Chapter 23

When Ding Ji could not bear it and was about to stand up and curse, Lin Wuyu finally stopped laughing.

He even wiped his eyes.

He laughed so hard even tears came out…

The room became especially quiet because of Ding Ji’s impassioned statement before, and there was no movement in the living room. It was unknown what the situation would be like when they go out in a while.

Ding Ji sat on the side of the bed for a while, recalling his own lines from just then, he suddenly felt a little awkward.

After Lin Wuyu started packing the drone, he was dazed for a bit before he stood up, opened the closet, and took out the leather clothes inside.

“Thank you ah.” Lin Wuyu said.

“Thanks my ass,” Ding Ji said.

Those sort of words, it wasn’t that Lin Wuyu didn’t dare to say them, it was that he was too lazy to say any more.

A few years before, he had said a lot of things. Every time, after each conflict, they would part on bad terms just as always, and it made him very tired. He only hoped to get along silently with his parents; no one talks to each other, no one looks at each other.

But Ding Ji was very impulsive today, like a firework that was set off 1 .

Those things, he didn’t want to say them and also thought it was unnecessary to, and even thought that they would be inexplicably laughable when said out aloud. But when they came out of Ding ji’s mouth in one go, he suddenly felt pleasant.

Refreshing.

It was the kind of refreshing feeling that you feel after being exhausted and then letting your body relax and not move a muscle.

He thanked Ding Ji, not just because it was right to thank him, but more so because he was thankful that Ding Ji brought to him a kind of elation that was like a soft shoot sprouting out of the soil.

Lin Wuyu wanted to take a lot of things. If his parents were not at home, he still wanted to take his favorite figurines, as well as the novel gadgets he collected when he traveled to other places.

But today’s scene was really unexpected. He could only take the most precious drone first. After all, everything else is expenditure, this can make money.

Although Ding Ji’s parents were negligent, it was obvious that his grandparents were very fond of him, and he couldn’t understand, of the many pieces of clothes were stuffed into the suitcase, the clothes were either rolled up or in a ball.

“Where are you going to live?” Ding Ji asked while cruelly squeezing the leather jacket into the corner of the luggage, “You can’t live in the school dormitory right?”

“Can,” Lin Wuyu said, “Our class teacher helped me apply with the school. If there are any issues, I can also live in his house.”

“Forget about living at school, and it would be so uncomfortable to live at your teacher’s house, why don’t you live at my grandma’s house?” Ding Ji said. “There is still a room vacant, my sister-in-law used to live there but it has been vacant since she married.”

“If I can’t live at school, then I’ll look for you.” Lin Wuyu was not courteous to Ding Ji either. This person had just been embarrassed all over, he had just recovered a little, if he refused, he would probably continue feeling embarrassed.

When they dragged three luggages out of the room, Ding Ji quickly glanced in the living room and realised that Lin Wuyu’s parents were sitting on the sofa.

Seeing them coming out, without speaking, Lin Wuyu’s mother turned her face away.

But Ding Ji still saw that her eyes were red at a glance.

…This made him feel a little apologetic.

Were the words just now too much? Even if it wasn’t too much, it was probably not what he, who was a kid they had met for the first time, should have said.

Lin Wuyu should have noticed too, and his steps stopped.

But he didn’t walk over, he just stood there, as if he wanted to say something, but couldn’t speak.

Ding Ji took a breath and wanted to say something to make up for it, but Lin Wuyu seemed to have eyes on the back of his head and he quickly raised his hand to stop him from speaking.

In just two seconds, he turned around and walked to the door, opened it and went out.

Ding Ji hurriedly followed, and did not forget to say when he went out, “Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie.”

Lin Wuyu had already pressed the button for the elevator and stood there facing the elevator door in a daze.

Ding Ji carefully followed and stood beside him, after hesitating for a while, he asked softly, “Just now was I…”

“No.” Lin Wuyu replied simply.

“Oh.” Ding Ji replied.

I didn’t go too far? Or what?

After Lin Wuyu walked into the elevator, he said, “They may have news about Lin Zhan.”

“Ah?” Ding Ji turned his head in surprise, “How do you know?”

“My mother is definitely not crying because of you, she is not so fragile. She only cries for Lin Zhan. Maybe she misses Lin Zhan, or maybe… she has news about him,” Lin Wuyu said, with no fluctuations in his tone, “They are the kind of people who take work very seriously, if there isn’t anything important, they usually would not be at home…”

“Then why didn’t you just ask?” Ding Ji was anxious.

