Chapter 32

At the clinic Gaotu sat on the edge of the chair, hands folded tightly in his lap. His face looked calm, almost blank, but inside his chest everything felt loud. This was real now.

Wenlang sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. He kept glancing at Gaotu, then back at the door, then at Gaotu again. Every few seconds, he reached out and gently squeezed Gaotu's hand, as if to remind him he wasn't alone.

The door opened softly.

"Gaotu?" a woman's voice called.

They both looked up.

"Yes," Gaotu replied, standing quickly.

"I'm Dr. Mei," the woman said with a warm smile. She looked to be in her late forties, with kind eyes and a calm posture. "Please come in."

Inside the room, everything was neat and quiet. The doctor gestured for Gaotu to sit on the examination bed and for Wenlang to take the chair beside him.

"So," Dr. Mei said, opening a file, "first pregnancy?"

"Yes," Gaotu answered quietly.

"How far along do you think you are?"

"Uh..." Gaotu looked at Wenlang. He wasn't sure when it had happened, whether it was during his heat or just one of those nights they didn't think much about at the time. "I... I'm not sure."

Dr. Mei nodded, typing something into the computer. "That's alright. Many people aren't sure of the exact date. From the tests you took and what I'm seeing, it's approximately over a month."

She looked up at him. "How are you feeling physically? Any pain? Dizziness? Nausea?"

"A bit tired," Gaotu said after a pause. "Sometimes... nauseous."

"That's normal," she replied gently. "Very common in early pregnancy."

Wenlang leaned forward slightly. "He hasn't been eating much. Does it also affect his appetite?"

Dr. Mei nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Very much so, appetite changes are very common. Some people feel hungry all the time, others lose their appetite completely."

She glanced at Gaotu. "Food aversions are normal too. Things you used to like might suddenly smell or taste unpleasant."

She added. "Try lighter foods. Soup, fruit, plain food. Eat a little at a time instead of full meals."

"Are you feeling anxious?"

Gaotu hesitated. Just for a second. "No," he said softly.

Dr. Mei didn't push. She only nodded. "It's okay if you are. First pregnancies can feel scary, even if everything is going well."

Gaotu's eyes lowered. He didn't reply.

"We'll do a basic check today," she continued. "Nothing painful. Just to make sure everything looks fine."

The doctor worked calmly, explaining each step as she went. Her voice never changed, steady and professional.

"Everything looks good so far," she said after a moment. "The pregnancy is progressing normally."

There was a small smile on Gaotu's lips, so faint most people wouldn't notice it. But Wenlang did. The tight feeling in his chest eased a little when he saw it.

He reached over and held Gaotu's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as they both looked at the screen while the doctor continued to explain.

Wenlang let out a quiet breath. "That's good," he murmured.

Dr. Mei smiled. "You're doing well. The most important thing now is rest, a good diet when you can manage it, and keeping stress low."

As they stood to leave, Wenlang slipped his arm around Gaotu's shoulders.

For the first time since they had walked into the clinic, the fear in Gaotu's chest loosened. For some reason he couldn't explain, after seeing it on the screen and hearing the doctor's words, it didn't feel so scary anymore. Well... somehow. It felt manageable.

"Let's get some ice cream," Gaotu suddenly said as they walked down the hall.

Wenlang blinked, caught off guard. Then he chuckled. "Ice cream?"

Gaotu nodded, "Mmm."

Wenlang didn't question it. "Okay," he said. "Whatever you want."

They stepped outside together, the afternoon light warm on their faces. As they headed toward the parking lot, Wenlang glanced at him. "What flavor?"

Gaotu thought for a moment. "Vanilla," he said.

🐺🐰

The days that followed, nothing much changed. Especially at work, everything stayed the same. They kept their usual routine, moved through their tasks like always, and no one suspected a thing.

At home, though, things were different.

Unlike before, when Gaotu had just found out about the pregnancy and spent most of his time quiet and withdrawn, he seemed lighter now. The heaviness that once lingered in his eyes had faded. His shoulders were no longer tense all the time, and he laughed more easily.

Aunt Liu took it upon herself to guide him on what he should and shouldn't do. She made sure he ate properly and didn't overwork himself. When it was just the two of them, she often told him stories, little things from the past.

One afternoon, while preparing food together, she began telling him about her time working for Wenlang's omega father.

"I was already there before Wenlang was born," she said, stirring the pot slowly.

Gaotu looked up, curious. "Really?"

She nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yes. I was hired to take care of him when he was pregnant. There were a few people considered for the job, but Ying Yi chose me himself."

"What was he like?" Gaotu asked, genuinely curious.

Aunt Liu chuckled softly. "He is ... wasn't someone who spoke much. But was very particular."

She paused, then laughed. "And Wenlang was stubborn even before he was born."

Gaotu blinked. "How?"

"Oh, he was," she said with certainty. "When Ying Yi was pregnant, he couldn't stand the smell of his favorite foods. Not even a little. The moment something strong was cooked, he felt sick."

Gaotu laughed. "So what did he eat?"

"Plain food," Aunt Liu replied. "Very plain. Rice, soup, nothing else. The whole pregnancy was like that."

"That sounds... hard," Gaotu said.

"It was," she agreed. "But he got through it."

She looked at Gaotu then, her voice gentle. "And you will too."

Gaotu smiled, warmth spreading through his chest.

As Aunt Liu continued telling him small, random stories about those days, Gaotu found himself laughing along. The house felt warm.