would watch with keen interest each time.

Once the playful activity was finished, Meow would disdainfully depart.

“Damn,” Cheng Ke exclaimed, sitting up and watching Meow’s retreating figure as it headed for the kitchen. “Why is this cat so interested in this kind of thing?”

“Because I’ve always been single,” Jiang Yuduo quipped, tugging at his pants and glancing at the box on the coffee table. “What’s that?”

“It’s our anniversary gift,” Cheng Ke replied.

“A box of roses? Didn’t you send a big bouquet?” Jiang Yuduo inquired as he sat up, picked up the box, and placed it on his lap.

“The bouquet is for the flowers you desire,” Cheng Ke explained. “This is a gift from me.”

“You’ve prepared a gift for me?” Jiang Yuduo’s excitement grew. He tapped on the box lid and asked, “Is it flowers?”

“Can’t you exercise a little imagination?” Cheng Ke sighed.

“No,” Jiang Yuduo responded matter-of-factly, picking up the box’s handle and shaking it lightly. “What is it? It feels so light. Is it Meow’s fur?”

“I implore you to open it right away,” Cheng Ke urged.

“And there’s not even a bow,” Jiang Yuduo remarked with a smile as he opened the lid. “And you claim I’m not romantic… a lottery ticket?”

“Yes,” Cheng Ke confirmed, looking at him. “Lottery tickets.”

“You…” Jiang Yuduo was utterly surprised and probed around inside the box a few times. “Are they all lottery tickets? You bought hundreds of lottery tickets and gave them to me? Damn, did the lottery station let you buy them all? Are you running out of money? Spendthrift…can you actually win the lottery?”

“I didn’t buy them all at once,” Cheng Ke explained, watching his reaction. “I’ve been saving them over the years.”

Jiang Yuduo continued to stare at him in disbelief.

“I don’t buy them every day, sometimes I forget, but… I haven’t counted, but they’ve piled up,” Cheng Ke admitted. “There must be hundreds, maybe even thousands of tickets in there.”

“Have you ever won a prize?” Jiang Yuduo inquired, wide-eyed.

“…No,” Cheng Ke confessed.

“Not even five yuan?” Jiang Yuduo was incredulous.

“No,” Cheng Ke chuckled. “I seem to be a bit unlucky.”

“Stop understating it. A ‘bit unlucky’ is an understatement,” Jiang Yuduo quipped.

“Get out,” Cheng Ke retorted.

“Why… why did you give these to me? Are you trying to get reimbursed?” Jiang Yuduo questioned.

“They have dates on them. I wanted to sort them by date,” Cheng Ke explained, “but I’m too lazy to do it. There are too many, and I can’t find the time to do it.”

“Well, let me sort them. Why should you do it?” Jiang Yuduo suggested, looking at him.

“These tickets… represent time,” Cheng Ke replied.

Jiang Yuduo remained silent but continued to gaze at Cheng Ke.

“This represents the time we’ve spent together,” Cheng Ke explained as he retrieved a lottery ticket. “See, I marked the backs of some of them. I initially intended to write something, but it became too bothersome, so I used symbols instead. A checkmark signifies the day we went out to eat, a circle denotes when we were in particularly high spirits, a fork means we had an argument, and two forks indicate a fight…”

Jiang Yuduo lowered his head and began to slowly retrieve lottery tickets one by one from the box, inspecting and occasionally sniffing them.

“One ticket for one day, although a few are missing, most of them are here,” Cheng Ke continued. “They represent your days, my days, and our days, every single day, really.”

Jiang Yuduo raised his head.

“Do you like it?” Cheng Ke inquired.

“I love it,” Jiang Yuduo replied, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.

“The ones with triangles are from the days you cried,” Cheng Ke mentioned, retrieving a lottery ticket he had purchased today from his pocket and drawing a triangle on the back with a pen. “Honestly, there are quite a few triangles. For a boss and manager, this frequency is a bit high.”

“That’s none of your business,” Jiang Yuduo retorted.

“Let it flow,” Cheng Ke encouraged.

“I’m happy,” Jiang Yuduo replied.

“Yeah,” Cheng Ke agreed with a nod.

“Will you continue to buy them in the future?” Jiang Yuduo asked, nonchalantly wiping his face.

“I will,” Cheng Ke affirmed. “The days are still ahead of us.”

“In the future, I’ll mark them too,” Jiang Yuduo declared.

“Okay,” Cheng Ke replied with a smile.

* * *