chapter 63

Chapter 63: Come, Call Him Dad.

Early the next morning, Nan Yi was woken by He Yu Shen's "alarm service".

Desiring more sleep, he murmured with eyes still closed, "Let me... sleep... a little longer."

Standing by the bed, He Yu Shen, looking down at him, held back a chuckle, poking Nan Yi's face outside the blanket.

Teasingly, he remarked, "Didn't we agree to fetch Uncle Ling? Why are you still lazing around?"

"Hmm, I... just a little more..."

His words slurred with sleepiness.

The drowsy Omega's voice, sticky and muffled, was more alluring than any coquettish behavior.

Resignedly, He Yu Shen sighed, "Remember to eat something after your nap."

"Mmm..."

Clearly, he hadn't grasped a word. He Yu Shen gently furrowed his brows, tucking the exposed arm of Nan Yi under the blanket.

Before departing for the ancestral home, he left instructions with the butler: if Nan Yi wasn't downstairs by nine, he should be woken up for breakfast.

"Yu Shen, let's go together."

"Alright."

Both alphas didn't have much to say on the way to the old mansion. Yet, the atmosphere was oddly unawkward.

He Yu Shen thought, had it not been for a certain little one oversleeping, he'd have had another opportunity to tease.

Yun Luo was lost in the passing scenery, traveling through a fog-covered highway and into the usually bustling city center. Everywhere was adorned with bright lights, glowing brilliantly in red.

Tomorrow is the thirtieth, nearly all the shops on the street are closed. There are hardly any pedestrians, but the traffic congestion is severe.

Yun Luo, looking at the lanterns hanging on the traffic lights, turned to the person beside him, "Yu Shen, why did you choose a residence so far away?"

"It's peaceful."

As He Yu Shen spoke, silence once again settled in the car.

Yun Luo lowered his eyes slightly, regretting his lack of eloquence.

He Yu Shen focused intently on the road throughout, but his thoughts were on whether the omega at home had woken up for breakfast.

He already looked so delicate; if he missed breakfast and got hypoglycemia or something, there'd be concerns about him even walking.

He Yu Shen didn't drive into the old mansion but parked in front of its gate.

As the two entered the living room, the always stern He Zhang was carefully feeding someone seated in a wheelchair with a bowl of medicine.

He Yu Shen disdainfully sneered, "Putting on a show, what took you so long?"

"Shen Shen, Yun Luo, you're here!" Seeing He Yu Shen, Ling Ran's face lit up with a kindly smile and surprise.

"Oh! Why isn't Mr. Nan here?"

He Zhang scooped up another spoon of medicine for Ling Ran, coldly remarking, "It's better if he doesn't come. Having a father like that, he's nothing but inferior..."

"Nan Yi didn't plan on coming. We came to pick you up," He Yu Shen interrupted calmly.

He Zhang replied just as icily, "If you want to celebrate, do it properly. If not, go back on your own."

"I wasn't asking you, and I didn't plan to invite you either."

Two faces, strikingly similar, confronted each other in grim defiance, neither willing to give in.

"Enough, why do you two always argue when you meet?" Ling Ran frowned slightly, casting a helpless glance at each.

"Zhang, after all these years, our family hasn't celebrated a complete New Year together."

"No need to talk to him. I'll take you."

He Yu Shen walked straight to Ling Ran and crouched beside him, hands reaching out to lift him from the chair.

"Shen Shen, let Zhang carry me. As for you, the one you'll be holding in the future is my daughter-in-law." Ling Ran said with a light laugh, tenderly stroking He Yu Shen's hair.

The two, who usually quarreled upon meeting, paused their bickering due to Ling Ran's words, but still looked at each other with clear disdain.

In the end, it was He Zhang who carried Ling Ran out the door.

He Yu Shen watched with a cold face as He Zhang got into his car, saying nothing.

"Zhang, don't show a cold face to Mr. Nan later. As elders, we shouldn't meddle in the affairs of the younger generation."

"Moreover, I'm quite satisfied with Mr. Nan as my daughter-in-law. Don't scare her off."

Ling Ran leaned on He Zhang's shoulder, reaching out a hand to gently caress the frown between his brows.

Once his brows relaxed, Ling Ran delicately traced the fine lines at the corners of He Zhang's eyes.

"Had they not disagreed back then, we wouldn’t have..."

"Alright, I'll listen to you." He Zhang gently took Ling Ran's hand in his, softly acknowledging his words.

………………

At 9 o'clock sharp, the butler called Nan Yi for breakfast. Rubbing his eyes and getting up, Nan Yi felt he had forgotten something.

"Where's He Yu Shen?"

"The young master went to the old mansion."

"Oh!"

He paused mid-step down the stairs, almost dropping his rabbit slippers down the staircase.

Having promised to pick up Ling Ran together the day before, and now having overslept, Nan Yi wondered if this would tarnish Ling Ran's impression of him.

After a quick breakfast, Nan Yi dashed back to his room, spending a considerable amount of time selecting clothes.

He wanted to pick something mature, but all the outfits sent by Liu Yue were either cute or casual.

After an hour, Nan Yi settled on a long grey knit sweater, which at least looked somewhat gentle.

Before he could descend the staircase, he caught sight of a black Maybach outside the main door from the window.

He hurriedly ran downstairs and sat obediently on the sofa, waiting for the visitor to enter.

"Does your leg hurt?"

He initially began to stand, but hearing the deep, resonant voice from outside, he froze momentarily.

He Zhang, supporting Ling Ran, was the first to enter, with Yun Luo and He Yu Shen closely following behind.

"Has the lady had her breakfast?" He Yu Shen turned to inquire the butler, who gave a slight nod in response.

Nan Yi had already risen to his feet by the time they entered. He stood stiffly, his face a mask of uncertainty.

"Mr. Nan, you look splendid today." Ling Ran smiled warmly, casting a benevolent gaze toward Nan Yi from a distance.

"I haven't..."

Nan Yi stepped aside to make room, and He Zhang assisted the slow-moving Ling Ran onto the sofa.

Yun Luo and He Yu Shen took their seats on a nearby sofa, with He Yu Shen leaning comfortably against the backrest.

He turned his gaze to Nan Yi, who was still standing by the table, and reached out to grasp his seemingly lost hand, saying, "Why stand? Sit down."

The tense body relaxed slightly at the touch of the alpha.

Led by He Yu Shen, Nan Yi sat beside him, his head lowered, avoiding glances in the direction of Ling Ran and He Zhang.

"What did we discuss yesterday? Why aren’t you addressing him?"

He Yu Shen's fingers gently squeezed the back of Nan Yi's neck, causing a shiver to run through him.

A warm hand circled his neck to grasp his chin, forcing Nan Yi to look up. A sultry voice whispered into his ear, "Call him Ling Father."