Chapter 40 Little One

Chapter 40: The Little One

The baby came to full term, with healthy weight and optimal fetal position.

The Omega father was in excellent physical condition, having been well cared for, so the delivery went smoothly.

Both father and child were safe—he was an Alpha baby boy.

They named him Qiao Shubai.

While waiting outside the delivery room, Lian Yi's nose felt overwhelmed by the scent of disinfectant.

His heart raced erratically, pounding so hard it felt ready to burst.

That hollow, panicky sensation gave him the impression of an arrhythmia.

Fortunately, both sets of parents were present, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newborn while also comforting this first-time Alpha father.

When Mian Mian was wheeled out of the delivery room, the entire family first checked on his condition.

His face was somewhat pale, with traces of sweat still glistening on his cheeks.

But his eyes were clear and bright, his emotions steady.

Aside from exhaustion and weakness, there was also a sense of relief and happiness, as if a long ordeal had finally ended.

Back in the hospital room, after the nurse finished her instructions,

the Omega rested his head lazily against the Alpha’s arm wrapped around him, his gaze filled with adoration as he stared intently at their little one.

"Shubai, little Shubai," Qiao Zhimian’s father cradled the newborn alongside Lian Yi’s mother, unable to get enough of him.

He also tilted his body slightly, allowing the fair, soft baby in the swaddle to be visible, giving his two loving fathers a clear view.

Qiao Shubai had a fair and delicate complexion, unlike many newborns who tend to be darker—likely due to both his father and daddy having fair skin, a testament to their excellent genes.

The new father and son stayed in the hospital for observation for over a week.

Once their health was confirmed stable with no complications, they were discharged with the doctor’s approval and went home.

After having a child, Lian Yi’s aura of being a family man grew significantly.

He took care of the little one alongside the nanny with great competence.

In the past, he could recite legal provisions and reference cases with ease, but when it came to day-to-day chores, he was utterly clueless.

Now, delving into infant care, he became surprisingly methodical, articulate, and quick to learn.

Changing diapers and preparing formula, his techniques were so smooth that none of his former awkwardness as a legal elite remained.

The car stopped in front of their home.

Lian Yi helped Qiao Zhimian out and headed toward the bedroom.

The little one stayed in the nanny’s arms, following behind his two fathers.

This was the first time the baby returned to his warm home, no longer separated by his father’s belly.

After settling both father and son, Lian Yi went back downstairs to unload the things brought back from the car.

Qiao Zhimian took his son into his arms, smiling with warm, sweet dimples as he gently coaxed him to sleep.

The crib was laid with soft, sun-dried bedding, and the nearby storage shelf was filled with the baby’s daily necessities and the little toys they had bought for him.

All of this had been prepared in advance by Lian Yi during their stay at the hospital before the delivery.

"Xiao Shubai, what are you looking at?" Qiao Zhimian asked, laughing softly as he noticed the baby’s big eyes wandering around. "Daddy will be up soon. This is the room Daddy and I decorated together for you. Do you like it?"

Just as Lian Yi finished putting things away and reached the nursery door, he heard the Omega’s soft voice.

He smiled and stepped inside, but the baby suddenly burst into loud, somewhat aggrieved cries.

Qiao Zhimian panicked instantly. Catching sight of the tall figure at the door, he felt slightly reassured and looked toward his husband. "Why... why is he crying?"

The Omega asked with a hint of helpless dependence.

The nanny hesitated nearby, unsure whether to intervene, but Lian Yi shook his head slightly, gesturing that it wasn’t necessary.

"Check if his diaper is wet."

He walked over to the pair, gently lifting a corner of the swaddle to check together. "Not wet. He’s probably hungry."

The baby’s skin was delicate, and to avoid irritation, they opted for soft, breathable diapers during the day, changing them frequently.

Lian Yi turned to prepare a bottle of formula at the right temperature, but Qiao Zhimian took it from him, insisting on feeding the baby himself.

