Extra 4: Lantern Festival - Pay Attention to Me

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, this is the final chapter and the last extra that was published. If anything else comes out in the future, you can notify me and I'll be glad to pick up this work once more.

It was a real pleasure to work on this novel and I'd also like to hear you opinions.

I hope you didn't have much troube reading my translation, and I hope to see you again in my other works.

Jiang Yao brought Yin Che back home for the Chinese New Year celebrations this year.

 

Their next-door neighbor somehow managed to acquire a large box of firecrackers and fireworks, which they set off from New Year's Eve until the fifteenth day of the lunar month. It was indeed lively, but the constant nighttime noise prevented people from getting a good night's sleep.

 

Yin Che was an early sleeper, and just as he entered deep sleep in the early morning, he would be startled awake by the sudden loud bang of firecrackers outside. Trembling all over, and in a half-asleep state, he instinctively sought comfort in Jiang Yao's embrace.

 

The relentless sound of fireworks continued until nearly one in the morning. Yin Che endured sleepless nights, and his exhausted face showed faint dark circles beneath his eyes.

 

Jiang Yao tried various methods to help him sleep, like covering his ears, using earplugs, or wearing noise-canceling headphones, but they didn't provide much relief.

 

In the end, Jiang Yao came up with an unconventional solution. Since he couldn't fall asleep no matter what, he decided to engage in activities that would expend some energy and make him tired enough to naturally drift off to sleep.

 

However, they were accustomed to ending their activities before midnight, and even a one-hour delay was challenging for Yin Che to tolerate.

 

Eventually, exhausted and sleepy, Yin Che's fingers, which held onto Jiang Yao's back, felt like tiny animal claws that had just been trimmed, weakly scratching at him. He dared not make a sound, fearing that their family would hear. Instead, he bit down on his shoulder, stifling his sobs. Afterward, he quickly succumbed to a deep and depleted slumber.

 

They tried this method for several nights, and it did help Yin Che sleep better. However, as Jiang Yao held the rabbit-like creature with reddened eyes, he couldn't help but feel as though he was taking advantage of the situation.

 

Fortunately, there was only one more day left until the end of the Lunar New Year. After the Lantern Festival tomorrow, their neighbor should stop setting off fireworks.

 

Jiang Yao let out a yawn, switched off the bedside lamp, and pulled up the covers. He, too, felt the drowsiness creeping in. As soon as his head touched the pillow, his consciousness slowly drifted away, leaving only his senses active and aware.

 

Yin Che peacefully slumbered in his embrace, his warm body still radiating heat. His touch felt exceptionally soft, like... like what? Jiang Yao pondered, lost in thought.

 

Ah, yes, just like a freshly cooked tangyuan (glutinous rice ball).

 

If Yin Che could be a tangyuan, Jiang Yao thought, he could enclose him with his hands and shield him from external disturbances, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep.

 

Jiang Yao indulged in these beautiful thoughts, and his dreams became even more delightful. He dreamt of a white, soft little bunny wearing only an apron, cooking tangyuan for him, making him grin with anticipation.

 

However, the sweet dream was short-lived. Just as Jiang Yao was about to eat the tangyuan lovingly fed by Yin Che, he was abruptly awakened by an anxious cry:

 

"...Jiang Yao... Jiang Yao... Wake up!"

 

Has morning come so quickly?

 

Jiang Yao felt puzzled as he reached out beside him but found only emptiness. Slowly opening his eyes, he scanned the bed but didn't see anyone beside him.

 

However, a familiar voice was clearly ringing in his ears.

 

"Look here, I'm right here!"

 

He followed the sound and instantly widened his eyes, quickly sitting up on the bed.

 

On the soft pillow stood a tiny figure, no bigger than the palm of his hand, a perfectly proportioned miniature version of Yin Che.

 

"Jiang Yao, what's going on? Did I shrink or did you become bigger?" Little Yin Che asked nervously.

 

Jiang Yao just stared at him blankly.

 

Yin Che waved his hand with a radius of about three centimeters and said, "Can't you hear me talking?"

