translated_Chapter 2

02: Sparrow Behind

Qiu Ci doesn’t mind playing with this kid for a while. The kid looks good and is very proactive, which hopefully saves him some trouble. “Okay,” he says, taking out a bank card from his wallet, “The password will be sent to you after you add my contact information. Spend it however you like.”

Jing Yueming looks at the man handing over the card with his left hand. Ai La was also left-handed. He takes the bank card and boldly pecks Qiu Ci on the cheek, “Okay, my boyfriend.”

He really is a likeable puppy.

Qiu Ci doesn’t skimp on praise, “Not bad, you’re great, really.”

Jing Yueming smiles confidently, “Staying the night?”

“No, I’m sober now. I’m going back next door.”

That’s right, they live right across the hall, very, very close.

After Qiu Ci gets home, he takes a shower first, washing away the stickiness all over his body.

He changes into fresh pajamas and makes a call to Su Yuyang.

The other end answers groggily, “Hmm? Qiu Ci, you finished?”

“You’re quite the gossip. I’ll have my assistant ask.”

“Wasn’t I just trying to find a reason? So, how did it go?”

Qiu Ci is speechless. Is he drunk? Everyone who knows him knows that Qiu Ci doesn’t get drunk. Caffeine and alcohol have no effect on him. “Little neighbor, quite proactive. Let’s take it slow.”

Su Yuyang’s tone changes, “Tsk tsk tsk, Mr. Qiu’s pursuit of people is really simple. Just one meeting is enough. Hey~, are there any options that don’t involve being a substitute?”

“Yes, there are,” Qiu Ci says, touching the paper drawing draft on the table. These things always make him feel at ease.

Su Yuyang is extremely interested, “What, what!”

“Look up guides and, pay to win.” At the very bottom of the draft are the words ‘2020.7.6’ and a circle.

“Forget it, forget it, I don’t have the patience.”

Qiu Ci chuckles. He certainly has patience.

…Next door, Jing Yueming can’t fall asleep no matter what.

He turns on all the lights and tidies up the house.

“Damn it, where did my earphones go again?”

He can’t remember how many times he’s lost his earphones, but he can’t bear to part with this pair.

When he loses them, he has to buy another pair of the same brand and model.

He can’t bear to part with these earphones, so he buys the same ones, pretending that he didn’t lose them.

Over the years, this model has become quite outdated.

Apart from the merchant where he initially bought them, no online store sells them anymore.

Jing Yueming can’t bear to look at his balance, and directly orders a new pair of earphones.

It’s only been a year since Ai La passed, and he’s already gay again.

Ai La was too outstanding, rich and beautiful.

His love surpassed his sexual orientation, and they were together for a while.

Most importantly, their hobbies were compatible. They almost never argued.

Ai La was usually gentle and elegant, but who would have thought…

She suddenly committed suicide due to depression.

Jing Yueming didn’t even have the right to attend her funeral.

Amidst the pain, he sees the merchant’s shipping notification.

? It’s so late, how are they shipping it?

Jing Yueming goes to class as usual the next day.

He thought he would run into Qiu Ci in the elevator.

As expected, this man still doesn’t wake up early.

Jing Yueming, full of freshness, takes pictures of his lunch to share with Qiu Ci. It’s a decent-looking rice bowl from the cafeteria.

Qiu Ci replies half an hour later, “Was in a meeting just now.” He includes a photo taken secretly of him sitting at the head of the table in a deep grey, very business-like office.

Imagining Qiu Ci wearing a white or blue shirt, looking serious and abstinent.

Jing Yueming can’t help but sigh, he really likes men.

Moreover, this guy looks so damn good.

In the afternoon and evening, Jing Yueming spends his time in the art studio, occasionally taking photos of his work to show Qiu Ci.

He gets the expected praise.

Jing Yueming hums a little tune as he adds color.

His classmate and good friend Zhang Kaizhe can’t help but tease him when he sees his elated appearance, “Yo, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen our good son so happy. What good thing happened? Did you find money?”

Jing Yueming scoffs, “I found a big one.”

“The biggest denomination is only a hundred. If you found a lottery ticket, go redeem it quickly, before it expires,” Zhang Kaizhe says, using turpentine to wipe away the paint that inexplicably got on his body. This is one of his few presentable outfits.

“Ha, what kind of lottery ticket is worth me going to redeem myself? I’m quite rich right now,” Jing Yueming squints as he examines his realistic floral oil painting. It’s amazing.

Zhang Kaizhe, seeing that he’s cleaned up most of his body, stomps his feet and throws the dirty tissue into the trash can with a basketball shot, “Where did the money come from? Did you hook up with a sugar mommy again?”

“Sort of,” Qiu Ci, is he a sugar mommy?

I guess so.

“Yo, let’s go out, treat me. I just happen to have a date with some junior girls at the bar tonight, help me save face,” Zhang Kaizhe says, putting his arm around his shoulder, trying to drag him away.

“Wait a bit, wait a bit, let me clean up,” Jing Yueming says, taking one last look at his painting. It’s too detailed, how can it be so detailed.

He uses the last of the turpentine in the jar to wash the brushes.

“Then it’s settled, I’ll wait for you,” Zhang Kaizhe says.

Whatever, I’m in a good mood today, I’ll hang out with him for a bit.

Several exquisitely dressed girls are already waiting downstairs.

Jing Yueming scolds Zhang Kaizhe, “You guy, how can you make people wait for you!”

Zhang Kaizhe tidies up his messed-up hair, “What’s the rush? It’s only a little after seven, the bar opens at eight.”

The girls decide to have dinner first.

Jing Yueming is pushed to pay the bill. Zhang Kaizhe says behind him, “Good godfather, I’ll definitely pay you back next month.”

“It’s not even the end of the month yet,” Jing Yueming says. Even when eating at a buffet, he chooses lower-calorie beef without dipping sauce, and some vegetables.

He needs to go to the gym this week.

Qiu Ci is a man after all, heavier, harder to hold, especially in bed.

After dinner, Zhang Kaizhe finally brings everyone to the newly opened “Amber” bar.

Because it’s a group-purchased booth, they’re shown to their seats as soon as they enter.

There are really a lot of people today.

In this dim light, Jing Yueming feels that Zhang Kaizhe has become better looking.

Not as good as Qiu Ci.

Qiu Ci might have some mixed blood, like a Caucasian.

Ai La was, Ai La’s grandmother was Caucasian.

Zhang Kaizhe brags to the girls, bragging about himself and then bragging about Jing Yueming.

He thought it would be a little interesting, but the facts prove that Jing Yueming’s orientation really doesn’t make him feel anything for normal girls.

Bored, he looks up to observe the various expressions around him.

He actually likes crowded places. He can see different people, their figures, facial features, and temperaments.

They all have their own characteristics. He carefully observes everyone’s movements and simplifies them into lines in his mind.

Or he observes what kind of clothes would suit the person better.

Like Qiu Ci, Qiu Ci looks good in shirts.

He’s on the thinner side, but even shirts have to be carefully chosen.

The color and material are extremely important.

Qiu Ci, Qiu Ci.

He misses him.

He opens his phone. The chat history stops at Jing Yueming asking him two hours ago, “Are you home?”

If Qiu Ci said he was home, and happened to be missing his boyfriend a little.

Jing Yueming would pretend to be regretful and say goodbye to Zhang Kaizhe, and casually reveal that his new lover misses him, this private matter.

But this guy hasn’t replied to him.

Still in a meeting, or at a social engagement?