Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The Babies Moved!

“What did you say?” Cen Lin asked again, his brow furrowing involuntarily. “Have you seen a doctor? What did they say?”

Lian Sheng struggled desperately to suppress his trembling and the sour, aching sensation as he spoke: “Not yet—I just found out…”

“I’ll send someone over to examine you. Stay home.” Cen Lin said.

After hanging up, Lian Sheng sat quietly on the sofa, waiting. The clock ticked slowly onward; the water in his cup had grown cold without his noticing. He was startled when he took a sip—realizing how much time had passed.

*Ding-dong—*

An unfamiliar doorbell rang from outside. He hurried to the door and peered through the peephole—there stood the young doctor he’d met before. Not daring to delay, Lian Sheng quickly opened the door.

“Lao Cen sent me to check on you. Where are you feeling unwell?” the doctor asked.

Lian Sheng pointed to his abdomen, suppressing violent tremors. “My stomach hurts a little. I’m afraid it might be…”

The doctor immediately began his examination.

Lian Sheng watched intently, unwilling to look away from the doctor’s practiced movements. Only after finishing did the doctor say, “Nothing serious—just prenatal anxiety and slight fetal instability. I’ll prescribe some medication to stabilize the pregnancy. Take it and rest well.”

Hearing this, Lian Sheng felt somewhat reassured.

After seeing the doctor out, he took the medicine as instructed, then carefully lay back down, anxiously awaiting its effect.

The little dog came whimpering over and curled up at the foot of his bed. Lian Sheng promptly opened a fresh can of dog food—the dog finally wagged its tail.

In the following days, Cen Lin called occasionally. Relying on the supplies Cen Lin had left behind and the prescribed medication, Lian Sheng managed to hold on for another half month.

But recently, he felt increasingly drained. His waist and abdomen ached intermittently. His belly was now over four months along, and he constantly felt heavy, dragging.

Moreover, morning sickness—worsening over the past few days—had become nearly unbearable; no matter what he ate, he ended up vomiting.

Helplessly, he stroked his belly and murmured softly, “Babies… you two… why are you so mischievous?”

To nourish them, he forced himself to eat a little more each day.

Sometimes, he gazed at the gloomy gray sky and thought: *This is too hard. Can the babies really be kept safe? I’m almost at my limit.*

A loud clap of thunder echoed outside—startling Lian Sheng. He quickly sat back on the sofa, wrapped himself in a blanket, hugged his swollen belly, and fought back tears.

Soon after, the damp scent of rain drifted in, followed by cool, fine droplets. Lian Sheng tucked his feet beneath him, fully enveloping himself in the blanket.

He thought he’d have to endure like this for another month.

But over forty days later, the villa’s front door suddenly swung open from outside.

Cen Lin was back.

Hearing the sound, Lian Sheng immediately supported his belly and rushed out. He saw Cen Lin approaching—travel-worn, dark circles shadowing his eyes, faint red veins streaking his eyeballs, radiating an indescribable exhaustion.

At the sight, Lian Sheng’s eyes instantly reddened. “Doctor Cen… why did it take you so long to return?”

Cen Lin set down his luggage, voice flat. “An unexpected change. I returned early.”

Any colleagues who’d accompanied him would surely be puzzled: *Didn’t you finish the course ahead of schedule and take the first flight back?*

Of course, Lian Sheng knew nothing of this.

“That’s wonderful!” Lian Sheng wiped his tears and quickly reached for Cen Lin’s hand, placing it firmly on his swollen belly. “Quick—soothe the babies! If you hadn’t come back, something truly might have happened…”

His cool fingers grasped Cen Lin’s wrist, guiding his hand to rest on the rounded belly. Warmth and coolness instantly intertwined. Cen Lin instinctively tried to pull back—but Lian Sheng held tight, refusing to let go.

As if drawn by some unseen force, he didn’t withdraw.

