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Shaoyou's eyebrows knitted into a disgruntled frown. He tugged and pulled on the fabric of his open vest, trying—and failing—to fasten the third button. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get this stupid fucking button to slide into the stupidly narrow opening.
After a full minute of struggle, he eventually gave up, letting his hands fall as his vest hung open, revealing the unmistakeable curve of his belly, tucked away under the crisp white shirt.
As if he wasn't humiliated enough, Hua Yong sauntered into the dressing room, elegantly dressed in his silk blouse and suit pants, looking like the most beautiful polished jade in all of Jianghu. Shaoyou glared daggers at him, but Hua Yong answered with a dazzling smile instead.
"Can I help Mr. Sheng dress up?"
"I don't need your help, A'Yong. I'm a grown man."
"Ah—No, no, of course you are, Mr. Sheng! You are the most handsome and capable Alpha afterall. What I mean is…" Hua Yong lowered his head, his deep, dark eyes peeking him from beneath his long, thick lashes. "I want to be good for you, Mr. Sheng. I want to put on your vest, help you with your socks, tie your necktie… Maybe help put on the sock garters if you let me." At the glare Shaoyou shot at him, Hua Yong pursed his lips into a cute pout. "I know I'm being very selfish and greedy, but it's because Mr. Sheng is very alluring. I've missed him terribly."
Shaoyou rolled his eyes at the coquettish tone Hua Yong was using on him. Just last night, the little lunatic greedily devoured him and wouldn't let his hands off of Shaoyou's body until sunrise. Now he's acting like he's not monopolizing Shaoyou's time?!
"Can I be selfish, Mr. Sheng? I'll be good to you, I promise. No naughty touches, if that's what Mr. Sheng wants." Hua Yong held up three fingers and straightened up, making his promise.
Shaoyou let out a long exhale, letting Hua Yong have his fun, as per usual. The Enigma leaped into action, happily picking up the black socks and putting them on Shaoyou's feet. As though he was admiring a statue, Hua Yong took his sweet time with him, letting his palms trail over the warm skin of Shaoyou's thighs, stirring up something hot deep inside him. Hua Yong continued with the garters, and the dress pants, and eventually, he reached out for the half-buttoned vest.
Hua Yong's hands suddenly stilled, tugging at the fabric with a bit of force, but not enought to press too tightly against Shaoyou's stomach.
A creepy, wide smile spread across Hua Yong's face, and Shaoyou resigned to his fate. He knew that his mate—his husband—was going to say something crazy; something that would probably upset Shaoyou, but Shaoyou would eventually relent and let Hua Yong win. He knew it was going to happen. It always did.
"It seems like Mr. Sheng's body is making room for our Little Peanut, huh?" Before Shaoyou could react, Hua Yong lowered himself on one knee, resting his head atop of Shaoyou's open vest, rubbing his face all over. "Already conquered such a nice, fertile land and still greedy for more… you truly are a little tyrant, aren't you, Peanut?"
Shaoyou lightly smacked Hua Yong's shoulder, his face burning red and his fangs bared. "Shut your mouth and be done with it already!"
Hua Yong gave him a sweet smile before he stood up and walked towards the wardrobe. He opened the door, shifting through Shaoyou's collection with meticulous, unwavering focus. After humming to himself, he pulled out a black, deep v-neck suit. He hadn't unearthed this one in years, the last time he wore it was back when oversized suits were popular among the Jianghu elites.
"How about a change of wardrobe today, Mr. Sheng? We can match!"
"Wh—Are you making fun of me, Hua Yong!?"
"No, no, of course not. Mr. Sheng is handsome, he always looks good in everything, with or without clothes." Hua Yong's gaze burned like a thousand suns, making Shaoyou unconsciously swallow his saliva. "I'll tell Chang Yu to adjust your vests and suits right away, but it will take a bit of time. For now, will Mr. Sheng be kind and indulge me a little?"
Shaoyou let out a huff, nodding his head and letting Hua Yong undress him. He refused to look at Hua Yong's face as long, dextrous fingers trace the slight swell of his stomach.
"Will you hurry up already! I will lose hundreds of investors and billions of yuan if you're this slow, Hua Yong!"
Hua Yong, always so bold and shameless, offered him a sweet, gentle smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sheng. It's just that… your beauty always captivated me, I couldn't help but admire you every waking hour of my life. Ahh… I truly am a slave to Mr. Sheng's body."
Shaoyou released his suppressive, dominant pheromones to confront Hua Yong's sickeningly sweet orchid, but the moment the crisp, tight shirt and fitted vest were replaced with the loose, soft material of his old suit, Shaoyou's resolve instantly crumbled.
