Distorted Fairy Tale - Chapter 15

Song Zhen didn’t expect Zhou Nining to say something like that. He looked up and quickly replied, “I’m not unhappy.”

Zhou Nining studied Song Zhen’s face intensely—his gaze was so piercing that Song Zhen felt self-conscious and looked away. “Is there something on my face?”

Zhou Nining shook his head. “No.”

“Sister-in-law, you’re really beautiful,” Zhou Nining said with a smile. “No wonder Fu Yuting finally came around. He’s never been in a relationship before.”

Song Zhen was surprised. Fu Yuting had never been in a relationship? Then again, he thought, someone so favored by fate and born with such advantages would naturally have incredibly high standards. Most people probably wouldn’t even catch his eye.

In the end, his own meeting with Fu Yuting was likely just a low-probability accident of fate.

They belonged to two entirely different worlds.

Song Zhen looked at Zhou Nining and thought to himself: So, this is the kind of person Fu Yuting likes.

A beautiful, confident, warm, and lively Omega from a good family—who wouldn’t like someone like that?

“You’re very beautiful too,” Song Zhen said politely.

“I know,” Zhou Nining replied with a radiant smile.

Song Zhen was truly at a loss for words. He forced a small smile, thinking that this “White Moonlight” was quite different from what he had imagined.

Zhou Nining didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word “awkward.” He chatted away on his own while Song Zhen barely spoke a few words the entire time; the Omega was perfectly capable of keeping a conversation lively all by himself.

Song Zhen sat there, feeling like he was on pins and needles, listening to this “White Moonlight” he’d only met a couple of times talk about all sorts of things. Since the only thing they had in common was Fu Yuting, Song Zhen ended up hearing a lot of embarrassing stories about Fu Yuting’s childhood.

Zhou Nining: “You have no idea—when he was little, people always mistook him for a girl. Adults would see him and say, ‘Oh my, whose little girl is this? She’s so cute!’ He even wore princess dresses back then.”

Song Zhen: “Haha.”

Zhou Nining: “His emotional intelligence is so low. In high school, an Omega confessed to him, and he just asked her, ‘Are your monthly exam scores in the top 5% of the grade?’ The Omega shook her head, and he said, ‘Then you still have the heart for puppy love?’ He made the poor girl cry. After that, almost no one dared to confess to him.”

“He and Ji Xiuyuan are both total freaks—oh, Ji Xiuyuan is the Alpha who was with us at Cuizhuju. Those two used to hog first and second place in every single exam.”

Song Zhen: “Haha, how interesting.”

Zhou Nining: “After they graduated, they turned into total workaholics. They used to compete for grades; now they compete for performance. Ji Xiuyuan even started investing in films recently—he really wants a piece of every pie.”

Song Zhen: “Haha, that sounds nice.”

Zhou Nining went on for a while longer, before finally looking at Song Zhen and sighing. “But I really didn’t expect him to end up with a Beta in the end.”

Song Zhen expressed his understanding. “It’s true that Alphas and Omegas are generally considered the most compatible genders.”

“It’s not even just about that,” Zhou Nining said, staring into Song Zhen’s eyes. “It’s because Fu Yuting really hates Betas.”

Song Zhen felt a surge of curiosity. “Why?”

“Because, in a sense, his mother was killed by a group of Betas from the slums.”

Song Zhen froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

“He…”

Just as Song Zhen was about to say something, a sound came from the entrance. Fu Yuting was home.

Fu Yuting looked at Zhou Nining and Song Zhen sitting on the sofa, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He glanced at Song Zhen before shifting his gaze to Zhou Nining, his brow furrowing slightly. “What are you doing here?”

Seeing him back, Zhou Nining stood up and walked over. “Giving you a birthday gift, obviously.” Then he added teasingly, “Honestly, Fu Yuting, I didn’t think you’d be the type to keep a beauty hidden away in a golden house. You didn’t even introduce us properly to our Sister-in-law.”

Fu Yuting glanced at Song Zhen. Song Zhen opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated. He heard Fu Yuting say: “He’s not in good health.”

Song Zhen was stunned by the response.

Wasn’t that basically admitting to the “hidden beauty” part?

“Since you’re here, stay for dinner,” Fu Yuting said.

“No thanks,” Zhou Nining shook his head. “I have a date later.” He leaned in and kissed Fu Yuting on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Brother Yuting! I hope you like the gift!” Then he ran over and kissed Song Zhen on the cheek as well, exclaiming, “Sister-in-law, you smell so good!”

Song Zhen was completely dazed.

“Bye! I’m off! Sister-in-law, we should hang out sometime!”

He gave Song Zhen a wink before disappearing.

Song Zhen remained frozen in place, his mind a blank even after Zhou Nining was long gone.

“Zhou Nining grew up abroad; kissing is just a way of expressing friendliness there,” Fu Yuting explained, seeing Song Zhen’s stunned expression.

“…Oh.” Song Zhen touched the spot where Zhou Nining had kissed him. “He’s… quite lively.”

“He’s the king of verbal inflation,” Fu Yuting said tonelessly, wiping his cheek with a handkerchief. “He’s noisy from morning till night.”

It sounded like a complaint, but to Song Zhen’s ears, there was an unmistakable undertone of indulgence.

Fu Yuting took off his suit jacket, handed it to a servant, and sat down next to Song Zhen. He frowned at Song Zhen’s bare ankles. “Not wearing socks again.”

