After Marrying My Silly Childhood Friend - Chapter 3
An awkward silence filled the room before someone pointed at their phone and muttered, “Oh my god…”
The screen displayed some freshly searched information.
The young Alpha on the screen was handsome and aloof, his features identical to the man standing before them.
“It’s really him…”
Ironically, they had just been mocking Zuo Nian for having delusional dreams of marrying into wealth.
Little did they expect the slap in the face to come so quickly.
“You, you all should leave. I don’t like you, and Gege doesn’t like you either. Don’t come back next time.” Zuo Nian declared fiercely.
He always listened to Duan Baisui, and with Duan Baisui beside him now, he borrowed his authority to drive them away.
“Hehe, um… Class beauty, don’t be mad.” One of the men said, changing his tone and rubbing his hands obsequiously.
“Class beauty?” Duan Baisui raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, Mr. Duan, it’s like this. Zuo Nian used to be the most attractive Omega in our class, so everyone called him ‘class beauty.’ There was no disrespect—it was because we really thought he was good-looking. A lot of people pursued him back then.” the man explained ingratiatingly.
Duan Baisui had gone abroad for high school.
Thus, he didn’t know much about Zuo Nian’s high school life.
But judging by this, his high school days didn’t seem to have been very pleasant.
Otherwise, these people wouldn’t still act so condescending toward him after all these years.
“So what? He didn’t agree, and that’s why you came to humiliate him today?” Though his tone was flat, it unmistakably conveyed his displeasure.
The man swallowed nervously 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 and said, “Just a C-class Alpha. It’s only natural he wouldn’t be interested.”
At those words, the man who had just spoken turned green.
Duan Baisui withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, “I was joking too. Why aren’t you laughing?”
Sensing the hostility, the three men awkwardly scurried out of the shop.
Zuo Nian followed behind them, pretending to throw a punch as he said, “Don’t come back again!”
Duan Baisui couldn’t help but smile slightly at how adorable he was.
Zuo Nian returned to the shop and happily asked, “Gege, why did you come over today?”
Duan Baisui replied, “I finished work early, so I came by to pick you up.”
Zuo Nian grinned, his smile so wide it squinted his eyes. “Does that mean we can have dinner together?”
“Mn.”
“Wait for me, I’ll close up the shop right away.”
He dashed behind the counter and started looking for the air conditioner remote.
Duan Baisui’s gaze followed him, and he suddenly remembered what those people had said earlier.
He asked, “Did a lot of people pursue you in high school?”
Beep. The air conditioner blowing warm air was turned off.
The room still retained its lingering warmth.
Zuo Nian put down the remote and said, “They didn’t pursue me, they just gave me milk and cookies a lot.”
Zuo Nian had grown up in an orphanage, so he was especially afraid of going hungry and had a fondness for snacks.
When they were young, Duan Baisui used to think a single lollipop could win Zuo Nian over. He wondered if that had still been true in high school.
“Mn.”
“But, but Nian Nian didn’t take them.” Zuo Nian said earnestly, shaking his head. “Fat Dad said I shouldn’t accept things from others so easily, especially from Alphas or ones with dyed yellow hair.”
Duan Baisui let out a short laugh, agreeing with Zuo Jun’s advice.
Seeing that he was almost done tidying up, Duan Baisui reminded him, “Put on your coat, it’s cold outside.”
“Okay~”
Zuo Nian responded softly.
Zuo Nian turned off all the shop’s power, carefully slung his backpack over his shoulders, and stepped out to lock the door.
The cold wind outside was biting, and Zuo Nian shrank his neck to block the chill from seeping in.
Compared to Duan Baisui’s thin yet stylish outfit, Zuo Nian was bundled up like a clumsy penguin. Walking side by side, they looked like they came from two different worlds.
There was still a bit of a walk from the shop to the parking lot.
A couple happened to walk past them on the street.
The pair held hands and leaned into each other, looking incredibly sweet and affectionate.
Zuo Nian sneaked a glance at Duan Baisui’s side profile, then looked at his hand hanging at his side.
He also wanted to hold hands with Duan Baisui like the couple, but he was afraid Duan Baisui might get upset or annoyed.
After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously tested the waters, “Gege, I forgot to wear gloves today. My hands are a little cold…”
Duan Baisui turned to look at him and said, “We’ll be there soon. Doesn’t your coat have pockets?”
“Oh…” Zuo Nian awkwardly fumbled with his coat and said, “Found them.”
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and said against his will, “It’s not cold anymore.”
When they reached the parking lot, Duan Baisui opened the car door.
Zuo Nian immediately noticed the giant bouquet of roses and a cake on the back seat.
His eyes widened, and he asked, “Is it someone’s birthday today?”
Duan Baisui replied, “It’s to make up for your birthday.”
“For me?” Zuo Nian’s earlier gloom vanished, and his eyes lit up again. “Gege bought it for me specifically?”
“Mn.”
Zuo Nian closed the front passenger door and turned to run to the back seat.
He hugged the bouquet, took a sniff, and said joyfully, “Thank you, Gege.”
Duan Baisui had planned to give it to him after they got home, but seeing how happy he was, he couldn’t bear to ruin the moment.
The back door wasn’t closed. Duan Baisui leaned slightly against the car frame and said, “There’s still a gift you haven’t opened.”
Only then did Zuo Nian notice the gift bag placed behind the cake box.
“What is it?” Zuo Nian asked.
“Open it yourself,” Duan Baisui replied.
Zuo Nian opened the bag to find a white rabbit plush toy.
The little rabbit had a large organza bow around its neck, with upright ears and feet inlaid with sparkling rhinestones.
Zuo Nian exclaimed, “Wow!” looking both surprised and delighted. “So cute! I love it! Super love it!”
