Chapter 26

The sea breeze brushed his face. Turning his head, Zuo Nian smiled at him. “Gege, Nian‑nian is really happy. This is the first time the five of us have gone on a trip together.”
Duan Baisui: “?”
“Five of us?”
Counting on his fingers, Zuo Nian said, “You, me, Xiao Nian, Xiao Sui, and Little Pig…”
Right. He’d counted the three dolls as family members too.
“Altogether, we’re a family of five.”
Duan Baisui couldn’t help being infected by his innocence. Half joking, he said, “Then you’d better give birth to three children someday, so we can really be a family of five.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when both of them froze.
Zuo Nian stared at him, as if trying to digest what he’d just said. For his part, Duan Baisui cursed himself inwardly. Why did I mention kids?
He’d never truly thought about that before.
In the beginning, all he’d wanted was to treat Zuo Nian with courtesy and distance. He would support him, protect him, keep his childhood promise, and “take responsibility” for him… When had that changed?
Just then, a knock came at the door.
A respectful male voice sounded. “Mr. Duan, Mr. Zuo, you may dine now.”
The awkwardness between them shattered.
Feigning calm, Duan Baisui said, “Let’s go.”
Zuo Nian blinked. “Ah? Oh.”
S City had plenty of seafood.
And seafood happened to be Zuo Nian’s absolute favorite.
The auntie had prepared an entire feast.
While Duan Baisui was patiently cracking crab legs, Zuo Nian suddenly spoke up from across the table. “But Gege, if I gave birth to three babies, then we’d be a family of eight…”
Duan Baisui: “!”
Off to the side, the butler’s brows twitched. Inwardly, he understood at once: so they’d come here to work on a baby.
Later that night, the two of them sat in the little gazebo on the sea‑view terrace, enjoying the breeze.
The butler came to say that the pool water had been refreshed.
Duan Baisui nodded, then asked Zuo Nian, “Want to go in for a soak?”
Eyes bright, Zuo Nian said, “I do!”
There was an infinity pool on the first floor. Floating on the water’s surface were several rattan trays.
They held red wine and fruit.
Clinging to the edge of the pool, Zuo Nian sighed, “I really love this.”
“Love what?” Duan Baisui asked.
Zuo Nian had had a little to drink.
But clearly, his tolerance was not very good.
After less than half a glass, every inch of exposed skin had turned rosy. In the night, he looked like a tempting apple, just waiting to be picked.
“I love…” Zuo Nian pointed above them. “I love the stars.”
Then he pointed toward the surging sea. “I love the ocean.”
Duan Baisui watched him without blinking, trying to decide whether he was drunk.
At that moment, Zuo Nian suddenly turned to face him. Their eyes met, and his clear voice softened. “But… I love Gege the most.”
The sudden sweet talk made Duan Baisui’s emotions surge like the sea—roaring and churning, refusing to calm for a long time.
Neither of them looked away. Zuo Nian slowly leaned closer, their breaths entangling.
At last, he even dared to come right up and kiss the corner of Duan Baisui’s mouth.
It was the lightest touch—like a feather brushing past, ticklish and soft.
Having gotten away with it, the Omega lay against the pool’s edge and laughed under his breath, like a little cat that had just stolen a fish.
His unguardedness was maddeningly alluring.
Duan Baisui’s Adam’s apple bobbed. In the end, his reason slipped. He reached out, pinched Zuo Nian’s jaw, and leaned in.
It was Duan Baisui’s first kiss. The instant he touched Zuo Nian’s lips, it felt as if fireworks exploded in his mind.
Startled, Zuo Nian instinctively clung to the back of his neck for security. Under the water, his legs hooked around Duan Baisui’s, and he let out a soft, muffled whimper.
The shallow, tentative brushing turned into sucking and gentle nips.
Without anyone to teach him, the Alpha somehow knew how to pry open the other’s tightly closed lips and catch his tongue.
The hands around his neck tightened and tightened. Already a little hazy, Zuo Nian couldn’t take the stimulation; his body began to tremble.
Sweet, clear pheromones surged out, and the man clinging to him began to slide downward out of his control.
