Zuo Nian happily ran over and brought back his “treasure chest”, then squeezed onto a single-person sofa with Duan Baisui. Duan Baisui wrapped an arm around his shoulders and lowered his head to watch him turn the lock.
That little combination lock wasn’t very secure. It was only three digits, and the numbers quickly appeared: 6.2.0.
Duan Baisui had already guessed the last two digits as soon as the first number came out. It was a very obvious little trick.
He chuckled and said, “My birthday?”
Zuo Nian didn’t look up and obediently replied, “Yep. Because everything in here is related to Gege. These are Nian Nian’s most precious treasures.”
Duan Baisui kissed his hair. “Oh? What kind of treasures?”
The lid was lifted, and the contents of the box were revealed.
A red velvet box. Inside was Zuo Nian’s wedding ring. Besides that, there were keepsakes from when they were children, two bowties, and a thick diary.
Zuo Nian took out the wedding ring and put it on. But Duan Baisui reached past him and picked up the blue leather-covered diary. He asked, “What’s this?”
Zuo Nian’s eyes followed Duan Baisui’s hand. “Nian Nian’s high school diary.”
It was something very private, so Duan Baisui didn’t flip through it on his own. He just asked out of curiosity, “What did you write in it?”
“I forgot. It’s been so long,” Zuo Nian said.
“Can I read it?” Duan Baisui asked for his permission.
Zuo Nian tilted his head in thought, then said, “Nian Nian and gege are married now. There shouldn’t be any secrets. Of course, Gege can read it.”
Duan Baisui chuckled, rubbed his chin against the corner of Zuo Nian’s forehead, and said, “Alright, I’ll save it to read slowly tonight.”
Zuo Nian held up his hand with the ring on it in front of Duan Baisui and said, “Nian Nian’s wearing it now.”
Duan Baisui naturally took his hand and kissed his ring finger. “You’re not allowed to take it off.”
Half an hour later, Weibo blew up—again, and again.
After Ju Xiao had come out that afternoon to clear everything up, Duan Baisui’s account, which hadn’t been updated in years, suddenly posted a new update, as rare as a blue moon.
There were three photos. The first was of two hands clasped together, the large diamond rings on their ring fingers sparkling brightly. The second was of a cheap plastic ring. The third was an old childhood photo of the two of them playing with building blocks. The caption read: Proposed at five, married at twenty-five. It’s always been him. Only him.
In just ten minutes, the comment section on Duan Baisui’s post exploded with tens of thousands of replies.
【@WhiteBall: Wait—bro, were you hacked?!】
【@BubbleBlow: So the childhood sweetheart thing is real? Not a loveless business marriage?!】
【@NoWhiteSpace: Tell me this is a PR stunt. But… your husband looks so cute… sob sob sob】
【@LazyChubbyIntestine: Okay okay okay. You’ve got that face, that background, I thought you’d be a player, like some flirtatious bodhisattva saving all beings. But now you’re telling me you’re in a pure-love relationship? Is that even reasonable?!】
【@TT: From five to twenty-five… this is actually so shippable… People out here stanning fake couples, aren’t y’all afraid you’ll break your teeth on the truth?】
Zuo Nian kept refreshing the comment section, watching all the reactions with a grin. “They said I’m cute.”
Duan Baisui: “You are cute.”
Zuo Nian: “What does ‘flirtatious bodhisattva saving all beings’ mean?”
Duan Baisui calmly said, “No idea.”
Zuo Nian asked, “So from now on, everyone will know that I’m your Omega, right?”
Duan Baisui held him close, breathing in the sweet scent from the crook of his neck. “Right.”
“Gege, I’m so happy,” Zuo Nian’s voice was filled with joy. “Now they finally know who you belong to.”
Perhaps it was due to the sudden spike in the Omega’s emotions, but the sweet-and-sour scent of green grape candy had already started to leak faintly through the suppression patch, teasing at the Alpha’s self-control.
Duan Baisui bit down on the soft flesh at Zuo Nian’s neck—not hard, just lightly sucking. When he left a red mark, he raised his head, perfectly satisfied, and said, “If your pheromones keep leaking like this, you’re going to end up crying later.”
Zuo Nian understood what he meant, and his beautiful eyes went wide. “Tonight we’re resting. Gege’s not allowed to bully Nian Nian.”
