Chapter 44

That flat little belly… did it really have a tiny life inside?
“So Nian‑nian went for an exam,” he said, and his shoulders slumped with the memory. “But the doctor said… Nian‑nian isn’t pregnant. It was just a false alarm.”
“Nian‑nian is so stupid, I even managed to have a false pregnancy…” he added, face hot with shame. “I wanted to surprise Gege. I wanted to give you a baby. A baby as smart as you…”
Rubbing his hair, Duan Baisui soothed him. “If we don’t, we don’t. What’s there to be sad about? We’re still young. When it’s time, it’ll happen.”
“But Gege works so hard. Every day you pull Nian‑nian into doing it so many times. You’re already so amazing, and I still can’t get pregnant. There must be something wrong with Nian‑nian…” he began to blame himself.
He’d looked it up already. S‑class Omegas had very high fertility. Most conceived during their first knotting. But it had been so long. And Duan Baisui’s stamina was frightening—almost every night he would coax him into intimacy, always reaching the deepest place, knotting and marking him over and over. Even so, his stomach stayed flat. It really didn’t seem normal.
“Don’t think like that. Whether we have a baby or not really doesn’t matter. Maybe I’m the problem,” Duan Baisui said, pinching his cheek. “Be good. Smile for your husband.”
What he got in return was a twisted grimace. “Gege could never have a problem. You probably really like kids, right? That time we went on vacation, you even said you wanted Nian‑nian to have three…” His voice dropped. “But this dummy can’t even have one. I’m just wasting your little tadpoles…”
A laugh burst out of Duan Baisui. “I was teasing you. How could I really make you have three? Childbirth hurts. It’s dangerous too. When I was little, I kept pestering my dad for a little sister. He sat me down and told me very seriously that he would never put my Little Dad through that again. I didn’t understand then. It was only in health class that I realized how hard giving birth is.”
“I think if my dad had known back then how bad it was, he might’ve tried to talk Little Dad out of having even me.”
“Dad Duan wouldn’t do that, would he?” Zuo Nian’s eyes went wide.
“You don’t know him,” Duan Baisui said with a crooked smile. “He would.”
He ruffled his hair again. “Baby, no one can take away your right to have children. And no one can force you to have them either. We’ll let nature take its course. Even without kids, we can live very well.”
“But…” His lashes lowered. “Nian‑nian wants a baby. Nian‑nian was a child nobody wanted. I really want to be a good dad. I can be.”
Looking at him, Duan Baisui felt his chest tighten.
All his life, this man had longed for family—for a complete home, for love. He’d once asked why he’d been abandoned. But who could answer that? No one.
He loved him. He respected him. And he knew he couldn’t force his own views on him under the guise of “it’s for your own good.”
“When’s the appointment?” he asked, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
“Next Monday,” Zuo Nian answered softly.
“I’ll go with you.”
His eyes curved with a smile. “Mm.”
Then he fretted, “If there really is something wrong…”
“Even if there is, you’re still my wife. How could I divorce you?” Duan Baisui teased.
He shook his head in a panic. “No. Gege, don’t divorce me. If there’s a problem, Nian‑nian can still have surgery and… and get better fast.”
“Silly,” Duan Baisui said, tapping his nose. “How could I ever?”
Overwhelmed, Zuo Nian threw himself into his arms. “Thank you, Gege.”
“What for?” Duan Baisui kissed his hair. “Baby, have you considered that maybe I’m not trying hard enough?”
His cheeks puffed out. “You can go until morning, and that’s still not enough? You’re going to wear me out.”
On the day of the appointment, Duan Baisui cleared his schedule and went with him.
Once Zuo Nian had entered the exam room, he turned to Dr. Jin. “Doctor,” he said earnestly, “if the only problem is that my lover can’t conceive, please don’t say it’s his fault. I’ll prepare my own report and tell him it’s my body that isn’t doing well. I don’t want him to bear any weight over this.”
After that scare, he’d consulted other experts. The consensus was clear: gland correction was a major operation. No one could guarantee there would be no after‑effects. Even with full recovery, infertility was not unusual.
