Chapter 18: You Are Indeed Pregnant
“By the way, did you ask when we can get the test results?” Luo Lianyun asked Chi Wang.
Chi Wang was taken aback. “I forgot.”
Luo said, “These reports usually come out quickly. I’ll go check if we can get them now.”
He took the barcode to the machine and tried scanning it.
The result quickly showed that the report was printing.
Surprised and pleased, Luo thought the efficiency was quite high—it only took ten minutes.
But what exactly was wrong with Chi Wang to attract so many doctors?
Soon, Luo found out.
The report came out of the machine. Luo picked it up and first looked at the diagnosis result, which clearly stated: “Early Pregnancy (Approximately 8 Weeks).”
Luo: “???”
Huh?
He double-checked the name and age on the report—it was indeed Chi Wang, male, 18 years old.
Even though he was a top student at H University, Luo felt like he couldn’t read anymore.
He tried to look at the ultrasound images but couldn’t make much sense of them.
He stood there, puzzled for a long time, not sure whether to tell Chi Wang.
No wonder so many doctors came to see him; this was truly astonishing.
In a daze, Luo returned to the hospital room with the report.
Seeing his odd expression, Chi Wang asked, “What’s wrong?”
Luo said, “You need to prepare yourself mentally.”
Chi Wang: “…”
With his free hand (the one not connected to the IV), Chi Wang took the report.
At first glance, he thought he was seeing things.
On the second look, he instinctively reached down to touch himself. “I have male parts!”
Shu Tingyu leaned over to look and exclaimed, “Early pregnancy?? And already 8 weeks pregnant??”
Chi Wang was incredulous, questioning reality. “I’m definitely a man. Could this be a misdiagnosis?”
Luo said, “Unlikely. The ultrasound images are right here.”
The three of them fell silent.
Chi Wang turned the report over and over, staring at the images until his eyes blurred, but he couldn’t see any little person.
His face grew paler. “It must be a misdiagnosis. I’m a guy; how could I be pregnant?”
In his heart, though, he had already half-accepted it. It said 8 weeks pregnant, which roughly corresponded to that incident in early September.
But he was a man! A man!
Wait, how could a man give birth? How did he not know that the ‘back door’ could connect to another organ? As a guy, could he have a uterus??
Chi Wang’s worldview was collapsing.
Just then, the doctor on rounds came in, followed by a few nurses. Although they didn’t say anything, their expressions showed undisguised curiosity when looking at Chi Wang.
The doctor, who had arranged his hospitalization and IV, first asked about his condition and had a nurse check his temperature. The thermometer showed 37 degrees Celsius; his fever had reduced to a low-grade one.
After asking about his condition, the doctor said to him, “Tomorrow, you’ll be transferred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. Look for Dr. Zhao Yongchun. The glucose and sodium chloride IV you’re receiving today won’t affect your body, but it’s still early in your pregnancy, so you need to be careful. I see you haven’t done the gastroscopy and colonoscopy yet. Let’s skip them tomorrow; they require anesthesia, which isn’t good for you. I’ve arranged for a refund; you can take your medical card to the cashier to get your money back.”
Chi Wang: “…”
What else could he say? He could only reply, “Oh, okay.”
He was already numb.
Luo asked the doctor, “Doctor, is there a possibility of misdiagnosis? He’s a man; how could he be pregnant?”
The doctor thought, I wish I knew; who can I ask? “Well, I’ve heard of cases of male pregnancy abroad. It’s not that unusual, so don’t put too much psychological pressure on yourself. You’re still in school, right?”
Chi Wang nodded. Seeing his pale face, the doctor spoke gently, “Students have medical insurance, and since you’re hospitalized, the examination and medical fees can be reimbursed. Remember to go to the reimbursement window on the first floor.”
Luo asked, “He took antipyretic medicine before coming. Will that affect the baby?”
The doctor inquired, “What kind of antipyretic?”
Luo replied, “Chai Huang granules?”
He looked at Chi Wang, who nodded, “Yes, that’s it.”
