[Translation] Stray Dog Bones (野狗骨头) by Xiu Tu Cheng (休屠城): Chapter 3: Miao Jing, You've Got Some Nerve.

 

What became of that gang of delinquents from back then?

Some ended up in prison.

Some ended up dead.

Among those still free, the ones from wealthy families studied abroad and inherited family businesses, becoming polished members of the elite. The lucky ones struck it rich through redevelopment projects, factories, or construction contracts and turned into nouveau riche businessmen.

The ordinary kids who settled down led much simpler lives. Datou Yuan married a former punk girl; one became a hairstylist, the other a beautician. A-Yong became an auxiliary police officer, spending his days in uniform under the sun. Others sold used cars, delivered packages, or worked in auto repair shops.

As for Chen Yi—the toughest one among them back then—he became the owner of a small billiards hall.

He knew a little about everything.

Dabbled in a little of everything.

One venture rose while another failed.

Aside from that face of his, he hadn't become anything particularly remarkable.





The entire length of Guihua Street was lined with open-air food stalls. Supper service lasted until two in the morning.

Daimao, Zhao Kun, Huaqiang, and the others sat beneath camphor trees with a table full of liquor and beer.

Officially, the gathering was to welcome Chen Yi home.

He'd returned from Yunnan after making money and hadn't forgotten his friends.

Huaqiang was the first to raise three glasses in self-punishment.

The year before, he'd opened an arcade that was later shut down after being reported. He'd been the one who convinced Chen Yi to invest. The money had vanished, yet Chen Yi had never lost his temper about it.

Now Huaqiang was talking about making a comeback and discussing potential opportunities to get rich, if only he had the right connections and startup capital.

Everyone ate and drank happily.

Only Chen Yi seemed distracted.

One cigarette followed another.

His phone buzzed repeatedly on the table.

He acted as though he couldn't hear it.

Slumped lazily in a plastic chair, head tilted back, he stared into space through a haze of smoke.

Several young women passing by couldn't help glancing at him.

Their eyes traveled from his sharp brows to the prominent line of his throat.

More than one blushed.

"Brother Yi, Sister Lili called my phone looking for you."

A beautiful woman approached from across the street.

Chanel No. 5 perfume.

Rose-colored lips.

Red hair.

A lace bodycon dress.

Ten-centimeter heels.

Striking and impossible to ignore.





Tu Li was Chen Yi's girlfriend.

She had graduated from a vocational dance school.

The two had met in a bar.

At the time, she performed jazz dance routines there and would occasionally mingle with customers during breaks.

One night, she accidentally spilled a glass of red wine onto Chen Yi's white shirt.

That was how they met.

After their relationship became stable, Tu Li quit the nightlife scene and worked as a cashier at Chen Yi's billiards hall.

After a few months, however, she grew jealous of the many young girls who flocked around him.

Unable to endure the constant arguments, Chen Yi found her a receptionist job at a gym.

She had originally been scheduled to work until eleven that evening, but she left early to see him.

The moment she spotted Chen Yi among the crowd, she smiled.

Clicking across the pavement in her heels, she joined the group.

The others immediately greeted her as "sister-in-law."

Laughing, she dragged over a chair and sat beside Chen Yi.

Patting his cheek, she asked:

"Did you miss me?"

Her dress was low-cut.

Impossible not to notice.

When they first started dating, she'd once asked him what kind of women he liked.

His eyes had wandered toward a glamorous model in a magazine.

Ever since then, she'd consciously cultivated a sexy image.





Chen Yi's gaze flickered over her briefly.

The scar cutting through his eyebrow tightened slightly.

His expression remained indifferent.

Long legs spread casually beneath the table.

His voice, roughened by alcohol and cigarettes, carried a lazy sensual rasp.

"You came."

Everyone teased them for a while.

Another round of drinks followed.

Then the conversation moved on.

Tu Li leaned against his arm without restraint.

Her fingers rubbed his rough jaw.

Traced his cheek.

Brushed behind his ear.

Slid down the back of his neck.

The jade pendant hanging from the black cord around his neck swayed gently and tapped against his collarbone.

Normally, Chen Yi would already have pulled her closer.

Tonight, though, he seemed absent-minded.

Completely unresponsive.

Strange.





Seeing how attached Tu Li was to him, everyone got the hint.

Dinner ended quickly.

The others disappeared one by one.

Holding his arm, Tu Li hailed a taxi.

