Alpha's Desire [YiZhan]

22nd Chapter

22nd Chapter

The sun peeked through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floors of the living room. Zhan stretched lazily on the couch, watching tiny socks bounce in the air as Yuan kicked energetically in his playpen. Yuri, ever the explorer, had managed to pull herself up using the side of the sofa and was now happily babbling at her reflection in the glass table.

Zhan chuckled. “Yuri, that’s you. Not another baby. Stop trying to kiss yourself.”

Yuri squealed in defiance and tried again.

From the kitchen, Yibo’s voice floated in, soft and humming. “Do you think they know I made pancakes?” he called out.

Zhan glanced at the twins and grinned. “Judging by how Yuan is sucking his thumb like it’s gourmet cuisine, I’d say you’ve got competition.”

Yibo stepped into the room, apron tied around his waist and a plate of strawberry pancakes in one hand. He looked at Zhan with mock indignation. “These are artisan pancakes. Made with love. Where’s the respect?”

Zhan snorted. “Tell that to Yuri, who just tried to eat a coaster five minutes ago.”

Yibo set the plate down and knelt beside the twins. “Babies have no taste. It’s fine.” He gently lifted Yuri and kissed her forehead. “Hey, pretty boy. You hungry for the real thing?”

Yuri answered with a dramatic “Ba!” and slapped his cheek playfully.

Zhan sat cross-legged on the floor beside them. “Ba. That’s his word of the day. Yesterday it was ‘ya,’ which we’re still pretending meant ‘Yibo’ and not ‘yak.’”

Yibo looked deeply offended. “I’m holding back tears.”

They laughed together, a comfortable harmony that had taken time—so much time—to reclaim.

By midafternoon, the front door swung open, barely preceded by a knock.

“House of peace and diapers! We have arrived!” Wenhan’s voice rang out as he and Haikuan burst in, followed more calmly by Atticus.

“Didn’t we literally talk about knocking?” Zhan sighed, already amused.

Wenhan waved him off dramatically. “Who knocks on homes they helped patch up emotionally? This is sacred ground.”

Yibo chuckled while Zhan can only shook his head. This guys, tsk, they should be thankful Yuri and Yuan liked them because if not? They can never enter the house again.

“I’m starting to regret saving your number,” Yibo said under his breath, but he was grinning.

Haikuan zeroed in on Yuan immediately. “Aren’t they the cutest?” he cooed, poking the baby’s chubby cheeks. “Look at this face. This is prime serotonin.”

Yuan blinked at him, expression inscrutable, then released a loud sneeze. Haikuan shrieked, delighted. “He loves me!”

Wenhan had already scooped up Yuri, who looked mildly surprised but unbothered. “I’m taking him home.”

“Over my dead body,” Yibo said smoothly from the kitchen as he plated another round of snacks.

Atticus dropped onto the sofa beside Zhan and crossed his arms, watching the chaos with mild exasperation. “I left a business meeting early for this.”

“You love it,” Zhan quipped, nudging him with his elbow.

“I do,” Atticus admitted. “You’ve created something warm here, Zhan. I hope you know that.”