# 18
When Duan Baisui woke up, he followed the doctor’s instructions and hadn’t gone out recently.
His father, Duan Yan, had been handling company matters lately.
Occasionally, his assistant would send some emails to coordinate work with him.
With nothing particularly important to do, he had much more free time.
Duan Baisui sank into the large bed, scrolling through news.
As time passed, his physical discomfort was gradually disappearing. His rationality was slowly returning, and his emotions were becoming stable.
Today’s entertainment hot search was dominated by Rong Jin’s apology letter posted on his foreign social media account, which fans had brought to Weibo.
After lying low for a long time, he finally chose an appropriate moment to admit his mistakes.
But Duan Baisui didn’t sense any sincerity in it.
Throughout the letter, Rong Jin used his admiration for Ju Xiao as a foundation, claiming that his twisted personality resulted from a traumatic childhood kidnapping, making him afraid to admit his feelings. This was all to cover up his crimes.
He appeared earnest, but every word was calculated.
Compared to the harm Ju Xiao suffered, Rong Jin’s feelings for Ju Xiao seemed to generate more buzz.
In the hot search comments section, there were paid commenters deliberately guiding fans and passersby, portraying Rong Jin as a young master who loved too deeply and became obsessive.
His mistakes were attributed to his youth and psychological trauma, leading him to love in the wrong way.
His constant harassment and humiliation of Ju Xiao was explained as possessiveness and wanting attention. His attempt to change Ju Xiao’s secondary gender against his will was because he wanted to mark him completely and prevent others from coveting him.
All his bullying behaviors were because of “love.”
The sensationalism of a privileged young man’s crazy, unhealthy obsession with a Beta had certainly captured attention.
Duan Baisui scrolled through the comments section, finding it somewhat ridiculous.
Actually, from many variety shows and behind-the-scenes footage, it was evident that Rong Jin did have some feelings for Ju Xiao. A person’s gaze doesn’t lie.
But causing harm in the name of love was utterly stupid and never deserving of forgiveness.
Clearly, Ju Xiao felt the same way.
He responded to Rong Jin’s apology letter later, firmly stating that he would not forgive, reconcile, or accept his so-called love, and would proceed through normal legal channels.
Duan Baisui grew drowsy again and tossed his phone aside, curling up in the pile of Zuo Nian’s clothes.
He had already endured the most difficult first three days. Now his main symptom was drowsiness.
The doctor said this was normal.
Because during the early stage, his mind and body had been in an excited state, causing him to sleep very little, with his nerves constantly tense, unable to fully relax.
Now his rut period was almost over, and everything was slowly returning to normal. His body, for self-protection, had begun to compensate with sleep. His glands could now be well-controlled and would no longer release large amounts of aggressive pheromones.
Duan Baisui slept deeply. After an unknown amount of time, he heard voices outside the room.
“Is brother still inside?”
Zuo Nian?
He couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.
He wanted to open his eyes, but his consciousness was very hazy.
“Yes, he’s probably fallen asleep again.”
“Can I go in?” The man’s voice sounded anxious.
“You’re his Omega, of course you can. Besides, today is the fifth day. The young master is just often drowsy; there’s no danger anymore.”
“Okay, thank you, Auntie Liu.”
Duan Baisui couldn’t hear clearly, only knowing that the conversation had ended.
As he was about to fall into deep sleep again, he heard the sound of the door opening.
Someone was slowly approaching him.
One side of the large bed sank down, and a cool hand touched his forehead.
“Temperature, normal.” The person muttered to himself.
“Lost a lot of weight.”
The palm moved to his cheek, gently covering it.
“Brother, Nian Nian is back.”
The last memory stopped there as Duan Baisui completely fell into a dreamlike state.
When he woke up again, it was already dark.
The curtains were half-open, allowing a clear view of the black sky outside.
The bedside lamp was on, emitting a soft glow.
As Duan Baisui’s consciousness gradually cleared, he saw that Zuo Nian’s blanket had formed a small mound.
He reached out tentatively, touching the exposed back of the person’s head.
Only then did he confirm that Zuo Nian had really returned, and it wasn’t just a hallucination from his rut period.
Duan Baisui leaned over. The Omega was sleeping sweetly, his curled eyelashes lowered, holding his Abei Bei, exuding a peaceful tranquility.
Duan Baisui bent his fingers and affectionately rubbed Zuo Nian’s cheek, whispering reproachfully, “Once you have your ugly doll, you sleep with your back to me, huh?”
—
When Zuo Nian woke up, he found the space beside him empty.
Duan Baisui’s side of the bed was neatly made, without even leaving any warmth.
He scratched his head, muttering, “Lazy Nian Nian, didn’t you say you would take care of brother? How could you sleep like a pig!”
“Click.” The bathroom door opened at that moment.
Duan Baisui wore a white bathrobe, the collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of his firm but not exaggerated chest muscles.
His black hair was still dripping water, with droplets sliding down his neck into his chest. What lay beneath was left to the imagination.
Zuo Nian stared blankly. He had never seen this side of Duan Baisui before. Previously, after showering, Duan Baisui would always come out wearing a complete set of pajamas, with all buttons fastened to the top.
Today’s loose bathrobe truly broadened Zuo Nian’s horizons.
“You’re awake?” Duan Baisui asked.
Zuo Nian guiltily looked away, his face flushing to the roots of his ears, and softly responded with an “Mm.”
Duan Baisui sat down next to him, bringing with him warmth and the fresh scent of shower gel: “Father wants us to go over for dinner. Get up and wash, the driver will come to pick us up soon.”
“Okay~” Zuo Nian responded as he got out of bed.
He went to the sink, and just as he put the toothbrush in his mouth, Duan Baisui followed him in.
Zuo Nian looked at him in surprise, but Duan Baisui calmly plugged in the hair dryer and began drying his hair while standing behind him.
They were very close, with Zuo Nian sandwiched between Duan Baisui and the sink, his body stiff and tense, a tingling sensation spreading across his back.
After brushing his teeth, Zuo Nian bent down to wash his face.
As he bent over, his raised backside touched Duan Baisui.
Zuo Nian’s face burned again, and he shuffled his feet inward, pressing his entire body against the counter.
The “whirring” sound behind him finally stopped.
Zuo Nian was applying facial cleanser and couldn’t see what Duan Baisui was doing, but he heard him open a cabinet, presumably putting away the hair dryer.
After rinsing off the foam, Zuo Nian wiped the water droplets from his face with a towel. As he straightened up, someone leaned in, pressing against him.
Duan Baisui propped one hand on the counter, looking down at him: “When did you come back?”
The suddenly enlarged face almost made Zuo Nian’s heart jump out of his mouth.
He stammered, “Yes-yesterday afternoon.”
Duan Baisui nodded: “Didn’t we agree that I would pick you up? Why didn’t you call?”
“You, you were in your rut period,” Zuo Nian looked into Duan Baisui’s eyes. The man’s eyes still showed little emotion, making him unreadable. “Fat, fat father came, came to pick me up, it’s all the same…”
Duan Baisui laughed lightly: “What are you nervous about?”
Zuo Nian clutched his chest: “I don’t know… my heart is fluttering…”
It was both tingling and anticipatory.
He had seen on TV that in moments like this, people would kiss, would tenderly hold each other’s faces.
Zuo Nian was restless, considering whether to close his eyes.
But at that moment, Duan Baisui straightened up and said casually: “Let’s go, change your clothes. We’re going to be late.”
Zuo Nian: …
The bubble of romance in his mind instantly burst.
He puffed his cheeks, thinking: What a strange brother!
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
