Chapter 57: Omega Pregnancy Nutritional Supplements

Chapter 57: Omega Pregnancy Nutritional Supplements

Another one and a half months passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Luo Le had learned how to cook. Though his dishes didn't look particularly appetizing, they tasted decent.

The New Year was approaching, and the military region was granting a two-week holiday.

Worried about Luo Le, Feng Cheng wanted to come take care of him but hesitated, fearing rejection. So he came up with the excuse of visiting for leisure.

Luo Le understood his intentions and, considering his good will, reluctantly agreed after much deliberation.

Besides, he had indeed been experiencing some difficulties lately.

Their child was now six months along. Perhaps due to inadequate nutrition or his own constitution, Luo Le's feet were severely swollen, making it difficult for him to walk.

Fortunately, there was an empty room available here.

With the weather outside being too cold, Luo Le wasn't suitable for traveling. Therefore, he sent Feng Cheng his location and informed him where the key was, asking him to find his way over.

Not going to pick him up left Luo Le with a twinge of guilt, so he decided to prepare a lavish meal to welcome him.

"Brother Le, are you cooking?"

Wind City suddenly appeared behind him, giving Luo Le a fright and causing him to take a step back.

He had arrived so quickly, and Luo Le's dish wasn't even finished yet.

After regaining his composure, Luo Le nodded as he transferred the contents from the pan onto a plate.

Wind City looked at the overcooked tofu and paused, "Brother Le, why don't you take a break? I'll take over."

As a guest and having just arrived, it wouldn't be proper to let Wind City cook.

Luo Le waved his hand, "No need, it'll be done soon."

Wind City couldn't persuade him otherwise and awkwardly waved goodbye before leaving.

As he left, his peripheral vision caught sight of a soup reduced to just fish bones on the other side.

He hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Eventually, the four dishes and one soup were served on the table.

With a resigned heart, Wind City took a bite, only to find that although the presentation was unappealing, the taste wasn't as horrifying as he had imagined. It was actually... quite normal.

However, his decision wouldn't change.

"Brother Le, you didn't know how to cook before, right?"

Not to mention cooking, Brother Le couldn't even distinguish between different grains in the past.

Luo Le picked up a mouthful of food and said irritably, "Just eat your meal. Oh, by the way, you wash the dishes while I cook."

Wind City had no objections to washing the dishes.

He nodded and said, "I didn't mean to mock you, Brother Le. But for now, let me do the cooking. You should just focus on recuperating and preparing to welcome the little one."

Indeed, it was inconvenient for him at this time. He shouldn't push himself and risk anything happening.

Considering this, Luo Le nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Looking at the person engrossed in eating, Feng Cheng glanced around the dilapidated house.

Did Huo Lanjing not give Luo Le any money? Or had he spent it all without saving anything?

But fearing that he might evoke painful memories, he decided to keep silent after some thought.

Snow fell heavily outside the window. Concerned about his work, Luo Le returned to the sewing machine as soon as he finished eating.

When Feng Cheng came out after washing the dishes, he saw Luo Le hand-sewing... a small garment.

He approached and took a look. "Brother Le, are you making clothes for the baby in your belly? Isn't this a bit too small?"

Luo Le shook his head. "No, this is my job."

Feng Cheng paused, his words quicker than his thoughts. "How can you make much money from this? It's not as valuable as producing a microchip."

Only after speaking did he realize his mistake, but it was too late to take back his words.

Luo Le cast his eyes down and pressed his lips together. "It's enough to make ends meet, and I'm not in a position to do that kind of work now."

The man who used to stroll through luxury stores like they were supermarkets now lived in this dilapidated house and did this kind of work just to scrape by...

"Besides, I've learned new things too. Look, I made this little hat for him."

Luo Le took out a small hat from the box.

Wind City didn't continue on that topic. "It looks nice. By the way, Brother Le, have you thought of a name for the little one?"

Luo Le rubbed his belly, his expression mischievous. "Mm, I've named him Chenyue. 'Chen' as in star, 'yue' as in joy. His nickname is Chen Chen."

He hoped that his baby would shine like a star in the sky, bright and happy every day, unlike him, so full of failures.

"Luo Chenyue, that sounds good. Hehe, Little Chen Chen, grow up quickly. Your daddy and uncles are all looking forward to meeting you soon."

After that, Wind City took over the cooking. It had to be said, he was quite skilled.

In a week's time, Luo Le's weight increased from 120 pounds to 124 pounds.

His body felt significantly heavier.

That morning, just as dawn was breaking, Luo Le was abruptly awakened from his sleep by a sharp pain in his leg.

During the previous examination, the doctor had attributed it to calcium deficiency.

Here, without access to nutrient injections, he could only rely on dietary supplements, but the effects weren't that significant.

Today was the day for another checkup; he would ask the doctor if there were any other remedies available.

If all else failed, he could ask Wind City to purchase some omega-specific prenatal nutrients from the Star Network.

However, his savings seemed barely sufficient for a single box, and one box didn't seem adequate.

At this thought, Luo Le let out a sigh.

He propped himself up and got out of bed, figuring it was time to pack and prepare for the prenatal checkup.

As he poured himself a cup of hot water and sat down on the sofa to drink, Luo Le noticed a note on the table.

The signature reads Wind City.

He mentioned having military district affairs that required an early return.

Considering for a moment, Luo Le sent a message to Wind City, urging him to take it slow on his journey.

Armed with a small blanket, her prenatal checkup records, medical card, and a thermos, she stepped out of the house.

The hospital for the checkup was quite a distance from where Luo Le resided, a half-hour journey by car.

This type of vehicle wasn't as stable as a hovercar; every time Luo Le took one, he would end up vomiting profusely.

This time was no different.

