Chapter 56 It’s Interacting with the Baby

Chapter 56: Bonding with Baby

Shu Yangkuo grew increasingly fond of holding him this way. He’d rest a hand on Shi Zai’s back, stroking it gently and intermittently, occasionally touching his fidgety ears, feeling utterly content. Shi Zai, ever mindful of his pregnant state, still worried about squeezing him. Yet, the slightest movement would be met with a firm hand from Shu Yangkuo, pressing him down. Once Shi Zai settled, Shu Yangkuo would pet and pat him like a cherished animal—it was quite amusing. Ever since that incident where Shi Zai expressed a desire for more hugs, Shu Yangkuo had become increasingly clingy. Shi Zai loved it too, declaring his intention to be the man’s human warmer—and he meant it.

The decision to let Shu Yangkuo carry the baby had been absolutely right. After all, he was strapping and robust. Apart from trouble sleeping at night and a constant desire to hold Shi Zai, the man showed almost no pregnancy symptoms, not even morning sickness. Shi Zai stopped obsessing over making him eat vitamin-rich, nutritious foods. Instead, he let him eat whatever he wanted; as long as he could keep it down, the nutrients would take care of themselves.

They also rented a small room upstairs in Shi Zai’s studio for resting and preparing lunch. Once their morning work was done, they skipped driving home and cooked in the small second-floor space. To allow Shi Zai more time to work, Shu Yangkuo took charge of making lunch, calling the younger two upstairs when it was almost ready. Shi Zai tried to stop him from doing too much, but he couldn’t win against the man. Still, it made sense—pregnant men need to stay active too. So, he let him handle lunch, only to later discover Shu Yangkuo working out with dumbbells in the shop. Shi Zai had no choice; the man could lift both him and Yang Yun at once with ease. Letting him exercise was fine—partly to indulge the pregnant man, and partly because Shu Yangkuo feared his baby bump might make him less attractive to Shi Zai.

As for the latter, Shu Yangkuo was overthinking it. Shi Zai couldn’t understand how a four-month pregnant belly could still have defined abs, let alone the rest of him.

It was downright tempting.

Especially during their shared showers—Shi Zai justified it as "fearing the pregnant man might slip alone," so he shadowed him like an eager puppy, peeking left and right. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see the front; it was just that the cagey man always dodged him. Even after being together for so long, the moment they entered the bathroom, Shu Yangkuo acted as if guarding against a thief, just like when they first met. When Shi Zai asked why, Shu Yangkuo couldn’t explain, only blushing fiercely at the ears. Shi Zai would then insist on wrapping his arms around his waist, his mischievous hands wandering, until the man finally admitted the truth: it was too stimulating, and he was afraid of being too rough. Shi Zai rolled his eyes and pulled him into their fun anyway, though he nearly couldn’t handle it… They had only done it once in broad daylight, under bright lights, and that time Shi Zai almost couldn’t get up afterward. Indeed, bright lights made everything clearer and harder to control. But after that, Shi Zai only grew more daring. If they were going to do it, why be conservative? Go all out!

With more positions but limited locations, they pressed on—full steam ahead.

In the morning bathroom, amid the scent of magnolia blossoms drifting through the window, Shi Zai admired the tall man’s sharply defined physique from the side—from his arm muscles to his glutes, and the prominent abs and pregnant belly that became even more visible when he raised his arms. The four-and-a-half-month baby bump curved noticeably, water droplets sliding down one by one, disappearing into the thatch of hair below, suddenly making Shi Zai thirsty—especially after glimpsing the towering, majestic tree.

Shi Zai swallowed hard and was about to speak when a ray of morning light suddenly streamed through the window. The clear, radiant glow, accompanied by a rainbow, brushed against the man’s belly, solid as a mountain, dazzlingly bright in the misty steam. Shi Zai’s mind went blank, and when he came to, he found himself bending down to lick it.

The tall man paused, then chuckled softly, lowering his head to nuzzle the top of Shi Zai’s hair. Blushing, Shi Zai looked up from Shu Yangkuo’s chest:

"Honey, I’m just interacting with the baby in your belly."

Shi Zai pouted when laughed at, then squatted down. The man’s near-two-meter height made him seem even more like a mountain from this angle. He gently stroked the man’s belly as if coaxing it, then let both hands wander downward, unable to grasp fully—the mischievous thing nearly slapped his face. Annoyed, Shi Zai bit it lightly:

"Honey, I’m interacting with you now. Be good!"

"…"

Early in the morning, and the little pup was already causing trouble.

Shu Yangkuo didn’t let the little pup nibble for too long, pulling him up to avoid Shi Zai complaining for days about a sore mouth. He’d only let him have a taste, yet Shi Zai would still whine and blame him—as if it were his fault for being built this way.

After scolding him, Shi Zai switched to praise, finally getting what he wanted. Pressed against the glass door, he stammered:

"Ge, the baby in your belly… seems to be kicking my… butt…"

"…"

"Don’t stop, don’t stop! Just kidding! Honey—"

"…Be serious!"

As he spoke, Shu Yangkuo, his ears red, lightly smacked Shi Zai’s butt—he really knew how to cause a scene.

Shi Zai still pouted. How ridiculous! The cagey man was the one doing indecent things, yet he couldn’t even talk about them?!

As they were about to finish, Shi Zai turned his face, letting Shu Yangkuo kiss him, and blinked his big eyes:

"Ge, today’s the spring equinox again—it’s been a year for us! I love you, so much, so much. I’ll always be yours, always fascinated by and looking up to you, always in your arms, always seeing you in your eyes!"

"Baby, I really want to keep you locked up at home."

