The Long Road Ahead: C42

Returning Home

This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)

For domestic flights, there was no such thing as a nightly flight that wasn't delayed; and the later it gets, the more delays there were promised to be. And this was the reason Xiao Ning and the others didn't get to disembark until it was past midnight.

While Xiao Ning and Shan Haiming were wrapped in their warm, thick, cotton-padded blankets and sleeping quite soundly, Lu Yan had just arrived at his family's home.

By the time Lu Yan switched back on his phone, it had already begun ringing incessantly. "Mom? Yeah, Xiao Ning and I are in the city, don't worry. We're coming over right now. Oh, can you make me a late-night snack, I'm kinda hungry. Laozao? (fermented sweet rice wine [porridge])? I don't like sweet stuff. Just make me some leek egg pancakes instead, alright? I'll call you before we reach the house."

"Xiao Ning doesn't eat midnight snacks." Shan Haiming spoke as if he had just returned from a trance. "The most he can have is a glass of milk to sleep peacefully, and if you add a bit of honey he will enjoy it a lot more. After eleven at night is when he gets especially sleepy."

Xiao Ning was used to staying at the Lu's. Every time he came back to the city, he would stop by to rest on his way. So Lu Anguo was very surprised by this development, "Did you and Xiao Ning have a spat?"

He honestly had no objection to these sorts of happenings, his hang-up was simply, that, unlike Shan Haiming, he couldn't be as honest and frank when it came to doing these sorts of things. Plus, it happened so unexpectedly that his body would stiffen by default.

After hanging up, Lu Yan turned around to see both Shan Haiming and Xiao Ning waiting to collect their luggage, and a glint flashed in his eyes.

Displaying a rarely seen act of consideration, Lu Yan leaned over with the intention of helping Xiao Ning carry his suitcase and was ready to head out and catch a taxi after he did so.

When the two got their luggage and walked over to him, Lu Yan said, "Xiao Ning, we have to hurry back, my mom and dad are waiting for us."

What exactly he felt in that instant was something Xiao Ning couldn't put into words, but one thing was certain though, he really was sleepy. Carefully, and while trying to not disturb the other side of the bed. Just as he lay down, the mattress moved, and a lying on his side Xiao Ning soon felt the one behind him near followed by an arm encircling his waist.

The indignation in Lu Yan's eyes at his words was so profound it had almost transformed into a tangible substance that flowed. His mouth remained shut, not a word escaping him, as he stood there, motionless, staring at Xiao Ning for a long time. But despite Xiao Ning's apologetic expression, he still stood his ground and it made Lu Yan not even recognise him. What's more, beside him, Shan Haiming seemed completely unenthused. It was as though he had no care in the world for any of Lu Yan's moves.

It was a bit strange to use the word spat to describe a falling out between men approaching their thirties. But in the eyes of an elder, a child will always be a child no matter how big they get. Even Lu Anguo had felt a bit shocked when he asked this, considering Xiao Ning, in all the years he'd known Lu Yan, had never gotten into a fight with him. How could something like this have happened?

If Xiao Ning was alone, he would've gone along with whatever LuYan had arranged for him. Xiao Ning sighed, "I'll just give my apologies to Aunty tomorrow, then."

But Xiao Ning, who couldn't fight off the sleepiness which had overtaken him, only exposed a troubled expression. He had already planned to accompany Shan Haiming back to the hotel to stay the night, then after arranging it, Shan Haiming would also go visit Mr and Mrs Lu.

Being a picky eater and having a favourite dish were two completely separate matters.

And Lu Yan no longer had the heart to continue their conversation. Dispirited even further, her trudged his way back to his bedroom, but once under his covers, he couldn't manage to fall asleep until it was nearly dawn.

When the two got their luggage and walked over to him, Lu Yan said, "Xiao Ning, we have to hurry back, my mom and dad are waiting for us."

Shan Haiming then said to Xiao Ning, as though Lu Yan's words were unheard, "I already booked us a room at a place nearby, so let's get over there and get some sleep."

Anyhow, the hotel Shan Haiming booked was indeed close to the airport, being just twenty minutes away. They quickly got to their room, and upon seeing the huge bed, Xiao Ning couldn't help from muttering to himself: Does sleeping in a bed like that imply something else?

Returning Home

Being a picky eater and having a favourite dish were two completely separate matters.

He was standing quite close to Xiao Ning as he spoke, and his voice was a bit low. With his internal clock disrupted by this trip, this tone of his sounded rather soothing.

