After Marrying My Silly Childhood Friend - Chapter 1
In City A, December brought a sharp drop in temperature.
Snowflakes had been falling thick and fast all day, showing no signs of stopping.
Wilted branches were covered in a thick layer of white, and the once vibrant city gradually lost its color, appearing desolate and lonely.
Equally grim as the weather outside was the young Mr. Duan’s face.
Today, the company’s popular boy band was exposed by the media for internal bullying.
The only Beta in the group had been bullied by three Alphas to the point of depression. He attempted suicide but was rescued and was now lying in the hospital.
The scandal spiraled out of control, and as soon as Duan Baisui learned of it, he immediately summoned their manager.
The conversation had just ended, and it didn’t seem like things were looking good.
“Is there any social events tonight?” Duan Baisui looked up and asked.
His eyebrows and eyes resembled those of his Alpha father—bold and arrogant, exuding an oppressive aura when looking at someone.
But his temperament took after his Omega father—cool and indifferent, with a smile that never reached his eyes, making him difficult to approach.
The new assistant was quite afraid of him.
“The General Manager of Chaoyue has invited you for a small gathering at Lanqiao Club.”
Duan Baisui replied flatly, “Postpone it and have the driver take me to the hospital.”
Luo Yin: “Understood.”
After a pause, he added, “Mr. Zuo just called to ask if you’ll be coming home for dinner.”
Duan Baisui stood up, grabbed the coat draped over the standing hanger, and said, “Tell him not to wait for me.”
His voice remained cool and devoid of emotion.
“Understood.”
Exiting the office, Luo Yin first called the driver, instructing him to bring the car to the company entrance.
Then he dialed Mr. Zuo back.
Having joined the job not long ago, his understanding of his boss was limited to news reports and instructions from the previous assistant.
All he knew was that this young Mr. Duan had recently gotten married.
Logically, given his family background and status, his wedding should have been a grand affair, making headlines.
However, so far, no media outlet had captured any scenes from his wedding.
Rumor had it that he hadn’t held a wedding at all because his partner was mentally challenged, and the two were childhood friends. Forced by circumstances, they married out of formality, without inviting guests, and their relationship as a couple was naturally strained.
Young Mr. Duan frequently returned home late, deliberately neglecting his partner as a silent protest against the marriage.
As a result, Mr. Zuo’s calls often ended up with the assistant instead.
The phone only rang twice before it was quickly answered.
The voice on the other end sounded cheerful: “Hello.”
Luo Yin adopted a professional tone and said, “Hello, Mr. Zuo. This is Xiao Luo.”
“I just confirmed with little Mr. Duan. He won’t be coming home for dinner, so you don’t need to wait for him.”
“Oh…” The other party seemed disappointed. The previously cheerful tone quickly fell into a dispirited murmur.
“Then, could you please remind him not to drink alcohol? He has a cold, is taking medicine, and needs to drink more warm water.”
“Understood, Mr. Zuo. Please rest assured.”
Luo Yin had never met Duan Baisui’s partner.
But the man’s childlike tone seemed to lend credence to the rumors circulating outside.
“Then, then drive carefully. No matter how late it is, I’ll wait for him and won’t wander around. Make sure to tell him that.” He rambled on.
Luo Yin responded patiently, “Understood.”
As the call ended, the office door opened.
Duan Baisui, dressed in black, wore a grim expression.
Luo Yin, clutching his phone, cautiously said, “Mr. Zuo said…”
“Has the car arrived?” Duan Baisui interrupted coldly.
“It should be.” Luo Yin replied.
“Mn.”
Seeing Duan Baisui’s expression, Luo Yin didn’t dare say another word.
It was rush hour, and the roads were jammed with long lines of traffic.
The usual twenty-minute drive from the company to the hospital ended up taking an extra fifteen minutes.
When Duan Baisui got out of the car, many reporters were still lingering outside the hospital, blocked by security guards from entering.
They took the elevator to the fourth floor where the VIP rooms were located. Guards were stationed outside the rooms to prevent any reporters from sneaking in.
Duan Baisui knocked on the door, and soon, someone came to open it.
It was the assistant of the little star.
Seeing Duan Baisui, she timidly greeted, “Young Mr. Duan.”
