Sarah kept her eyes on Zhan, scrutinizing him intently. Though she wasn't a doctor, her past experience of being married and having had two miscarriages gave her some insight into recognizing pregnancy symptoms. However, as Zhan had said, it didn't make sense—there was no one who could have made him pregnant. She and Zhan had been friends since their school days, and she could vouch for his composed and disciplined nature. Besides, his estranged husband, Marshal Yibo, wasn't even on speaking terms with him, let alone in any kind of relationship that could lead to such a possibility.
Shaking off her thoughts, Sarah looked at Zhan again. With a gentle and apologetic tone, she said, "Sorry, Zhan. I don't know what came over me to make such a silly assumption. It's just that you've been vomiting frequently these past few days, and the dizziness doesn't seem to be letting up. Still, please, Zhan, consider seeing Dr. Kuo. It could be something else, and we don't want it to get worse."
Zhan sighed and shook his head slowly as they exited the office. "I'll be fine," he replied calmly. "I think it's just stress. I've been overworking myself lately, so I'll take a break starting today. If it doesn't stop after I've rested, I'll let Dr. Kuo know, or I'll go to the hospital myself. I don't want Granny to worry unnecessarily and think it's something serious."
They reached the car, and Zhan slid into the passenger seat, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. Fatigue and drowsiness weighed heavily on him, and he sighed deeply as he tried to shake off his discomfort. Sarah, now seated in the driver's seat, stole another glance at him. She couldn't help but notice the healthy glow in his skin and the changes in his complexion, but she quickly dismissed her thoughts, knowing they were baseless. Everyone knew his marriage hadn't settled into anything remotely functional, let alone intimate. It was impossible. It had to be something else, perhaps a change in the weather or his diet.
Starting the car, Sarah drove them away from Wang's building.
During the drive, Zhan opened his eyes, heavy with sleep, and glanced at Sarah. "Let's stop by the bakery. I want to get some doughnuts. When I get home, I'll have them with lemon tea. Lately, cakes have been too heavy for me. Do you think Fang's cakes are too rich with butter or eggs? I think I've had enough of them for now—I'll stick to doughnuts instead."
Sarah chuckled lightly. "Or you could ask Dai Jie to make you a sponge cake. It's lighter and won't feel as heavy."
"No, just doughnuts for now," Zhan replied firmly.
They stopped at a large bakery but didn't go inside. Instead, they placed their order from the car. A staff member brought out a small white box with the bakery's logo, handed it to them, and they continued on their way.
When they arrived home, Sarah dropped Zhan off in the courtyard and quickly hailed a taxi to return to the office. Zhan entered the house just in time to see Wang Dad coming out of Granny's quarters. He approached him respectfully and greeted him. Wang Dad returned the greeting and brought up the topic of Marshal Yibo, saying they needed to discuss Yibo's insistence on selling his shares in the company if Sen Nan were to return.
Zhan was well aware of the ongoing tension at Wang's. Marshal Yibo's withdrawal would significantly weaken the company since nearly half of its wealth was tied to his assets. The rest was shared between their mother's inheritance with Bei, Wang Dad, and three of his business partners.
"Alright, Dad," Zhan replied simply before Wang Dad moved on, leaving him to head inside.
In the sitting room, he found Bei and Granny. Granny looked up from the book she was reading as soon as Zhan entered, her expression softening with concern. "You're back, Zhan? Are you feeling okay? You don't look well. Come and sit here," she said, patting the spot next to her.
Zhan hesitated but moved closer, sitting down as Granny studied him carefully. To her, he looked visibly tired, and she was more convinced than ever that he wasn't in perfect health. She turned to Bei and said, "Call Dr. Kuo for me."
Zhan quickly interrupted. "Granny, I'm fine. It's just exhaustion from overworking. I plan to take a couple of days off, and I'm sure I'll feel better after some rest. There's no need to call Dr. Kuo."
He placed the small box he was holding on the table and opened it, revealing chocolate-covered doughnuts. Turning to Bei, he said with a smile, "Here, Mama Baby. I got these chocolate doughnuts—I know the baby likes them."
Bei smiled back but shook her head. "The baby doesn't like chocolate doughnuts, but maybe next time. I just had some bean porridge with liver that Mama sent over."
