“I can’t fit into any of my pants anymore...”
Li Zhen-ting looked down in distress at the zipper he could no longer pull up, then at the pile of discarded trousers he had already given up on.
He turned his head and called out to Li Zi, “A-Zi—”
“What’s wrong? Are you dressed? We need to head out.”
Li Zi emerged from the bathroom, her hair tied back. A few stray locks had escaped her control, lolling lazily against her cheeks and adding a touch of casualness to her cool, elegant features. She looked at her pregnant lover with concern in her dark blue eyes.
“Come look. Doesn’t my belly look much bigger than it did just a little while ago? Now I can’t even get into my last pair of pants.” He pointed at the open zipper. “These were already my loosest ones.”
“Hmm?” Li Zi walked over and wrapped her arms around him from behind, measuring him with her hands. “It seems so. A four-month belly shouldn't normally be this large.”
She supported the base of Li Zhen-ting’s abdomen and looked at his profile in the mirror. His pregnancy was very prominent now, looking as if a pot had been overturned against his stomach. The curve rose sharply from his lower abdomen, softening his firm muscles into tender flesh.
To be honest, even his underwear was getting small, digging tightly into his waist.
“Wear those drawstring sweatpants today. I’ll pull the strings out for you; you should still be able to manage in those.” Li Zi helped him loosen the pants, and Li Zhen-ting stepped out of them. “After we finish the prenatal checkup, I’ll take you to buy new clothes. We can pick up everything you’ll need for the later stages of pregnancy while we’re at it.”
“Okay.” Li Zhen-ting nodded and went to fish out his gray sweatpants. “Do you think I’ve gotten fat? I’ve clearly been keeping up with my exercises.”
He touched the soft flesh on his belly, looking worried.
Li Zi looked at him. Aside from his belly, his physique was perfect—not an ounce of extra fat anywhere else. She had no idea where he got such an idea.
“Don’t worry. You could stand to gain even more weight,” she said, shaking her head helplessly.
When Li Zi brought him to Zhennan Central Hospital, they happened to run into Li Qing-liu, who was also there on business.
He and Li Zhen-ting stared at each other. Li Zhen-ting couldn't help but ask, “What are you doing at the hospital so early in the morning?”
It was a simple question, but Li Qing-liu acted as if his secret had been discovered, his face flushing red.
“None... none of your business!”
“Tch.” Li Zhen-ting rolled his eyes and teased, “You’re probably here to see someone, aren't you?”
“I’m just here to drop something off! You’re so annoying, just go do your checkup!” He bristled.
Seeing that her man wanted to keep teasing him, Li Zi quickly pulled him away and spoke to Li Qing-liu first. “Boss, go find Xie Bing. Our appointment time is almost here.”
With that, she pulled the childish man—who was still making faces at Li Qing-liu—toward the stairs.
She left behind a speechless Li Qing-liu, who muttered, “Stupid couples!”
“Why do you always bicker with him? Have you become childish yourself just because you’re pregnant?” In the elevator, Li Zi reached out and poked Li Zhen-ting’s forehead.
“Teasing him is fun,” Li Zhen-ting said, sniffing indifferently. “Besides, he always acts so flippant on the surface while hiding so much in his heart. I can’t stand it, so I try to draw him into some idle chatter.”
Hearing this, Li Zi was somewhat surprised. “You’ve actually learned to be mindful of other people’s feelings.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You make it sound like I used to be some unrefined brute.” The man’s face darkened as he glared at Li Zi.
“No, I’m just saying Ting-ge is becoming more and more cute.”
“Hmph, I told you not to call a man cute.” He let out a dissatisfied huff, but his expression brightened.
Li Zi could almost see a tail wagging behind him. She chuckled and shook her head.
“This is your second prenatal checkup, right? You’re quite punctual.” The doctor held the equipment and signaled for Li Zhen-ting to lie on the bed.
Li Zhen-ting obeyed, reflexively pulling up the hem of his shirt.