“Okay,” Duan Baisui agreed. He wrapped his arms around Zuo Nian from behind, lowered his head to look at the phone with him, and said, “We have a SuperTopic too.”
“SuperTopic? I know that one. I saw you had one with Mr. Ju before.”
Duan Baisui froze slightly and said, “That one’s gone. Now there’s only the one with you.”
“What’s it called? Is it named after us, too?” Zuo Nian asked in a soft voice.
Duan Baisui moved his fingers and directly searched for the “Nian Shen Sui Jiu” SuperTopic, then tapped to enter.
Although the SuperTopic had only just been created, because of Duan Baisui’s sudden public display of affection, it had already been discovered by quite a few people.
Many had come to check in, and now there were nearly two thousand CP fans already.
The SuperTopic’s profile picture was the childhood photo Duan Baisui had posted on Weibo.
Truthfully, deep down, he really wanted to show off the current Zuo Nian. But he also understood that doing so would only bring trouble for him. Zuo Nian loved his little shop, and he didn’t want it to turn into some check-in spot for internet fans. He also didn’t want Zuo Nian’s small store to be harassed just because of some tiny stir online. What he truly wished for was that Zuo Nian could happily do the things he loved.
“Nian Shen Sui Jiu…” Zuo Nian softly murmured. “It sounds so nice. Gege, why did you choose ‘Nian Shen Sui Jiu’?”
Duan Baisui smiled. “Your secret zone is way in the back. Every time, I have to go really deep to unlock it. So Nian Nian is very deep…”
Then sui jiu—long-lasting…
Zuo Nian suddenly caught on. It actually fit really well.
He looked at Duan Baisui and playfully whined, his tone soft and rising at the end: “Gege, you’re being a perv again.”
—
When night fell, Zuo Nian had already gone to sleep early. Duan Baisui had promised him, no messing around tonight, just rest. So after his shower, he took Zuo Nian’s diary and sat down by the floor-to-ceiling window.
He opened the blue leather cover. On the very first page, written vertically, was a line that read: Nian Nian’s diary. No peeking!
Duan Baisui laughed. But he had gotten permission. This didn’t count as sneaking a look. With a clear conscience, he continued flipping through.
September 16th, 20XX
School’s been in session for almost half a month now. High school classes are really hard. Nian Nian is so dumb. Can’t ever keep up in math. If I had a brain as smart as Gege’s, I’d definitely do well. Last night, Nian Nian secretly looked at Gege’s Moments. He got a haircut and made new friends. No matter where Gege goes, he’s always so popular. I hope Gege is happy forever.
September 25th, 20XX
My classmates laugh at me, saying I always call myself “Nian Nian, Nian Nian,” like an idiot. But they don’t know that it’s because I love this name. Before, Nian Nian didn’t have a name. It was only after I had my dads that I had a home and a name. It’s okay if I sound like a fool. I just want everyone to know that my name is Zuo Nian.
September 30th, 20XX
Today, a senior gave Nian Nian milk and a letter. But Nian Nian didn’t accept them. Dad said I shouldn’t take things from others so casually. Nian Nian knows that. I heard from classmates that it was a love letter. That makes it even more of a no. Nian Nian already has gege. I’m waiting for Gege to come back.
October 1st, 20XX
Today is National Day, and we get five days off. Nian Nian is going abroad with Pretty Dad. I heard Gege is over there too. Nian Nian will get to see Gege!
October 2nd, 20XX
Such a shame. Gege’s school is really, really far from where Dad is. Nian Nian can’t go anymore. I miss Gege so much. But Gege is very busy lately, too. Nian Nian will be good and not bother him.
April 23rd, 20XX
School sports day. Nian Nian signed up for the long jump, but somehow, someone added me to the 3000-meter long-distance run. 3000 meters… I’ll do my best.
April 24th, 20XX
Nian Nian finished the run. Even though I came in last, I still made it through. So, so tired. I heard from classmates that they did it on purpose to mess with me… But I didn’t do anything wrong. Why would they treat me like this?
I miss Gege.
May 18th, 20XX
They threw my books into the Alpha bathroom. It’s so strange. Why would they do something like that? Nian Nian feels a little sad. I want to talk to Gege. If Gege were here, he would definitely help Nian Nian pick the books back up. Then Nian Nian wouldn’t always be late for class.
