ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ Weeell, someone is possessive…
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Ch. 44 | A hug
The door of Song Lin’s room was suddenly flung open by Dandan, startling the former who sat up halfway and asked with a frown, ‘Why have you come back again?’
Before he had finished saying the last word, Dandan shouted, ‘I’m not leaving!’
Song Lin said, ‘Who cares whether you’re leaving or not? I don’t want you any more.’
‘Then I’ll just be thick-skinned and stay on.’
Song Lin was so angered that his expression changed. ‘How dare you be so presumptuous here in the Song Manor?’
‘Is there any way to make you less angry? How about I apologize to you?’
‘What have you done wrong?’
Dandan: I have no idea either what I’ve done wrong…
After casting about in his mind, he hit on what he thought was a compromise. ‘How about this, you tell me what I did wrong and I’ll admit to it, will that do?’
Song Lin’s shoulders stiffened and he said, ‘Enough.’ This was said in an extremely sharp tone of voice.
This was bad…
Dandan walked up to the bed, determined to present the facts and reason it out. ‘Listen, Song Lin, every spirit beast has a past. If every Guardian were like you and disliked those spirit beasts who used to have owners, then every single Guardian in Ridge City can forget about having spirit beasts. Besides, have I said a word against your having taken in other spirit beasts in the past?’
‘You think I chased you out because you had a previous owner?’ Song Lin really felt like he and Dandan were the proverbial chicken and duck¹.
Dandan appeared calm but he was actually panicking inwardly: Damn, damn, damn, looks like I just made things worse. If I don’t leave now, he might just literally send me flying with one kick…
Is it more important to stay in one piece? Retreat first?
Nonono! If I retreat now, I won’t have another chance aaahhh!
Dandan swallowed hard. I’ll just have to go for broke since this is a make or break moment!
Song Lin really started a countdown. ‘Ten, nine, eight, seven…’
‘W-wait a minute!’
‘Six, five, four…’
‘I said, wait a minute!’
‘Three, two…’
There was only one number left and Dandan had no time to consider anything else so he threw his arms around Song Lin.
Song Lin: …!!??
Dandan: …
¹ 雞同鴨講 jītóngyājiǎng: 2. fig. talking without communicating. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
This confusing hug went on for a while with neither of them moving.
A strange atmosphere suffused the air.
Countless thoughts flitted across Dandan’s mind. Am I crazy? What am I doing?
Nonono, don’t panic, don’t panic. Given this proximity, Song Lin won’t be able to lift his leg and kick me away even if he wants to. It’s totally normal for a spirit beast to hug his owner! Right! Totally normal!
I used to hug Yu Huan as well… but that was when I was in my original form…
Hugging my owner while in human form, and hugging him so tightly in the bargain… does feel a little weird.
Why doesn’t Song Lin say anything? I wonder what expression he has now… I really want to see it…
Ahem, whatever the case… let me say something first!
‘Song, Song Lin!’
‘Mm?’ There was no inflexion at all in this reply and no way to guess at the feelings behind it.
‘Look, I’m a spirit beast you made a pact with and what’s a pact? Is it something you make just like that? Of course we have to be responsible towards each other. Just saying you don’t want me and dumping me is a tad irresponsible, don’t you think!’ Ha, he sounded so confident when actually he was practically quaking in his boots.
Dandan braced himself for a scolding but unexpectedly Song Lin paused fractionally before asking, ‘You want me to take responsibility?’
Eh? His tone sounded just a bit better. Dandan was pleasantly surprised — could it be that this hug was helping?
So he tightened the hug, burying his face in Song Lin’s neck and saying, ‘Well, of course, you are my owner, y’know.’
Song Lin stiffened. He could smell the youth’s uniquely fresh scent and the fluffy ears resting on his neck were rather ticklish. Mm… it wasn’t so much the neck that was feeling ticklish as… his heart.
He pressed Dandan’s shoulder with a finger and pushed him away slightly. ‘What are you doing?’