The doctor gave him a look that said *'good job, young man,'* then applied a layer of coupling gel to his abdomen and began moving the probe.
“The baby is developing well. You must have been eating well lately... Eh? What’s this?” His movements suddenly stopped.
Li Zhen-ting grew tense instantly. “What is it? Is something wrong with the baby?”
“Don’t move.” The doctor gave him a warning glance and continued to scan the area with the probe. “Young man, congratulations to you both.” He curled his lips into a smile.
“Huh?” Li Zhen-ting was anxious. “Doctor, just say it!”
“Congratulations, it’s twins. Look here—see this much smaller embryo? It must have been too faint to notice during the first checkup, but it’s very clear now.”
“Twins?!” Li Zi and Li Zhen-ting exclaimed in unison.
The two of them leaned in toward the screen and indeed saw a small, shadowy mass.
“However, there is a significant difference in development between the two embryos. There might be some competition for nutrients. Pay extra attention to your diet; you can supplement your nutrition appropriately.” The doctor, having seen this many times, calmly explained the precautions to the new parents.
Li Zhen-ting could no longer contain his joy. He looked at Li Zi excitedly. “A-Zi, we!! Two children!!” He had almost lost the ability to form coherent sentences.
Li Zi was also pleasantly surprised. She took Li Zhen-ting’s hand, squeezing it slightly. “Yes, I know.”
After the examination, Li Zhen-ting remained in a state of silly bliss. Li Zi, meanwhile, promptly sent the good news to her parents. The elders were thrilled, demanding photos of the ultrasound. The two adults, who had now been promoted to grandparent status, kept praising them in the group chat: “So cute! As expected of a child of our Li family.”
“Yes, I’m so happy. Zi’er, I’ll be going to Zhennan for a business trip soon. I’ll take the opportunity to see the two little treasures.”
“Mom, Dad, they’re just two dark blobs of embryos right now. How can you tell they’re cute?” Li Zi replied helplessly.
“Are you silly? Look at our genes! How could they not be good-looking?” Li Shi-an condemned the newly minted parent of twins in the chat. “These will be the most precious treasures of our family. Li Zi, watch what you say.”
Fine, everything she said was wrong now.
Li Zi gave up on the heated discussion in the group and turned to look at Li Zhen-ting, who was happily cradling his belly. Meeting her gaze, his eyes crinkled with laughter as he leaned his head on her shoulder. “A-Zi, we’re going to have two children!”
“Yes, but that also means you’ll have a harder time.” Li Zi rubbed the back of his head as she spoke.
“It’s okay, hee-hee, it’s okay.” He was so happy he had forgotten everything else.
“Alright, let’s go shopping. It looks like I’ll have to buy you clothes in the largest sizes.” Li Zi gathered their documents and records, then took his hand.
“Okay!” Li Zhen-ting put on his shoes and followed her.
He felt as if life and fate were showering him with every beautiful thing possible. All the loneliness and hardships of the past were now like passing clouds—the best trade-off for the happiness he held today.
***
Li Qing-liu made his way familiarly to the neurology department and asked the nurse at the reception desk, “Excuse me, where is Dr. Xie Bing? Is she busy right now?”
“Dr. Xie? Why are you looking for her? Do you have an appointment?” the nurse asked.
“No, I’m a friend. She left something behind, and I’m bringing it to her.” Li Qing-liu was a bit nervous.
“Oh, then go to that room around the corner up ahead. Dr. Xie should still be there.” The nurse pointed down the right hallway, and Li Qing-liu thanked her hurriedly.
His palms were slightly sweaty as he walked in that direction, clutching the ID badge in his hand.
Since the restaurant had become busy again, he hadn't been able to deliver meals to Xie Bing every day, and Xie Bing didn't want him running around so much anyway. So, he had told her that if she didn't get enough to eat in the evenings, she should stop by his place on her way back to the university. He would prepare some easy-to-store bento boxes for her in advance.
