Chapter 65: Your Brother Is Indeed Pregnant
Chi Wang was stunned. He looked down and saw that Little Dog was standing next to him, pushing his clothes tightly against his waist and abdomen.
He had been careful to guard against Xiao Fu but forgot to be wary of the cat.
Chi Wang’s mind raced, but before he could think of how to respond, Xiao Fu came up with his own conclusion. “Is this winter fat? You’re quite plump.”
Actually, Xiao Fu wanted to say, “You’re so young; how did you get a beer belly?” But he stopped himself, fearing he might hurt Chi Wang’s sensitive feelings.
Chi Wang: “…”
He simply smiled in response and pushed the cat’s head away to keep it from getting closer.
But this cat was unusually clingy, unlike other cats. After being pushed away, it bounced back like a cannonball, nudging against Chi Wang’s waistline.
This nudge wasn’t gentle. Chi Wang hurriedly protected his belly with one hand and used the other to push away this semi-trailer.
This action made Xiao Fu’s eyelid twitch, causing a vague sense of discomfort.
He said, “Throw Little Dog down; it’s getting fur all over you—disgusting.”
Chi Wang didn’t throw the cat but instead flipped over the “semi-trailer.” It couldn’t get up for a while and simply sprawled out like a big pancake. Its hind legs pressed against half of Chi Wang’s hip, and with a playful roll, it exposed most of its belly and looked at him with beady eyes.
Chi Wang: “…”
He said to Xiao Fu, “Look at her; you must not pay much attention to her usually.” Why else would she be so clingy to only him?
As he spoke to Xiao Fu, a slender arm remained protectively over his belly, forgetting to lower it.
Xiao Fu, somewhat absent-minded, replied, “She’s a female cat; they tend to be clingy. Male cats are much wilder.”
Chi Wang was shocked. “She’s actually female?”
A female cat could get this fat?
Chi Wang couldn’t help but say, “Brother, you should feed her less. She’s way too overweight.”
Xiao Fu said, “She likes to eat; how can I stop her? With a big family business, we don’t lack the food she eats.”
Chi Wang disapproved. “But being too fat is bad for her heart; it shortens her lifespan.”
Xiao Fu replied, “If she likes to eat, let her eat. Cats don’t live long anyway; let her happily enjoy her life. Besides, people nowadays stay up late all the time, which also shortens their lifespans. I probably won’t live past sixty, so why worry so much?”
Chi Wang: “…”
You see, there you go being negative again.
Chi Wang didn’t know what to say for a moment.
But since Xiao Fu put it that way, he didn’t press further.
Suddenly, Xiao Fu said, “What’s up with your belly?”
He was bothered by Chi Wang’s subconscious protective gesture over his abdomen, his gaze sharp as a knife fixed on Chi Wang’s stomach.
“…” Chi Wang blinked and said vaguely, “What do you mean?”
Xiao Fu said, “Why is it so big?”
Chi Wang: “…”
He hesitated.
Being honest by nature, Chi Wang didn’t like lying, especially not to Xiao Fu.
If he told the truth, given Xiao Fu’s personality, he’d definitely dig deeper. Even if he managed to brush it off for now, Xiao Fu was the type to play dirty; he’d investigate. If he wanted to find out, he could easily discover that Chi Wang and Xie Sicheng had been unusually close lately.
Plus, Chi Wang had to go for prenatal check-ups every month or two; honestly, it was hard to hide.
Rather than letting Xiao Fu find out on his own, it might be better to come clean now.
He should have known better than to come.
…But he couldn’t avoid coming forever; as long as he came, he wouldn’t be able to hide it.
Chi Wang felt a headache coming on.
Xiao Fu kept staring at him and naturally noticed his hesitation and inner conflict. His tone became more severe. “Answer me. What’s going on with your belly?”
Chi Wang looked up to meet his gaze, trying to act casual. “Brother, please don’t ask. It’s nothing.”
The more he acted this way, the more Xiao Fu felt something was wrong—and a big deal at that. “I’m calling the doctor over right now.”
Xiao Fu took out his phone to make a call.
Chi Wang exclaimed, “Hey!” and couldn’t help but cover his face. “Don’t call.”
He realized that his unnatural behavior had already made Xiao Fu suspicious.
