There weren’t many patients at the private hospital, so the examination results came back quickly.
The doctor pointed to a tiny shape on the ultrasound screen and told them,
“You’re almost three months pregnant. The baby is developing very well.”
Gu Yan could feel the ultrasound probe moving across his still-flat lower abdomen as the doctor repeatedly adjusted its position.
The whole experience felt utterly surreal.
There was actually a tiny new life growing inside his body?!
“But… shouldn’t my stomach be getting bigger after three months? Why does mine still look…”
Gu Yan trailed off, bewildered.
The doctor explained patiently,
“Everyone’s body is different. Some people begin showing quite noticeably after just two or three months, while others don’t develop a visible bump until the fourth or fifth month.”
“I suspect you belong to the latter group. And since you’re naturally quite slender, it’s even harder to tell at this stage.”
Seeing how young they both were, the doctor guessed that this was their first baby.
He therefore took his time explaining all the precautions and important things they should keep in mind throughout the pregnancy.
After leaving the hospital, Gu Yan stood by the roadside and mentally replayed everything he’d done over the past three months.
First, he’d nearly gotten into a boxing match with someone.
Then he’d gone up a mountain with Yi Heng to watch the stars.
After that, when he found a little free time, he’d even taken horseback riding lessons, bouncing around on a horse for several laps.
As his final exams approached, he’d stayed up late studying.
On their wedding day, he’d drunk quite a bit of alcohol.
And most importantly…
They were newlyweds, after all.
Lately, he and Yi Heng had been so wrapped up in each other that they’d been intimate almost every single day.
Yet despite all that shameless newlywed passion, the little one in his belly had remained as steady and unshakable as a mountain!
Gu Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This baby really was unbelievably tenacious.
Even their contraceptive precautions hadn’t managed to prevent its arrival.
And all those things he’d unknowingly done over the past few months, things that could potentially increase the risk of miscarriage, hadn’t driven it away either.
The little one had simply remained safe and comfortable inside him.
For three whole months, its most noticeable announcement of its existence had been the rather indignant protest it staged during breakfast that morning.
The thought left Gu Yan laughing helplessly.
As they walked past a dessert shop, Gu Yan felt a little thirsty and suddenly found himself craving ice cream.
To his surprise, Yi Heng bought him one without the slightest hesitation.
“Aren’t you worried that eating this might be bad for the baby?”
Gu Yan tilted his head and asked.
He distinctly remembered the doctor advising him to avoid raw and cold foods whenever possible.
Yi Heng didn’t answer.
His brows drew together slightly, and a complicated expression settled over his face as he watched Gu Yan eat his ice cream.
“W-What’s wrong?”
Gu Yan noticed the unusual look in his eyes.
Ever since their wedding, Yi Heng had rarely shown an expression like that.
A faint sense of disappointment crept into Gu Yan’s heart.
Although the baby’s arrival had been terribly sudden, he’d assumed Yi Heng would be delighted.
Or at the very least, that he wouldn’t react like this.
The sea breeze drifted through their hair, carrying the faint, salty scent of the ocean.
Gu Yan’s fingers tightened around his ice cream cone, rubbing unconsciously against its crisp surface.
After hesitating for a while, he finally voiced the question weighing on his mind.
“Yi Heng… do you not really want a baby?”
The Yi Group was extremely busy at the moment, right in the middle of an important period of growth.
Their wedding and honeymoon had already taken up a considerable amount of Yi Heng’s time.
If Yi Heng didn’t want a child just yet, Gu Yan could honestly understand.
But understanding something was one thing.
It didn’t stop the thought from hurting.
Yi Heng had no idea that Gu Yan had imagined so many possibilities in the span of just a few seconds.
He was genuinely surprised by the question.
Instinctively, he reached out and took Gu Yan’s hand.
“It’s not what you think.”
He paused briefly before speaking with quiet sincerity.
“I’m just worried about what you’ll have to go through.”
