Chapter 27

“But before, you only hugged me when Xiao Nian wasn’t there,” Zuo Nian said, a little aggrieved. “Otherwise, Gege never lets Nian‑nian sleep under the same blanket.”
It was true—he’d always kept his distance from Zuo Nian on purpose.
He had never truly treated Zuo Nian as a partner, nor had he ever really been good to him.
They’d lived under the same roof with a clear line drawn between them. It should never have been like that.
“It won’t be like that anymore,” Duan Baisui promised.
Eyes going wide with surprise, Zuo Nian asked, “Gege isn’t just coaxing me? You mean… from now on, no matter whether Xiao Nian’s here or not, I can always sleep with you?”
“Mm.”
Snuggling closer, Zuo Nian rubbed the tip of his nose against his. In a husky whisper, he asked, “Then… then can I kiss Gege again now?”
Chuckling, Duan Baisui said, “And if I say no? Will you cry?”
“Of course not.”
“You’re not afraid I’ll bite you anymore?”
Zuo Nian lifted his face and pressed his lips to his. “Not afraid,” he mumbled.
Under the hazy moonlight, the sight of his lover closing his eyes to enjoy the kiss was impossible to resist.
He wished this night could last just a little longer.
Over the next few days, Duan Baisui took him surfing, out to comb the shallows, and even coaxed the timid Zuo Nian into going scuba diving.
What Zuo Nian loved most, though, was scavenging along the beach.
Every day, he carried a little bucket down to the shore to pick up seashells and pretty stones.
Duan Baisui walked behind him, watching the setting sun stretch his shadow out long across the sand.
“Gege, look. This shell’s color is so pretty. I’m going to make a necklace and give it to Dad Xu and Pretty Dad,” Zuo Nian said, running back to show off his treasure.
In the days they spent in S City, their relationship leaped forward.
Zuo Nian was no longer so cautious around him, and Duan Baisui no longer stiffened or shied away from his closeness.
“And I don’t get one?” Duan Baisui asked.
“Of course you do. Nian‑nian’s going to string you a bracelet. And Dad Duan and Fatty Dad get some too. Everyone, everyone,” Zuo Nian said, stirring the shells in his bucket. “I picked up lots.”
The afterglow of the setting sun pierced the clouds, washing the sea in orange‑red light.
Ripples glittered with gold.
Pants legs rolled up, Zuo Nian sat shoulder to shoulder with Duan Baisui on the sand.
“Gege, this is so romantic,” he said happily.
“Hmm?”
“Watching the sunset,” he said.
“It happens every day. What’s romantic about it?”
Resting his head on Duan Baisui’s shoulder, Zuo Nian said, “Because I’m watching it with you. That makes it romantic.”
Lowering his gaze, Duan Baisui kissed his hair. “Smooth talker.”
They didn’t head back to City A until the thirteenth day of the new year.
Even after days under the blazing sun, neither of them had tanned at all; they were still as fair as ever.
The temperature difference between S City and City A hit them the instant they stepped off the plane.
As soon as they exited the terminal, Zuo Nian suddenly sneezed.
Bundled up in a thick down jacket, he still felt cold.
They went straight back to the manor, wanting to deliver the gifts they’d brought to the elders first.
Only Xu Yi was home.
Duan Yan had gone to the office, and the four grandparents had already returned to Mocheng.
Taking out one of the necklaces he’d made, Zuo Nian said, “Dad Xu, this one’s for you.”
“It’s beautiful. Did you make it yourself?” Xu Yi asked.
Scratching his head, Zuo Nian said, “Hehe, it’s not very good. Please don’t dislike it.”
“It’s wonderful. I like it very much.” Xu Yi slipped it on. “It suits me, doesn’t it?”
“Mm. Dad Xu is so good‑looking. You look good in everything,” Zuo Nian said.
“And where did you learn to talk like that?” Duan Baisui cut in. “Always buttering people up.”
Leaning close to Xu Yi’s ear, Zuo Nian whispered, “Dad, I looked it up online. They say Gege is allergic to romance.”
Xu Yi burst out laughing. “It does seem that way.”
“Are you two talking about me?” Duan Baisui asked suspiciously.
“We’re not,” Zuo Nian said quickly, waving his hands.
