A Fatal Attraction from Lawyer A - Chapter 87

Today was the day of the eighth prenatal checkup.

Luo Panzhi had cleared his entire schedule to take Gu Yuxi to the hospital. At 8:00 AM, he woke Gu up gently. Seeing the man waking up in a daze, Luo sat on the edge of the bed and let Gu lean against his chest to shake off the sleep.

Gu Yuxi opened his eyes, but his head felt heavy and his vision was blurry. He leaned against Luo Panzhi for a long time, unable to recover his senses. His forehead throbbed with a sharp, uncomfortable pain. He raised a hand to tap his temple.

“Still want to sleep?” Luo Panzhi looked down, only to realize Gu’s complexion was terrible. “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable? Do you feel like vomiting?”

“My head hurts so much.” Gu Yuxi closed his eyes and buried his face into the crook of Luo’s neck, his eyelashes trembling. “…I feel so dizzy.”

Luo Panzhi checked Gu’s forehead; there was no fever. He looked worried. “What kind of pain is it?”

“A throbbing pain, and everything is spinning,” Gu Yuxi described, while also touching his chest. “My chest feels very tight.”

Seeing how much pain Gu was in, Luo Panzhi immediately called Dr. Zhang, the obstetrician. After hearing the symptoms, Dr. Zhang’s response sent a wave of anxiety through Luo.

“It could be gestational hypertension. High blood pressure causes dizziness and chest tightness. Bring him in immediately.”

Luo Panzhi hung up. Looking at the struggling Gu Yuxi, he forced himself to suppress his own panic. He couldn’t let Gu feel scared. He helped Gu dress and coaxed him out of bed. Even when Gu was brushing his teeth, Luo stood right beside him, terrified he might collapse.

“What did the doctor say?”

Luo Panzhi leaned against the sink with his arms crossed, watching Gu brush his teeth. He forced a smile. “He said he won’t know until the checkup. It might just be low blood sugar.”

Gu Yuxi gave a soft “mhm.” He looked into the mirror and felt his vision go hazy again, as if a thick mist had covered his eyes. He blinked repeatedly, trying to clear it. Though he was nearsighted, it was never this bad without his glasses.

The hand holding his toothbrush froze. His vision didn’t return to normal for a long time.

“Luo Panzhi.”

“What is it?” Luo Panzhi stood up straight instantly.

Gu Yuxi frowned and turned toward him. “I feel like… I can’t really see clearly?”

Luo Panzhi’s carefully maintained mask of calm shattered.

Galaxy Hospital: Obstetrics & Gynecology Department

“Systolic 142, diastolic 93—that’s hypertension. Additionally, the urine protein is abnormal, greater than 0.5 grams. Concurrent hypertension and proteinuria point to pre-eclampsia. The headache and blurred vision Lawyer Gu mentioned are classic symptoms,” Dr. Zhang said, his expression complex as he studied the charts. “Because early pre-eclampsia often has no symptoms, it’s hard to detect. It has appeared now at 36 weeks, and combined with gestational hypertension, the situation is dangerous.”

Luo Panzhi took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, but his gaze remained dark and intense. “How is that possible? We’ve done every checkup. Everything was fine last time. No high blood pressure, no dizziness. Why would this happen out of nowhere?”

Gu Yuxi remained silent.

“Pregnancy itself carries inherent risks; any possibility can manifest,” Dr. Zhang explained. “If pre-eclampsia occurs in the first or second trimester, termination of pregnancy is often necessary to save the life of the parent.”

Gu Yuxi looked at the doctor in shock, his mind going blank. “…What?”

Was it that serious? He just thought he had a headache.

Luo Panzhi’s expression was agonizing to behold. “Dr. Zhang, what do we do? The baby is 36 weeks.”

The baby was nearly full-term; they even knew the weight. The idea of “termination” at this stage was a horror beyond words, and for Gu Yuxi, it would be the ultimate physical and emotional blow. They had made it nine months.

“We need to maintain high vigilance and observe. If mild pre-eclampsia leads to upper abdominal pain, we will perform a C-section at 37 weeks. That means we must be ready by next week. I suggest immediate hospitalization for observation.”

Luo Panzhi and Gu Yuxi shared the same expression—utterly blindsided.

Dr. Zhang continued, “Even without the hypertension, Lawyer Gu’s condition would likely require a C-section at 38 weeks due to the constraints of the reproductive cavity. Otherwise, excessive amniotic fluid could cause a rupture, leading to greater danger.”