Should he tell him?
It seemed he had no choice now. Clearly, Xiao Fu had thought it was just winter fat; why was he still fixated on it?
Chi Wang felt a bit confused, his mind heated. Throwing caution to the wind, he confessed, “Don’t call. I’m pregnant.”
After saying it, Chi Wang felt embarrassed and didn’t dare look up to see Xiao Fu’s reaction.
Xiao Fu blinked slowly but still pressed the doctor’s number. The doctor quickly answered, and Xiao Fu spoke, “Hello, Dr. Huo? Could you please bring your equipment over? My brother is sick. He sprained his ankle, and his belly is very big. He says he’s pregnant.”
“It’s not a mental issue. Just come over.”
After hanging up, Xiao Fu said to Chi Wang, “The doctor will be here soon.”
“…” Chi Wang said, “I already confessed, and you still don’t believe me.”
Xiao Fu reached out to feel his forehead. Chi Wang instinctively wanted to dodge but held back.
Xiao Fu touched his forehead. “No fever. Why are you talking nonsense in broad daylight?”
Chi Wang: “…”
He said nothing more.
He was regretting coming over.
But he knew deep down that it would be hard to hide this over the winter break.
The indoor heating at Xiao Fu’s place was even warmer than at Xie Sicheng’s. He didn’t notice today, but if he came again, who knew what might happen?
Xiao Fu stared at his face and asked, “You say you’re pregnant. Whose child is it?”
Chi Wang joked, “Maybe it’s a miraculous conception.”
Xiao Fu retorted, “A miraculous conception? Do you think you’re the mother of Fu Xi, and the baby is Fu Xi?”
Chi Wang had confessed, but Xiao Fu didn’t believe him.
However, the image of Chi Wang nervously protecting his abdomen replayed in his mind.
It really did… resemble someone who’s pregnant.
Only someone carrying a baby would be so careful to protect their belly.
Xiao Fu felt even more uneasy, anger simmering inside.
He temporarily suppressed his irritation, his expression calm. “The doctor will be here soon. He can treat your ankle.”
Chi Wang: “…”
Treating his sprained ankle had become a secondary matter?
Cold sweat broke out on Chi Wang’s back; he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
His ankle was still resting on Xiao Fu’s knee. Xiao Fu occasionally removed the ice pack to prevent frostbite, patiently applying cold compresses.
Chi Wang didn’t dare speak further.
If his pregnancy were confirmed, he couldn’t hide it from Xie Sicheng either.
Their relationship wasn’t good to begin with; this would only make things worse.
Thinking about what might happen next gave Chi Wang a headache.
It seemed like ever since he got pregnant, he had more headaches. Even when he used to stay up all night working, he hadn’t felt this stressed.
Xiao Fu’s family doctor arrived quickly. The doctor’s surname was Huo. He looked quite old, with much white hair, exuding trustworthiness.
He was clearly a seasoned physician.
Xiao Fu briefly introduced them to each other. Chi Wang politely greeted, “Hello, Dr. Huo.”
Dr. Huo was the Xiao family’s doctor, responsible for the health of Xiao Fu’s father, Xiao Wenzhou, and his grandfather. After Xiao Fu seized power, he also “took” Dr. Huo, even though he himself was healthy and might not need the doctor more than once a year.
Stingy as he was, Xiao Fu was willing to pay Dr. Huo a high salary just to take him away from Xiao Wenzhou.
Of course, part of it was because Dr. Huo had watched him grow up.
Because of this, Dr. Huo knew about Xiao Fu’s family situation. Xiao Fu suddenly having a brother made Dr. Huo somewhat suspicious.
Now, seeing Chi Wang, he understood what it meant to be as precious as the moon in the womb, radiant like the moon rising over the hills.
His eyes were clear and bright, quite different from Xiao Fu. They didn’t look like biological brothers.
But he kept these thoughts to himself.
He first examined Chi Wang’s ankle, praising Xiao Fu for his timely first aid. He said, “The sprain isn’t severe. The bone is slightly dislocated; I’ll set it right.”
In a gentle tone, he asked Chi Wang, “Are you afraid of pain?”
Chi Wang shook his head. “No, please go ahead.”
Dr. Huo smiled inwardly. It had been a long time since he heard someone use “nin” (the polite form of “you”).
