DPT chapter 21

Perhaps due to taking several cold showers or being exposed to the cold wind, Sheng Li caught a cold. However, he was usually active and had a strong constitution, so the cold wasn’t severe, just causing some coughing and fatigue.

Zuo Chi knew he had caught a cold not from hearing the cough but from seeing Sheng Li wearing a mask.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

“It’s nothing,” Sheng Li replied.

Zuo Chi asked again, “Is it because of acne on your face?”.

Sheng Li didn’t want to talk much with him. “I just have a slight cold.”

Zuo Chi bought medicine from the pharmacy. When he returned home, Sheng Li wasn’t there, so he left the medicine hanging on the doorknob of Sheng Li’s bedroom, along with a message indicating the dosage.

Sheng Li still didn’t respond, but he took the medicine.

His cold had cleared up before New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Eve, as Sheng Li’s fiancé, Zuo Chi officially visited their old house, where Sheng Li’s grandparents lived. There were more relatives present than at the Sheng family’s house before. Fortunately, the old house was spacious enough, and even with over twenty people in the living room, it didn’t feel crowded.

Sheng Li’s grandfather was almost a mirror image of Sheng Li’s father. He appeared easygoing but was actually quite traditional. His grandmother didn’t speak much; after a serious illness, her memory wasn’t good, and she needed assistance to walk.

In front of his grandparents, Sheng Li didn’t display his rebelliousness. He reluctantly pretended to be an ordinary couple with Zuo Chi. They served tea to his grandparents, and his grandfather was pleased with Zuo Chi, giving him a large red envelope and asking him to sit beside him to chat.

“I attended your hundredth-day celebration. I heard you would differentiate into Alpha later, which was a pity. Sheng Li was only a month old then, and he was detected as an Alpha. I thought if you were an Omega, our families could arrange a marriage,” Sheng Li’s grandfather said. “Unexpectedly, things turned out differently, and you and Sheng Li got engaged. It’s fate.”

Zuo Chi smiled, feeling a bit sentimental. If he were really an Alpha, he would have tightly suppressed his feelings for Sheng Li, as Sheng Li wished, and remained friends for a lifetime.

Sheng Li’s grandfather continued, “Have you and Sheng Li thought about when you’ll have children?”

Zuo Chi almost choked, glancing nervously at Sheng Li. “We, we haven’t considered it yet.”

“It’s time to think about it. You’re getting married in the second half of this year. It would be best if you could conceive next year. Sheng Li’s grandmother and I are getting older. We don’t know if we’ll live to see great-grandchildren if it’s too late,” Sheng Li’s grandfather said.

Zuo Chi hadn’t even settled things with Sheng Li yet, so he naturally hadn’t thought further. In reality, he just wanted to date Sheng Li and hadn’t planned on starting a family. Thanks to Zuo Yi and Shu Qingyu, he didn’t have the confidence to give his future child selfless love.

Sheng Li’s grandfather’s words put him in a difficult spot. He whispered softly, “…Okay.”

Sheng Li interrupted him, “Grandpa, you’re talking nonsense again. Doctors have said you and grandma can easily live to ninety.”

“Do I not know about my own body…” Sheng Li’s grandfather touched his beard. “Regardless of whether I’m here or not, I hope you can gather like this as a family, lively and festive, for the New Year.”

The elderly couldn’t stay up late, so his grandparents went to bed after nine o’clock.

The Sheng family watched the New Year’s Gala and sent red envelopes in the family group chat, but no one thought to add Zuo Chi to the group.

Zuo Chi listened to them talk about who was the luckiest and who had the best internet speed, unable to join in or leave.

Sheng Li didn’t even try to snatch red envelopes; he chatted with friends in various groups, mainly in four handsome guy groups.

Xiang Yiqun: Brothers, Happy New Year.

Tai Xingyu: It’s not even midnight yet, can’t you be a bit more formal?

Xiang Yiqun: I’m spending New Year’s Eve at my omega’s house today. So here’s the question, should I take a shower first?

Tai Xingyu: ? You need someone to force you to take a shower when you’re at someone else’s house?

Sheng Li: Thinking about taking a shower as soon as you arrive at someone else’s house, you’ve got issues.

Xiang Yiqun: It was a typo! I meant doing the dishes!

Tai Xingyu: You have to ask about that? Do you lack common sense?

Xiang Yiqun: So I’ll go then.

Xiang Yiqun: I got kicked back, told not to cause trouble. When are we gathering this year?

After they graduated, they all had their own schedules, making it difficult to meet up as they used to, especially for Xu Hui, who was an actor and spent most of the year outside of S City.

Tai Xingyu: I’m free, mainly depends on you guys with families.

Xiang Yiqun: Us? Except for me, isn’t everyone else in this group a family man?

Tai Xingyu: @Sheng Li.

Sheng Li: @Why me!!!

Tai Xingyu: A marriage of convenience is still a marriage.

Xiang Yiqun: What about Xu, the big star? Where’s he?

Xu Hui: I’m also free.

Xiang Yiqun: Then the day after tomorrow. Inform the organizer, I’ll be bringing my omega.

Tai Xingyu: The organizer agreed.

Tai Xingyu: Is Zuo Chi coming?

Sheng Li: What’s the point!

Tai Xingyu: It’s New Year’s, you’re so irritable.

Sheng Li: Who told you to mention him?

Tai Xingyu: I’ll mute.

Xiang Yiqun: Don’t mute yet. Where are we gathering? @Tai Xingyu, your house or Sheng Li’s?

Sheng Li: He’s at my house, my place won’t work.

Tai Xingyu: @Xiang Yiqun, why don’t we do it at your place? It seems suitable.

