Chapter 82: He’s My Brother Now
Chi Wang picked up the pillow beside him and started hitting Xie Sicheng. “Stop laughing!!! What’s so funny? Am I wrong??”
Xie tilted his head, allowing Chi Wang to hit his back with the pillow. He said calmly, “I didn’t say you were wrong.”
Chi Wang angrily retorted, “Then why are you laughing?”
Xie replied, “I think you’re very cute.”
Chi Wang: “…”
His face flushed red, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Finally, he put down the pillow and nonchalantly lifted the quilt, sliding into bed like a liquid.
Xie asked, “Aren’t you staying up for New Year’s Eve?”
Chi Wang said sullenly, “No, you can stay up. I want to sleep early.”
Oh, right, Chi Wang turned over, presenting his back to the outer side of the bed.
Earlier, Xie had noticed that Chi Wang had changed his sleeping posture and often faced him. Now, combining it with their previous conversation, how could he not understand what Chi Wang meant?
The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but lift into a smile, but it quickly faded. “Then sleep early. Goodnight.”
Xie got up and turned off the main light, leaving a small night lamp on.
Chi Wang poked his head out from under the quilt and asked, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Xie said, “I’m staying up for the New Year.”
Chi Wang closed his mouth and didn’t say anything more.
It was still quite early, just after eight o’clock. He usually went to bed around nine or ten, having developed a biological clock, so he wasn’t sleepy yet.
He stealthily took out his phone to continue chatting in the group.
In the group chat, Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu had already said a bunch of things, all cueing him, asking why he disappeared in the middle of their conversation.
Chi Wang: “…”
Thinking about the silly things he had said earlier, he felt deeply ashamed.
He realized that Xie was becoming more and more smooth with his words, and he wasn’t hiding it at all.
Although he himself was a bit blunt, Xie was too good at taking advantage of the situation!!
If this continued, he might end up sleeping together with him without even realizing it.
Chi Wang, get a grip!!! Don’t lose the big picture over small things!!
Separate beds!! There’s no time to lose!
Only those who can control their desires can truly succeed!
As for whether there’s a graceful way to do it, that doesn’t matter at all!
Chi Wang filled his head with motivational thoughts, finally clearing out all the inappropriate content from his mind. He felt elevated.
He boldly returned to his own bedroom.
Since he hadn’t slept there for a long time, the housekeeper had already put away the bedding and sheets. Chi Wang took them out again and swiftly made the bed.
Xie had been in the study making phone calls for a long time. When he returned to the bedroom, he found the bed empty.
Xie: “…”
He shouldn’t have laughed.
*
The next morning, after getting up, Chi Wang opened the curtains and saw a white expanse outside. His first reaction was that his eyes were blurry; his second reaction was the sudden realization that it had snowed.
He picked up his phone and scrolled through his social media moments. Sure enough, everyone was posting photos of the snow.
Chi Wang took a picture and posted it as well.
This New Year didn’t feel particularly festive; it was too quiet. But his phone was buzzing with activity.
Chi Wang changed into a dinosaur onesie.
He still loved wearing this kind of one-piece outfit—it was comfortable and didn’t constrict his belly.
Sometimes, his belly seemed to grow bigger by the day. After washing up, he remembered to apply his stretch mark cream. He took off his pajamas, leaving his upper body bare, and carefully applied the cream over every inch of his belly.
After he was done, he looked down to check. His skin was still smooth and fair, with no signs of stretch marks.
He didn’t mind scars, but he definitely didn’t want to see stretch marks.
Although he could bear children, he was firmly convinced that he was a man. After giving birth, he planned to get his abs back. Beautiful abs were meant to be shown off, but if they were marred by stretch marks, wouldn’t that be scary?
Chi Wang had downloaded a pregnancy app that calculated his due date and provided pregnancy tips. Many pregnant women posted pictures of their baby bumps there. Sometimes, when he scrolled through, he was scared silly.
He sincerely felt that giving birth was incredibly tough and admirable.
His fear grew by the day. Now that it had come to this, who wouldn’t be afraid of giving birth? Even someone like Chi Wang, who always thought of himself as brave, was scared.
He looked at himself in the full-length mirror. He was already 23 and a half weeks pregnant. Comparing his baby bump with others, his was indeed smaller.
He truly had a very worry-free baby.
Chi Wang touched his belly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw himself smiling with a hint of tenderness. He suddenly stopped.
When he first found out he was pregnant, he never thought he’d show such an expression.
But he couldn’t help it. Liking one’s own child was probably human nature and instinct. Even animals were like this; how could he be any different?
Resigned, he accepted that he liked this baby.
He went downstairs for breakfast. Xie was already waiting at the dining table. Upon seeing him, he asked, “Did you sleep well?”
Chi Wang beamed, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. He was quite happy. “Slept very well, thanks for asking!”
Xie said in a low voice, “I didn’t sleep well.”
Chi Wang innocently replied, “I left the pillow for you.”
Xie said lightly, “I’d rather have you.”
Chi Wang tilted his head. “Even if you want, it’s no use; I won’t give myself to you.”
Afraid that Xie would steer the conversation off track again, Chi Wang said seriously, “I think we should sleep in separate beds for a while.”