The next moment, a faint, subtle movement stirred beneath his palm—a tiny nudge against the abdominal wall, right where his hand rested, as if responding to the father’s touch.

“Husband—the babies moved! That’s great!” Lian Sheng finally broke into a smile.

“Hmm.” Cen Lin gazed silently at the warm, soft mound beneath his hand. The icy darkness in his ink-black pupils softened slightly at the edges, rippling faintly—though the shift was so subtle it would go unnoticed unless observed closely.

Seeing Cen Lin offer no resistance, Lian Sheng’s worries eased a little. Slowly, he extended his arms and encircled Cen Lin’s waist. “Doctor Cen…”

“Go to sleep.” Cen Lin withdrew his hand.

Hearing this, Lian Sheng frowned slightly—then, after a pause, nodded slowly. “Then… can you sleep with me?”

Then, bluntly: “I only need your spiritual energy to activate the lotus seeds. After the babies are born, if you don’t wish to stay, I’ll take them back to the clan. I won’t trouble you.”

Cen Lin’s hand paused. Coolly, he replied, “Fine. That saves trouble.”

Hearing this, Lian Sheng relaxed slightly and returned to the bedroom to wait.

He avoided looking at his phone—fearing radiation might affect the pregnancy. He kept the light on and flipped through picture books. After turning more than twenty pages—and after the clock ticked past two large intervals—the bedroom door finally opened.

The man looked utterly exhausted. Even after bathing, only part of his travel-worn fatigue had lifted. His skin was pale—grayish-pale, just as before—like the lingering effect of chronic overtime.

Lian Sheng set down the picture book and ran barefoot to meet him. “Husband…”

“Not wearing shoes again?” Cen Lin noticed his bare feet and frowned. “Don’t be reckless.”

“How am I being reckless? You don’t know—these past two weeks without your nourishment have been agony. Several times, the babies’ spiritual energy grew dangerously thin. Do you know how terrified I was? And the morning sickness… without you here, vomiting felt so awful—I nearly wanted to die…”

At the word *die*, Cen Lin’s eyes instantly turned icy. He cut in coldly: “What are you saying? Shut up!”

It wasn’t so much shock—he’d simply never seen Cen Lin this angry before. Lian Sheng fell silent, then waited for a chance to gently tug his sleeve. “Alright, husband—I won’t say it again. Don’t be angry…”

“The babies will likely arrive in about a month. Let’s go shopping for them tomorrow, okay?” Lian Sheng changed the subject.

Cen Lin didn’t object. He simply pulled the blanket over Lian Sheng, glanced at his round, pregnant belly—and couldn’t help reaching out to touch it. “Hmm.”

The light switched off. Lian Sheng lay beneath the covers, quietly reaching out to grasp Cen Lin’s hand—then stealthily wrapping his arms around him from behind. Cen Lin’s body stiffened noticeably. Seeming to consider his pregnancy, he didn’t lift and toss him aside as before.

Yet he did nothing else—only silently turned over to face Lian Sheng, then let out a soft sigh.

Breathing in the man’s cool, comforting cedarwood scent, Lian Sheng’s consciousness began to blur. Unconsciously, he snuggled closer, pressing against his chest. He nuzzled a few more times—then pursed his lips and slipped into deep sleep.

As for Cen Lin—when Lian Sheng nestled close, the now-substantial baby pressed directly against his lower abdomen. Contact instantly ignited a searing, burning heat. He shifted back slightly, creating a safer distance.

**

The next day at the hospital, Lian Sheng sat on the sofa in Cen Lin’s office, watching him occasionally rub his leg—curious.

*Is Doctor Cen’s leg hurting? Is he unwell?*

“Hello?” Cen Lin suddenly answered an internal line. “A VIP patient? Okay—arrange it. I’m available.”

Lian Sheng quickly looked over. He saw Cen Lin hang up, stand, and push open the door to leave. “I’m heading to the consultation room next door. Stay here—don’t move around. I’ll take you shopping at the mall after work.”

