Love Me, Please Look - Chapter 13
Chapter 13
As night fell and the moon rose high, the city of H remained quiet under the strict no-fireworks policy. It made the New Year feel dull, especially compared to the vibrant celebrations Zhang Shixu remembered from childhood. And this year, Ye Xu’s law firm was busier than ever.
On New Year’s Eve, at nearly midnight, Zhang Shixu had just finished preparing dumplings for his mother when a video call from Qi Junhe popped up.
Wiping his hands clean, he answered. The screen filled with Qi Junhe’s face, clearly pouting.
“You took forever to pick up,” Qi complained flatly, gesturing his disapproval.
“Sorry, sorry—I was cooking dumplings. Look, want to see?” Zhang Shixu turned the camera to show off the neat, plump dumplings lined up on the counter.
Qi Junhe gave them a brief glance. “Not interested.”
“I want to look at you.”
Laughing, Zhang turned the camera back to himself. “So, what’s going on?”
“What do you usually do for New Year?”
“Go to my grandfather’s for dinner.”
“That’s it?”
“Yep. That’s about it.”
Qi Junhe nodded, unsurprised. He had spent his own childhood surrounded by private tutors, homeschooled under the pretense of attending regular school. He never had real friends growing up.
“What about you?” he asked.
“Me?” Zhang balanced the phone in one hand while heating water for the dumplings. “After I cook these, I’m taking them to my mom.”
“Your mom isn’t coming home?”
“She’s still working—busy at the firm.”
“That’s kind of sad.”
Zhang rolled his eyes at that.
“But I’m here to keep you company,” Qi added quickly.
Zhang smiled. “Thanks, baby. Happy New Year.”
Qi Junhe absolutely loved being called “baby.” Zhang had learned that during one of their earlier video calls—just hearing the word made Qi blush like a strawberry mochi.
“Brother…”
Whether Qi was just trying something new or really shy, he suddenly looked flustered.
“Why are you blushing?” Zhang teased.
“Don’t make fun of me!”
“Okay, okay. Water’s boiling—gotta drop in the dumplings.” Zhang put the phone down for a moment to tend to the pot.
When he picked it back up again, Qi Junhe was still watching him, looking slightly pitiful.
“You’re not seriously mad, are you?”
Despite how busy they both were, they always tried to squeeze in video calls. Sometimes Qi wouldn’t even say much—just watched Zhang quietly from the other end of the screen while Zhang went about his business.
It was both endearing and intense.
After finally ending the call, Qi clearly reluctant, Zhang cleaned up quickly.
Once the dumplings were done, he packed them into a thermos and headed out to deliver them to Ye Xu.
Though it was winter, there was no snow in City H. Ye Xu’s law firm was just a short walk away—about ten minutes—so Zhang chose to walk instead of calling a ride.
The streets were deserted. Everyone was home enjoying their New Year’s Eve dinners.
On the way, he got a message from Qi Junhe: a video clip of fireworks.
Qi Junhe: My grandfather flew the family out in a helicopter today to light fireworks for our ancestors. I tagged along!
Then came a flurry of cute rat memes.
Zhang chuckled as he texted back: “Okay, have fun, baby.”
There was no reply, so Zhang quickened his pace toward the law office.
…
At the firm, Ye Xu was deep in paperwork—so focused she didn’t even notice him enter.
“Mom.”
She finally looked up, removing her glasses with a sigh. “What were you up to today?”
Ever since Zhang Shixu returned from school, he’d taken over the job of bringing Ye Xu meals. He didn’t want her to lose precious rest time during her short lunch breaks.
“Made dumplings for New Year’s Eve,” he said, pulling the thermos out.
“Is it already New Year’s Eve?” she asked. “Want to eat with me?”
He shook his head, silent, and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
“Did your dad reach out this year?” Ye Xu asked after a few bites.
He did. Every year, Zhang’s father would message him asking if he wanted to spend the holiday together. Every year, Zhang declined.