Thinking of how they’d just landed, Xu Yi urged them to go upstairs and rest for a while. He’d call them down for dinner later.
They readily agreed.
They’d barely climbed a few steps when Xu Yi saw Duan Baisui grab the hood of Zuo Nian’s sweatshirt and ask, “What did you just tell Dad?”
“Nothing,” Zuo Nian said, trying to tug his hood back.
“Hmm? You have secrets now?” Duan Baisui pressed.
“Bad Gege. Bullying me,” Zuo Nian huffed.
Pulling the hood all the way down over his head, Duan Baisui bent and scooped him up, lowering his voice. “Go on then—go tattletale.”
Their figures disappeared around the second‑floor landing.
Touching the necklace at his throat, Xu Yi smiled. It seemed the trip had gone very well indeed.
Later that day, Duan Yan came home from the office.
Xu Yi was in the living room reading.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
At a glance, Duan Yan spotted the necklace and chuckled. “When did you buy that?”
“Nian‑nian made it for me,” Xu Yi said, closing his book.
Sitting down beside him, Duan Yan asked, “They’re back?”
“Mm. They’re upstairs resting.”
Casting a look up at the second floor, he leaned closer and lowered his voice. “So? Any marks?”
Xu Yi shook his head.
“No?” Duan Yan frowned. “Didn’t Butler Yu say they were practically glued together every day? Not even a temporary mark?”
Xu Yi shook his head again.
With a groan, Duan Yan said, “Who on earth did Alex take after? I’m very disappointed in him.”
Once the Lantern Festival passed, Duan Baisui threw himself back into work.
The company’s Spring Festival film release had done brilliantly, taking in 5.8 billion at the box office. Every actor in the cast had seen their fees skyrocket, and both the male and female leads had been nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress. Their chances were good.
On top of that, the xianxia drama that had streamed over winter break had become a massive hit.
Not only did it catapult the male and female leads into higher stardom, it also brought a wave of attention to Ju Xiao, who played the second male lead with such skill that he’d gained a legion of fans.
He was no longer the obscure little nobody he’d once been. Now, he’d finally proved himself on his own strength. An idol‑turned‑actor, he wasn’t just a pretty face, and he certainly wasn’t some parasitic vine who could only show his face thanks to those three Alphas.
The once “invisible” member of the group now shone bright, proving that Duan Baisui’s eye for talent had been right all along.
Because of Ju Xiao’s explosive popularity and the controversy he’d stirred before, a swarm of variety shows came knocking—but Ju Xiao politely turned them all down.
He’d joined Director Qin’s new crew. For now, all he wanted was to act and hone his craft; he had no desire to burn through his newfound fame.
The company and his agent both respected his choice. After all, if he wanted a long career, he needed a solid foundation.
Back from vacation, Duan Baisui’s social engagements multiplied. Most nights, he didn’t get home until the early hours of the morning.
Yet no matter how late it was, when he opened the bedroom door, Zuo Nian was always still waiting for him with the night‑light on.
Sleepy‑eyed, the Omega would crawl out from the warm blankets, pad downstairs to bring him hangover soup, and press his warm palms to his stomach to ease the pain from alcohol and cold dishes.
“Gege, does it feel better?” Zuo Nian would ask, looking up.
“Much better,” Duan Baisui would answer softly, rubbing the back of his neck and drawing him closer. “You don’t have to wait up for me. Go to bed early.”
“But I want to wait for you,” Zuo Nian would say in a small voice. “Gege drinks and feels awful. Nian‑nian is your Omega. I have to be responsible for you and take good care of you.”
“You still have to go to the shop every day. That’s exhausting too.”
“It’s not,” Zuo Nian would argue. “Nian‑nian can sneak naps at the shop. But you’re too busy. You never get to slack off. You’re working much harder than me.”
After a long, tiring day, he always found warmth and comfort in Zuo Nian.
Planting a kiss on his forehead, Duan Baisui would murmur, “Sleep.”
“Goodnight, Gege.”
“Goodnight.”
Holding the man in his arms, Duan Baisui had to admit it to himself at last:
He’d fallen in love.
He loved Zuo Nian’s gentleness, his endless tolerance, his innocence and sweetness.
His Omega had so many, many good points. Why had he only just begun to see them?