Chapter 37 Clingy

Chapter 37 Clingy

At 11 a.m., in front of the Federal Political and Legal Affairs Building.

The black car’s wheels came to a smooth, uniform stop, pulling over slowly.

Lian Yi effortlessly picked up the coat draped over the omega’s legs and helped him put it on.

Then he got out, walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and didn't retrieve the wheelchair from the trunk.

"Want to try walking a bit?" he asked, leaning down, while also taking the prenatal check-up file from his wife’s hand.

Qiao Zhimian’s almond eyes darted. He rubbed his bulging belly, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Mm, hold me..."

Lian Yi flashed a doting smile and carefully helped him down.

The omega cautiously set both feet on the hard ground, making sure he was steady before rising with the alpha’s support.

Lian Yi stood at his wife’s side, his strong arm wrapping around the omega’s slender waist from behind. His other hand, palm up, let Qiao Zhimian hold it, offering support for him to grip.

"We’re not going up yet. Let’s sit for a while in that café first," he said, guiding the person in his arms as they moved slowly, and added, "Yan Zhi will bring the documents down later."

"Okay..." Qiao Zhimian responded, pursing his lips, focusing on lifting his feet, his fair, slender hand tightly clutching two of the man’s fingers.

Halfway there, he already felt tired. Supporting his pregnant belly, he leaned into Lian Yi’s embrace, looked up with a furrowed brow, and whined, "Don’t wanna walk anymore... carry me."

Ever since his belly grew bigger during pregnancy, he’d felt his body become much heavier.

Practicing standing and such wasn’t as easy as before.

Lian Yi was always responsive to his requests. Without a second word, he supported the omega under his thighs and lifted him easily. In a few steps, he carried him to a round table outside the café, habitually kissed his cheek, and then set him down on a chair.

Qiao Zhimian felt a bit shy about being so affectionate in public.

He glanced around sheepishly. Luckily, it was working hours, so there weren’t many people around.

Lian Yi ordered three drinks and several snacks, then sat down in the seat next to his wife, looking with him at the reports and photos from the prenatal check-up.

The four-month-old fetus’s facial features were already clearly distinguishable and quite delicate.

Its small hands and feet could move slightly, making fists and kicking.

The two fathers, still riding the excitement, leaned their heads together, absorbed in looking.

Pink flowers and sweet bubbles seemed to float around them, forming a blissful barrier that nothing could disturb.

"Ah..." Qiao Zhimian let out a soft gasp as he looked, touched his belly, turned to the man right beside him, and smiled, revealing two sweet dimples. "The little one just kicked me again."

"Really? Let me feel." Lian Yi raised his eyebrows in delight, rubbing his broad palms together to warm them before carefully placing them on the belly.

The new father nervously felt the child’s vibrant life force.

During the check-up earlier, Lian Yi had been immersed in an indescribable excitement.

Hearing the fetal heartbeat inside—thump, thump, thump—it was like the little life was saying hello to its dads.

He truly felt the life stirring within his lover’s belly.

This was his child, his and his omega’s child together.

"Look at you two being all lovey-dovey." Yan Zhi, who had arrived at some point without them noticing, suddenly spoke up as he sat down across from them. "I could smell your lovey-dovey sweetness all the way from upstairs."

As he spoke, he handed the document folder to Lian Yi and thanked the server who brought their drinks.

"Congratulations, little Zhimian," Yan Zhi said, taking a sip of coffee, selectively ignoring his buddy’s look, and smiled. "I’m going to have a little nephew soon."

Qiao Zhimian shyly said, "Thank you, senior," but before he could close his mouth, the alpha scooped a spoonful of cake and brought it to his lips.

Blushing, he accepted it and ate.

Yan Zhi found it amusing to see Lian Yi like this and couldn’t help grinning widely.

Back then, in this very spot, he’d found others cheesy, but now he was even worse.

"What happened to your face?" he asked, still laughing but noticing something.

Lian Yi instinctively touched his face, then realized what he was asking about.

"None of your business," he replied with the same old three words.

Qiao Zhimian licked the cream from the corner of his mouth and also turned his gaze to the alpha.

Seeing the faint, not-yet-faded slap mark on his face, he showed a slightly guilty expression.

Yan Zhi immediately caught on, raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "No way, you two play that rough at home?"

"You’re a single dog, what would you know?" Lian Yi joked back. "This is called wifey’s affectionate pat."

Yan Zhi looked unbothered. "Sure, your ‘affectionate pat’ is quite symmetrical."

