Chapter 43: Stalking — Don’t Be Nervous, I Just Want to See Wifey
Guilt flooded Jiang Yunian’s heart as he followed Jiang Yan all the way home. Jiang Yan bent down to change his shoes and headed straight for the kitchen. Jiang Yunian instinctively grabbed the hem of his clothes. “How about I do it?”
Usually, Jiang Yan handled all the household chores single-handedly. He was a good cook, and Jiang Yunian’s stomach had long been spoiled by him; over time, he had grown accustomed to being taken care of. But today was different. He had wrongly accused Jiang Yan. His heart felt clogged, and he couldn’t simply accept the other’s kindness with peace of mind. He wanted to do something to make up for it.
Jiang Yan lightly patted the back of his hand, signaling him to go rest—he would handle it.
That wouldn’t do. If this went on, he’d sooner or later end up lazy and fat under Jiang Yan’s care.
Absolutely not.
Stubborn as a mule, he followed Jiang Yan into the kitchen like a little tail to help out. Jiang Yan, having no other choice against his persistence, turned his face sideways to look at the small face looking up at him. The white light slid over Jiang Yunian’s shoulder, making his brows and eyes look exceptionally gentle. Jiang Yan didn’t say much; he simply took an empty vinegar bottle from the cabinet and handed it over. “Then go buy a bottle of vinegar. We just ran out.”
Jiang Yunian, having been assigned a task, felt as if he’d been given a reward. He wouldn’t have been this eager to perform well even if a professor had called on him. Nodding his head repeatedly, he agreed and turned to leave. His steps were lighter, as if completing this mission would alleviate a few ounces of the guilt in his heart.
The evening wind, wrapped in the chill of the changing weather, seeped in, drilling down his collar and causing a fine shiver. Auntie Wang had mentioned that a new fresh food supermarket had opened on the next street over and was running a promotion; things were cheap there. He figured he could check out other things along the way—it would be more economical. He turned his steps and veered into that slightly deserted street.
After walking for a while, he didn’t know if it was an illusion, but the hair on his back stood up inexplicably, as if someone were following him. Jiang Yunian looked back vigilantly. The street was empty; only the wind was curling a few fallen leaves, making a rustling sound. He rubbed the back of his hand and quickened his pace.
The supermarket was decorated with lights and festoons, brightly lit. There weren’t many people at this hour, so Jiang Yunian found the condiment section without much effort. Rows of glass bottles dazzled the eyes. He stood on his tiptoes to take down a bottle of Ninghuafu aged vinegar, then picked up another brand to compare which was the better deal. Just as he was mulling it over, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
The vibration felt like an electric shock, stirring up a fine, numbing itch. Jiang Yunian’s heartbeat began to sink.
The screen lit up, and two messages popped up simultaneously. One was from Jiang Yan asking if he had bought it yet. The other…
[How did Wifey know I love eating vinegar the most?]
(TN: “Eating vinegar” is a Chinese idiom for being jealous.)
The premonition of being stalked just now was indeed real. He had followed him again!
Jiang Yunian’s hand shook, and the bottle nearly slipped. He hurriedly placed it back on the shelf and looked around. There were only a few aunties nearby picking through the discounted vegetables; other than them, there was no one else.
He lowered his head and typed: [What do you want to do?]
[Don’t be nervous, I just want to see Wifey.]
Jiang Yunian gripped the phone tightly, pressing the lock button with force, wishing he could block all those disgusting words. But the moment the screen went dark, it tactlessly lit up again, stinging his eyes.
[Turn left, third alley.]
[Come alone.]
Since he had followed him here and let him know, it was impossible that he just wanted a simple meeting.
Although he had long guessed that “LG” wouldn’t be content hiding in the shadows playing little tricks, now that the day had truly arrived, his heart couldn’t stop trembling. But if he didn’t take this step, with the enemy in the dark and him in the light, he would only become more passive in the future.
Despite his fear, Jiang Yunian wanted to see exactly who this relentless pervert was.