The doctor said, “It’s okay; it’s traditional Chinese medicine, so the impact is minimal.”
Luo asked a few more questions, which the doctor answered one by one. Finally, he said, “Get some good rest. During pregnancy, you shouldn’t overexert yourself or engage in intense exercise. The first three months are the most unstable period for the fetus, and miscarriage is easy.”
After they left, Luo said to Chi Wang, “I’ve never heard of you having a partner.”
Chi Wang was dazed. “I really don’t have a partner.”
Shu asked him, “Chi Wang, are you really going to have the baby?”
Chi Wang touched his stomach and pressed his lips together. It was hard for him to believe that there was a baby inside. Eight weeks pregnant… He hadn’t exactly been taking it easy lately, and yet, everything seemed fine—the baby’s vitality was strong.
He didn’t speak. Shu asked again, and Chi Wang came back to his senses, answering, “No, even if there is a baby, I can’t have it.”
Shu breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want Chi Wang to go through with it. Childbirth was already difficult for women, let alone for a man. How could a man give birth? It would have to be a cesarean, no matter how you looked at it.
Terminating it was the best option. At such an early stage, it wouldn’t harm his body too much; at a later stage, it would be much more torturous.
He also feared Chi Wang might soften and insist on having the baby. Who would raise it then? Chi Wang was already poor, and raising a child wasn’t cheap. His own niece’s monthly expenses were nearly ten thousand yuan—the imported milk powder was over 500 yuan per can, needing four cans a month. The best diapers were 250 yuan for a pack of 25, lasting only four days; a month’s supply cost two thousand yuan. Adding various other necessities, it drained an entire family’s finances.
The saying that children are “money-eating beasts” was no exaggeration. Shu didn’t want Chi Wang to ruin his studies and life because of this baby.
What Shu understood, Chi Wang naturally understood as well.
However, Chi Wang still held onto a bit of hope—what if it was a misdiagnosis?
He said to Luo, “How about we go to another hospital tomorrow? What do you think?”
Luo asked, “Spend more money to test again?”
Chi Wang nodded, “Test again. Maybe the machine malfunctioned.”
Luo said slowly, “I think that’s unlikely. For something this significant, and you only suspect the machine malfunctioned. So, you did have sexual intercourse eight weeks ago, right?”
Chi Wang choked and forced a laugh, “Haha…”
Shu was startled, “What? Chi Wang, you actually had sex?”
Chi Wang closed his eyes and lay down peacefully. “I’m tired. Going to sleep.”
Shu pressed on, “So, saying you didn’t have a partner was a lie?”
Chi Wang corrected, “Not a partner.”
Luo said, “So, a fling?”
Shu: “Oh my gosh!”
Chi Wang: “…”
He was exasperated. “Keep your voices down. Do you want the whole world to know?”
Fortunately, he was the only patient in the ward; otherwise, this secret would be out.
Shu closed his mouth. Luo said, “Get some sleep. Even though you can’t keep the baby, you should make it comfortable for now and rest well.”
Chi Wang nodded. Indeed, he couldn’t keep the baby.
Wait, he still wanted to struggle a bit. What if the machine was faulty? After all, he was quite unlucky; such a mix-up could happen.
Despite thinking this, a voice inside told him that the chances were slim.
Chi Wang felt that the idea of him having a baby was too surreal. Rather than believing this fact, he’d rather believe the machine malfunctioned.
Before sleeping, he checked his temperature again. The fever had subsided.
He didn’t sleep well that night. Luo stayed up to monitor his IV drip, and when it was done, he pressed the call button for the nurse.
The nurse who came was quite young. It was her first time seeing such a case. Earlier, with the doctor present, she hadn’t dared to ask, but now she felt bold enough to inquire, “Which one of you is the baby’s father?”
Luo: “Does the baby’s father have to be male?”
“Ah?” the nurse responded.
From the other hospital bed, Shu poked his head out. “Maybe the father is a girl. Nurse, do you read novels? In female-dominated novels, it’s the boys who have babies.”
