Chapter 4

Click.
As warm light spilled from the open door, the pink bunny sensor on the wall chimed cheerfully, “Welcome!”
Everyone in the shop turned toward the sound.
Tall and broad‑shouldered, Duan Baisui stepped inside bringing with him a wave of cold air. The snowflakes that had fallen on his coat had already melted, leaving a faint sheen of moisture over him.
“Gege!”
The stern look on Zuo Nian’s face vanished instantly. His brows and eyes curved as he beamed, those round eyes of his sparkling under the lights.
The men who’d been laughing froze as if someone had pressed pause. Their exaggerated expressions stayed half‑formed, making them look a little ridiculous.
Looking down at them from above, Duan Baisui swept them with a glance. “Friends of yours?”
“High school classmates…” Zuo Nian replied.
Duan Baisui gave a faint nod, lifting his chin slightly, his expression cool and imperious.
“Don’t associate with just anyone.”
An awkward silence fell over the room.
Someone stole a glance at his phone and suddenly hissed under his breath, “Holy—”
On the screen was the profile he’d just pulled up.
The young Alpha in the photo had sharp, handsome features and a natural air of aloofness between his brows—exactly the same as the man standing in front of them.
“It really is him…”
The ridiculous part was that they’d just been mocking Zuo Nian for being delusional and dreaming about marrying into a rich family.
They hadn’t expected reality to slap them in the face so fast.
“You… you guys should go.” Zuo Nian puffed himself up, putting on a fierce front. “I don’t like you, and Gege doesn’t like you either. You’re not allowed to come again.”
He always listened to whatever Duan Baisui said. Now that Duan Baisui was here, he borrowed his presence to drive them out.
“Hehe, uh… class belle, don’t be mad,” one of the men said, instantly changing his tune, rubbing his hands together with a sycophantic smile.
“Class belle?” Duan Baisui raised a brow.
“Oh, President Duan, it’s like this,” the man hurried to explain. “Back in high school, Zuo Nian was the best‑looking Omega in our class, so everyone called him class belle. We didn’t mean any disrespect. We genuinely thought he was good‑looking. A lot of people were chasing after him back then.”
In high school, Duan Baisui had already gone abroad to study.
So he knew nothing about Zuo Nian’s high school life.
Judging by how things looked now, it probably hadn’t been very good.
Otherwise, these people wouldn’t still be looking down on him after all these years.
“So what?” Duan Baisui’s tone remained flat. “He turned you down, and that’s why you came here today to humiliate him?”
His voice didn’t rise or fall, but you could just tell he was displeased.
The man swallowed hard. “That’s not what we meant. We were just joking around, right?”
“Y‑yeah, just joking,” the other two chimed in at once.
Duan Baisui shot the first man a sidelong glance. “You’re a C‑rank Alpha. Of course he’d turn you down.”
The man’s face immediately went green.
Duan Baisui withdrew his gaze, sounding casually indifferent. “I’m just joking too. Why aren’t you laughing?”
Sensing his hostility, the three of them scrambled out of the shop in a panic.
Following them to the door, Zuo Nian made a tiny fist and gave it a symbolic shake. “You’re not allowed to come again, okay.”
Duan Baisui found him unbearably adorable. The corners of his lips couldn’t help but curl up.
When Zuo Nian came back inside, he asked happily, “Gege, how come you came today?”
“I got off work early and thought I’d swing by to pick you up,” Duan Baisui said.
Zuo Nian grinned so wide his teeth showed. “Then we can have dinner together, right?”
“Mm.”
“Wait for me a bit, I’ll close up right away.”
He ran behind the counter and started searching for the air‑conditioner remote.
Watching him putter around, Duan Baisui suddenly remembered what those men had said earlier.
“A lot of people were chasing you in high school?” he asked.
Beep.
The heater clicked off, but the room was still warm.
Putting down the remote, Zuo Nian said, “They weren’t chasing me. They just gave me a lot of milk and cookies.”
