Chapter 39 Labor

Chapter 39: Labor

Qiao Zhimian had recently overseen a small construction project for his brother from start to finish.

He was capable of handling both the structural and aesthetic design aspects himself.

The sense of accomplishment from being so adept at work kept him optimistic, positive, fulfilled, and confident every day.

It wasn’t overly exhausting and helped maintain his physical and mental well-being during pregnancy, preventing him from getting bored at home.

He didn’t frequent Qiao Corporation’s headquarters. As the project neared completion, he occasionally needed to attend meetings with the technical team working under him.

Most of the time, he had drivers and bodyguards with him. Whenever Lian Yi had time, he would wait until Qiao Zhimian finished work and pick him up personally.

The standalone corporate office building.

The cool-toned, spacious lobby was imposing, with glass curtain walls letting in ample sunlight.

The marble floors were highly polished and spotless.

Professionals wearing ID badges and neatly pressed clothes moved purposefully through the space.

Lian Yi parked the car and entered with a composed stride.

Some who had seen him before and recognized his face glanced his way, and he could hear faint whispers.

“Hey, is that Young Master Qiao’s Alpha?”

“Really him?”

“I heard he married into the Qiao family…”

“Just a lawyer from a small firm, didn’t inherit any share of the family business.”

Lian Yi’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He glanced sideways but didn’t break his stride.

Just as he withdrew his attention, he came face-to-face with Qiao Zhimian, who had appeared from around the corner.

A bodyguard pushed an empty wheelchair behind him.

“Mian Mian?” Lian Yi hurried forward to support him by the waist. “Why are you walking out by yourself?”

“I wanted to stretch my legs…” Qiao Zhimian supported his pregnant belly and nodded politely to passing employees who greeted him.

His gaze swept lightly over the few who had been gossiping earlier.

Tilting his small face, he beamed at the Alpha. “Don’t worry, it’s just from the elevator to here, not far.”

After speaking, he reached up dependently with the hand that had been resting against the wall, wanting to loop it around the Alpha’s neck.

The Omega nodded sweetly. The next moment, the Alpha naturally picked him up.

During the short walk out, Qiao Zhimian instinctively observed the man’s mood.

Seeing that those words hadn’t affected him, he didn’t say anything more.

On the way home, Qiao Zhimian dozed off in the passenger seat, feeling lazy.

He realized that whenever he was with the Alpha, he easily felt comfortable and sleepy.

Lian Yi carried the drowsy Omega to the living room sofa. Following his usual habit, he gently covered him with a small blanket so he could nap for a while.

When dinnertime came, the Omega still showed no intention of getting up.

Lian Yi called him softly, but he just whined and acted spoiled, not wanting to move.

In the end, considering the baby in his belly, Lian Yi had no choice but to sit him in his lap and try to get some food into him.

“Open your mouth, Mian Mian.” Lian Yi brought the spoon to his wife’s lips.

Qiao Zhimian let out a big yawn, glanced at the dishes on the table with sleepy eyes, then frowned and turned his head away, not wanting to eat.

He was now in the late stages of pregnancy, with back pain and extra weight, making it uncomfortable to find a sleeping position at night.

Perhaps after a long day, by a certain time, he just felt lazy.

Lian Yi, seeing his reluctance, tried a different dish, but he still refused to eat.

It reminded him of the early days when Qiao Zhimian would pretend his legs hurt to get sympathy whenever he didn’t want to eat.

He fell for it every time—mainly because, whether it was real or not, he couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering.

“Not eating now?” Lian Yi raised an eyebrow and deliberately bounced his leg, implying something. “You’ll be eating something else later.”

“Ah.” The Omega was startled by the movement and let out a short, startled sound.

Based on where he was sitting and the man’s actions, the married Omega immediately understood what “something else” meant.

His small face and the tips of his ears flushed instantly.

“I don’t want to eat these…” he whined, changing the subject and making a request. “It’s too bland. I suddenly want something with strong flavors.”

“Strong flavors?” Lian Yi was puzzled.

From what he knew of Qiao Zhimian, he rarely ate boldly flavored food.

Do pregnancies make Omegas this unpredictable?

“Hmm~” Qiao Zhimian leaned into the man’s arms, his bright eyes sparkling as he looked at him expectantly. “The thing Senior Yan Zhi used to give me—the really spicy but delicious one.”

Spicy crayfish?

Lian Yi frowned and tried to persuade him, saying it was better to avoid such food now that he was pregnant.

But before he could finish, he saw Qiao Zhimian purse his lips and fall silent, his eyes welling up.

Based on experience, the next words would surely be a pitifully, “You don’t love me anymore.”

Lian Yi immediately stopped talking.

“Wait here,” he said decisively, gently stroking his wife’s face to comfort him. “I’ll go buy it for you.”

After making him comfortable on the chair, he grabbed his car keys and headed out.

Qiao Zhimian watched the Alpha’s departing figure, a triumphant little dimple appearing on his cheek—there was no sign of sadness or sensitivity left.

Half an hour later.

Lian Yi returned with a takeout box and also went to the kitchen to make a cup of warm honey water.

He had specifically bought a braised dish with less spice and gave it a quick rinse with water, believing Qiao Zhimian would be able to handle it.

As he prepared the food, he fed him bite by bite.

