Chapter 3

Chapter 3

How could he be pregnant?

Lian Sheng carefully studied his expression, confirming there was no aversion before the tips of his ears quietly flushed red. Clutching at his clothes, he answered softly, "It should be... The elders didn't go into detail. They just said I needed to find a spouse who smells right and... and sleep with him."

Afraid Cen Lin might think he was "talking nonsense" again, he quickly added, his fingers tightening even more on his clothes, "The elders also gave me a book, a lotus leaf book from our clan. Even though it's just a fragment, that's what it says too. I really didn't misread it!"

Hearing this, Cen Lin rested his knuckles against his chin, frowning slightly in thought.

...A clan book? A lotus leaf book? And a fragment? The delusional details are quite elaborate.

But the priority now is to calm him down. Once we're home, I'll contact colleagues from the psychiatric department to properly plan a treatment.

Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Lian Sheng curiously leaned closer. His fluffy golden hair brushed against Cen Lin's forearm as he asked softly, "Doctor Cen, what's wrong? Do you think what I said is wrong?"

When Cen Lin snapped back to reality, he met the boy's sparkling eyes. Suppressing his doubts, he shifted back slightly, preventing the golden hair from brushing against him again. "...It's nothing. Stop talking nonsense. Get your stuff together; you're coming home with me in a bit."

Lian Sheng immediately smiled, but then a tickle in his throat made him lower his head, coughing twice. He frowned as he looked at the dusky blue dew he had coughed up.

Why is there a bit of black in it...

Afraid Cen Lin might get angry, he quickly wiped it away with a tissue. "Then let's go, Doctor Cen!"

As Lian Sheng turned away, Cen Lin glanced down, reached out to collect a sample of the dew, placed it in a transparent bag, and put it in his pocket.

On the way downstairs, many colleagues noticed the golden-haired boy beside him. Some even came over to ask, "Doctor Cen, is this your... partner? I think I saw him waiting for you outside your office the other day. You're being a bit sneaky, aren't you?"

Cen Lin didn't say much, only dismissing it lightly, "A relative, here to visit me."

After saying that, he quickly pulled Lian Sheng towards the garage.

"Get in," Cen Lin said, opening the car door.

After watching Lian Sheng get in, Cen Lin opened the driver's side door. As he started the ignition, he glanced at Lian Sheng. "Fasten your seatbelt."

Lian Sheng beside him: "?"

Cen Lin waited.

Cen Lin waited a moment but still didn't hear the sound of Lian Sheng pulling the seatbelt. He couldn't help but turn his head to look, only to see Lian Sheng staring blankly at everything around him.

"...Lean back." Left with no choice, Cen Lin leaned over, reaching across Lian Sheng for the seatbelt buckle. When his fingertips touched the boy's warm arm, his germaphobia instantly flared up. His fingers subconsciously curled slightly, but he still patiently adjusted the seatbelt's tightness, making sure it wasn't too tight. "If you move around, get out."

"I'll be good." Although he didn't understand, Lian Sheng obediently leaned back against the seat. As soon as his back touched the backrest, he saw Cen Lin lean over. A faint, unknown, sharp fragrance suddenly filled his nostrils.

Inadvertently, Doctor Cen's hand, while pulling the seatbelt, brushed against Lian Sheng's arm, making him shiver slightly. Although Cen Lin realized it and immediately pulled his hand back, it happened too fast to react.

Cen Lin, realizing he had touched him, quickly withdrew his hand.

Lian Sheng watched blankly as Cen Lin carefully buckled his seatbelt, adjusted the seat, and finally started the car and drove off.

Doctor Cen...

Doctor Cen... doesn't seem to hate me that much?

When he helped me with the seatbelt, the scent on him smelled so nice...

The road was smooth, without any bumps. The car wasn't cold either, maintaining a comfortable temperature. Lian Sheng waited and watched, seeing houses and trees fly past outside the window. At first, he was amazed, but the more he looked, the more dizzy he felt, and he drifted off to sleep.

He woke up again when Cen Lin told him to get out of the car.

He quickly complied and got out, following behind Cen Lin as they walked towards the residential building.