“I don’t dare.” Lin Wuyu replied frankly and straightforwardly.

Ding Ji didn’t speak and looked at him until the elevator reached the first floor and the door opened.

“It’s okay,” Ding Ji patted him on the back, “Go.”

Lin Wuyu’s luggage was not taken to the dormitory, because of the drone, Ding Ji suggested that it should be put in his grandma’s house for safety.

“I checked.” Ding Ji said.

“Checked what?” Lin Wuyu looked at him.

“Checked your drone,” Ding Ji said, “but I couldn’t figure out the model. Anyway, for this kind of professional-grade drone, a set of batteries and equipment and this and that would cost tens of thousands to say the least. It’s too risky to put it in the dormitory. You still have two.”

“There is a cheap one,” Lin Wuyu said, “That one has a short battery life and is used for fun.”

“Are you talking about the cheap one you took me to play with during the holidays?” Ding Ji asked.

“Mhm, you don’t need an operating license, but you have to practice first and know the basic operation,” Lin Wuyu said, “So I took the small one.”

“How small?” Ding Ji asked.

“Half my palm.” Lin Wuyu said.

“…Can this even film anything?” Ding Ji looked at his hand.

“Who said it can film things?” Lin Wuyu said, “Other than flying, it can’t do anything, and it even flies unstably… You just take it and try it first.”

“Can I ask how much it is?” Ding Ji asked.

“More than a hundred.” Lin Wuyu replied solemnly.

“Fuck,” Ding Ji was stunned, then waved his hand, “I’m not going anymore, you take others to play!”

Lin Wuyu laughed.

“You laugh my ass,” Ding Ji was dissatisfied, “Get a toy, an unstable flying one even, to fool me.”

“I just said it’s just to make you familiar with the feeling,” Lin Wuyu said with a smile, “It’s not…”

“Then say it first, I’ll be familiar with it in 15 minutes,” Ding Ji said, “More than that would be an insult to me.”

“No need,” Lin Wuyu said, “It only lasts 10 minutes.”

“Then, 10 minutes.” Ding Ji said.

“Mhm.” Lin Wuyu nodded.

Ding Ji’s Grandma’s house was in an old community that was like a maze. The car they called was driven by a young driver. They regretted all the way, saying they shouldn’t come in, for fear that they wouldn’t be able to get out for a while.

“Don’t worry,” Ding Ji said, “I promise you’ll be able to go out.”

Both the driver and Lin Wuyu were skeptical.

The car drove to an old building under Ding Ji’s instructions and stopped. Ding Ji got out of the car, looked around, and suddenly pointed to the side of the road behind the car, “Come here!”

A kid who looked like a junior high school student looked at him nervously, “What are you doing?”

“Are you going to the supermarket over there to help your mother buy things?” Ding Ji asked.

“Yes,” the child nodded, “How do you…know?”

“Get in the car.” Ding Ji pointed to the car, “Show the driver the way, and get off when you get to the main street.”

“I have no money.” The child said.

“Who asked you to give the money,” Ding Ji pushed the back of his head lightly, “Letting you ride in the car for free.”

After the child got into the car and instructed the driver to drive away, Lin Wuyu looked at Ding Ji, “Are you not scared to run into others here?”

“You’re joking, I look so kind,” Ding Ji dragged the box into the building, “Who in this area doesn’t know Old Ding family’s grandson is warm-hearted and compassionate…”

“It’s probably after getting along for a long time that they can see your true nature through your appearance.” Lin Wuyu said.

“What’s wrong with my appearance?” Ding Ji turned his head and pointed to his face, “Do I not look like it[warm-hearted and compassionate]?”

Lin Wuyu looked at him, “Do you know why I keep not believing that you’re a student? And even more so not believe that you’re a top student?”

Ding Ji thought for a while, and continued to walk upstairs, “That’s true, you see, I grew up here, and the disposition of the people here are similar to mine.”

“That’s impossible.” Lin Wuyu said.

“Hm?” Ding Ji looked back.

“You’re special.” Lin Wuyu said.

“You can see it!” Ding Ji was very proud.

“…I’ve seen it a long time ago,” Lin Wuyu sighed, “It’s just you’re incredibly childish.”