The Omega ate until a light sweat broke out on the tip of his nose, and Lian Yi gently wiped them away with a tissue.

"Had enough? If not, I'll go buy more," Lian Yi chuckled, watching his satisfied expression.

Qiao Zhimian shook his head faintly, sticking out his tongue before gulping down the honey water.

He rested his forehead against the Alpha’s sturdy arm, nuzzling against it. "Ha... no more, you have the rest. You can have it all."

Lian Yi removed one glove and gently wiped his slightly swollen lips, a smile in his eyes.

Now that he was offering it all to him, earlier, when Lian Yi had tried a taste after buying it, he’d been met with a pout and a glare for daring to touch his food.

.

11:30 PM.

Lian Yi, dressed in pajamas, leaned against the headboard under the warm glow of the bedside lamp, working.

As the due date approached, he rarely worked in the study anymore, usually staying in the bedroom to keep him company.

He was afraid that if the Omega needed him and couldn’t move easily, any bump or fall could be serious.

Qiao Zhimian, lying on his side next to the Alpha, suddenly his brows furrowed uneasily in his sleep, gradually waking as if uncomfortable.

Rubbing his eyes drowsily, he asked with a sleepy, nasal voice, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

"Just some last-minute things to take care of," Lian Yi replied softly, looking down at him as he stirred.

Qiao Zhimian’s back ached intensely, and his legs felt sore and swollen. Unable to bear it for long, he burrowed into the man’s chest, whimpering pitifully.

Lian Yi immediately set his work aside and carefully pulled him into his arms.

"What’s wrong? Is the baby bothering you again?" He gently massaged the Omega’s lower back with one hand while caressing his prominently rounded belly with the other.

"Mhm..." Qiao Zhimian nestled in the Alpha’s embrace, gripping his pajama collar, his voice muffled. "He keeps kicking, probably doing somersaults in there."

Lian Yi released a soothing wave of pheromones and nuzzled his slightly damp temple.

He was trying to ease the irritability from the discomfort of late pregnancy.

His large hand, through the thin fabric of the pajamas, radiated warmth to the baby inside the Omega’s belly.

Just then, the little one moved again—a little fist pushed against the belly, with noticeable strength.

"Move gently, don’t tire out your dad, don’t make daddy uncomfortable," Lian Yi whispered softly, as if afraid of startling the baby. "I’m your dad—do you remember my voice?"

Ever since the doctor mentioned that the fetus could hear outside sounds, Lian Yi made time every day, no matter how busy, to talk to their little one.

Qiao Zhimian leaned against the man’s shoulder, listening to him chat to his belly, and felt his restless mood ease considerably.

He couldn’t help but chuckle, "Do you think he understands what you’re saying? He might even think you’re nagging in there."

Lian Yi didn’t argue, simply smiling back at his wife and kissing his furrowed brow that hadn’t fully relaxed.

It was clear his recent anxiety.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

Qiao Zhimian blinked, immediately understanding what the Alpha meant. He pursed his lips and nodded honestly, "A little..."

Lian Yi opened his mouth, about to say something comforting, when his partner added softly, "But I’m not scared. It’s like physical therapy—with you by my side, I’m not afraid of anything."

.

Lately, the baby had been moving frequently. As first-time fathers with no prior experience, both felt some prenatal anxiety. They decided to pack their bags in advance and check into the hospital to await the birth.

That evening, Lian Yi stepped out of the bathroom in the hospital room after a shower.

He moved close to the Omega, who was focused on his phone, and rested his head affectionately against his.

His voice was still husky from the shower. "What are you watching?"

Qiao Zhimian looked at the Alpha, his fingers gently brushing through his still-damp hair. "Baby food tutorials. Your hair isn’t dry—go dry your hair properly."

Lian Yi held the Omega’s soft, slender hand, nuzzling it affectionately. He was about to agree when a notification sounded from his phone on the bedside table.

He paused, picked it up, and glanced at the screen, his brow furrowed slightly in thought.

"What is it?" Qiao Zhimian asked curiously, leaning over to look at the screen.

The moment Lian Yi met his gaze, he turned the phone face down and put it away—all in one smooth motion.

"Nothing, just a work message," he explained with a smile.

Such a strong reaction… something felt off.

Qiao Zhimian met the man’s eyes and mumbled a quiet "oh."

Then he lowered his head, his lips pursed in a pout, feeling a little upset.

Was there something he wasn’t allowed to see?

Before, he could sit in his lap and watch him work without any issue—why was he being so secretive now?

Lost in these thoughts, Qiao Zhimian braced his lower back and belly as he prepared to lie down.

"Agh—" He gasped sharply.

Suddenly, he felt his womb contracting intensely, a heavy, sinking sensation spreading through him.

The sheets beneath him were soon soaked with clear fluid.

"What hurts?" Lian Yi asked, startled, quickly holding his trembling, leaning body.

"No, I—I…" The Omega’s face contorted as he panted, gripping the Alpha’s arm tightly. "I think I’m in labor."

Lian Yi’s scalp tingled, his breath hitched. While holding and comforting him, urging him to stay calm, he decisively pressed the call button by the bed.

Within seconds, the sounds of doctors and nurses, already on standby, rushed closer from down the hall.

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Author's Note: Time to guess the baby’s ABO type [dog head].