"Please take good care of my child, Mr. Sheng." Hua Yong stood on his tiptoes and planted a soft, reverent kiss between Shaoyou's brows, loosening up the hard creases of his frown. The Enigma slowly bent down, lowering his voice into a soft, gentle whisper as he talked to Shaoyou's stomach, "little one, don't bring too much trouble to my Alpha, alright? He had generously forgiven you for your misbehavior, and he's being very kind and patient, so you be a good baby to him too."
Shaoyou's face was beet red as he stepped out of reach from Hua Yong's approaching embrace. He knew he wouldn't be able to resist whatever schemes Hua Yong was brewing in his head if he hadn’t rushed out of the door and told his driver to floor it.
The whole day, Shaoyou felt oddly at peace. The little peanut was actually behaving well, not restlessly fluttering and popping bubbles in his belly as usual. And for the first time in a while, Shaoyou could actually focus on doing his work.
As much as he hated to admit it, he had a feeling the damned ghost orchid pheromones tightly clinging to this loose, soft old suit of his was to blame.
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Shaoyou stared at the numbers displayed on the health report and felt a throb inside of his skull.
He gained weight.
Again.
Shaoyou knew he was supposed to anticipate it, Cai Hong said so; having his biology altered and carrying a growing baby bound to change his body somehow.
But this? This was absolutely ridiculous.
He had to change his wardrobe—from his favorite crisp button downs, fitted vests, and tight dress pants into something Hua Yong would wear on the daily. When he looked into the floor-length mirror of his closet, Shaoyou had a hard time looking back at his own reflection.
He looked different.
He felt different.
Shaoyou knew the little one was not solely to blame for it, but rather his growing appetite. Never in his life had he craved food so much that he quite literally felt like he was 'eating for two'. He could handle eating a second breakfast, lunch, or dinner; Hua Yong's eyes always sparkled so brightly whenever he asked for extra bowls of of rice or noodles.
No, it was not the nutritious, healthy meals that Hua Yong devotedly cooked up for him every single day without fail.
It was the sweets.
Especially the cookies.
And it wasn't any cookie—as he figured out after barking orders at Chen Pinming and was wholly dissatisfied to find out that all the bakeries in Jianghu could not satiate the little tyrant protesting in his belly—but specifically Hua Yong's homemade cookies.
He sometimes despised how much his palate had changed after Hua Yong. Shaoyou now craved flavors and textures he hadn't had since he was a child, and it was starting to frustrate him. Dishes at high-end restaurants felt off, cafeteria food smelled awful, takeouts tasted too greasy.
And those cookies… those damned cookies.
Phantom sweetness lingered in his mouth and won't leave his waking thoughts no matter what; and he’s getting increasingly desperate to finally satiate the little tyrant quietly protesting in his belly every single day since their presence was known.
"Are there anything sweet in the pantry?"
Hua Yong quickly turned down the stove, letting the goji berries and ginger chicken soup simmer on its own as he made his way towards Shaoyou. The whole apartment smelled heavenly, making Shaoyou's stomach rumble.
"There's only chocolates and a few bags of sugar, but I can bake something while waiting for the soup to finish cooking." Hua Yong stood right behind him; Shaoyou could tell that the Enigma was watching him intently. "Is there anything particular I should make?"
"…cookies," Shaoyou muttered, almost too quiet for anyone to hear.
He’s still reluctant to tell his husband about his cravings. Usually, Shaoyou would eat whatever Hua Yong cooked for him without any fuss, since the Enigma seemed like he had a sixth sense for Shaoyou's appetite and what he can stomach each day.
But today was different.
Today, the little one was being very, very stubborn; and the brave, unebeatable General Shaoyou was slowly losing the war.
"Which flavor does Mr. Sheng want?"
Shaoyou threw the Enigma a glare over his shoulder, thoroughly offended at the syrupy sweet tone his husband was using on him— as though he was coaxing a pouting child and not talking to his grown adult Alpha husband.
Hua Yong, who was now leaning over the sofa, quickly took a step back from Shaoyou and gasped. "Ah! I'm sorry, Mr. Sheng. What I mean is, which flavor does Hua Sheng want?"
Shaoyou creased his brows and pursed his lips. Possibly being possessed by the hungry little peanut shifting restlessly inside of his womb, he vividly recalled all the cookies Hua Yong had gifted him during their not-yet-dating phase, back when Shaoyou thought that he was courting a sweet, precious Omega playing hard to get.
On a very specific Friday afternoon—when things in Shengfang Biotech were going terribly for everyone, after he had yelled at Pinming for slacking off at disciplining the lab team—Hua Yong had sent him a box of peanut cookies that Sheng Shaoyou eventually snacked on right after finishing his boxed lunch. After finishing the entire box in one sitting, Shaoyou's mood shifted, and he eventually came home with a full stomach and a calm heart.
Shaoyou tilted his body towards Hua Yong, who was standing straight with his hands folded in front of him, looking the part of a loyal mate and husband.
"Do you remember those cookies you sent me in the 2nd week of June?"
