Chapter 42

“So you tried to buy me out?” Duan Baisui tipped his chin up, forcing him to meet his eyes.
“That’s how they do it in dramas…” Zuo Nian muttered.
“I told you to stop watching those brain‑dead shows.” Duan Baisui let out a disbelieving laugh. “And installments? You think business is that good every month? How much did you make today?”
“Forty‑eight. I put it all in the piggy,” Zuo Nian admitted, mortified.
“You made forty‑odd yuan the whole day, and you dare promise someone five million?”
“T‑that… that’s the market price,” he said weakly. “I was scared that if I offered too little, he wouldn’t agree. See? I already said five million and he still sent it back… So what would be appropriate?” His voice trembled. He was on the verge of tears.
“Are you silly or not?” Duan Baisui pinched his cheek. “He doesn’t want money. He’s going to start his own studio soon. We’re not going to have much to do with each other after that. Understand?”
“Then that night, you two…” The rest stuck in his throat.
“We really did talk for a bit at the door,” Duan Baisui said seriously. “He came to apologize about that lie Rong Jin told. After that, I went back to the hotel, and he went back to the set. Our route was the same for a little way, then we split. He just posted—everything’s been cleared up online.”
“Really?” Zuo Nian’s eyes went round. Then he groaned. “What do I do? I said such awful things to him today. I’m terrible. I must’ve hurt him so badly.”
“Not really,” Duan Baisui soothed. “He understood how you felt. He even said you were very cute.” He kissed him. “So? How are you this adorable? You threw in your entire net worth? Even your dowry?”
That two million had been a gift from Zuo Jun and A‑son when they got married. Calling it a dowry wasn’t wrong.
“I’m not adorable at all…” Zuo Nian protested in a tiny voice. “I went dark this afternoon. I lost my mind.”
Duan Baisui burst out laughing. “You ‘went dark’? Were you scary today? You marched out your pig and say you ‘went dark’?”
“You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?” Zuo Nian pouted.
“How could I?” Duan Baisui tapped his nose. “My wife spends five million to buy out my contract—how could I not be over the moon? You really do love me, don’t you?”
“You just called me… your wife?” Zuo Nian stared, face flushing red.
Since they’d married, the sweetest he’d ever been called was “baby.” This was the first time Duan Baisui had said “wife.”
“Mm. You don’t like it?” Duan Baisui asked.
“No…” Zuo Nian bit his lip and smiled shyly. “I like it.”
“Go take your ring out and put it on,” Duan Baisui said, swatting his backside lightly.
“Why?” he asked.
“People should know who my good little wife is,” Duan Baisui said, brows lifting. “Let’s show off a little.”
Delighted, Zuo Nian ran off and came back hugging his “treasure chest.” He squeezed into the single‑seater with Duan Baisui. One arm around his shoulders, Duan Baisui watched, head lowered, as he spun the tiny combination lock.
The lock was hardly secure. Three digits showed up very quickly: 6‑2‑0.
In fact, the moment the first number appeared, Duan Baisui had already guessed the other two. It was that obvious.
“My birthday?” he chuckled.
Still focused on the lock, Zuo Nian answered obediently, “Mm. Because everything in here is related to Gege. They’re Nian‑nian’s most precious treasures.”
“Oh?” Duan Baisui kissed his hair. “What treasures?”
When he lifted the lid, the contents were revealed.
A little red velvet box with his wedding ring inside; their childhood token; two bowties; and a thick diary.
Zuo Nian took out the wedding band and slipped it on. But instead of admiring it, Duan Baisui reached past him and picked up the blue‑covered notebook. “What’s this?” he asked.
Zuo Nian’s gaze followed his hand. “Nian‑nian’s diary from high school,” he said.
It was very private. Duan Baisui didn’t flip it open right away. He just asked curiously, “What did you write in it?”
“I forgot. It was a long time ago,” Zuo Nian said.
“Can I read it?” Duan Baisui asked, seeking permission.
Head tilted, Zuo Nian thought it over. “Nian‑nian’s married to Gege now. We shouldn’t have secrets. Of course you can read it,” he said at last.
Smiling, Duan Baisui rubbed his jaw against his temple. “All right. I’ll save it for tonight and read it slowly.”
Zuo Nian held up his hand, ring flashing. “Nian‑nian’s wearing it,” he reported.
Catching his hand, Duan Baisui kissed his ring finger. “You’re not allowed to take it off.”
Half an hour later, Weibo exploded. Again.
Following Ju Xiao’s detailed explanation that afternoon, Duan Baisui’s long‑dormant account suddenly came back to life.
He posted three photos. The first: two hands intertwined, identical, dazzling diamond bands on their ring fingers. The second: a cheap plastic ring. The third: an old photo of two children playing with building blocks together.
The caption read: “Proposed at five, married at twenty‑five. It’s always been him. It’s only ever been him.”
In ten minutes, his comments had broken ten thousand.
> [WhiteBall]: Bro, did your account get hacked?!
> [BlowABubble]: So the childhood sweetheart thing is real? It’s not a loveless business marriage?
> [NoBlankSpace]: Tell me this is PR copy. But your wife looks so cute… sob sob…
> [LazyLittleIntestine]: With that face and that family background, I thought you were out blessing all sentient beings like some playboy bodhisattva. Now you’re telling me you’re all about pure love? How is that fair?
> [TT]: From five to twenty‑five… that’s actually lethal sugar. Why were we out here shipping fake CPs and breaking our own teeth?
