Cataclysm Chapter 140:  Extras · Qixi 02 (END)

Chapter 140:  Extras · Qixi 02

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai           

 

Lu Xiuzhi said, “My real name is Lu Jing, courtesy name Xiuzhi.”

Kou Xuanling turned to look at Lu Xiuzhi, his face full of confusion. “Your real name is Lu Jing?”

Lu Xiuzhi nodded.

Kou Xuanling made an “oh” sound and ate the entire skewer of meatballs in his hand. His attitude was calm, but the calmer he was, the more uneasy Lu Xiuzhi felt. He wasn’t sure if Kou Xuanling would catch on. He asked, “A-Xuan, aren’t you angry with me?”

“No,” Kou Xuanling answered.

Lu Xiuzhi asked, “What do you mean?”

Kou Xuanling turned around and smiled at him. “I didn’t mean that I’m not angry.”

Lu Xiuzhi immediately fell silent, lowering his head and quietly following behind Kou Xuanling, obedient and dutiful. When Kou Xuanling asked him something, he would answer, and when not asked, he kept quiet. Kou Xuanling asked, “Lu Jing, the ancestral master?”

Lu Xiuzhi replied, “Yes.”

Kou Xuanling asked, “Why didn’t you tell me when we got married?” Their wedding had been held at the Kou family’s ancestral hall, with a ceremony that honored heaven and earth. He hadn’t mentioned it at the time, but now, four years later, he was bringing it up.

Kou Xuanling scrutinized Lu Xiuzhi. “What else are you hiding from me?”

Lu Xiuzhi remained calm, his gaze sincere. “Nothing.” The memory erasure of little Kou Xuanling had been a secret, one only the heavens, the earth, and he knew. A fool would be the only one to confess such things at this moment.

“I didn’t say anything at the time because I was afraid you’d want a divorce.”

Kou Xuanling asked, “Now you’re not afraid?”

Lu Xiuzhi subtly took his hand and smiled. “The deeper the feelings, the harder it is to part.” It was just a little quarrel. Didn’t Du Shuo also keep things hidden for a long time? It took him six or seven years to confess, and in the end, weren’t they still making up after fighting? He was just learning from his senior’s example.

Kou Xuanling suddenly remembered something. “So, you knew all along that I had been worshiping the image of Lu Jing?”

Lu Xiuzhi nodded. “As time passed, my feelings deepened.”

Kou Xuanling’s face flushed slightly, and he glared at Lu Xiuzhi, whose face had unwittingly grown thicker after marriage. “Don’t tell my dad or my uncle.”

Lu Xiuzhi immediately nodded, assuring him it wouldn’t be a problem. Kou Xuanling now felt strange whenever he thought of Lu Xiuzhi addressing his family members; everything seemed out of place.

Passing by a fruit stand, Kou Xuanling asked the price of durians. Seeing Lu Xiuzhi’s nervous expression, he bought the fruit. “So, you still want me to offer your image?”

Lu Xiuzhi held his fist to his mouth and coughed lightly. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

Kou Xuanling asked, “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Your hobbies and interests are not mine to take away. It’s just not good to directly tell you my identity in front of you,” Lu Xiuzhi said as he took the durian weighing about six pounds from Kou Xuanling’s hands. “I’ll carry it.”

Kou Xuanling walked ahead, turning into a supermarket where he bought instant noodles, a keyboard, and an electronic scale. Each time he bought something, he would glance at Lu Xiuzhi, his gaze strange enough to make Lu Xiuzhi feel uneasy and panicked. Fortunately, these were just the regular punishments, things Lu Xiuzhi had mentally prepared for. He had even posted a help thread about it, and the replies were nearly unanimous: ‘No matter what the punishment, just accept it obediently. Be sincere when admitting your mistakes. Generally, being punished means the crisis is over.’

Lu Xiuzhi had also researched the methods used by wives to punish their husbands in the human world. It was usually kneeling on a keyboard, with durians, washboards, etc. He was mentally prepared, so he could accept it.