Gu Yan blinked.
“You’re worried about me?”
“Mm.”
Of course Yi Heng wanted to have children with Gu Yan.
But this felt a little too soon.
Gu Yan was still so young.
He still had his education to finish, and there were countless wonderful experiences and ambitions waiting for him.
Yi Heng had originally planned to spend the years before Gu Yan turned thirty doing everything within his power to give him the best life possible.
He wanted Gu Yan to live freely and without worries, enjoying his youth without being burdened by responsibilities or restrictions.
Only after Gu Yan’s enthusiasm for exploring the world had gradually settled would they begin thinking about the next stage of their lives.
But now, Gu Yan was pregnant.
Yi Heng was afraid that having a baby so soon might cause him to miss out on the beautiful experiences he deserved.
Besides, pregnancy was never an easy thing to go through.
No matter how much Yi Heng loved children, he couldn’t bear the thought of Gu Yan having to endure so much hardship.
At last, Gu Yan understood.
He’d always tried to consider things from Yi Heng’s perspective.
And now, realizing that Yi Heng had been thinking just as carefully about his happiness and well-being, a gentle warmth spread through his heart.
Gu Yan smiled softly and tightened his fingers around Yi Heng’s hand.
“Don’t blame yourself. We did everything we were supposed to do. But when fate decides to bring someone into your life, there’s no stopping it.”
“Maybe this was simply meant to be. All we need to do now is prepare ourselves to welcome this little life into the world.”
Yi Heng gazed at Gu Yan’s beautiful smile, momentarily lost in it.
Then he gently drew Gu Yan into his arms.
“All right.”
Along the street, a family of three was making its way up a stone-paved path.
A little child, no more than four or five years old, walked between their parents, holding a hand in each of theirs.
When they reached a small puddle, both parents instinctively tightened their grips at the same moment.
Together, they lifted the child into the air, swinging them safely over the water.
A delighted peal of laughter rang out, bright and clear as silver bells, spilling down the steps behind them.
Gu Yan watched the family quietly.
We’ll be that happy, too.
He was certain of it.
But beautiful dreams were one thing.
Reality, unfortunately, had a habit of delivering its own rather merciless blows.
By the time Gu Yan was a little over four months pregnant, his belly had begun to show noticeably.
Anyone who didn’t know about the pregnancy might simply have assumed he’d put on a little weight.
Gu Yan didn’t take a leave of absence from university.
Instead, he asked Yi Heng to help arrange the necessary paperwork so he could continue his studies from home.
Without having to spend time commuting every day, he could sleep a little longer in the mornings.
He also no longer had to worry about what to eat for lunch.
The housekeeper devoted herself to preparing all kinds of delicious meals, constantly finding new dishes to keep him well-fed and comfortable.
Gu Yan studied diligently.
Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d somehow become less intelligent.
His mind seemed slower than before, and things that once came easily now required more effort.
It left him terribly frustrated.
Fortunately, he had an outstanding academic genius right at home.
Whenever Gu Yan encountered something he couldn’t understand, Yi Heng patiently explained it to him after returning from work.
Thanks to that, his studies remained relatively manageable.
As for that damned Wang Zhiliang…
He was practically begging to be beaten!
Knowing perfectly well that Gu Yan was pregnant and couldn’t eat whatever he pleased, Wang Zhiliang spent his days posting photographs of delicious food on his social media feed, deliberately tempting him.
And that wasn’t all.
He also kept showing off the places he’d visited, the beautiful scenery he’d admired, and all the wonderful experiences he’d enjoyed.
Gu Yan became so furious that he blocked him outright.
Wang Zhiliang immediately panicked.
He begged and pleaded, appealing to practically everyone he could think of.
Only after considerable effort did he finally manage to get himself removed from Gu Yan’s blacklist.
Ever since a tiny new life had begun growing inside Gu Yan, Yi Heng’s home had become far livelier than before.
