Chapter 39 SJC
Shen Jinnian didn’t know how long Gu Yan had been standing there—or how much he had overheard.
But the chill on Gu Yan’s face was far colder than when he had left. Even though his expression was blank, it was clear that he looked dejected and lonely.
Shen Jinnian guessed he had heard everything.
He had someone cook noodles for him, only to badmouth them behind their back.
That was truly unkind and unfair.
Shen Jinnian felt awkward for three seconds, quickly composed his expression, and asked, “Are the noodles done?”
The man gave a slight nod. “If you don’t like soft-boiled eggs, you can always go do another round of boxing.”
Gu Yan was clearly teasing him, but since Shen Jinnian had been rude first, he wasn’t in a position to talk back.
“I’ll eat now.” Shen Jinnian immediately threw off the blanket.
He put on his slippers and headed straight to the kitchen.
When he arrived at the dining area, he saw that Gu Yan had thoughtfully plated the food for him.
Steam curled up from the freshly cooked noodle soup. A round poached egg rested atop the neatly arranged dragon beard noodles.
The aroma was fresh and rich with the scent of scallions.
Gu Yan’s cooking was as steady as ever.
Shen Jinnian asked for an empty bowl, picked out all the floating scallions, and then pushed it toward Gu Yan. “I can’t finish it. You deal with the rest.”
Gu Yan looked at Shen Jinnian in confusion but didn’t move.
Thinking he hadn’t heard, Shen Jinnian reminded him again while gripping his chopsticks, “You made too much. I can’t eat it all.”
Gu Yan quietly took back the bowl that had been pushed over, but didn’t make any move to get food for himself.
Shen Jinnian felt helpless.
He’d made himself clear—why was Gu Yan still acting like a block of wood?
Was he still mad about overhearing the things he’d said?
“Gu Yan.” Shen Jinnian sat up straight and said firmly, “I told you to eat. Did you hear me?”
Only then did Gu Yan return to his usual self upon hearing Shen Jinnian’s open admission.
He sat upright in the seat opposite Shen Jinnian.
Suppressing the rasp in his voice, he asked softly, “Jinnian, are you worried about me?”
It hadn’t even been four hours since Shen Jinnian had dinner.
Even if he’d only had a piece of bread, it wouldn’t have been digested yet.
And yet, he’d ordered two bowls of boiled noodles. But after they arrived, he didn’t touch a single bite—said he wasn’t hungry.
But in truth... he probably guessed Gu Yan hadn’t eaten dinner, so he deliberately went around in circles, right?
Shen Jinnian’s ears flushed red. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
His brain moved fast, and he quickly came up with an excuse: “It’s just that your cooking is terrible. I couldn’t finish it.”
Gu Yan’s lips lifted slightly.
He’d baited him on purpose, just to hear that angry voice—and then smoothly countered using Shen Jinnian’s own past words: “Didn’t you once say I was a good cook? That I could even work in your kitchen?”
“That was then,” Shen Jinnian retorted, trying to save face. “Your skills can’t keep up with how fast my tastes change.”
Gu Yan gave a thoughtful nod. “Looks like I still have a lot to learn.”
Shen Jinnian nodded in satisfaction.
The joy of stepping on Gu Yan—just once—was truly unmatched. “Exactly. At least you’re self-aware.”
Gu Yan followed his lead, playing along with mock sincerity. “Then, Teacher Shen, should I check in regularly for little tests?”
?
Anyone could hear the scheming behind those words—it was practically echoing across the nation.
“Gu Yan,” Shen Jinnian said flatly, kicking him under the table without hesitation. “Don’t think you can worm your way into my house and cozy up to my son with these cheap tricks. You don’t have a DNA test, and you’re not legally married. Calling yourself his dad isn’t valid.”
Gu Yan looked away, guilt flashing in his eyes.
Shen Jinnian had guessed half of it.
He was trying to sneak into the house—but he didn’t need to win over the kid. That little one was like a piece of sticky candy. Once he stuck to you, you couldn’t shake him off.
The one Gu Yan really needed to win over… was Shen Jinnian.
A noble ragdoll kitten: full of claws and thorns, yet completely unaware of his own cuteness.
Catching a key phrase in Shen Jinnian’s words, Gu Yan’s tone turned a little more tentative. “So, if I do have a DNA report, then it counts as being legitimate?”
“Stop dreaming and face reality.”
Shen Jinnian did feel a little bad for him—envying others, longing for a child of his own.
But two Alphas? That was just impossible.
He decided to lay it out plainly. “The old master once gave me a slip of paper. It had the birthdates of the baby’s parents. Guess whether yours was on it?”
From the way Shen Jinnian was practically gloating, Gu Yan already knew—his name wasn’t there.
