Parents Aren't Home

"Your situation is unusual. If you really get together with an alpha, it'll basically be for life, so you have to think carefully. You need to consider not only him as a person, but also his family. Marriage isn't just between two people; it's between two families."

"If his family doesn't like you, we can't let you suffer any wrongs either, right?"

Duan Xu understood all that. He nodded and said, "I know. There won't be any problem."

Everything he knew came from the dream. Though it wasn't much, he knew Shen Yanlang's family was wonderful too, so there was no need to worry too much.

Hearing him say that, Duan Hu and Qiu Shan fell silent again. Mainly because their child had only just finished differentiating and had only just started university, yet he was already about to be swept away by someone. How could they not feel upset about it for a while?

Watching their expressions, Duan Xu grew uneasy and asked cautiously, "Dad, Mom... do you not agree?"

As he spoke, he pressed his lips together. "If you don't agree, then... then I'll go to the hospital instead."

But he still had to confirm his relationship with Shen Yanlang. It was just that he couldn't spend his heat with him.

Hmm... always wanting to spend his heat with Shen Yanlang—was he the more lustful one?

"No, your father and I don't mean that we disagree." Seeing Duan Xu like this, Qiu Shan's heart ached. "Your health is still the most important thing. We can't be careless."

Hearing that, Duan Xu blinked and grinned. "Hehe!"

After thinking for a while, Duan Hu said, "How about this? Isn't he coming to see you? When he comes, we'll have a meal together and let your mother and me meet him."

"Then I'll ask him." Duan Xu didn't agree immediately. He had to tell Shen Yanlang first.

Qiu Shan and Duan Hu said nothing more and directly sent him back to his room to ask. They had to make a trip to the police station to change Duan Xu's secondary gender registration.

In his room, just as Duan Xu was about to message Shen Yanlang, Shen Yanlang's call came in.

"Hello, Brother Yan." Duan Xu's voice was bright with excitement.

Shen Yanlang couldn't help chuckling. "That happy? Looks like the examination results were pretty good."

"Mm, the doctor said I've completely differentiated. There's no problem." Duan Xu's voice grew quieter as he spoke, embarrassed.

Hearing that, Shen Yanlang laughed again before saying softly, "Xuxu, I want to come see you right now."

Duan Xu touched the tip of his ear. Thinking of how his parents wanted to meet him, he said, "My parents said they want to have a meal with you."

"What did you say?" Shen Yanlang thought he had misheard.

Duan Xu repeated himself. After that, the other end of the call fell silent for a long time, with only hurried breathing audible.

"Brother Yan?" Duan Xu's heart skipped a beat. Did Shen Yanlang not want to meet his parents?

No way, right? Shen Yanlang wasn't a scumbag, was he?

Just then, Shen Yanlang's deep voice interrupted Duan Xu's wild thoughts. "Xuxu, before we've even confirmed our relationship, you're already taking me to meet your parents?"

"What couple is like us? Hmm?"

In truth, Shen Yanlang had been silent because he was trying to restrain his emotions. Although their relationship had yet to be confirmed, he knew Duan Xu liked him. But Duan Xu had quietly told his parents, which meant he had already considered their future and intended to stay with him all along. How could Shen Yanlang not be excited?

Duan Xu paused at that, feeling that it was indeed a little strange. It seemed he had to go see Shen Yanlang and confirm their relationship before Shen Yanlang met his parents.

"Can't we confirm it before you meet them?" Duan Xu replied softly.

Hearing that, Shen Yanlang took a deep breath and said hoarsely, "Xuxu, how about... we confirm it now?"

"No!" Duan Xu kicked his legs petulantly. "I'm not ready yet."

Shen Yanlang exhaled again, only speaking after a moment. "All right. I'll give you time to prepare."

He had waited two months already. A few more days made no difference.

Afterward, Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang confirmed the exact time he would come, then hung up.

During dinner that evening, Duan Xu told them Shen Yanlang would be coming to meet them. Duan Hu and Qiu Shan nodded, saying they would make proper preparations.

But their preparations went unused, and Shen Yanlang never got to meet them.

Because they received a last-minute call saying that an art exhibition originally scheduled for March had been moved up. Three of Qiu Shan's paintings were to be displayed at the exhibition, and she had to go deal with it. Duan Hu went with her.

So at noon on New Year's Eve, the two of them made a huge tableful of dishes for Duan Xu and shared a reunion meal with him. Afterward, they took their suitcases and headed to the airport.

Before leaving, Qiu Shan and Duan Hu were still extremely worried, reminding Duan Xu of things for a long time before they finally left.

The moment they were gone, Duan Xu scampered upstairs, thrilled beyond measure. Once back in his room, he couldn't help laughing. "Oh my, with Mom and Dad not home, I can prepare even more thoroughly. Hehe!"

The day before yesterday, he had used a gathering with his high school classmates as an excuse to go to the mall alone and buy Shen Yanlang a small gift for his confession.

Now he could prepare even more, such as buying a bouquet of flowers that day and booking a romantic restaurant for couples.

"I'm such a confession genius!" Duan Xu was very pleased with his plan.

However, plans could not keep up with changes.

A little after eight that evening, Shen Yanlang called Duan Xu. "Xuxu, have you eaten?"

"I have." Duan Xu was sitting alone in the living room watching the Spring Festival Gala, with the coffee table piled full of snacks.

Hearing him eating, Shen Yanlang couldn't help smiling. "You're eating right now, or..."

"I'm watching the Spring Festival Gala and eating snacks." Duan Xu directly turned on speakerphone, and the sound from the television carried over.

From the sound, Shen Yanlang knew he had turned on speakerphone and immediately raised his voice in greeting. "Hello, Uncle and Auntie. I'm Shen Yanlang. Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie."

"Huh?" Duan Xu froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha..."

Shen Yanlang was baffled. "What are you laughing about?"

By then, Shen Yanlang sensed that something was off, but he only thought of one possibility. "Uncle and Auntie aren't watching the Spring Festival Gala with you?"

"No, they aren't home." Duan Xu stopped laughing. "They left at noon today. They went to Country F."

Shen Yanlang froze. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Leaning against the back of the sofa and holding his phone, Duan Xu said, "Their flight was at three this afternoon."

Shen Yanlang's breathing stalled slightly, and something in his tone changed. "Then you're home alone right now?"

"Yeah. What's wrong?" Listening to the Spring Festival Gala, Duan Xu didn't notice anything unusual.

Shen Yanlang's tone had already returned to normal. "Nothing. Doesn't it feel lonely being by yourself?"

"It's all right." Duan Xu didn't think much of it. His parents had eaten with him at noon anyway, so that counted as a reunion dinner. Besides, there were still many years ahead. Missing this one year was no big deal.

Shen Yanlang murmured in acknowledgment, then asked, "When are you going to sleep?"

"I don't know, I'll see how it goes." Duan Xu smacked his lips. "I might fall asleep while watching."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yanlang said, "Go watch in your bedroom under the covers. Don't catch a cold."

"I think that works." Duan Xu thought about it. The bed was more comfortable after all.

Shen Yanlang seized the chance to say, "Go on, then. I have something to take care of here. I'll call you again in a while."

"Oh, okay."