Addicted: Book One - The Inquietude of Youth (1-44)

Chapter 22 - Happiness comes from trivial things

Translator: Sienna | Editor: Blue Blossoms

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It finally rained on one melancholic day.

It soon turned into a heavy downpour. Standing on the first floor of the school building while looking at the rain, Bai Luo Yin's heart was nevertheless happy. After wishing for it for so long, they could finally save several hundred yuans of water expenses this time around.

Most students who were living in the school dorms immediately opened their umbrellas and returned to their dorms. The remaining ten or so people were mostly picked up by their parents. Bai Luo Yin looked at the wall clock, seemingly conflicted with himself. He estimated that it would still be raining even till the sky had turned dark, so he had better walk home.

When Gu Hai walked out of the school building, he saw his chauffeur standing outside waiting for him.

"It is raining heavily today. It's better if you do not take a taxi on your own."

The chauffeur's gaze was a little bit pleading. However, Gu Hai could tell that it was a forced one, completely different from the pleading gaze of a parent. There was no concern at all, only the anxiety of the consequences to come.

Nevertheless, he got into the car.

"Xiao Hai, the General said that today is the Mistress's birthday. He has invited you to come home and have a family dinner."

Gu Hai's head rested on the car cushion. My mother has no birthday celebrations anymore, only the anniversary of her death.

"Take me to my place."

"Xiao Hai..."

"I said, take me to my..." Gu Hai noticed someone outside, he trailed off abruptly, then extended his hand and gestured to the chauffeur, "Drive slower."

Outside, in the middle of the heavy rain, Bai Luo Yin was walking barefoot on the road, his body drenched from head to toe. His clothes stuck to his body, showing the outline of his tall and well-proportioned stature. His pace was steady and there wasn't a trace of rush or discomfort in his gait amidst the torrential rain. Soaked to the bone, he crossed the street still wearing that torn coat, revealing flashes of his wheat-colored skin.

The car slowly followed Bai Luo Yin, there was no sign of him conscious of being trailed. His hand kept on wiping the raindrops from his face. From Gu Hai's angle, he could see that Bai Luo Yin's lips had turned somewhat pale.

Gone was his vigorous and lively manner from earlier that day.

Come to think of it, what good could one sleepless night, combined with joking around with him for the whole day, bring?

"Xiao Hai, are we still following him?"

"Just keep on following him."

"Why don't you just call him and tell him to get into the car?"

When Gu Hai shot an icy glare at the driver, who immediately shut his mouth.

The rain continued until Bai Luo Yin reached home. From afar Bai Han Qi could be seen bustling around in the rain helping Aunt Zou to move the tables and chairs inside. It was a low-lying area. Perfectly fine when it didn't rain, but when it did, the whole breakfast stall would be flooded. Thus, no one set up a stall here except for Aunt Zou. She had specifically sought a quiet and tranquil place.

Bai Luo Yin quickened his pace to help Bai Han Qi pull the plastic cover.

Bai Han Qi shouted, "Just go inside, I can do it by myself."

"Stop talking nonsense! Hurry up!"

Gu Hai's car was quietly parked at the entrance of the alley. Sitting in the car, watching Bai Luo Yin's busy figure in the rain, as the father and son argued who would carry the heaviest one, something akin to faint warmth passed through Gu Hai's heart. Perhaps, life should be like this, small and trivial, not a meal used as a bait to lure you home.

"Take me home."

The driver sighed and turned the car around.

Bai Han Qi handed 20 yuan to Bai Luo Yin, "Tomorrow, buy some breakfast on the street. In this heavy rain, the breakfast stall probably won't open tomorrow."

Bai Luo Yin wiped his damp hair while returning the money back to Bai Han Qi.

"It's fine to go hungry once in a while."

"Just take it!" Bai Han Qi said, irked, "Our family is not that poor that we can't even eat breakfast."

"Then why don't you give me more? With this 20 yuan, I can't eat my full even at Aunt Zou's place."

Bai Han Qi whacked Bai Luo Yin's head, "You little-!"

After chatting and laughing, Bai Han Qi tossed 50 yuan to Bai Luo Yin.

The next morning, Bai Luo Yin woke up and tidied up his things, then went to school straight away. He didn't take the money, it's wasn't like he didn't want it, rather he had forgotten. Only when he arrived at Aunt Zou's stall did he remembered that it was closed today. However, Bai Luo Yin hated to turn back. Hence, with a hungry stomach, he continued walking to school.

When he got to the classroom, about to put down the schoolbag, Bai Luo Yin was stunned by a large bag of breakfast on the table. There was everything inside, there were Western-style pastries that he didn't like, bread, sandwiches, custard tarts, but also his favorites: sesame seed cake with intestines, steamed stuffed buns, griddle cake and porridge with eight toppings...

So many things, who put this here?

This isn't to tempt me on purpose, it is?

Bai Luo Yin looked around him four times. No one paid attention to him. He took the bag away and saw a note below.

This is for you.

Bai Luo Yin stared at You Qi's seat. He was still sleeping but Bai Luo Yin guessed that he was the sender. Besides him, no one knew that he ate so much. Every kind of food was inside the bag.

Well, I'm going to help myself then.