Hua Yong's sweet smile bloomed brighter; it was as though rays of sunshine suddenly appeared behind him. "Our little Hua Sheng wants little peanut cookies?"
"You—You still remember what type of cookie it was?!"
"I remember everything related to Mr. Sheng." Hua Yong beamed at him. "After lunch break, you called me just to say that I did a good job baking that batch. I took a gamble since I put some extra sugar and peanuts for the taste and texture… but you enjoyed every bit of it. It made me really, really happy, Mr. Sheng."
Shaoyou felt himself redden at Hua Yong's brazenness. Damned Hua Yong and his sweet smile and perfect face and delicious cookies! How dare he act all cute and attentive, making Shaoyou's heart leap like this! He blamed his warm cheeks and racing heart on the pregnancy hormones.
Hua Yong took a step forward and slowly leaned in, his face only inches apart from Shaoyou's own. His deep, beady dark eyes stared at Shaoyou's lips like a predator, making Shaoyou shift in his seat.
"Would our Peanut want me to write the same note as I did before? Wrap it up in the same box? Spray my perfume on it so the scent will linger?"
Shaoyou swallowed, captivated by the depth of Hua Yong's deep, enchanting eyes. It took Shaoyou a few seconds to broke his gaze and looked away. "No need to be so ceremonial. Your child is a very demanding. The little one will probably change their mind if you take too long."
Hua Yong's eyes crinkled, his radiant smile bright enough to blind him as he whispered into his ear, "our Little Peanut can sit nice and warm here with Mr. Sheng while baba bake the cookies, alright?"
Shaoyou stammered, pushing Hua Yong away before he could land a soft, gentle kiss on Shaoyou's cheek.
Now that the dam had broke, he was sure the little lunatic would be pestering him endlessly about his cravings. He wasn't sure what this would mean for his dignity, but if it meant getting a moment of peace and quiet from a satiated Little Peanut, then Shaoyou would trade it away happily.
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Sometimes Shaoyou forgot that he's carrying a child inside of his body.
Sometimes he didn't remember the biological impossibility that Hua Yong had created within him.
Sometimes, he needed the child to remind him of their existence.
The tiny, butterfly wings-like flutters in his belly were now his constant companion. It started just a few weeks ago, and over the time, these occurrences had become increasingly frequent. On random times of the day, the little wiggling peanut liked to make their presence known.
Sometimes, Shaoyou would be highly aware of it, almost anticipating it to happen.
Other times, it would catch him unaware, and a quiet, surprised gasp would slip from his lips in a moment of weakness.
As time went on, he started to gain a better control of his reactions. He would rather die than to let Hua Yong see how affected he was by this… occurance; that the little peanut had been testing the strength of their legs and arms for a while now, and each time it happened, Shaoyou felt the tiny flutters within his chest.
That was what lead Shaoyou to keep himself busy in the office and avoid Hua Yong. He held long office meetings, visited every single room in the building for 'surprise inspections', went to company dinners and banquets— all to avoid the indignity he had to face if Hua Yong figured him out.
Today’s to-do list included a six-hour meeting with LISUI Tech, where he would spend hours discussing data he’d already read in the contracts and sitting through presentations he’d heard before. He had very little interest in their newest purification equipment; anything made by X Holdings were bound to be far more advanced than whatever LISUI was offering. But he digress.
On the fourth hour, Shaoyou shifted on his seat.
Little Peanut was quiet.
Far too quiet.
Usually, he would welcome times like this; when Little Peanut behaved and left their father to focus on work. But there was a part of him that felt like something was up. The child was half of the little lunatic as much as they were half of himself, afterall.
A few seconds later, his suspicions were proven right.
Shaoyou jumped from his seat when the little one kicked against his belly—hard—and every single pair of eyes in that meeting room immediately turned towards him.
Chen Pinming, his loyal chief secretary who was in the middle of giving an answer to Director Xu's question, immediately rushed to his side, gripping the back of his leather chair.
"Are you alright, President Sheng? Shall I call Secretary Hua?" Pinming asked, wide-eyed and breathless, fully alert of his superior's condition.
"I—" Shaoyou halted. It suddenly occurred to him that he was tightly clutching his stomach, heart still hammering inside of his chest.
That was the first time Little Peanut had truly kicked him.
Usually, it was only gentle rolls and tiny flutters against his stomach, which he had foolishly believed as 'baby kicks'. Truly, Shaoyou had underestimated the strength and determination of an Enigma's child.
He gave an awkward cough, doing his best to diffuse the situation as he released his grip on his stomach. "I’m alright, just a mild stomachache. My apologies for the interruption. Please continue, Pinming."
Pinming stared at him a bit more, seemingly hesitant to leave his boss' side, but eventually the Beta relented. The meeting continued, though he was now painfully aware of LISUI Tech's employees sneaking glances at him whenever they thought he wasn’t paying attention.
