translator: daisy
proofreader: jay
thank you for the kofi febgirl!♡
The store had a big entrance, complete with a dirty sign that featured some smiling celebrity. Next to it were the words “Annual Chess and Card Room”, which was definitely blocking the right of the portrait.
Examining the name, it seemed like a place where old people would go to play cards.
Sheng Renxing glanced at Xing Ye, who quietly replied, “Don’t talk later.”
“Okay.” Upon entering, the two took in a very lively scene. The area was set up like a living room, complete with sofas and a table. Two aunties were playing cards and chatting while eating melon seeds. With the air conditioner turned out, the smoke swirled around until everyone present was inhaling second-hand smoke. There were also several doors, some half-open and closed—although loud raucous noise could still be heard from behind it.
Sheng Renxing suppressed the itch in his throat.
An auntie twisted around to greet Xing Ye with a roaring “yoo-hoo!”
The other stared at her in surprise. Her greeting was very trendy and even spoken in a rhythmic manner. She then spit out a mouthful of melon seed shells.
“Xiao Xing came at just the right time. My car just arrived, so I’ll be leaving.” The auntie wiped her mouth, put the melon seeds back onto the table, and threw a bunch of keys at Xing Ye.
As she left, she took note of Sheng Renxing but didn’t say anything.
The other lady smiled, “There’s a lot of people today, so it won’t be an easy shift.” Turning to Sheng Renxing, she asked, “Is this handsome guy going to play cards?”
“My friend.” Xing Ye responded briefly and hooked an arm around Sheng Renxing’s shoulders to guide him upstairs.
“Oh, you guys go ahead.” The auntie seemed like she was used to his taciturn nature as she stretched out a hand to Sheng Renxing, “Melon seeds?”
The person in question shook his head and was pushed up the stairs by Xing Ye.
It was relatively quiet upstairs, although the air quality had not improved.
Xing Ye pulled him around a narrow corridor, opened the door of the first room, and walked in to turn on the lights.
The interior seemed more like a warehouse instead of a bedroom.
“Can you even sleep here?” Sheng Renxing asked wondrously as he went to close the door.
“Don’t close it.” The other shook his head and opened a window. With fresh air rushing in, Sheng Renxing ran towards it to take a breath of fresh oxygen.
“I can sleep when there are two people taking shifts. Although I haven’t slept before.” Xing Ye was usually the only one working.
“Aren’t there two people now?” Sheng Renxing motioned to himself, “I’ll help watch.”
“In a bit.” Xing Ye gestured to a chair, “Is this okay?”
“It’s okay,” Sheng Renxing put down his schoolbag, “This place isn’t like how I thought it would be.”
“What did you think it was like?” Xing Ye sat halfway on the table in front of him, took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer in a familiar manner, and offered one to Sheng Renxing, who shook his head again.
He wasn’t addicted.
“Like KTV.” He tried to think of some adjectives but ended up recalling the buildings he visited before in Xuancheng.
Xing Ye lit a cigarette and took a drag, “This is a small chess room.”
“I see that.” Sheng Renxing watched the smoke trail out of his mouth. As the wind outside dispersed the smell, he held back a cough, “There’s only one security guard.”
The other was stunned and shook his head, “I’m not.” He thought about how to explain the situation.
“You’re less expensive than a security guard.” He stretched out his arm and asked for the cigarette in Xing Ye’s hand, who seemingly smiled as he gave it to him.
Sheng Renxing took a drag; the nicotine taste was both new and exciting.
“Ack!” He turned his head and choked.
Xing Ye patted him on the back: “This smoke is choking.”
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.
“This taste…” Sheng Renxing wrinkled his face, beginning to suspect that this tobacco was actually some hay that Xing Ye dug up to induce fainting.
Fqbc fzjwlclcu atf qjmxjuf, tf gfjilhfv atja tf tjv cfnfg tfjgv bo atf ygjcv.
“Valii ublcu ab rwbxf?”
Vtfcu Efczlcu gfaegcfv atf mlujgfaaf jcv rajgfv ja atf qfgrbc cfza ab tlw. Wlcu Tf’r ilqr kfgf qjif. Lf vlvc’a xcbk ktfatfg la kjr yfmjerf tf rajsfv eq abb ijaf atfrf vjsr, bg lo atf bnfgtfjv ilutar kfgf abb ygluta, yea la ifv ab j rlmxis mbecafcjcmf.
There was a sudden noise outside, sounding like a quarrel. Xing Ye jumped off the table and strode towards the door, but not before comforting Sheng Renxing, “It’s alright. You can sit here for a while.”
The other shook his head and got up, “I’ll go with you.”
The doors here had the same design as those in KTV stores; with a glass pane installed on the upper portion, allowing for increased visibility.