Dandan regarded him, blushing slightly. His lips parted unwillingly and he enunciated every word reluctantly. ‘Isn’t it obvious? I’m. acting. c.u.t.e.’ After saying that, he ducked back into Song Lin’s embrace as though trying to hide his face.
Song Lin could feel the youth’s slight body pressed tightly against his and this feeling of being depended upon had the unexpected effect of making him feel better.
Dandan waited with trepidation for a while and then heard Song Lin actually say, ‘Ahh yes, now I see.’ There was a trace of mockery in his tone.
Hmm… his mood had improved if he was mocking him.
Dandan said with a frown, ‘You won’t see me doing this ever again.’
‘Oh, that’s a real pity then.’ Second Master Song didn’t sound as angry as before.
Dandan thus said earnestly, ‘Hey, Song Lin, tell me honestly, why are you so angry?’
Why am I so angry? Here I am, half-dead from anger, but you don’t even know why I’m so angry. But he was the stately Second Master and had his pride, so how could he say that aloud?
Dandan pleaded softly, ‘Don’t chase me out, please? I left the Song Manor in a huff because you scolded me and I felt aggrieved. Feeling aggrieved, I turned stubborn and because I was feeling stubborn, I left. But I regret it now. The rainy season is especially hard to bear when I’m all alone. Those small insects ran into my fur and I wanted to come back and have a hot bath. But I couldn’t put aside my pride: I was afraid you would despise me, though I have no idea why I care what you think. I even dreamed that you said to me, “Come home, I still want you.” I gave myself airs² at that moment and acted aloof for a while but a pity I soon woke up. I really regretted not immediately agreeing to come back to you in the dream.’
While recounting his tale, Dandan felt even more aggrieved and his tone changed subtly.
‘Last night, I couldn’t bear it any more and sneaked home to come and see you. But you were too much, choosing new spirit beasts with Styx. I was so angry I really didn’t feel like coming back ever again.’
² 擺架子 bǎi//jiàzi. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Only now did Song Lin realise that Dandan really had come back last night. No wonder Chen Yang had caught him near the manor.
‘But when I thought about how I would never see you again, I felt really upset. Styx said you didn’t sleep the whole night because of me, doesn’t that prove that you care about me too? In that case, I don’t care about saving face any more which is why I’m begging you: please, do me a favour and don’t chase me away, pretty please?’
These pleas one after another almost melted Song Lin’s heart.
What a troublesome little imp. Doing whatever he damn well pleased just because he knew he was cute.
But, he had only made a pact with Song Lin for Yu Huan’s sake. This was the one thing that he couldn’t forgive in the end. With anyone else, it would have been fine but Dandan was the sole exception. His Dandan had to have Song Lin and Song Lin only in his heart.
At length, Song Lin spoke. ‘From start to finish³, the only one you want to be with is Yu Huan. I’m not Yu Huan nor am I his reincarnation, so why bother saying all this just to curry favour with me?’
Dandan cocked his head to one side, perplexed. ‘To me, you are Yu Huan’s reincarnation.’
Song Lin was so exasperated he was almost on the verge of coughing blood. This fellow was really blessed with the innate ability to annoy the hell out of him with anything he said. He was just about to tell him to get lost when he heard —
‘But I don’t think of you as Yu Huan,’ said Dandan.
‘…’ This caused Song Lin to look at him blankly.
‘“You are Yu Huan’s reincarnation” and “You are Yu Huan” are two separate concepts,’ Dandan explained, enunciating every word slowly. ‘All the time, I just couldn’t believe that Yu Huan was dead. I always assumed that even after reincarnating, he would be the same person which was why I had my heart set on making a pact with you. But after interacting with you, I slowly began to realise that whether it was in temperament, appearance or principles, you were completely different from Yu Huan. That was when I clearly accepted the truth that Yu Huan had really died, recognised that you were a completely different owner and decided to be your bonded spirit beast with a completely different mindset. When we were fighting Liang Feng at the Guardians’ Tournament, I was fighting for you and you alone. When I stood in front of you to do battle, I wanted to win that title for you, not Yu Huan.’
