Chapter 56

Chapter 56

The aftermath of the "kidnapping" incident led Li Xi to instruct Pan Muchiao, the chief security officer of the family office, to conduct a thorough internal review of all security personnel.

In October, during the final week of Li Xi’s pregnancy, he unexpectedly asked Ying Zhiyu to take paternity leave as his birthing partner.

He didn’t want to worry about the Alpha’s safety while he himself was about to undergo surgery.

As it turned out, Ying Zhiyu had already requested time off from his mentor earlier, but coincidentally, the new "artificial pheromone" medication developed by LI Pheromone Laboratory was entering its clinical trial phase at this time.

Since Li Xi wasn’t up for going out, Ying Zhiyu had to make several extra trips for "fieldwork" to help ensure the project progressed smoothly.

Male Omegas generally have poorer pelvic conditions than female Omegas, and are even worse off than female Betas.

As a result, most male Omegas require cesarean sections during childbirth.

Li Xi was admitted to the hospital two days in advance. The hospital he stayed at was still the private comprehensive facility located at the foot of the Li family’s hilltop estate—one built and funded entirely by the Li family.

Han Qiyu had also given birth here previously.

Li Xi had only one request for Ying Zhiyu: "Stay here, don’t go anywhere."

Ying Zhiyu found it somewhat amusing and gently played with the pregnant man’s fingers. "If you’re really that worried about me, just take me into the delivery room. Yuyu promises not to cause any trouble for Brother Xixi~"

The final month of pregnancy had been especially difficult.

As the baby rapidly grew inside the womb, the strain on the waist and abdomen increased continuously. The pregnant man’s internal organs were compressed, leading to various issues such as shortness of breath, reduced stomach capacity, and an inability to lie flat while sleeping.

Li Xi had never been someone who complained about hardship or fatigue. Ying Zhiyu noticed but couldn’t directly point it out, so he simply pretended not to know and quietly remained by the pregnant man’s side.

The question of whether the Alpha should enter the delivery room had already been discussed between Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi beforehand.

Li Xi had been firm—he didn’t want Ying Zhiyu in the operating room.

Ying Zhiyu could roughly guess what Li Xi was concerned about.

An Omega as strong-willed as Li Xi had never shown vulnerability in front of others.

Just considering how, in both his past and current lives, their permanent bond had been initiated by Li Xi, it was clear that Third Prince Li was someone who valued control above all.

When he was anesthetized and lying on the operating table, he would lose that sense of "control" and would have to rely entirely on doctors and nurses.

Li Xi was unwilling to reveal this vulnerable side in front of Ying Zhiyu.

Ying Zhiyu understood, and wanted to respect the pregnant man’s wishes.

So initially, he agreed with Li Xi’s proposal—that the Alpha would wait outside the operating room.

However, once they were actually admitted to the hospital, things changed.

Li Xi’s personal physician, Qin Baoyan, along with the hospital’s chief obstetrician and anesthesiologist, came to the ward to discuss the procedure and obtain signatures on a series of preoperative informed consent forms.

During the doctor’s explanation of surgical risks, Ying Zhiyu changed his mind.

To persuade Li Xi, he even playfully referred to himself as "little one" in an attempt to soften the pregnant man’s emotional defenses.

Ying Zhiyu said, "If you let me come in with you, you’ll see me the moment you open your eyes. I won’t be able to run away mid-surgery, so you won’t have to worry about my safety outside, right?"

Li Xi leaned against the headboard, looking silently at Ying Zhiyu.

Ying Zhiyu continued, "Besides, when Little Love Letter is born, she’ll be happier seeing her Alpha father first."

"Little Love Letter" was the nickname Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi had chosen together for their unborn child.

Ever since the ultrasound revealed they were having a daughter, they had settled on this name, which paired well with the formal names Li Xi had in mind—"Xuan" or "Jian."

Hearing this, Li Xi lowered his gaze.

Ying Zhiyu held the pregnant man’s fingers—swollen now due to pregnancy edema—and finally said, "Even if the baby doesn’t mind, doesn’t Brother Xixi want to see me?"

At these words, Li Xi closed his eyes.

He realized he must truly be in love with this Alpha.

So much so that despite normally disliking anyone questioning his decisions, he always found himself giving in to the Alpha’s words.

He couldn’t refuse him, nor could he deny his own heart.

Li Xi wanted to see Ying Zhiyu—at any moment, he wanted to see him.

From Li Xi’s expression, Ying Zhiyu could tell he had won him over.

He smiled, but before he could say anything, Li Xi called his name: "Ying Zhiyu."

Ying Zhiyu responded softly, "Hmm."

But Li Xi just looked at him, saying nothing more.

Ying Zhiyu waited a moment, and after they had gazed at each other in silence,

he whispered back, "Hmm, I heard you. Me too."

Due to preoperative requirements of fasting for eight hours and no fluids for four hours, Li Xi’s cesarean section was scheduled as the first operation of the morning, starting at 8 a.m.

The day before surgery, Li Xi had already completed his final checkups—including blood tests, coagulation tests, and an ultrasound. Everything was ready.

On the day of the surgery, a nurse arrived early in the morning to insert an IV line for Li Xi.

Afterward, Li Xi was wheeled into the operating room first for pre-anesthesia procedures.

