Chapter 61

Chapter 61

"Xiao Lu~ Time to wake up~"

Lu Mingye opened his eyes to his mother's smiling face. The sunlight cast a soft, dreamlike glow.

He instinctively reached out a hand—short and chubby, a child's hand.

Lu Mingye paused in surprise, then his mother picked him up. Her embrace was as warm and sweet as ever.

"That's mommy's good baby."

"Mom made your favorite bear cake."

Young Lu Mingye was carried downstairs by his mother, where he ate the world's most delicious and cutest bear cake.

Lu Mingye smiled contentedly.

His mother walked toward the living room, waving to him: "Xiao Lu, come here quickly."

Lu Mingye jumped down from the dining chair, but after taking one step, he morphed into his adult self and appeared beside his mother.

"Xiao Lu has grown up."

The living room transformed into the garden in the yard. His mother gazed at him tenderly. Lu Mingye excitedly hugged her, unable to hold back his tears any longer.

His mother gently stroked his head: "Has my little deer been wronged?"

Lu Mingye sniffled: "Mom, I... I'm pregnant..."

As he spoke, the alpha’s flat stomach bulged out.

Lu Mingye himself found it novel and looked down.

His mother remained as gentle as ever. She took Lu Mingye’s hand and placed it on his stomach.

Lu Mingye felt as if he could even sense the breath and heartbeat of the life inside him.

It was a truly magical feeling.

"Mom believes every choice you make will be the right one."

Lu Mingye looked at his mother.

"Everything will be for the best, my darling. Mom will always be with you."

His mother vanished into the light.

In the hospital bed, Lu Mingye’s thin eyelids fluttered, then suddenly opened. He stared fixedly at the ceiling light, recalling his dream, and glanced down at his stomach in a panic. His shifting gaze halted midway.

He looked at Chen Zui sitting beside him. The man’s eyes were closed, and it was unclear whether he was asleep, but their hands were still clasped together.

Lu Mingye quietly watched Chen Zui.

He was carrying his child...

It was such an absurd thing. He wasn’t as agitated or angry anymore; instead, he felt like laughing—a bitter laugh, the kind you let out when you’re utterly speechless.

According to the doctor’s timeline, it must have been from that last time... though the two of them had only been together that once.

So, hitting the mark on the first try—was it Chen Zui who was amazing, or was it him?

This was the consequence of not using protection. He never expected that he, an alpha, would have to bear this outcome.

Lu Mingye’s thoughts drifted chaotically, but his eyes never left Chen Zui’s face. Who would their child look like?

Chen Zui’s face was flawless, and of course, so was his.

Wait.

He wasn’t going to...

"You’re awake. How are you feeling?" Chen Zui, who had been keeping watch all night and resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes. As he asked, he poured a glass of warm water.

"Have some water first."

He tried to help Lu Mingye sit up.

This all-around care made Lu Mingye a bit uncomfortable, but he was indeed thirsty. He sat up and took the water glass from Chen Zui.

The water was warm, bringing comfort without scalding.

Now that he was awake, he had to face many things. Lu Mingye held the water glass, lowered his gaze, and drank absentmindedly as he lost himself in thought.

Chen Zui: "I’ll go buy breakfast. What would you like to eat?"

Lu Mingye set down the water glass: "No need to bring it back, and I don’t need to stay in the hospital either."

"Okay."

"I’ve consulted with the doctor."

Lu Mingye took a deep breath and looked at Chen Zui: "What?"

"If you don’t plan to keep the child, rest for another day today. Tomorrow we’ll come back for a check-up. If everything is fine, the procedure can be arranged the same day. It’s painless and takes about 10 minutes. Afterward, we’ll focus on recovery. The first week is the most critical, but it’s best to be cautious for the first month. After that, your body will mostly recover. The child is still small now, so this is the best time if you decide not to keep it."

Chen Zui spoke methodically, occasionally glancing at Lu Mingye’s stomach.

Lu Mingye hadn’t expected to hear this from him.

After a moment of silence, Lu Mingye couldn’t help but ask: "You don’t want this child?"

