Married Off to My Childhood Enigma | Chapter 27 | A Morning Meeting | Novela.app

The next morning, the chirping birds on the branches did not wake Jin Yan. Whenever he was with Zhou Shu, it was always the alarm clock that woke him. Thus, the first thing he did upon opening his eyes was to spend a few seconds marveling at the greatness of that invention. He turned his head to the side and saw the thin light filtering through the curtains onto Zhou Shu’s face, creating an indescribable, hazy blur of yellow and gray tones. He leaned over and pressed a light kiss to Zhou Shu’s lips, only to have his own lip nipped by those soft ones a second later. “You’re awake?” Jin Yan’s heart stirred. He tapped the beauty mark below Zhou Shu’s lip. “And yet you’re pretending to sleep.” “My spirit hasn’t woken up yet.” Zhou Shu shifted his body and reached out to wrap an arm around Jin Yan’s waist. Jin Yan’s heart turned into a complete puddle of mush. Reluctant to leave, he lay back down and pulled the man into his arms. “I forgot to ask you—why did you come back last night? I thought you said you wouldn’t be back until Friday.” “This week’s schedule was canceled.” Zhou Shu kept his eyes closed, his voice muffled. “The impact of the hot search was quite bad. Several promotions and endorsements were pulled at the last minute.” A pang of heartache shot through Jin Yan. He rubbed his head against the crook of Zhou Shu’s neck. “It’s fine. It’s a good chance to rest for a few days,” Zhou Shu said with a yawn. “I haven’t had a moment’s peace since the movie was released. It’s been exhausting.” “Mhm, then just rest for a while.” Jin Yan idly toyed with Zhou Shu’s hand on his waist and asked casually, “Ge, do you want to stay in the entertainment industry forever?” Zhou Shu opened his eyes slightly and thought for a moment. “I actually quite like acting. If I could just act without having to do promotions, that would be perfect.” Jin Yan chuckled and shook his head. “That’s a difficult balance to achieve.” “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just stop acting. We’ll see when the time comes,” Zhou Shu said nonchalantly, showing no signs of distress. Only then did Jin Yan feel at ease. “Do you want to sleep a bit longer? I’m going to tidy up and get ready to open the clinic.” Zhou Shu shook his head and sat up with him. “No more sleep. I should head home first; my mom sent a message urging me to go back.” The night Jin Yan had come clean to his own parents, he had immediately gone to the house across the hall. Zhou Shu’s parents had been astonished by the speed at which Jin Yan followed through on his word. They were also curious about their son’s mental journey. However, the children were all grown up now, and neither was a soft, cute little Omega; they each had their own strong opinions and were unwilling to share everything with their parents. At that moment, Zhou Shu’s mother actually found herself missing Zhou Duo. If only that wasn't just Zhou Shu’s sub-personality, but a real second son—how wonderful that would have been. Fortunately, Jin Yan was perceptive, steady, and patient. He explained a great deal to Zhou Shu’s parents. In the end, they successfully secured the blessings of all four parents, leaving the rest for the children to handle themselves. Seeing Zhou Shu get up, Jin Yan found some of his own clothes for him to change into. The two of them freshened up in the lounge. Before heading out, Jin Yan went to the observation room to bring out the puppy. Zhou Shu met him in the hospital’s pet play area. By this morning, the puppy was able to move normally and was in good spirits, though his right hind leg, which had just undergone surgery, would still need some time to recover. Jin Yan placed him on a soft mat, supported by a makeshift "little wheelchair." Zhou Shu couldn't help but laugh at the sight. He immediately crouched down, eager to pet the little guy. To his surprise, the little fellow became exceptionally excited upon seeing Zhou Shu. Not only did he wag his tail while leaning his body to the side, but he even tried to stand up several times. Finally, Jin Yan gave him a gentle tap on the head before he settled down. Even so, the puppy kept nuzzling his head into Zhou Shu’s hand, clearly saying, *“Pet me, pet me.”