Lian Sheng, sitting on the sofa, nodded obediently, quietly watching him leave.

He waited in the office for a long time, but Cen Lin still hadn’t returned.

His heart began to tremble again.

Was something going to happen again, like last time?

No, Cen Lin hadn't even helped him give birth to the baby safely yet. If something happened to Cen Lin, how could he keep the baby safe?

Absolutely not!

Thinking this, Lian Sheng sprang to his feet, pushed the door open, and rushed straight to the neighboring consultation room.

Inside, Cen Lin was holding a notebook and discussing something with a teenage patient.

Seeing him suddenly appear, Cen Lin’s expression darkened abruptly. “Who told you to come in without permission? Get out!”

“I… I was worried about you…” Lian Sheng’s lips moved soundlessly, but he was too flustered to form a proper sentence.

“I said get out,” Cen Lin snapped.

Seemingly frozen by his sudden anger and coldness, Lian Sheng didn't stop to think and didn’t stay a second longer, quickly opening the door and leaving.

He sat on the sofa in the office just a wall away, his mind replaying Cen Lin’s words, “Get out.”

He silently touched his own belly.

It wasn’t his fault, so why was Cen Lin snapping at him?

He was… still carrying their child. How could this man be so heartless?

Lian Sheng glanced back and suddenly felt something strange about the patient next door. He used his spiritual power to probe lightly and discovered that the patient’s surrounding aura was foul.

He pursed his lips.

A foul aura wouldn’t do—it would affect the baby’s spiritual energy.

After a moment of thought, he began to release lotus-scented spiritual energy, attempting to cleanse it.

At first, the spiritual energy flowed perfectly, something he could control. But a sudden wave of morning sickness forced him to bend over, leaning against the wall for relief. His stomach churned violently, and after vomiting, he felt completely drained.

When he came to, his purification spell had already failed.

A piercing scream came from next door. Lian Sheng pressed a hand to his chest and walked out, only to see several people emerging from the neighboring consultation room.

First was the emotionally unstable patient, being restrained as he was led out. Finally, Cen Lin walked out, clutching his right arm.

He looked utterly exhausted now, steadying himself slightly by holding the door handle as he stepped out.

He glanced toward Lian Sheng, and in that one look, seemed to confirm something. His tone carried a chill three degrees colder than before. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Before Lian Sheng could explain, Wen Yushan immediately stepped forward. “Teacher Cen, you’re injured? Let me help you bandage the wound right away!”

Watching Cen Lin being supported away by Wen Yushan, Lian Sheng moved forward, wanting to speak but ultimately saying nothing.

He pressed a hand to his chest.

Everything said before was a lie, but now, it seemed this shell was truly broken. Why did it start aching faintly here?

This strange feeling lingered until late at night. Only when Wen Yushan’s shoes came into view and stopped before him did Lian Sheng slowly look up.

Wen Yushan sighed. “We just received news. The patient complained that there was an unknown irritating odor in Teacher Cen’s consultation room, causing his emotional instability and worsening his condition, posing a safety hazard. The hospital is already preparing to investigate him.”

After speaking, Wen Yushan handed him a box of pure milk. “I heard you… are pregnant. This is for you and the baby.”

In the evening, Cen Lin drove him back to the villa, remaining silent the entire way.

He wanted to touch Cen Lin’s hand and say something, but Cen Lin skillfully avoided it. “It’s too late.”

At night, the two lay with enough space between them for another person. Cen Lin didn’t say a word, seemingly truly fallen into deep sleep.

Lian Sheng’s chest ached as if repeatedly pricked by tiny needles. He couldn’t describe what this feeling was, only that he wanted to cry but couldn’t shed any tears.

In the middle of the night, he was awakened by pain in his belly.

Beneath him was a slick, damp wetness.

"Author's Note"

A disheartening increase in data.