The little one, his face flushed from crying, fell asleep quickly after drinking, smacking his lips softly.

His fine, soft baby hair clung to his forehead, and his breathing was as light as a feather.

Qiao Zhimian straightened his back, about to place the baby in the crib, when a dull ache spread across his lower back and abdomen.

He instinctively let out a soft groan.

The Alpha’s warm hand pressed against his lower back, massaging it gently.

With his other sturdy arm, he carefully took their son and said helplessly, "I told you, just hold him for a little while. Your back is still sore."

Qiao Zhimian leaned into the arm massaging his back, nuzzling against it, bubbling with happiness. "I just wanted to bond with him a little more..." His voice was soft and cheerful as he added with a smile, "Look, his little hand is still clutching my clothes."

Lian Yi’s heart melted at the sight of his adorable Omega. He couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss those sweet lips.

The couple’s atmosphere grew intimate and tender, as if they could never get enough of each other, inseparable whenever they were close.

Xiao Shubai, smelling the faint intermingling scents of his father and daddy, suddenly stirred and let out a soft whimper.

As if dissatisfied with being overlooked, he furrowed his tiny brows and pouted.

Lian Yi finally shifted his attention back to the baby in his arms, gently touching the little one’s cheek.

His deep voice softened to an extremely gentle tone: "Don’t cry, Daddy and I are both here."

He carefully placed the baby in the crib, adjusting the small pillow.

Then, he enveloped both father and son with his soothing, comforting scent.

"See, our son stops crying when I talk to him," Lian Yi said, casting a proud, seeking-praise look at his wife.

Qiao Zhimian couldn't help but laugh, his slender little finger hooking onto the man's with a playful whine, "It's all because you used to talk to my belly every day. He got used to your voice from in there."

The pale morning sun outside the window cast a gentle glow over the family of three.

The omega gazed at the alpha with unmistakable love in his eyes.

During these days in the hospital, he had always worn casual loungewear, taking care of himself and the baby.

His usually meticulous hair often looked messy, yet it couldn't hide his handsome features.

He loved this side of him too, vastly different from the Lian Yi he knew from his student days and a world away from his identity as Attorney Lian.

It was a whole different side of him.

Lian Yi didn't know what his wife was thinking, but meeting those bright, lovestruck eyes made his heart skip a beat.

After soothing the baby, he bent down and lifted his big baby—Qiao Zhimian—from the wheelchair, carrying him toward their bedroom.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere, baby?" He nuzzled his nose affectionately against the soft cheek. "The doctor said you need to rest more at home, avoid sitting for too long. How about hubby joins you for a nap?"

Qiao Zhimian, tickled by the nuzzling, buried his face in the man's neck, inhaling the comforting scent of bamboo mixed with a hint of baby formula.

"Not uncomfortable," he mumbled playfully, "But you have to stay with me. You can't get up before I do..."

With a soft 'mwah,' the omega's ear turned pink from the kiss.

"Okay, I won't leave until you wake up," Lian Yi promised with a deep chuckle.

.

Whenever Lian Yi was home, he was hands-on with caring for their son.

After Xiao Shubai's first month, his skin grew smoother, and his features became more defined.

His facial structure and characteristics gradually became clearer, revealing more details of his appearance.

He had thick eyelashes like his dad and clear, deep brows like his dad.

Everyone in both families was curious about what he would look like when he grew up.

On the day of the baby's hundred-day celebration, many guests were invited.

Both the Qiao and Lian families made no effort to avoid the media.

A happy family photo of the three soon graced the front pages of various gossip magazines and financial news.

Rumors of the couple's marital discord and their unconventional marriage were dispelled.

The internet buzzed with a new wave of discussions and speculation.

"It's still a bit big..." Qiao Zhimian stood by the crib, bending over to adjust the baby's little pajamas.

It was the matching family set Lian Yi had bought earlier.

He had been trying it on the baby since he was one month old, and now, almost five months later, the sleeves were still a bit too long.