As though amused by the reactions in the room and embarrassing their father, the small Little Peanut inside of Shaoyou shifted and stayed still, probably feeling proud of themselves from that little prank.
Shaoyou pressed his fingers to his temple, feeling the stubborn throb in his skull. Not even born yet, and Little Peanut was already as defiant as their Enigma father. He'd just gotten used to the strange sensations of the little one shifting and rolling inside of his belly, how the hell would he adjust to his body getting kicked like a football now?!
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Little Peanut was starting to flourish inside his belly.
He could feel it, the shift of his weight and the center of his gravity started to change. No more was the tiny little life the size of a small peanut floating around in his womb, for now the peanut had developed stronger limbs and was growing heavier and heavier each day.
Shaoyou was strong. Back when he was still a boy, he could carry heavy textbooks in his arms and a full backpack on his shoulders while running around the school, and he would not break a sweat. He had the body and strength of an S-class Alpha, afterall, so he was quite confident that carrying a child wouldn't be as taxing on his body.
But reality has always been sweeter than imaginations could ever be. Carrying a child within his body was far different from lifting heavy weights with his arms.
The growing Little Peanut was particularly keen on pressing on his bladder. Countless times he had to excuse himself from important board meetings and fancy banquets to make a beeline for the bathroom. It was all the more embarrassing when Hua Yong caught him sneaking off to the bathroom in the middle of the night; he had to stuff the Enigma's face with pillows to not hear his sickly sweet coos.
Shaoyou had always been a stubborn man, so oftentimes he felt like he was locked in a battle of will with the little one.
He was determined to sit through this meeting until the very end. They were so close to securing a major deal with a big-name pharmaceutical company all the way from Country A, so he couldn’t afford even the slightest mistake.
Unfortunately for him, Hua Sheng picked the worst possible time to be a little rascal. The little peanut was having a blast rolling around and stretching their limbs inside the tight space of Shaoyou's womb. Shaoyou gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly beneath the table as he forced himself to keep his composure.
After seemingly tired from their brief playtime, the baby rested their body directly against Shaoyou's bladder, immediately putting him through hell and misery.
Suddenly, Shaoyou became immensely aware of everything around him: the AC was set too low, the room was too quiet, the toilet was just around the corner, even the way Secretary Ming drank from her water bottle was making him twitch— which made him realize that he drank too much water before the meeting began.
Shaoyou squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the growing urge to get up and waddle to the bathroom. It was humiliating enough that his employees were starting to be considerate towards him; he’d be mortified to be treated with the same courtesy by these old executives from Country A.
But the meeting room was too cold and Hua Sheng just landed a sharp kick to his bladder. Never in Sheng Shaoyou's life had he felt so close to tears—
"Excuse me, Secretary Chen, if I may interrupt."
Shaoyou snapped his head towards the far end of the meeting room, where X Holdings' representative, Secretary Chang, was quietly seated since the start of the meeting three hours ago, his trusty tablet resting in his hands.
"…Yes, Secretary Chang?" Pinming looked just as confused as Shaoyou was.
"I believe there may have been an error in the projected manufacturing cost listed on page five of proposal HQ-263."
The room fell into an uncomfortable quiet. Shaoyou stared at Chang Yu, utterly dumfounded by the sudden interruption.
"P-p–page five?" The young Secretary Lund gaped, his face as white as a sheet of paper he was tightly gripping in his hands. "I–I have the file right here—" before he could speak further, the sour-faced gentleman sitting near the window snatched the papers from the young man's grasp.
"It said here that the cost of a specialized manufacturing equipment is projected to be around $500,000 for each unit. I assume this is the coveted ATTEC targeted degradation tech, correct? This figure is carried over to the projected margins on pages 20, 21, 36, 38, and 40," Chang Yu said with a slight tilt of his head.
"Correct. Surely X Holdings are familiar with the challenges of manufacturing such a machine, no? Especially overhead costs and licensing. X Holdings are, afterall, the original inventor," Mr. Schultz, the CFO, replied with a strained tone, staring at Chang Yu with a proud lift of his chin. "X Holdings and its subsidiaries have been remarkably successful, especially since expanding to our country; However, success over the past few years does not outweigh decades of experience, Mr. Chang."
Chang Yu nodded calmly, answering with his usual composure, "we are manufacturing the equipment here in Jianghu, yet the proposal includes the cost of importing a number of the smaller components from Country P. Unless there's something I'm missing, we already have all the necessary suppliers here; that means we could potentially bring the production cost down by 8.52% per unit assembled. And that was only page five."
Before the Country A executives could say another word, Chang Yu closed the cover of his tablet and rose from his seat. "There is no productive discussions to be had when there are discrepancies in even the most basic calculations. I shall have the meeting rescheduled for next month with an accountant from X Holdings present, as well as a list of approved suppliers for all the necessary materials and components around the Jianghu area."
