Under Clear Skies Chapter 107/108: (Extras)

Chapter 107: (Extra)

Currently I can’t find it. If anyone wants to send us the raws to translate it, feel free. 

Chapter 108: Extra – Berlin Wall (END)

Translated by KarateChopMonkey of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

 

The moment they stepped out of “Chang’ai,” Tang Heng’s body, covered in sweat, collided with the damp cold air, and he couldn’t help but shiver.

“Damn,” Jiang Ya rubbed his hands, “it’s so cold, let’s go for hotpot?”

“It’s already so late,” An Yun said.

“It’s only half past ten,” Jiang Ya said, wrapping his arm around Tang Heng’s shoulder, “Son, call Li Yuechi too.”

Tang Heng let him embrace him, only murmuring, “So cold,” without saying anything else.

The three of them walked out with their instruments on their backs. The alley outside “Chang’ai” was too narrow; they had to reach Luoyu Road to hail a cab. After a few steps, Jiang Ya suddenly said, “Did you call Li Yuechi?”

“You,” An Yun scolded softly, “you’re the one with a mouth, talking incessantly every day!”

Jiang Ya was stunned for a moment and asked softly, “Are you two arguing?”

Thinking about it made Tang Heng annoyed. He nodded vaguely, “We are.”

Jiang Ya asked further, “What did you argue about?”

“Do you still want hotpot?” Tang Heng furrowed his brows, “If not, I’m going back.”

“Hey, don’t go, don’t go,” Jiang Ya quickly grabbed him, “Can’t I shut up?”

Tang Heng had been in Wuhan for six years and still couldn’t get used to the winters without heating. What was worse, this winter seemed particularly cold. He asked Jiang Ya if he felt it was colder this year, and Jiang Ya said, “Isn’t Wuhan always like this in winter?” Indeed, judging from the temperature alone, it didn’t seem any colder than usual this year.

But Tang Heng still felt cold, so much so that before going on stage today, he added another sweater.

When they arrived at Huquan, they found that the late-night hotpot restaurant was unexpectedly closed.

The three of them looked at each other blankly, finally deciding to buy groceries and meat from the supermarket and have hotpot at Jiang Ya’s place. On the way to the supermarket, drizzle began to fall from the sky.

The air became even more humid and colder, with even the light from the street lamps being obscured, leaving only a faint glow.

Tang Heng’s fingers were already numb from the cold. He took out his phone and lit up the screen with numb fingertips.

There were no missed calls.

It had been over 12 hours since this morning, and Li Yuechi hadn’t contacted him.

“How about you sleep at my place tonight?” Jiang Ya said as he tossed beef rolls into the shopping cart, “It’s so cold; don’t bother going back and forth.”

“Okay,” Tang Heng replied faintly.

“What about you, Lao An?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s great. After we finish eating, we can even play some landlord,” he chuckled.

They bought spicy beef butter base, and after the red soup in the pot bubbled, the air warmed up a bit. With Jiang Ya setting the air conditioner to 27 degrees, it finally didn’t feel so cold.

Tang Heng didn’t have much of an appetite. After eating a few slices of tripe and potatoes, he put down his chopsticks and stared into space while holding a cup of hot milk. Jiang Ya and An Yun, on the other hand, were enjoying themselves, eating and gossiping about other bands, which drummer slept with which guitarist, which lead singer was bisexual, and so on. Tang Heng listened for a while but didn’t remember any of it.

He knew his mood today had been terrible ever since the argument with Li Yuechi in the morning. They didn’t argue often, and today was purely accidental. He didn’t even know how they ended up arguing so fiercely over such a trivial matter.

Last night, before going to bed, Tang Heng had been reading a book about the history of East Berlin and unexpectedly discovered that the date of the fall of the Berlin Wall was November 9th.

November 9th was also Li Yuechi’s birthday. He was instantly excited and couldn’t sleep, spending the rest of the night looking up travel guides for Berlin, thinking that when his graduation thesis was almost finished, he could go to Berlin with Li Yuechi for a few days, considering it as their graduation trip.

