Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Sheng Lian had always known that pregnancy would come with many challenges, especially for someone with Lin Qingshi’s delicate constitution.

The doctors he had consulted these past few days—whether traditional Chinese or Western—had repeatedly emphasized that Lin Qingshi’s pregnancy would be far more difficult than most. But seeing it unfold before him, Sheng Lian finally grasped the reality of it.

—A second later, just a second slower, and it would have been a disaster.

When the wall of beeping monitors around them started blaring alarms, his mind had gone blank with panic. Even now, his heartbeat hadn’t fully steadied.

And this was only the beginning.

After shooing the doctors away to confer about treatment, Sheng Lian returned alone to Lin Qingshi’s bedside. He sat in silence, staring blankly at Lin Qingshi’s face, which had grown gaunt in just a few short days.

He was being swallowed by visceral fear.

…Those two slaps Lin Qingshi had given him before weren’t enough. He deserved worse.

What idiot doesn't use protection just because they were both men?!

Now, it had come to this—this could've killed him!

This wasn’t just because he had realized he was falling for Lin Qingshi. Even without emotions, any decent person would feel guilty knowing their mistake had nearly cost someone their life.

But precisely because he had only just realized his own feelings, his guilt and fear multiplied, weighing him down like stones.

Sheng Lian punched his own temple in frustration.

But after the wave of self-reproach, he still had to figure this out.

Before he could come up with anything, before the doctors had any updates, Sheng Lian instantly registered the patient shift slightly on the bed.

Perhaps having slept enough the night before, Lin Qingshi soon opened his eyes again. Recalling what had just happened, he turned his gaze to Sheng Lian, who sat slumped beside him with his head bowed. His eyes lingered on the stains on Sheng Lian’s clothes before he reached up and tugged off the oxygen mask.

“Go change your clothes.”

His voice was faint, weak—in the dead quiet of the room apart from the machines, even he might not have heard himself.

Seeing Sheng Lian still frozen like a statue, Lin Qingshi frowned and spoke more firmly, “Go… *cough*—”

This finally got Sheng Lian moving. He lunged forward to rub Lin Qingshi’s chest, then tried to put the oxygen mask back on, only to be stopped by Lin Qingshi’s hand.

Lin Qingshi still had little strength, but Sheng Lian wouldn't force it, so the attempt was thwarted.

Lin Qingshi had never seen Sheng Lian look this broken before. Normally, even when angered, the man would just scowl briefly before quickly reverting to his usual cocky smirk. But now, his lips were pressed tight, his entire face drooping like a kicked puppy.

On closer inspection, the man’s eyes were even slightly red.

Lin Qingshi suddenly felt like laughing.

There was truth to the saying—once someone else is more anxious than you, your own anxiety fades.

When he had suddenly experienced oxygen deprivation while vomiting, he hadn’t actually been afraid—or rather, he hadn’t had the energy to be afraid. Just breathing had taken everything he had.

After waking, feeling his own heartbeat, a belated panic had washed over him—only to dissipate now.

Since learning of the pregnancy, Sheng Lian… had changed a lot.

Even if it was just for the sake of the child, Lin Qingshi felt somewhat reassured.

At the very least, during these interminable months, he could… rely on Sheng Lian a little.

“Go change your clothes,” Lin Qingshi repeated once he had recovered. He couldn’t abide the mess in his sight and urged Sheng Lian to clean up. In the past, he wouldn’t have cared—let Sheng Lian wear disgusting clothes if he wanted. But now, it was unbearable.

“Also, I’m hungry.”

Sheng Lian’s eyes lit up with hope before creasing with worry again.

“Then… is there anything you’d like to eat?” He was afraid—afraid that if this happened again, Lin Qingshi really wouldn’t pull through… *No, no, don’t even think it!* Sheng Lian shook his head, dispelling the ominous thought.

Dead serious for once, he said, “Tell me. Whatever you want, I’ll get it for you.”

Lin Qingshi gave him a considering look, then really pondered it.

“You… cook for me.”

Sheng Lian’s jaw dropped.

“Me?” He pointed at himself.

Lin Qingshi didn’t respond, just gave him a faint look that clearly said—*Don’t make me repeat myself.*

Sheng Lian hesitated. He could burn water, but this was something Lin Qingshi actually wanted to eat…

“Alright, I’ll go cook. You rest—but don’t fall asleep! I’ll be right back!”

It wasn’t that he was unwilling. He was just terrified of accidentally poisoning Lin Qingshi with his cooking—back when he was broke and starting his business, he’d cooked for himself plenty, but he was tough. Even if he got food poisoning, he’d just ride out some diarrhea. This time, it wasn’t just a bathroom issue!

He bolted to beg for help from Aunt Wang.

Lin Qingshi couldn't care less. Having eaten nothing and been through the wringer, he was bored with nothing to do but sleep. Slowly, his eyes closed again.

This time, perhaps because he had some peace of mind, he slept peacefully, without dreams.

He didn’t know how long he had slept when hushed bickering at his ear roused him.

“Hey, hey—don’t jostle him!”

“Then how…? He *has* to eat something.”

“Uncurl his fingers and gently stroke his palm… Or let me do it. You’re being ham-fisted—ugh, can you even do this right?”

“Shut up. If you keep talking, you’ll wake him.”

Lin Qingshi opened his eyes.

It was Sheng Lian and Jin Ze, the latter also known as A Tang—one sitting, one standing, both staring nervously at his hand, barely breathing as if afraid of startling him.

Sheng Lian looked especially tense. Lin Qingshi could see his hand trembling as he reached out.

Lin Qingshi—very much awake—blinked: …

What fresh idiocy was this?

Before he could speak, he coughed, making them jump. They immediately descended on him.

“Here, drink some water… Small sips, easy now. I’ll support you, come on.”

“A Tang, match my count—breathe in… and out… in… and out… That's it, nice and easy.”

When Lin Qingshi's coughing subsided, he stretched out his curled back, lay flat, taking small, rapid gasps.

He'd just been somewhat weak before, but after that episode of vomiting, his condition took a sudden nosedive.

Jin Ze looked grave. "You should eat something first. If you still can't keep anything down, we'll have to resort to a nutrient IV."

It dawned on Lin Qingshi—oh right. It had been a long time since he'd been able to eat properly. Even before, he had barely eaten, so his body had naturally grown weaker.

At the mention of food, Lin Qingshi looked at Sheng Lian.

Sheng Lian's eyes darted away.

Lin Qingshi—?

"Bring it here." He had seen it—the lunchbox Sheng Lian had placed on the table.

Under Lin Qingshi's command, Sheng Lian reluctantly brought it over, adjusting the angle of the hospital bed and the small bedside table.

Before opening the lunchbox, Sheng Lian made a last-ditch effort. "Maybe I should just go buy something else, or ask Aunt Wang to make something different? Qing Shi, is there anything else you'd like to eat..."

"Open it."

Lin Qingshi uttered the two words softly, but they instantly cut off Sheng Lian's rambling.

"...Okay."

The lunchbox was opened, and a plume of hot steam came rushing out.

Jin Ze gasped. "Who are you trying to poison?!"