Naturally, she intended to spend the night at his apartment.

Chen Yi stopped her.

"Not tonight."

She blinked.

"What do you mean, not tonight?"

Her hand pressed playfully against his chest.

"What, are you on your period? Or did something stop working on the way back?"

He lit another cigarette.

Deeply inhaled.

"It's not convenient."

"Yesterday you were the one calling me over."

"Not tonight."

He lowered his eyes.

"Something came up at home."

"You live alone. What could possibly happen at home?"

His expression darkened instantly.

"You ask too many questions."

The sharpness in his eyes returned.

"What business is it of yours?"

A taxi pulled up.

"Get in."

Tu Li muttered under her breath.

"What a buzzkill."

They hadn't seen each other for almost a month.

Since she lived with her parents and younger brother, they usually spent the night together at Chen Yi's place.





After sending her home, Chen Yi went to the billiards hall.

It was located behind a vocational school's dormitory building. Nearby stood a branch campus of a junior college.

Most customers were students.

Since it was still summer vacation, business was slow.

There was no need for Chen Yi to watch the place every day.

Bozai alone was enough.

Bozai had grown up in the neighborhood with Chen Yi.

Small and skinny, but vicious in a fight.

After injuring his leg and developing a limp, he'd calmed down considerably.

When Chen Yi opened the billiards hall, Bozai became his employee.

The pay was good enough to support a family.

He married.

Life gradually settled down.

That night the hall remained open until midnight.

Chen Yi told Bozai to head home early.

He'd watch the place himself.

Before leaving, Bozai hesitated.

"Something wrong, Brother Yi?"

"Nothing."

Chen Yi waved him off.

"You've worked hard while I was gone. Take a few days off."

"Sounds good."

Bozai grinned.

"I'll spend tomorrow shopping with my wife."





Chen Yi slept on the long sofa in the lounge.

The next day he played billiards with regular customers, coached a few games, and passed the time.

In the afternoon, Tu Li called again.

She had an early shift and wanted him to pick her up.

He lazily replied:

"Busy."

Then hung up.

She found his attitude strange.

But Chen Yi had always been moody.

She decided to wait a few days before bothering him again.





When Bozai returned to relieve him, Chen Yi finally went home.

He wanted a shower.

Some clean clothes.

That was all.

The apartment was empty.

But it no longer looked like the chaotic mess he'd left behind.

Everything was spotless.

Both bedroom doors stood open.

The balcony door was open as well, allowing fresh air to circulate.

The damp, musty smell characteristic of old apartments had disappeared.

Instead, the place felt bright, cool, cozy.

Faintly fragrant.

Fresh fruit sat on the table.

Half a watermelon rested in the refrigerator.

Fresh vegetables.

Eggs.

Milk.

Beer.

Miao Jing had truly come back.

Without a word.

Without asking permission.

Chen Yi sat down and lit a cigarette.

He stared into space while smoking.

Finished one.

Then another.

Eventually he couldn't stand staying inside.

He went back out.





As luck would have it, he ran into Miao Jing downstairs.

She had spent the day running errands.

The bank.

The telecom office to change her phone number.

Updating registration records and personal documents.

Exploring the city a little.

Although she had lived in Tengcheng for ten years, she'd rarely gone anywhere.

The city felt strangely unfamiliar.

She carried a pale yellow floral parasol.

Sunlight made her skin look almost luminous.

Small face.

Bright eyes.

Red lips.

Graceful figure.

Her temperament wasn't gentle or approachable.

Rather, she possessed a cool elegance and quiet pride.

Even in simple long sleeves and loose trousers, every movement carried an effortless beauty.

Standing under the blazing sun, Chen Yi watched her approach.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

"Miao Jing."

"You should give me your phone number."

She stopped before him.

"The old one has been disconnected for years."

Having just changed her SIM card, she took out her phone and waited.

With obvious impatience, he rattled off the number.

A moment later his own phone vibrated.

Then rang.

Miao Jing immediately ended the call.

"This is my new number."

"You should save it too."

He responded coldly and brushed past her.

She said nothing.

Opened her umbrella again.

Walked upstairs.





Fifteen minutes later, a text message arrived.

Unknown number.

[Don't smoke in the house.]

Expressionless, Chen Yi saved the number.

Miao Jing.

Then accepted her friend request on WeChat.

Her first message arrived immediately.

[What time are you coming home tonight? The window latch is broken.]