"Hehe, sure, if you’re willing to do this to me nonstop, I’ll—mmph!"

Shu Yangkuo covered the blabbering mouth with one hand and held him firmly with the other. He really had no idea what to do with him—did he want to push him over the edge?

Finally, he lifted him high, letting the little pup cling to his chest, and Shu Yangkuo looked up to kiss him.

"Baby, you're my sunshine."

"..."

"...What?"

"Hehe, I'm touched! But—I thought I was your little temptation."

Another slap landed, yet Shi Zai was practically glowing. After being washed and dressed by the man, who took care of the bathroom himself, he zipped off to the kitchen.

Sure enough, Yang Yun was already preparing breakfast for them. Hearing the noise, he didn’t even turn around:

"From now on, the king has abandoned his court."

"...You asking for a beating, aren't you?!"

"Hehe, good morning, little emperor."

Leaning on Shi Zai's shoulder, Shi Zai also laughed:

"Good morning, Yun Bao! We've been together a year now! I’ll always like you! Meeting you and Big Brother is a blessing earned over countless lifetimes. I’m willing to stay by your side forever. Even if one day you grow up and fly high, just look down, and you’ll always see me!"

"...Shi Zai—"

"What’s up?"

"I still want to be with you all my life, living together with you and Big Brother."

Shi Zai’s heart trembled fiercely, holding Yun Bao even tighter:

"Mhm! No matter how old I get, I’ll always be Shi Zai's Yun Bao!"

"Right! And don’t say things like wanting to live with us anymore—this *is* our shared home. It can’t be called 'home' if even one person is missing! If Yun Bao talks nonsense like that again, Shi Zai will really have to spank you!"

After saying this, seeing Yang Yun laugh and say "Mhm," Shi Zai suddenly felt something was off. Yang Yun had long outgrown being the sensitive boy who would say such things. What did he mean by "still wanting to live with you"? It was strange.

Shi Zai narrowed his eyes and snorted:

"Yun Bao? Is something going on lately?"

"...Not at all."

"If you're even *thinking* about getting into trouble, tell Shi Zai first, or you’ll regret it!"

"Hahaha, really, nothing! Don’t worry, Shi Zai. You’ve raised me well—I won’t do anything foolish anymore."

Hearing this, Shi Zai felt a little better. Even with work, he saw Yun Bao at least once a day, and he often went to the commercial building behind the antique street to find him. The shop was doing better now, business was good, and sometimes he’d help out a bit and bring back some broken trinkets to repair. On the antique street, aside from coming for lunch, Yang Yun sometimes came to fire ceramics. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary; everything was normal. That earlier comment was probably just a passing remark.

After breakfast, before heading into the studio, Shi Zai asked Shu Yangkuo to keep an eye out too—after all, those two shared sixteen years and were on the same wavelength.

But today was their shared anniversary, so he pushed the thought aside. They were going out for dinner that evening.

In the afternoon, as usual, Shi Zai napped with him. Now later in the term, Shu Yangkuo could sleep better at night, but with spring drowsiness and autumn fatigue, the man still needed short naps in the morning and afternoon.

Today, the man slept longer than usual, almost until dusk. Shi Zai didn’t move, lying on Shu Yangkuo’s chest, quietly gazing at the face he had fallen for at first sight and this broad, firm-yet-soft chest. Gently, he brushed the man’s eyelashes, and they quivered slightly. In that instant, Shi Zai felt as if he had returned to the day they first met, though the monk he dreamed of back then was unhappy, frowning. Now, the man’s expression was calm, even joyful—he must be dreaming of me, hehe.

What he once didn’t dare touch or caress, Shi Zai now could freely handle. Today, feeling especially mischievous, he nibbled at the pale, peaked lips, suckled the man’s prominent Adam’s apple, then nestled back against his chest, nuzzling a nipple that had brushed his lips.

Finally, there was the swollen belly. Shi Zai gently pressed his ear against it—it beat in sync with the man's heartbeat and his own.

How wonderful.

A year had passed in the blink of an eye. He had found love, more joy, brighter days and nights, and even the baby in the man’s belly. Back then, the man had only worn monk’s trousers, but now he was carrying their child for him. Shi Zai secretly tugged at his clothes.

As soon as he felt the chest he was lying on stir slightly, Shi Zai knew Shu Yangkuo was awake. He immediately lifted his face, eyes sparkling with laughter, and reported:

“Brother! The baby just moved!”

“…Mhm, as unruly as you are.”

“Hehe, because I’m the one carrying it!”

“…Right now, it’s me carrying it.”

“Hahahaha, it’s you!”

Even this, this stubborn man had to argue with him about. Shi Zai chuckled, then suddenly his eyes lit up mischievously:

“Monk, I accidentally bit your nipple just now.”

“…You little rascal, watch your language.”

As he spoke, Shu Yangkuo tapped the nose of the person in his arms, then lifted him up with both hands. He couldn’t help but smile too. Shi Zai remembered their first meeting—he had been the same back then, even scaring the little puppy into crying. But waking up with a little rascal snuggled in his arms, lifting him up was the least he could do.

Truth be told, Shu Yangkuo had feelings for him first.

The one in his arms, though, had made the first move physically before realizing his heart was involved. What a little rascal indeed.

Shi Zai was no longer as timid as the first time he was lifted like this. His legs kicked playfully:

“Brother, change that memory for me—the one where I startled you back then!”

“…”

“Brother—if you don’t agree, I’m going to cry! I’m going to cry really hard!”

Before long, in the upstairs room on Antique Street, the bamboo-wood reclining chair was creaking.

Dusk settled, heavy with spring warmth. Two hearts stirred with spring longing, and endless passion surged within their burning chests.