By the time the nurse came out to notify Ying Zhiyu to change into sterile surgical attire and enter the operating room, Li Xi was already lying on the operating table.

Ying Zhiyu took his seat in a chair placed near the pregnant man’s head. As soon as he sat down, the nurse approached and asked if they would like some relaxing music played in the operating room.

Ying Zhiyu couldn’t think of anything specific, but Li Xi, lying on the bed, spoke up: "Two Tigers."

"A piano piece," he added.

Ying Zhiyu: "..."

Back shortly after they got married, Ying Zhiyu had pretended not to know how to play the piano and faked playing a few bars of "Two Tigers" on the terrace.

Third Prince Li had remembered it all this time...

Slightly flustered, Ying Zhiyu remained quiet for a moment until the doctors began the surgery.

To distract the pregnant man, Ying Zhiyu thought briefly and whispered, "I heard some Alphas faint when they enter the delivery room."

At this moment, he didn’t care what the medical staff in the operating room might think about the intimate nickname.

Ying Zhiyu held Li Xi’s hand and said naturally, "If I can’t hold on, Xixi-ge, you’ll have to give me some strength."

Li Xi, lying on the operating table, was speechless.

"If you’re uncomfortable, go out first. I’m okay." After a pause, Li Xi looked at Ying Zhiyu and spoke seriously.

Ying Zhiyu shook his head. He wasn’t actually going to "faint."

It was just that witnessing the surgical process firsthand made him deeply aware of how brave and remarkable those who carry life truly are.

Even Alphas, known for their strength, might faint, yet those who nurture life lie fearlessly on the operating table.

A cesarean section is already a highly mature procedure.

The entire surgery proceeded quickly. When the baby was delivered from the expectant parent and let out its first cry,

Ying Zhiyu looked up briefly.

After confirming his presence in the operating room as a birth partner, the lead surgeon had asked if the Alpha father wanted to cut the umbilical cord.

Ying Zhiyu refused without a second thought.

The surgical procedure should proceed as standard; there was no need for an amateur like him to interfere for the sake of so-called ceremonial significance.

Moreover, after the baby was delivered, the person giving birth still needed to undergo suturing.

Ying Zhiyu believed it was better to focus entirely on accompanying the expectant parent through the entire process rather than rushing to cut the umbilical cord.

After Li Xi was wheeled out of the operating room, Ying Zhiyu took a moment to check on the baby.

Since Li Xi’s hospital room was designed for rooming-in, by the time they left the operating room, the newborn had already been cleaned and cared for, lying quietly in the crib in the adjacent nursery.

At five in the evening,

Li Xi had rested all afternoon. Han Qiyu showed up right on time in the early evening for a visit.

Just as when Li Xi and Ying Zhiyu had visited Han Qiyu after his delivery, Li Qin and Han Qiyu followed the same arrangement: the Alpha waited outside the suite while the Omega entered the room to visit the new parent.

Han Qiyu brought some useful postpartum care items.

Although the maternity staff had already prepared everything before Li Xi’s hospitalization, Li Xi politely thanked Han Qiyu for the kind thought.

Sitting by Li Xi’s bedside, Han Qiyu asked, "Did you pick a name for the baby?"

Li Xi replied, "The full name hasn’t been decided yet, but the nickname is ‘Little Love Letter.’"

Han Qiyu paused, surprised upon hearing this.

Little Love Letter.

It was clear who the "love letter" was for.

With an Omega who had experienced childbirth four times and another first-time Omega father chatting in the room, Ying Zhiyu, as an Alpha, didn’t want to stick around and disturb them.

He spent some time playing with the newborn next door.

Unfortunately, the full and content "Little Love Letter" ignored his Alpha father, comfortably sleeping on his own.

After Han Qiyu left,

Ying Zhiyu returned to Li Xi’s room and arched an eyebrow, asking, "Isn’t the little one named Li Shijian?"

Long before the baby’s sex and appearance were confirmed, Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi had settled on the name "Li Shijian."

It completed the set of the "ink, brush, and inkstone" of the Ying family with "paper," and "Shijian" was a pretty name for a girl.

Yet, Li Xi had just told Han Qiyu that the full name hadn’t been decided, only revealing the nickname "Little Love Letter."

"‘Little Love Letter’ is so straightforward. Brother-in-law will probably give Sister Qin a hard time when he gets home, comparing it to other children’s nicknames!"

Ying Zhiyu teased playfully.

Li Xi glanced at him but only replied, "You’re the baby."

Ying Zhiyu hummed in confusion.

not getting it right away.

Li Xi explained, "The official name shouldn’t be shared yet. It’s also a way to protect Han Qiyu."

Li Songqian would surely have his own opinions about the names of the Li family’s grandchildren.

But before Li Xi gave birth, they hadn’t specifically discussed the naming.

If Han Qiyu learned the name before even the family patriarch, who would be suspected if it leaked prematurely?

Sometimes, "not knowing" is a form of protection for others in affluent families.

After explaining the naming matter, Li Xi added, "Little Love Letter isn’t the baby."

Ying Zhiyu looked at Li Xi.

Li Xi looked straight at the young Alpha and said slowly and clearly: "Little Love Letter is Little Love Letter. The only baby is Yu, Yu, Zai, Zai."