Xie Bing had been hesitant at the time. “Qing-ge, you’re so good to me. How can I ever repay you?”
Li Qing-liu had insisted, “You’ve helped me so much, and you call me 'brother.' Do I need a reason to be good to you? Taking care of your health is how you repay me.”
He even told Xie Bing the passcode to his front door. “Anyway, I’ll have the food ready in the fridge for you every night. If I’m already asleep when you arrive, just let yourself in.”
For an Omega to tell an Alpha his home passcode so defenselessly... Xie Bing had almost wanted to ask if he trusted her too much. But could she cruelly reject such a burning, straightforward trust over and over again?
So, whenever she had time, she would try her best to bring some fruit or snacks over and leave them on the table. If her evening shift ended early, she would sometimes catch Li Qing-liu while he was preparing meals. She would listen to him share stories about the shop or complain about Li Zhen-ting while she washed and sliced the fruit, setting it on a plate for him to eat later.
Every time Li Qing-liu saw the fruit, he would smile exceptionally happily, then hold the plate and eat it bite by bite as if it were a gourmet delicacy.
Last night, Xie Bing had been in surgery all day. She had dragged her exhausted body to Li Qing-liu’s home and quietly opened the door. As she reached into the fridge for the bento box, she suddenly felt dizzy, and her vision went black.
She quickly crouched against the wall. The bento box slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a thud.
The light in the bedroom soon flickered on. Li Qing-liu ran out, warily holding a stun baton. When he saw it was her, he tossed it aside and rushed over in a panic.
“Xiao Xie, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” He looked anxiously at Xie Bing’s pale face, not even daring to touch her.
“It’s nothing, just a bit dizzy.” Xie Bing suppressed the vertigo and forced a smile to comfort him.
“Dizzy? Let me feel... You’re burning up!” Li Qing-liu pressed his hand to her forehead, the scorching temperature making him cry out in alarm. “You have a fever! Quick, let me help you to the bed.”
Xie Bing wanted to decline, but he had already pulled her arm over his shoulder and was guiding her toward the guest bedroom. Leaning on Li Qing-liu’s thin shoulder, she found herself craving his warmth.
Li Qing-liu busied himself, running back and forth to find fever medicine while nagging her about not taking care of herself. Though it was late into the night, his apartment was brightly lit.
Xie Bing lay there weakly, squinting as she watched Li Qing-liu hold a warm towel, gently wiping the cold sweat from her brow.
She closed her eyes. “Qing-ge, no one has ever treated me like this.”
From childhood to adulthood, she had endured every illness and injury on her own. *I don't need anyone else. Don't depend on others. I can do everything by myself.* Such thoughts had been forced to take root in her heart.
And now, someone was challenging the defenses she had built for herself.
“Silly girl, you deserve it.” Li Qing-liu tucked her in and lightly brushed her face as he removed her glasses. “When you’re here with me, you don't have to think about anything. Just rest.”
In a state between dreaming and waking, a scent both strange and familiar enveloped her.
Xie Bing woke up feeling thirsty. Just as she was about to reach for the water glass beside her, she heard faint footsteps at the door. For some reason, she lay back down and closed her eyes.
The footsteps slowly approached and stopped by the bed.
After a few minutes of silence, a pair of trembling, warm, soft lips pressed against her forehead.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 圳南中心医院 | Zhennan Central Hospital | A major hospital in the story's setting. |
| 耦合剂 | Coupling gel | Ultrasound gel used during prenatal checkups. |
| 探头 | Probe / Transducer | The handheld part of the ultrasound machine. |
| 黎世安 | Li Shi-an | Li Zi's father. |
| 工作牌 | ID badge / Work permit | Xie Bing's hospital identification. |
| 防狼棒 | Stun baton / Self-defense stick | Literally "wolf-prevention stick," used for self-defense. |
| 脑科区 | Neurology department | The section of the hospital where Xie Bing works. |
