Reservoir Dogs chapter 93

Do You No Longer Love Me?

At first, Xiao Zhou thought Jiang Chengyuan had gone mad, and then he thought he himself had gone mad. Otherwise, how could he be in such a bizarre dream?

Jiang Chengyuan had imprisoned him, locking him with chains and not allowing him to leave the room even a step.

He was only allowed to wear a shirt. The air conditioning was set low, and he was so cold that he could only wrap himself in the duvet, unable to distinguish between day and night.

The initial shock and anger dissipated in this elongated, repetitive life that felt like time wasn’t passing.

Perhaps to soften his attitude, Jiang Chengyuan spent an unexpectedly long time with him, almost never going out, handling all matters at home, taking care of him in every detail. Jiang Chengyuan was considerate and patient, not like someone obsessive enough to do such a crazy thing.

Xiao Zhou sometimes thought that Jiang Chengyuan’s extreme actions were just because he had rejected him, disobeyed him, causing him to lose face. The shame and anger made it impossible for him to let go easily, resulting in him being monitored like a dog with a leash around his neck.

…

Xiao Zhou was washing his hands, the cold water flowing over his fingers with a rushing sound. He looked at himself in the mirror.

The iron chain around his neck extended very long. He could move freely within the room, but it would tighten when he reached the living room. Otherwise, it just hung loosely on his back. When he slept on his back, it would press against him, so he could only sleep on his side.

However, Jiang Chengyuan recently liked to hold him from behind while sleeping. Jiang Chengyuan didn’t seem to find it uncomfortable to sleep with the cold, hard iron against his chest. But Xiao Zhou couldn’t sleep all night because of it, waking up from various nightmares even if he hadn’t intended to torture himself to threaten Jiang Chengyuan. It was visibly taking a toll on him.

After washing his hands and coming out of the bathroom, he saw Jiang Chengyuan leaning against the headboard reading a book, dressed in a casual T-shirt and light-colored pants, wearing metal-framed glasses while reading. The glasses emphasized his deep features, the cold light of the metal making his complexion appear extremely pale.

Seeing Xiao Zhou come out, Jiang Chengyuan put the book aside and sat up a bit. Xiao Zhou walked over and was pulled closer by him when he was just two steps away.

Kneeling on the mattress, creating a dent, the long chain clinked with the movement. Jiang Chengyuan held the end of the collar, wrapping it around his hand twice, pulling him closer.

When Jiang Chengyuan kissed him, Xiao Zhou turned his face away, so the kiss landed on his cheek.

Xiao Zhou had tried some ways to protest, like hunger strikes and giving Jiang Chengyuan the cold shoulder. But Jiang Chengyuan was more extreme. He would only eat half of what Xiao Zhou ate, pushing his limits and torturing himself without hesitation. When Xiao Zhou ignored him, he would use methods that wouldn’t harm him physically but would cause pain to get a reaction. He always found a way to make Xiao Zhou beg for mercy.

Every morning when he opened his eyes and saw the unchanging surroundings, Xiao Zhou wondered how long Jiang Chengyuan would play this tyrannical and childish game and what his purpose was.

“What exactly do you want?” Xiao Zhou had lost count of how many times he had asked this question.

Jiang Chengyuan had just peeled some grapes, his fingertips sticky with juice. He wiped them with a tissue and handed a grape to Xiao Zhou’s mouth. The translucent grape flesh pressed against his lower lip, and after a moment of hesitation, Xiao Zhou, thinking about Jiang Chengyuan’s food intake that day, awkwardly opened his mouth and ate it.

Seeing him eat, Jiang Chengyuan finally said, “Since you want to be locked up so much, it’s better to be here than in prison. Where would you get grapes in prison?”

He held his palm under Xiao Zhou’s chin for him to spit out the seeds. His hand was broad and bony, the lines deep. Xiao Zhou pressed his lips tightly together and swallowed the seeds. Jiang Chengyuan, unconcerned, retracted his hand and ate a grape himself.

“Don’t you think this situation is strange?” Xiao Zhou’s expression was tired, exhausted from arguing about this, “Even if I don’t want to be locked up, you don’t care?”