He gently reminded him, “There’s no such thing as absolutes. If even the child’s birthday isn’t exact, how could the parents’ be accurate?”
Shen Jinnian insisted stubbornly, “But the general year can’t be wrong. The old master calculated that the other parent is three years older than me.”
Gu Yan had been in the same grade as Shen Jinnian, and he’d seen the student records himself. On paper, he was only one year older—and his birthdate didn’t match the old master’s calculation.
That was another strike against him.
Gu Yan fell silent.
He had always believed in science, in logic. But after the old master said the child came from another timeline, his worldview began to waver—though not enough to fully believe it.
Until just now…
Shen Jinnian told him that the old master calculated the child’s father to be three years older.
Gu Yan sat up a little straighter.
His palm, hidden under the table, trembled slightly.
Three years older…
His real birthday was three years before Shen Jinnian’s. But due to a series of events in childhood, his father had used his influence to forcibly modify his records—hiding his true secondary gender and age.
Now, all of Gu Yan’s legal identification reflected the altered version. Even if the old master had wanted to look into it, he wouldn’t have found the truth.
Which meant that the birthdate the old master gave Shen Jinnian—
Had been calculated.
And frighteningly accurate.
Gu Yan’s respect for the old master deepened.
…
Shen Jinnian, seeing that Gu Yan had gone quiet, thought his words had hit hard.
He patted Gu Yan’s shoulder with mock sympathy. “Don’t worry, Gu Yan. You’ll have bread, milk… and a child someday.”
“Thanks. I’ll accept that blessing.”
The child was already here—a chubby, fair-skinned little thing, looking mostly like his Alpha father. A very beautiful baby.
After saying that, Gu Yan worried that his emotions might slip and Shen Jinnian would notice something.
So he quickly turned around and served himself a bowl of noodles—already soaked too long in the soup, now one big clump.
He sat back down across from Shen Jinnian, slightly lowered his head, and quietly picked up the soggy noodles with his chopsticks, eating slowly.
For once, the atmosphere between them was calm.
Shen Jinnian propped up his chin with his hand and silently watched Gu Yan eat the bowl of untouched noodles.
Then suddenly, with unexpected seriousness, he asked, “Gu Yan, I’m genuinely curious. Why are you so intent on getting my son to acknowledge you?”
“Is it because you want a child…”
“Or is it… that you’re after me?”
But the chill on Gu Yan’s face was far colder than when he had left. Even though his expression was blank, it was clear that he looked dejected and lonely.
Shen Jinnian guessed he had heard everything.
He had someone cook noodles for him, only to badmouth them behind their back.
That was truly unkind and unfair.
Shen Jinnian felt awkward for three seconds, quickly composed his expression, and asked, “Are the noodles done?”
The man gave a slight nod. “If you don’t like soft-boiled eggs, you can always go do another round of boxing.”
Gu Yan was clearly teasing him, but since Shen Jinnian had been rude first, he wasn’t in a position to talk back.
“I’ll eat now.” Shen Jinnian immediately threw off the blanket.
He put on his slippers and headed straight to the kitchen.
When he arrived at the dining area, he saw that Gu Yan had thoughtfully plated the food for him.
Steam curled up from the freshly cooked noodle soup. A round poached egg rested atop the neatly arranged dragon beard noodles.
The aroma was fresh and rich with the scent of scallions.
Gu Yan’s cooking was as steady as ever.
Shen Jinnian asked for an empty bowl, picked out all the floating scallions, and then pushed it toward Gu Yan. “I can’t finish it. You deal with the rest.”
Gu Yan looked at Shen Jinnian in confusion but didn’t move.
Thinking he hadn’t heard, Shen Jinnian reminded him again while gripping his chopsticks, “You made too much. I can’t eat it all.”
Gu Yan quietly took back the bowl that had been pushed over, but didn’t make any move to get food for himself.
Shen Jinnian felt helpless.
He’d made himself clear—why was Gu Yan still acting like a block of wood?
Was he still mad about overhearing the things he’d said?
“Gu Yan.” Shen Jinnian sat up straight and said firmly, “I told you to eat. Did you hear me?”
Only then did Gu Yan return to his usual self upon hearing Shen Jinnian’s open admission.
He sat upright in the seat opposite Shen Jinnian.
Suppressing the rasp in his voice, he asked softly, “Jinnian, are you worried about me?”
It hadn’t even been four hours since Shen Jinnian had dinner.
Even if he’d only had a piece of bread, it wouldn’t have been digested yet.
And yet, he’d ordered two bowls of boiled noodles. But after they arrived, he didn’t touch a single bite—said he wasn’t hungry.
But in truth... he probably guessed Gu Yan hadn’t eaten dinner, so he deliberately went around in circles, right?
