1122 - Chapter 37.2

Qiao Qiao immediately snuggled into First Dad’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering in his ear, “First Dad, First Dad, look at Daddy, he’s really good at being scary too!”

“Jiang Nianqiao, I heard that.” Jiang Yi picked up his glass to refill it, scoffing. “Now that you have your First Dad, you don’t need Daddy anymore, huh?”

He placed the cup under the water dispenser, about to press the cold water button, when a hand reached past him and pressed the warm water button instead.

Their fingertips brushed for the briefest moment.

But the warmth of the chest pressed against his back was unmistakable.

“Don’t drink too much cold water. Have you taken your medicine?”

Jiang Yi stared as the warm water filled the cup, his heartbeat quickening from the proximity. He glanced at the arm braced against the counter beside him, the outline of muscle visible even through the shirt, and for some reason, his mind drifted back to last night.

Had he used his left hand or his right?

Probably the right, most people found it more natural.

Then he suddenly realized where his thoughts were going and snapped out of it.

“What are you thinking about?”

Yan Nanchen’s low, amused voice by his ear instantly dragged him back to last night’s memories. Jiang Yi grabbed the cup, intending to step away, but Yan Nanchen’s other arm blocked his path.

Now he was trapped between Yan Nanchen’s arms and the counter.

Maybe it was because Yan Nanchen was a few centimeters taller, or maybe because he was now an Omega, making it harder to overpower him in presence. But right now, it didn’t seem to be about gender at all, it was just.

Yan Nanchen bent his knees slightly, caging Jiang Yi between his arms as he leaned down, gazing at him. “Were you thinking about me?”

Jiang Yi’s mind blanked. He looked up into Yan Nanchen’s tender, smiling eyes.

This Alpha was just too hard to resist.

Compared to five years ago, that resistance had only weakened further. His stubborn pride felt like it was on the verge of crumbling.

“I’m going to take my medicine.” Jiang Yi ducked, trying to slip under his arm.

Only to be pulled back by the waist.

“I was thinking of you.” Yan Nanchen pressed the startled Jiang Yi back against the bathroom counter, smiling. “Even when I’m looking at you, I still think of you. I think of you every moment missed you last night, and still missing you now.”

This kind of thinking was not the innocent kind.

Jiang Yi’s face instantly flushed red. Behind his glasses, his eyes flickered with a mix of embarrassment and irritation, as if someone had stepped on a cat’s tail, ready to explode: “Yan Nanchen!!! Qiao Qiao is home!”

Just then, Qiao Qiao slipped over to them, looking up with an innocent expression.

“Of course! First Dad misses Daddy, just like how Qiao Qiao misses Uncle too! You miss people when you can’t see them, right, First Dad?”

Yan Nanchen chuckled. “Right, you miss them when you can’t see them.”

Qiao Qiao added, “And you can miss them even when you see them!”

Yan Nanchen laughed. “Yes, you can miss them even when you see them.”

Suppressing his embarrassment, Jiang Yi pushed Yan Nanchen’s hand away. “I’m going to take my medicine.”

Qiao Qiao giggled mischievously, poking First Dad’s leg and pointing at Daddy’s retreating figure with her tiny hand. “Daddy’s blushing.”

Leaning against the counter, Yan Nanchen watched Jiang Yi’s near-fleeing figure with nothing but adoration in his eyes. “Yes, so beautiful.”

Perhaps compared to the fiery passion they shared five years ago, this slow-burning tenderness was far more captivating than he had imagined.

And it made him even more patient.

After breakfast at home, the trio changed into matching pink family outfits. Yan Nanchen and Qiao Qiao exchanged knowing glances before bombarding Jiang Yi with a flurry of exaggerated compliments, successfully making him blush again.

The weekend theme park should have been packed with crowds, but when they arrived, it was eerily empty, with only staff members moving about.

“Huh? Why is there no one here?” Qiao Qiao held Daddy and First Dad’s hands, looking around the deserted park in confusion. She had never seen a theme park like this before.

“Today, it’s just for us. You can play whatever you want, Qiao Qiao.”