Xiao Shubai laughed happily at his dad, waving his little hands and feet.

The extra sleeves swayed with his movements, making him look like a little opera performer, utterly adorable.

"Just a little bigger, he'll grow into it soon," Lian Yi said, wearing the same set as his wife and son.

They had both just bathed, and Qiao Zhimian couldn't wait to try it on.

The omega leaned back, relying on the alpha's solid chest.

"Tired from standing?" Lian Yi wrapped his arms around his wife's waist, bending slightly to rest his chin on the slender shoulders, inhaling his scent obsessively.

Qiao Zhimian giggled sweetly and said he wasn't tired.

Lian Yi kissed his cheek, and his phone dinged from his pocket.

He glanced sideways, his expression shifting slightly, and prepared to step out to check.

Qiao Zhimian noticed this, the joy in his eyes fading.

Feeling him about to leave, he hesitated for a second before grabbing his large hand, holding two of his fingers tightly in his palm.

"Lately, have you been unhappy about something?" he asked tentatively, meeting his dark eyes.

Lian Yi paused for a half-beat, then curled his lips into a subtle smile, stroking the omega's face. "No, don't overthink it."

Qiao Zhimian's gaze cooled, and after a few seconds of staring at the man, he pursed his lips and avoided his touch, displeased.

"What's wrong, baby?" Lian Yi felt a pang of anxiety, quickly moving closer to hold and comfort him.

Ignoring his wife's sulky expression, he leaned in to kiss him.

Trying to lighten the tense mood, he joked, "Is it sore again? Hurting again?" He cupped the omega's bottom and lifted him, nuzzling against the thin, flat chest to sniff.

There was a faint, enticing milky scent, pink and tender, sweet but not cloying.

"Do you need hubby to help you?" He parted his teeth slightly, ready to nibble through the fabric.

Qiao Zhimian flustered, quickly covering the man's mouth with reddened ears, squirming unhappily in his arms.

"Pervert!" he scolded.

This earned him a shameless, handsome grin.

"I'm being serious!" The omega frowned, his delicate brows furrowed sternly. "Don't always brush me off with these tricks. I can sense something's off with you lately."

The bond between Alpha and Omega allowed them to perceive each other's emotional shifts through scent.

He suddenly remembered the messages the man had deliberately avoided on the night he went into labor.

Which meant, all this time, he had been keeping something from him.

Lian Yi sighed softly, his thin lips parting slightly. "Mian Mian, it's really nothing. Don't worry, baby."

"Fine, don't tell me then." A wave of unprecedented hurt washed over Qiao Zhimian, his eyes reddening instantly. "Don't hold me. Put me down. I can walk on my own."

He struggled, his voice tinged with tears. "From now on, I'll keep things from you too. I won't tell you anything. You've always been like this anyway."

Lian Yi's heart raced at his words, recalling their past marital conflicts and the time they nearly divorced.

Before he could explain, he heard the omega sniffle and mutter, "I've seen it. You've been hiding things. Someone keeps emailing you on your computer. Did you leave behind unresolved romantic entanglements during your time abroad? Are they tracking you down now?"

"Mian Mian," Lian Yi's mind went blank, feeling both wronged and amused. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Qiao Zhimian glared at the alpha with tearful almond-shaped eyes, his small mouth pouting high as two pitiful teardrops fell.

Lian Yi sighed, holding him with one arm and wiping his tears with the other.

Afraid of disturbing the child, he carried him toward the bedroom.

They fell silent on the way. Qiao Zhimian knew himself that what he had said was unreasonable.

He had deliberately spoken nonsense out of spite.

He was angry that Lian Yi was keeping things from him.

They had been married for so long, and their child was already so big.

Yet he still didn't understand the principle of sharing burdens—that no matter what happens, good or bad, you should tell your partner.

He could talk smoothly when advising others, but when it came to himself, he couldn't grasp this simple truth.