Compared to giving him a watch or necklace, Duan Baisui felt that a plush toy would be more practical for Zuo Nian.
Judging by his reaction, he had made the right choice.
Zuo Nian nestled in the back seat with his gift while Duan Baisui drove in the front.
Amid the clicking sounds of a camera, Duan Baisui heard Zuo Nian say, “Gege, I want to name the little rabbit.”
“Hmm?” Duan Baisui hummed curiously.
“Can we call him Xiao Sui?” Zuo Nian asked.
Duan Baisui countered, “Why Xiao Sui?”
“Because my Abeibei is called Xiao Nian, and Xiao Nian only wants to be with Xiao Sui, no one else.” He explained with complete seriousness.
Duan Baisui felt as though he had just been confessed to, and his heartbeat uncontrollably quickened.
He cleared his throat lightly to cover his emotions and said, “As long as you like it.”
Zuo Nian cheered happily, “Gege is the best!”
The original plan had been to eat out.
But Zuo Nian said he had already bought groceries yesterday, and if they didn’t eat them soon, they’d no longer be fresh, so he insisted on cooking at home.
Duan Baisui went along with his suggestion.
As they got out of the car, Zuo Nian carried the bouquet in one arm and the plush toy in the other, muttering, “They’re Nian Nian’s, all Nian Nian’s.”
The cake was too much for him to carry, so Duan Baisui helped him bring it inside.
Zuo Nian put everything away and tied on an apron as he headed into the kitchen.
He seemed very happy, humming a tuneless melody.
Duan Baisui went upstairs to change into comfortable home clothes, and his eyes caught sight of the ugly doll lying on Zuo Nian’s pillow.
He picked it up and examined it. The doll was dressed in a cotton floral dress, most likely handmade by Zuo Nian.
He wondered if the little Xiao Sui downstairs had clothes to wear.
He put the doll back in its place and suddenly thought it didn’t seem so ugly after all.
He went downstairs to the kitchen, intending to lend Zuo Nian a hand.
But since he wasn’t very good at cooking, all he could do was wash vegetables and peel a couple of garlic cloves.
Zuo Nian cooked with great focus, seamlessly adding seasonings, stirring, and frying.
After finishing his task, 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 to, but because they were his own interests.
When others called him a fool, he worked hard to improve himself.
He was merely simple-minded, how was that foolish?
“Gege, come taste the soup and see if the seasoning is right.” Zuo Nian called to him.
Duan Baisui walked over.
Zuo Nian scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to his lips, saying, “Careful, it’s hot.”
Duan Baisui lowered his head to sip, and when he looked up, his gaze met Zuo Nian’s directly.
The two were so close he could even feel Zuo Nian’s light and shallow breaths.
“How is it?” Zuo Nian’s voice brought him back to his senses.
Duan Baisui’s expression remained calm. “Not bad.”
“Really?” Zuo Nian drank the remaining soup from the spoon, smacked his lips, and remarked, “Mm, it’s a bit bland. But Dad said we shouldn’t eat too much salt, it’s not good for our health. So, it’s just right.”
He turned to adjust the stove’s heat.
What came to Duan Baisui’s mind was the fact that they had just shared the same spoon, and Zuo Nian didn’t seem to realize how intimate the act was.
He naturally bridged the gap between them.
Duan Baisui found that he didn’t mind it.
For dinner, Zuo Nian made three dishes and a soup, all beautifully presented and deliciously fragrant.
While they ate, Zuo Nian brought Xiao Sui over and said, “Today is Xiao Sui’s first day in our home, so it’s also Xiao Sui’s birthday.”
Duan Baisui didn’t refute him and let him have his way.
Zuo Nian took some photos, filled up a photo grid, and posted a message on his social media: “Super handsome Gege, adorable Xiao Sui, master chef Nian Nian—perfect day!”
Not long after posting, he received a comment.
G: “So rich, when will you treat an old classmate?”
Zuo Nian was happily replying to family comments, but his brows furrowed tightly when he saw this one.
Duan Baisui noticed his displeasure and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Zuo Nian pouted and said, “Annoying, hateful person.”
As he spoke, he handed his phone to Duan Baisui.
Duan Baisui glanced at the screen and asked, “Who is it?”
“Liu Gong, the guy in the black down jacket from this afternoon.” Zuo Nian said angrily. “So annoying. He didn’t buy anything and even ate my candy.”
“Are you close with him? Why do you even have him on WeChat?” Duan Baisui asked coolly.
“We were desk mates in high school.” Zuo Nian replied.
“He got fifteen points in math, but Nian Nian scored thirty every time, and he still called me a fool.”
At this, Zuo Nian blinked his big eyes and earnestly asked, “Isn’t the one who scored fifteen points the real fool?”
Duan Baisui chuckled lightly, returned the phone to him, and said, “Mn.”
“If you’re not close, just delete him.”
Zuo Nian nodded but asked, “Wouldn’t that be rude?”
Just as Duan Baisui was about to tell him that politeness wasn’t always necessary, he heard Zuo Nian say, “Deleted.”
Quick hands indeed.
…
That night, the two of them lay in bed.
Zuo Nian brought both the ugly doll and the little rabbit into his blanket.
He even seriously introduced them to each other.
“This one is called Xiao Nian, and this one is Xiao Sui…”
Duan Baisui leaned against the headboard reading a book. Hearing this, he put down his magazine and looked at him.
Zuo Nian pressed the two dolls together, hugged them tightly, and murmured softly, “You two must stay together forever, okay?”
Author’s note:
Alright, alright, Suisui, you and your wife are lying together, and you’re just letting him play with dolls?
If it were that pack of wolf-like LSPs* in the comment section, they’d already be taking off their pants by now.
T/N: LSP stands for Lǎo Sè Pī (老色批), which roughly translates to “old pervert”.