Translator: Helliot
Editor: P’Raikantopeni
–
Some things can erupt just like lava, breaking out from the crater so unexpectedly, that it’s impossible to escape before molten lava etches through one’s bones.
Meng Fu went to visit the He family on the third day of the Lunar New Year. The He family, which used to be so lively, was now left with only couplets on the door to add a meaningless sense of joy and prosperity.
Bringing along some fresh dumplings and gifts, he was greeted with curses as usual, but Father He was more tolerant of him this time around. He told him to leave the dumplings before waving him off and telling him to go home.
He was a little relieved that they were at least willing to eat his dumplings.
But after walking just a few steps, he was hit by a food container.
He looked back to see Mother He’s teary eyes filled with hatred. “What are you pretending for? My daughter is already gone, my whole family is ruined, and it’s all because of you!”
Meng Fu turned around and endured Mother He’s insults with embarrassment.
“Meng Fu, don’t you want to make it up to us? Don’t you feel sorry for us?” Mother He paused for a moment, her face twitching slightly. “Then go and beg Gu Ze to offer our family some financing! Go and beg him to help us get through our crisis!”
He looked up, unsure of why Mother He would come to him with this sort of request. Since they were He Manyu’s parents, then shouldn’t Gu Ze help them?
“I…”
“You won’t do it? You killed my daughter and you won’t even agree to something this small?”
“Gu Ze hates me,” he answered with his head down.
“Just go, Meng Fu.” Father He turned his head away.
But he didn’t go. He admitted that he did the He family wrong. He did Gu Ze wrong. But if satisfying this request could earn him some forgiveness from the couple, then perhaps he could be willing to beg Gu Ze.
Even if the chances of it succeeding was slim.
“I’ll do it.”
Mother He shook off Father He’s hand and turned around back into the room, soon accompanied by Father He disappearing behind the door, leaving behind only the loud slam of the door.
On the ninth day of the New Year, the restaurant reopened its doors once more. Perhaps since everyone was still caught up in the New Year festivities, it wasn’t too busy at the restaurant on that day. Meng Fu was constantly thinking about how he was going to bring up the question to Gu Ze, and on what position he should be speaking from. He knew that Mother He was making it difficult for him on purpose.
And who would be willing to satisfy the requests of their enemy?
–
On that night, Gu Ze’s fingers were constantly grinding against the red nub on his chest.
He was panting hard and tried his best to suppress it. It wasn’t until Gu Ze released it that he finally felt freed.
Thoughts filled his mind, weighing down on him.
As if it weighed a thousand pounds.
Gu Ze did not immediately leave after putting his pants back on, instead seeming to be lost in thought. Lighting a cigarette, the dense trails of smoke hid the emotion in each other’s eyes.
“Mr. Gu.” He took the initiative to call out to him for the first time.
Gu Ze looked at him, a vague hint of softness in his pupils.
It was as if they were decorated by the faint moonlight outside the window.
“What?”
He looked down at the plaid pillowcase, toes curling together. He held his breath, and even prepared himself to be beaten. “I…”
Even after a while, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Sure enough, he was still a little afraid.
“What do you want?” Cigarette pulling away from his lips, he exhaled a faint smoke ring.
“Can you help Uncle and Auntie He?”
He finally said it. His voice was soft, but it felt as if he were facing death unflinchingly.
Just as he was about to place the cigarette back to his lips, he suddenly paused. Standing up, Gu Ze stubbed out his cigarette on the table. A faint wisp of smoke remained as the flame was snuffed out, leaving half a cigarette lying alone on the table.
Meng Fu’s heart skipped a beat. It felt like that large boulder was crashing straight down onto his heart from the sky.
Gu Ze looked back at him, eyes filled with anger. “Meng Fu, how do you know about what’s happening to the He family? And what gives you the right to ask me to help them? Meng Fu, who do you think you are? You’re just a damned murderer.” He came closer, glaring fiercely at Meng Fu’s face. “Do you think that sleeping with me gives you the right to beg?”
“No, I don’t have that right. I’m just a murderer. I’m sorry, Mr. Gu. I was wrong.” It was an impossible request to begin with. “As long as I can help the He family, I’m willing to do anything. So…”
“Anything, huh? But of course, you don’t even mind getting done by a man, so what else can’t you do?” His gaze swept over Meng Fu, who was lying naked on the bed, flippant yet haughty.
“I…”
He lowered his eyes. Just the thought of Gu Ze’s semen still remaining inside him made him feel inferior.
“Can you kill yourself, then?” Gu Ze spoke lightly.
He paused. He couldn’t kill himself. Killing himself was the only thing he couldn’t do.
–
“Secretary Wang,” Gu Ze said on the phone while in his car.
Secretary Wang who was currently in the middle of something with his girlfriend quickly got up from the woman’s body and grabbed the phone in a panic. “Chief Gu.”
“Who has Meng Fu been in contact with recently?”
“That…” Secretary Wang thought to himself, Chief Gu, didn’t you tell us to stop following Meng Fu last year? How should I know who he’s been in contact with?
“What do you do for a living? Am I paying you a salary to eat shit?” Gu Ze’s loud scolding was transmitted through the receiver.
The woman was pissed after having a good time interrupted, so now hearing her boyfriend being scolded made her even angrier. She casually blurted, “What kind of shitty boss is that? Doesn’t he have some class?”
“Shut up,” Secretary Wang rebuked her.
“Secretary Wang, such a low class, shitty boss like me can’t afford to keep a high-quality employee such as yourself, so you don’t have to come in to work tomorrow.” Gu Ze was just about to hang up the phone after he was done speaking, but unexpectedly, Secretary Wang suddenly raised his voice on the other end of the call. “Chief Gu, I know what happened.”
Gu Ze did not speak. Secretary Wang gulped and thought back to the photos he never tossed out a few months before. “Chief Gu, I have something to show you.”
Secretary Wang quickly got out of bed and got dressed while the woman complained. “You’re an honors student from a big-name university. Do you really have to let that Chief Gu order you around?”
“What do you know?” Secretary put on his tie and fixed up his suit before leaving in a hurry.
“Hey, get back here!” The woman shrieked from the bed.
–
“These are the photos taken three months ago.” Secretary Wang bowed slightly in front of Gu Ze.
As he flipped past photo after photo, the anger inside him increased.
“Why didn’t you hand these to me sooner?!” Gu Ze tossed the photos violently to the table, scattering them onto the floor.
“My apologies, Chief Gu. It was my negligence.” How could Secretary Wang dare to retort? But he secretly slandered him in his heart. Chief Gu, you were the one who told me to stop following him in the first place!
Eyes peering down, the photo showed Meng Fu lowering his head, soup covering his body and a wound on his forehead.
He suddenly remembered the Band-Aid on Meng Fu’s forehead when he first slept with him. He had his doubts at the time, but he never asked what it was from, but now he knew.
Damn it.
Does this man have no shame? He clearly knows he’s going to be insulted. He knows it’s useless, but he still sends himself onto the platter just to get scolded.
What a fucking joke. Who would forgive him?
Settling his anger, Gu Ze said, “Secretary Wang, I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. The next time Meng Fu visits them again, I need you to do something for me.”
“Yes, Mr. Gu.”
Mr. Gu stared at the photos, cold words were spat out from his mouth one after another. Even Secretary Wang was shocked to hear them. “I understand, Chief Gu.”