“My grandfather said, children should be like children…” Ding Ji ran upstairs with the box briskly, “Can’t you hurry up?”

“Would you like to carry my suitcase?” Lin Wuyu said.

“No,” Ding Ji said, “I just remembered, there is a heap of batteries inside.”

The old-fashioned houses did not seem to have good ventilation, and along the way, many houses have their doors open, and the corridors were full of the smell of food.

Lin Wuyu initially hadn’t noticed that he was hungry himself. When he smelled these fragrances as he walked to the door of Ding Ji’s grandma’s house, he suddenly felt that he was already starving.

Grandma stood at the door and waited. When she saw Ding Ji, she opened her arms, “My dear grandson is back, come and let grandma hug you!”

Ding Ji rushed over and hugged grandma, “I did a good job in the exam.”

“I knew it!” Grandma rubbed his face with a smile.

“This is my friend,” Ding Ji pointed at Lin Wuyu, “Lin Wuyu.”

“Hello Grandma,” Lin Wuyu smiled at Grandma, and then stuck his head into the room to smile kindly at Grandpa, “Hello Grandpa.”

“Hello, hello,” Grandma beckoned to him, “You must be the supernatural being that our Ding Ji has been talking about.”

“Hm?” Lin Wuyu was stunned, and walked towards Grandma.

“Academic god,” Ding Ji said, “But almost like a supernatural being.”

Grandma smiled and stretched out her hand to hold Lin Wuyu’s face, “This kid is so handsome ah.”

“…Thank you Grandma.” Lin Wuyu was startled, but endured unmovingly, letting Grandma squeeze his face a few more times.

When Grandma entered the house happily, Ding Ji leaned beside his ear and whispered, “Reading your fortune, it’s an occupational disease.”

“What did she read?” Lin Wuyu touched his face, the warmth of Grandma’s hands still remained on his face, “Can it be said?”

“Normally she wouldn’t say,” Ding Ji said, “My grandma just likes to look, and she may not tell you if you ask her, saying that this is feudal superstition, so you don’t want to believe it.”

Lin Wuyu smiled and entered the room.

The luggages were taken into Ding Ji’s bedroom.

After putting the box in, Ding Ji walked around the house, “Welcome, this is where I grew up.”

“It’s quite big.” Lin Wuyu looked around.

The furniture in the room was all old, and the old-fashioned design obviously doesn’t match Ding Ji’s temperament, but to his surprise, Ding Ji’s bed and desk, as well as the cabinet next to it, seem to be made of redwood.

No wonder it didn’t change.

He leaned to the desk, bent over and stared at it for a while, “Is this black rosewood?”

“Yes,” Ding Ji came over, propped his arm on the desk, and touched the table with his fingers. “Can you still distinguish this sort of thing?”

“Can’t distinguish,” Lin Wuyu said, “Chen Mang from our dormitory has a piece of black rosewood paperweight, so I can recognize this kind of redwood…”

“My grandpa made it,” Ding Ji was very proud. “The old man used to be a carpenter, a super awesome one. When I was in elementary school, there was even someone who came to ask him to make furniture. These few years, he can’t move much so he doesn’t do it anymore.”

“Do you know how? Didn’t learn a bit?” Lin Wuyu touched the table carefully.

Normally, this table should have been used by Ding Ji since he was very young, but there was no damage on it at all, not even strokes.

Nothing else needed to be said, Ding Ji probably dearly loved his grandparents.

“I really do know how,” Ding Ji said, “I made the chair behind you. It’s all handmade, I didn’t use any electric tools, I made it all from the wood.”

Lin Wuyu immediately looked back.

Against the wall behind him, there was a small stool.

It was round, with three legs, about the height of his calf.

“This is the one?” Lin Wuyu said.

“Mhm.” Ding Ji nodded.

Lin Wuyu went over to touch it. Although it was very simple, the workmanship was quite good, and the lacquer painted on was also very good. For a child, it could be regarded as…

Wait a minute.

“How old were you when you made it?” Lin Wuyu asked.

“First year of high school.” Ding Ji said.

“…Then what are you being smug about ah?” Lin Wuyu couldn’t help but smile, “I thought you did it when you were in elementary school.”

“Fuck.” Ding Ji went over and picked up the stool in dissatisfaction, “Look at this handwork! It’s planed horizontally and vertically…”

“What did you make such a stool for?” Lin Wuyu took the stool, put it on the ground, sat on it, and looked up at him.

