# 10
After the company leaders had all taken turns delivering speeches, it was almost dinner time.
The hotel had prepared dinner, and servers gradually began bringing out dishes as the hall’s lighting dimmed.
Zuo Nian quietly moved his chair closer, sticking tightly to Duan Baisui.
The company executives at their table continued chatting with Duan Baisui.
Zuo Nian couldn’t understand the topics they were discussing, so naturally he couldn’t join the conversation.
He listened quietly, smiling when he saw others smile.
This continued until everyone began using their chopsticks.
Duan Baisui very naturally arranged Zuo Nian’s utensils and put food on his plate.
Finally, someone couldn’t resist asking: “Director Duan, this is…?”
At that moment, Zuo Nian was stuffing a cream roll into his mouth. Hearing this, he also looked up at Duan Baisui.
He had never appeared with Duan Baisui at any formal occasion.
Even now, few people knew that Duan Baisui’s partner was him.
Having heard others call him a “fool” since childhood, Zuo Nian began to feel anxious. He feared that Duan Baisui might not want to acknowledge his identity, or worse, that he had never truly gained Duan Baisui’s acceptance.
But surprisingly, Duan Baisui didn’t hesitate at all and solemnly said: “I haven’t introduced him yet. This is my Omega, Zuo Nian. I thought our matching outfits would make it obvious, but apparently not clear enough.”
He seemed to be in a good mood. His usually cold face not only showed a smile but even made a small joke.
Zuo Nian’s heart surged with emotion.
Holding back tears, he quickly sat up straight. After swallowing everything in his mouth, he politely greeted: “Hello, everyone.”
“Oh, oh, hello, hello,” everyone chimed in. “You make such a good match.”
“I heard Mr. Zuo and Director Duan have known each other for a long time?”
Duan Baisui smiled faintly: “Yes.”
Zuo Nian added: “We’ve known each other since we were five.”
“Childhood sweethearts, haha!”
“Mr. Zuo is so talented and handsome, no wonder Director Duan was reluctant to bring you out.”
“Look, with Mr. Zuo sitting here, all the artists under our company are overshadowed.”
Zuo Nian rarely heard so many compliments from strangers.
By Duan Baisui’s side, no one dared to call him a fool or look down on him. They even praised him to the skies.
Even if they privately thought the relationship between the two might not be so harmonious—otherwise, why wouldn’t they have gone public despite being married for so long—what they said aloud was that Director Duan was too possessive to share his beloved with others.
Such smooth social grace.
Artists began performing on stage.
Zuo Nian saw many people he could only usually see on television.
He wanted to take out his phone to take photos but feared embarrassing Duan Baisui in such a setting.
He gazed longingly, applauding along with everyone else.
At this moment, a man dressed in a gray suit approached.
The man had handsome features with gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, thin chains hanging on either side, giving him a refined, ascetic appearance.
Zuo Nian recognized him at once—it was Ju Xiao, who had recently suffered bullying.
He looked quite different now, seemingly more composed and confident.
Holding a wine glass, he came before Duan Baisui and respectfully said: “Director Duan, I truly thank you for everything before. I never had the chance to thank you in person. Now that I have the opportunity to see you today, I’d like to toast you.”
Duan Baisui’s expression remained calm. He raised his glass to clink with Ju Xiao’s and said: “I would have done the same for any artist.”
Ju Xiao: “I know. You’re a good person and an excellent boss.”
As he spoke, Ju Xiao bowed slightly: “I’ve caused you a lot of trouble, and I’m really sorry. Thank you for your care during this time.”
Duan Baisui: “Handling internal company issues is also part of my job. You don’t need to take it too much to heart. Just adjust your state as soon as possible, and if you have any problems, you can contact the psychologist or your manager.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Ju Xiao drank all the wine in his glass. Noticing Zuo Nian’s gaze, he turned and responded with a friendly smile, bowing slightly toward Zuo Nian as a greeting.
