To Marry My Little Chestnut - Chapter 19

Yu Yan lay on the floor. The feeling of fainting was so familiar, seemingly just like the last time, except for the burning sensation in his throat.

When he fell, he had instinctively protected his lower abdomen. He lay exactly where he had landed. He was entirely unaware of the world spinning around him until the delayed pain arrived; his brain was buzzing with a sound like tinnitus.

He was terrified that something might happen to the baby. He struggled to get up, and through the haze, he seemed to hear Zheng Tingyang’s voice.

The voice sounded as if it were coming through a phone, definitely an electronic device. The other person’s voice was urgent, calling his name repeatedly. Yu Yan was on the verge of losing consciousness again, but the man’s faint voice plucked at his tensed nerves. The sound was intermittent, like smoke scattered by the wind; every word seemed blurry and distant.

His face was pale. He simply stopped trying to get up and lay on the floor for a while, resigning himself to the dizziness. Once he felt a bit clearer, he used the bathroom door for support to sit up. Yu Yan tapped his head, wondering why he was experiencing auditory hallucinations.

He used to hear others say that having a baby was terrifying and exhausting. He had been set on becoming a father and having a little one, and the first five months had not been tiring at all. He had thought the baby was exceptionally well behaved, but it seemed the little one was a bit of a demon after all.

He could not help but tap his belly to give a lesson. “Are you not afraid I will drop you? Stop making a fuss.”

The little person inside could not hear him; the protruding belly remained quiet. Only then did he realize how disheveled he looked. He had not even changed out of his pajamas, the edges of his clothes were curled up in disarray, and the water in the sink was still running with a splash.

He used the sink to slowly stand up, his head nearly buried over the basin. When Zheng Tingyang burst into the house and saw his slender arms unable to support his weight against the counter, the man’s heart nearly stopped.

Yu Yan was stunned. He did not know why Zheng Tingyang would suddenly come home and tried frantically to hide his messy state. But he could not even stand steadily, let alone find the strength to hide. Before he could even say “Tingyang,” he turned around, his vision went black, and he was about to faint. “Mm, cough.”

Zheng Tingyang arrived just in time, scooping him up and carrying him to the bedroom. Yu Yan’s complexion was frighteningly poor; his lips were devoid of color, and a faint, thin sweat covered his forehead. His breathing was weak, lighter than a jasmine flower in spring, looking as if the petals of his life might fall with a single gust of wind.

Zheng Tingyang pulled out his phone to call a doctor while staying by the bed to call out to him. “Little Fish? Wake up, do not sleep. I am taking you to the hospital. It is okay, do not be afraid. It will be better soon. Do not be afraid.”

Since Yu Yan had cried out of fear during his last fainting spell, Zheng Tingyang instinctively told him everything was fine, coaxing him while urging the hospital to send an ambulance immediately.

“No need,” Yu Yan opened his misty eyes slightly. His throat was parched, making it hard to speak. “It is not serious. Do not make a fuss.”

“It is necessary.” Zheng Tingyang urgently took his temperature and, in a moment of desperate seeking, prepared to ask the hospital to bring pheromones from other volunteer Alpha’s.

If he had not caught a glimpse of the monitor during a break in his meeting, no one would have known this person had fainted at home. How could it not be serious? As he fed Yu Yan some vitamins, Zheng Tingyang did not even realize how violently his hands were shaking.

Yu Yan saw that the man was determined to take him to the hospital and knew he could no longer keep his secret. He tugged at the man’s sleeve and pursed his lips, looking like a child admitting a mistake to a parent. “I have been vomiting constantly these past two days. Other people are like this when they have babies.”

“Constantly for these past two days?” Zheng Tingyang froze, his brows furrowing even deeper with a mix of worry and distress. Although his movements as he fed Yu Yan water were calm and deliberate, the slight trembling of his fingertips betrayed the panic he was hiding beneath his restrained stability.

Zheng Tingyang realized belatedly that it was morning sickness. Since they got married, although Yu Yan’s appetite had been poor, he had never experienced morning sickness. Zheng Tingyang had almost forgotten that pregnancy included this reaction.

