Chapter 37 1/2

The entire month of April, Jiang Li stayed in the Tianchen Experimental Building. During his free time, he would take walks on the platform on the top floor, looking into the distance. Initially, he missed the cafeteria a bit, but the progress of his experiments compensated for his cravings. After three months of pregnancy, the fetus stabilized, and he mixed nutritional supplements into oatmeal, which was easy for his accustomed body.

Furthermore, Jiang Li intentionally controlled his weight. He didn’t want his belly to be too prominent during the defense; being a bit smaller would make him more composed.

Due to the lack of conditions for other activities like yoga and swimming, Jiang Li walked in circles on the top floor three times a day, morning, noon, and night, for half an hour each time.

His graduation thesis was already formed in his mind. He would simulate his presentation while walking, able to recite it fluently without an audience.

But what about when there was an audience?

Jiang Li managed to get help from his labmates to be secret spectators during his practice. There was a meeting room in the experimental building with a projector and seats. Four or five friendly spectators below were sternly asked by Jiang to watch with serious faces.

The first time, Jiang Li stood at the center of the lecture, facing several gazes, and immediately turned pale.

He stood there for ten minutes, hands clenched, staring at the tip of his shoes—a pair of very white, inexpensive sneakers with no dirt or marks on them. He nervously stepped on his right big toe with his left foot, barefoot, because the orphanage director found him dirty and allowed him in only without shoes.

“His soles are so black; did he step in a chicken coop?”

Jiang Li blinked, wanting to speak, but was immediately chased away before saying a word.

Colleagues saw that Jiang Li didn’t speak and looked pale, as if abandoned by the world. It was hard to imagine him as a capable senior providing useful advice.

Several colleagues exchanged glances, inevitably showing surprise and doubt.

“Jiang Li, you really have social anxiety.”

“You can do it!”

Jiang Li lowered his gaze, leaning on the table.

The second time.

Jiang Li spoke hesitantly, introducing his name and project. It was progress. Every time he felt his phobia was about to kick in, he stopped, delaying the onset time.

Having a seizure would be embarrassing and might affect the baby.

He told himself it was okay to stutter, sweat, have weak legs, or tremble. He was tolerant of everything except seizures or fainting.

Although colleagues were still enthusiastic spectators, Jiang Li saw a hint of “Is this it?” in their eyes.

“Thank you.”

In May, on a rainy day, Jiang Li, holding a dark umbrella, carried his backpack in front to shield his belly and left the experimental building. He had an appointment with Gu Yunkai for a four-dimensional ultrasound.

He walked carefully, and by the time he arrived, his shoes were halfway wet.

Gu Yunkai: “Why didn’t you wait for me to pick you up?”

Jiang Li: “It’s only five months.”

Gu Yunkai: “You don’t understand. Your type is precious to our Reproductive Assistance Department.” He muted the one-night stand and happily welcomed Jiang Li inside.

“Tiger and Rui have returned to school to prepare for graduation. Now it’s just us; you probably won’t come back, right?”

Jiang Li: “Yeah.”

Gu Yunkai: “Great; otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll want to clean as soon as you come back.”

Without Jiang Li cleaning every day, their dorm gradually resembled the untidy Alpha dormitory. They couldn’t let Jiang Li clean anymore.

Gu Yunkai performed the four-dimensional ultrasound for Jiang Li, and the little one cooperated well. Hands, feet, eyes, ears—they checked everything at once, and the development was normal.

Gu Yunkai praised and commented as if the baby could hear.

Jiang Li took off his clothes, and Gu Yunkai suspiciously said, “Why do I feel like your reproductive organs are more like Omega?”

Jiang Li admitted, “Yes.”

Gu Yunkai widened his eyes. “Really? When did the second differentiation occur?”

Jiang Li truthfully said, “In the first two months of pregnancy.”

Gu Yunkai was shocked. “I, a Beta, didn’t feel it, but Tiger and Rui, how are they so calm?”

Jiang Li: “I have no scent; it’s special.”

“By the way, not only are they calm, but our department has also had a period of impotence.”

Jiang Li felt sorry for this matter: “I’m sorry, my pheromones do cause impotence, but I promise there are no side effects; it will ease in a couple of days.”

Gu Yunkai’s focus was, “Is everyone impotent, or just the three of us?”

Jiang Li: “Everyone.”

Gu Yunkai balanced, “Wait a minute, then how did you get pregnant?”

Jiang Li: “…”

Gu Yunkai instantly understood that all pheromones have their own suitable Alphas.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” Gu Yunkai thought happily that Jiang Li looked so good; pheromones causing impotence were nothing. The more beautiful the Omega, the more self-protective measures they should have; it’s natural.

Outside, rain poured down, and Jiang Li sat on a stool, waiting for the rain to stop for half an hour.

The TV in the hall broadcasted military news, and due to the relevance of Cen Lang’s mission to the research of the old demon king, there was not a single trace of it in any news report.

After the rain stopped, Jiang Li returned to the experimental building, gathered the audience, and conducted the third simulated defense.

Colleagues had become accustomed to his performance, skillfully becoming quiet spectators.

Jiang Li struggled to speak halfway. Before his phobia could set in, he was about to give up when he pulled the hem of his clothes and suddenly remembered the highly praised little one by Gu Yunkai in the morning.

He made one more effort; he wasn’t standing here alone. The little one was being pressed back and forth through the abdomen, able to observe from all directions. He could do it, too.

Cen Lang faced a rain of meteorites and could operate battleships calmly.

Jiang Li gritted his teeth, suddenly feeling a slight fetal movement. He paused for a moment, gently placing one hand on his lower abdomen, and finished the second half.

Applause erupted on the stage. “Jiang Li, you did it!”

“Thank you.” Jiang Li released his clenched fingers, bowing slightly.

The progress of adenoma drugs was much smoother than overcoming the phobia.

Patients with advanced adenomas participating in the drug trial gave good feedback. The person in charge told Jiang Li that, according to evaluations by patients’ doctors, some who originally needed surgery to remove the adenoma were currently improving.

Adenomas were different from other cancers. They developed slowly and almost never metastasized, but the adenoid could wither and rot, gradually infecting the brain. Removal meant a shorter life.

The doctors involved highly praised, “This drug can cure about ninety percent of early adenomas at the root.”

June 1st.

Jiang Li had basically handled graduation matters. His first prenatal checkup was in District D6, and he planned to give birth there because the cost of living was cheaper.

He had already entrusted an agency to find a two-bedroom apartment in the name of Yang Xiaoli, shipped most of his luggage there, and also scheduled an Omega nanny.

After the defense, he would set off for District D6.