Chapter 96 Truly More Delicate Than Flowers

Chapter 96: More Radiant Than the Flowers

—This was the old doctor’s sole prescription, or rather, his advice.

However, no sooner had Shi Zai stepped out than he was called back by the young doctor beside the old physician. After being told, "You’re not even close to male menopause," the old doctor pondered for a moment. Even if the patient hadn’t come for a consultation, and wasn't yet in male menopause, there must still be some symptomatic manifestations.

Shi Zai returned, puzzled, his heart sinking with renewed worry.

Earlier, the old doctor had asked him several questions: "Do you experience headaches or dizziness?" "Do you have heart palpitations or anxiety?" "Have you experienced a sudden loss of appetite?" "Do you suffer from tinnitus or night sweats?" "Do you have frequent or urgent urination?"—all related to physiological symptoms. Shi Zai shook his head repeatedly, answering "No" to each. The final question was, "Do you still have an active sex life?" Shi Zai nodded emphatically, "Yes." When the doctor pressed for duration and frequency, Shi Zai, confused but honest, replied, "If it’s every night, around two to three hours. If it’s every couple of nights, then it lasts almost the entire night. Last night was the entire night. Is there a problem?"... and then he was sent away with the advice to "exercise some restraint."

Now, being called back again, Shi Zai felt a little nervous. Ten minutes later, he gradually relaxed. It turned out that male menopause is also called "Partial Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males"—all symptoms are related to decreased testosterone levels, which was why the old doctor had asked those questions. He also explained that not all men experience male menopause; with proper care and good physical and mental health, it can be entirely avoided. His partner, though fifty years old, whether judged by photos, physical function, or sexual performance, was "in the prime of life, no need to worry excessively."

The age range for midlife is forty to fifty-nine. With a positive mindset and good health, one can live like a middle-aged person even in their sixties or seventies. Not to mention that Shu Yangkuo is far from old age—according to the old doctor, "He looks like he’s just entered midlife, so why the anxiety?"

However, the old doctor also reminded him that individuals who are sensitive and introverted are more prone to experiencing male menopause as they age. Even if they don’t enter male menopause, they are likely to develop another psychological issue during the transition to middle or old age—midlife anxiety or depression. At its core, it’s a fear of aging. With an eight-year age gap between them, the older partner is prone to feeling the weight of years, especially if people around him often joke about his age, which would inevitably make the sensitive, introverted older partner overthink, afraid of leaving early and being unable to care for his beloved...

Midlife anxiety... Shi Zai suddenly understood. In terms of symptoms, Shu Yangkuo seemed to fit this description better.

Before leaving, the old doctor added a few more words, implying that judging by his appearance and physical condition, his partner looked ten to fifteen years younger than his peers. It was clear he took good care of himself, and their loving relationship contributed to his stable health and youthful demeanor. So, there was no need to worry too much; just offer some guidance, and he’d get through this midlife crisis.

Shi Zai thanked him repeatedly and even bowed. The doctor was very kind.

He also felt happy. Yes, it was their love that kept both of them looking young. Shu Yangkuo was just naturally reserved and steady. Standing there, he was precisely at the peak of his life, and it was within their love that he remained so. But Shi Zai would also be more mindful—healthy love brings stability and positivity, while gloomy love breeds anxiety and unease... Giving him the cold shoulder today had been somewhat excessive, alas.

If he were eight years older, even the most optimistic person would likely overthink to some extent. Fifty is still the prime of life, but they’d made it seem like an eightieth birthday. Anyone would feel uncomfortable, inevitably hinting at thoughts of gray-haired old age.

Jokes should be appropriate, especially when directed at loved ones and family.