Chen Zui’s hands clenched on his lap, his eyes growing deeper, though his expression remained unchanged.

"What matters is you."

Chen Zui looked at Lu Mingye: "It’s not because of its existence that we exist."

These words struck a chord in Lu Mingye.

It was true.

Lu Mingye hadn’t wanted this child—it was an accident, devoid of any expectation. Besides, what was an alpha doing having a child? And given his current relationship with Chen Zui...

He felt secretly relieved that Chen Zui felt this way.

"Do you think it will blame me?" Perhaps it was the hormones at work, but Lu Mingye felt less decisive than usual. He was filled with curiosity about the life growing inside him and unconsciously placed his hand on his stomach.

His hand was held.

The alpha's hand was dry and warm, enveloping his own and bringing a grounded sense of security.

"It's just an embryo. Before you give birth, it's not really a person yet, so you have the right to decide without any psychological burden."

Lu Mingye never knew that Chen Zui was so good at comforting people, but it did put him at ease.

The two left the hospital and scheduled the check-up for the next day.

They returned home.

Chen Zui: "What would you like to eat?"

Chen Zui suddenly remembered Lu Mingye, who had nearly gone crazy over spicy braised pork trotters—probably because of the pregnancy. See, pregnancy affects a person so much, so no one has the right to make decisions for the pregnant person.

Lu Mingye listed a few dishes.

Because of the child, the previous charade of pretending with each other and that whole confinement situation between them were swept aside. Now, looking back, both felt it was quite childish, like playing house.

Chen Zui was cooking in the kitchen, while Lu Mingye stood in front of the bathroom mirror looking at his abdomen. His eight-pack was still neatly arranged, and he really couldn’t tell where the child was hiding.

He remembered the dream he had.

What had it been like when his mother was pregnant with him?

He thought of the photo album, got dressed, left the bathroom, took the album out of the safe, and flipped to the photos of his mother during her pregnancy. In every photo, her face was beaming with happiness.

He turned to the photo of his own birth. On the back of the photo was a line of text: "My baby, you are Mommy’s most precious gift."

Lu Mingye ran his finger over the words.

Was the child in his belly also a gift that belonged to him?

At dinner, Lu Mingye only managed a few bites before he was overcome with nausea again.

Chen Zui patted his back: "I’ll make some porridge for you instead."

Lu Mingye, lightheaded from throwing up, mumbled without thinking: "Your kid's sure making trouble already."

He immediately regretted it—the words were too ambiguous.

He could even see Chen Zui’s face flush with obvious embarrassment. This man could actually blush.

And… it was actually cute.

After a moment, Chen Zui, his face still bright red, said: "I’m sorry."

Lu Mingye: "...Shit! That's even cuter!"

Ao Tian: "Affection level: 40%!"

It finally understood—when someone starts to care about you, even your breathing makes them happy.

Lu Mingye brushed his teeth, and Chen Zui guided him to the couch. Before leaving, his large hand rested on Lu Mingye’s stomach: "Behave now."

He went to the kitchen to make porridge.

Lu Mingye was still in a daze, as if Chen Zui’s hand was still on his stomach. That feeling just now was magical—Chen Zui was speaking to their child through his belly.

He placed his hand on his stomach.

It couldn't hear anything, probably.

But…

This was their child, and also his own. It would become his family, family that would never leave before he passed away.

Realizing this, Lu Mingye’s feelings grew complicated.

He didn’t vomit while eating the porridge and finished two large bowls, mainly because Chen Zui’s cooking had gotten so much better.

Chen Zui: "Rest early, try not to overthink."

Lu Mingye nodded. He returned to his room and couldn't help speaking to the little one in his belly, just like Chen Zui had.

"Baby."

"I’m... Dad."

—

Chen Zui reached for a cigarette in the guest bedroom but then set it down again.

Ao Tian: "You actually want this baby, don’t you?"

Chen Zui was silent for a long while: "It would be family."

Ao Tian: "And it’s been too long since you’ve had family."

