The situation was handled quickly. The attacker ran an underground casino and had some connections, but his influence couldn’t match that of Fu Rong or Chi Yao. After attacking Chi Yao and nearly injuring him, Fu Rong wasn’t going to let this person roam free. He immediately arranged for someone to report the underground casino, making the situation blow up and hit the news. Those who wanted to protect the attacker could only focus on themselves and didn’t dare to intervene further.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the man was also involved in loan sharking, violent debt collection, and had injured people, even hitting someone with his car. With all these charges combined, it was enough to keep him in prison for many years.

After sobering up, the man was informed of exactly who he had crossed, not just Chi Yao but also Fu Rong. He knew about Fu Rong—someone who appeared calm but was actually ruthless. The man sought a lawyer, but even the lawyer didn’t fully support him, working sluggishly, as word had already spread privately about who was involved. Everyone thought it was the man’s own fault for picking a fight with Fu Rong.

Chi Yao later heard some details from the manager, but to him, it was just a minor incident. The villain met his comeuppance only because he crossed paths with Chi Yao. Most of the time, Chi Yao knew that bad people rarely face consequences. As long as they didn’t bother him, it wasn’t his problem.

Winter passed quickly, and spring was approaching.

Chi Yao was now nine months pregnant, and the baby was due soon. He didn’t stay at home anymore but went to a hospital in another city. While Fu Rong had a hospital in the city where they lived that he trusted to keep the surgery confidential, Chi Yao was more familiar with the hospital in the other city. After arriving, Chi Yao initially planned to rent an apartment himself, but Fu Rong had already arranged everything, so Chi Yao just moved in.

He didn’t tell Xue Zhongming and others about his situation, simply saying he was going to “remove something” from his stomach, without mentioning that it was a baby. Fu Rong stayed in a nearby hotel, and an attendant also followed to care for Chi Yao. Despite being heavily pregnant, Chi Yao’s belly wasn’t as large as most expectant mothers’. Dressed in loose clothes, no one could tell he was pregnant while walking around.

Chi Yao hadn’t explored the city much before, so with nothing much to do at home, he occasionally went out for walks. Chi Yao’s good looks often attracted attention, with people stopping and even turning back after passing him. Some took out their phones to snap secret pictures, and when caught, they would blush and quickly run away.

Once, a talent scout excitedly approached Chi Yao, practically begging him to sign with their company on the spot. Chi Yao asked how much he could earn per month. The scout replied that he could potentially earn tens or even hundreds of millions, saying that with Chi Yao’s appearance, just a little packaging could launch him as a “pretty boy” star. The current popular actors lacked skill and charisma, and Chi Yao was far more handsome. The scout promised that if Chi Yao signed with them, they would promote him heavily, and he could easily make hundreds of millions a day once he became famous.

Though the scout’s tempting numbers might sway many people, Chi Yao declined, saying, “I can already make that much each day,” or even more.

Chi Yao quickly walked away, leaving the stunned scout behind, who considered chasing after him but was stopped by someone behind him. That person was tall and dressed simply, but one look at the bodyguard’s eyes sent a shiver down the scout’s spine. So the incredibly handsome guy even had a bodyguard? The scout realized that the man probably wasn’t lying about not needing money.

Chi Yao wandered the streets while Fu Rong stayed at the hotel, attending company meetings remotely. Occasionally, he would receive text messages from the bodyguard, who would send photos of Chi Yao. Fu Rong looked at these pictures with a smile, surprising the executives in his meeting, as they rarely saw Fu Rong smile so warmly—prompting some to wonder if this was the calm before a storm.

While out, Chi Yao found himself at a baby store again. Having shopped there enough times, he knew where the baby section was. Despite already having plenty of baby supplies at home, enough to last for years, Chi Yao went inside to browse. He couldn’t resist playing with a few toys meant for little children.

The bodyguard, stationed outside, took a couple more photos and sent them to Fu Rong. Fu Rong, seeing Chi Yao smiling while holding the baby toys, was tempted to drop everything and go to him. In the end, he held back, knowing that if he showed up, Chi Yao’s smile wouldn’t be as bright.

Chi Yao was aware that he was subtly allowing Fu Rong to get closer to him. It seemed like Fu Rong had gradually invaded his life—now even the housekeeper, the bodyguards, and the driver were Fu Rong’s people. Anytime something happened to Chi Yao, like a mild cold, Fu Rong was more anxious than he was, constantly concerned about his health.

Chi Yao vividly recalled a particular moment when Fu Rong suddenly approached him and suggested that he should consider terminating the pregnancy. At the time, Chi Yao had been furious and wanted to punch Fu Rong in the face. Fu Rong explained that he had researched the risks of childbirth, noting that even with surgery, there was a danger of embolism.^[1]An embolism is an obstruction or blockage in a blood vessel. Most often, it starts as a blood clot from elsewhere that breaks off and travels through your bloodstream. When a blood clot or … Continue reading

Chi Yao knew this very well.

In his previous life, the baby died in his womb and never made it out. Chi Yao believed that since he had been given a second chance at life, he wouldn’t die again due to some accident. Otherwise, what was the point of this life?