I... I really don't know.

"Let's get going, what's with the hold-up." Shan Haiming didn't take his hand to lead him away this time and simply walked ahead on his own. Xiao Ning then hurried along behind him. While rushing off, he turned to say to LuYan, "I'll call you tomorrow. I'll be leaving first. You should head back home right away too."

Is that guy really planning to come at me by doing this? Who the hell does he think he is, huh?

He was standing quite close to Xiao Ning as he spoke, and his voice was a bit low. With his internal clock disrupted by this trip, this tone of his sounded rather soothing.

"Okay." Xiao Ning's eyes were half-closed. "Good night."

N/A

For a long time, both Lu Yan and Chen Shuyun stared at each other's faces as, to both of their surprise, neither of them knew.

But what Lu Yan felt right then, which he found the most bizarre of all, was that those flatly spoken words from Shan Haiming had made him feel as though he had lost. But what was it did I just lose?

Lu Yan gritted his teeth. But since Shan Haiming had ignored him, he couldn't swallow down his pride and talk to him first, so he turned his attention to Xiao Ning and said with a smile, "I'll help you carry your stuff."

Chen Shuyun, who was just coming in from the kitchen with some egg pancakes in hand—pancakes which should've been heated in the pan once more given how its wafting fragrance managed to stimulate dormant appetites, head their conversation and also asked, "Why would Xiao Ning go stay at a hotel?"

Lu Yan got up without saying a word in return, but then he turned suddenly to ask her, "Mom since Xiao Ning is going to come over for lunch tomorrow, how about making something he likes?"

Is that guy really planning to come at me by doing this? Who the hell does he think he is, huh?

Lu Yan was not a child, so there was really no need for any worry. What's more, compared to Lu Yan, who was a native of C-City; Shan Haiming, who was unfamiliar with the place and had just arrived with Xiao Ning. He was the one who needed Xiao Ning to look after him more.

"It's not good for you to be eating stuff like this so late. It's not a good habit." From the side, Lu Anguo stated.

Displaying a rarely seen act of consideration, Lu Yan leaned over with the intention of helping Xiao Ning carry his suitcase and was ready to head out and catch a taxi after he did so.

That there were some very important things that he had always ignored.

He was depressed, so utterly down in the dumps that he lugged his luggage upstairs the moment he rang the doorbell and walked in.

But if it really is because they had a spat, the problem must've definitely been due to something that son of mine did.

"Lu Yan, it's really late now, I won't be heading back with you." Excusing himself, Xiao Ning then prevented Lu Yan from taking his luggage and gave an apologetic smile. "I'll come visit tomorrow."

In the end, he looked Xiao Ning in the eye, using the persuasive tone he used with others without thinking. "Xiao Ning, are you really just going to let me go back home on my own?"

"Since when do you treat us so cordially, like strangers?! My mom is not going to be happy when she finds out." Lu Yan's brows were in knots. "My mom even said she's making us some midnight snacks. How can you be so rude as to waste her good intentions?"

1. 醪糟 (laozao) aka 酒釀 (jiuniang) aka sweet wine is a porridge, soup, or pudding(?) made from glutinous rice that has been fermented. It's not a drink it's food. 2. 韭菜蛋饼: leek/chive egg pancake, it's salty.[]iana: those people have been with this boy for almost twenty years and none of them noticed the basic type of food he likes? But forget about them, our boy actually wanted to be "troubled a bit" it seems. Was that indescribable feeling hints of disappointment perhaps, hmmmmmmmm~ That's it for the week, I have to switch over to Evil Son now.

"Good to have you back." Lu Anguo nodded. "Are you alone? Didn't Xiao Ning say he'd be coming back with you?"

Being a picky eater and having a favourite dish were two completely separate matters.

If Xiao Ning was alone, he would've gone along with whatever LuYan had arranged for him. Xiao Ning sighed, "I'll just give my apologies to Aunty tomorrow, then."

"Oh, so that's what it is. Why didn't you just say that from the start? See, I told you. How could it be possible for Xiao Ning to be estranged from our family, huh?" Chen Shuyun glanced at Lu Anguo, using a look that said 'see, you were wrong' before continuing, "So is he coming over tomorrow then?"

But after he got out of the shower, Xiao Ning saw that Shan Haiming had already gotten into bed and seemed to have been asleep.