Every few days, relatives would arrive bearing all kinds of gifts, expensive delicacies, and nourishing supplements.
They never forgot to remind Gu Yan not to put too much pressure on himself and to take good care of his health.
Naturally, the most enthusiastic visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Yi.
The unexpected news had left them almost dizzy with happiness.
They practically wanted to treasure Gu Yan like the most precious jewel in the world.
Food, drinks, supplements said to nourish the blood and restore vitality…
If they heard something was good for him, they bought it without hesitation.
All sorts of expensive gifts and delicacies arrived in an endless stream.
Even Gu Yan’s maternal grandparents began to worry that, at this rate, the Yi family might spoil their grandson beyond repair.
Yi Feng also became a frequent visitor.
But Gu Yan knew perfectly well that his brother-in-law’s intentions weren’t entirely innocent.
It wasn’t as though Yi Feng came over just to visit him.
His real purpose was to seize every opportunity to tease and make trouble for his older brother.
One evening, while everyone was having dinner, Yi Feng suddenly bit down on his chopsticks and asked on a whim,
“What are you going to name the baby when it’s born? Have you two decided yet?”
Yi Heng was ladling chicken soup into Gu Yan’s bowl.
He and Gu Yan had actually discussed the matter long ago.
“Gu Zhaoyi.”
“Why does the baby get the Gu surname?”
Yi Feng blurted out the question before his brain could catch up with his mouth.
But the moment he noticed his older brother’s sharp gaze sweeping toward him, he hurriedly explained,
“N-No! I was just curious! It was only a random question, I swear!”
Yi Heng’s expression remained perfectly blank.
“Because it doesn’t sound as good the other way around.”
Yi Feng: “…………”
Yi Feng: “Fair enough.”
Still, when all was said and done, Yi Feng was genuinely delighted about the little life that would soon be joining their family.
At the very least, he would no longer be the youngest member of the family!
As time passed, the inevitable changes gradually began to arrive.
Gu Yan’s body grew heavier with each passing day.
He found himself worrying unnecessarily about losing his figure, something he’d never cared about before.
The doctor had advised him to get an appropriate amount of exercise.
It would be good for the baby, but more importantly, it would also benefit Gu Yan’s own health.
Unfortunately, Gu Yan felt so lazy and lethargic most of the time that he could barely summon the energy to move.
So whenever Yi Heng came home from work, he would accompany Gu Yan on a walk around their residential complex.
But they rarely made it very far before Gu Yan grew tired.
“Can we go home now? Please…?”
Gu Yan wrapped his arms around Yi Heng’s arm and gently rubbed his cheek against him.
Perhaps it was the surge of hormones brought on by pregnancy, but lately Gu Yan had been doing things he would rarely have done before.
Things that looked suspiciously like acting spoiled.
Yi Heng’s heart immediately softened.
He cupped Gu Yan’s face and kissed him gently before coaxing him in a tender voice.
“Let’s walk just a little farther, all right?”
“We’ll stop when we reach that bench up ahead. And as a reward, I’ll take you somewhere nice for dinner tonight. How does that sound?”
Gu Yan muttered,
“I’m not that greedy when it comes to food…”
But despite his protest, his spirits had clearly revived.
Before long, they reached the bench together.
Just then, a young woman approached from the opposite direction, leading a fluffy white Samoyed on a leash.
It had been raining for several days, and today was the first clear day in quite some time.
The dog was understandably thrilled.
The moment it spotted people, it eagerly bounded over to greet them.
“What’s its name? It’s so cute!”
Gu Yan’s eyes immediately lit up.
He reached out and began stroking the Samoyed’s wonderfully soft, silky fur.
Seeing two handsome men standing before her, the young woman’s cheeks turned slightly pink.
“His name is Maodou.”
“Maodou? That’s such an unusual name.”
Gu Yan smiled.
The dog’s boundless enthusiasm had completely swept away his earlier lethargy.
