At the end of work time, there is no procrastination. If there are classes on weekdays or weekends, it won’t be a problem.
“If there are any scheduling conflicts, we can coordinate further. I’m sure you don’t want Bai Jinyan to record the family variety show alone. The other guest families have multiple members, but Bai Jinyan will be the only one from his family. If he doesn’t come, I might have to figure out a way to let Bai Jinyan temporarily host the show.”
…
Qiao Huaiyao didn’t say a word, while Zhao Jiamo’s messages kept pouring in, almost spamming the screen. Zhao Jiamo knew that if Qiao Huaiyao agreed to participate, Bai Jinyan would probably stop refusing. He was acquainted with Bai Jinyan’s family elders; otherwise, his show wouldn’t have any competitive power to secure Bai Jinyan’s variety show debut. He had thought that he could get two generations of celebrities to appear together, but the plan fell apart, and they ended up separate: those who should be in the country were abroad, and those who should be abroad were in the country. Now, if Qiao Huaiyao also refused to participate, he had no idea how to continue with the recording.
Qiao Huaiyao replied: “I’m still considering it. Can you send me the scheduled recording time to take a look?”
Zhao Jiamo responded: “Of course, I can do that.”
Apart from attending regular classes, Qiao Huaiyao also had some practical experiments related to his major. Before making a decision about participating in the recording, he needed to carefully check his schedule.
“I’ll give you a reply after I review the details,” Qiao Huaiyao said.
Zhao Jiamo: “Sure, if you find signing a contract bothersome, we can do an online electronic signature. Everything is negotiable.”
With each word Zhao Jiamo typed, there was hope that Qiao Huaiyao would agree to participate in the recording. Bai Jinyan handed him a cup of hot water and poured some honey into it. “Drink another cup,” he said.
“Mm…” Qiao Huaiyao blinked, “I’ll drink it later.”
He had already drunk two cups, and even though he had a fever, he didn’t want to drink too much hot water.
Qiao Huaiyao settled under the blanket, and just as he was about to speak, the doorbell rang. He got up and said, “I’ll go and open the door.”
He thought it might be the dormitory auntie, but when he opened the door, it was Qiu Shufeng.
Qiao Huaiyao was puzzled, “Class monitor? Why are you here?”
“After you got drunk like that yesterday, I was worried something might happen, so I came to check on you,” Qiu Shufeng said, relieved that he was fine. The second before he rang the doorbell and waited for it to be opened, he had thought about whether he should call the police or call for an ambulance.
“I’m fine,” Qiao Huaiyao reassured him, and Qiu Shufeng continued, “By the way, I wanted to tell you about tomorrow’s military training…”
Qiu Shufeng’s voice suddenly turned breathless, and he widened his eyes in shock, “He, he, he…”
He stammered, and his lower lip trembled, “Bai Bai, Bai Jinyan?!”
Qiu Shufeng began to doubt if he was seeing things. Why did the person who walked past Qiao Huaiyao look so much like Bai Jinyan?!
Qiao Huaiyao followed his gaze and turned to look, “Hmm, my brother, Bai Jinyan.”
Qiu Shufeng: “???!!”
I knocked! Why didn’t anyone explain to me? This is Bai Jinyan, not your brother!
But it turns out… I was the clown all along.
Qiao Huaiyao noticed that Qiu Shufeng probably didn’t know that Bai Jinyan was his brother. When Bai Jinyan contacted Qiu Shufeng, he probably didn’t mention who he was. Qiao Huaiyao said, “Come in and sit?”
“No, no need,” Qiu Shufeng repeatedly declined. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist asking for an autograph if he went in. “I still have something to do. I’ll go now. Tomorrow, there will be a bus at the entrance to take us to the military training site. We’ll go by class, and just find the bus with our class sign when the time comes.”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded, “Okay, got it.”
After saying goodbye, Qiu Shufeng turned and left, as if each step was difficult for him.
Qiao Huaiyao raised an eyebrow, feeling strange. But before he could say anything, Bai Jinyan’s arm suddenly rested on his shoulder, and his head was covered by the blanket.
“Uh?” Qiao Huaiyao looked up, and Bai Jinyan’s voice came from behind the blanket, “Still standing at the door in the cold?”
“I’m not running a fever anymore,” Qiao Huaiyao replied.
“It goes up and down.” This was the time when he felt the most uncomfortable. Bai Jinyan held him and adjusted the blanket, saying, “Go back and rest.”
Qiao Huaiyao tried to reason, “I think I don’t need to rest anymore.”
Bai Jinyan calmly looked at him, “My opinion matters more.”
