Chapter 2 (1/2)

Qin Shaocheng stood, unmoving, at the spot. The knot between his brows made his entire being appear extremely intimidating.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t come here to borrow money from you, so please don’t look so scary.” Jiang Yishan flashed a smile, adding, “The pork ribs and chicken soup are all cooked and there are egg dumplings in the pot. I bought beef stew. What other vegetables you would like to have besides broccoli?”

He looked calm and gentle, acting as though they were still as close as when they were in love with each other.

All of a sudden, Qin Shaocheng was overcome with extreme nausea.

As he looked at Qin Shaocheng’s sickened expression, a laugh clearly etched with disappointment escaped Jiang Yishan’s lips. “Do you hate me so much that you can’t even share a table with me anymore?”

There he goes again, attempting to use weakness as a means to evoke an angry reaction from him yet again. Qin Shaocheng thought to himself. They were already separated for five years. Moving forward from the entanglement they had in the first year, they had not seen each other for four years. Yet, today on the fourth Lunar New Year’s Eve after their separation, Jiang Yishan deliberately showed up, cooked all his favorite meals, and naively and innocently announced that he was home.

Qin Shaocheng knew Jiang Yishan had done it on purpose, using the fact that he had not change the door lock to piss him off. After all, Qin Shaocheng did not bother to change the lock or move elsewhere during those four years of separation. The dreams he kept in vain where his lover would come back to his embrace were utterly seen through and this made him feel completely humiliated, burning in anger.

It was then followed by the usual feebleness Jiang Yishan feigned, again so very textbook of him.

Saying that that day was New Year’s Eve, saying that he was penniless, and lastly, affirming that he would leave the moment he was done with one last dinner together.

As for Qin Shaocheng, he was like a prey caught in a hunter’s trap, hooking himself the moment the bait appeared. He had gone to his study, looked up information on Jiang Yishan and seen his pictures, before heading back to the kitchen to listen to him go on about how miserable his life had been until now.

——He was utterly caught in Jiang Yishan’s grasp.

Qin Shaocheng looked towards Jiang Yishan. Realisation dawned on him that this garish but beautiful youth had not changed a bit. He was still ever so rational and bright, and that every slightest trace of his emotions could be calculated meticulously without fail.

Turning around to leave the kitchen, Qin Shaocheng finally knew how he should deal with Jiang Yishan. Be colder to him, because he could not afford to be strung along by the nose anymore. As these thoughts lingered in his mind, the sight of Jiang Yishan’s quivering frail shoulders and lashes flashed before his very eyes.

Qin Shaocheng immediately regretted his action.

He should have left the apartment the very moment his gaze first settled on Jiang Yishan.

Jiang Yishan was preparing New Year’s Eve dinner alone in the kitchen.

They had rented the place and decorated everything in there together. Every item, every nook and cranny within the apartment was an embodiment of the memories they shared together. As Qin Shaocheng sat back down on the living room sofa in such circumstances, all he felt was that the sound of preparation coming from the kitchen was more agonising than that of the television in front of him.

“Done! Come and get your rice.” Jiang Yishan appeared out of nowhere and served the dishes on the coffee table. Space was an issue back then so they had not bought a dining table. In those days, Jiang Yishan loved devouring his takeouts while seated on the carpet.

Qin Shaocheng went to the kitchen, washed his hands and carried out the bowls. By the time he returned, Jiang Yishan had opened a bottle of wine.

“Do you want any?” Jiang Yishan poured a small glass for Qin Shaocheng. “Here, drink it. Just one is enough.”

The hot dishes on the table was steaming while laughter filled the air from the television suspended on the wall. Jiang Yishan lifted his glass of wine and clinked it against the cup on the table, wishing, “Happy Lunar New Year’s Eve.”

Qin Shaocheng did not make any move to pick up the glass. Jiang Yishan did not seem to mind it either. He drank everything in his glass.

While eating, Jiang Yishan intentionally chewed a little longer before saying, “Doesn’t taste as good as before. I’m losing my touch.“

Qin Shaocheng buried his head in his meal.

“Would you like some fungus fried meat? It tastes the closest to the one I made before.”

Only silence answered him.

“Nevermind then.” He drank another glass of wine.

Fireworks were forbidden in the city this year. If it was not for the Spring Festival Gala showing on television, nobody would have known they were having a reunion dinner as they sat around the coffee table in silence. Qin Shaocheng was quick with his meal, and he soon put down his chopsticks.

While staring at his empty bowl, Jiang Yishan asked, “I’ll go serve you a bowl of meat porridge with century eggs?”

Qin Shaocheng got up to clear the table while Jiang Yishan lazily laid back against the base of the sofa. It was only after Qin Shaocheng disappeared into the kitchen that he withdrew his gaze, and quietly sighed to himself. “He’s ignoring me.”

The Spring Festival Gala shows were horrible to watch, the dance shows they put on were too tacky and behind the times. Jiang Yishan roasted the show as he drank. Drinking with the boss and the investors all these years had trained him to become more tolerant with alcohol. Honestly, he hated drinking with a passion because back then, a spiked, strong alcoholic drink was the reason why his voice was ruined.