The young woman discreetly observed the two men.
She noticed that the taller man’s gaze never seemed to leave his companion.
Meanwhile, the beautiful young man beside him looked healthy and rosy-cheeked, happily playing with the dog in complete ease.
He had the unmistakable air of someone surrounded by love.
Oh, so these two handsome men were a couple!
The young woman couldn’t help feeling a little envious, and she smiled along with them.
After meeting Maodou, Gu Yan became far more enthusiastic about going downstairs for walks, hoping he might run into the adorable dog again.
Seeing how much Gu Yan loved dogs, Yi Heng personally visited a pet shop and carefully selected an adorable little Golden Retriever puppy for him.
He did everything he could to keep Gu Yan happy.
Watching the mischievous puppy enthusiastically wreak havoc around the house, Gu Yan couldn’t help joking,
“When he’s a little older, we can take him to play with Mengmeng near my grandparents’ house.”
Gu Yan and Mengmeng could practically be considered companions who had survived a life-and-death ordeal together.
If it hadn’t been for Mengmeng’s exceptionally keen sense of smell back then, Du Ting might already have cut out Gu Yan’s gland.
At the Yi Group, Yi Heng’s secretary had recently noticed something remarkable.
President Yi’s efficiency at work had increased to an almost unbelievable degree.
Tasks that would ordinarily have required overtime were now being completed by a little after six in the evening.
Later, while gossiping with her colleagues, she finally discovered the reason.
It turned out that President Yi’s precious darling was carrying another precious little darling!
No wonder President Yi was so eager to get home.
His longing to return to his family had apparently unlocked an entirely new level of productivity.
It was an otherwise ordinary evening.
The housekeeper had already prepared dinner, but an unexpected family matter had come up, so she’d asked for permission to leave early.
Outside, the sky was gloomy.
Massive dark clouds blanketed the heavens, while the autumn wind howled in fierce gusts, carrying a chill through the air.
When Yi Heng arrived home, the entire house was dark.
Not a single light had been switched on.
He paused, slightly puzzled.
Had Gu Yan eaten dinner unusually early today?
Or had he already gone to bed?
The air conditioning inside the house had been set a little too low.
Yi Heng took off his coat and discovered that a certain someone and a little dog had fallen asleep together on the sofa.
Gu Yan lay on his side, his slightly rounded belly rising and falling rhythmically with each breath. One arm hung loosely over the edge of the sofa.
The little Golden Retriever was sprawled beside his feet, all four paws pointing in different directions, looking utterly content.
Yi Heng lowered his lashes, his expression softening with tenderness.
Worried that sleeping on the sofa for too long might strain Gu Yan’s neck, he bent down and slipped an arm beneath his knees.
Even with the little one growing inside Gu Yan’s belly, Yi Heng could still lift him effortlessly into his arms and carry him steadily toward the bedroom.
Gu Yan wasn’t sleeping peacefully.
As though sensing Yi Heng’s familiar presence, he unconsciously reached out and caught a small handful of his shirt, holding it with barely any strength.
Only then did Yi Heng notice that something was wrong with Gu Yan’s complexion.
The corners of his eyes were flushed crimson, and his breathing was unusually hot.
“Mm…”
Gu Yan curled up uncomfortably in Yi Heng’s arms, letting out faint, uneven breaths.
Yi Heng immediately laid him on the bed.
He leaned down and pressed their foreheads together, discovering that Gu Yan’s body temperature was higher than usual.
He was about to call the doctor when Gu Yan suddenly caught his sleeve.
Gu Yan lifted his eyes slightly, looking as though he’d just found something to cling to in the middle of a storm.
“Don’t go…”
“Stay with me for a little while…”
Gu Yan felt as though something strange was happening to his body.
One moment, he was utterly exhausted.
The next, he felt an unbearable emptiness, an insatiable longing that refused to subside.
