“Are you happy? Seeing me in this miserable state now?” Chi Yao’s voice was full of sarcasm.

Fu Rong just looked at him with deep, dark eyes. Chi Yao thought he could see some sadness in the man’s gaze.

But the words that came out of his mouth were sharp: “I don’t need your pity. Someone like you, adored by everyone, only came here to mock me, right?”

“I’ll be dead soon. I won’t be bothering you and Shen Ling anymore. You two really are a perfect match. I wish you a long, happy life together.”

Even though Chi Yao was critically ill, his words remained biting and sarcastic.

Fu Rong opened his mouth but struggled for a long time before finally saying a few words: “Chi Yao, I’m sorry…”

“Sorry? Sorry for what? For living a better life than me? You don’t need to apologize. This is all my fault. I deserve everything that’s happened to me.”

Fu Rong saw the hatred in Chi Yao’s eyes. Knowing that his presence only made things worse, he turned and walked out.

Outside the door, his footsteps echoed for a while before fading away.

Chi Yao lay in the hospital bed, both hands resting on his abdomen. Though he knew he had brought this suffering upon himself, he still couldn’t help but feel resentful. Why him?

He could have had a better life. Why did it turn out like this?

He thought about how young he was, only twenty one years old, and already lying in a hospital bed like this.

And then there was the child—whose father? Chi Yao had no idea.

He’d probably never find out.

Chi Yao began to laugh, a hoarse, broken laugh, as tears rolled down his face and soaked into the pillow.

That night, he dreamed of the past—vivid memories, including details he had once overlooked.

The next morning, when Chi Yao woke up, he found his pillow soaked with tears.

Chi Yao got out of bed and went downstairs. There, he found Xue Zhongming and Qu Liang, who immediately noticed how his eyes were red, as if he had been crying.

The group exchanged glances, and Xue Zhongming quickly approached Chi Yao. “Chi Yao, what’s wrong with your eyes? Did they get infected?”

Of course, no one mentioned crying, but it was obvious he had been.

“I had a nightmare.”

“What kind of nightmare?” Qu Liang asked, curious about the dream that had caused Chi Yao’s eyes to get so red.

“I dreamed I was pregnant,” Chi Yao said with a smile.

Qu Liang was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Pregnant? Was it a single child or twins?”

Naturally, he was joking, having never had a dream like that himself.

Unlike Qu Liang, Xue Zhongming glanced subtly at Chi Yao’s belly, which had a slight, round bulge.

If Chi Yao were a woman, Xue Zhongming would be certain he was pregnant. Over the past few months, Chi Yao’s behavior had resembled that of someone who was. Xue Zhongming had been around pregnant women before and had noticed how Chi Yao no longer smoked or drank, ate out less, and even had a stay in nanny to take care of him.

Chi Yao claimed it was a tumor growing in his abdomen, but could a tumor get that big?

It really seemed more like a pregnancy than an illness.

Xue Zhongming found the situation odd. Chi Yao had even bought this house in preparation for a baby, yet there was no sign of an actual child. Could it be a surrogate? But Chi Yao didn’t seem like the type to randomly find a woman to have his child.

It made more sense to believe that Chi Yao himself was pregnant.

The thought made Xue Zhongming laugh internally. If Chi Yao really was pregnant, then who was the other parent?

Who would Chi Yao allow to sleep with him—Shen Ling?

It couldn’t be Shen Ling. Shen Ling just played with Chi Yao like a pet. They weren’t that close.

Someone else?

Xue Zhongming couldn’t imagine who it could be.

He shook his head, chuckling to himself at his own wild thoughts. Chi Yao pregnant—what a ridiculous idea.

As Chi Yao sat down beside him, Xue Zhongming’s hand, acting on impulse, moved to rest on Chi Yao’s belly.

The roundness under his palm didn’t feel like a tumor. If it were, there would be significant fluid buildup. Yet, Chi Yao’s appetite had been strong—just the day before, he had eaten a lot of barbecue. His overall health didn’t seem consistent with someone severely ill.

It really did seem like he was pregnant, not suffering from a tumor.

“Chi Yao, you’re not really pregnant, are you?”

The question slipped out before Xue Zhongming could stop it, and suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned toward them.

Chi Yao calmly removed Xue Zhongming’s hand from his belly.

Without denying it, Chi Yao asked, “What do you think?”

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No Need to Apologize, You Did Nothing Wrong

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“If you were a woman, I would absolutely believe you were pregnant.” Having already gone this far, there was no point in retreating or apologizing. Xue Zhongming figured he might as well keep asking.

“Too bad I’m not,” Chi Yao replied with a smile.

He hadn’t denied it. Xue Zhongming noted the smile at the corner of Chi Yao’s mouth.

“The baby you mentioned, the one you said you’d bring home in the spring—can I be the godfather?”

Whether the child was Chi Yao’s biological child or adopted, there was clearly going to be a baby. The house was already filled with baby items, from a nursery to clothes and toys, as if a whole baby store had been moved in.

So, it was certain there would be a baby. And if there was, Xue Zhongming figured he might as well secure his role as godfather early on.

“Sure, but prepare a big gift,” Chi Yao replied with a grin, making his intentions clear.

“Of course, I’ll definitely bring something big.”

“Hey, Chi Yao, what about us? Can we be godparents too?” Qu Liang and the others joined in, laughing and teasing.

Chi Yao’s child, whether born or adopted, would surely be a beloved treasure, spoiled by everyone around him.