"Are you alright?"

Having finished his bout of nausea, Luo Le felt much better. Upon hearing the voice, he lifted his gaze and found a doctor in a white coat standing before him – the same physician who had been examining him all along.

He got up, pulled out a tissue from his pocket, wiped his mouth, and waved his hand. "I'm fine."

"Today's for the examination, right? Our hospital has just received a new batch of treatment pods. Let's go."

Luo Le nodded, recalling that he had previously mentioned applying for a treatment pod. He followed the doctor along.

The doctor's office was on the eighth floor, with a view of a fountain outside the window, although it was currently frozen due to the harsh winter.

"Don't we need to go to the examination room?" Luo Le asked in surprise, as he hadn't expected the doctor to lead him straight to his office.

The doctor pulled back the curtain with a smile in his eyes. "Not necessary."

Luo Le pondered. It was a hospital after all; what could possibly happen? The sooner the examination was over, the better.

With this thought, he placed his belongings on the table and lay down inside the treatment pod.

Just as the pod was about to close, the doctor suddenly spoke up. "Hold on a moment."

Luo Le furrowed his brow. "What's the matter?"

"No worries, cover yourself with this so you don't catch a cold." As he spoke, he unfolded the small blanket Luo Le had brought and draped it over his abdomen.

"Alright, thank you." Although he was perplexed, he still lay down obediently.

The treatment pod was indeed efficient; as soon as Luo Le got up, the results were ready.

The doctor, holding the slip in hand, frowned in deep thought. "You're still lacking in calcium and certain trace elements. It seems dietary supplementation isn't sufficient. The Empire has an omega prenatal nutrient formula that I recommend you try."

"Is the child alright? Won't their nutritional needs be met eventually?" Luo Le asked anxiously.

"The baby is perfectly healthy, but your physical condition is rather poor. Have you had any major injuries or excessive bleeding in the past? You're currently anemic. If it's not addressed before childbirth, there's a higher chance of heavy bleeding. Our medical level here is too low. I sincerely suggest you seek treatment in the Empire," the doctor advised, looking earnestly at the sheet of paper in his hand.

Luo Le wavered slightly. If the doctor was saying this, perhaps he should consider it.

But if Huo Lanjing found out... He would undoubtedly fight for Chen Chen, and how could Luo Le compete?

At this thought, he sighed. "I'll think about it. Um... Can I ask if we have that omega prenatal nutrient formula here?"

The doctor smiled warmly. "Yes, we do. Moreover, single fathers like you from outside receive subsidies. For the price of one box, you can get five."

He reached into a drawer and took out five boxes, pushing them across the desk.

Luo Le picked one up and examined it carefully. The production date was the most recent, and the packaging and anti-counterfeit measures seemed in order.

But...

"Why would they offer subsidies to people like us?"

It didn't make sense to him. He couldn't contribute any value to Planet 423, and wasn't this planet all about valuing productivity?

"I'm not entirely sure myself. It's from a red-tape document from above. We're just responsible for executing the order. Don't worry about it. Do you want them? If so, take them and pay at the first floor."

"I'll take them."

Why wouldn't he accept the offer if such a policy existed?

"Take them, then. Can you manage? Let me help you carry them down."

Luo Le shook his head and looked up. "Thank you, but there's no need to trouble yourself. You must have other tasks to attend to, right?"

This doctor was usually swamped with emergency cases and surgeries, rarely spending much time in his office.

But it seemed he had some spare time today?

The doctor chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, I am busy, so I won't see you out."

After expressing his gratitude once more, Luo Le turned to leave. Perhaps the doctor was just free at this moment.

Descending to the first floor, he noticed that the billing counter was unusually free of long queues.

Strange.

After settling the bill, Luo Le stepped out of the hospital and found a secluded spot to store his nutrient packs in his personal space before continuing on his way.

Crime rates on this planet were not low; Luo Le had been mugged once before, so he was now extra cautious.

En route home, he picked up some groceries and then boarded a rickety vehicle that, despite its slow speed, was less uncomfortable to ride in.

"Take your time, then."

Luo Le acknowledged with a nod and proceeded to walk towards his home, carrying the items in his hands.

After a while, he grew weary and decided to shift the load to his other hand.

Just as he put them down, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a man dressed in a black trench coat, wearing a hat and a mask, exuding an extraordinary demeanor.

Initially, he assumed the man to be a friend of someone's, but the more he looked, the more familiar he found him.

Something was off.

Luo Le pulled his clothes closer and turned to run.

No sooner had he taken two steps when hurried footsteps echoed behind him.

It had snowed again the previous night, and the packed snow made the ground slippery. Concerned about Chen Chen's safety if he were to fall, Luo Le refrained from running too fast.

"Luo Le!"

Upon hearing the sound, Luo Le was startled, his feet slipped, and he leaned backward.

Feeling that something was amiss, he tried to regain his balance, but a large hand reached around him, causing him to fall into the embrace of the person behind.

Those hands held him firmly, their bodies pressed closely together. Huo Lanjing's chin rested on his left shoulder, his breath softly sprinkling against his ear, tickling him.

Luo Le turned his head to the right to avoid the intimacy, a smile tugging at his lips in spite of himself. "Sir, I think you have the wrong person."

He attempted to push away, but the arms only tightened, as if trying to crush him.

Before he could utter another word, he felt Huo Lanjing's lips brush against his neck, causing his sensitive body to tremble.

Luo Le's anger flared, and he began struggling desperately. "Let go!"

Huo Lanjing didn't release him, instead nuzzling against his neck. With a weary yet relieved hoarseness, he spoke, "Le Le, I'm sorry. Give me another chance, please?"

In the depths of his low voice, there was a hint of joy at having regained what was once lost.