Moreover, the probability of such a thing happening was low, and Chi Yao didn’t think it would happen to him.

“The probability is low, but low probability means it won’t happen. Once it happens, it’s 100%,” Fu Rong disagreed, thinking it was not a low-risk matter. If it did happen, it would be absolute. He didn’t want anything to happen to Chi Yao, and even the smallest danger was unacceptable.

He didn’t care about the baby; Chi Yao was what mattered.

Chi Yao was surprised when he heard this. He looked at Fu Rong, whose eyes were bloodshot from worry. It was clear that Fu Rong had done a lot of research and genuinely cared for him, genuinely feared for him.

But Fu Rong didn’t know the truth—that Chi Yao had been reborn. This was his second life.

Chi Yao didn’t believe tragic things would happen twice, specially now that he change things from his previous life. So much had already changed. He didn’t have cancer. Both he and the baby were healthy. The baby was alive and well inside him.

Fu Rong’s worries were unnecessary.

“I’m not going to abort the baby. Neither I nor the baby will be harmed.”

Chi Yao said this with a smile, placing his hand on his belly. His stomach had grown large, and sometimes the baby inside would even kick, showing a small bump in the shape of a foot pressing against Chi Yao’s stomach.

The baby was calm and obedient, never giving Chi Yao trouble. It seemed to hear its dad when Chi Yao told it to be quiet, and it would really settle down.

Chi Yao was convinced he wouldn’t lose the baby, nor would the baby lose him.

He told Fu Rong never to bring this up again, or he would be kicked out of his life for good.

As the due date approached, Fu Rong grew more and more anxious, barely able to eat or sleep.

Chi Yao, on the other hand, was calm, waiting patiently for the day their baby would be born.

Fu Rong felt like the time was close. That night, he couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning until he finally got up. He was staying in a hotel, while the nanny was with Chi Yao in a nearby house. Feeling restless, Fu Rong left the hotel and headed to Chi Yao’s place.

He didn’t enter Chi Yao’s room, just stood in the hallway, reaching for a cigarette, only to remember he had quit smoking months ago.

Fu Rong stood by the window. The night sky was dark, not a single star in sight.

Just one wall away was Chi Yao, and that thought calmed Fu Rong a little.

After staying for an hour or two, he decided to leave. But just as he reached the elevator, his phone rang urgently. He rushed back to Chi Yao’s door and banged on it.

The nanny hurried to open it, and even before Fu Rong stepped inside, he heard the sound that made his heart clench with fear.

Running to the bedroom, he found Chi Yao sitting on the floor, his face contorted in pain, sweat pouring down his forehead, and his lips pale and bloodless.

The nanny, who had first called Fu Rong, was shocked to see he had been just outside. She quickly let him in, noticing how frantic he was. The bodyguard was already on the phone, calling the driver to get the car ready downstairs.

Another call was made to the hospital, since it seemed like Chi Yao was about to give birth. Though it was a bit early, it wasn’t considered premature. The nanny had been through this before and helped Fu Rong, guiding him on how to carry Chi Yao properly as he hurried out.

Fu Rong was so panicked that he didn’t seem to hear anything, focusing only on Chi Yao’s voice as he gritted his teeth in pain, making Fu Rong’s heart twist even more.

The elevator seemed to move too slowly. Fu Rong had suggested earlier that Chi Yao stay at the hospital for the next few days, but Chi Yao had insisted it wasn’t time yet. Now, suddenly, he was in labor.

Since Chi Yao was a man, he couldn’t deliver naturally. He needed a C-section. ^[2]Tor cesarean birth is the surgical delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) made in the birth parent’s abdomen and uterus. he thought of a knife cutting into Chi Yao’s abdomen made Fu Rong wish he could take that pain himself.

Once in the car, the driver sped toward the hospital, which was right across the street. Still, it was too far to walk, so they drove. The hospital, a private one, was always staffed, and Fu Rong had donated a batch of medical equipment to them. They were especially attentive to Chi Yao’s case.

As soon as they arrived, Chi Yao was placed on a stretcher and rushed toward the operating room.

Fu Rong followed closely, Chi Yao’s holding his hand as Chi Yao squeezed it in pain, clutching so tightly that Fu Rong’s hand was injured.

Tears welled in Chi Yao’s eyes. His mind was hazy, and he couldn’t tell if this was his current life or his previous one.

All he knew was that he needed to hold on to the person beside him.

Chi Yao refused to let go. Initially, he hadn’t planned to let Fu Rong come into the operating room, but then he suddenly called out Fu Rong’s name, making him follow inside.

For a brief moment, Chi Yao felt like he was back in the hospital of his past life—not in the operating room, but in the morgue, where he had died with the baby. He remembered Fu Rong pulling back the sheet covering his lifeless body, Fu Rong’s eyes filled with sorrow. Only then did Chi Yao realize that Fu Rong truly loved him.

Once disinfected, both Chi Yao and Fu Rong were dressed for surgery. Chi Yao had already been given anesthesia and was now drifting in and out of consciousness. Fu Rong watched the sweat and tears on Chi Yao’s face and gently wiped them away.