Ding Ji furrowed his brows, then sighed after a while, “Made it for my dad.”

“Then why is it here?” Lin Wuyu was taken aback.

“He felt that I was not thinking about studying, thinking about these useless things all day long, and I didn’t even make it very well.” Ding Ji said.

It was somewhat true, but this was what Ding Ji put his heart into, it was hurtful that his dad said something like this.

“At that time they had just returned to China a while ago, and my relationship with them was quite… bad, just awkward,” Ding Ji said, “One day my grandfather told me that the next day was my dad’s birthday, he meant to make me express myself a little bit, ease the relationship.”

“So that’s how it is.” Lin Wuyu said softly.

“I thought it was an okay idea. Since Grandpa said it, I complied,” Ding Ji said, “Actually, I could have just bought something, but when I thought about it, I wanted to be more sincere in doing things, so I wanted to make a woodwork. My craftsmanship was not bad, but because time was too tight, I still had to go to class, so I made it in a rush.”

Lin Wuyu sighed, “Then you didn’t give it in the end?”

“Rejected on the spot.” Ding Ji said, “Give my ass, it has never left this house.”

Lin Wuyu looked at Ding Ji, who quickly turned his head away.

It looked like he wanted to cry.

Lin Wuyu was a little anxious, if he had known the origin of this stool, he wouldn’t have asked so much.

In order to quickly distract Ding Ji’s attention, he said without even thinking, “Why don’t you make something for me?”

“Hm?” Ding Ji turned to look at him.

“For example… a small bookshelf or something,” Lin Wuyu said, “So I can put some books or something on it?”

“Alright,” Ding Ji said, “But you’ll have to wait, I have to pick out the wood first.”

“How about black rosewood, the color is nice.” Lin Wuyu said.

“Are you shameless or not,” Ding Ji said, “You’re not embarrassed to pick out wood for a broken bookshelf! Do you know how much it costs!”

Lin Wuyu laughed, “Then you figure it out.”

“Mhm,” Ding Ji nodded, “When is your birthday? I’ll give it as a birthday present for you.”

“It’s already over,” Lin Wuyu said, “Last month.”

“Then next year…” Ding Ji thought for a while.

“Never mind that.” Lin Wuyu interrupted him quickly.

“Then…” Ding Ji thought for a while, “As a congratulatory gift for the top student in the province.”

“What if you’re the top student?” Lin Wuyu laughed.

“Then the top student will confer it to you.” Ding Ji said.

“Alright.” Lin Wuyu nodded.

“It’s almost time to eat!” Grandma shouted from the living room.

“Coming!” Ding Ji replied, and asked as he walked out, “Is there anything else you want me to cook?”

“Smacked cucumber salad 2 !” Grandma said.

“Sounds good.” Ding Ji nodded.

Lin Wuyu followed him into the kitchen, not knowing what to do. After rubbing his hands, he casually asked, “How about I do it? Your grandma has been busy for so long, I’m embarrassed to just sit and wait for food.”

“Sure.” Ding Ji immediately agreed, took the washed cucumbers from the kitchen sink and put them on the counter, “I’ll get you a plate, I still have to make seasoning… Grandma!”

“Ai 3 .” Lin Wuyu was startled by his sudden roar.

“Don’t pretend, even an old lady can bear it,” Ding Ji stared at him, then shouted into the living room, “Grandma — What’s inside a smashed cucumber salad ah—”

“Soy sauce! Vinegar! Sesame oil! Mashed garlic! Put whatever you want to taste!” Grandma replied from the outside.

“Got it.” Ding Ji began to prepare the seasoning.

Lin Wuyu washed his hands, walked to the counter, and looked at the cucumber on the cutting board.

He took a deep breath and picked up the knife.

He had never cooked before, had not even watched someone else cook. After all, he had lived in school since junior high school, and it was impossible for him to have the intimate experience of watching his mother cook in the kitchen at home.

And he had never eaten cucumber, even if there was such a dish on the table, he would not pay attention to it.

Who would eat cucumber when there is meat?

Nevertheless, this was not a problem, he knew that this was a cold dish at the very least.

“Use this chopping board,” Ding Ji handed over a small chopping board and placed it on the original big chopping board. “This is for cutting prepared food.”