The grape juice burst in his mouth, but to Jiang Chengyuan, it was tasteless. His expression remained unchanged. “I gave you a chance, believed in you, but you proved me wrong.”

….

Although Jiang Chengyuan had declined most work that couldn’t be done at home, there were still occasions he had to attend, even meeting people he didn’t want to. At a meeting, he planned to leave after making an appearance, but someone called out to him at the door. Hearing the voice, he knew it was Jiang Wenxing.

Jiang Chengyuan turned halfway, and Jiang Wenxing noticed his gaze was very oppressive, his high brow bones casting shadows over his eyes.

“Is there something you need?” Jiang Chengyuan asked distantly.

Feeling this oppressive gaze, Jiang Wenxing was displeased. He thought Jiang Chengyuan had already vented his anger last time, so why the hostility? Considering Jiang Chengyuan now held his brother’s life in his hands, Jiang Wenxing had been very courteous recently, not provoking him.

Jiang Wenxing coughed lightly. “I just wanted to ask if you know where Xiao Zhou went. I haven’t been able to contact him lately.”

Jiang Chengyuan frowned dangerously. “Why are you looking for him?”

“He promised to attend a class reunion.”

Jiang Chengyuan nodded. “He can’t go.”

Jiang Wenxing was puzzled. “Why not? He already promised.”

Jiang Chengyuan replied coldly, “That’s none of your business.” Then he walked away, leaving only his back for Jiang Wenxing to see.

…

That night, two intertwined shadows were cast on the white wall. Xiao Zhou’s hands were tied to the bed frame. He was in so much pain that his whole body stiffened, his teeth clenched, sweat dripping into his eyes and sliding down his cheeks as he blinked it away.

“Your old classmate asked about you today. Why do you always make people miss you so much?” Jiang Chengyuan whispered in his ear.

Xiao Zhou was so dazed that he couldn’t hear what he was saying. He could only tell from the force and tone that Jiang Chengyuan was angry. Jiang Chengyuan had been moody lately, and Xiao Zhou always felt that the person he encountered during this time was different from the one he knew before.

Because of the intense pain, his mind wandered. To escape the harsh reality, he dredged up old memories. He couldn’t help but think of the person who saved him from the mudslide, the one who waited for him outside the hospital consultation room, and the one who surfaced from the deep sea to kiss him. The more he thought about it, the more unfamiliar it felt, as if he had personally destroyed someone who was once very good.

When Jiang Chengyuan let go of him, Xiao Zhou buried his face in the pillow and cried, his shoulders shaking. Jiang Chengyuan traced his spine from behind, then up to his shoulder blades, pulling his head around to kiss his eyes tenderly. “Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?”

Xiao Zhou was forced to turn his head and look at him. Amid the torrent of tears, Jiang Chengyuan’s face was bathed in moonlight, his thick eyelashes and straight nose faintly visible.

Although they were so close, it felt like there was a great distance between them. Even though Jiang Chengyuan looked exactly the same, his chest was so cold that Xiao Zhou couldn’t feel a trace of affection.

Jiang Chengyuan remained still, letting Xiao Zhou look at him. After a moment, he said, “You don’t love me anymore, do you?” He caressed Xiao Zhou’s head and whispered into his ear, “But this is who I am. You should have realized that a long time ago.”

He got off the bed, stood by the bedside for a moment with an unreadable expression, then casually pulled on a robe and left the bedroom, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

The light in the study was on. Jiang Chengyuan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window smoking. The smoke warmed his cold fingertips, but the nicotine didn’t help; it tasted unbearably bitter, far from its usual intoxicating flavor. It just gave him something to do to calm his emotions, so he wouldn’t pathetically rush back to the bedroom to ask Xiao Zhou if he could love him again.

Although he had achieved his goal, he realized it was far from what he truly wanted, and he no longer knew the way back or how to salvage the situation. Reason and emotion were always at odds, but he had never regretted anything.

….

Eating at a Cantonese restaurant with Ji Yang, Jiang Chengyuan packed a few boxes of dim sum. He remembered Xiao Zhou liked the shrimp dumplings and barbecued pork buns here.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen that little friend of yours,” Ji Yang remarked, leaning back in his chair as he watched Jiang Chengyuan carefully instruct the waiter about the flavors and requirements.