Sheng Renxing followed Xing Ye and glanced outside. After confirming that a fight didn’t start, he silently took a breath of relief.
Xing Ye knocked on the door and pushed it open, “What’s the matter?”
The occupants were quiet, and almost all of them had a cigarette in their mouth, faces flushed. In addition to the four, there was also a circle of people surrounding them. No wonder it was so loud.
One of the middle-aged men sitting on the table waved at Xing Ye with squinted eyes: “Xiao Xing,” he said vaguely, “Everything’s fine. We were just making some noise and it got a little loud.”
“Fuck, hey,” One of the occupants scolded him with a smile and glanced at Xing Ye. “It’s okay. Leave us alone. You can go.”
Xing Ye swept his gaze around the room with an expressionless face and closed the door after confirming that it was all right.
After doing so, the two could still hear the chaos. It seemed like those men didn’t know how loud their voices were.
“Who’s this little boss? I’ve never seen him before. He looks tender.”
“This is my first time seeing him too. Can a student really hold down the place?”
The voice of the first speaker smiled: “He may be in school, but he can easily hold his own.” His voice seemed to be mixed with phlegm, “From the looks of you, he’ll knock you down in one punch.”
Several people smiled, and another occupant piped up, “Been in the ring?”
Heading back to the room and leaving the door open, Sheng Renxing asked Xing Ye, “Do they know you?”
“Acquaintances.” Xing Ye handed him a cigarette, “Can you hold this?”
The other took it as he took off his sweater, revealing a black t-shirt.
“Won’t you be cold?”
“I’m a little hot.” Xing Ye fixed his hair and threw the top onto the chair.
Sheng Renxing gazed at the cigarette in his hand and asked, “Regret bringing me here?”
“Huh?”
Sheng Renxing pointed to his right cheek: “Re,” and then at his left cheek, “Gret.”
Xing Ye glanced at him and smiled slowly, “Not really.” He bent down in an attempt to take the cigarette as he leaned against the table, “Half and half, maybe.”
Sheng Renxing moved to the side so that the other couldn’t get it and squinted at him, “Make your words clear.”
The other straightened up and shook his head: “You probably don’t like this sort of place.”
“It’s true that I don’t like it.”
Without waiting for Xing Ye’s reaction, he continued, “But I’m accompanying you.”
“And this is your work environment, so it doesn’t really matter if I like it or not. I’m curious at most.” Sheng Renxing shrugged.
Xing Ye shook his head.
“What about the other half?”
Sheng Renxing continued on, “Tell me about the other half.”
“There’s nothing to say about that.”
“Sure there is.” Sheng Renxing sat on the chair and kicked him with his foot, “Tell me quickly.”
Xing Ye thought for a moment before slowly leaning over, taking back the lit cigarette with an arm supporting the back of Sheng Renxing’s chair.
There was a dangerous aura in his eyes, and before Sheng Renxing could say anything, the other moved abruptly, and his vision went dark.
Xing Ye covered his face with the sweater that had been hung up.
“!”
Sheng Renxing raised a hand to stop the other and then lifted up the sweater. Cursing casually, he added, “Is today the day where you get back at me?” A lot of manhandling was occurring.
Xing Ye flashed a smile while the cigarette dangled in his mouth. Petting the other’s hair, he replied, “Puppy.”
“…” Sheng Renxing immediately leaned over to beat him up. Xing Ye’s cigarette was still in his mouth and he moved back to avoid the strike. However, blocking with one hand wasn’t enough, and the other clasped a hand around Xing Ye’s neck.
“Who’s the dog?” Sheng Renxing pressed the question while taking out the cigarette.
Xing Ye’s mood seemed significantly better. Without resisting, he calmly supported himself on the table, “The little VIP.”
Sheng Renxing’s anger erupted again. He glanced towards the cigarette butt held in the other’s hand and took a drag. Turning around to cup a hand around Xing Ye’s cheek, he blew the smoke out onto his face.
It was intended to be an extremely provocative action, and Sheng Renxing did do it in an aggravating manner, but he didn’t anticipate his other hand moving to hold Xing Ye’s neck, the distance between them decreasing even more.
Sheng Renxing froze in place, his mind going blank. Afraid to stare at the other directly, he could only glance vaguely in Xing Ye’s direction.
The other was also rather stunned and then turned to break away and cough.
He couldn’t tell how Xing Ye was feeling. Although he seemed expressionless, Xing Ye couldn’t look Sheng Renxing in the eye either.
Regardless of whether Sheng Renxing’s guilty conscience was amplifying the situation or not, the atmosphere was still a little strange.
Should I say anything?
I didn’t do that on purpose just now, right?
Can Xing Ye tell?
Fuck, he definitely could. Shit!
Sheng Renxing held onto the table behind him, his fingers turning white with the pressure, but he still couldn’t think of anything to say to ease the atmosphere.
