Green Plum IslandCh42 - Born Cute

Yan Wanqiu’s meeting with Ding Baizhou is scheduled at a beverage shop on Nanpu Street. Auntie Xu accompanies her alone while Yan Kongshan and I sit at a table further away, watching.

The shop is quite busy with female customers and lovers; the two of us sit by the window and each order ourselves a drink. If not for the fact that Yan Kongshan is fixated in Yan Wanqiu’s direction with such a combat-ready expression, it would’ve looked like the two of us were on a date. PGgb0R

Outside, the temperature blazes at 30 degrees Celsius, in contrast to the cool air blowing inside the shop. Each sip of iced Coke with lemon quenches my thirst and sends a pleasurable jolt straight to my heart.

“I hear that military training at Hong City University is crazy tough. How was it when you were attending?” I try to distract Yan Kongshan with some light conversation.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

He doesn’t seem to hear me, his eyes still fixated on Ding Baizhou and his daughter, not even blinking. I’m slightly afraid that he’ll charge up to beat Ding Baizhou up — even though I can’t see his mood index, I’m willing to bet it’s red. Very, very red. I imagine his hostility towards Ding Baizhou won’t ever cease, never mind whether Yan Xinyu were still alive or not.

“Ah Shan?” RMoC W

“…Sorry.” He gives a start and looks back at me. “What did you say? I didn’t hear.”

Not that you didn’t hear, but you weren’t even listening.

I sigh internally, and repeat myself: “I hear our school’s military training is really tough, is that true?”

“Military training?” He thinks about it, then stares at me appraisingly. “Depends on who you are. You… I imagine it’ll kill you.”

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He’s not really one for hyperbole, so his words confirm that in fact, it must be actual hell.

He continues, “Near the south end of the campus, there’s a Sichuan restaurant. I don’t know if it’s still there, but when I attended, it’d already been in business for many years. If you don’t like the food on campus, you can order takeout from there. It’s delicious and cheap.”

I nod, taking mental notes.

“I’m sure the dorms now have air conditioning.” As he speaks, he looks over at Yan Wanqiu again. “Back then, we didn’t, and it was so hot…” 20pPQM

I can’t help following his gaze. All three of their mood index values are relatively high, indicating their good spirits. Ding Baizhou seems to have bought Yan Wanqiu a bunch of toys and clothes and is currently showing them to her one by one. I switch my gaze back to Yan Kongshan.

It’s not hard to sympathise with him; after all, anyone would feel uncomfortable seeing a child they raised for five years getting along so well with their greatest nemesis. Thinking back on my suggestion to him back at the hospital, even though I made it thinking of the two of them, I really didn’t consider all the emotions this kind of meeting would cause the two of them.

“What kind of person was Qiuqiu’s mum?”

Jarred, Yan Kongshan turns around. “Why are you suddenly asking about her?” XBd Uw

I take a sip of my drink, then answer truthfully, “Because I want to know more about you.”

Yan Xinyu was an important part of this uncle-niece duo’s life, and I want to know what kind of woman raised Yan Kongshan, then gave birth to Yan Wanqiu.

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.

“My sister…” After a beat, he continues pensively, “came off strong. That was what other people said of her.”

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Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Personally, I don’t understand how going off to be another woman’s kept man demonstrates his “manliness.” He really would say anything to conceal his own baseness.

“I didn’t know they broke up until Ding Baizhou left the country, and by that time my sister was already pregnant.” Pl1OA0

Yan Kongshan had ordered a mint tonic water. As time drags on, water droplets slowly condense along the outside of his glass. With every touch of his index finger, a droplet collapses and glides down, leaving it wet.

“I didn’t recommend her to keep the baby, after all, it would make her life exhausting and difficult. I didn’t want her to sacrifice herself for someone else. But she was determined to keep it; it was her choice, and wasn’t Ding Baizhou’s business or mine.” Suddenly, he laughs, somewhat helplessly. “You see, she was incredibly dictatorial.”

Outside, people pass along the pavement; the sight of me and Yan Kongshan sitting together at the table makes several young girls pause, their eyes wide and staring. I guess they’re curious why two men are sitting together sharing drinks at a beverage shop.

People’s views on gender tend to be set in stone. What men should or should not do, what women should or should not do. Z5efAk

“I rarely hear people call a man too overbearing,” I comment. “It seems that men should instinctually be domineering and women should be soft. But reality contrasts. I’m not domineering, Sun Rui isn’t soft.”

Softness shouldn’t be required of a woman or a label, and men shouldn’t have to come off strong.

“People who thought of her in such a way all wanted her to soften up.” Yan Kongshan then says mockingly about himself, “Even I’m not an exception. I wanted her to rely on me more, and to trust me more.”

I doubt any brother would be unfeeling towards their own sister having a hard time. I don’t consider his thinking backwards — after all, he was just being a normal brother. DptiI4

“Everyone has their own personality, their own way of living. As long as you know what you’re doing, nothing else matters,” I say carefully, making sure none of my words are out of line. “I don’t think your sister’s purpose was to prove she was better than any man, I think she probably had a dominating personality to begin with. She was born like that, naturally strong.”