Shi Zai felt like crying. Taking advantage of his youth and being spoiled, he often took his teasing too far. Because of his introverted nature, Shu Yangkuo endured everything unless it became too much to bear... When Shi Zai was unhappy, he couldn’t even be described as "acting out"—he’d glare, scold, or sulk without hesitation. There were even times when he’d hit, kick, or pull ears in front of others. Yet Shu Yangkuo, even with his slight midlife anxiety, was scolded and cold-shouldered by him... In their entire extended family, Shu Yangkuo was the most tolerant and silent. Even when the younger ones were disrespectful, he never scolded them coldly, at most pretending not to hear.

It seemed as though he was bullying the introverted one, the patriarch who doted on them all.

Boo-hoo... He himself was the one who pushed his luck, wasn’t he?

The moment he was pulled into the man’s arms while crying, Shi Zai widened his eyes. Plop—a tear that hadn’t yet fallen was quickly wiped away by the man’s trembling finger. Shi Zai felt like crying again. He had frightened Shu Yangkuo badly.

Shu Yangkuo scooped him up and carried him to the end of the stairwell, around the corner, leaning against the wall to let his wife rest more comfortably against his chest. He had searched from the andrology department to the pain department... all the way here, with no response from his wife and no answered calls. He was truly going insane.

He had even prepared for the worst.

Gently kissing away the tears from those large eyes, Shu Yangkuo felt his heart breaking. He closed his eyes for a moment:

"Baby, don’t punish me like this anymore. I’ve really learned my lesson, I’m scared."

"...I’m sorry, babe, boo-hoo..."

"Xiao Zai isn’t wrong, darling, it’s me—"

His throat choked up, Shu Yangkuo took a deep breath before continuing:

"It’s me being overly panicked. How did time pass so quickly? It feels like in the blink of an eye, I’m fifty. In ancient times, people at this age were almost... almost... I’m trying to adjust myself. Last night, I really lost control... No matter how young I look, my face isn’t as good as it used to be, right?... I’m really afraid. I used to think a lifetime was long, but now it feels too short. Even a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand years with Xiao Zai wouldn’t be enough... I’m even more afraid of... dying first..."

Before Shu Yangkuo could finish, his voice choked with sobs, Shi Zai was already crying uncontrollably, shaking his head vehemently.

This man really had some anxiety. It wasn’t just the age gap; there were all sorts of fears—fear of losing his charm in front of him, fear of suddenly dying first, fear of not having another lifetime together... Shi Zai shook his head desperately. None of that would happen. Even if this man were leaning on a cane, he would still look up to him. If this man left first, he wouldn’t live on alone. If there was no next life, they would be together forever in the ground. Nothing was insurmountable, nothing was unsolvable. They had love, and with love, there was nothing to fear.

Shi Zai struggled to calm down, meeting the man’s reddened, deep loving eyes, and spoke before Shu Yangkuo could:

"Babe, I want to live until ninety-two."

"Okay, I’ll protect you..."

"What I’m saying is, if I live to ninety-two, you’ll live to a hundred. If you don’t make it to a hundred, I’ll join you in your coffin. The eight-year gap is a fact I can’t change, but we can live the same amount of time together!"

Hearing this, Shu Yangkuo turned his head, rubbing his eyes, trying hard to suppress his emotions:

"Xiao Zai, don’t talk like that..."

"I will! Babe, remember, when we hold hands, we’re eight years apart. When we walk arm in arm, we’ll still be eight years apart. If you want me to live a long life, then stop overthinking and take good care of yourself in every way... I mean what I say; I won’t let you leave first. I’m scared too—what would I do if you left first? What would I do..."

As he spoke, Shi Zai punched the man’s chest while crying uncontrollably.

Damn it, they still had at least forty or fifty years ahead! They’d only spent twenty-three years together so far, less than half a lifetime. What was there to be anxious about? The foolish man should just use his sensitivity for good and stop overthinking!

Crying and scolding, Shi Zai slowly regained his optimism through venting, landing a few more punches at the foolish man.

Shu Yangkuo lowered his head—his chest was hard, so he let his wife hit his face... His emotions gradually calmed, even feeling suddenly enlightened. He had accidentally fallen into another spiral, always unconsciously extrapolating foolish things from "fifty years old." He was even too embarrassed to tell his wife that he’d pondered foolish things like arranging for his wife’s future in case he suddenly died one day...

