Beta Chapter 108: Extra 7: Beautiful

Chapter 108: Extra 7: Beautiful

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

On the other side of the ice cream shop was an outdoor seating area with scattered guests under umbrellas.

“RanRan, how about not going home tonight?”

Luo Songran was sitting under the umbrella, eating ice cream. When he heard Duan Yizhou’s words, he looked at him in surprise. His mouth was still full of ice cream, and he mumbled, “Huh? Don’t you want Piglet and Pipsqueak anymore?”

Seeing him wearing a hat, with his forehead sweaty from the heat, Duan Yizhou took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I’ll have your cousin come over to look after them for one night.”

“What are we going to do tonight?” Luo Songran swallowed the ice cream in his mouth, feeling a shiver from the cold, his cheeks and shoulders trembling. He handed the ice cream to Duan Yizhou. “My teeth are too cold.”

Duan Yizhou didn’t like these things either, so he took the ice cream handed to him by the little fellow. Seeing him touch his cheeks and rub them, he asked, “Don’t want it anymore?”

As he spoke, he pressed down the cap of the water bottle and opened it for him to drink.

“Not eating.” Luo Songran leaned back in his chair, holding the water bottle to drink. Maybe it was because of the sun in the afternoon, his eyes squinted, “Didn’t you say you were going to a meeting just now?”

Seeing the sunlight on his cheeks, Duan Yizhou held the hat and leaned forward to put it on him. “I lied to you.”

“Just to let me sneak out and play?”

“Yeah.”

“Why aren’t you criticizing me this time?”

“I saw you crying alone.” Duan Yizhou put his hands on his thighs, looking at the little fellow drinking water, his gaze deep and gentle, hotter than the sunlight. “You know, what I hate the most is seeing you cry. Every time you cry, I feel like I’ve done something wrong. And maybe I have, I’ve ignored a lot during the whole month. Baby, I’m sorry.”

Luo Songran bit habitually on the water bottle. He met Duan Yizhou’s gaze and felt a bit guilty hearing the man apologize so sincerely. He reached out and touched Duan Yizhou’s nose. “Oh, I… I cried for no reason. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He didn’t know why he cried. Obviously, Duan Yizhou was already good enough for him. Sometimes he didn’t understand why he suddenly cried.

This inexplicable emotion felt even stronger than when he was pregnant.

“If you cry, then it’s my fault.” Duan Yizhou held the hand that was touching his nose. Maybe it was because he had been holding the ice cream cup just now, his fingertips still felt a little cold. “RanRan, do you think I care too much about Piglet and Pipsqueak, and neglect you? So you’re sad and want to run away from home?”

Luo Songran shook his head.

Actually, Duan Yizhou was already good enough to him, accompanying him every day, even when taking care of Piglet and Pipsqueak.

Ah, what was he doing?

“What’s wrong then? Tell me, and I’ll change.” Duan Yizhou’s expression was serious, as if he had really done something wrong.

Luo Songran lowered his head, awkwardly touching his nose. Finally, he whispered, “You’ve already done enough. I think I’m just being petty, making trouble out of nothing, just being idle.”

Indeed, Duan Yizhou could tolerate his temper. He must have done something to save the universe in his previous life to make such an alpha devoted to him.

It really was all about him.

Just thinking that Duan Yizhou arranged for him to leave home just now, he suddenly felt very moved.

“Duan Yizhou, you’re really too good to me.” He sighed and began to reflect on himself, criticizing what he had done, “Look, now that I’m a dad, I still cry at the drop of a hat and even want to run away from home. My husband is so good to me, and I still act like this? I really don’t understand myself.”

“What’s there to cry about? I don’t understand,” Duan Yizhou said.

“I still get jealous of Piglet and Pipsqueak and think that you only love them and not me anymore. I don’t understand.”

“Sigh.”

Duan Yizhou didn’t say anything, just stared at the little fellow in front of him wearing a light yellow fisherman’s hat, his head bowed, fingers counting his own faults, speaking earnestly, with a serious expression and furrowed brows. Finally, he shook his head heavily, sighed deeply, as if he was exasperated with himself.