Cen Lin pushed open the front door of his home, took a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet in the entryway, and handed them to him. "Put these on. Don't step around randomly, or you're out."

It was Lian Sheng's first time here. The unfamiliarity made a vague sense of fear rise in his heart. He didn't dare touch the electrical appliances or the furniture. Everything around him was strange, and he suddenly realized he missed the lotus pond more and more.

Watching Cen Lin silently tidy up the room, Lian Sheng felt a little more at ease.

"You can shower first. I'll make something simple to eat," Cen Lin said as he came out. "The bathroom is the second door on the left. The one next to it is the toilet."

Then he suddenly added coldly, "Without my permission, you are not to touch anything you shouldn't. Understood?"

"Understood!" Lian Sheng nodded blankly, holding the new towel and toiletries Doctor Cen had unpacked, and walked into the legendary human bathroom.

He held the cartoon-patterned body wash, looking at it for a long time, then poked the bubble pattern on the packaging, muttering softly, "What is this? It's different from the dew back home..."

That thing hanging on the wall that looks like a little flower... why is it dripping water?

Oh my!

Startled, Lian Sheng rushed out in a panic, holding the towel. The tips of his golden hair were damp with bathroom steam, clinging softly to his cheeks.

"Oh my jiomi! No... Doctor Cen! That dripping thing suddenly sprayed water! It was so scary!" Lian Sheng said, still shaken.

Cen Lin, who was in the kitchen turning on the toaster, heard the noise and hurried over. Hearing Lian Sheng's words, he was first stunned, then, after processing it, was completely exasperated.

"...The showerhead. How are you supposed to shower if it doesn't spray water?" Cen Lin pressed his fingers to his temples. "Come here."

Cen Lin walked into the bathroom, turned on the showerhead, and tested the water temperature with his hand first before stepping aside. His tone softened. "Turn this way for hot water, this way for cold. It won't suddenly spray water. Don't make a fuss."

Hearing this, Lian Sheng slowly nodded. "Okay... okay, I understand, jiomi..."

Cen Lin was taken aback. "What did you call me?"

"It's jiomi! It means spouse!" Lian Sheng said with sparkling eyes before realizing he might not like it. "It's Doctor Cen..."

After hearing this, Cen Lin didn't say anything, only told him to finish washing up quickly.

After closing the bathroom door securely, Lian Sheng finally started his shower.

When pressing the body wash pump, he used a bit too much force and accidentally squeezed out too much. "Oops!"

He quickly and secretly covered the body wash in his palm with his hand, looked back twice, then realized Cen Lin wasn't there and couldn't see him, so he relaxed.

He rubbed the body wash, and bubbles got onto the little lotus pod on his head. He subconsciously shook his head, and the bubbles fluttered down like a head full of little snowflakes.

Steam filled the room. Lian Sheng blinked, looking up at the holes where the water came out of the showerhead. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

It looks just like a little lotus pod!

He looked around again.

So Doctor Cen's home is this nice... but... He looked at the few pots of nearly dead pothos plants hanging in the bathroom.

They're so pitiful, almost dead.

Lian Sheng thought for a moment, reached out, and touched the leaves of the pothos. Dew imbued with spiritual energy instantly dripped onto the leaves.

After finishing his shower, Lian Sheng got dressed and came out to see Cen Lin still working on his computer, handling some work.

Hearing Lian Sheng's footsteps, he finally put it away and prepared to take a shower. "There's a sandwich on the dining table. Remember to eat it."

He then pushed open the bathroom door and went inside.

The bathroom still held a faint scent of lotus, especially fragrant in the warm, steamy air. He glanced around, his gaze lingering briefly.

The pothos that had been nearly withered a few days ago had put out tender green shoots, its leaves shining brightly.

He reached out and touched a leaf, his fingertip catching a hint of dampness—a sensation that wasn't from ordinary watering.

"Not a delusion," he whispered to himself, then immediately frowned and shook his head, though his tone lacked its previous certainty.

