Chapter 58: You Haven’t Told Your Parents That He’s Pregnant Yet?
Chi Wang’s broken heart from declining his friends’ part-time job offers was healed and reassembled at this moment.
Actually, he had done similar work frequently at the startup company, often as a side task. Now, just by handling data organization and summarization for Xie Sichen, he could earn 6,000 yuan after taxes—it was too worthwhile.
Moreover, Chi Wang believed he could learn a lot from it, so this job had a high cost-performance ratio.
Because of this, Chi Wang became cheerful.
Life lies in movement!
Although he couldn’t exercise physically now, he could still keep his mind active.
Seeing him enthusiastic and full of energy, Xie wanted him to start the job handover as soon as they returned.
But Chi Wang sensibly said, “No need to rush; we can do the handover tomorrow. If we start now, wouldn’t that make your secretary work overtime?”
“…” Sometimes, Xie was surprised by his excessive thoughtfulness. “You’re right.”
Chi Wang chattered on, “It’s okay for a boss to have subordinates do things during work hours, but if you make them work after hours, they’ll curse the boss behind his back. If enough people curse, they’ll summon Shenlong (1) and wish for the boss to become a desperate corporate slave who commutes four hours during rush hour every day in his next life.”
Xie: “?”
Chi Wang said, “Hahaha, just kidding.”
Xie asked, “Did I laugh?”
Chi Wang blinked, “I laughed, haha.”
Xie: “…”
His gaze was deep and serene, yet a faint smile appeared.
Hmm, seems like a pretty good joke.
Time crawled forward a few more days.
Chi Wang and Xie went to the hospital for a check-up.
This was already the third prenatal examination; they needed to check once every month.
When Chi Wang lay down, his belly was bulging, but it wasn’t very noticeable. You could say that his five-month belly looked similar to others at four months.
During the ultrasound, the doctor told Chi Wang, “The development is very good, and the fetal heartbeat is strong. Usually, you should eat more nutritious food—fish, meat, eggs, milk—but don’t eat too well; it’s not good for the fetus to be too big.”
Chi Wang nodded repeatedly, “I usually eat okay.”
Since he couldn’t exercise anymore, Chi Wang was cautious about his diet; he didn’t want to eat too much and gain weight.
Remembering something, Chi Wang said to the doctor, “I’ve been feeling back pain lately. Will it affect anything since I’m male?”
The doctor understood what he meant and smiled, “This is normal. After all, the fetus is growing and will occupy abdominal space. How’s your urination recently?”
Chi Wang answered a bit embarrassed, “A bit frequent.”
The doctor said, “That’s normal; the fetus is pressing on your bladder, so you’ll feel the need to go to the bathroom more often.”
After completing other prenatal tests and finding all indicators normal, Chi Wang felt relieved.
The doctor took off his gloves and said to them, “At this stage, you should be experiencing fetal movements; you can pay attention to that.”
Chi Wang recalled previous accounts of fetal movements and couldn’t help but worry, “But I haven’t felt anything; it’s very quiet. Could it be… not very smart?”
The doctor said, “This varies from person to person. Some feel it earlier, some later; it’s not certain. Don’t worry.”
Chi Wang reluctantly accepted this explanation, “Alright.”
Seeing that he was gradually accepting the baby, the doctor was somewhat moved. For a man to be pregnant, it was indeed not easy.
In the consultation room, the doctor let Xie come in and asked him, “Now that he’s further along, haven’t you told your parents about his pregnancy?”
Xie replied, “I can’t tell them.”
He didn’t want Chi Wang to feel pressured.
The doctor asked, “What about his parents? He’s still young and pregnant; he needs elders around to comfort him. Your role is very limited.”
“…” Xie lowered his eyes, his tone indifferent. “He probably doesn’t have a good relationship with his family.”
The doctor: “Probably?”
Xie said, “Just a guess.”
The doctor was a bit puzzled. “Are you two not familiar? You don’t even know his family situation?”