He couldn’t bring himself to tell Zuo Nian that cruel truth. With his fragile self‑esteem, he’d crumble into self‑doubt again, convinced he wasn’t good enough.
He couldn’t bear to see him hurt. To him, the presence or absence of children truly didn’t matter. Both of their families were extremely open‑minded. No one had ever pressured them to have a baby.
There was no rush at all.
Dr. Jin studied him for a long moment, then smiled kindly. “Nian‑nian often tells me his Alpha is the most perfect man in the world—gentle, strong, responsible. It seems he wasn’t exaggerating. I’m very glad he met someone like you. Don’t worry. I know what to say.”
Duan Baisui bowed his head. “Thank you.”
A little while later, Zuo Nian trotted out of the exam room and ran straight to his side. “It looks like we have to wait two hours for the report,” he said.
Ruffling his hair, Duan Baisui asked, “Then let’s go get something to eat. You barely touched breakfast. Aren’t you hungry?”
Looking down, Zuo Nian pinched the soft flesh at his waist through his T‑shirt. “Nian‑nian’s getting so fat. I shouldn’t eat. I need to control myself.”
“I know a really good cake shop nearby,” Duan Baisui said temptingly.
Sure enough, he took the bait. After a long struggle, he stared up and asked, “Do they… have strawberry cake?”
“Of course.”
“Then Nian‑nian will only eat a small piece.” He demonstrated with his fingers.
Duan Baisui slipped an arm around his shoulders. “Come on. A couple more bites won’t hurt.”
“Don’t spoil me. Just one small piece,” he repeated sternly.
“Okay. One small piece.”
In reality, once they got there, he ordered a piece of every flavor—and then loaded eight thousand eight hundred and eighty‑eight yuan onto a membership card. The owner explained that every year on the cardholder’s birthday, they could come pick up a free cake. It seemed like a bargain to Duan Baisui.
Outside, staring at the pile of little boxes in the trunk, Zuo Nian groaned. “We’ll never finish all this. It’s such a waste. Gege, you promised you wouldn’t buy too many.”
Pinching his cheek, Duan Baisui said, “Relax. They’re not all for you. Didn’t you say you wanted to visit Director Xia and the kids? These are for them.”
His eyes lit up at once. Once they were in the car, he leaned over, hooked an arm around his neck, and gave him a kiss. “Husband, you’re the best.”
Catching his jaw, Duan Baisui turned his face toward him. “Say that again.”
Smiling with his eyes, he repeated sweetly, “Hu~sband~”
“Such a spoiled little thing,” Duan Baisui murmured, completely taken in. That sing‑song way he spoke had him wrapped around his finger.
By the time they returned to the hospital, the report was ready.
Clutching his hand tight, Zuo Nian waited for Dr. Jin’s “verdict.”
The old doctor read through the sheets twice, then finally looked up with a smile. “There’s nothing to worry about. Nian‑nian is perfectly healthy. There’s no problem at all. The lack of pregnancy is because your glands only just entered full maturity, and your Alpha’s pheromones are a bit too strong. Your body needed time to adjust. Now that you’ve fully adapted to his scent, it’s only a matter of time.”
“R‑really?” Tears sprang to his eyes.
“Of course,” Dr. Jin said with pride. “I performed your surgery. You can trust my skills. And you need to relax. If you’re too anxious, it’s actually harder to conceive. Go on a trip with your Alpha. You might come back with a surprise.”
“I will.” Zuo Nian nodded hard. “I won’t be anxious. As long as my body’s fine, we’re not in a hurry. Thank you, Doctor.”
For a moment, Duan Baisui couldn’t be sure whether Dr. Jin was being purely truthful or simply keeping his promise to reassure him. When he glanced over, the doctor seemed to catch his doubt. He gave him a small nod, signaling that Nian‑nian really was all right.
Relief flooded through him. Standing up, he said, “Thank you for everything.”
Once they left the hospital, all the earlier tension and fear seemed to evaporate.
Zuo Nian folded the report very carefully and tucked it into his backpack. Then, with great magnanimity, he declared, “Gege, are you hungry? Nian‑nian will treat you to a big meal. Pick anything you like, no matter how expensive—Nian‑nian’s buying.”