Now, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Sheng and I have another meeting with HS Group to attend to. Good day."
Shaoyou stood up and followed Chang Yu suit, leaving Pinming to close his presentation and wrap up the meeting. Shaoyou had a hard time trying to say anything to Chang Yu— of course, ignoring the fact that Little Peanut was still rested snugly on his bladder.
The addition of X Holdings was a sudden, last-minute change. He was going to refuse, knowing damn well that it was Hua Yong's idea to stay close while Shaoyou's keeping a distance from him; but Mr. Schultz insisted that they welcome X Holdings as a subcontractor for their joint project, and Shaoyou couldn't possibly say no.
Damned Hua Yong and his damned global titan of a company!
As soon as Chang Yu gave him a slight nod and turned towards the elevator, Shaoyou practically flew for the restroom on the far end of the floor. Thankfully, he made it just in the nick of time, and today, his dignity was still intact.
To be rescued by his husband's secretary, however, was a brand new humiliation Shaoyou had to live with for the rest of his life.
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Shaoyou sat alone, on the empty bench away from the crowd in HeCi Hospital's waiting area, waiting to be called in. The last time he'd been here, he was advised to work less and eat more. Apparently, Little Peanut was consuming an unusually high amount of nutrients, far more than a typical baby would need, and it was starting to take a toll on Shaoyou's body.
Of course, he had taken the advice seriously and forced himself to swallow down healthy food for the sake of the child. It helped that he'd been exceptionally hungry all the time. There was, however, a bigger problem that he'd faced recently. His sleep schedule had reverted back to when he was still a young university student, except this time, neither alcohol nor coffee could ease his pain.
Earlier that day, his 'secretary' Hua Yong had begged to accompany him to the scheduled prenatal checkup, but Shaoyou refused. After Hua Yong said something about how Shaoyou 'likes being coaxed', Shaoyou slammed the car door on his face and instructed the driver to drive straight to HeCi without waiting on the pitiful Secretary Hua.
"Are you here to see Dr. Chu as well?"
"… what?" Shaoyou turned his head and blinked at the Omega who was suddenly already sitting beside him. He gave him a quick once-over, a bit taken aback seeing a young man wearing such gaudy, old-fashioned clothes shamelessly staring at Shaoyou with an openly curious look on his face.
"Your obstetrician, is it Dr. Chu?" the Omega repeated, still staring at him expectantly.
Shaoyou gaped at the Omega, eyes wide and eyebrows raised.
Did he hear that correctly?
"…No, I'm here to see Dr. Cai."
The Omega's round eyes widened in surprise, and now he was the one gaping at Shaoyou. He suddenly leaned forward, pushing more into Shaoyou's personal space. "How did you get an appointment with him? My husband is also a doctor here in HeCi—Dr. He Fan, do you know him? Ah, anyways, he was really surprised to see Dr. Cai around in Jianghu, y'know! Said that he's one of the best doctors in the whole world, even! I also heard he handpicks his patients, but he's very choosy! Is he any good?"
Bombarded by a lot of questions, Shaoyou stared blankly at the Omega, completely and utterly dumbfounded for the first time in a long while.
"Aiya, that's very rude of me, flooding you with questions without even introducing myself! I'm Lin Jiaxu. I just moved here a few months ago because my FanFan got transferred to HeCi." Lin Jiaxu gave him a confident smile and extended his hand. "And you are?"
Shaoyou took the Omega's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Sheng Shaoyou."
"It's rare to see such a handsome Omega like you back home. Most Omegas I know are very pretty and petite, but I see that Jianghu is far more cosmopolitan, eh? You and I, we're comrades, Sheng Shaoyou! Big, muscular brothers in arms!" Lin Jiaxu let out a loud, boisterous laugh that rang throughout the hallways, startling some of the nurses and patients.
An Omega he just met thought that he was a fellow Omega.
Shaoyou wished the ground could swallow him whole, sparing himself the humiliation of ever being seen by anyone ever again.
Where the hell is Cai Hong? He is close to bolting out of his seat and barging into every single examination room to find that bastard! Shaoyou's supposed to be a VIP here; not only that he's carrying Cai Hong's blood nephew, he's also carrying this entire hospital's largest shareholder's child, for fuck's sake!
Lin Jiaxu proceeded to talk his ears off about all sorts of things, particularly how different his hometown was from Jianghu; then he proceeded to fawn over his pregnancy, which Shaoyou learned was his second one, but this one had put him through the wringer— surprisingly enough given his energy. Shaoyou remembered how his mother always told him to be kind to people, to not dismiss a sign of friendliness—which actually helped him to network when he was still young back then—so Shaoyou patiently indulged the overly chatty man, thinking that he would gain good karma for him and his baby.
"… You have a very lovely scent."
