After Marrying My Silly Childhood Friend - Chapter 2

Zuo Nian was an abandoned child.

As a child, he was left at the doorstep of an orphanage and nearly froze to death.

When the kind orphanage director found him, his little face was purple from the cold, and his body was burning hot with fever.

That fever left him with lasting health issues.

Zuo Nian was slower to react than most people, occasionally stuttered when he spoke, and had a dull, dazed demeanor, earning him the nickname “little fool” among others.

The “little fool” already struggled with his mind, and during a medical checkup, he was found to have a congenital gland deformity. As a result, despite looking as beautiful as a doll, no one was willing to adopt him for a long time.

It wasn’t until Zuo Jun and Ason appeared that the “little fool” finally had a home.

At the orphanage, the “little fool” was called Xiao Qi, a name with no special meaning, simply assigned in order of arrival.

However, most people just called him “fool.”

The little fool never got upset and would just laugh foolishly.

After adopting him, Zuo Jun and Ason gave him an official name and set the day they found him as his birthday.

That day was Christmas.

And today was Zuo Nian’s first birthday since their marriage.

He should have been there for him.

“Sorry, I’ve been too busy lately and forgot it was your birthday today. I didn’t prepare a gift for you.” Duan Baisui said with a bit of brutally honest candor.

Zuo Nian wasn’t angry. He smiled sweetly and said, “Nian Nian doesn’t need a gift. Gege came back to eat cake with me, and that makes me very happy.”

Duan Baisui felt a pang of guilt in his heart.

He thought he wasn’t a qualified husband.

Zuo Nian hung up his coat and tie, saying, “It’s not midnight yet. Nian Nian can still make a wish.”

Duan Baisui sat with him at the coffee table, helping him place and light the candles on the cake, and said, “Mn.”

Zuo Nian turned off most of the living room lights, leaving only the warm glow of the wall lamp.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, the flickering candlelight illuminating his face, making him appear even more gentle and delicate.

He clasped his hands together and placed them under his chin, saying, “I wish…”

“That Gege is happy every day, healthy, and… quickly marks Nian Nian.”

He secretly made all three wishes in his heart without letting the person beside him hear.

After the candles were blown out, Duan Baisui asked, “What did you wish for?”

Zuo Nian tilted his head up to look at him, his eyes curving with a smile. “Dad said wishes won’t come true if you say them out loud. Nian Nian can’t tell you.”

Duan Baisui raised an eyebrow, perhaps influenced by his mood. The fatigue and anger from earlier in the day gradually melted away, leaving only relaxation and tenderness. “Alright, it’s your birthday today. I’ll listen to you.”

Zuo Nian scrunched his nose and made a playful expression.

If any other man acted coquettishly like this toward Duan Baisui, he would find it repulsive—after all, a twenty-five-year-old man behaving this way would seem somewhat affected and greasy.

But when Zuo Nian did it, it was simply adorable.

His expressions and little gestures were numerous but not deliberate, making him endlessly endearing.

The two of them shared some cake, and it was already getting late.

After taking a shower, Duan Baisui lifted the blanket and got into bed.

Zuo Nian lay on his left side, already asleep.

Since their marriage, they hadn’t slept in separate rooms, but neither had they engaged in anything more intimate.

One bed, two blankets, each sleeping in their own space.

In Zuo Nian’s blanket was an ugly doll he cuddled every night. It was his “Abeibei” and was very important to him.

Duan Baisui looked at Zuo Nian for a long time before reaching out to turn off the light.

The room fell into darkness, and Duan Baisui thought to himself, I must remember to make it up to Zuo Nian with a gift tomorrow.

…

The next day, after finishing the morning meeting, Duan Baisui’s assistant approached him, saying that public opinion online had suddenly shifted. It was now claiming that Ju Xiao had staged everything, wasn’t actually bullied, and attempted suicide out of unrequited love to frame his teammates.

Some extreme netizens had even dug up information about Ju Xiao’s niece, threatening to confront her at school.

Ju Xiao and his niece relied on each other for everything—she was his only hope. Targeting her was a calculated way to pressure Ju Xiao into dropping the matter.

Of course, Duan Baisui knew exactly whose handiwork this was.

That Rong Jin was the young master of Rongchuang Group.

The outside world might not know, but how could he not?

Rongchuang wanted to pin the blame squarely on Ju Xiao. Knowing full well that he was someone struggling with severe depression, they orchestrated this to leave him with no way out.

“Launch an emergency PR campaign and suppress the trending topics. Doxxing is illegal, and they’re targeting a minor. Issue a lawyer’s letter under Ju Xiao’s name,” Duan Baisui instructed coldly.

As the two were talking, Duan Baisui’s phone rang.

It was Qin Li calling.

Duan Baisui had a bad feeling.

“Hello?”

As soon as he answered, Qin Li’s anxious voice came through. “Alex, Ju Xiao is missing.”

According to Qin Li, two disruptive fans disguised themselves as patients and sneaked in that morning. They caused a commotion at the door to the hospital room, prompting the bodyguards stationed there to escort them out.

During the scuffle, one of them suddenly collapsed, claiming that the bodyguards had assaulted them.

The police were called, and both the fans and the bodyguards were taken away.

Then Ju Xiao told Xiao Yuan he wanted some steamed buns. When Xiao Yuan returned with them, the hospital room was already empty.

After hanging up, Duan Baisui said to Luo Yin, “Send someone to Ju Ying’s school. Ju Xiao might have gone to see her. Also, tell Hu Chun to get here immediately.”

“Understood, Young Mr. Duan.”

Whether for his conscience or the company’s reputation, this incident had to be handled justly.