 

Jiang Yao refused to blink his eyes and reached out to lift him up, holding him in front of his eyes for careful observation.

 

Yin Che lost his balance while being carried in the air and fell down. His little feet pointed up, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't climb up.

 

Seeing this, Jiang Yao held onto his small sleepwear and gently lifted him up.

 

With both feet off the ground, Yin Che struggled in the air, although in vain, saying:

 

"Ge, my collar... I'm choking, it's uncomfortable..."

 

After Jiang Yao put him down, Yin Che straightened his sleepwear and breathed lightly, saying, "Thank you..."

 

Jiang Yao took a deep breath.

 

...What a strange dream? But he's just too cute!

 

Just as Yin Che finally managed to steady himself, they heard urgent knocking on the door, and Wang Zhe's voice came from outside, "Xiao Yao, are you awake?"

 

Jiang Yao stood up to open the door, and Yin Che quickly held onto his finger to avoid falling again.

 

When the door opened, they saw Wang Zhe looking anxious, "Xiao Yao, something strange happened to your dad and Xiao Rou. They suddenly... huh? Why did Little Che also become this small?"

 

Jiang Yao and Yin Che focused their gaze on the two little figures standing on his left and right shoulders. One timidly tugged at Jiang Yao's ear, while the other crossed their arms and swung their legs, leisurely saying, "I told you it's just a dream. Why are you so surprised?"

 

Jiang Shaoyan, the head of the family, looked at the two in front of him and concluded, "It seems that only Omega became small. You two alphas, did you make some strange wish before going to sleep?"

 

"..."

 

Jiang Yao awkwardly scratched his hair and looked at his father, his ears turning red, his eyes wandering guiltily.

 

As the head of the family, Jiang Shaoyan was currently unable to reprimand the two, so he snorted coldly, "Forget it, since it's already like this, teach him to make tangyuan first. This kid is clumsy, so he will probably need to learn several times. It's better to start learning now, so when you wake up, you can directly make them and save some time."

 

Wang Zhe asked, "Is that even possible?"

 

"Do you have any objections?"

 

"No..."

 

So the five of them went downstairs together, leaving Xiao Rou in the living room, and the rest went to the kitchen. Wang Zhe was in charge of preparing various fillings and instructed Jiang Yao to prepare the dough, teaching him step by step.

 

Jiang Yao couldn't free his hands, so he placed Yin Che on the countertop. However, when he poured the glutinous rice flour into the bowl, some accidentally spilled out. Normally, he would just wipe it off casually, but today was different.

 

Yin Che didn't have time to run and watched as an unexpected snowfall came towards him. He quickly held his breath and covered his face, so as not to choke.

 

"Sorry, sorry." Jiang Yao quickly used a tissue to gently wipe his pale face but he couldn't quite control his strength and ended up pushing little Yin Che off balance, causing him to wobble and stagger.

 

"I-I'll do it myself." Yin Che took hold of his own sleeve and rubbed his face against it. Then, he looked up and asked, "How is it?"

 

Jiang Yao swallowed nervously and said, "Especially cute."

 

"...I'm asking if it's clean."

 

"Oh, it's clean now. Your clothes got a bit dirty, do you want me to change them?"

 

"Where can we find clothes this small? Never mind, don't waste time. You should keep learning."

 

"Heh." Little Jiang Shaoyan stood with his arms crossed on the chopping board. Every time Wang Zhe chopped the meat, he would be jolted in place, but he remained steady as a rock and mercilessly mocked his useless son, "Even pouring flour can go wrong. Xiao Che, why don't you go to the living room and watch TV with Xiao Rou? It's too dangerous for you here."

 

Wang Xiaorou was sitting on a makeshift cushion made of cotton candy, fully immersed in watching a newly released movie on the large home television, enjoying the top-notch IMAX and panoramic effects.

 

However, Yin Che shook his head. "I'll stay here and guide him."

 

Under the strict supervision of the two omega family members, Jiang Yao managed to complete the remaining steps with some close calls, and he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

 

Wang Zhe quickly prepared the fillings, and the two alphas moved all the ingredients to the dining table to start making tangyuan.