Shaoyou blinked. They were in the middle of talking about runbing—Shaoyou was even going to ask Lin Jiaxu if he could recommend dishes that are more flavorful but still safe for pregnancy—but his train of thought came to a complete halt.
He felt himself blush as the words finally hit him like a brick. Shaoyou stuttered a small, reluctant "thank you" to the bold Omega, unable to directly meet his friendly gaze even if Shaoyou tried to.
Is this how Omegas talk to each other? Getting overly familiar to the point of flirting?
He's had countless Omegas compliment his scent; the intoxicating concoction of rum and orange blossom was especially potent during his ruts, which even left his ex-lovers drunk with desire. His scent used to be his pride; that's why he was so angry when HS Group—under Hua Yong's orders—started making cheap copies of his pheromone scent and called it Drunken Branch.
But now… Now he's not so sure of the implications of this Omega's compliment.
Maybe it's the way Hua Yong's orchid scent clings to his orange blossom. Maybe it's the subtle note of sweetness that started to emerge, ever so slowly replacing the bitterness of rum.
Maybe it's everything that he'd quietly shoved to the back of his mind.
"Mr. Sheng?"
Shaoyou immediately sprang to his feet the moment the nurse called his name. He almost wanted to bolt out of that seat if it wasn't for the fact that he had manners hammered into his head since he was a child.
"Dr. Cai is ready to see you now," the young nurse gave him a slight nod.
He turned his head and glanced at the Omega, Lin Jiaxu, who was looking at him curiously. He gave Lin Jiaxu a curt nod and a friendly smile, to which Lin Jiaxu responded in kind. Shaoyou thanked the heavens as he stepped away from the waiting area and headed for the OB ultrasound room, where he can finally get this scan over with and go home to Hua Yong—
"Mr. Sheng!" Lin Jiaxu suddenly called out before Shaoyou could take a single step inside of the room. Shaoyou snapped his head toward the overly friendly, energetic Omega, only to find Lin Jiaxu already standing up and waving at him.
"I'll be here around the same date next month too. If you see me, don't hesitate to say hi and wait together, okay?" Lin Jiaxu gave him a warm smile, his canines biting his lower lip. "And call me LinLin! When we meet again, add me on WeChat!"
Sheng Shaoyou felt a dull throb in his head, yet somehow, his heart felt strangely warm. He waved Lin Jiaxu—LinLin—goodbye as he was directed to sit on the chair in front of Cai Hong's desk.
"A friend of yours?" Cai Hong asked, raising a curious eyebrow at Shaoyou.
Shaoyou quietly sat down on the chair. After a few quiet seconds had passed, he eventually gave Cai Hong a nod.
Yeah, he supposed he just made a new friend today.
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Shaoyou studied the sonogram in his hand.
Because it's a high-risk pregnancy, on each visit, Cai Hong's assistant gave him four copies. He had fifteen of these pictures neatly arranged in a photo album now. Each and every time, Shaoyou found himself staring quietly at Little Peanut growing inside him.
Five months it had been since he found out about the pregnancy. Seven months after Little Peanut came barging into his life and settled in like a persistent guest.
Even late in his third trimester, his bump was still barely visible; the muscles of his stomach still taut and unyielding, but theres a faint softness to it whenever Hua Sheng decided to behave and sleep. Apparently, according to Hua Yong's blabbermouth, Shaoyou couldn't keep his hands off of his bump whenever it happens.
Sometimes he felt like it was a naturalborn Alpha instinct to protect his young.
Sometimes it felt like he's patting Hua Sheng's head, telling the child that they're doing good by not doing somersaults and penalty kicks inside of the cradle.
Shaoyou took his hand off of his belly as soon as he heard Sheng Fang's footsteps approaching, like he just accidentally let his hand linger atop burning coal. He didnt even realize he was doing it, again, like usual.
"Are those the recent ultrasound pictures?" Sheng Fang asked as he sat himself down on the velvet accent chair Hua Yong bought just a few weeks ago. He was dressed very lightly, shedding his armors as Shengfang Biotech's chairman in favor of fluffy slippers, a warm sleeping robe, and a matching pair of pyjamas.
"Yes."
"Can I see?"
Shaoyou blinked. This is the first time he'd seen Sheng Fang interested in anything other than the family's business and pretty Omegas. With a bit of reluctance in his heart, he handed out the envelope, making sure his complete health report wasn't tucked between any of the pictures.
Before Sheng Fang opened it, he cast a glance towards Shaoyou. "How is the child?"
"The baby is developing at the expected rate," Shaoyou replied calmly. He knew Sheng Fang was going to scrutinize him and Hua Yong about the heir of both Shengfang Biotech and X Holdings. He had practiced this exact scenario in his head hundreds and thousands of times since the moment he found out about Little Peanut and decided to keep the baby.
"That's good." Sheng fang nodded, starting to open the envelope and shifting through the pictures, his brows slightly creased.
