Mistaken Canary Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Loud crow caws occasionally echoed through the forest and if you listened closely, you could almost hear them calling out—“Awkward awkward, awkkk warddd, cawawaw...”
The setting sun bled red, but casted a pale shade over everyone’s faces.
Of course, Ying Tongchen’s pallor was natural skin tone, while Zhen Mingxin’s was due to his makeup.
A cold wind swept by, and Zhuo Shu seemed to sway unsteadily.
Zhen Mingxin tightly gripped Meng Gong’s hand, quietly inching behind him, only half his head peeking out as he observed Zhuo Shu.
He had encountered this gege before.
Before seeing him in person, he had met him spiritually in his nightmares.
When they met at the gym, he had marvelled at Zhuo Shu’s envious physique—but back then, he didn’t know this was the very man who wanted to keep him as his canary.
“Buddy, hear me out—” Zhuo Shu stepped forward with a friendly hand.
“Y–Y–You don’t come any closer!” Zhen Mingxin shrank back, hiding completely behind Meng Gong, his voice trembling, “I’m already in love with someone else. You can’t have my heart, and you can forget about having my body!”
Zhuo Shu: “......”
“This is all a misunderstanding.” Zhuo Shu tried again, extending goodwill.
Meng Gong immediately spread his arms wide like a protective parent, blocking Zhuo Shu’s path. “If you’ve got something to say, say it with courtesy. And keep your distance.”
“At least let me talk to him face to face.” Zhuo Shu tried to circle around, but Zhen Mingxin grabbed Meng Gong’s clothes, dodging aside.
After a few rounds, Zhuo Shu still hadn’t caught him. Turning back to ask Ying Tongchen for help, he saw him sitting on a nearby rock, expressionless, clapping slowly. “Not bad, not bad. After such a long and difficult trek, you come all the way up here just to play Eagle Versus Chick Tag*.”
(TLN: Eagle Versus Chick Tag is a popular childhood game in China. The aim of the game is for the eagle to try to catch one of the chicks and the mother hen’s aim is to try to protect the chicks from the eagle.)
The three froze, looking at the situation before them. It really did feel like they were playing Eagle Versus Chick Tag…
Zhen Mingxin quickly retorted, “Nonsense, I’m no little... little chick*… Right, Meng Meng?”
(TLN: the slang to a man’s peepee in Chinese is 鸡 (chicken; jī). 小鸡 (little chicken; xiao jī, aka chick) can be interpreted as a small peepee. So in this case, Zhen Mingxin is fighting for his peepee size.)
Meng Gong’s face flushed. “Right, you’re not.”
Ying Tongchen: “......”
Zhuo Shu looked puzzled.
Ying Tongchen glanced at the sky and remarked, “It’s getting dark. Let’s hurry and set up the tents.”
“Okay.” Zhuo Shu felt relieved, quickly retreating to unpack, taking the opportunity to consider how to handle this terrifying battlefield.
Meng Gong glanced at his departing figure and quietly asked Ying Tongchen, “How did you guys end up climbing here?”
“It’s a long story...” Ying Tongchen paused, then said succinctly, “We got lost.”
Meng Gong looked as if he’d just heard something unbelievable. “You actually got lost?”
Ying Tongchen rubbed his nose, then glanced toward Zhuo Shu. “I dozed off in the car. When I woke up, I’d been dragged here.”
Meng Gong gave a thumbs-up and nodded. “Love blinds; the ancients do not deceive.”
Ying Tongchen shot him a sidelong glance. “Then how come you two ended up in the wilderness?”
Meng Gong hesitated but, under Ying Tongchen’s questioning gaze, he ultimately lowered his head and confessed, “We got lost too.”
Ying Tongchen nodded. “Mm, the ancients do not deceive.”
Meng Gong’s head drooped even lower.
“Meng Meng, let’s go get some food,” Zhen Mingxin called out.
Meng Gong: “Okay!”
Ying Tongchen and Meng Gong each returned to their respective camp. Spotting Zhuo Shu pitching the tent, Ying Tongchen stepped forward to help.
The two stood across at the tent, adjusting the frame and tent fabric. Zhuo Shu glanced toward the other two in the distance and whispered, “Since when did they start dating?”
“Hmm?” Ying Tongchen took the tent fabric Zhuo Shu handed him, pulling it tight to secure a corner. “If they weren’t dating, were you thinking of butting in?”
“No way.” After finishing his task, Zhuo Shu quickly walked over to him. Seeing him bent over checking the tent stakes, his shirt tucked up at the waist, and his round buttocks raised, Zhuo Shu impulsively gave a firm slap—smack!
Ying Tongchen: “......”
Meng Gong grabbed his tools, holding Zhen Mingxin’s hand as they took a few steps away, only to catch the scene of Ying Tongchen hitting Zhuo Shu. Hastily, he pulled Zhen Mingxin to turn the other way.
Zhen Mingxin, alarmed, whispered, “Did I just see that right? Was Ying ge hitting the business tycoon?”