 

Jiang Yao remembered that Yin Che preferred meat fillings, so he decided to make him a larger portion. He pinched off a generous piece of dough and, mimicking Wang Zhe's movements, slowly shaped it into a round form. Then, he put it inside the bowl and placed it on the table, asking Yin Che, "How is it?"

 

Little Yin Che leaned over the bowl, tiptoeing to get a better view, and nodded approvingly, even offering some encouragement, "Hmm, looks good, just a little too big."

 

Unable to resist, Jiang Yao playfully lifted Yin Che's little foot with his finger, causing him to unexpectedly tumble into the bowl of dough.

 

"What are you doing?" Yin Che angrily climbed up, propping himself on the edge of the bowl, trying to get out. But he was only as tall as a tangyuan now and couldn't climb up. "Jiang Yao, let me out."

 

Taking advantage of the situation, Jiang Yao used his finger to tickle Yin Che's sensitive back. Yin Che immediately softened and rolled around in the dough, trying to evade his fingers. His pajamas were covered in flour, making his upper body as red as his exposed waist as he trembled all over.

 

At the dining table, Wang Zhe noticed that his son hadn't moved for a while and thought he was facing difficulties, so he asked, "Xiao Yao, do you have any problems? If you have something you don't understand, you can ask me."

 

Jiang Shaoyan, who was bored, also looked over and noticed something unusual. He said in a serious tone, "Where's Xiao Che? Why can't I see him?"

 

Jiang Yao immediately wiped away his mischievous smile, cleared his throat, and said with a straight face, "I made a bowl for him, and he's having a great time playing inside."

 

Finally escaping from the teasing, Yin Che huddled in a corner, pulled off his wrinkled pajamas, and glared at Jiang Yao with red eyes, full of resentment.

 

This rascal was always like this. No matter how he bullied him, Yin Che would never go to his parents to complain, afraid that he would get scolded. That's why Jiang Yao felt so confident and fearless.

 

"Xiao Che is indeed still a child. Let him come and play here." Wang Zhe took a finished tangyuan and placed it on a chopstick, creating a makeshift seesaw.

 

Jiang Shaoyan whispered, "Abd who will play with him? I don't want to play such childish games."

 

Wang Zhe gently touched Yin Che's hair with clean fingers and said, "I also want to see you play. It seems like it would be a lot of fun."

 

Jiang Shaoyan raised his finger above his head and said, "The way you alphas think is really strange... Fine, since you want to see, I'll reluctantly go along with it."

 

The two alpha males, who were pampered by their wives, chuckled and watched their omegas sit on both ends of the chopstick seesaw. However, Yin Che was relatively light and always stayed suspended in mid-air, unable to push down the other end.

 

Jiang Shaoyan proudly said, "Looks like I will win without even fighting."

 

Wang Zhe smiled bitterly and said, "This is not a competition..."

 

How could Jiang Yao let his own omega lose? He quickly rolled two long strips of dough and stuck them on Yin Che's head, saying, "CheChe, go for it! You can do it!"

 

Yin Che blushed and lowered his head, embarrassed by the two dough bunny ears on top of his head. At the same time, the added weight caused him to slowly descend.

 

Jiang Shaoyan said, "Hey, this is cheating. I want some too."

 

Wang Zhe followed the order without hesitation, completely forgetting what he had just said. Disregarding their familial bond, he swiftly created a small hat and placed it on Jiang Shaoyan's head, shifting the balance of the seesaw back towards him.

 

Not willing to back down, Jiang Yao quickly rolled a small ball and stuck it on Yin Che's back.

 

When Yin Che turned his head and saw the round tail behind him, he became highly suspicious, wondering if Jiang Yao was simply finding another way to tease him.

 

The two alphas competed with each other, constantly adding weight to their respective omegas. Although they didn't make many tangyuan, they wasted quite a bit of dough.

 

The seesaw kept going up and down, finally making both ends dizzy. Yin Che and Jiang Shaoyan, who were wrapped like tangyuan, fell down in a daze and rolled back to their alphas' sides.