Zuo Nian smiled brilliantly, nodding in response.
After Ju Xiao left, many other artists came over to toast.
Zuo Nian couldn’t drink alcohol, so when others stood up, he followed suit, holding his juice glass to join in.
He barely ate all evening, just drinking along and hearing many compliments.
As time passed, artists who had work the next day left early.
Finally, as the crowd thinned out, Zuo Nian spotted the lead actor of “New Bamboo”—Lu Li.
The man sat casually, his long legs naturally crossed, sitting sideways with one arm lazily draped over the chair back, fiddling with his phone, appearing to be sending messages.
Zuo Nian tugged at Duan Baisui’s sleeve and quietly asked: “Can I go get an autograph?”
Duan Baisui looked in the direction of his gaze. Lu Li’s table wasn’t far from theirs, and most people had already left. He said: “Go ahead.”
Before leaving home today, Zuo Nian had specially prepared paper and pen from his shop.
When changing clothes, he had put them in his vest pocket.
Now he took out his small notebook and pen and walked toward Lu Li.
There weren’t many people left at Lu Li’s table—including him, just four people remained sitting there.
They weren’t talking much; some were on their phones, others watching the performances.
Zuo Nian approached Lu Li, nervously but politely speaking: “Hello, Mr. Lu Li, could I have your autograph?”
Lu Li looked up in surprise, putting away his phone.
The man had alluring peach blossom eyes that looked passionate even when looking at a dog, a straight nose, thin lips, and a defined jawline—the standard look of a playboy.
He smiled and asked: “Are you new?”
Zuo Nian didn’t understand what he meant by “new,” assuming he was asking if this was his first time here.
He nodded: “Yes.”
Lu Li reached out to take the paper and pen, joking: “Your notebook is so small. At my usual signature size, I’d have to write one character per page?”
Zuo Nian shyly replied: “Too big would be inconvenient to carry.”
He couldn’t exactly accompany Duan Baisui to the annual party with a sketching board, could he?
Lu Li held up his small notebook and looked at it, saying: “It’s quite cute, actually.”
Then he flamboyantly signed his name in the notebook.
He also asked: “What’s your name?”
“Zuo Nian,” Zuo Nian answered seriously. “Zuo as in left and right, Nian as in year after year.”
Lu Li: “Let me give you a personalized signature.”
Zuo Nian made a surprised sound and smiled brightly: “Thank you for your trouble.”
“Lu Ge, you’re in such a good mood today? Even giving personalized signatures?” the woman closest to Lu Li teased.
Lu Li didn’t look up: “Maybe we’ll work together in the future.”
Zuo Nian also recognized this woman—her name was Huo Lian.
She was the second female lead in “New Bamboo.”
It was a very colorful role.
Although in the early parts she consistently opposed the male and female leads, even setting traps for the female lead and her friends—making her quite unlikable—later she wore the battle flag for her country and died pierced by countless arrows, bringing tears to everyone’s eyes.
Zuo Nian nodded in greeting to the woman: “Hello, your portrayal of Princess Tingyu was really amazing. Could you also give me your autograph?”
Huo Lian smiled: “I saw so much criticism online, I thought no one liked this character.”
“No, she’s very charismatic, she’s just… growing,” Zuo Nian struggled to express his understanding.
Huo Lian: “Ah, if only everyone were like you, little brother. Lately, I’ve almost been criticized into depression.”
Being able to talk with actors he admired, Zuo Nian shyly scratched his head.
Lu Li handed the small notebook to Huo Lian, saying casually: “Sign one for the little brother?”
Huo Lian took it: “Of course.”
“Little brother, would you like to take a photo together?” Lu Li asked with a smile.
Zuo Nian was delighted: “Can, can we?”
“Certainly.” Lu Li was quite accommodating.
Zuo Nian took out his phone and turned the camera around. Just as Lu Li leaned over and was about to put his arm around Zuo Nian’s shoulder, Duan Baisui appeared.