Couldn’t help but laugh.

Luo Songran slowly raised his head, met Duan Yizhou’s gentle gaze, swallowed his saliva, suddenly smiling so beautifully, “Why are you laughing at me?”

“You silly.”

Luo Songran looked melancholy, “Don’t call me silly, I’ll get angry. Even if I look a bit silly now, I’m holding it in.”

As he spoke, he saw Duan Yizhou leaning forward with his hands on his thighs, getting closer to him.

Originally, the two of them were sitting facing each other, not too far apart. With this closeness, their distance became even more intimate. If they moved a little closer, they could kiss.

“Baby, there’s no rule that says you can’t cry just because you’re a dad,” Duan Yizhou said, seeing the little fellow looking down, his fingertips stroking the corners of his eyes gently. His tone was gentle, “If you want to cry, cry; if you want to laugh, laugh; if you want to make a scene, make a scene. You can do whatever you want with me.”

“But I’m still jealous of Piglet and Pipsqueak. Isn’t that childish…” Luo Songran’s voice became quieter as he spoke.

“When you play with Piglet and Pipsqueak, I get jealous too.”

Luo Songran nodded. He looked at Duan Yizhou in surprise, “So you feel that way too? I do! When you hold Piglet, I really want you to hold me too, but…”

“But what?”

“But I feel a bit embarrassed.” Luo Songran felt childish to be jealous of two one-month-old children. He shyly lowered his head and smiled, holding Duan Yizhou’s hand and shaking it, “I feel like, as a dad, I shouldn’t be so petty.”

Duan Yizhou took in his shy demeanor with a fond gaze, his eyes filled with indulgence. “Who says dads can’t be petty? Have you forgotten what your dad is like?”

Luo Songran’s hesitant thoughts came to a halt. His eyes brightened, and he furrowed his brows slightly, “Oh, right. When I was little, I liked sticking to my dad, and my dad’s reaction was always very strong. He wouldn’t let me sleep with him. At that time, I even told my dad to divorce my big dad because my big dad was too stingy.”

“Then you can’t say that to Piglet.”

Luo Songran looked at Duan Yizhou for a while, feeling an indescribable swelling in his heart. He reached out and hugged him, “So is this something you have to learn after having kids?”

Learning how to balance the affection between oneself and one’s husband towards the children.

Learning how to balance one’s own attachment to the children and the spouse.

“Who said that?” Duan Yizhou heard the reluctance in the little fellow’s tone. He chuckled softly, “Was it that expert named Luo Songran who said that? Don’t trust that, it’s baseless.”

Luo Songran hesitated for a moment, then hummed softly, “Well, that’s how I feel, and I do spend some time with Piglet and Pipsqueak.”

“I know. Spending time doesn’t mean that my love for you is divided among them. It’s different, baby. My biggest responsibility to you and the children is to love you. So raising children is an emotional extension based on loving you. Children are important, but the love and responsibility towards children are different from those towards a spouse.”

Duan Yizhou released him, placing a hand on his shoulder and looked down, “Do you understand?”

In this relationship, it was Luo Songran who first taught him how to love boldly. But throughout the process, this guy was still young, and being pampered since childhood, it was inevitable that he would have his own ideas. Even now that he’s become a father, it’s still the same. Being only twenty years old, he couldn’t expect to understand the responsibilities of being a father overnight.

As the older one, especially being twelve years older than Luo Songran, this twelve-year age gap destined him to bear the heavier burden along this journey.

That is, he must teach Luo Songran what responsibility means.

And this is something that can’t be done by Luo Songran’s fathers; only he can do it.

Luo Songran listened to Duan Yizhou asking him if he understood like an old father, feeling a bit strange. “Why do I feel like I’m not your lover?”

“Then what do I look like to you?”

“Like your eldest son in an early romance.”

Duan Yizhou was speechless. He chuckled helplessly, tapping Luo Songran’s forehead, “You’ve really spoiled yourself.”

“So, Daddy, are we going on a date tonight?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s go to the Delta Hotel to watch the sunset, sitting on the balcony in lounge chairs, and you sit behind me holding me.”