For the first time, Chen Zui felt that Ao Tian understood human emotions so well. Yes, it had been far too long.

While Lu Mingye slept, Chen Zui still sat lost in thought in the dark.

—

The next day, the two went to the hospital. The check-up went very smoothly—Lu Mingye was in good health, and the surgery could be performed that day.

Chen Zui was busy running around taking care of things. When he returned to the ward, Lu Mingye had already changed into the hospital gown.

Their eyes met.

Chen Zui smiled and stepped forward, whispered into Lu Mingye’s ear: "Don’t worry, I gave the doctors and nurses red envelopes (bribes). There’s absolutely no way anything will go wrong."

Lu Mingye smiled. He knew Chen Zui was saying this to reassure him and lighten the mood—the doctors and nurses wouldn't dare take bribes if they had eight hundred lives.

"After this is over, I'll cook you something good." Chen Zui kept talking, trying to lighten the atmosphere, not showing he'd been up all night.

A nurse walked in with medication—a little white pill that Lu Mingye needed to take before the surgery.

It would soften his cervix, making the procedure easier.

Lu Mingye looked at the pill in his palm.

He felt a hand rest on his head: "Just think of it as taking a nap. When you wake up, you’ll still be you."

Lu Mingye looked at Chen Zui. He was truly thankful Chen Zui had learned at the same time he did and could stay by his side throughout. If he had been alone in knowing…

He took the water.

He thought of his mother, and so much more...

After hesitating several times, he finally gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and took the medicine.

Chen Zui's eyes darkened, but he did nothing, only stroking Lu Mingye's hair even more gently.

About ten minutes later, the nurse came to call Lu Mingye, telling him he could go to the operating room now.

Lu Mingye was still nervous—he had never imagined he would have this kind of surgery. The complete unknown was especially frightening.

"Chen Zui..."

"I'm here."

Chen Zui took his hand and walked with him toward the operating room upstairs.

This floor was the OB-GYN floor, so there were many pregnant women, expectant fathers, and young children.

As the two stepped into the elevator, a little girl came running in, so small she barely reached Lu Mingye's waist. She immediately hugged his leg.

"Daddy, pick me up!"

The little girl said in a baby voice.

Lu Mingye froze, as though something was stirring within him.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand stopped them. A beta patient in a hospital gown appeared, looking both helpless and amused. "Sweetie, look—where’s Daddy?"

The little girl tipped backward as she looked up. Her big, round eyes glanced at Lu Mingye, then turned toward the beta. She let go of Lu Mingye and ran happily to the beta.

"Daddy!"

"Pick me up!"

The moment the little girl turned away, Lu Mingye instinctively reached out, wanting her to come back.

When his hand closed on empty air, he felt a hollow, aching sadness in his heart.

The beta picked up the little girl, apologized to Lu Mingye, and left.

Chen Zui, who had been watching Lu Mingye closely, asked, "Are you okay?"

Just as the elevator doors began to close again.

Suddenly, another hand stopped them—this time, it was Lu Mingye.

Chen Zui: "You—"

"I'm not going through with the surgery!" Lu Mingye hurried out of the elevator in a panic. "I'm not doing it..."

He ran back toward the hospital room, and Chen Zui chased after him.

"Xiao Lu, don’t run—slow down!"

Lu Mingye rushed into the bathroom, trying to force himself to throw up the medicine.

Chen Zui appeared behind him, his heart aching at the sight. He pulled him up. "Stop, that’ll make you sick."

Lu Mingye pushed his hand away. "I need to get the medicine out of me. I don’t care if you want this child or not—I want it. I’m keeping it!"

Chen Zui pulled him into a tight embrace. "I want it too!"

The man’s voice was choked with emotion.

Hearing his firm response, Lu Mingye’s eyes reddened, and he buried his face in Chen Zui’s shoulder.

"I thought you hated this child."

"How could I hate our child?"

Ao Tian wisely didn’t report at this inappropriate moment that the favorability rating had risen again, now reaching 45%.

Chen Zui released the embrace and kissed Lu Mingye. "I’ll go find the doctor now."