Yu Luofan: [Tagging @Study God.]
Qiao Huaiyao: “…?”
Possible.
Brief and to the point.
However, he hadn’t anticipated that there would be so few people signing up. In his previous life, he had focused on studying and hadn’t participated in many recreational activities.
He also didn’t remember what the final performance for military training was like in his previous life.
After thinking for a moment, Qiao Huaiyao typed: [Then let’s form a group and prepare a performance together.]
Qiu Shufeng: [I’ve never been on stage before. The instructor’s meaning is to submit the prepared performance by nine o’clock tomorrow night. We have a day off tomorrow to prepare.]
Wang Zhan: [Should our dorm prepare together? I can be a dance partner!]
Yu Luofan: [Reciting poems is the simplest, a group sing-along works too.]
Qiao Huaiyao didn’t have a strong preference, [I’m fine with anything.]
After sending the message, he leaned back on the couch, accidentally bumping into the bag of potato chips while adjusting the blanket. He reached out to grab it but found it empty.
‘Clatter‘
Qiao Huaiyao turned his head reflexively and saw that the potato chips he had just eaten were securely held in the hand of Bai Jinyan.
“Um?” Qiao Huaiyao wiped off the seasoning powder from his lips, sat up, and said, “Brother, how did you come in?”
Bai Jinyan placed the potato chips on a small cart, “Preparing the set for the next scene.”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded, “Are we shooting until this late today?”
It was already past nine, and if they had to prepare the set, shoot again, and everything went smoothly, it would take another two to three hours.
“Feeling tired?” Bai Jinyan rubbed his head and handed him a lemon water, “Shall I return to the hotel now, or we’ll be here for a while.”
“I’ll wait for you to go back together.” Qiao Huaiyao wrapped the blanket tightly around himself, not intending to return early.
“Why don’t you go rest?” Bai Jinyan asked, “To the hotel, I mean.”
Qiao Huaiyao glanced at Bai Jinyan, puzzled by his mention of going to the hotel.
Where would Bai Jinyan be if not here? “Brother, are you going to handle something important?”
“Brother, take care of yourself,” Qiao Huaiyao waved his hand and turned back to his phone to continue filming. “By the way, the last day of military training is only in the morning. We’ll pack in the afternoon, and we can start the live stream in the evening.”
Setting up the livestream ahead of time and packing the next day would allow them to go directly to the location for recording the variety show. Zhao Jiamo had left for other matters, leaving behind the photography teacher and some livestream equipment.
Bai Jinyan wasn’t in a hurry to start the livestream, “Won’t it be too rushed?”
Qiao Huaiyao said, “No, my dorm doesn’t have much stuff.”
The heaviest items were probably just some books. At most, they’d put things back in the dorm, then grab some necessities to bring to the hotel, which might be a bit inconvenient.
Bai Jinyan nodded and asked, “Are all of your performances prepared?”
“Not yet.” Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t paid much attention to his phone for a while, and there were many messages in the group discussing possible performances for their dorm.
“Still deciding. Since there are so few people signing up, the instructor is forcing each dorm to participate.” Qiao Huaiyao sipped his lemon water, feeling uncertain about this performance.
Seeing his concern, Bai Jinyan lightly laughed and said, “There are so many musical instruments, just pick one randomly and you can perform.”
Bai Jinyan wasn’t too concerned about it and listened to the outside noise stop before standing up and saying, “I’m going out.”
“Alright.” Qiao Huaiyao waved his hand, “Take care.”
The production team got busy, and time flew by.
After repeating a simple scene several times, two to three hours had passed.
Qiao Huaiyao had slept late the previous night and got up early for military training, so now he lay on the couch, staring out the window but struggling to focus his attention.
The changing lights outside and the swaying made his eyes feel dizzy.
Qiao Huaiyao checked his phone and saw that the nighttime shoot hadn’t finished yet.
He thought for a moment and set an alarm for an hour later.
Wrapping himself tighter in the blanket, he curled up on the couch, telling himself that it would only be an hour and he could take a short nap.
After the production team finished for the day, Qiao Huaiyao remained sound asleep.
Bai Jinyan, with Lu Lu following, entered the room.
Bai Jinyan headed inside, raising his hand to stop Lu Lu from speaking.
His tone was calm, but he subconsciously lowered his voice. Lu Lu instinctively quieted down, nodding and following alongside.
Bai Jinyan looked at the sleeping figure on the couch, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The weather tonight wasn’t particularly good, with the moon high in the sky, its light diffused by sparse clouds.
The lights in the studio had been turned off after work.
The faint moonlight outlined Qiao Huaiyao’s delicate profile, long eyelashes casting a small shadow.
His slightly pursed lips added a touch of color to his fair face.
The blanket was pulled high, with his chin resting on the edge of it.
Bai Jinyan was worried about waking him up, so he didn’t say anything and just turned to look at Lu Lu.
Lu Lu understood and canceled the later meal reservations.
Bai Jinyan came in and saw that Qiao Huaiyao’s phone was still lit. He raised his hand and canceled the timed alarm.
Standing next to the couch, he lowered his head and watched the sleeping figure, his thoughts flowing in his eyes.
After a moment, he slowly lifted his hand but stopped before touching Qiao Huaiyao’s cheek.
His fingertips hung near Qiao Huaiyao’s face, casting a faint shadow in the moonlight and leaving a slight mark on his cheek.
He paused for a breath, then silently withdrew his hand.
His gaze remained on Qiao Huaiyao’s face, tracing the familiar features that had long been etched in his heart.
Bai Jinyan leaned over, his hand carefully skirting around the bend of Qiao Huaiyao’s knees, one hand resting gently on his back, as if cradling him.
He lifted him horizontally, careful to keep the blanket over him.
Qiao Huaiyao slept deeply and didn’t seem to notice.
Bai Jinyan, with one hand on his back, led him to sit on his own thigh, his arm around Qiao Huaiyao’s back, supporting him against his shoulder.
He adjusted the blanket, making sure Qiao Huaiyao was comfortable.
Lu Lu was waiting by the car, and when he saw them approach, he quickly opened the door.
He had already tidied up the back seat, but he didn’t rush to open the door.
The warmth inside had dissipated, and even with the air conditioning on, it wouldn’t warm up again.
Instead of putting Qiao Huaiyao in the car, Bai Jinyan sat him on his lap in a horizontal position, one arm around his waist, supporting him against his shoulder.
He adjusted the blanket, ensuring Qiao Huaiyao was snug.
Lu Lu stood by the car, watching them, and as they approached, he slowly and gently closed the door handle, ensuring a soft closing sound.
In that moment of locking, there was only a faint, delicate click. Qiao Huaiyao’s closed eyes seemed to sense the shifting positions in his sleep.
His lips moved slightly, a murmured whisper brushing Bai Jinyan’s shoulder.
The familiar scent was right beside him, and instead of struggling to wake up, he sank deeper into sleep.
Bai Jinyan held him closer, and after the engine’s rumble of the departing car faded, he took his hand off Qiao Huaiyao’s ear.
He looked down at the sleeping face, looking even more obedient as he slept.
Perhaps due to the unstable motion of the moving car, Qiao Huaiyao furrowed his brows.
Bai Jinyan held his upper body, gently patting his back in a soothing motion as if comforting him, one gentle stroke after another—
The night lamp in the shop shone outside the window, its light hidden by the bedside. It would brighten when someone approached.