Qiao Zhimian and Lian Yi had come to pick up some work documents Lian Yi needed after the prenatal check-up since it was on the way.

The three chatted idly for a bit longer.

Then Yan Zhi got serious and got down to business. "The summons for the out-of-town hearing has arrived. We need to find time in the next couple of days to review the evidence materials."

Lian Yi responded casually and chatted with him intermittently about the case.

Qiao Zhimian listened while distractedly picking the sour strawberries off his cake and feeding them to the man.

He found it particularly amusing to see the alpha’s handsome features scrunch up from the sourness, yet he didn’t spit them out.

"Don’t wanna eat anymore, it’s too rich," the omega said, pushing the half-eaten cake toward the alpha.

Lian Yi instinctively took it, multitasking—listening to Yan Zhi while caring for his wife, using his thumb to wipe cream from the corner of Qiao Zhimian’s mouth.

He picked up the juice he’d ordered specially for him and urged him to drink a little to refresh his mouth.

As noon approached, more people began coming down from upstairs.

Yan Zhi was in the middle of a long explanation when his phone chimed several times.

He picked it up, glanced at it, frowned, and looked around as if searching for someone.

Then, spotting a direction, he dashed off without even saying goodbye.

Both Qiao Zhimian and Lian Yi curiously followed his movement with their eyes.

Amid the flowing crowd stood a petite, timid-looking male omega.

His clothing and appearance were that of an ordinary college student, with a youthful face that looked even younger than Qiao Zhimian's.

Beneath his loose sweatshirt, his noticeably rounded pregnant belly was clearly visible.

He looked up helplessly at Yan Zhi running toward him, his eyes full of dependence, but also fear and trepidation. His red-rimmed eyes suggested he had been crying.

It seemed he had encountered something that left him at a loss.

After hearing him out, Yan Zhi bent down to wipe his tears, quickly took off his suit jacket and draped it over him.

After offering a few words of comfort, he hurried back to retrieve his forgotten briefcase.

"Old Lian, Little Zhimian, I've got an urgent matter," Yan Zhi said hastily, "I'll take you two out for a meal next time!"

With that, he led the young boy away and drove off.

"Who was that?" Qiao Zhimian slowly withdrew his gaze to Lian Yi, the alpha, and asked curiously, "He seems to be an omega. Senior Yan Zhi, he..."

Lian Yi was still gazing in that direction, lost in thought. "I don't recognize him. I've never seen him before, nor has Yan Zhi mentioned him."

That kid looks somewhat familiar though.

It was also rare to see Yan Zhi looking so serious and stern.

Lian Yi collected his thoughts, not bothering to dwell on it further, and turned his attention to his partner's diet. They still needed to have lunch when they got home.

That omega—wasn't he the waiter from the café downstairs from the law firm?

Some memories he hadn't paid much attention to surfaced at just the right moment.

***

"Well then, I'm off." Early in the morning, Lian Yi, fully dressed, leaned down to kiss the omega who was eating breakfast.

With one hand on the back of the chair and the other on the table, his eyes were filled with lingering affection.

"Mhm, go ahead." Qiao Zhimian nodded with a smile, showing not the slightest bit of reluctance.

Lian Yi felt a little hurt but still lingered anxiously, chattering on: "Remember to eat properly, and don't nap too long, or you won't be able to sleep at night."

"Okay, okay," Qiao Zhimian replied dismissively.

Noticing Lian Yi's sulky expression, Qiao Zhimian smiled, tugged on his tie to make him bend down a little more, and leaned in to plant a soothing kiss on his thin lips.

Only then did Lian Yi's expression soften, and he pressed for more: "One more kiss."

Qiao Zhimian cupped the man's handsome face and planted several mwah mwah kisses, finally putting him in a better mood.

"Bye, I'm off," Lian Yi, already out the door, leaned halfway back in.

"Bye~" Qiao Zhimian waved sweetly.

Only after hearing the car start outside and the sound fade away did he let out a soft sigh.

The alpha had been incredibly clingy lately, leaving him feeling both sweetly cherished and frustrated.

Good morning kisses, goodnight kisses—he constantly wanted kisses at every turn.

This out-of-town court appearance was only for a day and a half, but with all this clinginess, one would think he was leaving for a long time.

Qiao Zhimian spent the day unusually peacefully, without any disturbances.

Since becoming pregnant, Lian Yi had been controlling his diet, and though he occasionally craved certain foods, he wasn't allowed to have them.

Now that Lian Yi was away, he could secretly sneak some treats and relax.

