# 3
The room fell into an awkward silence, then someone pointed at their phone and whispered: “Holy shit…”
On the screen was the information they had just searched for.
The young Alpha had handsome features, his eyes filled with arrogance, identical to the man standing before them.
“It really is him…”
Ironically, they had just been mocking Zuo Nian for foolishly dreaming of marrying into wealth.
They hadn’t expected to be proven wrong so quickly.
“You, you all should leave. I don’t like you, and my brother doesn’t like you either. Don’t come back again,” Zuo Nian said fiercely.
He always listened to Duan Baisui, and now with Duan Baisui by his side, he borrowed his authority to chase people away.
“Hehe, um… Class Flower, don’t be angry,” one of the men changed his tune, rubbing his hands and calling out flatteringly.
“Class Flower?” Duan Baisui raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, Director Duan, it’s like this—Zuo Nian used to be the most good-looking Omega in our class, so everyone called him Class Flower. We meant no disrespect. We truly thought he was attractive. Many people pursued him back then,” the man explained ingratiatingly.
Duan Baisui had gone abroad for high school.
Therefore, he didn’t know about Zuo Nian’s high school life.
But now it seemed that he probably hadn’t had a good time then.
Otherwise, after so many years, these people wouldn’t still be looking down on him.
“So? The fact that he rejected you became your reason to humiliate him today?” His voice showed no fluctuation, but everyone could tell he was displeased.
The man swallowed and said: “That’s not what we meant. We were just joking with him, right?”
“Ah, yes, yes, just joking,” the other two chimed in.
Duan Baisui gave him a sidelong glance: “C-level Alpha. It’s perfectly normal that he wasn’t interested in you.”
After these words, the man who had just spoken turned green in the face.
Duan Baisui looked away and said casually: “I was also joking. Why aren’t you laughing?”
Sensing the hostility, the three men left the store awkwardly.
Zuo Nian followed behind them, pretending to shake his fist, saying: “Don’t come back again, okay?”
Duan Baisui found him adorable, the corner of his lips unconsciously turning upward.
Zuo Nian returned to the store and happily asked: “Brother, why did you come today?”
Duan Baisui: “Got off work early. Thought I’d stop by to pick you up.”
Zuo Nian smiled so widely his eyes became crescents: “Does that mean we can have dinner together?”
“Mm.”
“Wait for me, I’ll close up right away.”
He ran behind the counter and started looking for the air conditioner remote.
Duan Baisui’s gaze followed him, suddenly remembering what those people had said earlier.
He asked: “Many people pursued you in high school?”
“Beep—” The air conditioner that had been blowing warm air was turned off.
The room still retained its warmth.
Zuo Nian put down the remote and said: “No one pursued me. Just many people gave me milk and cookies.”
Zuo Nian had come from an orphanage and was particularly afraid of going hungry. He also craved snacks.
When they were young, Duan Baisui thought that one lollipop could win Zuo Nian over. He wondered if he was still like that in high school.
“Mm.”
“But, but Nian Nian didn’t accept them,” Zuo Nian waved his hands seriously. “Fat Dad said I shouldn’t casually accept things from others, especially from Alphas, and those with dyed yellow hair.”
Duan Baisui laughed briefly, agreeing with Zuo Jun’s words.
Seeing that he was almost finished cleaning up, Duan Baisui reminded him: “Put on your jacket. It’s cold outside.”
“Okay~”
Zuo Nian responded softly.
After turning off all the power in the store, Zuo Nian properly shouldered his backpack and took the keys to lock the door.
The outdoor wind was biting cold. Zuo Nian shrank his neck to prevent the cold wind from creeping in.
Compared to Duan Baisui’s thin, elegant attire, Zuo Nian was bundled up like a clumsy penguin. Walking side by side, they looked like people from two different worlds.
From the shop to the parking lot was still some distance.
A couple happened to pass by them on the street.
They were holding hands, leaning against each other, looking sweet and intimate.
Zuo Nian secretly glanced at Duan Baisui’s profile, then at his hand hanging by his side.
He also wanted to follow the example of the couple and hold hands tightly with Duan Baisui, but feared Duan Baisui would be angry or disgusted.
After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously tested: “Brother, I forgot to bring my gloves today. My hands are a bit cold…”
Duan Baisui turned to look at him: “We’ll be there soon. Don’t your clothes have pockets?”
“Oh…” Zuo Nian awkwardly felt around his clothes and said: “Found them.”
He put his hands in his pockets and lied: “Really not cold anymore.”
Arriving at the parking lot, Duan Baisui opened the car door.
Zuo Nian immediately saw the huge bouquet of roses and cake on the back seat.
His eyes widened slightly, and he asked: “Is it someone’s birthday today?”
Duan Baisui: “Making it up to you.”
“To me?” Zuo Nian instantly forgot his previous dejection, his eyes brightening again. “Brother bought these specially for me?”
“Mm.”
Zuo Nian closed the passenger door and ran to the back seat.
He hugged the flowers and sniffed them, his voice cheerful: “Thank you, brother.”
Originally intending to give them to him at home, but seeing him so happy, Duan Baisui didn’t have the heart to spoil his joy.
The back door was still open. Duan Baisui placed one hand on the car frame, leaning in slightly, and said: “There’s still a gift to unwrap.”
Only then did Zuo Nian notice the gift bag placed behind the cake box.
“What is it?” Zuo Nian asked.
Duan Baisui: “Open it yourself.”
Zuo Nian opened the bag to find a white rabbit plush toy.
The little rabbit wore a huge organza bow at its collar, and its upright long ears and feet were embedded with sparkling rhinestones.