Jiang Yi turned to Yan Nanchen in surprise. “You didn’t rent out the whole place, did you?”

What did it mean to book out the world’s busiest theme park? Surely it cost millions?

Yan Nanchen shrugged casually. “It’s fine, as long as you two are happy.” Then he bent down to ask Qiao Qiao, “What do you want to do first?”

Qiao Qiao pointed excitedly at the distant parade floats. “I want to see that!”

Without the usual crowds, the private parade brought to life the dreams many held in their hearts. All the characters, no longer confined to screens, appeared vividly before them.

Qiao Qiao’s sweet little voice called out every princess’s name, her tiny arms waving enthusiastically at the performers on the floats. Overwhelmed with emotion by the end, she sniffled quietly, tears welling up. “They’re so pretty.”

Jiang Yi couldn’t help but laugh, wiping her tears with the back of his hand. “Why are you crying?”

“Daddy, I love Elsa. Do you know why?”

Jiang Yi thought to himself wasn’t Qiao Qiao obsessed with Barbie? Now it’s Elsa? He really couldn’t keep up with his daughter’s ever-changing favorites. “Why?”

“Because Elsa isn’t afraid of anything! Even when things are hard, she knows her sister Anna will always be there for her that’s her strength!” Qiao Qiao waved her arms dramatically, as if she were Elsa conjuring snowflakes. “Hahaha! Qiao Qiao has Daddy, First Dad, and Uncle behind her too! That makes me super strong!”

Jiang Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “Didn’t you want to be a princess? Why do you want to be a big brother now?”

“Then I’ll be a princess big brother! That works too, right, First Dad?” Qiao Qiao looked up at Yan Nanchen.

Yan Nanchen smiled and nodded. “Of course you can. You’re my princess big brother.”

Qiao Qiao covered her mouth and giggled.

And so, they played from morning till night, until the evening fireworks display began.

With a series of loud ‘booms,’ the dazzling fireworks bloomed in the night sky like falling meteors, illuminating half the heavens. The sparks reflected in their eyes, yet someone’s gaze held only one person’s image.

Qiao Qiao gasped repeatedly in amazement, exclaiming, “Wow!”

Jiang Yi watched the fireworks scatter across the sky like stars, and his heart was no different.

Five years ago, he might not have had the heart to watch fireworks. Or even a year or two ago, he definitely wouldn’t have been in the mood.

He never would have imagined that the journey from self-conflict and restraint to finally taking this step wasn’t as hard as he thought. Living shouldn’t always mean being hard on oneself.

Now, his state of mind was entirely different. He was fully present, savoring this dreamlike, romantic spectacle.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Jiang Yi heard Yan Nanchen’s question beside him. His eyes remained fixed on the fireworks, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Beautiful.”

Unaware that in Yan Nanchen’s eyes, he was the only one.

Yan Nanchen’s gaze reflected Jiang Yi’s image his beloved’s eyes filled with the glow of fireworks, yet in his own, no amount of dazzling sparks could compare to that smile.

In his heart, he made a wish: for Qiao Qiao to grow up healthy and strong, for Jiang Yi to be safe and well, and for himself may all his hopes come true.

“Yi Yi, I love you.”

The whispered confession was swallowed by the roar of the fireworks. Yan Nanchen hadn’t expected another burst to drown out his words. His eyes dimmed slightly, and he let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

“I heard you.”

Yan Nanchen froze. The gloom in his eyes instantly brightened, his expression shining even more brilliantly than the fireworks. He reached out and grasped Jiang Yi’s hand. “What?”

Jiang Yi had spoken softly, assuming Yan Nanchen wouldn’t hear. Now that he had, embarrassment washed over him. He feigned ignorance. “What do you mean, ‘what’? Nothing.”

With that, he turned to leave.

But he couldn’t hide the thunderous pounding of his heart.

Even now, his feelings for this man remained as intense as ever.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Qiao Qiao called out as her dad suddenly walked away. “First Dad, hurry! Daddy’s running off!”

Yan Nanchen chuckled. “Alright, First Dad’s going after him.”

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