Chapter 36: His
"Why don't you speak? With your good looks, you must have a pleasant voice too," the little girl said, tilting her head to gaze at Nan Yi after pointing at the cake.
Nan Yi paused for a moment.
Unsure of how to explain.
"Xiao Yin, what are you doing here?"
An anxious-looking omega rushed over.
The beautiful omega had facial features resembling the little girl's.
"Little daddy!"
The young girl stretched out her arms excitedly.
"I apologize, sir. I hope Xiao Yin didn't trouble you." The omega said, lifting the child from Nan Yi's embrace.
Nan Yi responded with a gentle shake of his head and stood up.
The omega before him was a few centimeters shorter than him, appearing quite petite.
"Our Xiao Yin is quite mischievous and very particular about looks at such a young age. She probably stuck to you because you're so handsome."
The omega's smile was sweet.
"Both big brother and little daddy are beautiful. I like them," the little girl chimed in.
Flattered by the joint compliments from the pair, a blush crept up on Nan Yi's face.
The resemblance between the two was uncanny; both had bright, starry eyes.
Both equally endearing.
"The affection is mine, not yours." A deep, sultry voice, tinged with amusement, echoed.
Nan Yi paused, his fingers momentarily halting from typing. Looking up, he noticed the two individuals who were previously engaged in conversation not far away, now standing right behind the omega.
"Daddy, Shen Shen!"
The little girl, overwhelmed with emotion, reached out, eager to dive into the arms of the man beside He Yu Shen.
The man, appearing to be in his early thirties, bore a striking resemblance to He Yu Shen.
Could it be that He Yu Shen has a sibling?
A frown graced Nan Yi's forehead.
He recalled He Yu Shen being an only child, didn't he?
"Big brother Shen Shen, is the handsome man your omega?"
Xiao Yin peeked out from the alpha's embrace, one hand holding two fingers of the omega next to him, while pointing at Nan Yi with the other.
"Xiao Yin, we don't point at people." The gentle omega chided, gently pressing down on her hand.
"It's impolite," the omega said softly, educating her.
Nan Yi's gaze instinctively shifted towards He Yu Shen, their eyes meeting mid-air.
Nan Yi subtly averted his gaze, feigning indifference.
"Yes, he's my omega," declared He Yu Shen.
Nan Yi was momentarily taken aback.
He hadn't expected He Yu Shen to so unabashedly refer to him as his omega in public.
But then, merely acknowledging him as his omega wasn't out of the ordinary.
After all, following the exposure of their arranged marriage, Nan Zhai Min managed to secure a piece of land to ensure he stayed by He Yu Shen's side.
"So, when will there be a cute baby like Xiao Yin?" The little girl inquired curiously.
"Hahaha, Xiao Yin, seems you've inherited your little dad's cheekiness," the man beside He Yu Shen chuckled.
Nan Yi's head drooped a tad more, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"What do you mean 'like me'? What nonsense are you spouting?" The omega retorted irritably, taking Xiao Yin from the alpha's arms and storming off with a huff.
"You cheeky boy, can't take a joke!"
"I should be going."
The alpha patted He Yu Shen's shoulder. Though his tone was teasing, it was filled with affection.
"Alright, Uncle."
He Yu Shen's gaze remained on Nan Yi. With a soft acknowledgment, the man then turned and walked away.
Nan Yi slightly lifted his head, watching the retreating figures of the family of three.
It turned out to be He Yu Shen's uncle.
Indeed, He Zhang had a much younger brother.
"Why are you sitting here alone?" He Yu Shen inquired.
"Hungry?"
Nan Yi shook his head.
"Even if you're not, let's go; it's mealtime," said He Yu Shen, taking Nan Yi's hand.
Even after holding hands for most of the evening, Nan Yi still felt a bit uneasy.
Tonight was Ling Ran's birthday. The attendees were close relatives and friends of the He family, and during the meal, Nan Yi sat beside He Yu Shen.
Under the scrutinizing gaze of the other omegas, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
That envious and resentful stare, Nan Yi had experienced it before with Song Jing.
It was jealousy and discontent.
He wished for the meal to end sooner, but often what one fears, one encounters.
Barely a minute after sitting down at the dining table, before even taking a bite, he caught someone's attention.
"And who might this gentleman be?"
A middle-aged woman looked towards Nan Yi.
"This is the omega Shen Shen is seeing," Ling Ran said with a benevolent smile.
He didn't say He Yu Shen's omega, but rather an omega Shen Shen is seeing.
Ling Ran truly was kind; using 'seeing' implied equality between the two.
"Ah, from which prominent family does he hail?"
Nan Yi remained silent, while He Yu Shen's brow furrowed slightly.
"For an elite alpha as outstanding as Yu Shen, not just anyone would be considered his match."
"I initially thought of introducing an omega to you tonight, but it seems it's too late," the woman remarked with a smirk.
Ling Ran smiled, saying nothing.
"Our little Nuò has always dreamed of marrying her cousin when she grew up. It's a pity she was always too shy to speak up; now she doesn't even have a chance to voice it."
The woman teased, glancing at the female Omega beside her.
The Omega briefly met He Yu Shen's gaze, then bashfully lowered her eyes.
"Childhood infatuations differ from the affections of adulthood," Ling Ran said, chuckling and taking over the conversation.
He Zhang wore a stern expression, glancing at Nan Yi with evident distaste.
Along the long dining table, as the woman and Ling Ran conversed, most eyes were drawn to Nan Yi.
He felt like he was on display.
Nan Yi felt uneasy and longed to escape the situation.
"To be associated with Yu Shen, he must come from a significant background. I wonder which family's heir he is, I've never seen him before."
"You seem rather curious about others."
"One should eat in silence and sleep in speechlessness; perhaps we should just quietly dine."
He Yu Shen shot a cold, emotionless glance at the gossiping woman.
His words significantly muted the chatter at the table.
The woman, slightly embarrassed, darkened in complexion.
Only those at the far end of the table, oblivious to the discussion, continued their quiet conversation.
Fortunately, the woman refrained from further probing Nan Yi.
After a quiet meal, cake was served.
With many attendees came much gossip. Nan Yi overheard numerous stories about Ling Ran.
Turns out, Ling Ran had disappeared for over a decade, mainly to avoid He Zhang, which explained his prolonged absence.
No wonder He Zhang, with a group of men, had stormed He Yu Shen's villa that day to retrieve someone.
Despite the many guests, most didn't flock around the birthday man, Ling Ran; instead, they gravitated towards He Zhang and He Yu Shen.
Lost in thought again, Nan Yi failed to notice the slowly approaching Ling Ran.
"Mr. Nan, could you assist me to the balcony for a moment?"
A gentle, kind voice broke through, prompting him to swiftly rise and support Ling Ran.
Guiding Ling Ran, they ascended to the quieter upper floor. The balcony was chilly in the winter, but thankfully, Nan Yi fetched a small blanket from the sofa in the upstairs living room.
He draped it over Ling Ran.
"Thank you."
"You're a good lad," Ling Ran said tenderly.
Uncertain of how to respond, Nan Yi merely shook his head.