While shopping, Kou Xuanling ran into Mao Xiaoli and Zhang Qiudao. After greeting them, he returned to the apartment he had bought as their wedding home. After Lu Xiuzhi closed the door, he laid out the items in front of him and asked Kou Xuanling, “Should I choose or do you want to choose? I’m fine either way.”

Kou Xuanling looked at him strangely and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”

Lu Xiuzhi’s heart tightened. Something wasn’t right. After thinking for a moment outside the bathroom, he took out his phone and messaged Du Shuo, who was celebrating the holiday. Du Shuo replied with two words: ‘Take care.’ Lu Xiuzhi turned off his phone and waited for Kou Xuanling to come out.

The durian, keyboard, and electronic scale on the floor seemed like terrifying ghosts materializing in front of him, but they weren’t enough to make Lu Xiuzhi feel scared. What truly worried him was Kou Xuanling’s attitude.

It was too calm.

Half an hour later, Kou Xuanling came out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, his face flushed. He kicked Lu Xiuzhi’s foot and said, “Go take a shower.”

Lu Xiuzhi pointed at the items on the floor. “What about these things…”

Kou Xuanling replied, “Put the durian and instant noodles in the fridge. Kui Xuan’s jiangshis are coming tomorrow, and they want to eat durian and instant noodles.” Upon mentioning ‘durian instant noodles,’ he showed a terrified expression, then continued pointing at the keyboard and electronic scale. “The keyboard at the branch office is broken, so I’m taking it there to be replaced. The scale was something Chen Yang dragged me to buy. Big Fatty broke it, and he needs to control his weight.” After explaining, Kou Xuanling looked at Lu Xiuzhi suspiciously. “You didn’t think I wanted you to kneel on these, did you?”

Lu Xiuzhi shook his head. “No.” He quickly moved the items away from Kou Xuanling and, before entering the bathroom, asked, “You’re really not angry?”

Kou Xuanling lazily lay on the sofa, not even turning his head. “It’s Qixi today. I’m not angry.”

“Qixi?”

“Valentine’s Day,” Kou Xuanling replied, looking back and resting his arm on the back of the sofa, chin on his arm. With a teasing smile, he caught Lu Xiuzhi’s gaze. “I’ve prepared everything inside. Are you still going to waste time?”

Lu Xiuzhi’s heartbeat quickened, and his breathing became more rapid. His eyes darkened. “Wait for me.”

“Mm, hurry up,” Kou Xuanling said.

Lu Xiuzhi hurriedly finished showering in excitement, using a floral-scented body wash for the first time. After finishing, he came out and didn’t see Kou Xuanling in the living room. Thinking he was in the bedroom, he opened the door, only to find it locked. He immediately tried another way to get in but heard Kou Xuanling’s voice say, “Don’t come in.”

Lu Xiuzhi said, “A-Xuan, didn’t you say today was Qixi, and you wouldn’t be angry?”

Kou Xuanling responded, “Yeah. Qixi, I wasn’t angry. But now it’s twelve eleven, Qixi is over. I’m angry now, and you’re not coming in.”

Lu Xiuzhi stared at the closed door, still excited. He never imagined Kou Xuanling would be so cruel. “A-Xuan, what if we try another punishment? Kneel on the durian? The keyboard?”

“No, don’t waste it. You can choose either the living room or guest room. Oh, and there’s always the shrine.” Kou Xuanling chuckled softly, making Lu Xiuzhi itch with desire. “Good night, sweet dreams.” With that, he stopped responding to him.

“…” Lu Xiuzhi silently turned around, grabbed a pillow, and hugged it as he stood in front of his shrine, staring at the portrait that didn’t look like him at all. “Different lives for different people.”

Fighting in bed, making up after? Nonsense! He couldn’t even get in the door.

 

Author’s note:

This is the end of the chapter.

Thanks to all the readers who followed along (I’m not good with words -_-||), thank you for your company.

 

 

 

 

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