 

The alphas, engrossed in their competition, carelessly placed them among the pile of tangyuan and carried them to the edge of the boiling pot. The hazy white steam blurred the alphas' vision as they were about to put them in the boiling water.

 

When Jiang Yao realized what was happening, little Yin Che had already fallen in. In a panic, Jiang Yao reached into the boiling water to rescue him without caring about anything else.

 

And then he woke up, abruptly.

 

The sky outside had already brightened, but the winter sunlight was mostly blocked by the curtains, casting a faint and gentle glow into the room. It lacked the warmth it once had, leaving a hazy and subdued ambiance.

 

The true warmth he felt actually came from the person lying beside him.

 

Yin Che hadn't realized that he had awakened yet. With his eyes closed, he pressed his lips against Jiang Yao's, stealing a delicate and cautious kiss.

 

"..."

 

He couldn't blame him for that.

 

The bunny outside the dream was even cuter than the one in the dream, and the Jiang Yao outside the dream was even more presumptuous. He turned over and pinned the startled Yin Che, not letting go of him for the entire morning.

 

Eventually, the tangyuan-making event was postponed until the evening. Under the earnest guidance of the whole family, a miracle happened. Jiang Yao, to everyone's surprise, managed to skillfully wrap the tangyuan and successfully gained the approval of everyone except his dad.

 

Just after finishing the tangyuan, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers erupted outside again. Tonight was destined to be another sleepless night. Jiang Yao and Yin Che didn't mind anymore; after all, it was the last day of the Lunar New Year festivities.

 

However, Jiang Shaoyan dropped his chopsticks and stood up abruptly. "He, grab your things, and let's go."

 

"Okay." Wang Zhe also stood up immediately, his face serious as if he was about to go into battle.

 

Jiang Yao was puzzled. "Where are you guys going?"

 

Jiang Shaoyan sneered. "I'll let them know the consequences of disturbing us."

 

That evening, the neighbors next door, who consistently disturbed the peace at night and ignored any warnings, experienced an "inhumane" bombardment. Hundreds of massive fireworks were set off consecutively in front of their house for over an hour, leaving the family completely bewildered. They covered their ears and shouted, "Stop it! It's too loud!"

 

Amidst the booming sounds, Jiang Shaoyan shouted back, "Now you know it's loud? Did you ever consider other people's feelings when you were setting yours off? Also, it's forbidden to set off fireworks here. Wait until the property management finds out!"

 

"But you were also setting them off!"

 

"Where did I set them off? They were set off at your doorstep, none of my business."

 

The colorful fireworks illuminated the glass windows, filling the room with dazzling colors.

 

Yin Che wasn't sleepy at the moment. He leaned against the window with Jiang Yao, watching the lively scene downstairs. "Will your dad be in trouble?"

 

"With my dad around, it's not a problem," Jiang Yao covered his ears, blocking out some of the noise. "Sorry for the disturbance. My dad has that kind of temper. If it wasn't for you staying at my house, he probably would have gone over to their place on the first day."

 

In the end, Jiang Shaoyan didn't set off all the fireworks. The neighbors next door surrendered early, promising not to set off fireworks anymore, or if they did, they would do it far away from their house.

 

In the quiet early hours of that night, Yin Che, who had exerted too much energy during the day, nestled in Jiang Yao's arms and slept peacefully, finally resting after a lively yet exhausting year.

 

Meanwhile, Jiang Shaoyan, who was used to staying up late, called it a night with a sense of victory. He returned home with Wang Zhe and, taking advantage of the children being asleep, led his alpha into the bedroom.

 

"Every time the atmosphere gets heated, they disrupt it. It's so annoying..."

 

Wang Zhe picked him up and carried him inside while comforting and kissing him. "It's all over now. Tomorrow, little Yao and the others will go back home... We... still have plenty of time..."

 

The night was as dark as a barrel of aged black wine. Some indulged in a deep sleep, while others were just beginning to immerse themselves inside.

 

For the rest of their lives, year after year.

 

【END】

 

Happy Lantern Festival and best wishes for the Year of the Rabbit,

May everything go smoothly in 2023. (T/N: 2024*)

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