Chapter 36

Chapter 36

"Terminate it?"

Bai Qi let out a soft laugh, withdrawing his hand and rubbing his fingertips over his wrist. "Is that not allowed?"

The old doctor sighed. "We don’t perform abortions here. The risks are too high—it’s often fatal."

"You can deliver babies but not end pregnancies?" Bai Qi found it absurd. There wasn’t a trace of amusement in his eyes as he stared calmly at the other man. "Then how can I get rid of it?"

The old doctor hesitated for a moment before speaking up cautiously, sensing Bai Qi’s resolute attitude. "Why not keep it? A child could be company for you."

The omega looked at him as if he’d heard the most ridiculous joke. "I’m just twenty. I haven’t even got my own life together—how am I supposed to raise a new one?"

To Bai Qi, this was preposterous. He felt no parental pull and had always prioritized himself. If a child threw off his balance, he wouldn’t hesitate to abandon it.

The old doctor stopped trying to persuade him. "Try a big-city hospital. You have connections there, don’t you? Find a way to go and get a proper check-up."

Bai Qi bit his lip, studying the man for a long moment before finally murmuring a quiet "thank you." He stood and walked out without looking back, making a beeline for the gambling den.

If Qi Heyan hadn’t left, Bai Qi might have kept the child.

The omega pressed a hand to his belly, unable to feel the heartbeat within. His thoughts were tangled. Just when he thought his life was back on track, this surprise had upended everything. He had already stopped thinking about that alpha.

That damned alpha.

"Open up!"

Bai Qi’s expression was icy, not a trace of warmth, even carrying a hint of ferocity. "Open the door!"

The gambling den’s doors opened fast, with the manager personally letting him in. Bai Qi didn’t know what had happened that night, but ever since then, this man had treated him with care—even respect.

"What’s wrong?" The manager tried to usher Bai Qi inside. It was already night, and the wind outside stabbed through their clothes.

Bai Qi stood frozen. His voice was unnaturally calm. "I need to go to the affluent district. You can arrange it, can’t you?"

The manager tensed. "What for? To find Qi Heyan?"

"I’m sick. I need to see a doctor." The omega scoffed impatiently. "Can you get me there or not? If not, I’m going home."

"I can." Eased by Bai Qi’s answer, the manager thought it over. If the omega really wanted to find someone, he would’ve gone long ago. After checking the time, he said, "Tomorrow morning, by boat. Will that work?"

Bai Qi’s eyelids fluttered. He took a deep breath. "Fine. I’ll go home then."

"Take care."

Bai Qi didn’t bother with goodbyes. With a dismissive wave, he left. He was always cold, and the night’s deepening chill left him numb by the time he got home, his limbs stiff with cold.

"Exhausting..."

Grumbling under his breath, Bai Qi forced himself to heat water. There was a small wooden tub in the bathroom, one he used specifically for bathing. He had to boil water twice before he had enough to soak in. Checking the heat, he began undressing.

He had lost a lot of weight. Bai Qi looked down at his body—his ribs showed, his belly utterly flat. It was hard to believe there was a tiny life growing inside him.

The omega lowered his gaze, lightly brushing his fingertips over his abdomen. His face stayed empty as he stepped into the tub without a word. The water swallowed him whole. Bai Qi curled his legs up, resting his arms on the edge of the tub, his gaze distant, seeing nothing.

His and Qi Heyan’s child...

"If your other father were here, I might’ve kept you." Bai Qi’s whisper barely escaped his lips. He hid his face in his arms, only now feeling a stab of grief. "But I can’t. Not like this."

He didn’t know if those words were for himself or the child. His eyes burned, tears pooling but not spilling. He was done crying.

Bai Qi closed his eyes, sighing in defeat. His fingers flexed uselessly, but he said nothing more.

.

The omega’s biological clock was precise. Bai Qi woke up early, dressed, and waited at the docks. Perhaps because of the pregnancy, he was unbearably drowsy. Unable to fight it, he crouched on the ground, curling into himself and resting his eyes for a while.

"Bai Qi?"

The manager spotted him the moment he arrived, calling out twice before the omega startled awake. Though his body trembled, Bai Qi stood quickly.

His exhaustion was unmistakable. "Can we go now?"

"Yes, but I can’t accompany you. Will you be alright alone?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

Bai Qi’s voice was hoarser than usual. Rubbing his eyes, he boarded the boat without looking back, his posture betraying no hesitation.

His seasickness was real—pregnant or not, he’d always been prone to it. The moment the boat set off, he was vomiting until his stomach ached. Eventually, he had no choice but to lie down and sleep, though even that brought little relief. By the time they docked, his face was drained of color.

