Chapter 9
The clear morning sun shone into Erya Private Hospital. The two evergreen trees at the entrance glistened, their leaf tips a lush, vibrant green. New, tender buds had already sprouted on many of the branches.
Spring was coming.
Haicheng was a coastal city with heavy moisture in the air. The transition from late winter to early spring was often overcast, making a fine day like today a rare treat.
Bai Yan, changed into his regular clothes, wearing a hat and UV-protective glasses, stretched his arms toward the sun, taking a deep breath of the sweet, fresh air.
In the sunlight, his cherry-pink pupils were as clear as glass beads. The young man smiled, revealing the shallow dimples by his lips, and waved goodbye to Dr. Li, the pale gold hair beneath his hat soft and bright.
After more than a week in the hospital, he was finally being discharged. Although Erya’s top-tier VIP ward was more than capable of making every patient feel at home, it was, after all, a hospital, and it always brought back some less-than-pleasant memories for Bai Yan.
For the first few days, Mr. Pei had come to the hospital every evening after work. Later, once his condition stabilized, the Alpha had stopped, only instructing Assistant Song to continue monitoring the situation at the hospital.
During his stay, Dr. Li had also given him a full physical examination. Apart from slight malnutrition, there were no major issues.
The moment she got the report, Chen Shulan had sent it to the nutritionist at Yǎyuán, and the team had immediately customized a plan. They were just waiting for the young man to return home to begin his scientific nourishment.
Zhao Chengming drove the car steadily along the road. The in-car refrigerator was stocked with fresh fruits, ready for the master to choose from at any time.
It was the same silver-white road as before. Bai Yan leaned back comfortably against the seat, enjoying the scenery outside the window in a good mood.
Compared to the hospital, which was constantly filled with the smell of disinfectant, even Yǎyuán seemed much more relaxing.
The car had just stopped in front of the elegant Western-style house when Oz’s cheerful barks rang out.
As soon as Bai Yan got out of the car, Oz eagerly bounded over, lifting his head excitedly and circling his calves.
The Omega’s jasmine pheromones were released casually from the back of his neck. The young man crouched down and held the dog’s face affectionately, his eyes curving into two crescent moons as he smiled.
“Oz, it’s been a while. Did you miss me? I missed you so much.”
The Doberman responded with a series of barks, its wet eyes staring at the young man with deep cherishing.
Chen Shulan stood by, shaking her head with a smile. “These past few days, he’s taken to going upstairs whenever he has nothing to do, just circling A-Yan’s door. If he could talk, who knows how many times he would have asked where you went.”
“Oz, come here. Don’t bother Young Master A-Yan. It’s time to take you to school.” The housekeeper had someone lead the Doberman away and went upstairs with Bai Yan.
Bai Yan’s face showed curiosity. “Oz has to go to school too?”
“Yes, the trainer says he has a lot of energy, and training at a special school helps him burn it off,” Chen Shulan said with a smile. “I don’t understand any of it. I’ve been twice, and all I saw was him running around on the grass.”
As they spoke, the two had already reached the third floor and stopped in front of Bai Yan’s room.
The ever-professional Beta housekeeper’s brow furrowed, a hint of guilt in her eyes.
“When A-Yan got sick, my heart was in a knot. I kept thinking, if I had just noticed you weren’t feeling well sooner, maybe A-Yan wouldn’t have fainted and ended up in the hospital.”
“My health is poor, how could it be Auntie Chen’s fault? Please don’t think that.” Hearing this, Bai Yan quickly took Auntie Chen’s hand and explained sincerely, his small face filled with earnestness.
“Besides, if it weren’t for Auntie Chen’s meticulous care, I might still be lying in the hospital right now, unable to be discharged.”
A glint of moisture shone in Chen Shulan’s eyes. She patted his hand and said, “A-Yan came in such a hurry, and all the initial arrangements were made according to my own ideas. They might not suit your tastes. If there’s anything you’re missing, A-Yan must tell me.”
This time, Bai Yan didn’t refuse. He smiled sweetly, revealing his neat, white teeth. “Okay, I’ll take a look when I get back to my room. If I’m missing anything, I’ll be sure to tell you!”
Chen Shulan smiled with relief. Suddenly remembering something, she winked mischievously, her tone teasing. “Look at me, I almost forgot the most important thing.”
“The day the Young Master came back from his business trip, he brought a gift for A-Yan. I put it in the living room. You’ll see it when you go to your room.”
A gift? Mr. Pei was so busy on his business trip, he probably didn’t have time to prepare anything.
Bai Yan thought to himself that it was probably Mr. Pei who had asked Assistant Song to pick it out, just like he had asked Assistant Song to chat with him on the AO Matching System.
The Beta housekeeper’s gaze was gentle. “The Young Master is busy with work and didn’t come to pick A-Yan up today. You mustn’t take it to heart. In my opinion, A-Yan is the most special person in the Young Master’s heart.”
Auntie Chen didn’t know about the contract marriage, and Bai Yan didn’t want to disappoint her. Although he didn’t really care, he still acted as if he had taken her words to heart and nodded obediently.
After Auntie Chen left, he gently turned the doorknob and went inside.
Even after several days in the hospital, the sky-blue suite was still spotlessly clean. The plants outside the floor-to-ceiling bay window were fresh and vibrant, swaying gently in the sunny breeze.
There wasn’t much on the table in the suite’s living room, so the gold-colored gift box was particularly conspicuous.
The young man’s pink lips pressed into a straight line. He sighed to himself. In every respect, Mr. Pei was a perfect partner in this arrangement.
Even when a business trip postponed their original wedding date, he would have his assistant pick out a gift as compensation.
His future lover will be very happy.
The Omega sat cross-legged on the soft velvet carpet and carefully picked up the beautifully wrapped box.
He gently untied the ribbon, then tore off the wrapping paper, and finally opened the gift box, placing the lid to the side.
A snow-white, fluffy rabbit came into view.
The little rabbit’s long ears drooped down to its round belly. Its pink, embroidered eyes were lifelike, and a few crystal-clear tears hung from the corners, making it look both obedient and soft.
Bai Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief, his pupils trembling with shock.
He never thought Assistant Song would be so… childishly whimsical.
His mind couldn’t help but conjure up an image: the elite assistant, dressed in a suit, with several rows of colorful toys lined up in front of him. With a serious expression, he meticulously scanned all the toys before finally selecting a soft, snow-white little rabbit.
The mere thought of it made his scalp tingle.
His long, feathery eyelashes trembled, slowly covering his beautiful eyelids. An indescribable emotion flashed in the young man’s eyes, and a place in his heart felt as if it had been gently scratched.
Children at the orphanage stopped playing with stuffed toys after the age of six, because there were younger children who needed them.
It had been a long time since he had last dealt with such a soft little thing.
Bai Yan looked at the obediently soft toy in the gift box, at a loss. The little rabbit’s teary eyes seemed to be accusing the human who wasn’t petting it.
He slowly reached out a hand, his fingertips tentatively stroking the little rabbit’s fluffy head. The movement was very light, as if he were afraid of startling the toy.
Mm, the toy feels very nice. It’s incredibly smooth to the touch, and its long ears are fluffy and soft, just like Oz’s.
His eyes curved into a smile as he gently lifted the little rabbit out of the box. A card slipped out from under it and fell with a soft rustle onto the carpet.
Bai Yan bent down to pick it up, but after seeing what was written inside, his hand trembled unconsciously, and the card fell back onto the carpet.
On the white card, two lines of gold-foil printed words read:
[Wishing my baby eternal happiness.]
[Signed—Your loving Daddy]
