Chapter 11 判定男人的標準 determine a man’s standard

This is already the second time that the both of them ate together on the same table, there’s not much awareness and courtesy, it’s all granted of course like it was orignally meant to be like this. Mo Ka broke the disposable chopsticks, he started to dine only after he grinded the debris from the chopsticks and handed it to Chen Ge. Two legs swinging under the table, occasionally, he would kick the stool.

“This family’s dishes seems very salty, do you think so?”

“Originally, I didn’t hope you, this type of bigheaded person would be able to buy anything good.”

“Hey hey. I with good intentions saw that there was no one to cook you food so I helped you buy. Usually, who can have this treatment, don’t waste my tenderness okay.”

“Save your tenderness.”

“You’re really impersonal.” Mo Ka clipped a dish putting it into his mouth, he screwed his eyebrows: “As expected, the second time is saltier.” Saying to himself, he got up to pour a cup of water on Chen Ge’s left side, looks like he already remembered that Chen Ge is left handed.

“It’s certainly that lousy boss, he added salt twice when chatting with others. Go too far. We consumers are G.o.d, he actually dares to add so much salt for G.o.d.”

“Aren’t you quite able to talk?”[1]

[1] 你不是挺能說的嗎？I think it’s supposed to mean, aren’t you shy around strangers how are you talking this much? Please feel free to correct.

“This I know, but every person more or less has their own shortcoming. I have no way to get along with others. Others also dislike that I’m too boring. You see, I’m already at this age can’t even find a woman.” Mo Ka complained.

“So you like me.” Chen Ge didn’t use a integrative sentence, it was like the same as stating the truth.

“Don’t like!” Mo Ka used a surprised sentence. At the first moment, he very much suspiciously rejected Chen Ge’s statement.

“Then why are you talking with someone you don’t like.”

Mo Ka was somewhat taken aback, he put down the chopsticks. He was puzzled and seriously looked Chen Ge who was sitting opposite him up and down. Apart from that face looking better than the average person, he really couldn’t think what on earth was so special about him that makes himself treat him so specially: “Honestly, I also thought about this question not only once and no explanation has been found. Wait for the day I figure out, I will definitely tell you first.” Mo Ka licked his lips, he grabbed the cup that Chen Ge had just drank from and he drank it himself. ({>.

Chen Ge watched his own cup of water get stained with Mo Ka’s saliva: “You really don’t treat yourself as a outsider.”

Mo Ka did not hear clearly what Chen Ge said, when he asked again, Chen Ge was already prepared to not speak to Mo Ka. After he quickly finished eating he started to carry on the unfinished sketch again, Mo Ka also started to clear the remaining dishes on the table. The s.p.a.cious living room was only left with Chen Ge’s hands pencil touching the paper issuing out a rustling sound and when Mo Ka picked up the bowls the sound of gentle collision.

After cleaning the kitchen, Mo Ka put down his rolled up sleeves, he used his hands to rub his slightly stiff waist from just was.h.i.+ng the bowls standing. Chen Ge was still there very concentrated on painting, Mo Ka softly walked to the balcony. He looked up at the row of washed clothes hanging on the balcony, really white, like new clothes. Quickly, he replaced his sight onto Chen Ge’s body, a shadow was cast on his serious face, outline a fine look. The wind blowing from behind made the back of Mo Ka’s head cool, he carefully thought: If can always get along in this way then, maybe, just maybe, Chen Ge would like him a little.

Mo Ka towards Chen Ge’s clothes, promised such a negligible desire.

Chen Ge in spite of this was drawing all along, but he could feel that Mo Ka was always next to him. Occasionally, he (Mo Ka) would look at him (Chen Ge) twice. Chen Ge contrary to expectation did not reject. In fact, sometimes the feel of someone at his side, this type of feeling was not so bad, after all, a person’s long life is always lonely. Those emotions cannot be controlled by people.

Time carelessly already pa.s.sed two hours. Chen Ge stood up, he stretched his lazy waist, seems to have already completed. Mo Ka who squatted on the balcony also stood up, he shook his somewhat numb legs: “Finished?”

“Yep.”

“Then I should go.” Mo Ka walked to the entrance.

“You should have gone earlier, don’t understand why on earth you stayed here all along.”

Mo Ka smiled reaching out to turn open the door: “No reason, just want to accompany you.” Mo Ka went outside and closed the door.

In the elevator, he realised of what he had just said, he began to regret it. Why is it he dares to say anything now, can those type of words be casually said? What to do if Chen Ge misunderstood that he likes him? Yeah. Would Chen Ge think this? Mo Ka was at a loss again, he had just jumped out of a tangle just to fall into another tangle again, but all of these tangles are evolved from one person.

Chen Ge looked at the the cup Mo Ka had drank from on the table, he picked it up, pinched the rim of the gla.s.s. He walked in front of the trash, if it was usually he may have already without hesitation thrown this cup dipped with others saliva away, but now his index finger and thumb refused to let go. He hesitated for a while. At last he still put the cup back on to the table.