Hu Chun arrived quickly.

He stuck to his usual excuse, claiming he knew nothing and that Rong Jin had merely mentioned being troubled by Ju Xiao’s supposed feelings for him.

Duan Baisui stared at him impassively, tossing a document in front of him. “I heard you recently paid off a large debt, Manager Hu. Do you think I can trace where that money came from?”

Hu Chun chuckled. “Young Mr. Duan, it’s true that Mr. Rong gave me the money, but it was merely to thank me for looking after Rong Jin. You know how trouble-prone Rong Jin can be. I’ve always cleaned up after him, so it’s no surprise Mr. Rong rewarded me.”

Duan Baisui nodded. “Of course, Mr. Rong is known to be a ‘benevolent father.’”

“But what’s strange is that the doctors found no external injuries on Ju Xiao yesterday. With Mr. Rong’s methods, it would have been easy to clear Rong Jin of any involvement. So, what kind of secret made him give you six million as a… ‘hardship fee’?”

Hu Chun maintained his smile. “Young Mr. Duan, you’re overthinking it. There really is no secret.”

Duan Baisui stared at him intently before suddenly smiling. “You said Ju Xiao liked Rong Jin and that Rong Jin was troubled by it. But on a recent variety show, why did I get the impression that Rong Jin was particularly dependent on Ju Xiao?”

At this point, Duan Baisui paused, carefully observing Hu Chun’s expression.

The corners of the man’s mouth twitched imperceptibly as he replied, “You know, it’s all scripted.”

“Then his acting skills have improved significantly.” Duan Baisui remarked.

“He has been diligently attending acting classes…”

“Hu Chun, you’ve been with them for so long. You should know them very well,” Duan Baisui said, his tone calm and steady. “Someone like Rong Jin wouldn’t be able to accept falling in love with a Beta, would he?”

Hu Chun’s smile froze completely.

Not long after Hu Chun left, Duan Baisui received a call from Assistant Luo.

Assistant Luo said that Ju Xiao had been found—he had indeed gone to his niece’s school.

However, he was surrounded and attacked by fans of the other three members, but fortunately, they arrived in time.

Now Ju Xiao had only sustained minor injuries and had been sent back to the hospital, while the troublemakers were taken away by the police.

Looking at the Rongchuang Group information on his computer, Duan Baisui said, “Have Qin Li do a bl00d test on Ju Xiao.”

“Understood.”

“Arrange for a psychologist to see him as soon as possible.”

“Got it.”

…

After work that evening, Duan Baisui didn’t let the driver take him home.

He drove to New Era Plaza.

Zuo Nian’s shop was located here.

Before their marriage, Zuo Jun and Ason had bought Zuo Nian a shop where he could run a handmade crafts store.

Zuo Nian was very skilled with his hands, and the items he made were exquisite.

The family didn’t need him to earn money, they just wanted him to be happy.

Compared to the larger stores outside, which were at least 80 or 90 square meters, Zuo Nian’s shop was much smaller and more compact.

He had chosen it himself—a shop of just over 30 square meters in a quiet alley on the first floor, perfectly suited for a craft store.

Duan Baisui was usually busy with work and rarely visited.

Following his memory, he found his way there.

Zuo Nian’s shop was easy to recognize.

Amid the minimalist and upscale décor of other shops, his store was arranged like a cottage from a fairy tale.

Above the pink wooden single door was a pale yellow, semi-circular French awning. The display window wasn’t full-length but rather a square cut into the wall, with tiny lights embedded inside.

On the display table was a crystal ball music box. Inside the transparent sphere was a pink-and-white castle, with tiny snowflakes floating and sinking as the colorful lights shifted.

Next to the music box was a pair of toy bears dressed in a suit and a wedding dress.

Above the window was a rainbow and clouds knitted with yarn by the shop owner.

On this cold winter day, the shop became the warmest and most eye-catching spot on the street.

Duan Baisui walked a few steps to the door and had just placed his hand on the handle when he heard laughter from inside.

“What did you say? You’re married? You’re not kidding us, are you?” a teasing male voice said.

“The last time I saw him, he said the same thing. Guess who he claims his husband is?” another male voice chimed in.

“Who?”

“Do you know Star Entertainment?” The man said. “He claims his husband is the prince of that company—the one always on magazine covers.”

“Wow, class beauty, are you serious? Even someone with a weak mind can be this vain?” The man’s voice dripped with mockery. “No wonder you rejected me back in school, turns out you were dreaming of marrying into a wealthy family.”

“If you’re not buying anything, then please leave. I’m about to close up. My husband is coming home for dinner tonight, and I need to cook…” Zuo Nian’s voice only rose slightly, and his soft tone made it impossible to perceive any anger.

“What? The prince’s family can’t even afford a housekeeper? Hahaha…” The sarcastic remarks continued.

“The housekeeper is on leave.” Zuo Nian explained earnestly.

But all it earned was even louder laughter.

Click.

As warm light spilled out from inside, the pink bunny motion sensor on the wall chirped, “Welcome.”

The people inside all turned toward the sound.

Duan Baisui’s tall figure brought in a gust of cold air. The snowflakes on his coat had melted, and a faint mist surrounded him.

“Gege!”

The previously tense Zuo Nian immediately broke into a bright smile, his eyes curving into crescent moons, sparkling under the light.

The people who had been laughing moments ago froze i

n exaggerated expressions, looking somewhat ridiculous.

Duan Baisui glanced down at them from above and asked, “Your friends?”

Zuo Nian replied, “High school classmates…”

Duan Baisui nodded slightly, lifting his chin with an air of arrogance.

“Don’t associate with just anyone.”