TL: Lattenights
Editor/TL-checker: PJ
Mild trigger warning
Non-explicit scenes of murder and sexual assault will be mentioned
The below excerpt is from the previous chapter, as a reader commented that they were lost about how the convo ended between CY and the system so I ammended it, thank you for pointing out how I can improve! I’m leaving it here for readers who read before the change happened.
Frightening sounds of meat being chopped was emitted from the kitchen. Chen You silently chanted, “I can’t hear anything, I’m deaf.”
After repeating this mantra a few dozen times, Chen You yielded as he jumped off the rocking chair, going over to check things out.
The man was chopping ribs, and it didn’t seem to be going well.
Chen You hummed with a smile, “ Just based on the noises alone, I thought you were chewing something.”
He leaned on the countertop as he ate a raisin, with no intention to take the knife, “When did you remember?”
Jian Dan raised the kitchen knife, and hacked downwards. The ribs bounced onto the floor, “Just recently.”
Chen You continued asking, “Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Jian Dan replied, “Still haven’t remembered everything.”
You said it so convincingly, now I can’t completely believe in the words you say, Boss Jian.
Chen You especially despised being friends with people with high IQ – he had to be on his toes all the time, wondering if the other threw in a landmine for him to step on.
“Um, Senior, the entire time after you got wounded, the words I said to you before, don’t take them to heart, ah.”
Jian Dan laughed as he asked, “You said a lot of things, which ones are you actually referring to?”
Chen You’s mouth twitched, You want to settle accounts with Laozi?
He earnestly said, “Senior, I had good intentions when I first started, really. I read online that you need a bit of stimulation to recover some of your memories. You see, haven’t you started to remember things now?”
Jian Dan replied, “Then I’m really lucky to have you around.”
Chen You simply followed up with, “ It’s good that you know.”
Jian Dan was all smiles as he beckoned the other, “ Come over here.”
The fine hairs all over Chen You’s body began to rise, “I’m fine right where I am; going into the kitchen will affect Senior’s performance.”
He cajoled, “Senior, I’m looking forward to a delicious meal from you.”
Jian Dan’s expression was a bit off. He looked at the kitchen knife in his hands, then at the chopping board in front of him, and finally at the ribs that had been chopped. He then quietly picked up the ribs that fell onto the floor and washed it under running water from the tap, “So troublesome.”
Chen You harrumphed, “ Now you know how hard I worked to prepare meals for you everyday, ba.”
Jian Dan held the kitchen knife as he walked to Chen You.
Chen You immediately retreated a few steps back, What what what – what’s going on? I didn’t say anything ah, why are you suddenly walking towards me with a knife?
He was pulled into an embrace. It was a bit warm, but… “Can you please put the kitchen knife down?”
Jian Dan kissed the youth’s forehead, “Be obedient, wait for me outside.”
Looking at the chaos that was the kitchen, Chen You was still in doubt, “Can you really handle it here?”
Jian Dan’s mouth twitched as he proclaimed, “I can’t make it scrumptious, but it will at least be edible.”
Though he said that, when the dishes were set on the table… his face had been beaten into a pulp.
Chen You looked at the man who was holding his forehead, with an expression that showed deep self-reflection as he realised how incapable he was, “It’s okay, I’ll just make a bowl of noodle soup.”
Chen You had just stood up when he heard the other man say, “I also want some.”
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.
“…Got it.”
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Efujgvlcu atf fzafca bo Aljc Gjc’r gfmbnfgfv wfwbglfr, la jii vfqfcvr bc atlr wbeat bo tlr – lo tf rjlv tf vbfrc’a gfwfwyfg, atfc tf vbfrc’a—tf’r gfjiis abb kliioei.
Chen You couldn’t talk sense with a high IQ pervert – he was very self-aware. Even so, the probability of not making a fool out of himself in front of Jian Dan was still very slim.
At the beginning of summer, Jian Dan wanted to shear the sheep.