The sky had turned completely black, and the wind stung his face. It was dinner time, so there was almost no one walking outside. The entire night sky was shrouded in dark clouds, a hazy gray. Walking down the old street, the cobblestone road was uneven, the surrounding wall paint was peeling, and several streetlights were broken. The light was intermittent, reflecting off the pitch-black alley entrance like a gaping mouth waiting for prey to walk into the trap.
To be safe, Jiang Yunian quietly sent a location drop to Jiang Yan, then subtly covered it with his sleeve.
Just as the location was sent, LG moved upon hearing the wind, his precise prediction terrifying: [Next intersection, turn right.]
A chill rushed up Jiang Yunian’s spine, and his heart beat faster and faster. He didn’t dare disobey. He could only bite the bullet and follow the instructions toward that deeper, narrower, and gloomier alley.
The alley was so dark one couldn’t see their own fingers. The further in he went, the colder the air became. At the end was a wall, blocking all exits. By the time he realized this, it was too late.
Tap… Tap…
Heavy footsteps came from the alley entrance, slowly crushing the gravel.
Just as Jiang Yunian was about to turn around, a low, raspy male voice rang out, accompanied by the static fuzz of electric current.
“Don’t move.”
It was a voice changer!
Jiang Yunian froze, his whole body tense, his voice dry. “Who exactly are you?”
“Does it matter who I am?” The man sounded like he had a split personality, his tone becoming extremely mocking. “If I told you, would you come with me?”
The footsteps got closer and closer, continuously knocking on the door of his heart. Jiang Yunian maintained his composure. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the corner of the wall where several wooden planks of varying lengths were messily piled.
“If you don’t tell me… how can we…” He spoke with difficulty, feeling hypocritical even to himself.
“Heh, tell you?” The man let out a contemptuous laugh. “So you can go call the police?”
The rustling sound of clothes rubbing together accompanied a long, thin shadow approaching. Jiang Yunian could feel an arm slowly raising, descending toward his shoulder. He gripped his phone tight, aiming for the handiest wooden stick in the corner, calculating the best moment to pounce.
“Don’t rush,” the raspy electronic voice stuck closer, exuding a sticky gloom. “Let me hug you first.”
Just as the fingertips were about to touch his shoulder, Jiang Yunian’s hairs stood on end. Just as he was about to dodge regardless of the consequences…
“Ge? Are you in there?”
A clear call, wrapped in strands of anxiety, struck down like a beam of light, suddenly tearing through the darkness. It forced the hand intending to do evil to stop abruptly in mid-air.
It was Jiang Yan!
“Fuck!” The man cursed, full of annoyance and unwillingness.
Seeing that the person outside had found his way over, he dropped a final warning and quickly ducked into another alley.
“You got lucky this time. Next time, it won’t be so certain.”
Jiang Yunian spun around abruptly, but only caught a glimpse of a blurry black shadow thoroughly melting into the bottomless darkness. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed.
“Ge!” Jiang Yan rushed in against the faint light at the alley entrance, panting heavily. He grabbed Jiang Yunian’s arm. The force was so strong it felt like he might snap it, revealing an uncontrollable agitation. “I finally found you!”
His arm hurt from the grip, yet it inexplicably gave him support. The sudden turn of events left Jiang Yunian a bit dazed; he hadn’t fully snapped out of it.
“What did sending a location mean? You didn’t answer calls either. Is scaring me fun?” Jiang Yan lowered his head and cupped Jiang Yunian’s face, his eyes full of worry and lingering fear.
This appearance was a complete departure from his usual calmness; it was as if he suddenly had temperature. Jiang Yunian gently pulled his hands down, opened his mouth, and said he was fine.
“Did you… see a person pass by here just now?” he asked.
Jiang Yan frowned slightly, thinking back. “There was a man, dressed all in black.”
He paused. “What happened?”
“Did you see his face clearly?” Jiang Yunian backhandedly grabbed Jiang Yan’s wrist, asking urgently.
“It was too dark, I didn’t see clearly,” Jiang Yan shook his head. “He wasn’t very tall, looked quite ordinary.”
