Chapter 65 1/2

“Where is the delivery room?!”

Cen Lang returned in excitement, unaware that his behaviour of making his pregnant wife upset upon arrival was a regrettable move. Despite his eagerness, he couldn’t modify the predetermined coordinates he had sent, clinging to a naive hope that Jiang Li wouldn’t figure it out. However, his wishful thinking led to a disastrous outcome.

Jiang Li, almost ten months pregnant, couldn’t be easily lifted by Cen Lang. Instead, he cautiously supported her while she hopped on one foot.

Cen Wei, practicing holding a prop newborn, was startled to see his grandson perfectly fine at the hospital. In his excitement, he nearly dropped the prop. “Apologies, apologies,” Cen Wei quickly corrected himself, sternly instructing, “Help him inside!”

Amidst the commotion, everyone reached a consensus: there was a time gap between experiencing abdominal pain and actual childbirth. With various monitoring devices in the room, Jiang Li endured contractions, her face returning to normal after the pain. Watching Jiang Li’s skilful actions, Cen Lang felt distressed. “Can we use a titanium washboard?”

Jiang Li gave him a cold look. “Want to kneel until your knees break?” Wasn’t that worse than injuring a military dog?

Cen Lang suggested, “Breaking a leg works too.”

Jiang Li, without looking, operated something on the nearby panel. Cen Lang sadly realised that in the three months he was absent, the familiar hospital room had become unfamiliar to him.

Soon, a cart with a table full of food arrived—they had just placed an order.

Jiang Li replenished her energy with a cup of brown sugar water. “You can eat the rest.”

Cen Lang suddenly understood that this meal had been ordered by his wife. Even without a mirror, he knew he couldn’t be considered handsome now.

Jiang Li quietly watched him, having lost weight during her three-month business trip. He didn’t have the strength to be angry; that would come later. For now, he just wanted to look at Cen Lang.

Under his gaze, the eyes of a certain unimpressive Alpha turned increasingly red.

Jiang Wanlan also entered, surprised to see Cen Lang. She exchanged a glance with Cen Wei and silently retreated outside the door. After disinfecting his hands, Cen Lang touched Jiang Li’s belly, warmth evident in his eyes.

Jiang Li asked, “Have you found your parents?”

Cen Lang replied shortly, “Found them, brought them back. But they froze themselves. We need to research thawing techniques, wake them up with certainty.” Jiang Li nodded. “Three to five years won’t make a difference. Let’s eat.”

Cen Lang had no appetite, recalling Jiang Li spending months in the lab from March to June, avoiding the cafeteria, and somehow overlooking this matter himself.

Jiang Li’s wife still treated him well; the first thing she did upon his return was to make him eat.

Cen Lang: “Not hungry.”

Jiang Li: “Hmm?”

Cen Lang: “Actually, I am hungry.”

Under Dr. Xiao Jiang’s gaze, Cen Lang reluctantly ate half a meal.

Jiang Li said, “Go take a shower; there are clothes in the wardrobe.”

Opening the wardrobe, he found a set of Cen Lang’s suits.

Cen Lang felt a lump in his throat. Despite knowing he wouldn’t come back according to the coordinates, his wife had prepared clothes for him at the hospital. Was it in anticipation of his appearance or just a sentimental gesture?

Cen Lang called his father-in-law and the doctor inside, quickly took a shower, and came out to see Jiang Li grimacing in pain. Nervously, he asked the doctor, “When can she have an epidural?”

The doctor estimated, “Another half an hour.”

Cen Lang half-knelt, holding Jiang Li’s hand. “It must be painful. Want to bite me?”

Jiang Li glanced at him indifferently. “It’s manageable.”

Cen Lang whispered, “The marks you left last time are gone. Want to bite harder? The doctor’s here; I won’t release pheromones. You can taste it from my blood.”

Alpha’s pheromones could alleviate Omega’s anxiety.

“Cleaned up, disinfected three times,” Cen Lang seductively extended his hand. “Even if I send you fake coordinates, you still won’t bite.”

Seemingly touching a nerve, Jiang Li bit Cen Lang’s palm on the side of his little finger—tough skin everywhere; his teeth were left unharmed.

“Change the location.” Cen Lang moved closer to the bed, pulling Jiang Li against his shoulder, cheeks facing the major artery.

Jiang Li pressed his cheek against Cen Lang’s collarbone, the familiar intimate contact briefly covering the discomfort. Hesitating where to kiss, he eventually chose a spot, gently scraping the skin but only causing a minor cut. He kept the kissing posture, eyes closed, fingers tightly gripping Cen Lang’s slender waist.

Jiang Li was too soft-hearted; a bit more kissing, and it would heal. Cen Lang kissed his sweaty forehead and said, “Baby, I love you.” He spoke to Jiang Li, enduring for half an hour until she could finally have an epidural.

A loud cry shattered the silence just before midnight—a child who seemed to play with time.

The doctor handed the wrinkled baby to the two dads. Jiang Li glanced. “Crying so loudly, you must be protesting against the name you chose for him.”

Cen Lang asked, “You saw it? Is it really that tacky?”

Jiang Li deadpanned, “Too tacky. If you insist on using it, don’t share my surname.” Cen Lang replied, “Not sharing your surname; this name wouldn’t make sense then. I’m not a cultured person; you come up with a name.”

Jiang Li couldn’t think of a good one. Considering his own naming skills (as seen in his own name, Jiang Li), it was somewhat bitter and lacked sunlight. “Take him out for Grandpa to see and ask for their opinions.”

Cen Lang intended to let the doctor carry him out, but Jiang Li wanted to observe a bit longer. Jiang Li said, “You go personally.”

Cen Lang paused, understanding the deeper meaning. Okay, with the profound lesson of losing a child, he felt more at ease doing each step himself. “Baby, wait for me for two minutes.”

Cen Lang carefully took the baby from the doctor. Every placement of his fingers was more cautious than when he used to disarm bombs barehanded. He had learned it before ascending, unlike the old man, who resorted to last-minute prayers. Jiang Li hadn’t learned, and Cen Lang said he didn’t need to hold the baby.