From childhood to adulthood, Lu Yan had never experienced such a defeat, because it was one he never in his life thought was coming. It was an extremely serious matter!

"Lu Yan, it's really late now, I won't be heading back with you." Excusing himself, Xiao Ning then prevented Lu Yan from taking his luggage and gave an apologetic smile. "I'll come visit tomorrow."

From childhood to adulthood, Lu Yan had never experienced such a defeat, because it was one he never in his life thought was coming. It was an extremely serious matter!

Lu Yan got up without saying a word in return, but then he turned suddenly to ask her, "Mom since Xiao Ning is going to come over for lunch tomorrow, how about making something he likes?"

In the end, he looked Xiao Ning in the eye, using the persuasive tone he used with others without thinking. "Xiao Ning, are you really just going to let me go back home on my own?"

"Okay." Xiao Ning's eyes were half-closed. "Good night."

Chen Shuyun was still wearing an apron and seemed especially happy when she saw him. "You're back? Why didn't you call ahead first? Tsk, this kid. Lucky for you, I guessed it was almost time for you to get here so I fried them for you. They're still hot."

While Xiao Ning hurried to keep pace with Shan Haiming, there were still threads of an indescribable delicate sort of feeling knotting up his heart. That there would be a day he would leave Lu Yan behind, not once but twice, was something he never thought was a possibility in his life.

Lu Yan got up without saying a word in return, but then he turned suddenly to ask her, "Mom since Xiao Ning is going to come over for lunch tomorrow, how about making something he likes?"

Their once-maintained positions of the past had now been switched. Back then, it was Lu Yan who had left him without any worries, and now it was him who was standing there looking ahead.

Shan Haiming's tone was too calm—too indifferent. It made it difficult to discern if he was mocking someone or simply giving an objective recount. Nonetheless, this tone of his that seemed to simply state an objective truth had still managed to make Lu Yan feel as though it was all unbearable.

He then cocked his head to the side and took a good look at the unsightly face of Lu Yan, looking so overcast to the point where water would drip. "So my apologies, Manager Lu, but you will have to eat those midnight snacks of yours alone. Xiao Ning doesn't have the energy to play around with at this hour."

"He's waiting for you in the living room." Having not seen her son for such a long time, Chen Shuyun was grinning from ear to ear. "Are you hungry? I'll go bring you your snack, and I also prepared a drink for you in the fridge."

But if it really is because they had a spat, the problem must've definitely been due to something that son of mine did.

What remnants of an appetite Lu Yan had mustered was now completely washed away without a trace. But even though he could act casually with his mother, in his father's presence he still had some scruples. So the chopsticks before him were taken into his hands, and with a drawn-out action, he began eating the food on his plate. "He brought a friend with him to C-City, so he's accompanying them."

He was standing quite close to Xiao Ning as he spoke, and his voice was a bit low. With his internal clock disrupted by this trip, this tone of his sounded rather soothing.

He was depressed, so utterly down in the dumps that he lugged his luggage upstairs the moment he rang the doorbell and walked in.

I... I really don't know.

Is that guy really planning to come at me by doing this? Who the hell does he think he is, huh?

That there were some very important things that he had always ignored.

From childhood to adulthood, Lu Yan had never experienced such a defeat, because it was one he never in his life thought was coming. It was an extremely serious matter!

While Xiao Ning and Shan Haiming were wrapped in their warm, thick, cotton-padded blankets and sleeping quite soundly, Lu Yan had just arrived at his family's home.

Despite him and Xiao Ning having lived together, there were times when he slept late and times when he dragged Xiao Ning along at night. But during all this, Xiao Ning never uttered a word of complaint. There were also times he would go to bed early, but he had no idea when Xiao Ning went to sleep. Plus, there were even times when he'd be out really late at night, and when he called, Xiao Ning would appear when needed. No matter if it was to help him out of trouble, or if it was to accompany him for a late-night snack, never before did he have to say a word.

While Xiao Ning and Shan Haiming were wrapped in their warm, thick, cotton-padded blankets and sleeping quite soundly, Lu Yan had just arrived at his family's home.

"Mom." Lu Yan gave his mother a perfunctory smile. "Where's dad?"

Their once-maintained positions of the past had now been switched. Back then, it was Lu Yan who had left him without any worries, and now it was him who was standing there looking ahead.

Lu Anguo frowned as he again inquired, "What did you do to make Xiao Ning mad?"

