The Curse of Desire

This chapter reminds me of the song “No More Birthdays” by Sophie May. (Click for Spotify link, btw.)

How long before I can’t call you my sweet little girl?

 Help me stop time, you’re not allowed to be 19. 

You have to stay my precious baby. 

No more,

No more birthdays!

“This is my first time drinking.” Bai Qiuyi confessed sheepishly.

“It’s okay, just drink,” said a friend next to him. “Your big brothers here will carry you back when you’re drunk.”

These people all called Jiang Shu “big bro”, but in front of Bai Qiuyi, they all called themselves “big brothers”.

Bai Qiuyi seriously suspected that it was because his height. 1.76 meters was a bit insufficient in front of these friends who were all over 1.8 meters tall.

So this “big bro” title may be based on height and the shorter one was, that would be  the younger brother by default.

He silently took a sip of beer. 

Jiang Shu asked nosily from the side, “How is it?”

Bai Qiuyi smacked his lips, “It’s not bad.”

“The first time you drink, just drink the amount in the cup,” Jiang Shu coaxed him, “Don’t listen to their nonsense. If you are really drunk, wouldn’t you feel embarrassed if you were carried back?”

Jiang Shu advised him like this, but secretly, he didn’t really think there was any shame in being carried back. Still, because he’d decided to watch over Bai Qiuyi like a big bro just moments ago, he’d naturally wouldn’t let him drink too much. 

After all, what if he raised a little drunkard?

“Um,” Bai Qiuyi replied softly, lowering his voice, “I listen to ge.”

Jiang Shu was satisfied and felt that his little bro was very good and obedient.

Just after two dishes were served, Bai Qiuyi’s phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and saw Bai Junyan sending him a WeChat message.

«Have you eaten?»

Jiang Shu glanced at the side and read the word “mother”.

“Your mom?” he wondered.

Bai Qiuyi nodded while replying the message, “Yes.”

«I’m eating.»

«How is the taste? Can you get used to eating it?»

Bai Junyan probably thought he was eating in the school cafeteria, so she asked this question.

Bai Qiuyi replied with a serious expression, «I will, because it’s as delicious as mom’s cooking.»

When Bai Junyan read his message and thought of his obedient and filial answer, she couldn’t help but smile.

«Then you continue eating, mom won’t disturb you anymore.»

«Mom, you too go and eat quickly, don’t go hungry.»

Maybe Bai Junyan was too used to giving orders, and her son was also used to listening. Either way, he won’t ever give his opinion or think of caring about his mother.

Bai Junyan stared at this message and recalled when the little son insisted on picking up his luggage during the day. 

For a moment, she had mixed feelings. It seemed her son had grown up, now he knew how care about her. 

Yet, Bai Junyan didn’t feel much happiness. Instead, she felt a bit melancholic.

If possible, she would rather her son never grow up and stay by her side.

Bai Qiuyi put his phone away, and Jiang Shu immediately asked, “Are you done talking?”

He could have easily seen the chat content just now, but he did not do so because he did not get the permission of the person involved. But he was very curious.

“Yeah,” Bai Qiuyi took the initiative to tell him, “My mother asked me if I had eaten.”

Jiang Shu watched him, “You didn’t tell her that we went to eat together, right?”

Bai Qiuyi shook her head, “My mother thought I was eating in the cafeteria, so I didn’t mention it.”

“That’s right,” Jiang Shu approved of this. “Everything has to have a buffer period. It’s your first time living on campus, and your mother probably hasn’t adapted to it yet. It will take time for her to adapt. You can slowly tell her that you have made friends.”

Bai Qiuyi nodded, “That’s what I thought too.” 

As a big brother, Jiang Shu was very considerate. Bai Quiyi couldn’t criticize anything.

But he still felt a little sad. He didn’t want to be his little brother.

He wanted to be his one and only.

Um?

“Only”?

Bai Qiuyi suddenly reacted.

This was definitely not what the original owner would’ve thought.

It seemed that he was also moved.

Bai Qiuyi sighed inwardly, this was like in the last word where he was also easily tempted by the mission target to fall in love.

In fact, it was not his fault, it’s just that the men he liked were too charming and good at caring for him.

After having enough wine and food, Cheng Feifei asked for the bill.

Bai Qiuyi waited until Cheng Feifei finished paying and when the waiter left, he asserted,  “Feifei, we will add WeChat in a moment and I will transfer the money to you.” 