In the morning, when Li Yuechi got up to go to school, Tang Heng struggled to prop himself up and said to Li Yuechi, “Shall we go to Berlin next spring?”

Li Yuechi paused tying his shoelaces and asked, “Why?”

“Just… for a trip,” Tang Heng wanted to keep that coincidence a secret, telling him only when they saw the remnants of the Berlin Wall with their own eyes, “It’s a graduation trip. After Berlin, we can go to Paris, and then to Marseille, along the Mediterranean…”

In fact, he was just excited and had no intention of going for sure.

But Li Yuechi stood up straight, looking serious. “I’m sorry… I can’t go.”

Tang Heng was taken aback. “I’ll treat you—it’s my graduation trip, you just have to accompany me.”

Li Yuechi said, “It’s too expensive.”

“It won’t cost much,” Tang Heng hurriedly said, “and I have savings of my own, so I don’t need to ask my mom. She won’t even notice.”

Li Yuechi frowned, his tone becoming somewhat harsher, “Tang Heng, really, it’s not possible, we can’t do this.”

“Why?” Tang Heng suddenly felt particularly wronged, “Can’t I just want to go on a trip with you?”

“In the future, okay?” He could tell that Li Yuechi was trying hard to control his emotions, “After I start working, we can go on trips together.”

But Li Yuechi’s attitude instantly infuriated Tang Heng.

He restrained himself, endured, and coaxed like he was soothing a child, asking, “Is it okay?” as if Tang Heng was just a troublesome child to him. Or perhaps, in Li Yuechi’s eyes, was he really not much different from a child for proposing a request like “traveling to Germany”?

But what had he done wrong? He just wanted to travel with him. He had never been abroad, so he wanted to take him, to show him the remnants of the Berlin Wall, to tell him about that incredible coincidence. He just wanted to give him good things.

“If you don’t want to go, then forget it,” Tang Heng said, “I’ll go with someone else.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. Can’t I find someone else to travel with?” Tang Heng said anxiously, “Jiang Ya and An Yun must have time; if they’re busy, there’s Ah Hao, and so many friends in the band. Anyway, I’m foolish and wealthy.”

“Tang Heng, stop it.”

“I’m not joking. I’m telling the truth,” Tang Heng raised his phone, “Do you believe that I can randomly dial a number from my contacts with my eyes closed—”

“You can do whatever you want.” Li Yuechi interrupted him coldly, then grabbed his backpack, slammed the door shut with a loud bang, and left.

The words they had exchanged during their argument echoed in Tang Heng’s mind throughout the day, even during the singing at night.

It really won’t work.

He was angry and upset, sometimes cursing Li Yuechi for being so damn bad, sometimes determined to ignore Li Yuechi for half a month, sometimes pulling out his phone, not knowing what he was waiting for.

“Hang, can’t you be more resolute?” Jiang Ya, full from eating and drinking, patted his belly and sighed, “I thought you seemed down today, turns out it’s because of a guy! Let me tell you, guys aren’t worth it!”

An Yun chuckled, “Is this conclusion based on observing yourself?”

“Don’t interrupt!” Jiang Ya continued, “Let me tell you, Hang, in an argument, whoever apologizes first loses! If he ignores you, you ignore him too! Let’s compare, let’s see who can outlast who!”

Tang Heng grumbled, “Alright, I understand. This time, I won’t reach out to him.”

“That’s the spirit!” Jiang Ya grinned, “Tonight, sleep at my place! The three of us can talk about life and dreams—”

Before Jiang Ya could finish, the phone on the TV cabinet suddenly rang.

An Yun teased, “Looks like we won’t get to talk, someone’s got a date.”

“Hello! Who is this—”

Jiang Ya suddenly covered the phone, making a shh gesture to them.

Then, he raised his hand and pointed towards the door.

Before Tang Heng could react, Jiang Ya had already hurried to the door and opened it.