Duan Baisui’s reason snapped back. At last, he released him before he ran out of air.
Zuo Nian gasped hard, limbs gone limp as he slumped against Duan Baisui’s shoulder.
In a small voice, he complained, “Gege, you can’t bite people.”
Hugs, kisses, skin pressed to skin… it really did stir up emotions.
In high spirits, Duan Baisui lifted Zuo Nian out of the pool.
The Omega yelped and wrapped his arms around his neck, burying his face in the hollow of his throat. “What are you doing…?”
“It’s late. Back to the room to rest,” Duan Baisui explained evenly.
Water streamed from both of them. Their scorching skin burned where they touched.
Clinging to him, Zuo Nian whined coquettishly, “Nian‑nian is drunk. I can’t walk. I want Gege to carry me.”
Duan Baisui laughed. “Being shameless, are we?”
“Gege is the one who made me drink wine,” Zuo Nian said.
Duan Baisui didn’t refuse. He only bent slightly and said, “Grab a towel and dry off.”
“Mm.”
Zuo Nian hooked a large bath towel from a lounge chair, draped it over Duan Baisui’s shoulders, then wrapped the rest around himself as he snuggled into Duan Baisui’s arms. “All dried.”
On their way back up from the first floor, the butler thoughtfully dismissed the servants in advance. The main lights were all turned off, replaced by warm, dim wall sconces.
When they pushed open the bedroom door, the room had somehow been lit with incense, and the quilt was covered with rose petals.
Zuo Nian lit up with delight. “Gege, did you prepare this?”
Duan Baisui answered honestly, “No.”
“Then was it Butler Yu?” Zuo Nian asked.
“Probably.”
Zuo Nian was set down, barefoot on the cashmere carpet.
Duan Baisui brought him slippers. “Go shower.”
“Okay~” Zuo Nian slipped them on and obediently headed for the bathroom. Beads of water still clung to his snowy back, and the small bump at the back of his neck was brazenly exposed in Duan Baisui’s sight.
Duan Baisui licked his canine tooth. At last, he understood the sheer temptation an Omega held for an Alpha.
At this moment, he really wanted to bite through Zuo Nian’s gland and inject his own pheromones.
The glass door cut off his view—and pulled him back to his senses.
He curled his fingers and rapped his own forehead, annoyed at himself. He’d always prided himself on iron self‑control; in truth, he was no different from anyone else.
Water rushed from the bathroom. The frosted glass door silhouetted Zuo Nian’s long figure. Duan Baisui’s mind wandered again, remembering the lingering kiss from earlier.
His gland began to heat uncontrollably; pheromones were about to spill out.
He collected himself and fled in a hurry, going to the guest bathroom next door and turning on cold water.
Only then did he clearly realize that he had developed desire for Zuo Nian.
It was an Alpha’s possessiveness toward an Omega, and it was also the vigorous desire between lovers.
He wanted him.
After the cold shower, Duan Baisui finally felt much calmer.
When he returned to the master bedroom, Zuo Nian was already lying down.
He’d arranged the three dolls neatly on his pillow and tucked them in under the blanket.
When Duan Baisui got into bed, Zuo Nian moved in close on his own, burrowing into his arms. “Gege, I just asked Xiao Nian. She said she wants to sleep with Xiao Sui and Little Pig tonight, so Nian‑nian can only sleep with Gege.”
Duan Baisui replied lightly, “Is that so? Have her say it to me again.”
Zuo Nian’s face fell. “She can only talk once a day.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Bad Gege,” Zuo Nian muttered.
Seeing that Duan Baisui still didn’t seem inclined to hold him, Zuo Nian had no choice but to inch back toward his own spot.
This bed was so big—it felt like two more people could lie down in the middle. He hated big beds.
Suddenly, the lights went out.
An arm wrapped around his waist from behind and pulled him into a chest. A low Alpha voice sounded in his ear. “You drink a little wine and you’re full of nonsense?”
Zuo Nian took the chance to roll over.
In the cool moonlight, he touched Duan Baisui’s face and said, “I was afraid you wouldn’t agree.”
“It’s not like this is the first time you’ve crawled into my blankets.”