He was overwhelmed by the urge to do intimate things so embarrassing that he could scarcely bring himself to think about them, let alone say them aloud.
Yi Heng bent down and gently tucked Gu Yan’s hair behind his ear.
His voice was warm and soothing.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Be good. I’m right here with you.”
He released his pheromones, allowing the familiar scent of cold fir to surround Gu Yan, gently easing the turmoil within him.
Only after Gu Yan had calmed down a little did Yi Heng take out his phone and consult the doctor.
After listening to his description of Gu Yan’s symptoms, the doctor explained,
“He’s entered his heat.”
“His heat?”
Yi Heng looked at Gu Yan’s distressed expression, his heart aching with concern.
“Why would he still go into heat when he’s already pregnant?”
The doctor patiently explained,
“Heat is a natural physiological instinct for Omegas. Pregnancy doesn’t completely stop it from occurring.”
“However, the sharp increase in pregnancy hormones significantly reduces the frequency of an Omega’s heat cycles, and the symptoms are generally much less intense.”
“Unfortunately, using suppressants during this particular stage can cause certain adverse effects on the body.”
“That’s why an Omega still needs the assistance of their Alpha to help relieve the symptoms.”
Yi Heng lowered his gaze and answered quietly,
“All right. I understand.”
Before ending the call, the doctor repeatedly emphasized his warning.
“No strenuous activity! During the early months of pregnancy, gentle activity usually isn’t a major concern. But he’s already seven or eight months along now, so vigorous physical activity must be avoided.”
“The safest approach is to use your hands and pheromones to help him get through this heat cycle as comfortably and steadily as possible.”
Through the haze clouding his mind, Gu Yan vaguely heard the doctor’s words.
His face flushed deeply, and he bit down hard on his lower lip.
So that was it…
His heat had arrived.
He breathed in Yi Heng’s pheromones greedily, seeking comfort in the familiar scent filling the air.
His legs shifted restlessly against the bedsheets, while his fingers clung so tightly to Yi Heng’s hand that the other man’s knuckles turned red.
“Yi Heng… I feel awful.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Yi Heng leaned down and brushed a tender kiss against his forehead.
“It’s all right. You’ll feel better soon.”
The little Golden Retriever had absolutely no idea what was happening.
It had just been about to enter the bedroom and curl up beside its owners for the night when the door suddenly closed in front of it.
The puppy let out a small, wounded whimper.
Feeling thoroughly rejected, it settled down outside the door and closed its eyes.
But before long, its ears twitched.
Strange sounds were coming from inside the room.
The puppy abruptly raised its head.
“Mm… Hah…”
Inside the bedroom, Gu Yan tipped his head back.
His trembling hands slid into Yi Heng’s hair, his fingers suddenly tightening.
Tears shimmered precariously in his eyes, threatening to spill over.
He clenched his teeth and pleaded softly,
“Don’t… don’t kiss me there…”
The overwhelming sensations left Gu Yan’s mind almost completely blank.
A tingling rush, like electricity, traveled from the base of his spine upward, setting every nerve on edge.
Yet Yi Heng didn’t stop.
He simply lifted his gaze, carefully watching every change in Gu Yan’s expression.
Gu Yan hurriedly covered his face with one hand, unable to suppress the faint tremors running through his body.
“Mm… Don’t look at me…”
Yi Heng was still dressed in his suit and shirt, although his tie had become slightly disheveled, hanging loosely over Gu Yan.
He raised his handsome face, usually so cool and aloof.
But his light brown eyes were now filled with unmistakable desire, giving him an almost indescribable allure.
The sight overwhelmed Gu Yan.
The contrast between Yi Heng’s ordinarily dignified appearance and the intimacy of the moment struck him with such force that everything suddenly felt almost absurdly, scandalously sensual.
Yi Heng slowly undid two buttons of his shirt, then lowered his head and pressed a reverent kiss to Gu Yan’s belly.
“Don’t be afraid.”
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