“Is 37 weeks… considered premature?” Gu Yuxi asked. His hands were clenched in his lap, palms sweating.

“At 37 weeks, the baby is considered full-term, so it’s not premature. However, if the birth weight is under five pounds, the baby may need to spend a week in an incubator for observation,” Dr. Zhang nodded.

Gu Yuxi fell silent, feeling a mix of relief and intense anxiety. Relief that they caught it now—if it had been earlier, they might have lost the baby. Anxiety because the baby was only 37 weeks—would he be healthy?

What if the child was frail and sickly? This was his only child. His eyes reddened as he looked down, his mood hitting rock bottom. Then, he felt Luo Panzhi take his hand.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Luo Panzhi gripped Gu’s cold hand, his voice warm and soothing. His own heart was in his throat, but for Gu’s sake, he couldn’t show his fear.

Gu Yuxi was admitted to the hospital that same day.

When the family found out, everyone was on edge. Chu Yicheng and Luo Qingye immediately demanded the most secure contingency plans from the department. Luo Panzhi stayed by Gu’s side every second, telling jokes and stories just to ease his tension.

However, on the second day, Gu Yuxi’s symptoms worsened. His headache intensified, his vision blurred further, and he began to experience persistent, agonizing abdominal pain.

“…It hurts.”

Gu Yuxi was jolted awake by the pain. He gripped the sheets tightly. He had never known pain like this—a continuous, throbbing agony that felt a thousand times worse than gland closure. It was a different kind of pain entirely, making it hard to breathe and turning the world black before his eyes.

“What’s wrong, baby?!” Luo Panzhi was startled awake. He sat up to see Gu’s face was terrifyingly pale. The blood pressure monitor beside the bed began to fluctuate wildly. He slammed the call button.

Seconds later, Dr. Zhang and the nurses rushed in.

Dr. Zhang pulled back the covers to check Gu’s condition and found he was already bleeding. Gu’s state was deteriorating rapidly; his blood pressure was beginning to crash. The doctor’s face darkened. He looked at the nurse: “Prepare Operating Room 1! It’s likely a placental abruption. Blood pressure is dropping—perform the C-section immediately!!”

The sudden turn of events left Luo Panzhi’s mind blank. As Gu Yuxi was wheeled toward the operating room, Luo felt as if he were in a trance. He was fine yesterday…

“Youpan!”

Luo Panzhi turned his head slowly to see his family rushing toward him. He was still in shock and didn’t respond. Why didn’t I notice more last night? Why did I sleep? If I hadn’t slept, could I have caught it sooner? The baby isn’t full-term yet… they said next week…

“…How could—” He choked, his throat so tight he couldn’t make a sound.

“How is Yuxi?” Chu Yicheng asked anxiously. They had rushed over the moment they got the news. He saw his son standing before the operating room, face pale and eyes bloodshot.

They waited in an agonizing silence for over an hour. Suddenly, the doors swung open, accompanied by a loud, piercing cry. The baby was out!

Luo Panzhi rushed forward, but he froze when he saw the nurse’s surgical gown—it was sprayed with blood.

“Where is my partner?”

The nurse looked at Luo Panzhi, her voice urgent. “The baby is fine—it’s a boy. But because of the placental abruption and the narrowness of the reproductive cavity, Lawyer Gu is hemorrhaging. The situation is critical. We need the family to sign.”

Luo Panzhi’s face went deathly white. His body swayed.

Why?

He didn’t care if the baby was a boy or a girl. All his hopes and dreams vanished in an instant, replaced by the terrifying knowledge that Gu Yuxi was hurt. His brother-in-law, Yan Lu, grabbed him to keep him from falling.

Luo Panzhi broke down. He gripped the nurse’s arm, his voice a frantic, hysterical sob. “…Why? It was a C-section, why is there a hemorrhage? How is this possible? HOW?!”

His screams echoed down the hallway, filled with a raw, primal terror that broke the hearts of everyone listening.

The nurse spoke quickly: “Mr. Luo, the situation is dire. Hemorrhaging is no joke. If he goes into shock, it will be even more dangerous. Please sign the critical condition notice immediately so we don’t lose time on the resuscitation.”

Luo Panzhi took the paper, but his vision was drowned in tears. He couldn’t even see where to sign. His hand shook so violently he couldn’t hold the pen. The pain in his chest was so great he couldn’t breathe.

“Zuogu… hold my hand,” he choked out.

