Tattoo刺青

Chapter 1

( Offline reading purpose only. Please support the translator by readig on Chrysanthemum Garden 👉 https://chrysanthemumgarden.com/novel-tl/tattoo/ )

–Happy birthday. I hope you can always be carefree and innocent, just like before.

Xiao Ke stared at the short email displayed on his screen. It was so short that it only comprised of one line. After, he looked at the two words “Lin An” in the email’s closing. An indecipherable feeling rose in his heart. He sipped at his freshly brewed coffee and slightly burned his mouth. He put the mug down and sighed, then placed his hands on the keyboard and wrote out a reply. 

–Thanks.

Xiao Ke only typed one word before pressing send. He didn’t like to speak so much, that wasn’t his style. Besides, there wasn’t anything left to say, given their relationship.

(Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden)

Old lovers, ex-boyfriends. With this relationship, everything was awkward.

Xiao Ke glanced at the time. It was eight fifty-something, almost nine. The apartment building he lived in was close to the street and wasn’t very tall, so the lights outside were extremely bright right now. 

His work group chat kept lighting up with notifications. One of the experiments he was in had recently entered into its last phase. The whole team was maintaining an excited energy, waiting for the last data set. It was also because this experiment had gone on for too long. They wanted it to end sooner so they could split the bonus money afterwards.

Someone asked him in the chat: Teacher Xiao, were you the last to leave tonight? Did you lock the door to the laboratory? I left my phone in there.

Xiao Ke replied: I did. Are you going to get it?

The other said: Un, I want to go grab it. Are you home? Would it be convenient for me to pick the key up from your place? 

Xiao Ke sent: Wait for me by the North Gate. I’m about to head out and it’s on the way. Give me about fifteen minutes.　

(Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden)

The other immediately replied with a long line of emojis that were kneeling as they cried. Xiao Ke laughed, then turned off his computer.　

He put on a lambskin leather jacket; it was his first time wearing it, so there was still a gamey scent radiating off the lambskin. Black pants hugged his legs attractively, a patch of skin above his ankle remaining uncovered. No matter from what angle, this person was striking to look at. The only blemish on his otherwise perfect body was the scar on his ankle. It was whiter than the surrounding skin and slightly raised, so somewhat ruined the aesthetic. But it also added a hint of sexiness to his overall appearance.

Xiao Ke thought to himself as he was styling his hair, this outfit is a little coquettish.　 

After changing and doing his hair, Xiao Ke also casually picked up a black face mask before leaving the house. His look today was too different from how he normally appeared in public, which resulted in his coworker being unable to recognize him even when he was standing right across from the other.

Xiao Ke reached a hand out and pulled down his mask. He laughed, “Good evening, young man.”

“Oh my goodness! You scared me!” His coworker took a small step off to the side. He smiled after regaining his wits, then glared and said, “I really didn’t recognize you. Your hairstyle is different from how it is normally. I didn’t even consider it could’ve been you.”

“What am I like normally?” Xiao Ke handed the key to him. “You can keep the key after using it. Just give it back tomorrow.” 

"Sounds good." The other was still grinning. He asked while keeping his eyes on Xiao Ke, "You're pretty handsome normally, too, but within the usual bounds. Today you look a little too cool. What's got you dressed uo like this?"