chapter 21

Chapter 21: Buying a New Phone

He pulled his hand back slightly, but still clutched onto his clothes. His expression darkened a bit.

Clearly fearful of him, yet stubbornly insisting that he have breakfast.

Recalling the faint comforting pheromones in the room when he woke up, He Yue Shen strode toward the dining table with a furrowed brow.

Nan Yi's hand was shaken off by him.

Sitting down, he eyed the simple breakfast with a frown: a bowl of plain porridge, a fried egg, and a sausage.

He Yue Shen: "Did you make this?"

It was completely different from his usual breakfast. Even the color of the fried egg seemed a tad too dark.

Following closely behind him, Nan Yi nodded, rubbing his hands together nervously.

He Yue Shen stared at the slightly cooled bowl of porridge for a while, and eventually began to drink it slowly.

"Where did he go?"

The man midway through his meal set down his bowl, responding coldly without lifting his head.

Nan Yi paused for a moment, then realized he was probably asking about the butler.

His rising hand hesitated and then made a simple gesture, crossing two fingers in a walking motion and pointing outside the main door.

He Yue Shen's expression remained unchanged, though his chopsticks, poised to pick up a fried egg, paused momentarily.

For the remaining time, He Yue Shen quietly continued his breakfast.

"I'll go out later to buy a phone, to replace yours."

Before leaving, He Yue Shen tossed a card in front of Nan Yi.

Nan Yi stared intently at the card on the table.

"Don't flirt with other alphas."

Leaving behind those words, He Yue Shen swiftly exited, leaving Nan Yi standing alone in the living room.

There's a strange feeling, almost as if he's been taken under someone's wing.

Nan Yi kept his gaze fixed on the card for a long time.

In the end, he took the card and left the house. After all, his phone was broken, and he needed to buy a new one.

Moreover, it was He Yue Shen who had smashed it, so it felt right to use He Yue Shen's money for a replacement.

Nan Yi bought a phone that cost around three to four thousand, roughly the same price as his old one, making sure not to overspend from He Yue Shen's account.

Happily fiddling with his new phone, he first changed the wallpaper, then logged into WeChat - which he rarely used - and downloaded a comic-reading app.

He was so engrossed, head lowered, that he failed to notice the person approaching him.

Only when a pair of polished leather shoes appeared in his line of sight did Nan Yi look up, locking eyes with a pair of captivating almond-shaped eyes.

Nan Yi's pupils contracted: it was Dr. Bai.

Beside Bai Shan Yao stood a lovely little omega, whose hand was intimately wrapped around Bai Shan Yao's.

Upon seeing Nan Yi, Bai Shan Yao's initially furrowed brow gave way to a hint of unexpected joy.

Bai Shan Yao: "I spotted you from a distance. Why didn't you tell me you were coming out?"

Extracting his arm from the omega's embrace, Bai Shan Yao affectionately pinched Nan Yi's cheek.

His face displayed both excitement and a hint of reproach.

Nan Yi was taken aback, standing still, his phone still hovering mid-air.

The omega beside them looked on in disbelief, "You two...?"

The dazed Nan Yi was suddenly pulled into Bai Shan Yao's embrace, the faint scent of cedarwood emanating from the arm wrapped around his neck.

Bai Shan Yao looked at Nan Yi with undisguised affection.

"Are you still mad? How about I keep you company while shopping?"

His voice was filled with a lover's tenderness, even playfully pinching Nan Yi's earlobe.

Startled by Bai Shan Yao's action, Nan Yi instinctively shrank back, eyes wide and mouth agape, looking at Dr. Bai in disbelief.

Bai Shan Yao: "Don't be mad, baby."

The omega's shocked face now turned angry, exclaiming, "Shan Yao, who is he? Didn't uncle say you were single?"

Bai Shan Yao, with a remorseful face, responded, "I'm sorry, Xiao Lin. It's my fault. Nan Yi and I had a cold spell recently. Going on that blind date was out of spite. I apologize for wasting your time."

"The car I mentioned earlier, consider it my apology gift. I'll have it delivered to your place tonight."

With a stern face, the omega threw the gift box he was holding on the ground, retorting, "I don't want it!"

As the omega turned and briskly walked away, Bai Shan Yao's remorseful expression faded. He released Nan Yi, who stood stiffly under his grasp.

Bai Shan Yao: "Mr. Nan, I truly apologize..."

The stunned man's ear tips were flushed pink. Bai Shan Yao's words trailed off, and a hint of amusement appeared on his usually stoic face.

"Mr. Nan."

Bai Shan Yao called out to the daydreaming man again.

Regaining his composure, Nan Yi looked up at Bai Shan Yao, whose face held a playful smile, feeling a tad embarrassed.

Bai Shan Yao: "I'm sorry for earlier. I acted intimately with you without your consent."

Bai Shan Yao smiled softly, seemingly radiating warmth all around him.

Nan Yi simply shook his head.

He started typing, head lowered.

[It's okay. But that sweet omega misunderstood.]

Bai Shan Yao chuckled lightly: "That was the intention."

Huh?

Nan Yi looked up in confusion.

[Why?]

Instead of answering, Bai Shan Yao glanced around and suggested, "Let's find a place to sit. Do you have time, Mr. Nan?"

Eager to thank Bai Shan Yao for his past help, Nan Yi nodded and followed him into a bubble tea shop.

Nan Yi was slightly surprised. He had thought someone like Bai Shan Yao would prefer coffee over bubble tea.

But this bubble tea shop was rather upscale.

The prices were... quite upscale as well.

Nan Yi frowned slightly at the elaborate menu before him.

A single cup of bubble tea was priced at twenty to thirty!

Nan Yi casually selected a drink and handed the menu to Bai Shan Yao across the table.

Bai Shan Yao didn’t glance at the menu: "I'll have whatever he's having."

Sitting face-to-face with an alpha made Nan Yi feel a bit uneasy, especially with someone as handsome as Bai Shan Yao, who was on par with He Yue Shen in looks.

However, the two were distinct: one exuding warmth, the other unpredictable in temperament.

[Dr. Bai, do you also enjoy bubble tea?]

Bai Shan Yao glanced at Nan Yi's phone, his lips curving slightly as he remarked, "Anything really. I imagine a sweet omega like you would have a preference for a sugary bubble tea."

Nan Yi averted Bai Shan Yao's gaze, appreciating his attentiveness and nurturing nature.

Bai Shan Yao continued, "But call me by my first name. I no longer work at the hospital."

Nan Yi nodded in acknowledgment.

[Thank you for last time, Brother Bai.]

Bai Shan Yao quirked an eyebrow, "Brother? I'm not that old, am I? Haha."

Nan Yi hastily shook his head, quickly typing out a message to explain, even inadvertently mistyping in his nervousness.

[You're not old. I just feel that calling you 'Brother Bai' sounds more familiar.]

Bai Shan Yao chuckled softly, a gentle warmth evident in his eyes, reminiscent of an undying spring.

"I was just teasing. I quite like the title. As for last time, it was merely a small favor, especially since my friend was in the wrong to begin with."

As relief washed over him, a blush crept up Nan Yi's face.

Bai Shan Yao was truly gentle. An alpha as kind as him would surely be tender and doting towards his omega.

With Bai Shan Yao engrossed in his phone, Nan Yi found himself sipping his drink and staring absentmindedly at the focused eyes behind Bai's glasses.