Zhan shrugged, then got up and headed to the kitchen to wash his hands thoroughly. Returning to his seat, he started eating the doughnuts, savoring the taste. He finished five of them, leaving the remaining five in the box, and drank some cold orange juice that Fang had brought over.
Granny watched him closely. "Since when did you start drinking cold beverages like this?" she asked.
Zhan chuckled. "I'll stop, Granny. Honestly, I don't even like cold drinks that much. I think it was Sarah influence started to encouraged me to have them at the office, so I got used to it."
Standing up, he stretched and said, "I think I'll go lie down for a while. Maybe I'll feel better after some rest."
Once in his room, Zhan set his bag aside and went straight to the bathroom. After freshening up, he climbed onto the bed and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep almost instantly.
He slept soundly until late afternoon. Bei checked on him a few times, but seeing how deeply he was sleeping, she didn't disturb him. By the time she finally woke him, it was already past five.
"Zhan," she said, looking concerned. "Granny might be right—are you sure you're okay? Healthy people don't usually sleep this much unless they're unwell."
Zhan groggily got out of bed, glancing at the clock before heading to the bathroom. After splashing water on his face, he returned to the room, where Bei was still sitting on the sofa, chatting with her husband on the phone.
Zhan walked to the kitchen, dished out some food, and grabbed a bottle of cold water before returning to his room. By the time he sat down to eat, Bei had ended her call and was watching him closely.
As he ate, he asked, "Weren't you supposed to go to Mama about your skin care today?"
Earlier, you were sleeping, so I didn't bother you, but now that it's evening and we've finished eating, let's go. I also need you to get that adjustment done since you're newly married. Though, to be honest, you're still far from being a proper husband," Bei teased with a small laugh.
Zhan glanced at her briefly and continued eating, ignoring Bei's provocation. Zhan knew Bei just wanted to spark a reaction, but he wasn't interested in engaging.
After finishing his meal, Zhan took a shower and changed into fresh clothes. Together, they left for Zhan's house after informing Granny about their plans.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Grandma, who was seated in the center, fixed her gaze on Zhan. She silently observed him, her thoughts racing, "Goodness, this boy! May the heavens bless him. His aura is striking, and he's only becoming more refined with time. It's as if someone could pay to simply admire him."
She shook her head, continuing her internal monologue, "If only this marriage was a smooth one. If he lived peacefully with his husband, I could confidently say Zhan would already be expecting. But no, this is the sort of talk that sounds sinful to Zhan. He would never accept such a thing, not even in jest."
Grandma remained silent, swallowing her thoughts, and Bei greeted Grandma warmly as she walked past her to join their Mama. Zhan, however, sat beside Grandma and asked teasingly, "Grandma, that look – are you about to bring up something I did wrong?"
Grandma chuckled softly in the way only elders do, diverting her gaze to Dai Jie, who was organizing snack orders from earlier in the day. She replied, "I was just admiring your sister. Look at Qi, such a graceful young woman. The universe truly blessed your sister with her. I only hope to see her get married soon. But as for you, Zhan, I'm not sure if I'll ever see your children."
Zhan's expression stiffened, and he quickly masked his discomfort. He stood up abruptly, saying, "I'll go greet Mama now."
Grandma watched him walk away, her face darkening as she muttered under her breath, "This stubborn boy! May the heavens soften his heart and lead him to embrace his marriage. I truly feel for him, but he refuses to feel for himself. At this rate, who knows when he'll change his ways or when we'll see any joy from him"
Zhan made his way to Mama's room, greeted her, and settled beside Dai Jie, saying, "Dai Jie, are you making snacks again today? If you do, save me some donuts, please."
Before Dai Jie could respond, Bei interjected, "What do you even want with donuts? Didn't you buy some earlier that you haven't even finish yet? Don't tell me they didn't taste good?"
"The store-bought ones weren't great," Zhan admitted. "They can't compare to homemade ones. Let Fang and the others have those; I'll take the ones Dai Jie makes."
They stayed until nightfall, enjoying a delicious shrimp fried rice prepared by Dai Jie. Even Mama and Dai Jie were surprised at how much Zhan ate. Finally, they headed home.