Song Zhen said, “I forgot.”

“Go get him a pair of socks,” Fu Yuting instructed a servant.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Song Zhen took the socks and started putting them on. He accidentally brushed against the cut on his hand and winced. “Sss—”

He had accidentally cut himself yesterday while preping fruit for a cake. It wasn’t serious, but it still stung.

Fu Yuting suddenly lifted Song Zhen’s leg and placed it on his own lap. He took the socks and, while putting them on for him, muttered impatiently, “Why are you such a hassle?”

Song Zhen had evolved to the point where he could automatically filter out Fu Yuting’s sharp words. Looking at the Alpha’s handsome profile, he felt a sudden impulse. “Since it’s your birthday, let me make a cake for you.”

Fu Yuting’s hand paused for a split second.

Once the socks were on, Fu Yuting set Song Zhen’s leg down and stood up. “Suit yourself,” he said, before heading upstairs.

Song Zhen knew he was going to shower.

He practically poured all his skill into making this birthday cake a grand, three-tiered masterpiece.

Song Zhen was an expert at baking, and by the time Fu Yuting came back downstairs in his robe, the cake was finished.

Each tier was ringed with fresh fruit—cherries, blueberries, and strawberries—all of which had been Song Heng’s favorites.

The cake was Oreo salted cream flavor, and he had placed twenty-four candles on the top.

It looked incredibly professional.

Song Zhen hid the cake when he heard footsteps; it was better to save it for after dinner.

At the dining table, while waiting for the servants to serve the food, Song Zhen said to Fu Yuting, “You should eat a little less for dinner.”

Fu Yuting remained indifferent. Song Zhen added with rare confidence, “This cake is really delicious.”

As he spoke, his eyes were bright, and a small smile played on his lips. His proud expression reminded one of a cat whose tail was about to point to the sky.

“Eat your dinner,” Fu Yuting said coldly. “You’d better finish all your nutritional meals today. You always leave half a bowl—who do you think is going to finish that for you?”

Song Zhen knew he was in the wrong there. Recently, in addition to cakes, he had been practicing making delicate treats like macarons and mochi.

He’d failed quite a few times at first and felt it was a waste to throw them away, so he ate them himself. The result was that he was never hungry when dinner came around.

“Oh,” Song Zhen murmured.

Dinner was over quickly. Song Zhen managed to finish the entire meal prepared by the new professional nutritionist, and Fu Yuting’s expression softened slightly.

Song Zhen turned off the dining room lights and walked toward Fu Yuting carrying the three-tiered cake, the candles glowing brightly.

The dim, warm light of the candles cast a soft glow over Song Zhen’s face, the flames reflected in his eyes like twinkling stars.

With a faint smile, he cleared his throat, and a soft melody drifted from his lips: “Happy birthday to you. happy birthday to you…”

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!”

“Fu Yuting, happy birthday,” Song Zhen said cheerfully, placing the cake steadily in front of the Alpha.

Fu Yuting looked at Song Zhen’s face, which seemed to have a soft filter over it in the candlelight. “Three tiers? Are you trying to stuff me to death?”

Song Zhen said, “With more tiers, everyone can have a piece.”

Fu Yuting then added, perplexed, “How can someone manage to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ so off-key?”

Song Zhen rarely sang—he had been tone-deaf since childhood. His face flushed with embarrassment at Fu Yuting’s comment. “I was just singing casually…”

“Young Master, please stop nitpicking,” Song Zhen pouted. He looked at Fu Yuting with big, bright eyes, sparkling with expectation. “Make a wish and blow out the candles!”

Fu Yuting couldn’t understand why this person was so excited for him to make a wish.

He didn’t usually celebrate his birthday; anything he wanted was easily within his reach. He didn’t need to make wishes. But seeing that expectant look in Song Zhen’s eyes, he opened his mouth to oblige:

“I wish—”

He was cut off as Song Zhen pressed a hand over his mouth. “Don’t say it out loud! If you say it, it won’t come true.”

Fine, quite superstitious then.

Fu Yuting had to settle for making a silent wish: I hope the Fu Group continues to thrive under my leadership.

He finished his silent wish and looked at Song Zhen. “Are we done yet?” he asked impatiently.

“Actually, you should close your eyes and cross your hands over your heart…” Song Zhen started, but seeing Fu Yuting’s face darkening, he quickly added, “But you’re the birthday boy; the heavens will definitely hear you anyway.”

“Alright, blow out the candles!” Song Zhen chuckled.

Fu Yuting blew them all out in one breath. Song Zhen started clapping. “Wow, you’re so good at that!”

Fu Yuting: “…”

He looked at the cake, confirming there were twenty-four candles and not four.

Song Zhen hurried off in his slippers to turn the lights back on, humming his off-key birthday song while he began slicing the cake.

He cut a large piece for Fu Yuting, loaded with the biggest and freshest fruit.

“Try it, quickly.”

Then he cut a dozen more slices to share with the servants. The butler was stunned when he received his piece. “The Young Master was willing to celebrate his birthday?” he asked Song Zhen in surprise.

Song Zhen asked, “Why do you say that?”

The butler sighed. “Because the Madam passed away on the Young Master’s birthday, fourteen years ago.”

“Ever since then, the Young Master hasn’t really wanted to celebrate it.”

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