Shaoyou observed the older Alpha, taking in every single detail— the way he shifted of his eyes, the way his lips slightly twitched, the way his eyebrows creased. He had lived in this man's shadow since he was born into this world, and he was certain that Sheng Fang was looking at Little Peanut the same way he looked at Sheng Shaoyou: an asset.
He unconsciously cradled the slight swell of his stomach, his protective instincts kicking in. Shaoyou had to consciously stop himself from releasing suppressive pheromones on his own father. He's not that crazy yet.
Sheng Fang, blissfully unaware of the inner battle Shaoyou was going through, took a quick glance at him. "How are things with A'Yong?"
At the mention of his husband, Shaoyou felt a slight strain on his lower back, a constant occurance eversince he was told to dilligently do his 'homework' with Hua Yong 5 times a week for the sake of the Little Peanut. But instead of giving in to the dull ache, he forced himself to sit up straight, playing the part of an unyielding Alpha of the Sheng family.
"He's fine. We're good." Shaoyou bit the inside of his cheek, shifted his gaze away from Sheng Fang's face. "A'Yong's brother is a good doctor. He's the best in all of Country P."
Sheng Fang hummed. "I know the director of HeCi, maybe you should get a second opinion from him."
"Why? Because you don't trust the doctors from Hua Yong's country?" Shaoyou snapped, his anger finally getting the better of him.
"It's not like that, Shaoyou." Sheng Fang let out a big sigh, shaking his head one expect from a disappointed father. "I'm just trying to look out for the both of you."
"You've done plenty. Hua Yong and I can handle ourselves." Shaoyou crossed one leg over the other, further shielding his Little Peanut away from Sheng Fang. "Any other questions? I have a video conference call in an hour."
Sheng Fang stayed still, staring at him with an oddly solemn look on his face. Shaoyou did not move, he did not relent, refusing to be unnerved by Sheng Fang's expression. He knew this man. He'd heard his icy words. He'd carried his name for nearly 30 years.
“Has the doctor told you Hua Sheng's gender?”
Shaoyou stiffened.
He did. Cai Hong did tell him; with Shaoyou's explicit approval after waiting a full two months for a solid answer.
A tiny voice in his head wanted a surprise. He wanted to love the child no matter what, like those cheesy romance drama with a pregnancy subplot. The Omegas in those idol dramas always insist they already loved their child long before they were born. Shaoyou was no Omega, but he felt like he could relate to that sentiment. He would not be like his father, he would welcome this miracle child no matter the circumstances, and he will protect his Little Peanut no matter what.
The bigger, more logical part of his brain, however, wanted him and Hua Yong to be truly ready to welcome their child into this world. Growing up as the heir of the Sheng family, watching his family and Shengfang Biotech's ups and downs, he knew information are the best weapon. Shaoyou could prepare himself for almost anything, mentally and physically, and he believed that was the best answer.
What he's not sure of is whether he should tell his dad about it.
Sheng Fang had been a ghost in his mind for the longest part of his life. His father always demanded perfection; that a boy should not cry and an Alpha should not yield. There was no assurance, no guarantee that Sheng Fang will truly, genuinely love Shaoyou's child and treat them with kindness, or if he will demand and demand like he did to Shaoyou.
Shaoyou didn't want his child to experience Sheng Fang; the ruthless, opportunist chairman of Shengfang Biotech.
He wanted Hua Sheng to be spoiled rotten by his yeye.
He wanted Hua Sheng to be held and comforted by Sheng Shaoyou's baba.
Shaoyou looked at his dad, and for the first time in forever, he saw softness in those eyes; a sight that was so deeply unfamiliar to him that it felt as though he was watching a movie, sitting near Sheng Fang, instead of actually being the main character.
The older Alpha was gazing at the pictures, a slight smile etched on his lips. His eyes, baggy from age and the illness he's slowly recovering from, were not filled by cold expectations and pride—it was instead the warmth of an old grandfather who cannot wait to meet his first grandchild.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. Shaoyou wished Hua Yong was there with him right now, not all the way in Country P. Hua Yong would've diverted the topic into safer territory. Hua Yong would've made up lies for him. Hua Yong would've been his pillar, quietly comforting him with his orchid scent and small squeeze of his hand.
But Hua Yong was not there, and Shaoyou had to face this one his lonesome.
He felt a sudden, shy flutter in his belly.
No, Sheng Shaoyou didnt stand all alone.
Sheng Shaoyou had a tiny being who depended on him for life itself. Sheng Shaoyou had a piece of him and Hua Yong within him, accompanying him day and night, throughout the warmest days and harshest storms.
"It's a boy."
It took Sheng Fang approximately 10 seconds to stop staring at the picture in his hand to look at Shaoyou.
"That's good."
"We'll name him Hua Sheng."