Meng Gong hesitated and muttered, “Well, once you’re in Tongchen’s hands, can you expect a good life? If it weren’t for you being a top and being incompatible with the tycoon, you might even be getting beaten up along with Tongchen’s boyfriend right now.”
“How scary,” Zhen Mingxin said, clutching his hand tightly. “Would you hit me?”
Meng Gong: “Depends on how you behave.”
Zhen Mingxin blushed, “I think tonight we could try some new positions.”
“Okay~” Meng Gong agreed, but then his expression tightened. “Wait—not okay! There are two third-wheels here with us!”
Zhen Mingxin: “Damn it!”
“Where are you two going?” Ying Tongchen suddenly called out, stopping them.
Zhen Mingxin nervously turned around, hands shaking, and blurted, “We–We’re going to unlock new positions—nono, uh, we’re going to unlock new food spots.”
Ying Tongchen threw Zhuo Shu aside and walked over. “Looking for food?”
Meng Gong replied, “Yeah, our rations are almost gone. We were planning to find something to eat.”
“We’ll go together,” Ying Tongchen said, then glanced back at Zhuo Shu. Zhuo Shu immediately followed like an obedient henpecked husband, haphazardly fixing his messy hair.
Zhen Mingxin trembled, “I don’t think that’s a good idea?”
Ying Tongchen shot him a look. “What’s not ‘good’ about it?”
Zhen Mingxin shrank his neck nervously, recalling the earlier one-sided beating and almost felt like kneeling. “The journey is long and dangerous ahead. You two don’t have to brave this path—we can bring food to you.”
Ying Tongchen said, “No need. Let’s go together, this way we can get familiar with the surroundings.”
“All right then.”
Zhen Mingxin and Meng Gong led the way, giving a quick rundown of the nearby terrain. “We’ve been here two days and haven’t seen anyone. We’re planning to leave tomorrow. There’s an orange tree down there but there’s not much fruit left to pick.”
“You two were only consuming oranges for the past two days?”
“No, there’s also loquat bark…” Zhen Mingxin just started to answer, then realized it was Zhuo Shu who asked this question. He quickly distanced himself from him and said nervously, “Don’t ask me any questions, we’re not familiar with one another. Ying ge, please keep him in check.”
Zhuo Shu: “...”
The four reached the less-than-abundant orange tree. Being the tallest, Zhuo Shu stretched to pick one of the few remaining oranges but could only touch the fulsome leaves.
“They’re out of reach, what should we do?”
“I’ve got this.” Zhen Mingxin did some warm-up stretches before nimbly climbing up the tree with fruit-picking paraphernalia.
Zhuo Shu watched, wide-eyed. “Young hero, impressive skills.”
Meng Gong boasted, “But of course! Our Mingxin has become a survival expert after three months of training... Ah bah, why am I even telling you this?”
Zhuo Shu: “...”
The canary thing was just a passing thought; Zhuo Shu had truths he wished were caught!
“Listen, I really never intended to sponsor him!” Zhuo Shu explained. “I was drunk and distracted when I listened to his manager’s offer. I originally just wanted to persuade him to turn over a new leaf, I never had any intention of actually keeping him!"
“Then why did you keep Tongchen for so long?” Meng Gong asked.
“Well, that…” Zhuo Shu tugged on Ying Tongchen’s sleeve, looking for help.
Ying Tongchen yanked his sleeve back and turned to look at him, his face clearly reading, ‘can’t wait to watch how all this will play out.’
After a moment, Zhuo Shu suddenly understood the unspoken meaning behind those eyes.
This moment wasn’t just for explanations—it was the perfect time to confess his feelings!
The last confession had been just between the two of them, and sure, he probably got the hint.
But a man still needed a bit of pride.
Ying Tongchen surely wanted him to take this chance—to openly declare his love in front of his closest friend and someone whose presence made things awkward.
Zhuo Shu: I get it now!
The sun had fully set, and the sky was a hazy gray. Before long, darkness would swallow the place whole.
Silence surrounded them, the leaves rustling as if growing impatient, urging him to act.
Zhuo Shu swallowed hard, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and shouted loudly, “Yes! I fell for Ying Tongchen at first sight, so what? The only one I ever wanted to support was Ying Tongchen, and him only! Ying Tongchen, I declare my love to you! Can you hear me?!”
His voice echoed through the forest.
But no one answered.
He slowly opened his eyes to find no one beside him.
A dozen meters away, Ying Tongchen and Meng Gong were laughing and chatting as they collected branches, while above, Zhen Mingxin was busy picking oranges and accidentally dropped one that bounced right onto Zhuo Shu’s head.
A crow flew overhead, cawing: “Awkward awkward, awkkk warddd, cawawaw...”
Zhuo Shu: “...”
“Da ge, sorry to bother you, can you help me pick up those oranges?” Zhen Mingxin called down from the tree.