“You can’t sit on the balcony. It’s very windy there, and if you catch a cold during your confinement period, you’ll have a headache.”

“Then I’ll wear a down jacket.”

“…” Duan Yizhou was amused, pinching the little fellow’s still chubby cheek, “Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?”

“Of course not.” Luo Songran hugged Duan Yizhou’s arm, resting his face against it and rubbing, “I’m being good now. Wearing a down jacket when it’s windy, isn’t that right?”

He blinked innocently at Duan Yizhou, looking harmless.

Duan Yizhou, seeing this little fellow acting cute like a cat, couldn’t help but feel amused. Seeing him in a good mood, he grinned.

“All right, I won’t let you take it off later, no matter how hot you feel.”

Luo Songran’s triumphant smile abruptly stopped, and he gazed up at Duan Yizhou, his expression deepening, “…”

Duan Yizhou smiled gently.

The Delta Hotel was the tallest hotel in the city, the only one where you could see the entire cityscape, and it offered the best view of sunrise and sunset.

It was only five o’clock now, still some time before sunset.

After taking a shower, Luo Songran sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, waiting for Duan Yizhou to finish showering and eating fruits.

After giving birth, he felt that his appetite had increased. He ate a lot every day, but there were many things he couldn’t eat. However, recently he had started to try protein. He could start trying to eat eggs now.

After giving birth, he checked the allergens again and found that the situation had improved a lot compared to before. The doctor suggested they could start trying.

The bathroom door opened, and Luo Songran glanced over involuntarily. He saw Duan Yizhou walking out with a towel wrapped around his lower body, his hair in front completely combed back after the shower, messy yet lazy, revealing a handsome and clean face.

His chest, a light wheat color, strong and sturdy, still had water droplets and moist marks on it. His waist and abdomen were healthy and beautiful, and the muscle lines extended down, smoothly outlined, finally disappearing into the towel around his waist.

The hormones usually restrained under the suit were all released, abstinence and desire were just a matter of a shirt.

With golden-rimmed glasses, a black shirt neatly buttoned up, a simple wristwatch, a pair of black leather shoes, Duan Yizhou on ordinary days was the epitome of abstinence.

Taking off his glasses, removing the black shirt, his hair messy, Duan Yizhou who had just showered, revealing his muscles, could indeed be described as exuding a sense of desire.

Luo Songran silently placed the fruit plate back on the table, swallowing his saliva with envy. No matter how you looked at it, his alpha was really tall and strong.

Then, tilting his head, Luo Songran grinned at Duan Yizhou, opening his arms towards him, “Hug me, hug me!”

Duan Yizhou saw through this guy’s intentions at a glance. He walked to the carpet, bent down, and reached out to hold Luo Songran’s arms from below, easily lifting him up from the carpet as if holding a child.

Luo Songran immediately wrapped his legs around Duan Yizhou’s waist and hugged his face, showering him with kisses, “My husband is really handsome.”

“Will it hurt your stomach to hug like this?” Duan Yizhou held his buttocks steadily with both arms and sat down by the bed.

“No.” Seeing him sit down, Luo Songran’s eyes flashed with mischief. Before Duan Yizhou could react, he pounced on him, grabbing his arms and pressing them above his head, “Don’t move! I’m going to seduce you!”

Duan Yizhou let him play as he pleased, looking at his little ancestor above him, and smiled, “Baby, this is the first time you’ve politely said you want to seduce me.”

“Heh, who’s your baby now? Change the term.” Luo Songran sat on his waist, with a fierce look in his half-closed eyes, “Tell me, was there a purpose in letting me out today?”

Duan Yizhou, seeing him getting into the role, nodded along, “Yes, indeed.”

“What purpose?”

Before Luo Songran could react, he was suddenly flipped over. He exclaimed, and the next moment, he found himself pinned under Duan Yizhou, his arms held down by his strong and sturdy arms, like being ensnared in a net.

The scent of alpha’s sandalwood amber pheromones collided with the citrus rose pheromones, destined not to blend, but unable to stop the desire to get close.

Luo Songran’s gaze collided with Duan Yizhou’s deep, ocean-like eyes. His own reflection was captured in those eyes, as if enveloped in a gentle sea, irresistibly sinking.

