Happy Winter Holidays!
Edited by: Akane, Koi, Pierce
I sat in Jin Xian’er’ living room, uneasy.
Jin Xian’er was lying on his sofa, face down and unmoving. He’s been like this for three hours already.
I’d gotten to his place just about three hours ago, so I don’t know how many more hours he laid there.
I only know where the key to his house was hidden.
Before, that song that he made didn’t just have his phone number, it also told me where his key was hidden.
If it wasn’t for the fact that his breathing was regular, I would have called for a doctor.
Also, it’s probably because the fruit peels that littered the floor of his house also indicated that he was still alive.
Jin Xian’er didn’t drink nor did he smoke, because he has to protect his throat. He didn’t like to eat chocolate either, since he has to keep his figure. And so whenever he was unhappy, he would eat raw fruits and veggies.
That’s what he wrote in his song.
In truth, I was called over here by Hamm.
Hamm had probably run out from the little door that had been made especially for him, gotten to my apartment, scratched at the door for a long time, then pulled me by my pants leg over here.
Hamm truly was a loyal and courageous good dog, other than that other time when I had lain on the floor for fifteen minutes and he’d completely ignored me.
There was a reason why I gave him to Zhao Gongzi, then handed him over to Jin Xian’er. He doesn’t love me, so I won’t force it. Sooner or later I’ll have a kitty who will love me in his place.
I called Jin Xian’er by name again, but he still didn’t reply.
Then, I can only call Zhao Gongzi. After all, those two have a universe that I can’t understand.
Zhao Gongzi picked up after a very long time, and asked who it was.
I said it’s me.
Zhao Gongzi asked me who I was.
I said I’m Qiu Yixin.
“What is it?”
“Jin Xian’er——”
Zhao Gongzi hollered at me, “Fuck! Your only call in a year to me is about Jin Xian’er?! You and him are already at the train station, ready to elope, aren’t you?! Now you’re telling me? In order to anger me to death?! Fuck!”
First of all, I did not only phone him once a year. I had simply politely reminded him, once, to not call me when he was at work or when I was at work just to discuss what we were going to have for dinner. Why must he remember this and hold it over me to this day?
Secondly, he’s got such a great imagination. If I were to elope with Jin Xian’er, why in the world would I tell him beforehand, as if I’m not afraid of being caught and brought back.
Zhao Gongzi asked, “What is it?”
“Jin Xian’er——”
Zhao Gongzi hollered, “Laozi knows how to fix the pipes now! Let Laozi fix them! You’re not allowed to make up excuses in order for him to enter my house! That’s Laozi’s house! He’s not allowed to come in!”
“First of all, you don’t know how to fix them. Second, you can’t skip work today, because later the Old Master is going to visit the company to check the accounting records. Third, the pipes in our house aren’t broken.”
Zhao Gongzi hollered at me, “Then you should just fucking get to the point!”
I’ve been trying to get to the point from the start!
I changed the direction of my opening. “Hamm——”
Zhao Gongzi coldly asked, “What’s wrong with Hamm?”
“This morning Hamm came to find me, so I followed him to Jin Xian’er’ house——Zhao Long just shut up first and let me finish speaking. Jin Xian’er is lying on the sofa and won’t get up, nor is he willing to talk. I don’t know what’s the matter. You and him are friends, you must know.”
Zhao Gongzi fell silent for a long time, then said, “We aren’t friends. Don’t mind him.”
I solemnly said, trying to change his mind, “It’s not easy for you to make friends, you should treasure them more.”
Zhao Gongzi hollered, “Laozi doesn’t need friends! And Laozi especially doesn’t need him to be my friend! Hurry up and come back home! Otherwise, Laozi’ll fucking kill you when Laozi gets back!”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
I hung up, because I saw Jin Xian’er move a little. Therefore, Zhao Gongzi didn’t have any value anymore.
P tegglfvis jrxfv, oeii bo mbcmfgc, “Cgf sbe jii gluta?”
Alc Wljc’fg ibbxfv ja wf klat foobga, atfc rwlifv ylaafgis jcv rjlv, “P gfjiis vlvc’a kjca ab rff sbe gluta cbk. P’w jii gluta, pera j ilaaif algfv.”
“Itjb Xbcuhl jcv P jgf ybat sbeg oglfcvr, lo sbe tjnf jcs qgbyifwr atfc afii er. Itjb Xbcuhl lr gfjiis mibrf ab sbe.”
Jin Xian’er smiled. “I’m afraid that you two probably won’t be able to help me with my troubles, but hearing you say that makes me very happy. If only you didn’t mention Zhao Gongzi, and just said you and me, then that would make me even happier.”