“Mhm.” Lin Wuyu put the cucumber on it.

Then he concentrated his gaze on it, and cut the cucumber in half in the middle so it would be easier to cut the cucumber further when it was sliced in half.

Then he took one half, looked at it for a long time, and then cut it.

Not bad, the thickness was even.

After he confidently cut half a cucumber into five pieces, Ding Ji stood next to him, “Wuyu gege.”

“Hm?” Lin Wuyu responded.

“Have you ever been in the kitchen?” Ding Ji asked.

“What’s the matter?” Lin Wuyu glanced at him, “I’ve entered, and helped serve the dishes.”

“Have you ever eaten smacked cucumber salad?” Ding Ji asked.

“Haven’t eaten.” Lin Wuyu answered truthfully.

“You eat and drink outside all day long from morning to night,” Ding Ji was a little surprised, “You’ve never eaten smacked cucumber salad?”

“…No.” Lin Wuyu said.

“Smack! Cucumbers,” Ding Ji sighed, “They’re not supposed to be sliced! Cucumbers, do you know? You need to smack! Piapiapia! Smack! How can it be called smacked cucumber salad if you don’t smack it ah? If you slice it like this then it’d be called pickled cucumber salad, do you understand?

“Ah!” Lin Wuyu felt that his brain was probably jammed just now. Suddenly a picture of a smacked cucumber salad flashed before his eyes, “I get it, smack into pieces…”

“Then, smack.” Ding Ji nodded.

It was much simpler than cutting.

Lin Wuyu happily picked up the knife and smacked it at the cucumber.

Simply neat.

A few pieces of cucumbers rose into the sky and fell onto the table.

“…It slid.” Lin Wuyu was a little embarrassed.

Ding Ji didn’t speak, picked up all the cucumbers, washed them with water, and put them back on the cutting board.

Lin Wuyu focused on gathering energy, and once again he took the knife directly and efficiently.

Clang!

This time it broke into two pieces, but the largest half flew out and hit Ding Ji’s face.

Ding Ji quickly caught the cucumber with his sharp eyes and deft hands. He looked at him for a long time, unable to stop the smile in his eyes, and finally said in a happy voice, “Academic god Lin! You have such foolish moments too!”

“It’s always slipping!” Lin Wuyu felt helpless.

Ding Ji didn’t speak any more, and after washing the cucumber again and putting it back on the cutting board, he started laughing wildly, quacking with joy.

Lin Wuyu stared at the pieces of cucumbers.

He finally made a gallant decision.

He put down the knife.

He directly raised his hand and slammed it down.

“Oh fuck!” Ding Ji jumped in fright.

Lin Wuyu quickly raised his hand, sounding a little excited, “It’s broken!”

“Aiyo,” Grandma’s shocked voice came from behind, “Are you practising? How come you’re only getting started?”

“Awesome!” Ding Ji gave Lin Wuyu a thumbs up, and then laughed wildly at Grandma, “He took a knife and flew ten…”

“You troublesome brat!” Grandma slapped him, “I let you make the smacked cucumber! You let someone else smack! And you still laugh! When you make smacked cucumber salad for the first time, you smacked it until it flew out of the window and you still laugh at someone else!”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Ding Ji avoided Grandma, stood next to Lin Wuyu, and pushed his body, “I’ll do it, you help me get the plate.”

“Mhm.” Lin Wuyu nodded and stepped aside.

Ding Ji picked up the knife and slammed it downwards three times, and the remaining pieces of cucumber on the cutting board were all smashed, “Can’t smack in the same place repeatedly, or it won’t be crunchy, right, Grandma?”

“It’s just knowing how to smack cucumbers,” Grandma said, “You’re still trying to impart experience.”

Lin Wuyu smiled and passed the plate over, watching Ding Ji fill up the plate, and then poured the seasoning on top of it in a flurry without even knowing how much to put.

This was an intriguing experience.

Lin Wuyu kept laughing.

He had never stayed in the kitchen for such a long time, and he had never known that cooking was so troublesome, let alone… that the kitchen would be so interesting.

The anxiety and confusion caused by the possible news about Lin Zhan actually faded away a little bit in the hectic kitchen.

Footnotes

original text used the Chinese name of a fireworks brand which I didn’t know how to translate so I interpreted it 拍黄瓜: a sweet, sour and spicy Chinese dish made of marinated cucumbers an exclaimation