Once they returned, Zhan went straight to Granny's room for a quick chat before retreating to his own. He showered, changed, and sank into bed, finally feeling at ease as sleep claimed him.
🔸🔹▪️▫️
The next morning, Zhan woke up feeling slightly dizzy but didn't think much of it. He assumed it was just lingering fatigue. After having breakfast with Granny, he returned to his room to rest, while Bei went to visit Mama.
It wasn't until later in the day that Zhan woke again, this time with Bei urging him to get up. As Bei asked about his health, Zhan began to feel that something might actually be wrong. It was as if his body was out of sync. He looked at Bei, who was waiting for an answer, and sighed softly with a faint smile, not wanting to alarm anyone and risk them calling Dr. Kuo. He replied, "I'm fine. I told you all I needed rest, and now I'm trying to make the most of it. How was your visit to Mama's?"
Bei let out a sigh of relief and said, "It was good, but seriously, Zhan, if you feel unwell, please let me know. I don't want things to get worse, okay?"
Zhan nodded, offering a small reassuring smile. "Yes, madam," he teased lightly.
Later, Bei handed him some donuts Dai Jie had sent over. "Here you go. I'm going to get some rest myself," Bei said before leaving.
Zhan took the donuts, opened the box, and inhaled the sweet aroma. Closing his eyes briefly, he took a bite and enjoyed them more than he expected. After eating a few, he took the rest to the kitchen and handed them to Fang before heading to Bei's room for a casual chat to shake off the slight feverish feeling he had by evening.
That night, Zhan was lying in bed wearing a short-sleeved pajama set, casually chatting with Sarah on the phone. Meanwhile, Bei sat nearby, scrolling through her own phone. Bei's phone began ringing, displaying "Marshal" as the caller ID. As usual, it was a video call. Not wanting Zhan to overhear the voice, Bei grabbed her earphones, connected them, and answered the call with a warm smile. "Hi," she greeted.
Yibo's charming smile appeared on the screen as he greeted her back, "Hey."
Bei chuckled softly, noting how comfortable he looked at home, sipping tea instead of being at work. She began, "How are—" but stopped mid-sentence when she noticed Zhan glancing at her with curiosity. Becourse Zhan knows only one person like to speak in English. She immediately switched to Mandarin, saying, "How's work?"
Yibo, relaxed and calm, replied, "Fine. How are you and the baby? And the other big baby next to you?"
Bei gave Zhan a quick glance, noticing he was still engrossed in his phone call. She smiled and replied, "We're all fine. Though the 'big baby' isn't doing so well. I mean, he's not—" She trailed off as Zhan ended his call and looked her way, not wanting him to suspect they were talking about him. She quickly shifted the conversation, adding, "Just a little feverish, nothing serious."
Yibo set down his cup of lemon tea and said, "Show him to me. Let me see him."
Bei hesitated but eventually switched her phone camera to the back view, pointing it toward Zhan. The screen now displayed Zhan lounging on the bed, his face fresh and radiant, suggesting he'd recently had a bath. Yibo's eyes drifted to Zhan's long, fair legs exposed under his shorts, gleaming under the soft light. His gaze lingered on the smooth, pale skin before moving down to where the fine hair on Zhan's thighs was barely visible against his flawless complexion.
Yibo slowly closed his bright eyes, leaning back against the chair with a soft sigh. Bei adjusted the camera to focus on Zhan before setting her phone aside and standing up. "I'll be back soon," she said to Zhan before leaving the room.
After Bei left, Zhan adjusted his position on the bed. He had just finished his call with Sarah and turned his attention to the remaining boiled plantains Bei had left on the plate. For a moment, his appetite stirred, but then an overwhelming wave of nausea hit him. He quickly averted his gaze from the plate, trying to suppress the sensation.
Yibo, watching him intently through the video call, noticed the change in Zhan's demeanor. Although Zhan tried to ignore it, his body betrayed him. The nausea became unbearable, and Zhan sat up abruptly, placing his feet on the floor. He stood and moved toward the plate with the intention of taking it to the kitchen. But just as he reached it, a powerful urge to vomit overtook him. Covering his mouth, he rushed to the bathroom and slammed the door shut, the sound of retching following soon after.