Chen You wasn’t attentive enough for that kind of work, and was only responsible for keeping watch on the sheep. He was the one to maintain order amongst them, and let them come up to Jian Dan one by one while preventing a ruckus with his “persuasion skills”, “All of you need a haircut, every sheep will get their turn.”
A sheep went over, and when it came out again, it donned a cool new “hairstyle” – even when it walked, it actually swaggered.
After driving that sheep into the pen of sheared sheep, Chen You began to count them one by one, but he then forgot, “Senior, where did I count to?”
The gentle-looking man who was grooming the sheep said, “Thirty-seven.”
Chen You scratched his neck, “Oh, yeah yeah, thirty-seven.”
He then continued to count the sheep at the back, “Thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty…”
“This Jian Dan possesses a heart which has two functions, and he could still multitask well – he’s so brilliant that it makes me speechless.”
The system asked, “Feeling humbled now?”
“Pei.”Chen You said, “There are so many smart people in the world, and there are even more that are dumb. As long as I make sure that I’m not the stupidest, then it’s fine by me.”
The system was rendered speechless by his world view.
Chen You raised his water bottle and took a sip. Then, he gazed at the man not far from him, and he suddenly laughed impishly. He rushed over to Jian Dan, pressing on both of his shoulders as he jumped across his head.
Jian Dan and the sheep, “…”
“If you continue being so mischievous, I’ll have you pee under the tree.”
Chen You didn’t feel threatened – let him pee then, it wasn’t like he hadn’t done it before. On the entire ranch, he had already lost count of the number of places he had “sprayed” on.
Jian Dan graced him with a gentle smile, “You’re not scared anymore, right? Then, how about getting a tenth piercing?”
With this, Chen You immediately became obedient.
Jian Dan was busy from morning till night, however his mood was pretty good. It was evident on his face. While he was washing the dishes, he said to the youth in the living room, “When you’re done eating, go stargazing with me.”
Chen You was fiddling with the computer and didn’t even bother raising his head to look at Jian Dan, “There aren’t any stars out tonight.”
Jian Dan replied, “Then we’ll watch the moon.”
Chen You, “…” Either way, do or die, he still had to go out – he simply couldn’t remain home.
When summer rolled around, Jian Dan began to enjoy exercising outdoors. He said that the air outside was fresh, it was spacious and his limbs could even move about freely. Chen You only replied him with two words – He he.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and Jian Dan’s 30th birthday arrived.
According to the customs whence Chen You came, reaching the age of 30 was an important milestone in life. He bought Jian Dan red socks, red pants and also a long johns set.
Jian Dan said that he wouldn’t wear them.
Chen You gave him a look, “ You’re already 30 years old, what do you still want to look cool for?”
Jian Dan looked back at him, “Is being 30 considered old?”
Chen You laughed giddily, “Not old, not old – you’re still very robust and fit, really.”
‘But these long johns ah… “ He held them as he said pitifully, “I scrimped and saved dollar by dollar from my pocket money before I managed to have enough to buy them for you.”
Jian Dan flipped a magazine, “Your pocket money was given by me.”
Chen You rolled his eyes, “Senior, it’s very meaningless if you’re like this.”
He counted with his fingers,”My culinary skills are worthy of five star hotels. This isn’t too bad, right? Think about it, if you employ a chef with my skills, how much would their wages be? Also, I accompany you for meals and chat with you too… Even if you don’t take all that into account, what about when I sleep with you every day? If you find a partner, you would have to at least buy them a house, a car and also a big diamond ring.”
Jian Dan set the magazine down, “I can acknowledge the first few points, but the last one, I won’t.”
“You tell me, in all the times we did it, were you ever not satisfied?”
Chen You held himself back for a while as he waited for a reply, before he managed to choke up, “Fine, ignore that!”
Jian Dan’s lips curved, “Angry?”
Chen You sat crossed-legged, “I don’t dare.”
Jian Dan stroked Chen You in a comforting manner.