Zhuo Shu’s enthusiasm fed the dusky zephyr, his sadness swelling into a river.
He picked up the cast down orange, looked up, and said, “Everything I said is true. Xiao di*, rest assured, I will never like you.”
(TLN: Xiao di (小弟) is little bro.)
Zhen Mingxin replied, “Alright, I believe you. Besides, we’re the same type—if we got together, there’d be no happiness.”
Zhuo Shu: ?
Zhuo Shu: ???
He glanced at Zhen Mingxin’s slender frame, then turned to the muscular Meng Gong. His worldview shattered along with his facial expression, barely managing to keep his composure. “You’re a top?!”
“Yeah, didn’t expect that, huh?” Zhen Mingxin skillfully used a hook to pick the oranges. “Otherwise, why do you think I ran away?”
Zhuo Shu paused for a moment, then suddenly let out a breath of relief. After thinking it over, he said happily, “Then I guess I owe you a thanks. If it weren’t for you, I might never have met Tongchen.”
Zhen Mingxin was momentarily stunned. “Oh that’s a great point! I should be thanking you too! If it weren’t for you playing the fat and sweaty business tycoon, how else would I have met Meng Meng?”
Mutual goodwill blossomed between the two, near enough to swear brotherhood with no ado.
After some time hooking a few more oranges, Zhen Mingxin retrieved a large bag of harvest. He tied it around his waist and began to climb down the tree trunk.
Zhuo Shu complimented, “Impressive.”
“Thanks, the variety show taught me how to survive,” Zhen Mingxin said with a bittersweet tone. “In these three months, what haven’t I eaten? What trees haven’t I climbed? Boohoohoo.”
As he spoke of his sorrows, grief welled up inside him, and in a moment of distraction, he lost his footing.
Zhen Mingxin glanced down: “...”
Zhen Mingxin: “AAAHHHH! Bodhisattva, Holy Mother Mary, help me!”
“You’re just a meter from the ground—you can just jump,” Zhuo Shu said.
No sooner had he finished than the Zhen Mingxin leapt straight at him. Zhuo Shu reflexively caught him, and due to the force, spun half a circle on the spot.
The scene froze like a movie still.
Zhuo Shu looked down at Zhen Mingxin, while Zhen Mingxin’s gaze shifted slightly: “Da ge.”
Zhuo Shu: “Xiao di.”
“What are you two doing?”
They both turned their heads toward Meng Gong and the person beside him, Ying Tongchen, resembling the grim duo of Black and White Impermanence, staring them down with deadly seriousness.
“Tongchen, let’s go!” Meng Gong grabbed Ying Tongchen and hurriedly left this filthy scene.
“Wait!” Zhuo Shu and Zhen Mingxin shouted together, but Meng Gong and Ying Tongchen walked away without even looking back.
Zhuo Shu immediately dropped the person he was holding.
Zhen Mingxin rolled across the dirt, immediately producing a pity play in an attempt to win Meng Gong back, wailing, “Aiyo, big bro, my leg! I’ve lost my leg! How could you be so cruel!”
Zhuo Shu felt pained and said, “You only lost a leg, but I lost my love!”
The two abandoned dogs supported each other back to the camp.
Zhuo Shu had been worried about Zhen Mingxin’s leg, but as soon as Meng Gong left, Zhen Mingxin jumped up as if nothing had happened.
After exchanging a farewell, each returned to their own domicile, each to their own wife to reconcile.
Zhuo Shu’s tent was on the other side. He had only taken a few steps before quietly retreating to watch how Zhen Mingxin was coaxing his partner.
Zhen Mingxin’s leg had a sudden relapse. He limped, hobbling toward the tent, whining, “Meng Meng, I hurt so badly from the fall—I need you to blow on it to make it better.”
The tent zipper slid open from the inside, clearly allowing him entry.
Zhuo Shu: “...” Life’s hard to get by; to make it we can only act sly.
Noted, noted.
Zhuo Shu immediately returned to his own tent, where a light shone inside, casting Ying Tongchen’s silhouette.
He bent his leg and wobbled, “Ying Ying, I hurt so badly from the fall—I need you to blow on it to feel better.”
The zipper opened from the inside. Ying Tongchen stepped out wielding a fruit knife. “Where does it hurt?”
Zhuo Shu was startled and said, “Put that down before you speak.”
Ying Tongchen sat down beside him, pulling an apple from his pocket—one Meng Gong had given him—and glanced sideways at Zhuo Shu. “Tell me, where does it hurt?”
“Rig–Right here,” Zhuo Shu weakly pointed at his right ankle.
“That must make walking pretty difficult,” Ying Tongchen said with concern.
It’s working! The pity act really is really working!
Zhuo Shu nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes, it’s really hard to walk.”
“Come here,” Ying Tongchen said gently, “I’ll help you remove the other leg. Then you can use a wheelchair and won’t have to walk anymore.”
Zhuo Shu: !!!
All is in vain! Vain!