Yibo's eyes narrowed, and he turned his gaze away from the screen, ending the call. He quickly searched for Bei's number and dialed her. This time, it was a regular call, not a video call, but she didn't pick up. Frustrated, Yibo exhaled sharply, tossing his phone onto the chair beside him before closing his eyes in worry.
Zhan's bout of vomiting left him utterly drained. After rinsing his mouth and splashing himself with warm water, he emerged from the bathroom, shivering slightly. He put on thick clothes to ward off the chills brought on by his fever, then crawled into bed, wrapping himself tightly in the blanket. Closing his eyes, he drifted into a restless sleep born of sickness.
When Bei returned to the room to grab her phone, she noticed Zhan asleep and decided not to wake him. Picking up her phone, she left quietly. It was only then that she noticed the missed call from Yibo. She tried calling him back, but he didn't answer. Shrugging it off, she went to her room to prepare for bed.
The following morning, Zhan woke with a high fever, and Granny, who had suspected he wasn't well the day before, grew more concerned. She noticed all the signs that Zhan had been hiding his condition.
Dr. Kuo was called to examine him. By the time the doctor arrived, Dai Jie, who was visiting the house, also came to check on Zhan. She helped him into the living room, covering him with a long jacket over his sleepwear.
Once seated, Dr. Kuo observed Zhan intently before pulling out a packet of paracetamol and handing it to Bei. "Let him take this first to bring the fever down," he said. "But I'll need to see him at the hospital. I want to run some tests to find out exactly what's wrong."
Granny, her voice full of concern, asked, "Is there no medication for the vomiting? He's completely drained of energy. Could it be food poisoning?"
Dr. Kuo nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible, but we won't know for sure until the tests are done."
After Dr. Kuo left, a meal was brought to Zhan, but he could barely eat anything. Dai Jie looked at him and asked, "Is there anything you feel like eating? Just let me know, and I'll have it brought to you. At least eat something so you can take your medicine."
Softly, Zhan replied, "Just bring me an orange drink; that's all I need."
The drink was brought to him, and he drank it slowly before taking his medication. Only then was he able to take a hot shower, after which he managed to eat a little white rice with fish soup. Once he finished, only Dai Jie and him remained in the room with him.
Dai Jie studied Zhan intently, her gaze lingering on his hands, which looked unusually fresh and soft. Her eyes moved to his face, which had filled out slightly, and she seemed lost in thought. Unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, she finally asked, her tone both surprised and doubtful, "Zhan, are you... are you pregnant?"
The question struck Zhan like a blow to the chest. His head throbbed as he slowly looked up to meet Dai Jie's wide-eyed, questioning gaze. Struggling to control his breathing, he averted his eyes and let out a shaky sigh. This was the second time someone had asked him this question—Sarah had done so earlier, and now Dai Jie.
Shaking his head firmly, he replied, "How can you even suggest that? Pregnant? Me?"
Dai Jie, still shocked, said, "Zhan, you're married. I know the marriage hasn't exactly been smooth, but with the changes I've noticed in you recently, I couldn't help but wonder. I'm sorry if I offended you."
She added after a pause, "Still, you should go to the hospital tomorrow and let the doctor examine you. Dealing with this without knowing what's really wrong can be dangerous."
Zhan nodded slowly, his heart heavy with the weight of her words. Could they seriously think he was pregnant? But then, doubt crept into his mind. Was it even possible? Could those two unwanted encounters have caused something like this?
Closing his eyes tightly, he shook his head in denial. No, it wasn't possible. It couldn't be. That would be a disaster—something too humiliating to bear. The mere thought was horrifying. God forbid such a thing ever happened.
After Dai Jie left, Zhan forced himself to act as though he was feeling much better, determined to put an end to any further talk of going to the hospital. He decided he would go alone when he had the chance and find out what was really wrong with him.
For the next two days, Zhan endured his illness in silence, pretending to have recovered. Even Dai Jie, who had been keeping an eye on him, eventually dropped the subject, convinced by his act. Zhan joined Bei during her visits to the his Mama for her skin care, though he skipped some of the sessions because he couldn't stand the scent of the materials being used.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