If I did that, then when Zhao Gongzi learned about it he’d be unhappy. If Zhao Gongzi was unhappy, then Master Zhao Si would be unhappy. If Master Zhao Si was unhappy, then it would be very difficult for me to be happy, and it would be very difficult for me to have a life to be happy.
No matter what, if Jin Xian’er didn’t want to talk, then I wouldn’t ask. Just as I was preparing to leave, I heard the sound of someone knocking on the door.
Jin Xian’er looked at me and said, “You go in the room and rest awhile.”
And so I went inside the bedroom, saw that the closet wasn’t closed, and couldn’t help but gasp.
Jin Xian’er and I have many interests and hobbies in common. If his closet was mine, then that would be nice.
I could use Zhao Gongzi as something to exchange this closet with, but I wager that Jin Xian’er wouldn’t be willing to do that.
Just as I was planning on how to further my plan of donating Zhao Gongzi’s clothes to people in need and who were freezing, I heard the sound of things falling onto the ground in the living room.
I looked through the door crack, and saw a man on his knees, kneeling before Jin Xian’er. Behind that man were two others, also kneeling, and looking extremely familiar, as if they were Uncle Da Li’s apprentice and disciples, those of the Longmen.
When Zhao Gongzi got off work and saw me, I deliberately went and picked him up. I even brought him some cakes that he likes to eat.
He asked, full of wariness, “Fuck, what did you do this time?”
Zhao Gongzi is too suspicious, and always suspects me of things.
“Jin Xian’er doesn’t have anywhere to go at the moment, so I let him stay at our house——”
Zhao Gongzi cursed at me,“Fuck it, did you ask Laozi beforehand?!”
“Is it okay?” I asked him.
He hollered at me, “Okay your mom! It’s not okay!”
That’s why I didn’t ask him.
Zhao Gongzi coldly said, “Tell him to fuck off.”
I explained, “Although he’s unwilling to say what it is exactly, in any case, his home has been occupied by those people. Being alone without a place to stay is likely not safe.”
Zhao Gongzi coldly said, “Give him money to stay at a hotel.”
I don’t have money, and at present, Zhao Gongzi doesn’t have any money either.
Zhao Gongzi coldly said, “What the hell does it have to do with Laozi? He definitely has money.”
However, money wasn’t the problem, the problem was his safety.
“For Hamm’s sake.”
Zhao Gongzi coldly said, “Then it’s the perfect opportunity for us to get back Laozi’s dog from him.”
“That’s not possible. I’ve already asked him, he said he’s going to take Hamm and wander the streets homeless. That’s why I invited him to come live with us in our apartment for a while.”
Zhao Gongzi: “……”
I somberly said, “He’s threatening us.”
Zhao Gongzi : “……”
I somberly said, “He’s using Hamm to threaten us.”
Zhao Gongzi hollered at me, “Do you think he’s like you?!”
Of course, Jin Xian’er isn’t like me. I would use Hamm to threaten Zhao Gongzi, but Jin Xian’er wouldn’t. Jin Xian’er would only use his despair-filled eyes to stare at Hamm. Those eyes would appear so dejected that I would feel as if I didn’t invite him to come live with us, I would be inhumane.
Winning a fight without even a battle.
That’s basically what it means.
I am a person who believes in democracy; so I made sure to get Zhao Gongzi’s opinion on the matter, but he disagreed with me.
No matter, I’m only asking for his opinion. Whether he refused or not doesn’t affect my invitation to Jin Xian’er.
Normally, I wouldn’t rashly do such a thing, but Jin Xian’er is Zhao Gongzi’s rare friend. Other than Jin Xian’er, it is truly difficult for Zhao Gongzi to find friends that can stand him and at the same time aren’t as annoying as him. Not to mention, Jin Xian’er has helped us so many times, for example, that poetry book that was re-signed by its author.
I unwittingly mentioned this, and Zhao Gongzi finally agreed to move away from the door, letting Jin Xian’er and Hamm come inside.
Jin Xian’er lightly smiled and said, “Sorry for the intrusion.”
Zhao Gongzi coldly humphed, then sat on the sofa and started reading the newspaper.
Jin Xian’er then said, “Actually it’s just for two days. After everything is settled, I’ll leave.”
I was afraid that he would feel ill at ease, so I hurriedly changed the subject, “What is it exactly? Those people that day seemed familiar, like they were——they were——”
I glanced at Zhao Gongzi.
If Jin Xian’er had made enemies of the people from Longmen, and went to Zhao Gongzi for help, then the matter would be half resolved. Besides, I don’t believe that Jin Xian’er has the capacity to do such big things. It must have been the people from Longmen making a mountain out of a molehill, or making something from nothing, or else they were trying to humiliate Jin Xian’er but failed, and so went into a rage born of embarrassment. Although Jin Xian’er was clever and smooth, it’s not as if I haven’t seen similar things happen.