Jian Dan raised a herd of cattle and sheep, and therefore managed to do it in an extremely proficient manner while he himself enjoyed the sensation too. “Alright, I’ll wear the long johns, it’s just the colour, it’s… it’s too festive.”
“You’re wearing it on the inside, and it’s not like you’re going to flaunt it on the streets.” Chen You said, “The only people who can see it, besides you, would be me – and it’s not like I would disdain you for it.”
Jian Dan had a slightly awkward expression, Who would believe that?
The birthday cake wasn’t bought – it was handmade by Chen You, and he spared no effort in doing so. The end result was very satisfying, and Chen You gave himself 99 points.
The remaining point was for Jian Dan.
The lights in the living room were switched off, and Chen You brought out the cake. At that very moment, the joy in Jian Dan’s eyes was hard to conceal.
It was a milk chocolate cake, and at the top were two candles in the numerical shape of 30. In front of the candle was a line of words – Senior, Happy Birthday. There was even a small teddy bear drawn.
Chen You clapped as he sang the birthday song for Jian Dan, “Happy Birthday to you…”
Jian Dan listened to him in silence. He tilted his head to the side, and wiped the corner of his eyes with his finger.
When Chen You finished singing, he went forward with a smile, “Senior, make a wish.”
Jian Dan said, “There’s no use.”
Chen You wanted to hit him, “You have to make a wish first to know if it’s actually useless or not. If you don’t make one, then it would definitely be useless ah.”
Chen You’s face was very sincere, “You must close your eyes, and you also have to do it earnestly. Don’t say it out loud, just saying it in your heart is enough.”
Jian Dan chuckled, “There are so many steps.”
However he still did it all anyway. To make a wish in front of a cake 一It was his first time in his 30-years of living.
When the living room lights were turned back on, Jian Dan recovered his composure. All of his emotions were tucked away without a trace. He didn’t have the habit of baring his heart to others.
The cake was very big, and only missing two slices now. The rest was kept in the refrigerator.
Jian Dan pinched Chen You’s chin, and kissed him under the lights. He kissed Chen You for a long, long time.
They even danced to a song together.
That night, Chen You didn’t do anything with Jian Dan. Jian Dan pillowed his arm while Chen You laid on his shoulder. It was a rare occurrence.
They both slept innocently until daybreak.
After experiencing plenty of springs, summers, autumns and winters on the ranch, Chen You successfully managed to obtain 9.8 evil points from Jian Dan’s heart. He was still short of 0.2 points to leave the mission world.
However, even after a few more years, he was still battling those 0.2 points.
This situation was really similar to the first world, ah.
He was missing an opportunity.
One afternoon, Chen You’s adult diapers were used up. Jian Dan wanted both of them to go to the supermarket, but he refused. He was busy cleaning himself up.
“Stay at home, don’t run about.”
After saying those words, Jian Dan pecked Chen You’s face. He took the car keys and wore a windbreaker as he headed to the supermarket alone.
At times, some things and some people can’t be forgotten just because you want to forget them.
Jian Dan returned home from the supermarket. On the road outside of the ranch, he saw the brother he hadn’t seen in seven years. From the moment the other party appeared in front of him, Jian Dan knew that this day had finally come.
It took about two minutes, or possibly even less than that, for Jian Dan’s turbulent feelings to be calmed once more.
He parked the car on the side of the road and got out of the car.
He then walked over to Zheng Ze, “It’s been a while.”
Zheng Ze had his back against Jian Dan. Hearing Jian Dan’s voice, his entire body shook, and his cigarette fell out of his mouth. It took him a while before he finally turned around and affirmed it, repeating the same words to Jian Dan.
What followed was an awkward quiet.
Zheng Ze reached his hand into his pocket, feeling for a lighter and a packet of cigarettes. His hand shook a little. Compared to Jian Dan, it was as though the roles were switched, with him being the one who was under arrest.