From the doorway to the interior, there was a short corridor, so Duan Baisui couldn’t immediately see the patient’s condition.
He asked the assistant, “How is he doing?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the young woman in front of him started to cry. Choking on her sobs, she said, “His wounds have been stitched, and the doctor said there’s no threat to his life, but Xiao Ge’s… Xiao Ge’s mental state…”
The young woman couldn’t continue and covered her face, crying.
The bullied man’s name was Ju Xiao.
At the beginning of the talent show, all the mentors had high hopes for him.
Among the aggressive Alpha contestants, he stood out for his gentleness and humility.
Even his appearance was refined and gentlemanly, making it easy for people to like him.
His abilities were also not to be underestimated.
After the talent show ended, Duan Baisui signed him.
He greatly admired this young man who was both ambitious and hardworking.
The company grouped him with the first, third, and fifth-place contestants to form the TR boy band.
The runner-up had chosen to continue his studies and had no intention of entering the entertainment industry, so these four became the company’s key training targets.
Duan Baisui spared no expense, sending them abroad for training, hiring the best stylists to refine their image based on their individual temperaments, and investing heavily in their promotion.
Fortunately, all of these efforts paid off.
TR’s debut performance was a hit.
The four members instantly became national sensations.
Endorsements poured in one after another.
Even TV dramas and variety shows came knocking.
But beneath these seemingly smooth and prosperous days, hidden currents were brewing.
The first signs of trouble in the group surfaced during a talk show interview.
The host asked, “Who has the best temper in your group?”
All three Alphas pointed at Ju Xiao.
The host laughed, “Is it because Ju Xiao is more accommodating toward you all?”
The youngest, Rong Jin, blurted out, “Yeah, we call him ‘nanny’ in private. He even washes our underwear.”
Ju Xiao looked embarrassed but quickly added, “I’m the oldest, so I should take care of them more.”
The video quickly went viral on social media.
Some criticized Rong Jin for being ungrateful and speaking thoughtlessly, while others mocked Ju Xiao for being a bootlicker, saying he wouldn’t have made it to the top four without Rong Jin’s help. A small part of fans even began shipping them, flooding the internet with fan fiction.
All of this inevitably painted Ju Xiao as a “motherly” figure.
When Duan Baisui saw the interview, he held a meeting to scold Rong Jin harshly and warned him to be mindful of his words in the future.
The incident eventually concluded with Rong Jin’s apology, Ju Xiao’s forgiveness, and a group photo of the band displaying their “brotherly bond.”
However, no one at the time realized that Rong Jin’s careless words were just the tip of the iceberg of Ju Xiao’s bullying.
Duan Baisui approached Ju Xiao’s hospital bed.
The man looked pale and frail.
His left wrist was wrapped in thick gauze, and stubble had grown on his chin.
His hollow eyes stared at the ceiling, a stark contrast to the bright, hopeful gaze he had when chasing his dreams.
“I’m deeply sorry for not noticing this sooner, and for failing to recognize Hu Chun’s negligence. The company will fire him immediately,” Duan Baisui promised.
Hu Chun was their manager. Duan Baisui didn’t believe he was completely unaware of what had been happening, but he had clearly been helping to cover it up.
Seeing that Ju Xiao didn’t respond, Duan Baisui continued, “The company will compensate you accordingly, and I fully support you in seeking justice. If you want to sue them, the company will hire the best lawyers for you.”
Upon hearing this, a single tear slid down Ju Xiao’s cheek.
He still didn’t speak. He simply closed his eyes and turned his face away.
“Xiao Ge, if you’ve been wronged, just tell Mr. Duan. He’ll help you for sure. Let’s sue those three beasts!” his assistant, Xiao Yuan, cried.
Ju Xiao pulled the blanket over his head, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He resisted all attempts at communication.
He was still trapped in fear and unease.
“Alex,” Ju Xiao’s attending physician walked over.
He and Duan Baisui were friends and had known each other for many years, trusting one another.
That’s why, upon learning the truth, Duan Baisui transferred Ju Xiao to this hospital immediately.
“Let’s give the patient some space. We’ll talk outside,” Qin Li said.