“After lunch, we’ll go see Director Xia,” he added. “Today, Gege’s time belongs all to Nian‑nian.”
Unable to hold back a laugh, Duan Baisui said, “Then I’ll be in your care, Boss Zuo.”
“No need to be polite~ Nian‑nian’s rich. Business has been good lately,” he said, patting his little backpack.
“All right.” Buckling his seatbelt for him, Duan Baisui teased, “If I eat at Boss Zuo’s, I’ll just have to work even harder tonight so Boss Zuo’s wish can come true faster.”
Color rushed into his cheeks. “Hey~ I didn’t mean it like that. Besides, Gege already works very hard every night…”
Tapping his nose, Duan Baisui asked, “You feel better now? No more wild thoughts?”
“Mm,” he murmured. “Sometimes Nian‑nian thinks I’m really lucky.”
Noon sunlight poured through the car window, gilding both their faces.
In those pitch‑black, clear eyes, Duan Baisui saw his own reflection.
Softly, Zuo Nian added, “There will always be someone who brings Nian‑nian hope.”
Following the “doctor’s orders,” Duan Baisui took him traveling for half a month.
They went to the old town in T City, soaking in the local customs and peaceful atmosphere. Unlike A City’s stifling heat, T City was mild and pleasant, the sort of place that made you want to stop and linger over every view.
Completely relaxed, he took Zuo Nian to try every local snack he’d been dreaming about, and made sure to take a photo together at every happy moment.
Life moved slowly there. There were no neon entertainment districts, no cars racing through the night—only sweet air and cobbled paths lined with fragrant flowers.
In that quiet setting, he found himself unwilling to get out of bed, clinging to his lover and refusing to let go.
They kissed through misty mornings, and tangled together through soft, breezy nights.
On his birthday, Zuo Nian packaged himself up as a gift, offering himself once again with nothing held back.
Red ribbon wrapped around his body made his skin look even whiter. The man above him wore his usual calm expression, but the hunger in his eyes was undisguised, and the force of his movements left no room to breathe.
Today, Zuo Nian didn’t beg for mercy or say “no.” Cupping his lover’s face, he brushed light kisses over his lips. “Nian‑nian’s ready,” he whispered. “Gege can go… even deeper…”
His absolute territory was open at last.
That place was the one heaven no Alpha could ever refuse.
Caught in wave after wave of pleasure, he even began to grow bolder. Once the knotting mark was complete, he tightened around him, refusing to let him pull out. “Stay… stay a bit,” he panted. “If it leaks out, it’ll… be a waste…”
Kissing his sweat‑damp temples, Duan Baisui murmured, “Baby, you can’t be this cute. Or I really will die right here.”
Eyes unfocused, too weak to even lift his arms, Zuo Nian still managed to ask in a tiny, spoiled voice, “Gege… can’t you promise me?”
Lifting him, he sat them up face to face, holding him close and locked together. “Gege won’t agree,” he said. “But your husband will. Say it again.”
Resting his cheek on his shoulder, Zuo Nian was quiet for a moment. Then he whispered, as obedient as could be, “Please… husband…”
That one line earned him another long round of indulgence.
Outside, the wind died. First light painted the mountain tops.
Opening the wooden window, Duan Baisui leaned on the sill and lit a cigarette. The Omega exhausted on the bed had missed the sunrise again. He lifted his phone and took a photo—this beautiful view ought to be admired together.
Without his embrace, the sleeper grew restless, calling out for Gege and “husband” in his dreams until Duan Baisui’s heart melted.
He stubbed out the cigarette at once and climbed back into bed, wrapping him up in his arms.
In the distance, the mountains ran on and on, bathed in a veil of pale gold.
A new day had begun.
After their break, Duan Baisui plunged back into the work that had piled up.
He barely had time to set foot on the ground. But no matter how late he came home, there was always a light left on for him.
Meetings, trips, social dinners—time slipped quietly by.
One evening, as he stepped inside, he found Zuo Nian already waiting for him in the entryway, watching him with a mysterious gleam in his eyes.