November days autumn wind blows, leaves on both sides of the snack street began to come to the floor. Mo Ka stepped on the leaves, hearing those shrivelled leaves issuing a crispy tearing sound. He already has not met Chen Ge face to face for two weeks, only occasionally he would see him at school, but Mo Ka wanted to talk to him more, he wanted to be a little closer with him more.

After completing the third period, the sun finally came out. Mo Ka selected a relatively good position to sit on in the playground/sports field. The balcony had some glare making Mo Ka not dare to look, phone screen lights his appearance, he used one hand to block over the phone so that it can be barely visible. Mo Ka is played a game called

. Facts have proven that, maybe Mo Ka is not a man because the most he can only go down is 60 layers, from achievement a man’s demand still has 40 layers. There is quite a far away distance.

“You’re only on this level?”

Hearing irony in his voice, Mo Ka’s heart was beating. The sunlight seems more heartwarming compared to normally, tanning Mo Ka’s whole little face appearing unnaturally red: “When did you come, also not squeak a sound, you want to scare me to death ah.”

Chen Ge did not notice Mo Ka’s insincere words, he sat next to Mo Ka, watched Mo Ka play the game. At this time Mo Ka was already incapable of being calm, at most was killed on the 10th layer. He took this to blame Chen Ge, he s.h.i.+fted his body aside, with his back to Chen Ge: “Don’t watch me, don’t you know being watched by others will exert influence.”

“Just you?”

“See, die again, this is all your fault.”

Chen Ge’s hand s.n.a.t.c.hed Mo Ka’s phone, Mo Ka turned around again: “What are you doing.”

Chen Ge didn’t speak, he picked up the phone to play, Mo Ka froze there no respond to what was happening. Chen Ge looked at Mo Ka: “Stupid what are you doing, block the light.”

Mo Ka wrinkled his nose unsatisfied, but still held out his hand to help Chen Ge block the light on top of the phone. Often put his head down to lean into see how Chen Ge is playing, heart was cursing him to get killed all along, see if he’ll still be so c.o.c.ky. Contrary to what was expected, along with Mo Ka raising his hand more the more it ached,[2] he was at the end of his patience[3] urging: “Can you die faster, my hand is very weak.”

[2] 越爲越痠軟 limp and painful/ aching

[3] 忍無可忍 more than one can bear (idiom)

“Be quiet, block it well for me.” Completely not caring that Mo Ka’s hand is weak [4] Chen Ge was staring at the phone throughout. Not long after, Chen Ge looked up, he threw the phone to Mo Ka.

[4] it can also mean that he’s not putting it in his mind or not taking it seriously.

Mo Ka miraculously picked up the phone. After determining the game display on the phone, his eyes were suddenly full of respect, he directed his thumb to praise Chen Ge : “You really are a man” As it turns out Mo Ka determines a man’s standard just by a mobile game.

“Just your own stupidity.”

“I say school brother, I find that you especially hate me. Where on earth do you hate about me, say it out to let me reference.”

“Maybe I’ll tell you on the day when my mood is good.”

“Maybe someday is.”

“Anyways it’s not today.”

Mo Ka looked askance at Chen Ge, unsatisfied: “Look at you with that stingy appearance, I did not beg you to like me.”

“Really?” Chen Ge seems somewhat indifferent.

The bell rang, Chen Ge stood up, walked only three steps before called to a stop by Mo Ka: “That one. I say. Did I not ask you a few questions?” These baffling words made Chen Ge tilt his head to stare at Mo Ka. Mo Ka’s eyes flicked uncertain, in his brain he searched for the appropriate words to express his meaning.

“Did you not say that on the day when your mood is good you’ll tell me? You also know although we live in the same building, there are not many opportunities to meet.” Mo Ka’s topic to go round is far more than the earth: “In other words, in case you win the lottery on that day, get a beautiful girl’s confession, step on dog s.h.i.+t, mood suddenly changed to good and can’t find me.”

“What on earth do you want to say?”

“I don’t want to say anything.”

Chen Ge too lazy to notice, Mo Ka spoke again: “What I mean is, in order for the convenience of you finding me, let’s exchange phone numbers. What do you think?”

Mo Ka finally spoke up after a big circle, Chen Ge’s mouth floated a smile: “Want it?”

“I do not want it. Isn’t this for convenience of you finding me easily? Just one sentence, give or not?”

“Do not give.” As it turned out only have one sentence. Mo Ka’s kind offer was very simply refused, he has never spoke humbly and under his breath,[5] have the conscience to, regardless of the image to ask for someone’s phone number. In return is that type of att.i.tude. Mo Ka felt that the ways of the world was already getting more and more hot and cold (inconsistent), people already do not care for each other. The earth will be destroyed!

[5] 低聲下氣 means to lower ones voice and stifle ones anger or speak humbly and under ones breath.

Is it not just Chen Ge not giving his phone number that’s all, thinking about it, is it so extreme?

Determined that Chen Ge has already gone, Mo Ka scolded: “Chen Ge. You sell….” he thought, he felt that he still did not wish Chen Ge to sell a.s.s, so he changed his words: “You sell pineapple.”