Chu Guzhi stepped forward and gripped his brother’s arm, placing his hand over Luo Panzhi’s to help him steady the pen and sign “Luo Panzhi.”

The nurse rushed back inside. The doors closed again. Luo Panzhi’s face was ashen. His heart felt as if it were being crushed by a giant hand. He doubled over in pain, his fingernails digging into his palms so hard they drew blood, but he felt nothing. All he could hear was the frantic thumping of his heart.

Chu Guzhi hugged him tightly. “Youpan! Stay with me!” But his brother was a head taller and nearly collapsed; it took Yan Lu and Luo Yuchu to hold him up.

“…It hurts so much,” Luo Panzhi sobbed, his tears falling uncontrollably. “He must be in so much more pain… I should never have wanted this baby…”

Not five minutes later, the door opened again. The nurse brought out a second critical condition notice. Luo Panzhi felt his sanity fraying at the edges. Again, Chu Guzhi helped him sign.

Ten minutes later, the door opened a third time. A third notice. The nurse added: “Lawyer Gu has lost too much blood. We need an emergency transfusion.”

Luo Panzhi didn’t even think. He yanked up his sleeve. “Take mine. He can only use my blood. Anyone else’s will cause a rejection.”

“He needs 800ml. We can’t take that much from just you—”

“Take it from me!! I don’t care how much. Take it.” Luo Panzhi’s eyes were bloodshot as he begged the nurse. “Please, save him. I can’t live without him. I beg you…”

The nurse looked at Chu Yicheng. Chu Yicheng nodded. Only then did the nurse proceed. For a normal person, a donation is 400ml; 800ml was nearly a quarter of a person’s total blood volume.

After the transfusion, Luo Panzhi was helped back to the operating room doors by Yan Lu. He stared at the doors, every second a form of torture. He gripped his hands together against his forehead, praying.

“Please… please let my Gu Yuxi be safe… please…”

His hands shook uncontrollably. The terror finally overcame him, and his legs gave out. He sank to his knees.

“Youpan!” “Second Brother!”

His family’s cries sounded like they were coming from a great distance.

“I’m fine,” Luo Panzhi whispered, kneeling on the cold floor. He didn’t get up. He stared forward, using the last of his strength to pray. “Dad, Father… I’m a bastard. I marked him. I made him suffer like this. I sent him to death’s door.”

They had never seen Luo Panzhi like this. His pride was gone, replaced by a soul-crushing, bone-deep grief.

“If he survives, I want to have my glands removed,” Luo Panzhi choked out, his head hanging low as he sobbed against the floor. “Then I won’t have to worry about my rut causing any more accidents. I can’t let anything happen to him ever again. I really… I can’t take this…”

His heart hurt too much.

Chu Yicheng and Luo Qingye shared a pained look and stepped forward to lift their son.

“Youpan, don’t say that. Yuxi will be fine.”

“If he’s okay, I’m getting the surgery.”

Luo Qingye helped his son stand, nearly stumbling under the weight. He didn’t scold him; he only advised softly: “Youpan, you can’t remove your glands. Your pheromones are the neutralizer for Yuxi. If you remove them, what will he do? Don’t be impulsive. Calm down and trust the doctors.”

Luo Panzhi didn’t speak. He just stared at the door.

An hour later, the door opened. Dr. Zhang walked out. Luo Panzhi lunged forward, grabbing the doctor’s arms. “Dr. Zhang! How is he?”

Dr. Zhang took off his mask and smiled. “He’s fine. Both father and son are safe.”

The baby was brought out first, followed shortly by Gu Yuxi.

Luo Panzhi didn’t even look at the baby. He ran to the bed. Seeing the pale, unconscious Gu Yuxi, he gripped the side of the bed and leaned down. He cupped Gu’s face, his forehead resting against his partner’s.

“I’m sorry… it’s all my fault. I’m a piece of trash. Baby, I’m sorry for making you suffer…”

The rest of the family went to see Gu Yuxi as well, but seeing him asleep and Luo Panzhi entirely focused on him, they turned their attention to the newborn.

Chu Yicheng looked at the boy in the nurse’s arms. The nurse said they had to move him to an incubator soon. The baby was fair-skinned and beautiful, crying with a loud, healthy voice. His tiny fists were clenched with strength, and his dark, tear-filled eyes were bright and clear.

“May everything go as he wishes, and may he be as warm as fire. Let’s call him Luo Songran. Yuxi must have cherished this child so much to fight this hard. He truly worked so hard.”