Zuo Nian kept refreshing the comments, grinning so hard his eyes turned into crescents. “They’re saying I’m cute,” he reported.
“You are cute,” Duan Baisui said.
“What does ‘playboy bodhisattva blessing all sentient beings’ mean?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Duan Baisui said blandly.
“So from now on, everyone will know I’m your Omega, right?” Zuo Nian asked.
Holding him close, Duan Baisui buried his face in his neck and breathed in his scent. “Right.”
“Gege, I’m so happy.” His voice was bright with joy. “Now they all know who you belong to.”
Maybe it was his Omega’s sudden surge of excitement, but that tart‑sweet green‑grape‑candy scent seeped past the patch on his neck, teasing at the Alpha’s control.
Duan Baisui bent and bit gently at the soft skin of his throat, sucking just hard enough to leave a red mark. Only when it bloomed on his skin did he lift his head, satisfied. “If you don’t rein your pheromones in, you’ll be crying again in a minute,” he warned.
Realization dawned. His beautiful eyes went wide. “Tonight we’re resting,” he said firmly. “Gege’s not allowed to bully Nian‑nian.”
“Okay,” Duan Baisui agreed easily. Sliding an arm around him from behind, he lowered his head so they could look at the same phone. “We have a super‑topic too, you know.”
“Super‑topic? I know that. You and Mr. Ju had one before,” Zuo Nian said.
Duan Baisui choked. “That one’s gone. There’s only ours now.”
“What’s it called? Is it named with our names too?” Zuo Nian asked softly.
Duan Baisui’s fingers moved. He typed in “Nian‑Shen‑Sui‑Jiu” and tapped on the super‑topic.
It had only been created recently, but thanks to his sudden wave of public affection, people had found it fast.
Many had already come to “check in.” In no time, the super‑topic had attracted almost two thousand CP fans.
The icon was the childhood photo he’d just posted on Weibo. Deep down, he would have loved to show off the current Zuo Nian, but he knew that would only bring trouble.
Zuo Nian loved his little shop. The last thing he wanted was to see it turned into a pilgrimage site for netizens. A single gust of online gossip could throw his peaceful days into chaos. He wanted him to be free to enjoy his crafts in peace.
“Nian‑Shen‑Sui‑Jiu…” Zuo Nian repeated under his breath. “It sounds so nice. Gege, why that name?”
Smiling, Duan Baisui said, “Your secret place is very far inside. Every time, I have to push so hard to get in. So Nian‑nian is very deep. And as for ‘Sui‑long’…”
The rest didn’t need saying.
In that instant, Zuo Nian understood—and it was strangely accurate.
He looked at Duan Baisui, his ending note turning sweet and wheedling. “Gege, you’re being a perv again.”
When night fell, Zuo Nian went to bed early.
Duan Baisui had promised not to torment him tonight, to let him rest. So after his shower, he took the diary over to the floor‑to‑ceiling window and sat down.
The first page, under the blue cover, held one vertical line of words:
Nian‑nian’s diary. No peeking.
He couldn’t help laughing.
He had permission. That didn’t count as peeking.
At ease, he turned to the next page.
> September 16, 20XX
> School’s been in session for almost half a month. High school classes are really hard. Nian‑nian is too stupid. I can never keep up in math. If I had a brain like Gege’s, I’d definitely do well. Last night I snuck a look at his Moments. He cut his hair and made new friends. Wherever he goes, everyone likes him. I hope Gege is always happy.
> September 25, 20XX
> My classmates laugh at me. They say calling myself “Nian‑nian” all the time makes me sound like an idiot. But they don’t know I only do it because I really like this name. Before, I didn’t have a name at all. I only got a name and a home after I had my dads. It’s okay if I sound stupid. I want everyone to know my name is Zuo Nian.
> September 30, 20XX
> A senior gave me milk and a letter today, but I didn’t take them. Daddy says I can’t accept things from strangers. Nian‑nian knows that. My classmates say it was a love letter, so I definitely can’t take it. Nian‑nian already has Gege. I have to wait for him to come back.
> October 1, 20XX
> Today is National Day. We have five days off. I’m going abroad with Pretty Dad. I heard Gege is there too. Nian‑nian can see Gege!
> October 2, 20XX
> It’s a pity. Gege’s school is very, very far from where Dad is staying. I can’t go. I really miss Gege, but he’s very busy too. Nian‑nian will be good and not bother him.
> April 23, 20XX
> We have sports day. I clearly signed up for long jump, but somehow someone added the 3000‑meter race. 3000 meters… I’ll do my best.
> April 24, 20XX
> Nian‑nian finished the race. I was last, but I made it. I’m so, so tired. My classmates said they’d done it on purpose to prank me. But I didn’t do anything bad. Why would they do that?
> I miss Gege.
> May 18, 20XX
> They threw my books into the Alpha bathroom. It’s so strange. Why would they do something like that? Nian‑nian feels a little sad. I want to talk to Gege. If Gege were here, he’d help me pick the books up so I wouldn’t be late to class every day.
> June 20, 20XX
> Today is Gege’s birthday. I called him to say happy birthday. He asked how high school is going. He really cares about me. I’m so, so happy. For Gege’s sake, I’ll keep going.
Entry after entry, he turned the pages, smoking in silence.
Even in his own diary, Zuo Nian had never blamed anyone.
Through all those lonely, isolated days, he’d borne the weight on his own.
And yet now, he was still all sunlight and gentleness—still treating the whole world with kindness.