Jiang Chengyuan paid the bill. “He’s not well and is resting at home.”

Ji Yang smiled slightly. “You’re really good to him.” He exhaled slowly, as if releasing a knot in his heart. “It looks like you’re serious this time. Seeing you like this makes me happy.”

Jiang Chengyuan glanced at him, but there was no smile on his face.

…

Returning home with the takeout boxes, he unexpectedly ran into Xiao Ping at the door, ringing the doorbell. Jiang Chengyuan frowned. “Why are you here?”

Seeing Jiang Chengyuan, Xiao Ping ran over. “I’m here to see my brother. Is he here? I couldn’t get through on the phone, and no one answered the door, but I heard noises inside.”

“He’s not here. Maybe it’s the sound of the wind through an open window.” Jiang Chengyuan said indifferently, opening the door and walking in first. He raised his voice, deliberately making noise, and glanced at the master bedroom, which was tightly closed.

Xiao Ping followed him inside, looking around. “Where did my brother go?”

“He’s at work.” Jiang Chengyuan changed his shoes and turned around, blocking the entrance, clearly signaling for Xiao Ping to leave. “Is there something you need?”

Jiang Chengyuan’s tall frame blocked the light, his gaze intense and oppressive. Although Xiao Ping always found Jiang Chengyuan perfect and polite, he harbored an inexplicable fear of him. This fear wasn’t due to Jiang Chengyuan’s appearance or actions but an inherent aura of hostility and exclusion. Usually masked, today it seemed to be fully unleashed.

Xiao Ping shrank back, guessing that Jiang Chengyuan had some work troubles, and decided not to push his luck. “It’s nothing. Just tell my brother that Mom accidentally fell and is in the hospital. Ask him when he has time to visit.”

The bedroom door suddenly made a noise. Xiao Ping looked over, but Jiang Chengyuan stepped aside to block his view, frowning. “Is it serious?”

Xiao Ping reluctantly looked away. “It’s a bit serious. She fractured her waist and can’t move. We have to be careful about complications. But I’ll take care of it, so tell my brother not to worry too much.”

Jiang Chengyuan agreed. “I’ll take him to see her. Give me the hospital information, and I’ll check on her.”

After sending Xiao Ping off, Jiang Chengyuan placed the takeout boxes on the dining table and walked to the master bedroom. As he pushed the door open a crack, it met resistance. He didn’t push harder but slipped inside through the narrow gap and turned on the light.

The bright light illuminated the master bedroom, which was shrouded by heavy curtains. On the dark wooden floor by the door lay a person, their neck bound tightly by an iron chain, the skin of their neck constricted. They wore nothing but red cotton ropes, highlighting their long limbs and fair skin.

The red ropes were tied rather tightly, digging into the pale skin. They wrapped around the shoulders and upper arms, binding the wrists behind the back. The forearms were folded upwards, and the rope crossed over the back, forming a loop. The legs were also tied together. This made it impossible for the person to move, and it was unclear how they had fallen to the ground.

Jiang Chengyuan squatted down and removed the gag from Xiao Zhou’s mouth.

Breathing in the fresh air, Xiao Zhou couldn’t close his mouth, gasping for breath, his long eyelashes already wet with tears. He anxiously lifted half of his body, but could only touch Jiang Chengyuan’s neatly dressed pant leg. “What happened to Mom? I need to go to the hospital. Untie me.” His speech was somewhat muffled from having his tongue blocked for so long.

Jiang Chengyuan didn’t respond, just touched the bruise on Xiao Zhou’s body from falling off the bed. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me on the bed?”

His fingers were as light as feathers, but the touch on the sensitive skin that had been bound for so long became unbearable. Xiao Zhou’s expression changed, his tightly bound body surging with waves of shame, his eyebrows furrowed in pain, gasping for breath, “I heard someone knocking at the door outside.”

“You got this anxious just because someone knocked? Did you want them to let you out? Can you be seen in this state?”

With a smile devoid of warmth, Jiang Chengyuan picked him up and placed him onto the bed.

Author’s note:

I know everyone feels sorry for Zhou Zhou, but his current identity determines the things he encounters. In fact, he’s always been relying on himself to make life a little better. I swear that he will get everything he wishes for in the end.