However, this sense of 'freedom' didn't last long. By evening, he began to feel restless.

Without that warm, secure embrace, he slept restlessly.

When he got up at night to use the bathroom, there was no one to carry him.

Half-asleep and thirsty, there was no one to promptly bring a glass of water at just the right temperature to his lips.

The omega habitually reached out to touch the space beside him—empty and cold—and a faint sense of loneliness swept over him.

When Lian Yi was home, he found the alpha too clingy, but now that he was away, he actually missed him a little.

Qiao Zhimian rubbed his eyes and sat up, drowsily fumbling for the cup on the bedside table.

His pregnant body felt slightly awkward. Before he could reach the cup, the baby inside seemed jolted by his movements and kicked him sharply twice.

"Ouch..." A brief, sore tugging sensation made him gasp uncomfortably. "Baby, Daddy’s not here. Be good, okay..."

He murmured softly while stroking his belly.

Alone in the quiet, dim bedroom, even in a familiar environment, a sense of loneliness crept over him.

Qiao Zhimian’s nose tingled with emotion, and he pouted, feeling like he had been growing increasingly spoiled lately.

After struggling to drink some water, Qiao Zhimian slowly lay back down.

Holding the alpha’s pillow, breathing in the lingering scent of his pheromones, he shed a few tears of longing and self-pity. It took him a while to calm down before he finally fell asleep again.

He had thought Lian Yi would only be away for a day and a half and would return the next day.

Coincidentally, Qiao Zhimian’s design class was organizing a reunion.

He had never bothered to attend before, but this time, he signed up to pass the time and distract himself.

Mostly, he was afraid of overthinking due to pregnancy sensitivity and feeling bored alone at home.

But by the time the gathering ended and he returned home, it was already dark, and there was still no sign of the alpha’s return.

Yan Zhi, who had gone with him, had already returned to the city.

After washing up, the sweet-smelling omega lay in bed with a heavy heart.

He held his phone for a while, hesitating, then cautiously asked Yan Zhi.

"Yeah, I had something to take care of, so I came back first."

"That guy’s pretty well-known. Some old alumni heard he was in town and asked him for help with something. They might take him out for a meal or something."

After reading the message, Qiao Zhimian pouted, his face filled with displeasure.

His clear almond eyes grew misty, his breath felt warm, his body grew restless, and the gland on the back of his neck tingled with a throbbing itch.

He clamped his legs together, rolled onto his side, whimpered softly, and parted his pale pink lips slightly, exhaling warm, moist puffs of air.

What’s happening? Qiao Zhimian sensed the changes in his body.

Still dazed, he tried to count the days through his foggy consciousness.

Oh no.

It seemed his pregnancy-induced estrus was approaching.

No wonder he’d felt so strange all day.

Qiao Zhimian curled up on the bed, his eyes’ corners and cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

Restless and melancholy, he longed for Lian Yi to come home—yet hesitated to rush him.

After wrestling with his thoughts, an idea suddenly struck him.

He picked up his phone and scrolled through photos in his classmate group chat.

He photoshopped a picture of himself with one of his classmates and posted it on WeChat Moments—visible only to Lian Yi.

By the time he finished, the omega’s pale neck and collarbones were already flushed with desire.

He mindlessly squeezed and rubbed against the alpha’s pillow, then grabbed his pajamas and draped them over himself—as if wrapped in Lian Yi’s embrace.

Sure enough, within two minutes, his phone lit up with message notifications.

Lian Yi sent a rapid barrage of messages:

“?”

Mian Mian glanced at them, a sly smile flickering across his lips as he feigned ignorance and continued soothing himself.

“Where are you, Mian Mian?”

“Come home early—don’t stay out too late.”

“Baby?”

“Send me your address, sweetheart. I’ll pick you up right away.”

“Hubby’s on his way back.”

Mian Mian’s phone wallpaper was a photo of Lian Yi in a perfectly tailored suit, wearing glasses, standing confidently on a lecture platform.

It was the photo Mian Mian found most handsome—and loved most deeply.

He skimmed past the rapidly accumulating messages and gazed, vision blurred, at the background image.

With one hand cradling his pregnant belly, his slender, pale fingers slowly traced downward and inward.

“Mmm…” The omega let out a soft, pleading whimper, his delicate body trembling with fine, shivering tremors.

He bit his plump, glistening lips, his eyes glazed and unfocused as he drew shallow, rapid breaths.

The room filled with thick, sultry sounds.

On the bed, his toes curled tightly, and his waist arched upward.