While male Omegas have the conditions for pregnancy, it is rare for their partner to be a Beta. Normally, when an Omega is pregnant, the partner uses pheromones to sense their emotional shifts such as joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. Zheng Tingyang could not. Thus, Yu Yan had actually managed to hide it for several days right under his nose.

“I will go heat something up to line your stomach. We should still have the doctor come look, but we will not go out, okay?” His Adam’s apple rolled slowly as he asked softly and attentively by the bedside.

Yu Yan nodded, trying to pull out a comforting smile to show he was fine. “Okay.”

“Good boy.”

Zheng Tingyang closed the bedroom door and told Jing Chen to bring Zhou Jiangru over immediately. He searched for information regarding pregnancy-induced vomiting, not quite understanding why Yu Yan only started feeling unwell at five months. The thrilling episode lasted only a short time, but Zheng Tingyang was still haunted by fear. The image of Yu Yan frantically trying to hide his morning sickness when he burst through the door, that panicked, helpless, and fearful expression, was branded into his heart.

Dr. Zhou arrived quickly. Because Yu Yan truly had no strength left, he drifted into a daze and fell asleep after receiving a pheromone injection. The portable device measured the pheromone concentration quickly. Dr. Zhou understood the cause as soon as she saw the data.

“Morning sickness during an Omega’s pregnancy is caused by a rejection phenomenon in their own pheromones. There are not enough pheromones to go around. After the child absorbs his pheromones, his own system’s pheromone concentration for maintaining health cannot keep up.”

“Your situation cannot be alleviated for the time being. Too much medication is not good for the pregnant body. You must take more careful care of him in the future; his nutrition must keep up. Otherwise, he will suffer even more after the baby is born. Calcium loss, anemia, and pheromone levels being too low; these seem like minor illnesses, but in the end, they might make him suffer for a lifetime.”

Jing Chen nudged Zhou Jiangru, gesturing for her not to speak so frighteningly. Zheng Tingyang’s breathing began to tremble.

Jing Chen knew exactly what Yu Yan meant to this man. “The doctor is definitely stating all the worst-case scenarios. Most outcomes are better than this. Do not worry too much.”

Zhou Jiangru said nothing more, only shaking her head.

“In the end, it is because I am not an Alpha.” Zheng Tingyang’s voice was low, laced with endless resentment. “That is why he is suffering so much.”

Zhou Jiangru spoke a word of justice. “That is a factor, but Yu Yan’s situation is clearly due to a poor constitution. Was he not raised carefully by the Yu family? Why is his health so poor?”

Jing Chen added, “When the Yu family went bankrupt, Old Zheng was still at the Beijing headquarters. Two weeks after the bankruptcy, Yu Liyong mortgaged all the real estate and ran away. Who knows where Yu Liyong dragged him during those two weeks? His health probably took a turn for the worse then.”

To transfer to Haicheng, Zheng Tingyang had directly ghosted an overseas contract, making Pei Changji so angry he returned from his honeymoon to take over the group and spent many days cursing in the group chat. Zheng Tingyang did not care about any of that. Every step of his rise and every bit of his motivation was inseparable from the name Yu Yan.

Injections, medicine, and suffering; Zheng Tingyang hated this unborn little life intensely. But without that child in the belly, he would not have a lifetime with Yu Yan. So, in the end, the person he hated most was himself. If he had been capable sooner, if he had established himself earlier, Yu Yan would not have to suffer like this. Ultimately, he hated himself the most.

Jing Chen noticed his emotional state was wrong and quickly went to the study to find a sedative for him. “Business trip next week?”

The pain of intertwined love and hate was known to no one. Zheng Tingyang did not want to scare the sleeping person in the room. He swallowed the medicine and gave an “Mm.” “Why?”

“Come find me at the hospital when you get back. You are not doing well; get a checkup. I thought your condition would improve after getting married, but it is getting worse.”

Zheng Tingyang threw the medicine bottle back into the study drawer. “I know.”