Xie asked, “How long?”
Chi Wang thought for a moment and uncertainly said, “Maybe until I’m seven months pregnant.”
Xie: “…”
Do I look like a beast?
Lowering his gaze, Xie softly asked, “Don’t you trust me?”
Chi Wang: “…Uh.”
He used to trust him a lot, but now he wasn’t so sure.
Xie said, “Don’t worry; I won’t do anything you don’t like.”
He lifted his eyelids, his deep eyes fixed on Chi Wang. “I’m the baby’s father. During this time, I want to be with it.”
Although he said that, his gaze was so focused, carrying a hint of fire, that it seemed to burn a hole in Chi Wang’s heart.
Chi Wang: “…”
Just as Chi Wang was internally struggling, the housekeeper’s voice came from afar. “Oh dear, there’s a guest.”
They both snapped back to reality. Chi Wang stood up first, walked through the living room to the foyer, and saw Xiao Fu. He was carrying a bag of gifts, coming over to pay a New Year’s visit.
As soon as Xiao Fu saw Chi Wang, he quickly said, “Look at you, with your big belly—you shouldn’t be moving around.”
Then he asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
Chi Wang said, “Not yet. Have you eaten, Brother?”
Before Xiao Fu could answer, he saw Xie walking over. Xie calmly greeted him, “Brother.” After a pause, he continued naturally, “If you haven’t eaten, join us for breakfast.”
Chi Wang: “…”
Wait, did he just call him ‘Brother’ like that?
Xiao Fu’s pupils dilated in shock. His first reaction was to curse, but Chi Wang immediately grabbed his hand.
Xiao Fu: “…”
He swallowed back the curse. He knew better than to swear during the New Year; ruining Xie’s luck was one thing, but he couldn’t ruin Chi Wang’s.
Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile and said, “I haven’t eaten. Let’s have breakfast together then.”
Chi Wang breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Xie with a bit of disbelief. He hadn’t expected Xie to be willing to compromise to this extent.
Someone as proud as Xie, calling Xiao Fu ‘Brother’—that was a significant concession.
Chi Wang was moved, and his resolve wavered.
After setting down the New Year’s gifts, Xiao Fu joined them at the table. At first glance, he couldn’t help but frown. “Chi Wang is pregnant, and you’re serving such plain food for breakfast?”
Chi Wang’s breakfast consisted of a bowl of fish porridge, a plate of lightly stir-fried lettuce stems, some spring rolls, shrimp pastries, and a cold seaweed salad.
The housekeeper was in the back, organizing the gifts Xiao Fu had brought. Upon hearing this, she wasn’t pleased. But Chi Wang quickly spoke up, “It’s precisely because I’m pregnant that I need to eat lighter foods. And although it looks plain, it tastes really good. Auntie put a lot of effort into it. Brother, you should try it.”
He picked up a thin piece of pastry to stuff into Xiao Fu’s mouth.
This action delighted Xiao Fu. Happily eating the food Chi Wang offered, he hadn’t even tasted it properly before helping himself to more. Only after savoring it did he realize how good it was.
He looked up to see Chi Wang enjoying his fish porridge with great appetite. He then lowered his head to sip the porridge the housekeeper had served him. The fish porridge was fragrant and flavorful, so much so that he couldn’t help but swallow it eagerly.
Just as Chi Wang had said, it was quite something.
Xiao Fu: “…”
He suddenly understood why Chi Wang had been so eager to leave his place after staying less than four days.
It was all because of the housekeeper. He decided to fire his own and hire this one!
After breakfast, Xiao Fu made an excuse to look around and found the housekeeper. He offered her a high salary to work for him.
The housekeeper chuckled and said, “No matter how much you offer, it’s useless. I’ve been taking care of Xiao Wang, making sure he’s healthy and well. If I go to work for you, and he only comes over occasionally to eat, what’s the point?”
Xiao Fu: “…”
Fine, priorities are clear.
He had fully become part of the bride’s family.
After Xiao Fu left in disappointment, Zuo Qianxing came over to pay his New Year’s respects. He arrived quite early, looking sleepy and not very energetic—clearly, he had stayed up late.
He was also carrying a bunch of high-end health supplements. Seeing Chi Wang at Xie’s place didn’t surprise him. But this time, Chi Wang was wearing a loose, soft dinosaur onesie, and his belly was indeed protruding. It looked like the chubby little belly of a baby dinosaur, giving him an endearingly clumsy appearance.
Zuo Qianxing: “…”
Finally, he saw the baby bump.
Xie kept his eyes on him, watching like a hawk. How could Zuo dare to look any longer? After a few glances, he quickly averted his gaze.
Zuo chatted with Xie, “I just saw Xiao Fu’s car. Was that him?”
Xie slightly lifted his chin and softly said, “Yes.”
Zuo asked, “Didn’t you two have a fight or something?”
Xie said, “He’s my brother now; I won’t fight with him.”
Zuo: “??”
Chi Wang, who was sitting on the sofa looking at his computer but actually eavesdropping on their conversation, widened his eyes. Xie had sacrificed so much for him!
Compared to him, Chi Wang felt like a scumbag.
Although he didn’t know exactly how he was being scummy.