Xing Ye also didn’t say a word, lowering his gaze to take out another cigarette.
With Sheng Renxing’s current state, the flicking sound of the lighter made him nearly jump out of his skin. That’s not a fucking lighter, it’s a funeral bell!
His mind currently held nothing but scattered thoughts of “I got exposed!”
In the next second, Sheng Renxing felt a palm on the back of his neck. Xing Ye moved closer and puffed a breath of smoke in his face.
Amidst the smoke, he could see Xing Ye’s solemn and cold expression. His gaze was shrouded, and Sheng Renxing couldn’t tell whether he was happy or angry.
What the fuck is this? Does courtesy demand reciprocity?
As soon as he was about to speak, he accidentally inhaled the smoke and promptly choked. Sheng Renxing turned around to cough.
Xing Ye didn’t pull his hand away. He kept it around his neck and rubbed the skin with his thumb.
The other schooled his expression and stared at Xing Ye complicatedly. This posture seemed even more like they were going to kiss.
“Want to smoke more?”
“I’m not going to secondhand smoke anymore!” Sheng Renxing retorted with clenched teeth. Before he could retreat, Xing Ye blocked him.
Ignoring his red ears, Sheng Renxing used brute force in an attempt to escape, but the other increased his strength as well.
He internally “fuck-ed”, Sheng Renxing’s bodily reaction was going to be difficult to hide very soon.
He was anxiously plotting a way to sit back in his chair. Forget about second-hand smoking, I’d have to start fighting with a bayonet!
Out of desperation, Sheng Renxing suddenly opened his mouth, “Woof!”
Xing Ye visibly paused. Taking advantage of the other’s shock, he immediately turned around to sit down, and then kicked the chair back, ensuring that he was at least eight feet away from the other.
After confirming that Xing Ye wasn’t heading towards him, Sheng Renxing furtively took a sigh of relief.
Xing Ye wasn’t focused on him. Instead, he was bent down laughing.
“…” Sheng Renxing lost all of his fucking face!
The person in question replied with an expressionless face, “Don’t laugh. I’m a Tibetan mastiff among dogs.”
Xing Ye’s laughter had already stopped, but after hearing these words, his mirth was uncontrollable, to the point where he couldn’t even hold the cigarette in his hands properly.
Sheng Renxing closed his eyes and told himself, endure!
After a while, Xing Ye lifted his head and abruptly barked at him.
“?”
“Is that how a Tibetan mastiff calls out?”
“…” I see. You’re fucking imitating me.
Sheng Renxing severely raised his foot and kicked the leg of the table: “I’m one sentence away from dying of anger and shame. If you don’t say anything flattering soon, the police will take your body away tomorrow.”
Xing Ye stopped to think for a while, “That posture just now is very handsome.”
“…Thank you!”
It was silent between the two for a long time. Sheng Renxing calmed down while Xing Ye smoked quietly.
Sheng Renxing didn’t know whether the other was aware or not, and began to recall every detail in his mind. He wanted to find some evidence that proved the fact but was simultaneously afraid of its existence.
Thinking about it, his brain naturally turned to the image of Xing Ye puffing smoke at himself.
He immediately opened his eyes to stop the image from forming, took a deep breath and got up, “I’m going to the washroom.”
There wasn’t an ensuite bathroom; they were in the corridor.
Xing Ye didn’t follow. Sheng Renxing stood in the dirty and smelly men’s room.
Who knew what the stains on the tiles were?
Taking in the sight, his brain suddenly calmed down as he slowly recalled what had just happened. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Xing Ye definitely knew.
Fuck!
Xing Ye said that he didn’t mind, but it was on the basis that he didn’t have any feelings for Sheng Renxing.
What would he say when he found out the truth?
That all of Sheng Renxing’s kindness was because he liked him?
The more he thought about it, the more his mental fortitude crumbled.
Sheng Renxing turned on the tap and splashed his face with cold water while studying his bloodless face in the mirror.
He thought to himself, “Fuck it, if nothing else works, I’ll just confess.”
After adding layers upon layers of protective measures to himself, he walked out of the bathroom and inched his way back towards the bedroom.
The thoughts of “everything will settle one way or another after you confess”, and “Xing Ye is just pretending to not know” started a miniature war in his mind as they bounced around aimlessly.
If he kept this up, he’d have a mental breakdown sooner rather than later.
After a short distance, Sheng Renxing opened the door of the room, only to find that no one was there.
Wow, that sexual tension, but stop breathing smoke all over each other.
damn you your comments always get the best of me
Oho? Did Yeye realize? FINALLY??? TELL ME A CONFESSION SCENE IS COMING SOON.
Ty for the chapter!!💜💜💜
Oh oh what will happen next??
thanks for the chapter <3
I am excited for the next chapter.