Looking at the man curled up on the bed, Duan Baisui said, “Rest well. If you need anything, contact me or Assistant Luo right away. Don’t worry, the company will not protect anyone involved.”
Ju Xiao let out a faint sob from under the blanket.
Xiao Yuan rushed over to hug him and comforted him, “Xiao Ge, it’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid. We’re all here for you.”
Qin Li patted Duan Baisui on the shoulder and gestured for him to leave.
Following Qin Li out of the room, Duan Baisui asked, “How is he doing now?”
Qin Li replied, “Physically, he’s okay, but his psychological condition is serious. He not only slit his wrists but also swallowed sleeping pills. His suicidal intent is strong. I suggest getting him a psychologist.”
Duan Baisui nodded, “Mn.”
After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Was he assaulted?”
With three Alphas involved, it was hard not to consider that possibility.
Qin Li shook his head. “From the current examinations, no.”
Duan Baisui breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
“But there’s one odd thing—he keeps asking me if he’s an Omega.”
Ju Xiao hadn’t shown any signs of secondary differentiation, so there was no reason for him to ask that.
Duan Baisui’s sharp instincts seemed to catch onto something.
“By the way, it’s rare to see you, Mr. Busy. How about grabbing a meal together later? My treat.” Qin Li suggested.
Duan Baisui glanced at the time. It was just past seven—neither too early nor too late. If he went home on an empty stomach, Zuo Nian would fuss over him endlessly. Thinking of this, he agreed, “Alright.”
He and Qin Li had a casual meal in the hospital cafeteria.
This was a private hospital that primarily catered to celebrities.
Therefore, there weren’t many patients. Privacy was well-protected, and the cafeteria food wasn’t bad either.
Duan Baisui chatted with Qin Li about Ju Xiao’s injuries and asked him to take extra care of him. After all, Ju Xiao was one of the company’s artists, and such an incident reflected poorly on him.
The bullying scandal only came to light after the artist’s suicide attempt, which indeed made the company appear negligent.
He didn’t need to imagine to know how harshly he was being criticized online.
He didn’t care about the rumors, but his conscience couldn’t bear it.
After leaving the hospital, Duan Baisui went straight home.
It was already pitch black outside.
When he opened the door, the living room lights were on, and the TV was playing a new costume idol drama at a moderate volume, just enough to add a touch of life to the otherwise lonely villa.
On the spacious European-style sectional sofa, someone was curled up under a soft plush blanket, sleeping soundly.
He was curled up, facing the backrest of the sofa. Duan Baisui could only see the back of his round head.
But even with just this slender silhouette, he could recognize that it was Zuo Nian.
Duan Baisui lightened his steps, debating whether to wake him up and send him to bed.
Zuo Nian was very timid. When home alone, he always had to sleep with the lights and TV on.
He was afraid of the dark and of ghosts.
He felt safer this way.
Duan Baisui took off his coat and walked to the sofa. The young man, who had been sleeping, woke up alertly.
He lifted his head, his sleepy eyes slightly red at the corners.
The collar of his pajamas was wide open and askew, revealing his delicate collarbones.
Duan Baisui had to admit that Zuo Nian was very good-looking.
Even after seeing all kinds of beauties in the entertainment industry, Zuo Nian was still the most attractive Omega he had ever met.
His innocence and naivety weren’t an act. Especially those big, watery eyes that always gazed at people with a hint of curiosity and vulnerability, making one want to bully him and see him cry.
“Gege…”
The Omega had just woken up, and his voice carried a sleepy rasp.
“Did I wake you up?” Duan Baisui asked.
Zuo Nian shook his head, shuffled over in his slippers, reached out to help him with his tie, and asked, “Gege, have you eaten? Luo Ge said you had an event tonight, so I didn’t cook and just had some noodles. If you haven’t eaten, I can make you something.”
The housekeeper had recently taken leave, so Zuo Nian had been cooking t
hese past two days.
Duan Baisui lowered his gaze to him and said, “I’ve eaten.”
“Then do you… want some dessert? Like cake?” Zuo Nian asked cautiously.
Duan Baisui glanced at the coffee table and only then noticed the eight-inch cake.
It suddenly dawned on him. It was Christmas today, and it was also Zuo Nian’s birthday.
He had forgotten.