Nuzzling his wife's cheek, Shu Yangkuo held him tightly, very tightly:

"Xiao Zai, I’ve really thought it through..."

"Oh! Then show me! Let me see what it looks like!"

"??"

"Hahahahahaha..."

"The set of memes I sent you."

"...?!"

"Hahaha, hurry up, I want to see!"

Shi Zai lifted his head and laughed for a while. They were three lotus flower memes: "I’ve closed up," "I started to open up but closed again," and "I’ve really opened up." They were hilarious. He’d sent them to Shu Yangkuo before and even mimicked them with three selfies.

He wrapped his legs around the man and clung firmly to his neck, demanding that Shu Yangkuo put on a show for him.

Although few people stopped in the stairwell, there were still others going up and down the stairs... Shu Yangkuo’s ears turned red as he hesitated, raising his hand halfway before lowering it again. He was truly embarrassed; he was fifty, after all... Suddenly, Shu Yangkuo chuckled softly:

"Xiao Zai, I’ve really come back to my senses. Just now, thinking about being fifty, I felt no negativity at all."

"Hehe, right? As long as you have a good mindset, even being seventy or eighty years old is no big deal!"

"Seventy or eighty years old..."

"What’s there to fear? Even at seventy or eighty years old, I’ll still love you and dote on you! I’m here; Xiao Zai is amazing!"

Hearing this, Shu Yangkuo laughed softly. How fortunate he was to have such a little sun in his arms. Even if they only had one lifetime, he was already immensely satisfied. Whatever the future held, their happiness and sweetness had already been brilliantly written across the world—it was already worth it.

Looking at things with a changed perspective, everything indeed felt different. Now, there was only joy, contentment, and acceptance and anticipation for the unknown.

If life were a book, their story might conclude in the main text, but there would be countless sweet extra chapters. And in those extras, there might be a new story called the "main text," followed again by sweet extras, endless and continuous, lasting a lifetime. Even if life ended at some future point, the moments of happiness and sweetness had already become eternal in this world, and their story would be recorded together without end.

If there was a next life, Shu Yangkuo thought, he’d want the one in his arms to be a little emperor.

Under the vast sky, among the multitude of beings, they were Shi Zai and Shu Yangkuo in this lifetime, and they could surely be countless others. Stories are performed in turns, protagonists take the stage one after another under the pen, and in this moment, they froze this moment forever. The future will still hold countless versions of them.

Shu Yangkuo was completely relieved and relaxed, having genuinely moved on... He kissed his wife's still sparkling, expectant big eyes and said with a smile:

"Darling, close your eyes, I'll put on a show..."

"You still dare to ask me to close my eyes?!"

"..."

After a moment of silence, Shu Yangkuo quickly shook his head, "No," he was just feeling too embarrassed to have her keep her eyes open now.

Forget it, he'd just go all out, he thought—his wife loved seeing him flustered anyway.

Shi Zai's eyes instantly brightened even more, and he chuckled—a faint blush spread across the man's resolute face, truly resembling the blooming lotus flowers in the heat of June. Under his urging, the man cupped his hands, first pressing them against his cheeks: "Brother's in my shell," then opening them away from his cheeks: "Brother's really blossomed"... Hahahahahaha! Shi Zai cackled like a rooster, drawing sideways glances from several passersby.

In the evening, Shi Zai pestered him to go to the park to admire the lotus flowers and casually hummed while taking impromptu live-action meme photos... The flowers were beautiful, but the man was even more so, hahahaha!

That night, the two youngsters at home, for once, shared the same expression and exclaimed in the group chat in shock:

"Dad... is truly more radiant than the flowers!"

But finally, he's keeping up with the times... In the group chat, who among them didn’t have goofy sneak-shot photos taken by their dads turned into memes?