Jian Dan watched as Zheng Ze pressed the lighter a few times, failing to light it up. Eventually, he snatched it over and lit it up for him.
With the cigarette lit, Zheng Ze took a huge puff, choking till his entire lungs hurt. Although he didn’t mention his reason for dropping by, his actions already gave him away.
Jian Dan requested a cigarette from him, holding it in between two fingers as he smoked from it, “Can you tell me how it was discovered?”
Zheng Ze lowered his head as he smoked, “Patients experiencing severe psychosis occasionally have short bouts of lucidity.”
Jian Dan said, “I don’t think that the words of such a patient can be used as evidence.”
“Of course that’s not the only point.” Zheng Ze said hoarsely, “I’ve always thought that you were born left-handed, but you actually weren’t.”
Jian Dan paused. This one or two seconds of change was the only emotion that leaked out of him, before he once more assumed his earlier countenance.
Zheng Ze continued to smoke, his voice muffled, “After you left, I didn’t assume that everything was done and over with. Who would’ve thought that a small case would eventually be linked to a massacre that occurred twenty years ago? I never would have thought that following those leads would end with leading us to you…”
Jian Dan listened to Zheng Ze speak, not saying a word.
It was only when he heard Zheng Ze question him for not turning to the police, that he opened his mouth, smiling as he stated, “It was already investigated, ah. There weren’t any leads, right?”
Zheng Ze’s face flushed red, feeling agitated as he continued. “You’ve seen it with your own eyes, you could have testified in court.”
Jian Dan replied, “I didn’t personally witness it.”
Zheng Ze’s voice was stuck in his throat, “You still managed to find those people. This meant that you had evidence, you just needed to turn it in.”
“If I were to turn it in, those people would only be changing where they live, and they won’t die. And…” Jian Dan flicked the ashes off his cigarette, “I promised them that I would avenge them myself.”
“That day was also like today, a very ordinary day – and then it just happened.”
He said in an unhurried pace, “I came back from outside, and I saw that the family dog was lying in a ditch. My dad and my grandpa were lying by the door. My mom, my sister, and even my grandma, they had no clothes on, and they were all just sprawled out on the floor. From that moment on, I didn’t live anymore.”
The cigarette in Zheng Ze’s mouth was trembling the entire time, and he threw it out onto the ground, “To be living immersed in hate, it has been a tiring life for you.”
Jian Dan laughed, “I didn’t have a choice, ah.”
Zheng Ze gripped his hair forcefully and rubbed his eyes, as though he had lost control of his own actions. “All the evidence has come to light, I’m the one who volunteered to look for you alone.”
Jian Dan cut him off, “All those years ago, you promised to help me with one matter. Do you still remember it?”
Zheng Ze looked up at him in a jolt, “I stand by my words. If it’s something I can help with, , I will definitely help.”
Jian Dan said, “I’ll be entrusting Gu Sheng to you.”
Zheng Ze’s body shook. After a while, he said, “Okay.”
Jian Dan continued,”Give me three day’s time, is that alright?”
Zheng Ze nodded, “Sure.”
Without saying anything else, Jian Dan carried the shopping bags in the direction of the ranch. From behind, Zheng Ze’s voice came incoherently, “Old Jian, I’m sorry, I… Put the blame on me, this way I can…”
“I don’t blame you.”
Jian Dan cut him off, “This is what you should do, and you’re doing the right thing.”
Standing at his original position, Zheng Ze slowly got down into a squat. He held his face in his hands. Was it right? He didn’t know. He only knew that if he hadn’t come over this time, he would have a guilty conscience for the rest of his life.
Even after coming, he still couldn’t live the rest of his life in peace.
…
THIS ISNT RIGHT! oh, we should be leaving him..!
hugs
TT TT i still can’t get over this,,
“………….…”
(｡•́︿•̀｡) Solo puedo pensar que jian dan fue la mayor víctima, quisiera que fuera feliz…
thanks for the chapter
😊