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

Chapter 69

Chapter 69

After having dinner in the dining room as arranged by the production team, everyone pushed their suitcases to their assigned rooms to rest.

When Lu Yao entered the room pushing his suitcase, Jiang Bai was organizing his clothes, hanging them in the room's wardrobe.

Hearing the sound of suitcase wheels, Jiang Bai looked up.

Seeing Lu Yao standing at the door, Jiang Bai paused in his actions and then gave Lu Yao a distant smile. "I've put my clothes on the right side of the wardrobe, leaving the left side for you."

Facing Jiang Bai's polite but distant attitude, Lu Yao was momentarily stunned. He pressed his lips together and responded in a low voice, "Okay."

The room provided by the production team included a shower for freshening up.

Jiang Bai, leaning against an armchair in the room, was holding a book. He appeared to be engrossed in it, but in reality, he hadn't absorbed a single word.

Lu Yao was taking a shower in the bathroom.

The constant sound of running water broke the silence in the room.

After a while, Lu Yao opened the bathroom door and walked out wearing gray long-sleeved pajamas.

His usually stern demeanor seemed softened by the misty air from the shower.

As Lu Yao walked past Jiang Bai, casually drying his hair with a towel, a familiar, faint scent wafted by. Jiang Bai lowered his gaze abruptly, tightening his grip on the book's cover.

After drying his hair a bit, Lu Yao set the towel aside, seeing his hair was no longer dripping.

Jiang Bai, noticing Lu Yao's still damp hair, got up and walked to the nightstand. He was about to take out the hairdryer prepared by the production team when Lu Yao's phone rang.

Lu Yao glanced at the caller ID—it was Mrs. Li.

He didn't answer the call right away. Instead, he turned to Jiang Bai and said in a flat tone with a hint of concern, "It's getting late. If you want to sleep, you don't have to wait for me. You can turn off the lights and rest."

Jiang Bai withdrew his hand from the hairdryer and quietly replied, "Okay." He then pushed the drawer back.

As Lu Yao left the room, he made sure to close the door gently behind him.

Jiang Bai watched Lu Yao's retreating figure with a sense of loss, observing the door as it closed. His eyelashes fluttered, casting a faint shadow under his eyelids.

Suddenly, he reached out, reopened the drawer, and took out the hairdryer, placing it lightly on Lu Yao's bedside table.

Downstairs, the production crew was still busy working.

Lu Yao nodded in greeting to them as he quickly walked outside to take Mrs. Li's call.

Mrs. Li's voice came through, tinged with unease. "Xiaoyao, are you all asleep?"

Lu Yao looked out at the dark garden. "Not yet."

After his response, the conversation fell into an awkward silence.

Since Lu Yao had expressed his desire to be with Jiang Bai the previous day, a strained atmosphere had developed between him and his mother.

Listening to Mrs. Li's shallow breaths on the other end, Lu Yao pressed his lips together and broke the silence. "How is Dad's health today?"

Mrs. Li glanced at Mr. Lu, who was sitting beside her, listening to the call in silence. "He's fine. The doctor checked on him today and said there were no major issues."

"That's good," Lu Yao replied softly.

Mrs. Li cautiously asked, "Xiaoyao, have you talked things over with Jiang Bai? Lu Qi told me you would handle it."

Hearing this, Lu Yao was taken aback, his heart feeling as if it had been pricked by a needle. He lowered his eyes, his dark pupils heavy and dim.

After a long pause, Mrs. Li finally heard Lu Yao's hoarse "Hmm" on the other end.

Sensing something off in his voice, Mrs. Li wanted to ask if he was upset with them, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

The phone call fell into another awkward silence.

Lu Yao exhaled softly, suppressing his emotions. "Mom, if there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."

Mrs. Li nodded and gently replied, "Okay, it's late. You should get some rest."

"Mm, you and Dad should sleep early too."

After Mrs. Li hung up, Lu Yao didn't immediately return to his room. He stood there, lost in thought, gazing into the dark night.

His dry lips were pressed into a thin line.

It was winter, and the night in Chuan City was cold. But Lu Yao's cold demeanor seemed to blend seamlessly with the chilly winter night.

Jiang Bai thought that Lu Yao would return soon after finishing his call, but it wasn't until the clock struck midnight that he heard the sound of the door handle turning.

He hurriedly pulled up the blanket and closed his eyes, covering most of his face.

Lu Yao, enveloped in a chill, quietly entered the room.

He was surprised to find the room still brightly lit when he opened the door.

Frowning slightly, Lu Yao thought that the bright light might disrupt one's sleep.

He looked at Jiang Bai, who was curled up in bed, and seeing that Jiang Bai seemed to be fast asleep, Lu Yao carefully approached the light switch on the nightstand. He intended to turn off the light but noticed a note under the hairdryer on the nightstand that read, "Remember to dry your hair."

Lu Yao's hair had already dried in the cold air.

He gently pulled out the note from under the hairdryer.

Staring at Jiang Bai's familiar handwriting, Lu Yao was stunned for a moment. His eyes revealed a hint of suppressed gloom, and his mood sank deeper into darkness.

Lu Yao's breathing became heavier, and his fluttering eyelashes revealed his unsettled emotions.

With a "click," the room was instantly plunged into darkness.

In the darkness, Lu Yao gently rubbed the note, then carefully placed it into his pocket.

After Lu Yao turned off the light, Jiang Bai thought he might toss and turn like the previous night. However, with the familiar presence nearby and Lu Yao's gentle breathing, Jiang Bai gradually drifted back to sleep.