Sheng Fang's eyebrows arched. "He's taking Hua Yong's name?"
Shaoyou waited for the disapproval. He knew his father had a lot of pride in the empire that he had built; the Sheng name was almost sacred to them that Shaoyou, his unfortunate heir, had to bear its weight since he was concieved.
Yet there was none of that.
Sheng Fang only stared at him with a blank look, as if waiting for Shaoyou to reaffirm his choice.
"He will take Hua Yong's name."
"I see."
A few quiet moments stretched between the two Sheng.
Shaoyou shifted on his seat, feeling another dull throb at the base of his spine. The little one shifted around in his belly, seemingly just woken up and now demanding Shaoyou's attention.
"Hua Sheng… Little Peanut." Sheng Fang broke the awkward silence with a small chuckle. "Your mother and I used to call you Little Steamed Bun because you like to puff up your cheeks when you were still a baby." The formidable, cold Sheng Fang—surprisingly to Shaoyou—let out a carefree laugh at the mention of a memory long past. "I wonder if Little Peanut will also be as plump and clumsy as you were."
"Ba…" Shaoyou groaned, feeling embarrassed at the image springing up in his head. He'd seen his baby pictures millions of times before; before everything turned to absolute shit, his mother wouldn't shut up about how cute a child her Shaoyou was, always showing off the baby pictures she kept ready in her wallet, singing praises about her most precious child.
"You were such a rascal when your mom was pregnant with you… Always rolling around and kicking at the worst moments, such an active little mantou. The cravings she had too—You made her eat three full bowls of Dan Dan Noodles once, and she still thought it's still not spicy enough. Ah… you also grew far too well; I remember your mom kept complaining about her back hurting or you pressing on her bladder." Sheng Fang shook his head, speaking far more than he usually did. "Oh, Shaoyou, the things she had to go through in her third trimester… I had to force her to stay at home, but you know your mom is a fierce one."
Words kept coming out of Sheng Fang's mouth; about his mother's pregnancy, about Sheng Fang's clumsy first-time-dad anecdotes, about Shaoyou's life. He heard every single one of those words, but his mind struggled to process them. Shaoyou couldn't make sense what to feel or what to say in return.
"Shaoyou…" Sheng Fang spoke, Shaoyou's name said in a voice that sent a painful tug in his heart. "Whatever the child will grow up to be, whatever choices he makes, whatever he tells you during his best—or even his worst… make sure to let him know that you love him. Make sure to never let him know loneliness. Make sure he knows you are always there for him… because he is your child, and you do love him."
Sheng Fang stared straight at Shaoyou, making his breath catch in his throat. "I know you will do a much better job than your dad."
Sheng Shaoyou never thought himself as a sentimental man. He was born in a tiger's den and grew up in a world where he was the king. His father once harshly criticized him for being overwhelmed with his emotions to the point of tears, and since then, the young Sheng Shaoyou closed that part of his heart and never looked back.
But now, seeing the soft smile on his dad's face and the kind wishes he made for his grandchild, Sheng Shaoyou felt the coldness in his heart began to thaw.
Now he reflected of his own child—the Little Peanut who had accompanied him for months, the one who colored his world, the one who had depend on him just to live— He's going to be here.
Shaoyou was going to hold his Little Peanut in his arms soon.
At the dawning realization, the child resting in his belly gave a soft, content roll; and for once, Sheng Shaoyou wanted to let the tears fall instead of holding it in.
Shaoyou cradled his face in his hands, feeling a whirlwind of emotions crashing at once.
He cried.
Like he once did when his baba left for a week-long business trip after his 1st birthday. Like he once did that long-ago summer at his mother’s funeral. Like he once did when he thought the only person who loved him for who he is had sacrificed himself for Shaoyou's happiness.
Once the tears fall, it didn't stop.
Shaoyou felt the weight of it all. Exhaustion had clung on him like a phantom limb as pregnancy took hold of his body, changing him from inside out. He felt nothing like his old self; he's too soft, too caring, too emotional. Never had he imagined that he—a fully grown, married Alpha—would be weeping in front of his father.
A warm, comforting embrace suddenly enveloped him in a warmth long forgotten. His shoulder shook with the force of his tears, and he let himself, for once, crumble in Sheng Fang's— in his baba's arms.
His long-held belief that emotions carried nothing but burden and humiliation had been proven wrong by Hua Yong before. He had hated the emotional ups and downs that came with pregnancy, because now, he knew how to answer the question his father had once asked him, one he had never bothered to answer: Sheng Shaoyou didn’t hate him, and he did not want to hate him.
Wrapped in a warm embrace, feeling the soft, gentle rolls inside his belly, resting his head on the soft fabric of blue sleeping robe, having his messy hair patted by his baba's warm, calloused hand, just like when he was still a young child… Shaoyou thought that maybe this long, eventful journey had always been meant for him, afterall.
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