Chapter 45 Knocked Up by Bro

Chapter 45: Got Pregnant by My Man

This is how people in love are.

But with past experiences, and the subsequent scolding and reassurances, they finally began to truly examine the meaning behind "pregnancy."

Shi Zai saw Shu Yangkuo in the hallway. Before even getting close, he broke into a huge smile:

"Bro, we're having a baby!"

"...Zai Zai."

With that, Shu Yangkuo scooped him up with both hands, raising him above himself. He looked up and kissed those smiling, wide eyes. He knew his beloved had made the same decision as him, so he smiled softly and called out again, "Zai Zai."

As Shi Zai settled into the man’s lap, he reached up and gently brushed Shu Yangkuo’s eyelashes:

"Zai Zai is having a baby, hehe."

"...Baby."

"Call me wife, we’re engaged already."

Shu Yangkuo lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, then lifted them again, pressing close to the lips of the person in his arms. "Wife." The affectionate term made both their hearts tremble, sending a tingling sensation through them. They knew it wasn’t just because of the more intimate address—it was also because of the little one in the belly.

According to the exam results, it had already been a month.

Last night’s snow had mostly melted, and the ground had been swept clean. Only the Chinese scholar tree branches still held some snow, gleaming brilliantly in the twilight. Though merely white, it seemed to take on a gorgeous, vibrant hue—thump, thump—like a human heartbeat, full of vitality.

In a shadowy area, Shu Yangkuo leaned against the wall, holding his beloved as they gazed out the window:

"Xiao Zai isn’t a monster. You’re the most wonderful person in the world, someone who draws everyone's attention. You’re the savior for both me and Yang Yun, the treasure I first held in my arms, the treasure I’m always afraid someone might take away again..."

"Bro—"

Feeling the eyelids pressed against his lips, Shu Yangkuo kissed them gently and lifted his beloved’s face again:

"Mm, let me finish. Just now, Yan Wei said there are plenty of people who could make Xiao Zai pregnant. I got a little crazy earlier—I thought, Xiao Zai could be with others, but they’d have to wear protection. No one understands Xiao Zai’s complicated feelings about pregnancy better than I do. But after calming down, I’m begging you, Xiao Zai—don’t let anyone else get such ideas about you. Otherwise, I’d truly lose my mind."

"Stop talking nonsense..."

"Don’t touch others’ hands, don’t hold others. I’m really begging you, okay?"

"..."

Shi Zai was momentarily speechless, touching his nose. He knew Shu Yangkuo was referring to Ji Qianxi and Yan Wei, but... there were no buts. He nuzzled his forehead against the gradually reddening eyes before him and nodded repeatedly. "I’ll remember."

Shu Yangkuo turned his head slightly and took a deep breath:

"If Xiao Zai likes the baby, then I like it too. But Xiao Zai, don’t overthink it. It’s only been a month and already it’s getting so much attention. But what about my treasure? Whenever I think about it, I just..."

His heavy emotions fractured into a choked voice, finally dissolving into three words: "Why does it deserve?"

Tears immediately welled up in Shi Zai’s eyes. All his life, he had wanted to ask someone, "Why does it deserve?" but he never dared, and there was no one to ask. The man with his face buried in his shoulder seemed like another version of himself—or perhaps a shadow that had followed him through those lonely years.

After a long while, Shu Yangkuo regained his composure and lifted his eyes again:

"Wife, are you really sure about keeping this baby?"

"Mm, bro, let’s keep it. Not to compensate for my past, but because I want to continue our life and love together. When I was little, I often wondered—why have a child if you don’t love them? If a child could choose to be born, who I was before definitely wouldn’t have wanted to. But there are no ifs. Now though... Bro, our baby will absolutely, really want to be born, right?"

"Mm, I love you. I love you more every day. Even more than the baby, I love you. If it can sense that, it’ll want to be born precisely because I love you more than it. Xiao Zai, am I right?"

Hearing this, Shi Zai secretly smiled after mulling it over, then quickly nodded.

Shu Yangkuo kissed those playful, bright eyes and explained further:

"Wife, after it’s born, you still have to pay more attention to me. I’m also—"

"Hm?"

"I’m also your treasure, right?"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..."

Shu Yangkuo propped his cheek, letting the person in his arms laugh freely. Once the laughter subsided, he continued:

"Promise me, okay?"

"Okay, ha ha ha ha, bro, you’re so clingy."

"...You don’t like it?"

Hearing this, Shi Zai suddenly felt there was a different side about the man today—it was amusing, both affectionate and jealous, almost as if... as if, compared to his own fear about the situation, Shu Yangkuo was even more afraid. The root of it was—the fear of being loved less.

Because the man knew he didn’t want to neglect anyone. The more people there were, the less attention Shu Yangkuo would get from him—something that had already been subtly apparent several times lately. Only now, after learning about the pregnancy, did Shi Zai realize that Shu Yangkuo was more panicked and scared than he was, even more dazed, and had instinctively—from the very start—didn't want the baby.

More than worrying about whether Shi Zai could accept it, Shu Yangkuo couldn’t accept the idea of Shi Zai neglecting him because of a child.

It felt like getting rid of competition beforehand—truly wild.

But when Shi Zai showed happiness, the man’s joy was equally evident. He was probably conflicted—on one hand, afraid of competing for love; on the other, thinking about what's growing inside you... a little life they had created together.

Must be proud, right?

Shi Zai glanced down at his belly, then met the man’s gaze still waiting for his answer—quiet, but with uncertainty in his eyes. Shi Zai cupped Shu Yangkuo’s face and covered it in eager kisses:

"I love it, I adore it, my big treasure!"

