chapter 91

Chapter 90: The First Day Without Alpha, Yi Yi Can't Sleep

On the first night without He Yushen by his side, Nan Yi suffered from insomnia.

Xiao Bao slept soundly in the little bed beside him. Unable to drift off, Nan Yi endlessly turned in bed before finally grabbing his phone.

The chat history with He Yushen showed the last message at 10 PM: [Sleep early, my love. Goodnight].

Nan Yi had only responded with a single word: [Okay], knowing that the alpha was preoccupied.

Scrolling up through the chat, Nan Yi saw a long list of call logs, with very few text messages.

He Yushen was always home at night, and they seldom chatted via phone. Any discussions were whispered beneath the covers.

Nan Yi deeply missed He Yushen's warm embrace.

It was already 1 AM. He didn't message He Yushen, assuming the alpha would be asleep by now.

Unable to text He Yushen and still unable to sleep, Nan Yi irritably shoved the phone under his pillow, trying to force himself to rest.

The more he wanted to fall asleep quickly, the more agitated he became.

An hour passed in a blink, and he was still wide awake.

This reminded him of his afternoon encounter with Nan Zhi. With Xiao Bao catching a cold and He Yushen's sudden business trip, he had completely forgotten to tell He Yushen about seeing Nan Zhi.

Nan Zhi had blocked Nan Yi's number and didn't respond on WeChat. If Nan Zhi remained unreachable, only He Yushen could help him locate Nan Zhi.

Fortunately, He Yushen would only be away for three days. Once he returned, they could search for Nan Zhi, Nan Yi thought.

The property being in Nan Zhi's hands provided some relief; it was better than being with Nan Zaimin.

However, Nan Yi wished the house were under his control. He couldn't fathom Nan Zhi's motives or thoughts. How had the soft little brother from their childhood changed so much?

....................................

Early the next morning, Nan Yi was jolted awake by a phone call.

Still groggy and struggling to open his eyes, he didn't bother checking the caller ID before answering.

"Madam."

"Hmm?"

Still groggy from sleep, Nan Yi's voice was hoarse and muffled, answering almost instinctively.

"Madam, there's a man claiming to be your father looking for you. Should I give him your new address?"

"My father?"

The person, who moments ago was clouded with sleepiness, suddenly opened his eyes wide, flipping himself up from the bed.

"Yes, he said his name is Nan Zhai Min."

Nan Yi recognized the voice on the other end of the line—it was the villa's gatekeeper.

It seems that Nan Zhai Min was unaware that she and He Yu Shen had moved here and had gone to the villa instead.

"What does he want?" Nan Yi's expression turned cold. She didn't want anything to do with Nan Zhai Min.

"Is that you, Yi? Hand me the phone, I'd like to speak with him." Nan Zhai Min's voice came through the phone, so clear that he must be standing quite close to the guard.

Nan Yi frowned in annoyance, "Don't let him in and don't share our address. Ignore him."

"Understood, Madam."

"Yi, Mr. He is..."

The call was promptly cut off by Nan Yi, leaving Nan Zhai Min's sentence half-finished.

Nan Yi didn't give much thought to Nan Zhai Min's attempt to reach out. She had long considered him a stranger and wanted no future dealings with him.

After hanging up, Nan Yi wanted to drift back to sleep. But after only a few minutes of closing her eyes, there was a knock on the bedroom door from the butler.

It turned out that Ling Ran and He Zhang were here to see Xiao Bao. Her plan for a short nap was ruined. Nan Yi had the butler take Xiao Bao downstairs first, and then she changed into casual wear before heading to the living room.

Xiao Bao was eating his meal in Ling Ran's arms, without any fuss, while He Zhang's gaze was fixated on him.

Nan Yi always felt a sense of happiness seeing such scenes.

If only He Yu Shen were here too.

"Did you wake up, Yi Yi? Didn't sleep enough?"

Nan Yi's eyes drooped, looking utterly drained.

"Missing Shen Shen, huh? Young lovers. A day apart feels like three seasons," Ling Ran remarked with a soft chuckle.

Nan Yi, a bit embarrassed by Ling Ran's playful tease, found it all the more vexing because it was true.

"Ling Dad, I didn't..."

"Hahaha, come sit." Ling Ran passed the milk bottle he held to He Zhang and patted the space next to him on the sofa.

Feeding Xiao Bao seemed simple—just hold the bottle and tilt it slightly upwards.

Yet, He Zhang did it with such stiffness, though neither Ling Ran nor Nan Yi noticed.

After sitting next to Ling Ran, a hand, still tender and wrinkle-free, gently rested on Nan Yi's head.

"I always wished for an Omega to be Shen Shen's younger brother or sister. My wish never came true, but now, seeing you brings such joy."

Ling Ran's touch was gentle, his tone warm and tender.

It was a kind of affection from an elder that Nan Yi had never felt before.

Having finished feeding Xiao Bao, He Zhang looked up, his voice steady, "We can have one now."

Nan Yi was almost taken aback by He Zhang's words.

"Zhang-ge! What are you saying in front of Yi Yi and Xiao Bao? It's disrespectful!"

Even the usually gentle Ling Ran blushed, rebuking He Zhang.

"Alright, I'll keep quiet."

Only in front of Ling Ran would He Zhang speak with such a tender tone.

Nan Yi thought of He Yu Shen again. Before liking him, the alpha was either sharp-tongued or wore a cold expression, intimidating at a mere glance.

But after falling for him, the domineering, icy alpha transformed into a gentle and caring one. It seems personalities can be hereditary.

Nan Yi gazed at Xiao Bao in Ling Ran's arms, hoping that when He Si Yi grows up, he won't have his father's personality. It's nicer for an omega to be sweet and tender, able to act cute.

"Yi Yi, when Xiao Bao is a bit older, around one or two years old, perhaps consider giving him a little brother or sister to keep him company."

Nan Yi: !!!

"Ideally an alpha, not an omega. They could take over the family business in the future," He Zhang continued where Ling Ran left off.

Nan Yi's face stiffened. It seemed He Zhang preferred alphas; even with all his pampering of Xiao Bao, he must still wish deep down that he was an alpha.

Thankfully, He Yu Shen never minded that Xiao Bao was an alpha. He had always favored omegas.

"What are you saying in front of Xiao Bao! Who says only alphas can inherit the family business? Zhang-ge, why are your thoughts so old-fashioned?"

Ling Ran's tone carried a hint of annoyance.

He Zhang rushed to clarify, "That's not what I meant. I just don't want Xiao Bao to engage in tedious learning and then have to manage the company daily. It's exhausting. Some obligations are inevitable, and it's riskier for an omega."

Nan Yi: !

"True, it might be better to have another alpha then," Ling Ran conceded, his brows relaxing.

"Xiao Bao, Grandpa Ling misunderstood your grandpa. Thankfully, he's magnanimous and isn't upset," Ling Ran teased the non-verbal He Si Yi.

"Why would I be mad at you?"

Nan Yi silently listened to their conversation, suppressing a chuckle. She wished she could share this with He Yu Shen.

If he heard Ling Ran and He Zhang's conversation, he'd surely agree, given how much he dotes on Xiao Bao.

"Why are you smiling so happily? Do you also agree with our perspective?"

In Ling Ran's embrace, Xiao Bao's eyes curled in mirth, and his little feet, reminiscent of frog's limbs, kicked playfully.

With Ling Ran's attention on Xiao Bao, the topic of the next alpha thankfully ceased.