“Not this year. His new wife just had a son—an Omega.”
Ye Xu paused mid-bite. “How do you know?”
“He forgot to block me from his friend circle at first,” Zhang replied with a shrug.
Their divorce had been civil, but the real reason was clear: Zhang’s father thought Ye Xu was too career-driven. She found out she was pregnant shortly after.
He had offered to raise the child, but Ye Xu refused. She never liked children, yet she still chose to keep and raise Zhang alone.
When Zhang was born, his father’s side tried to sue for custody. But once they learned he was a Beta, they dropped the case.
Ye Xu had never forgotten that.
Zhang knew what his mother must be thinking. He sat on the sofa nearby, quietly waiting for her to finish eating.
“Heading home soon?”
“No. I’m staying here tonight,” Ye Xu said as she packed up. “I’ve got a domestic violence case involving an Omega who finally fought back. It’s a manslaughter case—I refuse to lose.”
Zhang nodded and took the lunch box.
“I’ll head out then.”
“Alright.”
“Happy New Year, Mom.”
Ye Xu blinked, then gave a tired but genuine smile. “Happy New Year.”
Zhang left without turning back.
…
He had grown up watching Ye Xu build her career from nothing. No firm wanted to hire a single Omega mom with a baby. She’d faced countless rejections, yet kept pushing.
Eventually, a newly launched law firm took her in. The reason was simple—the Alpha founder was attracted to her. When Ye Xu declined his romantic interest, he told her, “If I only liked you when you agreed with me, it wouldn’t be real. Keep the job.”
She did, and through her own talent and grit, rose to own 20% of the firm’s shares. She never accepted that Alpha’s feelings, and he eventually married someone else.
Zhang Shixu had always admired her strength. He matured early, never causing trouble, quietly supporting her.
Sometimes late at night, he wondered why he had fallen so hard for Qi Junhe—and even Zhou Ying before that.
Zhou Ying had never felt like a romantic partner. But with Qi Junhe, it was different.
With Qi, he could be soft. He could show emotion. Be vulnerable. Be loved not for his strength, but for being himself.
It was the first time he’d experienced a love that felt warm, personal, and present—a love that made him long to be by someone’s side constantly.
He unlocked his phone. Qi Junhe had sent a dozen messages—videos of fireworks, cute stickers, and little thoughts.
The last message read:
“Brother, I miss you so much ＞＜ I like you so much!”
It had just turned midnight when Qi sent that.
Zhang quickly recorded a voice reply: “Baby, I miss you too.”
Qi instantly responded with a crying emoji.
Qi Junhe: “Why didn’t you reply right at midnight?!”
Zhang was speechless. Where had he even learned a word like “Yan”?
“Sorry, baby. I was just getting back from my mom’s office,” he replied.
Qi Junhe: “You’re still out? Hurry and get home! Don’t message me—it’s cold!”
Zhang smiled, didn’t reply again, and kept walking. When he finally reached home and showered, he called Qi Junhe again.
Qi answered right away, now in cute cartoon pajamas, looking a little disheveled.
“I’ve been waiting forever,” he pouted.
“Sorry—it got late,” Zhang said, laughing gently.
It didn’t take much to soothe Qi’s mood.
As they talked, Qi animatedly shared the evening’s events—how his grandfather and great-grandfather found out he planned to spend New Year’s Eve “with” Zhang over video, so they dragged him out for a surprise helicopter fireworks trip.
Qi seemed amazed that he was actually dating Zhang Shixu, casually chatting like this through the night.
Zhang’s heart softened.
“I miss you so much, baby,” he said suddenly.
Qi was mid-sentence, talking about how many sparklers he’d lit. His hand froze mid-gesture.
“I really miss you, Qi Junhe,” Zhang repeated softly.
Qi slowly moved closer to the camera, closed his eyes, and kissed the screen.
After a moment, Zhang chuckled. “Okay, go on. I’m listening.”
It was their first New Year together.
They were already wishing for many more.