Zhou Jiangru left only after giving Yu Yan his injection, warning before she departed that Yu Yan should eat fewer unhealthy foods from now on. “He is already malnourished. Why are there so many snacks in your house?”

When the refrigerator was opened, it was full of carbonated drinks. Half the wall of the kitchen storage counter was covered with various potato chips, snacks, and even spicy strips. Zheng Tingyang replied, “His appetite is poor. Must you strip away even this bit of happiness?”

Zhou Jiangru hated those who did not follow medical advice. “His appetite is already bad. He can only manage to eat a little, and it is all junk food. How can his health be good?”

It made sense, but asking Zheng Tingyang to refuse Yu Yan was the hardest thing of all. After a long while, he finally nodded reluctantly. “I will check some recipes.”

Failing to let Yu Yan eat what he liked was due to his own inability. Failing to let Yu Yan lead a happy life meant he was useless. Jing Chen looked at him speechlessly. “Spoiling a child is like killing them!”

Zheng Tingyang did not agree with that statement. Yu Yan was his wife, not his child.

After the two left, Zheng Tingyang checked the breakfast Yu Yan had eaten and decisively struck plain porridge and milk from the breakfast list. While Yu Yan was still asleep, he stewed a bowl of pumpkin porridge. Yu Yan slept lightly for a while until someone stroked the back of his hand. He woke up with a bit of hesitation. The needle had been removed, and a bandage was neatly stuck to the back of his hand.

Zheng Tingyang woke him, his palm rubbing against the side of his face. “Little Fish, wake up. Eat something before you sleep, or your stomach will not be able to take it.”

“Is my stomach growling?” He hummed and rolled over, clutching the quilt and refusing to get up, his voice still raspy.

“Eat a little before sleeping, okay?” Zheng Tingyang coaxed patiently, reaching out to help him up.

Yu Yan wanted to stay in bed. He truly had no strength and was terrified of vomiting. He was afraid he would feel unwell again after eating; every time he vomited, it was sickening and embarrassing. He did not want Zheng Tingyang to see. So, when the man reached out, Yu Yan directly pressed his face into Zheng Tingyang’s palm. His short hair grazed the palm as he nuzzled it. “Just let me sleep a bit longer. The baby must be a lazybones. It makes me only want to sleep.”

Zheng Tingyang’s single palm was enough to bury Yu Yan’s face in. In the end, he used both hands to cradle it. “Take a bite. If it does not taste good, go back to sleep, and I will make something new for you, okay?”

Yu Yan pulled the covers back slightly, and as Zheng Tingyang sat on the edge of the bed, the young man arched like a kitten, scooting from the man’s palm all the way to lie across his lap.

Seeing there was no room for negotiation, Yu Yan finally got out of bed with exactly one percent of resentment. “Fine.”

The pumpkin porridge had more flavor than the plain version. Yu Yan took a tentative bite and realized there were indeed no signs of wanting to vomit, so he felt relieved enough to eat a bit more.

“Am I interfering with your work?” Yu Yan realized this issue and asked with a slight hesitation.

Zheng Tingyang never discussed any work matters with him at home; even if he was busy, he would finish his tasks in the middle of the night.

Zheng Tingyang scooped another spoonful of porridge and fed it to him. “No.”

Once the word left his mouth, he felt it wasn’t quite right and corrected himself: “That is not important. Why did you not tell me you have been vomiting for several days?”

Yu Yan remained silent, instead obediently opening his mouth, intending to use the porridge to block the question.

After a while, he could eat no more.

Zheng Tingyang asked again, “You still have not answered. Why did you not tell me?”

Yu Yan acted like a robot again, opening his mouth and taking a large “aww” bite of the porridge, signaling that his mouth was full and he could not speak.

Zheng Tingyang truly had a fire in his heart with nowhere to vent. He could only pinch Yu Yan’s cheek in frustration. “Go ahead and hide then.”

Yu Yan’s cheeks were puffed out, and his bright eyes narrowed into a smile as he leaned into the man’s embrace without answering the question.

“I have to go to Beijing for a business trip in three days. I will be back in about four days.”