He recalled the revived cactus in his office and linked the two things for the first time. Pushing the door open, he glanced at Lian Sheng, only to see him once again infusing spiritual energy into the cactus on the windowsill. Under the nourishment of his energy, the wilted cactus had come back to life, turning vibrant and green.

"What are you doing?" Cen Lin asked suddenly.

Startled, Lian Sheng was about to explain when he heard Cen Lin say coldly, "Don't touch my things."

Then he closed the door and continued getting ready.

Back in the bathroom, he stared intently at the pothos giving off light, his brow slightly furrowed.

Not a delusion... What exactly is this light?

Even so, the stern-faced Dr. Cen later saw Lian Sheng occasionally secretly replenishing the cactus with spiritual energy but didn't intervene again.

Cen Lin finished his shower quickly and stepped out, immediately seeing Lian Sheng sitting on the sofa waiting for him, chin in his hand, eyelids gradually drooping but stubbornly refusing to close completely.

At the sound of the door opening, he snapped awake. "Doctor Cen!"

Cen Lin said, "Don't wait for me. Your bedroom is over there. Go to bed."

Lian Sheng blinked. "I... I want to wait and sleep with you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, afraid of angering Cen Lin, Lian Sheng added while twisting the fabric of his shirt and lowering his head, "If... if you don't like it, we can go out first... Oh, right, I think that's what it's called. The nurse auntie told me."

Cen Lin, who had originally intended to ignore the question, pursed his lips. He was about to say, "You're still young, don't talk nonsense," but then he looked up at Lian Sheng and noticed the child staring at him with big, pleading eyes, as if he'd keep this up if he didn't agree.

Cen Lin's dark eyes remained completely impassive. He simply turned and walked away. "Pushing your luck. You're out of here tomorrow."

Lian Sheng was on the verge of tears. "No, Doctor Cen—"

Cen Lin strode off, and the bedroom door shut tightly behind him.

...

In the middle of the night, Cen Lin got up to use the bathroom. A figure on the living room sofa suddenly stirred. He walked over slowly and saw Lian Sheng sitting on the sofa curled up. As his footsteps drew nearer, Lian Sheng slowly lifted his eyes brimming with tears.

Cen Lin frowned. "Come in."

"Doctor Cen... Does this mean you're letting me in? That's great! Thank you, Doctor Cen!" Lian Sheng said excitedly, then lowered his gaze and softly asked while placing a hand on his stomach, "Doctor Cen, if I stay with you, will the lotus seeds actually come alive?"

Cen Lin: "..."

"Shut up and sleep."

Cen Lin pushed open his bedroom door and walked in. Lian Sheng quickly followed, taking out the small lotus seed's true form and cradling it in his hands as he entered.

Cen Lin pulled the bed apart, dividing it into two single beds with a clear divide. He pushed Lian Sheng's small bed far away and said sternly, "Don't cross the line, or you're out immediately."

Lian Sheng nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Yes, Doctor Cen!"

As he lay down, he glanced at Cen Lin, who had his back turned to him, then wrapped the small lotus seed in a handkerchief and placed it on the pillow. He gently patted the seed and whispered, "Baby needs Daddy's spiritual energy."

As if putting a child to sleep.

Cen Lin turned over, closed his eyes, and pretended not to hear.

Moonlight spilled through the room's window, illuminating both their faces. Cen Lin slept fitfully, and he woke up midway. In a hazy, half-awake state, he heard Lian Sheng frowning and muttering something like "Little lotus seeds, don't die," "Baby," "Elder Grandpa, I was wrong," and other sleep-talking.

His hand reached out unconsciously to touch Cen Lin's waist, and even through the thin fabric of his pajamas, he could feel the warmth.

Cen Lin frowned, used a handkerchief to move his hand away, and "shoved" him far off. After staring at the youth for a moment, he climbed out of bed, pushed the door open, and left.

He pushed open the bathroom door. The revived pothos was emitting a faint glow. Cen Lin reached out to touch it.

"Doctor Cen? What are you doing here?" Lian Sheng had come to use the bathroom at some point and, seeing him there, suddenly spoke up. "Huh? Are you looking at this plant?"

Cen Lin: "...No. Go back to sleep."

