Chapter 45

Duan Baisui held out his hand with a smile. “Want a hug?”
Zuo Nian wrinkled his nose. “No.”
As he spoke, he pulled out an eye mask like a magician producing a prop. “Gege, put this on.”
“Oh? There’s something I’m not allowed to see?”
“Put it ooon~” he coaxed, drawing the last syllable out.
Spoiled again. There was nothing he could do with him.
Duan Baisui bent a little, and Zuo Nian slipped the mask over his eyes. “Can you see anything?” he asked.
“No,” Duan Baisui answered honestly.
“Then I’ll lead you, okay? Walk slowly, don’t fall,” Zuo Nian instructed.
“Mm.”
His Omega’s hand was much smaller than his. Led along step by careful step, he walked until they reached the sofa; then Zuo Nian pressed him gently down to sit.
The mask came off.
The living room lights glowed bright. Colorful balloons were scattered across the floor. On the crystal coffee table sat a small two‑tier cake, a bottle of red wine opened and breathing, and a pair of handmade dolls—one in a white suit, one in a black one.
In the open space in front of the table was an enormous bouquet of roses. On either side stood lacquered metal stands, each holding a foam board printed with photos of the two of them.
With a pop, a party cannon went off. Colored paper rained down over his head as Zuo Nian called out excitedly, “Happy first anniversary!”
Right. Today was their first wedding anniversary.
Duan Baisui looked at him. “All this… you prepared this for me?”
“Mm‑hmm~” Zuo Nian’s eyes curved into crescents. He plopped down beside him, picked up the dolls, and divided them between them. “These are dolls I made. This one is you, and this one is me…”
Cupping his face, Duan Baisui said, “I should’ve been the one to prepare all this.”
“It doesn’t matter~ Whoever does it is the same. I want to celebrate with Gege every single year~” he said happily.
“If I told you I forgot, would you be mad?” Duan Baisui asked.
“I’d be a teeny tiny bit disappointed,” Zuo Nian admitted. “But I’d understand. Gege’s been so busy lately~”
Smiling, Duan Baisui leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Then it’s a good thing I remembered. How could I let you be disappointed?”
He took out a velvet box. “Open it.”
“It’s a present for Nian‑nian?”
“Mm.”
“It’s not… not another ring for little Nian‑nian, right?” he asked nervously.
“You’ll know when you look.”
Arm looped around him, Duan Baisui watched as he slowly lifted the lid, muttering, “If it’s for little Nian‑nian, we can’t use it for a while. Because…”
The words died on his tongue.
His eyes turned red in an instant. “It’s just like the one from when we were little…” he whispered.
Duan Baisui had sent the old plastic crown ring to a designer and asked them to recreate it in full diamonds.
The ring had taken a long time to make, but it had fortunately arrived in time for their anniversary.
“Back then I told you I’d buy you a real one with diamonds when we grew up,” he said.
“Our wedding rings already have really big diamonds. Nian‑nian is very satisfied,” Zuo Nian said.
“It’s not the same,” Duan Baisui said. “Our wedding rings were picked by our dads. This one was picked by me. It’s my promise to you.”
The cheap plastic of age five had been transformed into a diamond at twenty‑five, and now he was putting it back where it belonged.
In the past, he hadn’t liked to cry. Director Mama had told him he had to smile—that was how people would like him. This should have been a happy moment, but now all he wanted to do was cry.
Sniffling, he asked, “Gege, if I cry now, will it ruin everything?”
“Of course not,” Duan Baisui murmured, kissing the corner of his eye. “Crying, laughing—do whatever you like. It’s all up to you.”
Tears spilled over.
“Just a little,” he sobbed. “I’m just… really, really moved… hic…”
Taking the ring out, Duan Baisui lifted his left hand and, solemnly as a five‑year‑old boy from long ago, slid it onto his finger.
Back then, that tiny toy ring had slipped right around his heart.
For so many years afterward, Zuo Nian had quietly counted himself as “belonging” to him—waiting through the long seasons, loyal only to him.
He was lucky. He’d walked so far, seen so many people, and in the end had circled back to where he’d started—to the person he’d loved first. This time, he’d pulled him into his arms for good.
“Zuo Nian, I love you,” he said, kissing his fingers.
Just three simple words, but they had come so terribly late.
Clinging to him, Zuo Nian cried for a long time before managing, “Nian‑nian loves Gege too. Super loves Gege…”
Smiling, Duan Baisui patted his back. “Don’t cry yourself into a little raccoon. I’ve booked a hotel. I was planning to take you there.”
“Eh?” It took him a second.
“You really thought you were the only one who’d prepared a surprise?” Duan Baisui chuckled. “I did too. I came back to pick you up.”
Wiping at his eyes, Zuo Nian said, “Nian‑nian is awful. I really thought Gege forgot…”
“Silly.” Duan Baisui pulled out some tissues and wiped his face.
“Actually… actually Nian‑nian has one more present,” he said.
“Oh?” One brow arched.
After a long bout of fidgeting, Zuo Nian reached into the bouquet and fished out a long, narrow box, handing it over.
“What is it?” Duan Baisui asked. “A bracelet? A necklace?”
He shook his head each time. “Gege, just look.”
Secretive as he was being, it didn’t matter. Whatever it was, he’d like it.
When he lifted the lid, though, he froze, as if someone had hit his pressure point.
It wasn’t a bracelet or necklace inside.
It was a pregnancy test.
Two bright lines.
Zuo Nian was pregnant.
“When did this happen?” Duan Baisui asked, barely able to keep the tremor out of his voice.
“A little over a month ago, I think. Probably when we were in T City,” Zuo Nian replied, his gaze soft and glowing. “The baby has great timing. It came when Dad and Daddy were happiest. It’s coming with love and warmth~”
He had no idea what to do with his hands and feet. He wanted to scoop Zuo Nian up and spin him in circles—but suddenly he seemed breakable, and so did the tiny life inside him.
“Can I see?” he asked.
Smiling, Zuo Nian said, “Silly Gege. You can’t see anything at just over a month.”
Even so, he obediently lifted the hem of his T‑shirt.
At just over a month, there really was nothing to see. His stomach wasn’t even as round as it got after a big meal.
Laying his broad palm over that small belly, Duan Baisui bent and pressed a light kiss to the Omega’s skin. “Hello,” he whispered. “Welcome to our family.”
(The End)