chapter 64

Chapter 64: Satisfied with your Daughter-in-law?

Ling Ran, somewhat surprised, looked between Nan Yi and He Yu Shen, his eyes lighting up with delight.

"Shen Shen, what’s happening between you two?"

Nan Yi's face turned crimson, resembling a ripe tomato. He shyly avoided Ling Ran's gaze, turning instead to the alpha beside him, who wore an amused smirk.

"He Yu Shen!" He chided softly.

He Yu Shen, finding it amusing, pinched Nan Yi's chin and chuckled, "What do you think of your daughter-in-law? Satisfied?"

Ling Ran, with a gentle gaze, observed the blushing Nan Yi, "Haha, of course, I am."

"Why so shy today? If you don't call me 'father' and someday you have a baby, how will I help if you don’t let me?"

He Yu Shen always spoke close to Nan Yi’s ear, his alpha breath tickling him, tickling right down to his very core.

Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Nan Yi buried his face into He Yu Shen's collarbone.

Growing more frustrated, he gave He Yu Shen's collarbone a gentle bite.

"Hiss, are you a puppy?"

With a teasing tone, a broad palm patted and ruffled his hair gently.

Nan Yi had never felt so embarrassed before, yet he also felt a deep sense of happiness.

Fortunately, after a short while, He Zhang led Ling Ran upstairs. With the addition of Ling Ran and He Zhang, the villa became noticeably livelier.

A night passed, and the New Year arrived.

Nan Yi had intended to rise early because of Ling Ran's presence, but he unexpectedly slept until noon.

"Awake now? Does it still hurt?"

He Yu Shen entered just in time, heading straight for Nan Yi, who sat at the center of the bed.

In a huff, Nan Yi turned his face toward the window, refusing to speak.

It wasn't his sensitive period, yet He Yu Shen was still so dominant, not even allowing him to enjoy the holiday properly.

After staring out the window in frustration for a while, feeling still aggrieved, Nan Yi turned to He Yu Shen and said accusingly, "Liar."

"What lie? When have I ever deceived you?" He Yu Shen pulled Nan Yi into his embrace. The reddish marks on his exposed shoulders were evident indicators of the previous night's events.

Nan Yi mumbled discontentedly, "You always say it's the last time..."

Where had the once aloof man gone?

How did he change so much in just a few days?

Even though he was very pampered like this, his body... couldn't handle it!

He Yu Shen leaned down, gently nipping at Nan Yi's pink earlobe, his voice husky, "Nan Yi, this year, I want to become a father."

Nan Yi: !

"I... I'm a bit hungry..."

Nan Yi hurriedly crawled out from his embrace, grabbing the only loose T-shirt on his body, and scuttled down from the other side of the bed.

He Yu Shen's gaze was sharp, landing intently on the long legs beneath him.

Nan Yi rushed into the bathroom. Once inside, he realized he had forgotten to bring his clothes, so he peeked his head out.

Seeing his head, He Yu Shen suppressed a chuckle, "I'll step out."

He Yu Shen didn’t want to tease him too much, and observing Nan Yi's movement as he entered the room, he seemed fine, probably uninjured.

"There are new clothes in the wardrobe, the red ones. Don't wear anything else later."

Approaching the bathroom door, He Yu Shen playfully pinched Nan Yi's round nose.

As soon as the bedroom door closed behind He Yushen, Nan Yi eagerly dashed out of the bathroom to open the wardrobe.

The clothes inside had been changed again. If it wasn't He Yushen who changed them, it must have been the housekeeper in the absence of Liu Yue.

A red sweater hanging inside was particularly striking. Nan Yi took it out and dashed back into the bathroom.

This year's Spring Festival was especially lively and heartwarming. Although He Zhang wasn't particularly friendly towards Nan Yi, he didn't comment.

On the morning of the first day of the lunar year, Ling Ran presented Nan Yi with a generous red envelope.

Ling Ran's demeanor has always been gentle; from the first meeting, his gaze towards Nan Yi had always been pure and tender.