After returning to the bedroom, Cen Lin lit some incense to calm his nerves before going back to sleep.

During the night, Lian Sheng unconsciously reached out again. Cen Lin froze for a moment, feeling the warmth of the youth's palm and recalling his own always-cold hands. After hesitating, he used a handkerchief to separate their hands and, this time, a bit more gently "kicked" him to sleep on the floor.

Though not exactly gentle.

"Don't wither... the lotus leaves from our clan..." Lian Sheng suddenly let out a faint, choked sob in his sleep.

Cen Lin turned his head to look at the youth's furrowed brow, remembering the warmth of the lotus seed in his palm during the day. As if possessed, he pushed a pillow closer to Lian Sheng, bringing the handkerchief nearer to the youth.

The next morning, Lian Sheng woke up stiff and sore all over. When he realized, he found he was lying on the floor on a blanket. He scratched his head.

What happened? Wasn't he sleeping in bed last night?

Meanwhile, Cen Lin was awakened by Lian Sheng's excited cry.

"Doctor Cen, you're awake! Look! The first little lotus seed has really come to life! Sleeping with you really works!" Lian Sheng said, smiling as he held a lotus seed emitting a faint spiritual glow.

Cen Lin was stunned, his gaze falling on the faintly glowing seed, his fingers unconsciously curling.

Then, Lian Sheng produced a tattered, jade-green lotus leaf with some withered yellow edges. After examining it carefully, he smiled again. "The ancient scroll says that being close to your partner will fully activate the little lotus seeds!"

Although Cen Lin only thought his delusions were getting worse, he still humored him on the surface.

After that, during the nights, Lian Sheng would secretly steal a kiss, quietly wrap his arms around his waist, bury his head in his chest, and try every way he could to make contact with him, all while holding his little lotus seed.

Each time, Cen Lin would push away Lian Sheng's restless lips and remove the hands placed on his waist, but Lian Sheng, in his drowsiness, would immediately latch back on.

Doctor Cen had had enough. In the middle of the night, he picked Lian Sheng up and threw him out of the bedroom.

"Ouch!"

But the kid was like sticky candy. No sooner had he been thrown out than he sleepwalked right back in.

In the end, Cen Lin could only admit defeat, biding his time for Lian Sheng's emotions to stabilize so he could take him to the hospital for a full checkup the next day. After all, that was the right thing to do for his condition, not to be led astray by his supernatural claims.

The next day, after giving Lian Sheng the sandwich, Cen Lin immediately took him to the hospital.

Lian Sheng asked in confusion, "To the hospital? Doctor Cen, didn't you tell me before not to keep bothering you?"

Cen Lin fell silent for a moment before replying, "I'm swamped today and won't be able to keep an eye on you, so I had to bring you along."

"Oh, I see. You're the best, Doctor Cen!" Lian Sheng said with a smile.

As soon as the car was parked, Cen Lin hurried him toward the examination room.

"Lao Cen, you're here? Is this him?" The young man in the exam room glanced at the two who had entered, then shifted his gaze to the blond boy behind Cen Lin. "Alright, go lie down on the bed."

Lian Sheng asked in confusion, "What's this for?"

Cen Lin patiently explained, "Just a routine check-up. It's for your own good. Don't move around."

Hearing this, Lian Sheng obediently lay down.

The cool, sticky liquid was applied to his belly by Dr. Wang, just like last time. Feeling a bit scared, Lian Sheng blinked his large, emerald-green eyes twice and quickly glanced at Cen Lin beside him.

"Don't move. It'll be over soon," Cen Lin said, noticing his gaze. He didn't say more, just gave a brief instruction.

But the next moment, Dr. Wang, who was conducting the examination, was glued to the screen, his brow furrowed as if he had discovered something astonishing. He turned his head to give Lian Sheng a strange look, then shifted his gaze to Cen Lin beside him and began to stammer, "Lao Cen, this... this... how could he be pregnant?"

Cen Lin was stunned, not immediately grasping the meaning of his words. After a few seconds of silence, the meaning finally hit him. He looked seriously at Dr. Wang, frowning in disbelief, and asked, "What?"