As he spoke, sensing Jiang Yunian’s unease, his tone suddenly turned cold. “Did he do something to you?”
Jiang Yunian pursed his lips tightly.
“Did he touch you?” Jiang Yan’s gaze sharpened like a beast whose possession was being coveted, carrying an irrational ferocity. He reached out to lift Jiang Yunian’s collar. “Where did he touch you? Here? Or…”
“No, no!” Jiang Yunian was frightened by his violent reaction. He hurriedly pulled his collar tight and took a step back.
Jiang Yan’s pitch-black eyes flickered with a cold, ghostly light, heavy and oppressive.
“Tell me, what did he do to you?”
Jiang Yunian tucked his chin, fear and hesitation intertwining. But Jiang Yan wouldn’t allow him to retreat. He grabbed Jiang Yunian’s shoulders with both hands, forcing him to look up and meet his gaze. “Don’t be afraid. Look at me.”
Those eyes were filled with undisguised worry. Jiang Yunian’s nose soured, and his eyes instantly reddened. The fear and grievance accumulated over this period, along with his avoidance and guilt toward Jiang Yan, kept blocking his chest, growing heavier and heavier. Jiang Yan’s words made it impossible for him to hold back any longer. He said in a trembling voice, “He… he’s been following me.”
Under the moonlight, the shadows of the two men in the silent, deep alley flickered between dark and light. Jiang Yan’s breathing became noticeably heavier. When he heard the content of the harassment messages, his clenched fists filled with blood.
“Ge should have told me immediately,” Jiang Yan’s voice was cold and hard, “instead of hiding from me and carrying it alone.”
“I couldn’t help it,” Jiang Yunian buried his head lower, the words he spat out as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. “He threatened me…”
Jiang Yan looked at his timid yet brave appearance, and his eyes darkened. He extended his arms, scooped the person entirely into his embrace, and held him tight.
Jiang Yunian crashed unexpectedly into the familiar embrace. The warm aura instantly enveloped him, dispelling all fear and coldness. He almost drowned in this warmth; his body became softer and softer, relying almost entirely on Jiang Yan’s support to keep from falling.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jiang Yan’s warm breath hovered by his ear, revealing an intense possessiveness. “With me here, no one can touch Ge.”
Something in Jiang Yunian’s heart went into disarray, and a strange emotion quietly sprouted. The intense sense of security bred dependence, causing him to lose all reason, wanting only to press closer to this warmth. He buried himself in the hollow of Jiang Yan’s shoulder, reached back to hug him, and a muffled nasal sound came through the clothes: “I’m sorry.”
Jiang Yan rubbed his chin against the top of Jiang Yunian’s hair, his ink-black pupils sinking into the night, bottomless.
“Why apologize?”
“…”
He, of course, knew why his brother was apologizing.
Those deliberate alienations, the avoidance, and… the suspicion and probing toward him—in this moment, they all turned into a thick sense of guilt.
What could tie a coward’s heart down better than guilt?
Jiang Yan raised his hand and gently patted Jiang Yunian’s back, seemingly forgiving, yet also soothing.
“It’s not Ge’s fault. It was me who didn’t protect Ge well.”
“But from now on,” he pulled back slightly, looking down at him, his gaze earnestly burning, “you aren’t allowed to make me worry again. No matter what happens, I will always be behind Ge.”
He paused for a moment, his posture set very, very low, sounding like a plea, yet also like coaxing or deception. “So, don’t push me away again, okay?”
Jiang Yunian stared blankly into those eyes that were filled only with him, and as if bewitched, he nodded gently.
“Mn…”
In that sound, there was an unprecedented dependence and peace of mind.
Jiang Yan smiled. He brushed aside the broken hair on Jiang Yunian’s forehead that was soaked with cold sweat, smoothing it out bit by bit. Then, extremely naturally, he took Jiang Yunian’s cold hand, interlaced their fingers tightly, and with an irresistible force, turned and walked out of the darkness.
“Let’s go home.”
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