Then he saw Duan Yizhou smile.

The heartbeat at his chest jumped with joy because of this gentle smile. This intense palpitation made him feel like he was back in the past. Whenever Duan Yizhou approached, he would feel this way.

His breath quickened, his heart raced.

“to bring my little wife back.” Duan Yizhou’s palm protected the back of the person below him, lowering his head to whisper softly in his ear, “I can’t let him out of my sight for a single moment.”

Luo Songran thought he knew what he was about to say and pursed his lips. “Isn’t that being domineering? Restricting my personal freedom?”

“No.”

“Isn’t keeping me under your watch restricting my personal freedom then?”

“I’m afraid you’ll leave me.” Duan Yizhou dropped a gentle kiss at the corner of his eye. “Baby, don’t run so fast. I’m afraid I won’t catch up with you.”

Luo Songran’s expression froze for a moment, then he seemed to realize something, his eyes suddenly reddening. “I don’t like it when you say things like that.”

“Then run slower.” Duan Yizhou knew this little rascal somewhat understood his meaning. He wasn’t trying to intentionally provoke him, just hoping their pace could stay in sync. “When you get tired of running, just look back at me. I’ll be waiting for you right here.”

Luo Songran thought he wasn’t one to be swayed by love. He always said Duan Yizhou was the lovesick one, but now it seemed like he was becoming more sensitive and emotional because of Duan Yizhou.

This man never hesitated to express his love, building all the security and reliance for him. The more he loved him like this, the more he could feel Duan Yizhou’s deeper affection buried beneath the passionate love.

It was restraint hidden beneath fervent love, a mature rationality belonging to the elder.

Duan Yizhou always used cheerful words to replace the sad ones, like growing up together, or asking him to slow down, or promising to wait for him right there.

But upon closer inspection, every word was filled with reluctance.

This man was already starting to think about things far, far into the future, much more sensitively than he was.

He didn’t want to burden himself with such heavy thoughts. He hoped Duan Yizhou wouldn’t burden himself with such heavy thoughts either, and he hoped Duan Yizhou could be happier.

So, he went along with Duan Yizhou’s intentions, pretending not to understand these implications, continuing to be the carefree child in Duan Yizhou’s eyes.

“I’m going to run faster then. With your long legs, you’ll definitely catch up with me.” Luo Songran cupped Duan Yizhou’s face with both hands, drawing him closer until their noses touched, leaving only each other in their gazes, softly but sternly saying, “Catch up with me, got it?”

Duan Yizhou smiled and looked at this fierce little rascal beneath him, as if he understood something, feeling warm inside. “Got it.”

They cuddled on the bed for a while, then sat together on the carpet in front of the French windows, embracing each other as they gazed at the scenery outside.

Until the afterglow painted the sky, gently spreading into the room, sunlight descending from the horizon, blending with the intoxicating deep blue to create a picturesque scene.

“Duan Yizhou.”

“Yes?”

“Before sunset, shall we go out?”

Luo Songran turned his head, smiling at Duan Yizhou.

The twilight outside the window was so beautiful. Adding a little more color to it would surely make it even more beautiful.

Duan Yizhou considered himself a very rational and restrained person. But when he saw the faint light of the setting sun falling on Luo Songran, who was half-kneeling in front of him, hands resting on his thighs, the reflection of their waists and hips on the floor beside them like a beautiful dream, he found himself more moved than by the picturesque scenery outside.

“Alright,” Duan Yizhou leaned forward to kiss Luo Songran.

This affectionate gesture, like a little cat’s coquetry, broke through all of Duan Yizhou’s rationality from pregnancy to postpartum.

Until the beautiful afterglow was replaced by thick white, and the deep intoxicating night swallowed the white, making this day even more meaningful.

However, the next day—

Duan Yizhou was awakened by the scorching heat of the body in his arms. He opened his eyes abruptly, looking down to see Luo Songran’s cheeks flushed, his hair and clothes damp with sweat. He reached out with the back of his hand to feel his forehead.

This burning temperature told him, the little rascal had a fever.

 

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