Zuo Nian exclaimed “Wow!” in both surprise and delight: “So cute! I love it, super love it!”
Rather than giving him a watch or necklace, Duan Baisui thought a plush toy would be more practical for Zuo Nian.
Judging by his reaction, he had indeed chosen correctly.
Zuo Nian hugged the gift, nestled in the back seat, while Duan Baisui drove in front.
After a series of camera clicks, he heard Zuo Nian say: “Brother, I want to name the little rabbit.”
“Hmm?” Duan Baisui made a curious sound.
“Can I call him Little Sui?” Zuo Nian asked.
Duan Baisui asked in return: “Why call him Little Sui?”
“Because my Abei Bei is called Little Nian. Little Nian only wants to be with Little Sui, nothing else will do,” he explained seriously.
Duan Baisui felt like he was being confessed to, his heartbeat involuntarily speeding up.
He coughed lightly, concealing his emotions: “Whatever you like.”
Zuo Nian cheered happily: “Brother is the best!”
_
The original plan was to eat out.
But Zuo Nian said he had already bought ingredients yesterday, and they would lose freshness if not cooked soon, so they must eat at home.
Duan Baisui went along with him.
When getting out of the car, Zuo Nian held the flowers in one hand and tucked the doll under his other arm, muttering: “Nian Nian’s, all Nian Nian’s.”
Unable to carry the cake, Duan Baisui helped bring it in.
Zuo Nian arranged everything properly, then tied on an apron and entered the kitchen.
He looked very happy, humming a tuneless song.
Duan Baisui went upstairs to change into comfortable home clothes, and caught a glimpse of the ugly doll placed on Zuo Nian’s pillow.
He picked it up for a look. The doll was wearing a cotton print dress, probably made by Zuo Nian.
He wondered if Little Sui downstairs had clothes to wear.
He put the doll back in its place, suddenly feeling that it wasn’t so ugly after all.
Coming downstairs, Duan Baisui went to the kitchen wanting to help Zuo Nian.
But he didn’t really know how to cook, so he could only help wash vegetables and peel a few cloves of garlic.
Zuo Nian cooked very seriously, adding seasonings and stir-frying in one smooth motion.
After finishing his tasks, Duan Baisui leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching him.
Zuo Nian had many skills. He had learned cooking, flower arranging, and painting—not because his family forced him, but because he enjoyed them.
While others called him a fool, he worked hard to improve himself.
He was simply pure-hearted, how was that foolish?
“Brother, come taste the soup. See if the saltiness is right?” Zuo Nian called to him.
Duan Baisui walked over.
Zuo Nian filled a spoon, blew on it gently, then held it to his lips, saying: “Careful, it’s hot.”
Duan Baisui lowered his head and took a sip. When he looked up, his eyes met directly with Zuo Nian’s.
They were so close that he could feel Zuo Nian’s light, steady breathing.
“How is it?” Zuo Nian’s voice brought him back to reality.
Duan Baisui maintained his composure: “Not bad.”
“Really?” He drank the remaining soup from the spoon himself, smacked his lips, and commented: “Hmm, a bit bland, but Dad said we shouldn’t eat too salty—it’s bad for health—so this is just right.”
He turned to adjust the heat.
Duan Baisui’s thoughts, however, were on how they had just shared a spoon, and Zuo Nian seemed completely unaware of how intimate this action was.
He was naturally closing the distance between them.
Duan Baisui found he didn’t mind.
For dinner, Zuo Nian prepared three dishes and a soup, all looking and smelling delicious.
During the meal, Zuo Nian brought Little Sui over, saying: “Today is Little Sui’s first day in our home, so today is also Little Sui’s birthday.”
Duan Baisui didn’t object, letting him do as he pleased.
Zuo Nian took more photos, making a complete nine-grid post for his social media with the caption: Super handsome brother, cute Little Sui, culinary expert Nian Nian, perfect day!
Shortly after posting, he received a comment.
G: Such wealth. When will you treat old classmates?
Zuo Nian had been happily replying to his family’s comments, but when he saw this one, his brows furrowed tightly.
Duan Baisui noticed his displeasure and asked: “What’s wrong?”
Zuo Nian pouted: “So annoying, a pest.”
He handed his phone to Duan Baisui.
Duan Baisui glanced at it and asked: “Who is it?”
“Liu Gong, the one in the black down jacket this afternoon,” Zuo Nian said angrily. “Very annoying. Doesn’t buy anything but eats my candy.”
“Are you close with him? Why do you still have his WeChat?” Duan Baisui asked calmly.
Zuo Nian: “We were desk mates in high school.”
“He scored fifteen points in math, but Nian Nian always scored thirty. Yet he called me a fool.”
At this, Zuo Nian’s big eyes blinked once, and he asked sincerely: “Isn’t the one who scored fifteen points the real fool?”
Duan Baisui laughed lightly, returned the phone to him, and said: “Mm.”
“If there’s no friendship, just delete him.”
Zuo Nian nodded: “Would that be impolite?”
Duan Baisui was about to tell him that sometimes politeness wasn’t necessary when he heard Zuo Nian say: “Deleted.”
He was quite quick about it.
That night, the two lay in bed.
Zuo Nian brought both the ugly doll and the rabbit into the covers.
He seriously introduced them to each other.
“This is Little Nian, this is Little Sui…”
Duan Baisui was leaning against the headboard reading. Hearing his words, he put down the magazine and looked at him.
Zuo Nian brought the two dolls together, hugged them tightly, and murmured: “Stay together forever, okay?”