³ 至始至終 zhìshǐzhìzhōng. Please consider reading from hiding in plain sight rather than from novelscraping sites.
Song Lin listened to him in complete silence and did not speak for a long time.
Dandan felt his own heart hammering hard enough to leap out of his throat!
After a long while, he suddenly heard Song Lin say, ‘Then you… can stay until the Guardians’ Tournament is over.’
‘Oh… eh? Wait a minute, what did you say!!’ Dandan exclaimed. ‘You mean… I can stay?’
‘For now.’
Dandan was so happy he wanted to leap for joy but Song Lin stopped him.
‘What?’
‘I’m very tired, don’t jump around.’
‘Okay, okay,’ Dandan stayed still immediately.
Meanwhile, Song Lin quietly tightened his hold, embracing Dandan without appearing to and inhaling his scent. He was not a soft-hearted man by nature but found himself constantly making exceptions when it came to Dandan. This was a warning sign — when another person knew what his weak spot was, then he was no longer able to protect himself. He did not like such a feeling but it definitely existed.
‘Song Lin… what are you thinking about?’ Dandan asked in a small voice.
‘Nothing much.’ Song Lin immediately gathered his thoughts.
‘Song Lin, have you… forgiven me by now?’
‘Not yet. It depends on how you perform after this.’
‘I’ll definitely do my best!’ Dandan wanted to thump his chest for good measure but since his hands were being confined, he could only do so mentally.
‘By the way,’ Song Lin said in a serious tone, ‘can you act cute again?’
‘…’ After a few seconds of silence came the reply, ‘No way!’ The rabbit finally lost his temper.
‘Second Master,’ Styx’s voice came from the doorway.
Only then did Dandan realise that the door wasn’t closed! So startled was the youth – the rabbit – that he sprang away from Song Lin’s side and huddled motionless at the foot of the bed, as though he had just been caught red-handed.
Styx appeared very calm however, as though he had not seen anything or rather, he had but was taking it in his stride. He walked in very composedly and informed Song Lin, ‘Young Lord Liang is at the main door. He says he wants to see you.’
Song Lin frowned. ‘Liang Feng?’
They hadn’t seen each other after their duel at the Don’t-Miss arena. There had been no overtures from the House of Liang either.
‘I’ll go take a look.’ Song Lin rose from the bed and slipped on his coat before walking out.
Dandan also jumped down from the bed and followed him.
Song Lin’s strides were so long that Styx and Dandan fell behind by a few paces. At this moment, Styx shot him a narrow glance and whispered, ‘Made up already?’
Dandan secretly flashed him a thumbs up. ‘All taken care of, don’t worry.’
Styx pursed his lips. ‘No one was worrying about you.’
Dandan gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. ‘No need to pretend. I know you care about me.’
Styx resisted the urge to roll his eyes and hurried away to catch up with Second Master — he had had enough of this idiotic rabbit’s company!
(Approx. 2079 words)
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Translated and edited by 12
hiding in plain sight 
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
ALSKJDLASKDA FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM SO GLAD I WAS STILL AWAKE FOR THIS. IM SO HAPPY!!!!! I mean, I’d even more happy if they smushed faces together, but ngl, THIS IS SO SATISFYING. THEY TALKED! They actually, PHYSICALLY TALKED!!! Important words!!!!
Though Song Lin going “….you can stay until the guardian tournament is done” like, why are you even trying to play like that. You know you won’t be able to let Dandan go. Dandan let his pride go, you should be able to as well, Song Lin. 8|
BUT THIS CHAPTER MADE ME HAPPY YUP. This doesn’t clear out all the air, but at least Song Lin isn’t chasing Dandan away, and Dandan knows why Song Lin is so put out. Thanks for the chapter!
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I’m glad it did! Heh, well, probably because he knows Dandan will be back to his usual shameless self even without the least encouragement. Got to try and make him eat a bit more humble pie 😆
Sweet dreams!
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