Shen Jinnian’s ears flushed red. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
His brain moved fast, and he quickly came up with an excuse: “It’s just that your cooking is terrible. I couldn’t finish it.”
Gu Yan’s lips lifted slightly.
He’d baited him on purpose, just to hear that angry voice—and then smoothly countered using Shen Jinnian’s own past words: “Didn’t you once say I was a good cook? That I could even work in your kitchen?”
“That was then,” Shen Jinnian retorted, trying to save face. “Your skills can’t keep up with how fast my tastes change.”
Gu Yan gave a thoughtful nod. “Looks like I still have a lot to learn.”
Shen Jinnian nodded in satisfaction.
The joy of stepping on Gu Yan—just once—was truly unmatched. “Exactly. At least you’re self-aware.”
Gu Yan followed his lead, playing along with mock sincerity. “Then, Teacher Shen, should I check in regularly for little tests?”
?
Anyone could hear the scheming behind those words—it was practically echoing across the nation.
“Gu Yan,” Shen Jinnian said flatly, kicking him under the table without hesitation. “Don’t think you can worm your way into my house and cozy up to my son with these cheap tricks. You don’t have a DNA test, and you’re not legally married. Calling yourself his dad isn’t valid.”
Gu Yan looked away, guilt flashing in his eyes.
Shen Jinnian had guessed half of it.
He was trying to sneak into the house—but he didn’t need to win over the kid. That little one was like a piece of sticky candy. Once he stuck to you, you couldn’t shake him off.
The one Gu Yan really needed to win over… was Shen Jinnian.
A noble ragdoll kitten: full of claws and thorns, yet completely unaware of his own cuteness.
Catching a key phrase in Shen Jinnian’s words, Gu Yan’s tone turned a little more tentative. “So, if I do have a DNA report, then it counts as being legitimate?”
“Stop dreaming and face reality.”
Shen Jinnian did feel a little bad for him—envying others, longing for a child of his own.
But two Alphas? That was just impossible.
He decided to lay it out plainly. “The old master once gave me a slip of paper. It had the birthdates of the baby’s parents. Guess whether yours was on it?”
From the way Shen Jinnian was practically gloating, Gu Yan already knew—his name wasn’t there.
He gently reminded him, “There’s no such thing as absolutes. If even the child’s birthday isn’t exact, how could the parents’ be accurate?”
Shen Jinnian insisted stubbornly, “But the general year can’t be wrong. The old master calculated that the other parent is three years older than me.”
Gu Yan had been in the same grade as Shen Jinnian, and he’d seen the student records himself. On paper, he was only one year older—and his birthdate didn’t match the old master’s calculation.
That was another strike against him.
Gu Yan fell silent.
He had always believed in science, in logic. But after the old master said the child came from another timeline, his worldview began to waver—though not enough to fully believe it.
Until just now…
Shen Jinnian told him that the old master calculated the child’s father to be three years older.
Gu Yan sat up a little straighter.
His palm, hidden under the table, trembled slightly.
Three years older…
His real birthday was three years before Shen Jinnian’s. But due to a series of events in childhood, his father had used his influence to forcibly modify his records—hiding his true secondary gender and age.
Now, all of Gu Yan’s legal identification reflected the altered version. Even if the old master had wanted to look into it, he wouldn’t have found the truth.
Which meant that the birthdate the old master gave Shen Jinnian—
Had been calculated.
And frighteningly accurate.
Gu Yan’s respect for the old master deepened.
…
Shen Jinnian, seeing that Gu Yan had gone quiet, thought his words had hit hard.
He patted Gu Yan’s shoulder with mock sympathy. “Don’t worry, Gu Yan. You’ll have bread, milk… and a child someday.”
“Thanks. I’ll accept that blessing.”
The child was already here—a chubby, fair-skinned little thing, looking mostly like his Alpha father. A very beautiful baby.
After saying that, Gu Yan worried that his emotions might slip and Shen Jinnian would notice something.
So he quickly turned around and served himself a bowl of noodles—already soaked too long in the soup, now one big clump.
He sat back down across from Shen Jinnian, slightly lowered his head, and quietly picked up the soggy noodles with his chopsticks, eating slowly.
For once, the atmosphere between them was calm.
Shen Jinnian propped up his chin with his hand and silently watched Gu Yan eat the bowl of untouched noodles.
Then suddenly, with unexpected seriousness, he asked, “Gu Yan, I’m genuinely curious. Why are you so intent on getting my son to acknowledge you?”
“Is it because you want a child…”
“Or is it… that you’re after me?”
I can’t wait until the DNA comes back positive for Gu Yan as the father ðŸ¤ðŸ˜‚ Thank you for your hard work ☺️
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