Nurse: “…”
She didn’t dare ask more and left after changing the IV bag.
Taking advantage of Chi Wang’s deep sleep, Shu chatted with Luo, “I find this whole thing surreal. Chi Wang is a boy, right?”
Luo said, “We’ve been roommates for a year, and you’re asking such a dumb question?”
Shu said, “When the nurse asked that question just now, I felt guilty. Eight weeks ago, I remember Chi Wang helped me make my bed.”
Luo: “…”
“Come on, you don’t believe those stories where ‘a girl sits on a chair a boy sat on, and ends up pregnant,’ do you?”
Embarrassed, Shu said, “Is that fake? I actually believed it. Also, stories where girls go swimming and end up mysteriously pregnant.”
Luo said, “Impossible. Chi Wang has helped you make your bed many times; don’t overthink it, and don’t ask him either—it puts a lot of pressure on him.”
Shu said, “I know, that’s why I kept quiet just now.”
Luo said, “Go to sleep; I’ll keep watch.”
Shu offered, “I’ll take over in the second half of the night.”
Luo agreed.
The night passed like that. Chi Wang woke up at six in the morning, urged by the need to urinate.
He got up to use the bathroom, and his memories returned.
Luo groggily got up with him and asked, “What do you want to eat? I’ll go get it for you.”
Chi Wang wasn’t very hungry. “Anything is fine.”
Luo decided, “I’ll get you porridge with pickled mustard greens, but no spicy ones this time.”
Chi Wang: “…Alright.”
Luo went out to buy breakfast.
Chi Wang sat on the bed, took his temperature—it was normal, no fever relapse.
Luo brought back breakfast. Chi Wang forced himself to eat a bit, waited for about an hour until the doctors were on duty, then went to get a refund for the canceled tests, getting back over six hundred yuan.
Then he registered for Dr. Zhao in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.
Luo and Shu accompanied him. Three big guys walking into Obstetrics and Gynecology drew quite a bit of attention.
Luo pulled Chi Wang to sit in the back and went to line up with the registration slip.
Since it was early, they were near the front of the line and didn’t have to wait long. Luo and Shu wanted to go in with him. Chi Wang thought about it and didn’t refuse; in such a situation, having someone accompany him might be better.
Entering the consultation room, Dr. Zhao’s eyes lit up upon seeing him. He spoke gently, “You’ve seen your test results, right? It was too late yesterday to discuss. What are your thoughts about this child? Do you want to keep it?”
Chi Wang said, “Can I get tested again? This matter is hard to accept.”
Dr. Zhao wasn’t surprised. “Sure, I’ll write you another test order. It’s better to confirm. Come back after you’ve done the tests.”
He wrote out the test order, and Chi Wang paid the fee.
After paying, Chi Wang looked at the tests: one urine pregnancy test and one blood hCG test.
Chi Wang couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor, I did blood and urine routine tests yesterday. Wouldn’t they show if I’m pregnant?”
Dr. Zhao explained, “Those tests can’t detect pregnancy. The ones I’ve ordered now will take several hours for the results. You don’t need to pick up the reports; I can check the results earlier on my computer. Go ahead and do the tests.”
Chi Wang: “Okay, thank you, doctor.”
Leaving the consultation room, Luo looked at the test order. “These two tests are quite cheap.”
Chi Wang sighed deeply. This was not the time to save money; he could get tested at another hospital later. In short, now was not the time to be frugal.
The two tests were done quickly, but the reports wouldn’t be ready until eleven o’clock. Fortunately, the doctor could check them earlier.
They waited for an hour and a half, picked up the blood and urine routine reports from the previous day, and then went to see Dr. Zhao.
Dr. Zhao said to him, “The results of your two tests are out. You are indeed pregnant.”
Chi Wang: “…”
His suspended heart finally sank.
—
[1]: Chai Huang Granules: A traditional Chinese medicine used for treating fever and inflammation.
[2]: Female-dominated novels: A genre of Chinese web novels where societal roles are reversed, and women hold dominant positions; male pregnancy is a common trope in such stories.