Zuo Nian had grown up in an orphanage and was especially afraid of going hungry. He also loved snacks.
As a kid, Duan Baisui had thought one lollipop would be enough to carry Zuo Nian home. He wondered if it had been the same in high school.
“Mm.”
“But… but Nian‑nian didn’t take them,” Zuo Nian said very earnestly, shaking his head. “Fat Dad said I can’t randomly accept things from other people—especially from Alphas, and especially the ones with dyed yellow hair.”
Duan Baisui let out a short laugh. He fully agreed with Zuo Jun’s rules.
Seeing that Zuo Nian had almost finished closing up, he reminded him, “Put your coat on. It’s cold outside.”
“Okay~”
Zuo Nian answered softly.
After turning off all the power switches, he carefully slung his backpack over his shoulders and stepped out to lock the door.
The wind outside was bone‑chilling. Zuo Nian curled his neck down, trying to keep the cold air from sneaking in.
Compared with Duan Baisui’s thin but stylish outfit, he was bundled up like a clumsy penguin. The two of them walking side by side looked like people from entirely different worlds.
There was some distance between the shop and the parking lot.
As they walked along the street, a couple passed them, hand in hand, leaning sweetly into each other.
Stealing a glance at Duan Baisui’s profile, then at his hand hanging by his side, Zuo Nian couldn’t help thinking that he wanted to hold hands with him like that couple.
But he was afraid it would make Duan Baisui angry or disgusted.
After hesitating for a moment, he ventured tentatively, “Gege, I forgot to wear gloves today. My hands are a little cold…”
Turning his head, Duan Baisui asked, “We’ll be there soon. Don’t your clothes have pockets?”
“…Oh.” Embarrassed, Zuo Nian patted around at his coat. “Found them.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, then added, contrary to how he actually felt, “It’s really not cold anymore.”
When they reached the parking lot, Duan Baisui opened the car door.
On the back seat, Zuo Nian immediately spotted the huge bouquet of roses and the cake box.
His eyes widened a fraction. “Is it someone’s birthday today?”
“Making it up to you,” Duan Baisui said.
“Mine?” The gloom from earlier vanished in an instant, his eyes lighting up again. “Gege bought them especially for me?”
“Mm.”
Closing the passenger‑side door, Zuo Nian spun around and rushed to the back seat.
He brought the flowers to his nose for a sniff, his voice bubbling with delight. “Thank you, Gege.”
He’d meant to give them to him at home, but seeing how happy he was now, Duan Baisui couldn’t bring himself to spoil it.
The rear door was still open. Resting one hand on the car frame, Duan Baisui bent down slightly. “There’s another present you haven’t opened.”
Only then did Zuo Nian notice the gift bag behind the cake box.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Open it and see,” said Duan Baisui.
Zuo Nian peeked inside and found a white bunny plush.
Around its neck was a huge organza bow, and both its long, upright ears and the soles of its feet were inlaid with sparkling rhinestones.
“Wow,” Zuo Nian breathed, both surprised and overjoyed. “It’s so cute. I love it. I super love it.”
Compared with watches or necklaces, Duan Baisui felt that stuffed toys were far more practical for someone like Zuo Nian.
Judging from his reaction, he’d chosen well.
Cuddling his new gift, Zuo Nian curled up in the back seat while Duan Baisui drove.
He kept hearing the soft click‑click‑click of a camera shutter. Then Zuo Nian said, “Gege, I want to give the little bunny a name.”
“Mm?” Duan Baisui hummed, curious.
“Can I call him Xiao Sui?” Zuo Nian asked.
“Why Xiao Sui?” Duan Baisui countered.
“Because my A‑Beibei is called Xiao Nian. Xiao Nian only wants to be with Xiao Sui. No one else is allowed,” he explained solemnly.
It felt a bit like being confessed to. Duan Baisui’s heart gave an involuntary little jump.
He cleared his throat lightly to cover it up. “As long as you like it.”
Zuo Nian cheered, “Gege is the best!”
Originally, Duan Baisui had planned for them to eat out.