Xiang Yiqun: My spacious apartment can’t compare to your newly renovated standalone villa.

Sheng Li: Exactly, you didn’t invite us when you moved, this time you can make up for it.

Tai Xingyu: Was it me not inviting, or you guys not being available? You nobles.

Tai Xingyu: We’ll do it at my place then.

Xiang Yiqun: @Xu Hui, why aren’t you talking again?

Tai Xingyu: What’s the point of chatting with us, busy chatting with Omega.

Xiang Yiqun: Any updates?

Xiang Yiqun: No wonder you didn’t like the one I introduced last time.

Xiang Yiqun: Alright, friends, I’m off to please my future father-in-law, see you the day after tomorrow.

Tai Xingyu: @Sheng Li, are you at your grandfather’s house?

Sheng Li: Yeah.

Tai Xingyu: Want to play some games?

Sheng Li: You’re that free?

Tai Xingyu: They’re all abroad and haven’t returned, it’s just my brother and I in S City, you know my brother, he’s a recluse.

Sheng Li glanced up and saw Zuo Chi sitting on only a third of the sofa, head bowed while peeling an orange, with a forced smile on his lips, albeit somewhat stiff.

He was uncomfortable at the Sheng household.

Sheng Li: “Want to play games?”

“Hmm?” Zuo Chi turned his head, seemingly not hearing clearly.

Sheng Li: “Never mind.”

His gaze shifted from Zuo Chi’s cheeks to his abdomen.

Could Zuo Chi really get pregnant? Zuo Chi was an Omega, so he should be able to… Damn, it’s hard to imagine.

Why was he even thinking about this? Anyway, he and Zuo Chi couldn’t have children together.

Zuo Chi was on pins and needles in the living room, finally enduring until midnight. At midnight, fireworks burst outside, illuminating the entire sky.

The Sheng family, young and old, gathered on the balcony to enjoy the fireworks. Zuo Chi breathed a sigh of relief; he wasn’t interested in fireworks and wanted to go back to his room to rest.

He grabbed Sheng Li’s arm. “Where am I sleeping?”

Sheng Li was startled by his action and brushed his hand away. “Ask my father, I don’t know.”

Zuo Chi asked again, “Where are you sleeping?”

Sheng Li used to stay in the old house during long vacations, so there was a room for him there. “Upstairs, the innermost room on the left on the second floor.”

“Oh,” Zuo Chi said, “I think since we’re engaged, we should sleep in the same room.”

Sheng Li turned his face sharply. “You want to sleep with me?”

Zuo Chi said, “What’s the problem? Don’t worry, I just passed my heat.”

Was that the point?

Without hesitation, Sheng Li said, “No.”

Zuo Chi stated the fact, “Your house has so many people, there probably aren’t any extra rooms.”

Sheng Li frowned. “You can go sleep with my cousin; he’s also an Omega.”

He remembered that all of Zuo Chi’s past boyfriends had been Omegas, so he changed his mind. “I’ll share a room with Sheng Changyu, and you can stay with my father.”

“They won’t agree,” Zuo Chi said.

Seeing his aunt looking over, Sheng Li lowered his voice. “I never sleep purely with an Omega under the covers.”

Zuo Chi hesitated, “We can do something else.”

What else? This wasn’t a hint, it was a blatant invitation.

During heat, Zuo Chi asked him to stay away, but now he wanted to lie on the same bed with him. What was Zuo Chi thinking? To fulfill the engagement, to not defy the elders, to be like a “member of the Sheng family,” even his body could be used?

Anger welled up in Sheng Li’s eyes. “Do you think any Omega can just get into my bed?”

Zuo Chi took a deep breath, arms crossed over his chest. “You crawled into my bed when we were in kindergarten. Why can’t I now?”

Sheng Li’s tone was dark. “I considered you a friend when we were in kindergarten; don’t make it sound so filthy.”

Zuo Chi raised an eyebrow. “Friends are afraid to share a bed?”

Although Sheng Li once thought his bond with Zuo Chi transcended secondary genders, they had never slept in the same bed, whether it was partying overnight outside or staying overnight at home, there were always spare rooms.

Feeling trapped, Sheng Li couldn’t find a better solution. “You sleep on the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Zuo Chi had no objections. “Does your room have a separate bathroom?”

Sheng Li: “Yes.”

Zuo Chi nodded. “Then I’ll go upstairs first.”

Zuo Chi entered the bathroom and found that the maid had already prepared everything needed for the overnight stay: new towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash… and an unopened tube of lubricant and a box of condoms.

Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be using those.

After showering, Zuo Chi opened WeChat to reply to New Year’s greetings one by one, generously sending red envelopes in various company work groups, played with his phone for a while, and then felt sleepy.

He didn’t know when Sheng Li entered the room. He heard some noise while half asleep. When he opened his eyes, Sheng Li was coming out of the bathroom shirtless, wrapped in a towel around his waist, his muscular and tall figure giving off a strong visual impact.

Zuo Chi swallowed, the scent of amber and blackcurrant in the air entwining and merging, bringing endless fantasies.

Even if Sheng Li pretended not to notice, it was hard to ignore. “Are you pretending to sleep?”

“You’re overthinking.” Zuo Chi got up. “I was just about to use the bathroom.”

“Oh.” Sheng Li sat on the edge of the bed and replied to a WeChat message. It wasn’t until then that he remembered his underwear was still on the bathroom shelf.

 

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Author’s Note:

The next chapter will cover the New Year’s Eve part!

 

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  Author’s Note:
  
  The next chapter will cover the New Year’s Eve part!