Jin Xian’er waved his hands and shook his head. “It’s a personal issue, Mr. Qiu needn’t worry for my sake. If I made you worry for my sake, then I would feel guilty.”
I first chatted politely with him for a while, then invited him to my bookroom to take a look at my newly bought books. He was still a tad absent-minded and restless.
It wasn’t suitable for me to doggedly ask him for answers, but I truly was quite concerned on his behalf.
I knew that this was only the tip of the iceberg, or should I say, the tip of a pistol.
I had done nothing more than go out and buy some groceries. When I came home, I saw Young General Huo standing in the living room of my apartment. He threw down his gun on my new coffee table with a bang, and threatened Jin Xian’er, “What exactly do you want to do!?”
I don’t know what Jin Xian’er wanted to do, but I wanted to ask him to have mercy on my newly bought coffee table. I had saved up three months worth of overtime salary in order to buy it.
After all this time, Zhao Gongzi seemed to have also learned how to cherish and value things. Originally, he had been sitting on the sofa, not giving a damn about anything, just reading the newspaper, but now he threw down the newspaper on the coffee table and shouted, “Stay away from Laozi’s coffee table!”
General Huo didn’t pay attention to him and pretended he didn’t hear him. He continued to glare at Jin Xian’er.
Jin Xian’er gave me a glance. He looked uncomfortable, then finally he said, “General Huo, I’ll speak with you outside. Let’s not bother Zhao Gongzi and Mr. Qiu.”
“If you were worried about bothering these two then you wouldn’t have come here in the first place.” General Huo snatched the gun on the coffee table and stuffed it into Jin Xian’er’ hands. “Today you either have to leave with me, or you have to shoot me!”
This was why I said that Jin Xian’er is one of the rare friends Zhao Gongzi has who isn’t annoying. Zhao Gongzi’s friends always like to say things like “You have to do [blank], otherwise you have to shoot me”.
The first option was always something that people don’t want to choose, but then the second option was a choice people didn’t dare to choose. If they changed the second option into something like ‘otherwise step on me or kick me’, then they would definitely be able to form a disabled alliance.
This was happening in my home after all, so if something happened, then it would be messy. As such, I decided to ease up the atmosphere and asked, “General Huo, have you eaten yet?”
Young General Huo glanced at me, hesitated, then said, “I haven’t yet.”
I said, in concern, “It’s almost dinner time, General Huo should go back soon, then.”
Young General Huo’s expression was a bit complicated, and he glanced at Zhao Gongzi.
Zhao Gongzi turned his newspaper around, shook it, then continued reading.
I said, caringly, “You should go back soon then.”
Young General Huo said, “I’ll eat here then.”
Zhao Gongzi really is so annoying.
Zhao Gongzi coldly looked at me, “What are you looking at me for? It’s not like I’m the one to invite him over.”
Young General Huo said, “Here, I’ll cook. You stay here and rest.”
As he was speaking, he directly took the vegetables from my hands and took them into the kitchen.
Once upon a time, Young General Huo hadn’t been this annoying. Back then, he had just come back from overseas, and his wild playboy streak hadn’t yet shown itself. You could only see his youthful boyish spirit. What’s more, his cooking skills had their own special charm. I had once seriously placed him in my list of considered dates.
But, as was usual, at that time Zhao Gongzi always liked to steal my dating partners. So, this naturally ended without anything happening.
Fate plays around with people .
After all these years, Zhao Gongzi is as annoying as he was from the very start, sigh.
Zhao Gongzi’s Journal:
A certain moron thought himself clever and drugged Jin Xian’er.
And so Huo Feng was topped.
Jin Xian’er doesn’t want to take responsibility.
Huo Feng’s forcing him to take responsibility.
Haha.
They put on a good show.
The author has something to say: Treasure Zhao Gongzi’s first, and quite possibly only Haha
Rinrin: ….this is one of the chapters that made me have to admit that Zhao Long’s more perceptive than Yixin(at least on the surface….Yixin likes to play dumb and dramatic sometimes after all)
Also, the Jin Xian’er X Huo Feng ship is a reverse soldier X actor (军阀 x 戏子)， a historically accurate type of ship from the Ming Guo Period, which is nice subversion (as it’s usually the actor being topped, esp since the actor usually plays the ‘dan’ role (female role) in the opera
the translators note for disabled alliance is messed up
thanks for the chapter <3 and Happy Holidays! ^-^
👌 fixed it
…maybe let that certain moron take responsibility? haha
nono the moron in question IS Huo Feng hhhhh
thanks for the chapter!