“…” Xie’s expression was cold and subtle. “I’ll know in the future.”
The doctor: “…”
He couldn’t help but take off his cap and turn down the air conditioning to cool his forehead. “Hey, you two are young; your ages combined aren’t even bigger than my shoe size. You still need to inform the elders.”
Xie was silent for a moment and then said, “I’ll consider it.”
The doctor said, “Don’t consider it anymore. Does he have other relatives?”
Xie: “He has an older brother.”
Doctor: “An older brother is good too; let him spend more time with him.”
Xie: “I’ll think about it.”
When he walked out of the consultation room, Chi Wang was sitting on the metal chair outside, hugging his knees, looking very obedient.
Seeing him come out, Chi Wang smiled at him and asked, “What did the doctor say to you?”
Xie: “Nothing much.”
He looked down into Chi Wang’s clear, lake-like eyes and asked softly, “Did you get the report?”
Chi Wang took out the folded report from his pocket, “Got it.”
He unfolded the report and handed it to Xie, who took it and looked at it, his heart softening.
He refolded the report, put it into his pocket, and asked softly, “Do you want to go back now, or sit for a while longer?”
Chi Wang said, “Let’s sit a bit longer.”
The weather was cold, and there were fewer pregnant women coming for prenatal check-ups. Chi Wang and Xie still attracted attention, but no one suspected that Chi Wang was male; after all, the obstetrics and gynecology department could be misleading.
Chi Wang chatted with Xie about his observations, “Many women coming for check-ups are accompanied by female elders or female friends. There are actually very few husbands accompanying them.”
Xie paused and looked up to see that it was indeed so; only a few pregnant women were accompanied by their husbands.
Chi Wang said, “In that case, I don’t think you need to accompany me; I can come alone.”
Xie hadn’t expected him to consider this. “Don’t worry about others,” he paused and continued, “This is our matter; I won’t let you face it alone.”
“…” Chi Wang asked, “Won’t it affect your work?”
Today wasn’t a weekend. Because they received the check-up notification via text message, they came over on a whim, and Xie hadn’t gone to work.
Xie’s expression remained indifferent, but his eyes were exceptionally focused on Chi Wang. “It’s not important.”
Chi Wang: “…Oh.”
He lowered his head and pulled up his scarf, almost covering his entire face.
Chi Wang liked hearing these words from Xie.
It felt like he was the most important.
…No, the baby in his belly was the most important.
Chi Wang: “…”
Chi Wang felt a bit uneasy. He couldn’t help but think that before he found out he was pregnant, Xie had been cold and indifferent to him. After discovering the pregnancy, his attitude had drastically changed.
No, he shouldn’t think so badly of people.
Why was he always overthinking?
How could it be because of the baby? Obviously, it was because of him—because he’s just so likable.
Although a bit narcissistic, Chi Wang felt that his personality was indeed quite good; otherwise, he wouldn’t have so many friends. He had many male friends and just as many female friends; girls also liked to chat and gossip with him.
So Xie’s change could only be because of him.
The baby was certainly wonderful, but he had only developed feelings for the baby in recent months.
Chi Wang’s thoughts suddenly cleared up. He said to Xie, “Let’s go.”
Xie: “Mm.”
He reached out his broad, cool-white palm and held Chi Wang’s hand.
Chi Wang instinctively tried to pull away, but Xie’s grip was firm. Unable to break free, he turned a blind eye and let it be.
Xie’s hand slowly wrapped his fingers in his palm. As they walked out of the hospital entrance, he suddenly asked Chi Wang, “Would you like the house to be livelier?”
Chi Wang was stunned, a bit puzzled, “What do you mean? Do you want to get another dog?”
Xie: “…No, I want the auntie to take care of you more closely.”
“Uh,” Chi Wang said, “Don’t force the auntie; she obviously has social anxiety.”
Xie: “…I told her not to disturb you; she doesn’t have social anxiety.”