Yu Yan asked, “That long? Isn’t Beijing very close?”

Driving on the highway takes less than four hours total, yet he was going for four days.

Zheng Tingyang replied, “There is a project I need to manage personally. There will likely be meetings morning and night, and some social obligations with the headquarters. But once this is over, there will be no more business trips.”

Yu Yan felt a slight wave of disappointment in his heart.

He had thought that since he was feeling unwell… he could stay closer to Zheng Tingyang. Just like now, being fed a few mouthfuls of porridge was a good thing. He had already planned to tell Ning Yuan to help cover his shifts…

How could he be going on a trip now?

Counting the days, his heat cycle might be coming again next week. If the man wasn’t home, and with his belly being so big now, “Little Yu Yan” couldn’t even be reached. If the little fish couldn’t blow bubbles, he would be so miserable he might die QAQ.

“Okay then, just don’t be too busy.” Yu Yan bit his lip and said he was full, then crawled back into the covers, feeling despondent and wanting to sleep.

Zheng Tingyang let out a sigh as the phone in his pocket buzzed. His secretary was informing him that the overseas night market was about to open. He set down the porridge bowl, replaced it with a glass of honey water, and tiptoed out of the bedroom.

Yu Yan immediately sent a message to Xiang Qian.

The Great Prophet (Yu Yan): [FAST! What should I do? He’s going on a business trip!! Are you back yet? Help me think of a way, how can I get him to take me with him? Waaaah!!]

Xiang Qian: [Video.JPG]

Xiang Qian had just finished the high school reunion and was drunk and dazed. He had run into several ex-boyfriends. When the video opened, it showed him kissing his most handsome ex-boyfriend, his eyes even casting a provocative glance at the camera.

The Great Prophet (Yu Yan): [Sorry to bother you.]

A moment later.

The Great Prophet (Yu Yan): [Are you done kissing yet! Quick, quick, help me with an idea!! How can I stick to him, waaaah!]

The Great Prophet (Yu Yan): [If I just say my heat is coming soon, will it make him feel like he’s just a tool? That’s not very polite. What if I say my stomach hurts? No, that’s too delicate!]

He wasn’t some weak, fragile Omega. He was a capable father-to-be.

A while later.

The Great Prophet (Yu Yan): [STILL NOT DONE KISSING!! Help!! Do you think he likes someone a bit more delicate?]

Xiang Qian was long past being sober and simply sent a voice message.

When Yu Yan clicked it, the voice was slurred: “Listen to me… wear something cool and go to his room. Just say you’re scared at night without him. The effect will be amazing. Oh, and remember to show your belly, so he doesn’t get ‘beastly’ and swallow you whole.”

Another voice message followed: “If all else fails, put on the battle robes!”

Then, Yu Yan received a mirror selfie of Xiang Qian dressed very “coolly.”

Yu Yan: “….”

Xiang Qian was a Beta, but he was beautiful. Because he couldn’t be marked, he had hooked countless Alphas; his practical experience was incredibly rich. To Yu Yan, his words were golden.

So, he began picking and choosing through his wardrobe. He really couldn’t find any “cool” pajamas—only the shirt he had secretly worn from Zheng Tingyang during his last heat. Two of the buttons at the waist were already popped open by his pregnant belly.

He looked at himself in the mirror. Shirt with pajama pants looked too silly. He took off the pants.

Even though he was pregnant, only his little stomach bulged; his legs were still slender and straight. Conveniently, the hem of the shirt covered the tops of his thighs. This should be cool enough, right?

Yu Yan rested his chin in his hand in front of the mirror. The tip of his nose and his cheeks were still red, his fair face flushed. He gathered his courage, grabbed a plush toy, and hurried out to talk to Zheng Tingyang.

To his surprise, as soon as he opened the door, Zheng Tingyang was just coming out of the study.

Zheng Tingyang frowned seeing him walking barefoot without slippers. He walked over to block Yu Yan’s path, waving the soft pillow in his hand. “I brought a pillow today. It will be more convenient for me to take care of you at night. Do you mind?”

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