With a special travel pass, Bai Qi passed through inspections smoothly. He still remembered the last time he’d come here—with Qi Heyan.

From the manager’s words, he had pieced together that Qi Heyan had returned to the affluent district, leaving his life in the slums behind. Maybe the alpha was watching him from somewhere right now...

The thought almost made Bai Qi laugh. Adjusting his mask, he stopped someone to ask for directions. Once he confirmed the hospital’s location, he began walking. Endurance was something he had in spades. He double-checked the route repeatedly, ensuring he wasn’t lost.

One hospital stood out—massive and imposing. Bai Qi had brought all his money. Staring up at the towering building, he suddenly felt insignificant. For the first time, hesitation crept in. At his core, he was afraid—of the unknown.

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and stepped inside. Immediately, someone approached. "Hello, would you like a navigation bracelet? It can guide you to any department."

Bai Qi blinked. "Is it free?"

"Yes." The person smiled. "Would you like one?"

He nodded, mustering a weak smile. "Thanks."

Slipping the bracelet on, he followed the instructions, pressing the center button before stating he needed the obstetrics department. The device asked if he had an appointment. When Bai Qi said no, it guided him step-by-step through registration and queuing.

With the bracelet, everything went smoothly. He got his appointment and found the right department without issue.

The doctor was gentle, first asking about his condition before sending him for tests. Bai Qi obeyed quietly, going downstairs for bloodwork, examinations, and payment. The results came quickly—he was indeed pregnant, and in poor condition.

"Your body is malnourished, and the fetus isn’t developing well. According to your report, it’s been a long time since your alpha provided any comfort, correct?"

Bai Qi gave a quiet "Mm," sitting upright with his hands on his knees, his gaze steady. "I want an abortion. Is that possible?"

"Why?" The doctor remained kind. "Given your current health, I don’t recommend it. You’re severely undernourished, and your hormonal balance is off due to the lack of alpha pheromones."

Bai Qi was silent for a few seconds before smiling faintly. "My alpha and I separated. This child was an accident. I’ll take care of my health, but does that mean I can’t have the procedure now?"

The doctor shook his head helplessly. "You and your alpha are separated? I see you’re listed as married. Does your husband not know about the pregnancy?"

"No." Bai Qi’s voice was heavy. "Does it matter if he does?"

"Under imperial law, all hospital records for married alpha-omega pairs are automatically sent to the spouse’s device. Your husband should already know."

Seeing Bai Qi pale, the doctor quickly added, "I’m sorry. I should’ve told you sooner."

Bai Qi didn’t have a phone. Of course he wouldn’t have known. His lips trembled, but he said nothing, only frowning. "It’s fine. It doesn’t matter if he knows."

"Thanks, Doc. I’ll go handle the payment."

Bai Qi swayed as he stood, exhaled sharply, then shuffled downstairs.

At the same moment, Qi Heyan, who was in a meeting, received a notification. Dressed to the nines, he scanned the room with a commanding glare. Just as he was about to speak, his comms device pinged. The alpha glanced at it casually, but that one look froze him in his tracks.

"Your husband, Bai Qi, was at the hospital today..."

Qi Heyan immediately dismissed the meeting. After reading the entire message, he was stunned—it claimed he had an omega husband, and that the man was pregnant?

This is insane. He’d only been out for six months—how could he suddenly be married with a child?

He didn’t even know the guy.

Qi Heyan narrowed his eyes. Ever since waking up, he had been told he had been unconscious for a long time, with no memory of what had happened during that period—

"Get Rong Si in here."

"Yes."

No one questioned Qi Heyan’s orders. Soon, an omega named Rong Si entered. If Bai Qi had been present, he would have recognized him as the prince from that day—Qi Heyan’s so-called "childhood sweetheart."

Rong Si walked in and sat on the sofa, tilting his head up. "What’s up?"

"Did anything happen while I was unconscious?"

"Nope." Rong Si looked away, voice flat. "What are you trying to say?"

"See for yourself." Qi Heyan tossed his comms device to Rong Si with a scoff. "What’s the meaning of this? I just checked—I’m legally married. You all plotted your asses off but missed this, huh?"

Rong Si’s eyes lingered on the name "Bai Qi." He gave a quiet ‘huh’ and went still for a long moment before speaking. "If you’re so curious, track him down yourself."

The alpha scowled, baffled. "What did you say?"

"I said—"

Rong Si curled his lips, deliberately slowing his speech. "Go ask him yourself."

"Find Bai Qi. Get the truth straight from him."