The Cannon Fodder Doesn't Want to Return to the Rich Family (Translated)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

On the way back to the Lu family home, Mr. Lu received a video call from Lu Shenyuan.

Previously, Mr. Lu had not informed Lu Shenyuan about Lu Yao's return to the Lu family due to uncertainty. However, once Lu Yao agreed to return, Mr. Lu naturally shared the good news with Lu Shenyuan and Uncle Lu.

Lu Yao happened to be sitting next to Mr. Lu, so he was also included in the video.

Before Mr. Lu and Lu Shenyuan had exchanged many words, Lu Shenyuan directly spoke up, "Elder Brother, I didn't call just to chat. I'm here to say hello to my little nephew."

Lu Shenyuan, being abroad, was in a different time zone. It was night in China, but midday where he was. He had waited all morning just to call Lu Yao after they landed.

Mr. Lu turned to Lu Yao and asked, "Do you want to say a few words to your uncle?"

Lu Yao took the phone from Mr. Lu.

On the other end of the video, Lu Shenyuan, wearing the club's black and gold uniform, smiled as he saw Lu Yao and said, "Nephew, you look really handsome. Must've inherited it from me."

Lu Yao: "..."

Lu Yao recognized Lu Shenyuan but was surprised to see that the rumored aloof "God of Gaming" was like this in private.

Lu Shenyuan: "I heard you also play Honor of Kings? After I finish my match and return to China, let's play a few rounds together. By the way, don't team up with your brother Lu Qi, he's just a noob."

Lu Yao: "..."

Lu Qi, who was sitting in the car, overheard Lu Shenyuan's words and protested indignantly, "That's not fair! Uncle, why are you deciding for Lu Yao? Maybe he actually likes playing with me?"

Lu Shenyuan scoffed and was about to retort when his teammate, Bai Mao, suddenly shouted from behind, "Captain, we have five minutes before the training match starts."

Lu Shenyuan turned around and yelled towards the source of the voice, "Hurry up, you big-headed fool."

I don't even have time to talk to my own nephew; this life is unbearable.

After being scolded by Lu Shenyuan, Bai Mao muttered in a grievance, "I knew I'd be the one to suffer. I said I wouldn't call the captain, but those idiots pushed me out."

Lu Shenyuan's teammates knew he was waiting for an important call, but the training match was about to start. Bai Mao, having lost a coin toss, was pushed by the coach and other teammates to hurry the captain, who was a formidable figure.

Turning back with a change of expression, Lu Shenyuan smiled and said, "Xiao Yao, is there anything you want? I'll bring you a gift when I return to China."

Lu Yao: "Anything is fine."

Lu Shenyuan scratched his head, "Then I'll get you something related to Honor of Kings since you like the game."

Seeing Lu Shenyuan had other things to attend to, Mr. Lu said, "You go ahead with your matters. We'll chat more when you're back in the country."

Reluctantly, Lu Shenyuan ended the call.

By the time Mr. Lu and the others returned to the Lu family home, it was already late.

"Xiao Yao, this will be your room. If you don't like the décor, just let me know, and I'll help you change it to something you prefer," Mrs. Li said, opening the door to the room.

Lu Yao: "This is fine."

Hearing Lu Yao's response, Mrs. Li smiled, "That's good. You can rest now. I won't disturb you. Good night."

Lu Yao opened his mouth but couldn't easily say "Mom." Instead, he awkwardly said, "Good night."

Seeing Lu Yao's uncertainty, Mrs. Li's eyes softened with tenderness. She patted Lu Yao's shoulder, "It's okay. No rush."

Although she longed to hear "Mom" from this child, she didn't want to pressure him. Perhaps because of the bond between mother and child, Mrs. Li could understand the complex feelings Lu Yao had towards them.

Mrs. Li gently closed the door behind Lu Yao.

Lu Yao glanced around the room. It was quite spacious, with a separate bathroom, dressing room, and a private balcony. The view from the balcony showcased a beautiful lake.

Lu Yao went out to the balcony and called Grandpa Bai.

"Hello, Grandpa Bai, I've arrived."

...

Lu Qi's room was right next to Lu Yao's, and it also had a balcony. Therefore, Lu Qi could clearly hear Lu Yao's conversation with Grandpa Bai from his own room.

Hearing Lu Yao's gentle voice on the phone, Lu Qi felt a pang of jealousy, even though he knew that Grandpa Bai had watched Lu Yao grow up. He couldn't help but feel a bit sour—Lu Yao seemed to be more affectionate and considerate with an outsider than with him, his own brother.

Lu Yao, unaware of Lu Qi's complex emotions in the next room, finished his call with Grandpa Bai and began unpacking his suitcase.

After organizing his clothes in the dressing room, Lu Yao lay down on the bed to rest. When he turned off the light, he noticed that the box at the very bottom of the nightstand was glowing brightly in the dark.

He turned the light back on and pulled the box out. The box was labeled with a series of crooked words that read "Messages for the Little Baby." So, it seemed this box contained messages they had left for their younger selves?

Curious, Lu Yao reached into the box and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

He unfolded it to find that it read, "Hope the little baby grows up quickly. I want to go to kindergarten with the little baby."

Lu Yao didn't need to guess—this note was clearly written by Lu Qi when he was starting kindergarten. Given the handwriting on the box, it looked like Lu Qi had created this box.

"Today, our Chinese teacher, that old witch, made us write an essay titled 'My ()'. I wrote 'My Brother'. That old witch actually accused me of lying, saying I didn't have a brother. It made me so mad. When I have money, I'll buy this elementary school and tell the old witch that I wasn't lying."

"The sky looks especially beautiful today. The clouds are as white as cotton candy."

As Lu Yao thought the next note would likely be more of Lu Qi's childish ramblings, he came across a note in Mrs. Li's handwriting.

"Today, I changed the wallpaper in your room. Since you're fifteen now, I thought you might find the previous style too childish, so I updated it to a starry sky theme. I hope you like it."

Looking around the room, Lu Yao could tell that the décor had been carefully designed. He couldn't imagine what kind of emotions Mrs. Li must have had while designing this room for him, especially given her uncertainty about her own health.

"Today is your birthday. Did you have any cake? I bought a cake, but as I was eating it, it became too sweet and a bit bitter. I won't buy cake from that shop again."

The box seemed to have become their secret diary. They seemed to express their unfiltered thoughts and burdens, perhaps because they felt they wouldn't get a response.

"Today, that child wasn't you, but when I saw him, I suddenly wondered if you've grown to be as tall as he is now. Lu Qi, that brat, will probably be taller than me in a year or two."

"We got some news from the mountain city, so I'll be going there to have a look. Although the hope is slim, I always feel like you might be waiting for us somewhere there."

...

Due to a series of recent events, Mr. Lu and Mrs. Li had forgotten about the box in Lu Yao's room and had left it there.

In the darkened room, Lu Yao lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a heavy expression, lost in thought.