* “He likes you.” Jin Yan shook his head with a smile at the little guy’s behavior. Zhou Shu laughed as well. He stroked the puppy’s head, a soft light emanating from his eyes. “Just like you—clingy.” “Oh?” Jin Yan was just about to crouch down to demonstrate that "clinginess" in person when the front door was pushed open. Zhou Shu cleared his throat and shot Jin Yan a slightly panicked glare. Jin Yan stood up with a helpless smile playing on his lips. Standing at the door, Jiang Rong had just set his bag down when he spotted Zhou Shu in the play area. Excitedly, he tossed his bag aside and ran over, his hands trembling. “Movie King!” he called out with a shaky voice, startling Zhou Shu. Jiang Rong had technically crossed paths with Zhou Shu once before during the "Mist on the Sea" incident, but Zhou Shu’s face had been covered by a jacket then. Besides, the atmosphere in the car at the time hadn't exactly allowed him to perform a fanboy routine on the spot. Sure enough, seeing the man face-to-face now, he was thoroughly stunned by the sheer brilliance of that face. As a casual fan, he was completely seduced by such looks. Following him was definitely worth it! While he was internally swooning and drooling, he caught a glimpse of Jin Yan and immediately changed his tune: “Sister-in-law!” This time, it was Zhou Shu’s turn to be stunned. He gave a light cough, quickly processed the title, and stood up with a polite nod. “Hello.” “You guys need to start work, so I’ll be heading out now,” Zhou Shu said. Jin Yan nodded, preparing to see him to the door. “Don’t!” Jiang Rong and the puppy blocked Zhou Shu’s path simultaneously. Noticing the puppy’s excitement in the little cart on the floor, they immediately crouched down. Jin Yan stroked the restless furball and said with a smile, “He’s reluctant to let you go. He doesn't want you to leave.” Zhou Shu’s heart softened, and his expression turned tender. He also stroked the puppy’s head and said softly, “In a few days, I’ll have Brother Jin Yan bring you home. I’ll be waiting for you.” “Awoo—” No one present expected the little guy to actually make a sound. Standing to the side, Jiang Rong clapped his hands in wonder. “If I didn't know better, I’d think the Movie King... oh no, Sister-in-law, also had an awakening ability. This is too miraculous. Small animals are just obsessed with you two as a couple.” Jin Yan was clearly in an especially good mood after hearing the words "you two as a couple." He actually took the initiative to suggest giving the puppy a name. Jiang Rong blurted out the answer: “Let’s call him Xunxun!” “Hmm?” Jin Yan looked up, and Jiang Rong’s expression instantly changed as he waved his hands frantically. “No, no, not that ‘Xun’ from Chu Xun! It’s ‘Xun’ as in ‘to seek’!” he hurriedly denied, clutching his heart and saying timidly, “Brother Jin, don’t misunderstand me! I’ve never lusted after my Sister-in-law; I’m just a casual fan!” After saying that, he realized it might be inappropriate to say such things in front of the person himself, so he quickly added, “But I am a loyal fan of *The Drunken Rouge*! The little soft Omega Brother Shu played was simply stunning—even softer than me!” “...” The other two chose not to comment on Jiang Rong’s description. However, they quite liked the name "Xunxun." And so, as of today, the little guy was a puppy with a name and a home. Jin Yan watched Zhou Shu patiently feed Xunxun, wishing he could preserve this scene forever. But he couldn't let his thoughts wander any further, or it might interfere with his work. He looked at Jiang Rong and abruptly changed the subject. “Why isn't Goofy here yet?” Usually, Gou Feifei was the first to arrive. The hospital opened at eight, and he was there at seven every day. Today, the opening time was fast approaching, yet there was still no sign of him at the front desk. “Oh, he called me earlier. He’s rushing back from the suburban villa district this morning. He even said he’d stop by Xian Yue Pavilion on the way to bring us a lavish morning tea!” As Jiang Rong finished speaking with sparkling eyes, Zhou Shu’s eyebrows twitched. He felt a vague sense of familiarity with that route, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. He fed Xunxun the last piece of canned food, gave him a few more comforting pats, and stood up. “Alright, I’m leaving now.” Zhou Shu opened the door and waved to Jiang Rong. “See you next time.” “Goodbye, Movie... Sister-in-law! Please come often!” Jin Yan walked Zhou Shu to the door and asked, “Is Xiao Zhang coming to pick you up?” “I gave him the week off,” Zhou Shu said. “Zhu Lili is picking me up. She happens to be going to my place to see my parents in a bit.” “Mhm. I should finish work at the usual time today. Let’s have dinner with our parents tonight.” Jin Yan stroked his brother’s soft hair, which was free of hairspray or styling. He was reluctant to pull his hand away. Zhou Shu let him fuss over him. Even though his younger brother had differentiated into an Enigma, he still pampered him just as he had when they were children. Now that their relationship had deepened, Zhou Shu’s heart and soul had begun to unconsciously depend on him. “Yan-yan,” he called softly. “Come home tonight to pack your things. Let’s move into the apartment.” *Let’s set up our own home and start a new life together from now on.