Tang Heng: “…”

An Yun: “…”

“Hey, long time no see! Come in, come in,” Jiang Ya said with a flattering smile, “Are you here to see Tang Heng? Have you had dinner? Perfect, we’re having hotpot, join us!”

Li Yuechi whispered softly, “Thank you, but no need.”

“Hey, then I won’t disturb you guys. An Yun! Let’s go inside and play some checkers!” Jiang Ya said quickly as he dragged An Yun towards the guest room, shouting as he walked, “Bro, don’t forget to help me with that assignment! Thanks, bro!”

Tang Heng was stunned by this series of actions, staring blankly for several seconds before he remembered—they were still in a cold war with Li Yuechi.

Li Yuechi was wearing the same clothes he had on when he left in the morning, jeans and a camel-colored, rough jacket. Tang Heng always felt that his jacket was too thin, and when he asked if he was cold, Li Yuechi always said he wasn’t.

But the winter drizzle fell on his shoulders, dyeing the two narrow pieces of fabric a darker color. It was 12:27 AM and winter in Wuhan; how could it not be cold?

Li Yuechi looked quietly at Tang Heng for a moment before softly saying, “Why didn’t you answer the phone.”

Tang Heng tapped his phone, but there was no response.

“…It’s dead.”

Li Yuechi said, “Come here.”

His tone was very calm, even with a hint of certainty. Why? Tang Heng wondered. Clearly, it was his own bad attitude, clearly, he was the one who made him angry. Why did he have to go when he told him to “come here”?

But his body seemed to ignore his thoughts, or perhaps it couldn’t feel the emotion of grievance at all. His body just wanted to get closer to Li Yuechi, as if it were some kind of instinctual response to light.

Every time Li Yuechi said “come here,” he couldn’t help but walk towards him. He was really pathetic, wasn’t he?

Li Yuechi held Tang Heng tightly, his arms wrapping around his back.

Tang Heng heard him let out a long breath.

“I’m sorry…” Li Yuechi said softly, “I’ve been a bit upset these past few days, I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m sorry.”

He apologized.

Well, then let’s forgive him.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Heng also hugged him, rubbing his chin against his shoulder, “What’s bothering you?”

“My dad got sick.”

“Oh? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing serious,” Li Yuechi mumbled, “Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh… Is he better now?”

“Much better.”

“That’s good.”

The two embraced for a moment, then Li Yuechi took Tang Heng’s hand and called out to the guest room, “Jiang Ya, An Yun, we’re heading back.”

Jiang Ya quickly opened the door, “Leaving already? Stay a little longer!”

“No, thanks,” Tang Heng shook his head decisively, “He has an early class tomorrow.”

An Yun rolled her eyes, looking at Tang Heng with a face that seemed to say “you’re hopeless.”

It wasn’t until six or seven years later that they found out that Li Yuechi’s father’s pneumoconiosis had worsened, and it wasn’t the “minor illness” he had claimed.

On the way back, Tang Heng stopped by 7-11 and bought a cup of oden, holding it warmly in his hands. There were no other pedestrians on the road, so Tang Heng warmed his hands and reached out to hold Li Yuechi’s hand.

He decided not to mention going to Berlin anymore. If they really wanted a graduation trip, they could travel within the country, go to Hainan to enjoy the sun, which wouldn’t be bad either.

“Tang Heng,” Li Yuechi held his hand tightly and suddenly said, “I didn’t just brush you off back then… When I start working, we’ll go to Berlin, okay?”

“To be honest, I wanted to go to Berlin mainly because,” Tang Heng paused, “The Berlin Wall fell on November 9th.”

Li Yuechi fell silent all of a sudden.

Ah, did he sound stupid? On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and the ecstatic East German people rushed towards West Germany, democracy, and freedom. One year later, on the same day, the person who had made him fall in love appeared in this world.

Since then, every November 9th was worth commemorating, whether it was for the Berlin Wall or for him.

“Got it,” in the darkness of the night, Li Yuechi suddenly said cheerfully, “I promise you, we’ll definitely go to Berlin in the future.”

End of the story.