Lu Yan began getting the feeling in this moment that there was something that he missed.

But if it really is because they had a spat, the problem must've definitely been due to something that son of mine did.

That there were some very important things that he had always ignored.

While Xiao Ning and Shan Haiming were wrapped in their warm, thick, cotton-padded blankets and sleeping quite soundly, Lu Yan had just arrived at his family's home.

N/A

Shan Haiming's sleep-led voice then rang out in the unlit room, making it sound all the more intimate and soft. Much akin to a warm, thick blanket, one that made a person want nothing more than to roll themself deep into its embrace. "Sleep, I'm not going to trouble you tonight."

Lu Yan got up without saying a word in return, but then he turned suddenly to ask her, "Mom since Xiao Ning is going to come over for lunch tomorrow, how about making something he likes?"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? You didn't even ask to find out what happened before jumping to say it was because of our son." Chen Shuyun said in return before pulling Lu Yan to the table to sit and then pour him a glass of chilled cola. "Hurry up now, eat it while it's still hot."

Their once-maintained positions of the past had now been switched. Back then, it was Lu Yan who had left him without any worries, and now it was him who was standing there looking ahead.

Lu Anguo frowned as he again inquired, "What did you do to make Xiao Ning mad?"

N/A

"Do you think everyone is like you?" Lu Anguo didn't think too much of the matter and used the opportunity to educate his son. "Xiao Ning isn't a picky eater."

"Just forget it. I'm not in the mood to eat right now." Lu Yan's voice sounded fatigued, and after speaking, he made his way to the living room where he said respectfully. "Dad, I'm back."

"Oh..." Chen Shuyun was taken aback for a moment, but then she nodded and smiled. "Of course, but what does he like to eat? Doesn't he share the almost same tastes as you?"

Lu Yan got up without saying a word in return, but then he turned suddenly to ask her, "Mom since Xiao Ning is going to come over for lunch tomorrow, how about making something he likes?"

He turned his gaze towards Xiao Ning, seeming to think he could get an answer or two to this problem if he went to the subject at the heart of this matter himself.

"Just forget it. I'm not in the mood to eat right now." Lu Yan's voice sounded fatigued, and after speaking, he made his way to the living room where he said respectfully. "Dad, I'm back."

"It's not good for you to be eating stuff like this so late. It's not a good habit." From the side, Lu Anguo stated.

But the subject in question, now twice as uneasy, was looking towards the "ancient" one beside him whose calm visage was always maintained. But all seeing Shan Haiming did was make an inexplicable feeling blossom, as though he was the rope in a game of tug of war which was being played. "Haiming..."

"Mom." Lu Yan gave his mother a perfunctory smile. "Where's dad?"

Their once-maintained positions of the past had now been switched. Back then, it was Lu Yan who had left him without any worries, and now it was him who was standing there looking ahead.

"Good to have you back." Lu Anguo nodded. "Are you alone? Didn't Xiao Ning say he'd be coming back with you?"

"Do you think everyone is like you?" Lu Anguo didn't think too much of the matter and used the opportunity to educate his son. "Xiao Ning isn't a picky eater."

That there were some very important things that he had always ignored.

"Alright, dear. It's so late you must be quite sleepy, so hurry up and get some sleep, okay? I'll make you some porridge to go with the pancakes, will that be alright? Is there anything else you'd like to eat?"

But if it really is because they had a spat, the problem must've definitely been due to something that son of mine did.

Their once-maintained positions of the past had now been switched. Back then, it was Lu Yan who had left him without any worries, and now it was him who was standing there looking ahead.

"Lu Yan, it's really late now, I won't be heading back with you." Excusing himself, Xiao Ning then prevented Lu Yan from taking his luggage and gave an apologetic smile. "I'll come visit tomorrow."

At his father's words, Lu Yan's sour mood deepened. "He's staying at a hotel."

Worldly affairs truly were a wonder.

For a long time, both Lu Yan and Chen Shuyun stared at each other's faces as, to both of their surprise, neither of them knew.

But if it really is because they had a spat, the problem must've definitely been due to something that son of mine did.

"Okay." Xiao Ning's eyes were half-closed. "Good night."

"What are even saying? He's been stuck on the plane for so long, and before the flight, he hadn't even eaten a thing! It's normal for him to be hungry." As Chen Shuyun chastised her husband, she also coaxed her son, "Go wash up quickly. And tomorrow, I'll make you something delicious for lunch."