Damn it.

He suddenly remembered.

He'd spent two days hiding at the billiards hall.

He still hadn't taken a proper shower.

Hadn't collected any clothes.

He'd have to go home after all.





He returned around ten that night.

Miao Jing was still awake.

Seeing him enter, she asked:

"Have you eaten?"

"If not, I can cook."

"I already ate."

His tone was icy.

He walked straight into his room.

The room had been thoroughly cleaned.

Looking for his towel, he finally snapped.

"Where's my towel?"

"It was too old."

Miao Jing handed him a new one.

"I threw it away."

"Use this."

A large pale-blue bath towel.

Soft cotton.

His old towel had apparently been demoted to floor-cleaning rag status.

Veins bulged at his temples.

Gripping the new towel, he slammed the bathroom door shut.

Everything inside had changed too.

All the bottles and toiletries were different.

He used to wash his entire body with one bar of soap.

The colorful products Tu Li had left behind were gone.

Replaced by an entirely new set.

A knock came at the door.

"The new soap is in the cabinet under the sink."

"Open it yourself."

Water roared inside the bathroom.





After showering, Chen Yi emerged with a dark expression.

A little later, fully dressed, he sat on the sofa.

A cigarette slid from the pack.

The lighter flared.

He inhaled deeply.

Exhaled slowly.

Rich tobacco.

Strong.

Burnt and bitter.

Familiar.

"Miao Jing."

"We need to talk."

She had been preparing for bed.

Opening her door, she leaned against the frame.

"Change clothes first."

His gaze lingered through the smoke.

His eyes looked dark.

Dangerous.

She was wearing a simple gray lounge dress.

Nothing revealing.

Yet the soft fabric clung to her slim waist and long legs.

Without arguing, she turned around.

A few minutes later she returned in a loose white nightgown that reached nearly to her ankles.

The oversized garment only made her seem thinner.

More fragile.

Miao Jing sat down across from him.

"I already told you."

"No smoking in the house."

"Mm."

He clicked his tongue.

Ignored her completely.

Took another slow drag.

Then leaned back.

Long legs stretched across the coffee table.

His posture was crude and provocative.

Miao Jing pressed her lips together.

Clearly unhappy.

He wasn't happy either.

The two stared each other down.

Neither willing to yield.





"What did you study in university?"

"What kind of job did you find?"

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand."

After a pause she added:

"Eight thousand yuan a month. Plus benefits and a year-end bonus."

"It's decent."

Chen Yi laughed.

"So that's all it takes to satisfy a college graduate?"

"You spent years studying."

"Eight thousand and you're happy?"

Miao Jing turned away.

"I'm supporting myself."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Why come back here to do it?"

"To work."

"To live."

"To build a life."

"You could do that anywhere."

His voice grew colder.

"Why come here?"

Ash scattered onto the floor.

His gaze sharpened.

"When you left, what did I tell you?"

"I told you to go far away."

"The farther the better."

Miao Jing kept her eyes averted.

Said nothing.

But her eyes shimmered.

After a long silence, he spoke again.

"Your mother."

"Did you find her?"

"She remarried years ago."

"Had a son."

"They run a small restaurant."

"She's busy."

The cigarette burned quietly between his fingers.

For a long time, neither spoke.

Finally he said:

"Move into the company dormitory."

"Or I'll rent you an apartment."

"No."

Her refusal was immediate.

The last thread of his patience snapped.

"Are you trying to piss me off?"

The muscles in his jaw stood out sharply.

His eyes blazed.

"You think I want to see you every day?"

Miao Jing finally looked at him.

Completely calm.

"I told you."

"Don't smoke in the house."

"Clean up your ashes."





He grabbed the lighter again.

Lit another cigarette.

Exhaled smoke deliberately toward her.

Miao Jing frowned.

Then stood up.

A faint fragrance drifted toward him.

Before he could react, her fingers plucked the cigarette from his mouth.

She crushed it against the edge of the coffee table.

Took the cigarette pack.

Took the lighter.

Dropped both into the trash.

Then poured an entire pitcher of lemon water over them.

Ruined.

Finished.

Done.

Without another word, she turned and walked away.

The bedroom door slammed shut behind her.

Chen Yi remained sitting on the sofa.

Watching the whole operation.

Smooth.

Efficient.

Merciless.

Grinding his molars, he actually laughed from sheer frustration.

"Miao Jing."

"You've got some nerve."