Chapter 53.2
As the curfew approached, it was time to wrap things up.
“Want to crash at my place?” Lu Yao offered his car keys, providing a reasonable explanation, “Or Mr. Yu could host me. I’ve had a few drinks and can’t drive.”
Yu Le looked at the car keys and paused, “Why would you think I have a domestic driver’s license?”
Lu Yao: “…”
The fact that Yu Le didn’t have a driver’s license was unexpected for Lu Yao.
As Lu Yao pondered how to justify taking him home, Xiao Wu volunteered, “I’ll drive. Old Zuo hasn’t been drinking either. He’ll follow behind with Lao Mao. After dropping you off, we’ll head back to the base.”
This seemed to be the only viable solution.
Once they were in Lu Yao’s car, Xiao Wu looked at them through the rearview mirror, “Who should we drop off first? Little Yu, where do you live?”
Yu Le: “Fujin—”
Lu Yao: “Let’s go to my place.”
Xiao Wu was surprised, “So, we’re all going to your place? Little Yu too?”
“Yeah.” Lu Yao, “You still need to return to the base. Don’t waste time. It’s on the way.”
Yu Le wasn’t sure about their route to the base or if Fujin Road was on the way, so he decided to follow Lu Yao’s suggestion.
Lu Yao had drunk a bit too much and leaned back, closing his eyes to rest. Xiao Wu chatted idly with him, talking about Lao Mao, and then sighed again.
“After the breakup, Lao Mao didn’t speak for days. He trained like crazy, crying in bed at night while looking at pictures of his ex. His eyes were swollen every morning, and he thought we didn’t know.”
“Don’t be fooled by his current calm demeanor. He still keeps his ex’s things, unwilling to throw them away, keeping them in a box hidden in the closet. I found them accidentally while borrowing socks.”
Lu Yao: “Why did you need to borrow his socks?”
“All mine were washed and I had nothing to wear… Not the point!” Xiao Wu chuckled, “Brother Lu, that’s not the main issue!”
Lu Yao pinched the bridge of his nose, “Don’t worry about it. Let him figure it out himself.”
“Definitely. We can’t control such things anyway.”
Xiao Wu parked at the villa entrance and asked, “Alright, we’re here. Do you want me to stop here or drive in?”
“Drive in. It’s not safe—”
Lu Yao’s voice trailed off as he opened his eyes. He fell silent for two seconds, “Why did you bring me here?”
Xiao Wu was confused, “Isn’t this your home?”
Lu Yao, “…”
In the silence, Xiao Wu’s realization hit him, “Wait, Brother Lu, are you going back to your downtown apartment? But you have Xiao Yu with you. It’s only the first day of your date. Isn’t it inappropriate for you two to be alone together?”
Lu Yao was frustrated, “Forget it, just go back.”
“Okay, then. I’m leaving. Brother Lu, let’s catch up again during your next break!”
Xiao Wu hopped out of the car and, before leaving, said a few more words to Lu Yao, “I can see Xiao Yu likes you too. He’s really into you. Good luck!”
He hurriedly said goodbye and drove off with Zuo Feng.
Yu Le vaguely guessed from Xiao Wu’s words, but wasn’t sure, “This place…”
“My parents live here,” Lu Yao said after a pause. “And Lu Xingxing.”
Yu Le took out his phone, “I’ll call a cab.”
Lu Yao covered his phone screen, “Le Le, it’s hard to get a cab here. I don’t feel comfortable letting you go alone.”
Yu Le bit his lip in silence.
Lu Yao checked the time, “Usually, my parents are already asleep by now. You can stay the night. I’ll take you back first thing tomorrow morning, and you won’t have to meet my parents. How does that sound?”
Yu Le hesitated.
A breeze blew by, and Lu Yao squinted, pressing his hand to his forehead, looking distressed.
Yu Le: “…What’s wrong?”
Lu Yao: “I’m feeling carsick and my head hurts from the alcohol.”
Yu Le: “…”
As Yu Le stood in the villa’s entrance, facing the welcoming gazes of the three family members in the brightly lit living room, he had only one thought in his mind.
Poor man, unlucky for life.