He had resumed his ice-cold demeanor and asked: “Taking photos?”
Zuo Nian: “Brother.”
Lu Li: “Brother?”
By this time, Huo Lian had finished signing and stood up to greet Duan Baisui: “Director Duan.”
“Mm.” Duan Baisui nodded.
Huo Lian handed the notebook to Zuo Nian, but it was intercepted mid-air by Duan Baisui.
He casually flipped through it, then closed it.
Lu Li said: “So this beautiful Omega isn’t a new colleague, but Director Duan’s younger brother?”
Duan Baisui smiled slightly: “He’s my partner. We’re married.”
Lu Li: ???
Huo Lian: !!!
“Brother, can you take a photo for us?” Zuo Nian hadn’t noticed the awkward atmosphere at all.
Duan Baisui glanced at Lu Li and said: “Sure.”
“Teacher Huo, is that okay?” Zuo Nian also asked Huo Lian.
Huo Lian: “Of course.”
Zuo Nian stood in the middle, with Huo Lian and Lu Li on either side, both keeping a distance from him, their postures stiff.
After the photo was taken, Zuo Nian thanked them: “Thank you for your trouble.”
After Duan Baisui and Zuo Nian had gone far away, Lu Li anxiously said: “Is my acting career over as of today?”
Huo Lian patted his shoulder sympathetically: “Who told you to flirt with everyone you meet?”
Lu Li: “Wasn’t Director Duan’s wife supposed to be a fool…”
Huo Lian quickly bumped his elbow, looking around nervously and lowering her voice: “Are you crazy? How dare you say such things?”
Lu Li immediately shut his mouth.
Thinking carefully, that Mr. Zuo did speak with some difficulty, but not to the extent of being as foolish as rumors suggested—unable to care for himself.
Rather than calling him a fool, it would be more accurate to call him a beautiful simpleton, currently very popular.
With his looks and personality, he would be highly sought after in the entertainment industry.
But… he could also easily become prey for the wolves.
Someone so innocent and naive was better off kept at home.
_
After the annual party ended, Duan Baisui took Zuo Nian to the car.
The driver in the front was very professional, automatically lowering the partition to give them privacy.
Zuo Nian stared at Duan Baisui’s suit pocket and softly said: “Brother, my autograph…”
Duan Baisui glanced at him: “You really like Lu Li?”
Zuo Nian blinked his big eyes and corrected: “Not like, appreciate.”
“Is there a difference?” Duan Baisui’s voice was flat as he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, pretending to doze.
“Yes, there is.” Zuo Nian explained seriously.
“Liking means, well, liking everything about him, having your heart beat faster, wanting to be near him, missing him when you can’t see him, and… crying because of him.”
“Appreciating is just, just simply thinking that some aspect of him is good. Yes, that’s it.”
“I appreciate Lu Li’s acting skills, that’s not liking him.”
Zuo Nian rambled on for quite a while, and when he looked up, he saw that Duan Baisui had fallen asleep.
Zuo Nian sighed. Ah, bad brother.
Nian Nian hadn’t done anything wrong, yet brother had confiscated his autograph.
He pouted in dissatisfaction.
The Alpha beside him, as if he had eyes on the side of his head, said: “Left pocket, take it yourself.”
Zuo Nian happily reached in and took out the small notebook.
Besides signing his name, Lu Li had also written: “To the cutest little Nian Nian.”
He had drawn a heart next to it.
On the second page, Huo Lian had also personalized her signature, but without Lu Li’s flourishes.
Zuo Nian said happily: “Both are personalized signatures. They’re really nice, not putting on any airs at all.”
Duan Baisui didn’t even open his eyes, making a sound that could have been either “mm” or “hmph,” the tone extremely low.
Zuo Nian guessed he was tired, put away the notebook, sat up straight, and didn’t dare say another word.
He secretly thought that when they got home, he would definitely give brother a massage to help him relax.