At this, Yan Kongshan raises a brow and his lips curve up into a faint smile. I have no idea what I said to prompt this reaction, but as long as his mood seems to have lightened, it’s all good.

“What about you?”

“What?” I stare at him, confused. 6xTJP8

“Were you born naturally so cute?”

The complete turn of the conversation from serious to this catches me off guard. I’m startled, and slightly embarrassed.

I lower my head, chewing on my straw. “I guess,” I mumble.

The sparrow in my heart puffs up smugly at his compliment, strutting with pride. To be honest, I don’t think of myself as cute, but whatever he says goes. UMtHWV

As long as he doesn’t call me small. Anything else is fine.

After an hour, Yan Kongshan is really raring at the bit, but thankfully, that’s when Ding Baizhou and company finally seem to get moving.

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Ding Baizhou leaves with his things while Auntie Xu brings Yan Wanqiu over to us.

“Ah Shan, I want to stay with Grandaunt for a few days.” Yan Wanqiu sits on Yan Kongshan’s lap and takes a sip of his drink. The taste makes her frown; she forces the mouthful down her throat, then pushes the glass far away and doesn’t touch it again. j2RfEh

Yan Kongshan looks at Auntie Xu. “What about Ding Baizhou?”

“He’s going to take us home,” she says honestly. “He wants to spend a couple days with Qiuqiu.”

Going to her house is just so that it’s more convenient for Ding Baizhou and Yan Wanqiu to spend time with each other. Yan Kongshan’s face is tense and grim. He looks down at Yan Wanqiu. “You want to keep playing with him?”

She raises her head, not a hint of having been coerced on her face. “I do,” she clarifies. IOdW1V

Yan Kongshan’s brows furrow tensely, and there’s a clear sign of internal struggle on his face, although after a moment, he relents: “You should go home and get some clothes first.”

Auntie Xu says, “It’s okay, I have some. And Ding Baizhou bought her a lot of clothing, so it’s at least enough for her to wear for a couple days.”

Yan Kongshan remains quiet and doesn’t reply.

“Mian Mian, what flavour is your drink?” 65afr8

I take my straw out and let her drink directly out of the glass.

After a sip, she concludes, “Yours is weird too, but it tastes better than Ah Shan’s.”

About five minutes later, Ding Baizhou’s car pulls up. Yan Wanqiu waves a hand at us, then happily makes her way over to it.

I glance at Yan Kongshan, slightly concerned. “Let’s go too?” cJzrTR

When he calls the waiter over to pay the bill, we discover that Ding Baizhou has already paid, which makes his face darken further. He tosses a napkin onto the table and stalks off, not looking back. apparently unwilling to accept a single offering from Ding Baizhou.

I take off after him, not even having enough time to explain to the completely befuddled waiter the situation. Thankfully he isn’t walking too quickly — I manage to catch him right outside. I let him walk ahead, following right behind him. When we get to the parking garage and are about to reach the car, he swivels around as if struck by the sudden thought that he’d forgotten me completely, and then seems startled to see me standing right behind him.

“…Sorry,” he says.

“It’s okay.” I smile at him. Hd6AWK

Back at home, he tells me that he’s tired and goes upstairs to rest. I know he just wants to be alone, so I don’t follow.

I make some simple chowmein for dinner that doesn’t look all that appetising, although it tastes fine. When Yan Kongshan still doesn’t come down, I decide to go up to call him.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

The bedroom curtains are drawn, drowning the room in darkness. The air conditioner blasts at full power. Yan Kongshan is buried within the sheets up to his head.

“Ah Shan, get up to eat dinner.” I sit next to him on the bed and tug lightly at the blankets. vyd1Lz

Unhappy that I’ve stripped him of his blankets, and with a disgruntled air, he snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me down to him.

“Ah Shan!” I cry out, startled and unsure whether he’s actually awake or just moving unconsciously.

He buries his face into my chest, his grip tight. I don’t know whether he’s try to suffocate himself to death or squeeze me to death.

My breath starts to shorten until I’m in dire need to oxygen; before I call out to tell him to let go however, he releases me from the tight embrace, although his face is still buried so I can’t see him. jaJBbE

“I’m in a bad mood.”

Yes, I can tell.

His voice is muffled. “What should a boyfriend do if his boyfriend is in a bad mood?”

He reminds me of a dog latched on to its owner. As the thought crosses my mind, I reach a hand out and pet him on the head. His hair isn’t particularly soft. Rather stiff, and slightly spiky against my hand. XiCSxM

“I made noodles, want to eat?” I ask with a smile.

His arms tighten around me, expressing his displeasure.

I hurriedly explain, “I’m kidding! Lift your head up. Come on, otherwise how am I supposed to make you happy?”

At that, he moves and sits halfway up. HNJVez

Maybe it’s because I just touched it, or maybe it’s because he just woke up, but his hair is a complete mess. It doesn’t seem to bother him. Instead, I’m just assault by his attractive face and perfect eyebrows and the lackadaisical air about him.

“Do I get added points this time?” In the dim light of the room, I lean down with a smile, and kiss him gently on the lips.

After a moment, a long, drawn-out hmm sound comes out of Yan Kongshan’s throat. It sounds like a reply, and also like a sigh.

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