* Jin Yan’s heart skipped several beats. He looked at Zhou Shu with bright eyes, and feeling that wasn't enough, he took the man’s hand in his own. “Okay. I’ll pack today.” He leaned down and whispered into Zhou Shu’s ear, “The official start of our legal cohabitation.” Before he could see his brother’s ears turn red, a flashy red Porsche 911 pulled up in front of the pet hospital. Two soaring fairy wings were stuck onto the bright red roof. Zhou Shu looked up and let out a scoff. “She’s so afraid people won't know how wild she is.” He tilted his chin toward Jin Yan. “I’m off then.” Just as he spoke, the passenger door opened, and the person stepping out was carrying two bags, his movements slightly hurried. Before leaving the car, he winked at the person inside, blew a kiss, and then turned around—only to freeze on the spot. “...Jin, Brother Jin?” His gaze shifted horizontally as he gave a polite greeting to the person beside him. “Hi... Movie King?” Brother Jin was speechless, while the expression on the Movie King’s face was quite a sight. After the three people outside the car stood in a stalemate for a moment, Jin Yan finally realized something. He tilted his head to look at Zhou Shu. “You didn't know about the two of them?” “?” Zhou Shu was bewildered. “Who is he?” Gou Feifei coughed twice. “...Movie King, that’s a bit hurtful!” “It’s my fault,” Jin Yan said softly, breaking the awkwardness. “Let me introduce you. This is my junior from university in Country A, and also the partner of this pet hospital, Goofy.” Only then did Gou Feifei free a hand to step forward and give a light, respectful handshake. Then he leaned toward Jin Yan and whispered, “A perfect match!” Jin Yan knew he was referring to the scent of their pheromones, so he shot him a look. Zhou Shu clearly needed a moment to process this. He gave Gou Feifei a cold but not unfriendly nod, his gaze then darting like an arrow straight into the car. The person hiding inside the car suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine. Knowing she couldn't hide any longer, Zhu Lili finally stepped out of the car with a sway of her hips. “Our Movie King really has two homes he won't return to now!” Zhu Lili said with a flirtatious smile, resting her hand on the car roof and playing with the fairy wings. She swept a glance over Zhou Shu’s expression before greeting Jin Yan warmly. “Hi, Xiao Yan.” Jin Yan sighed inwardly. It was the same old preemptive strike; it seemed Zhu Lili was well-versed in the art of dissolving awkwardness. He gave a polite nod, only to hear his brother let out a "tsk." “What’s going on? You two know each other?” Zhou Shu’s gaze moved from Gou Feifei to Zhu Lili, hoping someone could enlighten him. “What, is it so strange for me to meet a handsome guy I know in Haicheng?” Zhu Lili curled her lips, clearly avoiding the question. Yet Zhou Shu felt that what she said made sense, so he didn't think further on it. After exchanging a few looks with Jin Yan, he got into the car. Then, the engine roared to life, and the wind from the red sports car kicked up the fiery red maple leaves by the roadside. The maple leaves swirled in the wake of the departing car, drifting willingly in the air, unsettled and free. Gou Feifei gazed deeply in the direction they had gone. Jin Yan took everything in. The two of them stood in silence for a moment before walking toward the entrance. “Did you have a fight?” Jin Yan asked, a rare moment of gossip for him, as he had sensed an unusual atmosphere. “Huh?” Gou Feifei had a rare look of daze. He snapped back to his senses and deliberately relaxed his expression. “Heh, not really.” “Mhm.” Jin Yan said no more, and the two entered the building. However, just a second before stepping inside, Gou Feifei suddenly stopped and stared at Jin Yan’s profile. “What is it?” Jin Yan also stopped. “Brother Jin, I received a notification on my phone early this morning. It said the surveillance footage from 10 PM to 2 AM was deleted by Administrator No. 1.” Jin Yan raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing, only casting a faint glance his way. Gou Feifei immediately understood and gave a very wicked grin. “You were too fast. I didn't even get a chance to see it before it was deleted.” After a second of dead silence in the air, Jin Yan pressed down the corners of his mouth and uttered four cold words. “You’re the fast one.” *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 寻寻 | Xunxun | The name given to the rescued puppy; sounds like "to seek/find." 师嫂 | Shisao (Sister-in-law) | A humorous/affectionate term used by Jiang Rong for Zhou Shu, as Jin Yan's partner. 闲月阁 | Xian Yue Pavilion | A high-end restaurant or tea house mentioned as a source for morning tea. 朱丽丽 | Zhu Lili | Zhou Shu's manager. 苟飞飞 | Gou Feifei | Jin Yan's business partner and junior, nicknamed "Goofy." 胭脂醉 | The Drunken Rouge | The title of a film or drama Zhou Shu starred in. 小萌O | Cute little Omega | A slangy/affectionate way to refer to a sub-gender. 1号管理员 | Administrator No. 1 | Jin Yan's designation in the hospital's security system.