Despite Chi Wang’s words, Dr. Huo still tried to minimize his discomfort.
With a slight “crack,” the ankle was set right by Dr. Huo.
Xiao Fu asked Chi Wang, “Does it hurt?”
Chi Wang’s expression remained unchanged. “No.”
Xiao Fu could tell that Chi Wang truly wasn’t afraid of pain; even when he sprained his ankle earlier, he hadn’t cried out.
Xiao Fu said to Dr. Huo, “Dr. Huo, please check what’s wrong with his belly. It’s abnormally large.”
Chi Wang: “…”
His face flushed, but he pressed his lips together and stayed silent.
He was still hunched over, his loose clothing covering his waist and abdomen. Dr. Huo hadn’t noticed anything. Seeing Chi Wang’s embarrassed look, he realized Chi Wang didn’t want him to examine it and said, “I can take your pulse and find out. Please extend your hand.”
As he spoke, he took out a small millet bag from his kit and placed it on the coffee table.
Chi Wang, with a look of resigned determination, extended his hand and rested it on the bag.
Dr. Huo took his pulse. After a moment, he slightly furrowed his brow.
Xiao Fu asked, “Well?”
Chi Wang covered his face with his hand.
Ignoring Xiao Fu, Dr. Huo asked Chi Wang to switch hands and took his pulse again.
Xiao Fu patiently waited. After a while, Dr. Huo spoke, “It’s indeed a pregnancy pulse. He is pregnant.”
Xiao Fu: “…”
Dr. Huo continued, “It’s been five months. You had intercourse in early September, right?”
Cold sweat formed on Chi Wang’s back. “…You truly are a divine doctor.”
Xiao Fu was dumbfounded, taking a long time to process. As Dr. Huo packed up his millet bag, Xiao Fu finally reacted, his face darkening. “Did you misdiagnose? He’s a man—how can he be pregnant? If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t spout nonsense.”
Understanding Xiao Fu’s temperament, Dr. Huo wasn’t offended. “Your brother is indeed pregnant. The world is full of wonders; just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Your brother is in excellent health; his organs are clean, and his vital energy is strong. Nowadays, young people often have sub-health issues, but your brother doesn’t. It’s rare—he’s very healthy.”
Despite Xiao Fu’s tall and robust appearance, due to staying up late, drinking, and hangovers, his liver and gallbladder weren’t in great shape—typical sub-health.
But Chi Wang didn’t have these issues; he was very healthy and clean—a rarity.
As pure as jade mountains, as clear as autumn waters.
Xiao Fu couldn’t believe it; his worldview was shattered. He looked down at Chi Wang.
Chi Wang’s eyes darted away. He lowered his gaze to look into Little Dog’s beady eyes, inadvertently triggering the “rules of strange tales”—maintaining eye contact with a cat for more than two seconds invites its affectionate rubbing.
Chi Wang conveniently lowered his head to play with the cat, appearing very busy.
Xiao Fu: “…”
Xiao Fu’s face was grim, the hostility in his eyes almost palpable. He turned to Dr. Huo and asked, “Can you tell whose child it is? Is it male or female?”
Dr. Huo: “I’m a practitioner of both Chinese and Western medicine, not a fortune-teller.”
Xiao Fu laughed, but there was no humor in his eyes. “You could tell when he had intercourse; you can’t tell whose child it is?”
Dr. Huo: “…”
Dr. Huo said, “I can tell you that the fetus is a boy. I wouldn’t tell others this, but I’ll tell you.”
Xiao Fu pressed, “Was the person he had intercourse with male or female?”
Seeing Xiao Fu’s expression, Dr. Huo understood. Sweat began to form on his forehead. “…Generally speaking, it would be male. Women don’t have the ability to make your brother pregnant.”
Xiao Fu: “Heh.”
Chi Wang: “…”
- Little Dog (Xiao Gou): Ironically, this is the name of Xiao Fu’s fat orange tabby cat.
- Semi-trailer (bàn guà): A playful metaphor referring to the cat’s size and weight, comparing it to a large vehicle.
- Fu Xi (Fú Xi): A culture hero in Chinese mythology, often credited as a creator deity.
ooof, but I’m actually relieved that the brother knows now