This meal cost over a thousand yuan. They were all students, spending their parents’ money. Bai Qiuyi thought they should split the bill fairly.

Zhang Daben and the other guy who had just met Cheng Feifei today had this intention as well. When they heard Bai Qiuyi’s words, they wanted to chime in to agree, but Cheng Feifei did not give them a chance.

“No need.” Cheng Feifei waves his hand and squinted his eyes at Bai Qiuyi, “Why do you call big bro Shu like that but you still call me Feifei?”

Bai Qiuyi blinked.

That’s of course because he wanted to create the impression on Jiang Shu that in his heart, Jiang Shu was special.

In fact, he was not faking it, because it was indeed true. But…

Bai Qiuyi reached out and poked Jiang Shu beside him. Although he could give a perfect reply that would not offend Cheng Feifei, he didn’t try to answer.

Requesting help to his sweetheart in an appropriate occasion could create a little interaction, and maybe he could also light up the spark of love.

Jiang Shu was originally waiting to see how Bai Qiuyi would respond. After receiving his request for help, he looked at his leg that was touched by him and found that he was feeling numb again.

He calmly retracted his eyes, looked straight to Cheng Feifei and raised his eyebrows, “Do you even need to ask? Of course it’s because I’m more handsome than you.” He looked around the table and paid special attention to everyone’s faces. “You all call me big brother, isn’t it just because I am the most handsome person in the group?”

“Listen, listen, brothers,” Cheng Feifei began to make a fuss, “Do you know how to call him in the future?”

“This is too much.” A local friend said.

“That’s right,” another guy also said, “I also feel he’s being too much.”

The local friend spoke again, “So, in the future, we should call him ‘big brother Shu’ instead of just ‘big bro’?”

“Go away,” Cheng Feifei laughed angrily, “A bunch of tail-waggers…”

In the end, they failed to split the bill. Cheng Feifei said that his family owned a mine, to celebrate their first time meeting today, he invited all of them to the meal.

Bai Qiuyi didn’t insist, but he made up his mind to invite Cheng Feifei to dinner next time. Only when friends come and go can friendship last for long.

The group of people walked out of the restaurant chatting and laughing when the street lights outside were already turned on.

The food stall in the middle of the road was very busy.

When the group first arrived to the restaurant, there were not that many people on the road, but when they came back, it was very crowded.

The weather was hot, and Bai Qiuyi’s back was sweating after leaving the restaurant.

“Wanna to go shopping?” A friend asked, “Or go back to school?”

“Let’s go shopping, it’s just right to eat and get familiar with the surrounding environment.”

Once again, Jiang Shu and Bai Qiuyi fell behind together.

“When Feifei asked that just now, why didn’t you answer?” Jiang Shu inquired.

“I’m afraid you’ll get jealous, ge,” Bai Qiuyi whispered, “I thought about it, if I had a younger brother and he called many people big brother, I would definitely be jealous.”

Jiang Shu paused. He hadn’t expected Bai Qiuyi’s mind to function like this. Then he thought of something else.

He looked at Bai Qiuyi, his gaze focused, “Will you get jealous with so many people calling me big brother?”

“No,” Bai Qiuyi shook his head, “Ge, as the eldest brother, you should have many younger brothers, otherwise how would you deserve this title?”

He was very sensible and considerate, but Jiang Shu wasn’t happy.

He didn’t know why, but now he really wanted to see Bai Qiuyi get angry with him.

He felt that no matter what the situation was, he could coax him to be happy again.

The translator has something to say: 

Jiang Shu: You don’t understand. I can master you, try me.

Bai Quiyi: … (speechless) …  Am I a dog?

Cheng Feifei: Well, I am a single dog. 

Jiang Shu: (ignores him) Try it, have a go at it. Fight me. 

Bai Quiyi: … (speechless)

Jiang Shu: (pleading) Pretty please

Bai Quiyi: … (slightly moved) 

Cheng Feifei: Don’t, don’t, w-wait until I leave…

Bai Quiyi: …

Jiang Shu: …

Bambi: … 

Cheng Feifei: Okay, I’m leaving, go for it! (winky face)

Bai Quiyi, Jiang Shu,Bambi: Just leave quietly!

I’m still running high from Kate’s ko-fi ♡ Makes me very happy know that people like and enjoy my translation, since I spend so much time on it. —Bambi