Chi Wang leaned back theatrically, “Aren’t you just forcefully covering her mouth? She hasn’t said a word to me all this time.”
Even when delivering meals, she would lower her head, leave the food, and go. Chi Wang thought she was just a ghostly personality, but it turned out that Xie had been forcefully silencing her—a man-made ghost.
Xie said softly, “Do you want her to chat with you?”
Chi Wang wasn’t someone who feared loneliness. Although he didn’t understand why Xie suddenly made this suggestion, he knew it was his kindness, so he smiled and said, “Sure.”
After returning home, he realized that the ‘ghost auntie’ was actually a chatterbox. Now that she was unsealed, she took advantage of Xie’s absence to chatter non-stop, “Oh dear, I’ve been holding back so much! Mr. Xie wouldn’t let me talk, said you were timid. How are you timid? I secretly observed your facial features in the kitchen and knew you were a lively and bold child.”
Chi Wang asked, “You can read faces?”
The auntie said proudly, “Of course! I see that your nose is round and upturned, indicating you’re a child from a wealthy family. The spacing between your eyebrows is neither wide nor narrow—you have principles, are open-minded, and don’t get stuck on things. Your cheeks are fleshy, meaning you have many friends.”
Chi Wang’s materialistic heart was a bit shaken but argued, “I’m not rich. If I were, would I be freeloading meals at the senior’s house?”
The auntie laughed heartily, “You two young lovers living together—of course you’d freeload his food and drink. Should he make you pay? Mr. Xie is rich; use his resources boldly. I earn 30,000 yuan a month!”
Chi Wang: “…”
He wanted to refute the ‘young lovers’ part, but his attention was quickly diverted by her later words, “You earn 30,000 a month? Is the salary that high?”
The auntie said, “It’s skilled work. Handling ingredients requires a lot of thought. Changing dishes every day—I have so much gray hair now. But fortunately, you’re not picky; you eat everything. You’re easy to take care of.”
Chi Wang grinned, “I’m actually a bit picky; I don’t like garlic.”
The auntie said, “I don’t like it either.”
As she spoke, she went into the kitchen and brought out a fruit platter, all cut fruits. “Come, come, eat some fruit. Eating fruit during pregnancy supplements vitamins. Mr. Xie has leased a farm; these fruits are hardly sprayed with pesticides. People nowadays love eating fruit, which is fine, but what fruit isn’t sprayed with pesticides? Consuming them accumulates toxins in the body over time, which can shorten lifespan.”
She chattered on, making Chi Wang feel a different kind of warmth.
It wasn’t that no female elders had been kind to him before. His Chinese and English teachers in middle and high school had taken special care of him, often inviting him to their homes for meals. But because they were his teachers, Chi Wang was always respectful but not close.
Chi Wang obediently took the fruit platter and slowly ate the fruits inside. They were sweet. The white threads on the honey tangerines hadn’t been completely removed. As he was about to peel them off, the auntie chattered again, “You can eat a bit of that; it’s good stuff too. It clears heat and reduces inflammation. It’s also good for pregnant women; it can relieve constipation.”
Chi Wang blushed slightly, coughed a few times, and said, “Alright.”
He didn’t peel them off and ate them directly.
The auntie continued her previous superstitious topic, “Looking at your face, you’ll have both blessings and prosperity in the future. Your baby will be especially filial to you.”
Chi Wang thought: Even though he’s not superstitious, these words are really pleasant to hear!
Seal clapping.gif
Chi Wang was so amused by her that his smile never faded.
When Xie returned from outside and saw the smile on his face, he felt at ease.
Shenlong: A mythical Chinese dragon that grants wishes when summoned. In popular culture, such as the anime Dragon Ball, collecting all the Dragon Balls summons Shenlong to grant a wish. Here, it’s used humorously to suggest that collective cursing could summon a dragon to fulfill their wish for the boss to suffer.