"From now on, I'll call you 'Yi Yi'. Such a beautiful name is meant to be used," Ling Ran remarked.

Nan Yi shyly nodded in response.

"Brother Zhang."

Ling Ran called out to the person nearby.

He Zhang, expressionless, pulled three red envelopes from his pocket.

Ling Ran took them, offering the first one to Nan Yi.

"I... don't need it..." Nan Yi declined, flusteredly waving his hands.

He Yushen took it and stuffed it into his hand, then took another one for himself from Ling Ran.

"Take what Mr. Ling offers," Nan Yi cautiously kept the envelope.

The last one was handed over to Yun Luo.

"Uncle Ling... I don't really need it."

"Take it. Since you called me 'uncle', I'm like an elder to you."

Standing by the entrance, He Zhang supported Ling Ran, a red scarf wrapped around Ling Ran's neck.

"Uncle Ling... Please stay a few more days," Nan Yi hesitated to make the request, sensing that He Yushen wouldn't.

Evidently wishing for Ling Ran to stay longer, yet hesitating to voice it even when Ling Ran was about to depart.

Why be so stubborn at such a crucial moment?

"No need. You young folks have your own lives. After being apart from Zhang for so long, and at the risk of sounding sentimental, we'd like to spend more time together," Ling Ran replied.

When Ling Ran smiled, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled, a testament to the gentleness age had given him.

He Zhang remained silent, a faint smile touching his lips as he gently caressed those lines.

Whenever He Zhang smiled, Ling Ran was always by his side.

Ling Ran continued, "As for Shen Shen, he's not alone with all of you around."

After Ling Ran finished speaking, Nan Yi looked up at He Yushen. His deep, emotionless black eyes gave nothing away.

"Let's go," murmured He Zhang.

"Yi Yi, the next time we meet, I hope to hear a different address from you. Is that okay?"

"Ah!... Okay..." A blush once again painted Nan Yi's face; how could he not understand what Ling Ran was implying?

Supported by He Zhang, Ling Ran got into the car. Only after the car left did Nan Yi, He Yushen, and He Yun Luo return to the villa.

Without He Zhang and Ling Ran, the villa felt significantly emptier.

When Ling Ran was around, he'd occasionally strike up a conversation. Now, only the reserved He Yushen and Yun Luo remained, often staying silent for long stretches.

Even dinner lacked the festive spirit.

Tonight, it was again Nan Yi who was the first to climb into bed. Listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, he felt a bit anxious.

Nan Yi hoped that He Yushen would get a good night's sleep tonight.

While waiting for He Yushen, Nan Yi replied to Yin Feng's New Year's greeting and liked a photo he posted on his social circle—a picture of two intertwined hands with the caption, "Happy New Year, bagged my dream guy."

Even the caption showcased his excitement.

"What's making you smile so brightly?"

He Yushen emerged in a bathrobe, its belt hanging loosely, as if it might come undone at any moment.

"Nothing much," Nan Yi averted his gaze.

Raising an eyebrow, He Yushen picked up a New Year's red envelope from the table and offered it to the Omega on the bed.

"For me?"

Taking it somewhat surprised, Nan Yi looked up at He Yushen standing before him.

"Mhm, a New Year's gift for you."

Nan Yi eagerly tore it open and felt something hard inside, not like cash.

It was a black card.

Nan Yi's mouth gaped open in shock, his eyes wide.

"It's not a supplementary card this time. You'll accept it, right?" He Yushen sat beside him, skillfully sliding into bed and wrapping an arm around the Omega's waist.

"Of course... It'd be a waste not to take it."

Before, Nan Yi felt indifferent toward He Yushen, always contemplating eventual separation.

Now, with mutual affection, it's only natural for Nan Yi to feel at ease spending He Yushen's money.

"Clever little thing."

"Let's get an early night."

A warm hand caressed his flat stomach, an earlobe received a playful bite, and the cool sensation gradually shifted to the nape of his neck.

Nan Yi: .......................