Qiao Huaiyao pursed his lips, curled the edge of the blanket with his fingertips, and reluctantly said, “Okay.”
Bai Jinyan took the thermometer and said, “If you still feel uncomfortable tomorrow, you can take a leave from the military training.”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded. Although he felt much better, he obediently went back to lie down.
The bedroom door was not closed, and occasionally, the sound of typing on a keyboard could be heard from outside. Qiao Huaiyao lay in bed, opened his eyes, and spoke softly, “Brother.”
“Hmm?”
Qiao Huaiyao hugged the blanket, feeling a little bored, and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Research project, why?” Bai Jinyan replied.
“Um…” Qiao Huaiyao rolled over, “Nothing.”
He was just a little bored.
Bai Jinyan seemed to understand something. He brought his notebook and sat on the empty side of the bed, continuing to work on the document.
Qiao Huaiyao noticed that Bai Jinyan’s actions paused for a moment, but then he turned to face Bai Jinyan, leaning on the edge of the blanket, and snuggled closer to him.
Bai Jinyan’s gaze didn’t leave the computer screen as he casually asked, “Have you been in touch with my mom recently?”
Aunt Meng?
Qiao Huaiyao shook his head, “No.”
He had grown up around Aunt Meng and could say that she cared for him no less than his own family did. But since he came back to school, Aunt Meng hadn’t called him once. In his previous life, he had received calls from her at this time, shortly after he started school. But now, it seemed that Aunt Meng hadn’t contacted him, probably because of the changes brought about by his rebirth. He didn’t pay much attention to these small details.
Qiao Huaiyao didn’t notice that the sound of the keyboard stopped for a moment. Bai Jinyan lowered his eyes, concealing the surging emotions, and said calmly, “Maybe the signal abroad isn’t good.”
As the evening grew late, there was no need to turn on the lights in the room. Bai Jinyan typed the last word on the keyboard, glanced outside the window, and put down the computer. “I’ll go buy something.”
Tomorrow was military training, and they needed to buy some items necessary for the training. Qiao Huaiyao would take them when he went. Unlike inside the university, where there were convenience stores, military training sites were strict and generally didn’t allow students to leave their designated areas, except for special nighttime training.
“I want to go too,” Qiao Huaiyao immediately sat up. He didn’t want to stay alone in the dormitory.
Bai Jinyan raised an eyebrow, realizing that Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t given up on going out. He hadn’t rested yet, and in his mind, Qiao Huaiyao’s idea of going out was impractical.
Qiao Huaiyao sat at the edge of the bed, looking at him expectantly, “Brother, I’m not staying in the dormitory…”
Bai Jinyan sighed helplessly, “Find something thick to wear.”
“Okay!”
When they came out of the dormitory area, Qiao Huaiyao thought there wouldn’t be many people moving around the university at this time. But after coming out, he realized that the university was even more lively than the outside. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat.
Upon seeing the crowded scene in front of a food stall, Qiao Huaiyao adjusted his coat. “Seems like they’re selling barbecue?”
“It’s a popular stall,” Bai Jinyan said. “It’s hot. I don’t think it’s a good idea to eat oily food right now. Let’s not buy barbecue.”
Small stalls sometimes don’t cook the food thoroughly for a better taste, and even regular people might not feel good after eating, let alone someone recovering from a fever.
As they walked further, Bai Jinyan raised his hand and pretended to circle it around Qiao Huaiyao’s waist, reminding him, “Watch your step.”
“Okay.”
As they continued walking through the campus, Qiao Huaiyao suddenly remembered that the last time he had come to the school market was when he was with Bai Jinyan. After Bai Jinyan joined the show, he hadn’t been back. The dormitory provided all the necessary things, and since he had a lot of food and drinks left, he didn’t need to come to the market.
Bai Jinyan said, “Just leave the dormitory’s toiletries there and bring a new set.”
When picking out toiletries, Bai Jinyan asked, “What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?”
Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t eaten lunch and was still running a fever, so he didn’t have much appetite. He had only drunk some honey water.
“I’ll just eat whatever,” Qiao Huaiyao said.
As they continued their search for toiletries, Bai Jinyan asked, “Shall we eat hotpot tonight?”
Qiao Huaiyao was a bit surprised, “Hotpot?”
He hadn’t expected Bai Jinyan to suggest hotpot. Hotpot was something they usually ate together as a family.
“Sure,” Qiao Huaiyao said with a smile, “Hotpot sounds good.”
Bai Jinyan nodded, and they continued shopping. The two of them seemed to have a tacit understanding. They didn’t need to say much to each other; a simple exchange of glances conveyed their thoughts.
They were getting closer and closer as brothers, and their bond seemed to be growing stronger with each passing day.