June 20th, 20XX
Today is Gege’s birthday. Nian Nian called him and wished him a happy birthday. Gege asked how high school was going. He really cares about me. I’m so, so happy. For Gege, I’ll keep holding on.
One diary entry after another was flipped through as Duan Baisui silently smoked his cigarette.
Even in his diary, Zuo Nian had never complained about anyone. In those days when he was isolated, he endured so much suffering alone. Yet now, he remained sunny and gentle, treating everything and everyone with kindness.
Just as he had written in his diary: For Dads, for Brother, Nian Nian has to become better.
That was probably the hope that supported him through his darkest days.
Duan Baisui closed the diary and got into bed. He pulled Zuo Nian into his arms, buried his face in the crook of Zuo Nian’s neck, and warm tears soaked through Zuo Nian’s collar. Duan Baisui murmured, “I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry for not knowing how much you were suffering back then. I’m sorry for not treating you well at the time.
It was only now, when he loved Zuo Nian the most, that he slowly came to understand his past. It tore him apart. He hated the person he used to be, for not protecting him well enough, and hated even more his past indifference and arrogance.
But Zuo Nian had never once blamed him. The last few pages of the diary were filled with the words “Duan Baisui”. Each stroke, each character, was Zuo Nian’s longing for him.
As if no matter how time passed, Zuo Nian’s love for him would never change.
The next morning, Zuo Nian woke up early.
As soon as he moved, the one holding him also woke.
Zuo Nian was full of energy: “Good morning, gege!”
Duan Baisui stared at him, the arms around him tightening a little, as if he wanted to press him into his very bones. He said, “Today, it’s my turn to rest. Keep me company.”
“Okay~” Zuo Nian touched his face. “But we still have to get up and eat breakfast.”
Duan Baisui didn’t get up. He still stubbornly held Zuo Nian tightly and said, “If I hadn’t left back then… if I had always been there…”
“Gege, what’s wrong?” Zuo Nian’s smile froze at the corners of his lips. He looked at him with worry. “Why are you unhappy?”
Three thousand meters to the finish line, and no one was there to meet him. In group discussions during class, no one chose him. He bought snacks for his classmates, only to watch them get thrown straight into the trash.
Why did his precious one have to suffer so much?
“Is it because of Nian Nian’s diary?” Zuo Nian asked.
Duan Baisui didn’t answer, but Zuo Nian saw the truth written clearly on his face. He said, “Silly gege, it’s all in the past now. Don’t feel sad for Nian Nian. I really didn’t care about any of it. Dad said that no one is perfect, so you can’t expect everyone to like you. Nian Nian is already doing great. I have Dads, Godfathers, and you. That’s more than enough.”
“Actually, the diary’s full of complaints. Nian Nian had a lot of happy moments too. It’s just that whenever I had fun, I forgot to write them down. That’s why after reading Nian Nian’s diary, Gege ended up feeling so heavy-hearted.”
“Do you still remember? Back when I was in my third year of high school, you came back once. You helped me go over problems, even highlighted the key points, and said so many encouraging things. So it’s all fine. Nian Nian didn’t feel wronged at all~”
“Eh? Gege, why are you crying?”
Zuo Nian scrambled to wipe away Duan Baisui’s tears, flustered. He thought, I’m such a bad egg. How could I show Gege such an ‘ugly’ diary? Now, Gege felt so guilty he cried. No matter how much Zuo Nian tried to comfort Duan Baisui, it didn’t work.
Turns out, Gege is a crybaby too.
Zuo Nian thought maybe he should change his diary a little.
So, after Duan Baisui’s emotions had calmed down and he got up to wash up, Zuo Nian opened his diary again. This time, he paused for a moment, then cheerfully put pen to paper.
May 11th, 2024
The sunlight was beautiful today. Nian Nian woke up in the arms of the person he loves most. I told him good morning, and he kissed me on the forehead. We talked for a long, long time, and in the end, we made plans to visit our dads, so we’ll be having a warm, family-filled meal.
It’s a truly wonderful day, and a very happy little Nian.
oh god i love them so much 😭😭
🥺🥺🥺