"...Be earnest."

"What’s not earnest? I love the baby in my belly too, because—"

His slightly raised brows suddenly tightened as Shu Yangkuo asked calmly:

"Because what?"

"Because you created it—because you got me pregnant..."

The words made Shu Yangkuo quickly turn his head away, though his flushed ears betrayed his emotions.

Little puppy, why bring that up now?

Shi Zai laughed heartily, then heard Shu Yangkuo still hung up on "pay more attention to me," followed by another "Promise me, okay?" Shi Zai tugged the man’s ear and sighed softly:

"Husband—without you, how would it exist? Okay! I promise. Even without you asking, I’d do it anyway. You’re the most important in my heart. After it’s born, the one who’ll have most of my attention will still be you—always you!"

"Okay, love you, wife."

"...That happy now?"

"Yes, I recorded it, wifey. If you don't keep your word, I'll be angry—the kind you can't sweet-talk your way out of."

Right away, Shi Zai threw his head back and burst out laughing for a long time. This big kid really knew how to ham it up.

Tsk, even recording it.

Feeling the light kisses landing on his face, Shi Zai gradually stopped laughing and looked up, meeting the gaze of the man who only had eyes for him. He suddenly realized that for Shu Yangkuo to say so much and spill his feelings so directly, it seemed:

"Ge, I'm okay now—not anxious or afraid anymore. I'm really happy now."

"Mm, Ge's happy too."

"...Ge, did you want to say something else?"

After a pause, Shu Yangkuo’s eyelashes fluttered as Shi Zai nudged him, but he still said:

"I'm the one who cheered up my wifey."

"...HAHAHAHAHA how can you find something to be jealous about in everything?"

"I'm the one who cheered up my wifey."

Yan Wei would probably faint on the spot hearing something like this. Shi Zai almost died laughing. At 6'5" he stood like a telephone pole, yet so capable of being childish and cute—nobody would believe this came from Shu Yangkuo.

Shi Zai kept nodding:

"Yes, only Ge can make me happy. Earlier, he just told me—"

"Hm?"

"Ge, you big dummy! Why would you believe anything Zheng Yuan says! Xiang Xiang was born to Yan Wei!"

"..."Oh."

"Why aren’t you surprised?"

"His wife's business has nothing to do with me."

Immediately, Shi Zai laughed again. This guy—so much for being good friends with them.

Nobody minds being held in their lover’s warm embrace and gently comforted. Outside, the sky darkened, and the wind shook the branches, like it was bringing in the night's chill, but there was none of deep winter's loneliness. His strong arms felt like they held up the whole world, filling his heart with warmth.

Pampered by his man until even his hair felt joyful and relaxed, Shi Zai finally got down and went to find Yang Yun.

The little pink dumpling must already know he’s pregnant. Shi Zai found him in Yan Wei’s office. Yang Yun was holding Xiang Xiang’s hand, teaching him to write. Shi Zai gave a "ha," and Yang Yun immediately looked up, shouted "Xiao Ge," and rushed over but stopped halfway.

Shi Zai’s heart clenched sharply. He took two steps forward, hugged his brother—who now came up to his nose—kissed his forehead, and as Yan Wei led Xiang Xiang out of the room, Shi Zai comforted him:

"Yun Bao, Xiao Ge..."

"I know, Xiao Ge is pregnant and will have his own baby soon."

The person in his arms buried his face in Shi Zai’s shoulder and nuzzled. Shi Zai tugged his ear:

"Silly Yun Bao, don’t be like this. You’re not just Xiao Ge's brother; you’re the treasure of our family too. Even if I have a baby, it'll be like our second child, right? Yun Bao, don’t feel left out. I can balance things between you and your big brother, and I can balance things between you and the little one too, okay?"

"..."

When he heard a sudden "pfft," Shi Zai lifted his brother’s face—the little stinker was really laughing.

Yang Yun rubbed his cheeks sore from holding in laughter and kissed his Xiao Ge's forehead:

"Don’t worry, Xiao Ge, I understand. Besides, it’s good to have another little one at home. I had a great time playing with Xiang Xiang all day today. Sometimes you and big brother are affectionate, and I can’t join in. Eventually, the little one can play with me."

"...It’ll take at least three or four years before they can play with you."

"Xiao Ge, don’t overthink it. Just decide whether you want it or not. Didn’t you say yourself—take one step at a time? If you don’t keep your word later, I’ll get angry, and you can just comfort me then."

Shi Zai rubbed his nose. This big one and little one were truly cut from the same cloth.

Anyway, Yang Yun wasn’t resistant, and he was happy. He really loved a lively home. Smiling, Shi Zai hugged Yang Yun again.

Yang Yun nuzzled him, leaned close to Shi Zai’s ear, and added:

"Xiao Ge, don’t be afraid either. No matter how many more come into the family, you’ll always be each of our favorite."

"Yun Bao..."

"Mm, we’ll like you first, then the little baby."

Suddenly, Shi Zai’s eyes reddened again. Earlier, Shu Yangkuo kept saying "love you more," and now Yang Yun said "like you first." How could they love him so much? They all knew he needed the attention of every family member the most.

He didn’t play favorites, yet they favored him the most.

The past was long gone, but favoritism and making up for it had become lifelong lessons for his brother and little brother.

In the injection room, Shu Yangkuo tossed away the cotton swab he’d pressed casually a few times and pulled down his sleeve. Zheng Yuan packed up the supplies and remarked:

"Haven’t told him yet?"

Hearing this, Shu Yangkuo paused mid-step on his way out, raised an eyebrow, and said:

"Let him play for a few days first."

"..."