---

The surgical preparations proceeded quickly, as all the paperwork had been handled beforehand. The surgery lights were on, and Fu Rong stood aside, giving the doctors space.

Throughout the entire procedure, Fu Rong remained silent. It was the first time he had ever witnessed a C-section being performed in this way.

He watched as a cut was made on Chi Yao’s abdomen, revealing the tiny life inside. At first glance, the small creature didn’t even resemble a baby, but Fu Rong knew—it was their child.

He still didn’t fully understand what Chi Yao felt as he carried this child. Clearly, Chi Yao loved the baby, but he had slept with Fu Rong, someone he once despised. Not out of revenge or to threaten him, Chi Yao never did such things.

At that moment, Fu Rong had a strange feeling, as if Chi Yao knew he would get pregnant, that his body could carry a child like a woman’s. Perhaps Chi Yao had done it on purpose, deliberately finding an opportunity to sleep with him, resulting in this baby.

Looking at the blood and the incision, Fu Rong felt as if his own blood was reversing in his veins. That was Chi Yao’s blood. The long, deep wound made his throat tighten, and though he wanted to take a breath, he was afraid to blink. He feared that even if he closed his eyes for a moment, something would go wrong with Chi Yao.

“Please, let nothing go wrong. I’ll bear any consequence, as long as Chi Yao and the baby are safe. Let me die if I must, as long as they’re okay.” In that instant, Fu Rong realized that he would give his life for them without hesitation.

Someone beside him spoke, but Fu Rong only turned his head to look at the doctor, seeing their mouth move but hearing nothing. His vision blurred, and when he blinked, tears rolled down his face.

“Is it raining?” Fu Rong thought at first. But the doctor looked surprised, and Fu Rong wiped his face.

Oh, he was crying.

At the same time, he was smiling—a bittersweet smile through the tears.

“Mr. Fu, the surgery was a success. Both the father and child are fine. Would you like to see the baby?” The doctor gestured for the nurse to bring the child over. The baby’s cries echoed through the room, reaching Fu Rong’s ears. His body trembled slightly as he glanced at Chi Yao’s sleeping face.

“No, thank you.” Fu Rong shook his head. The baby was fine, but Chi Yao hadn’t woken up yet. Though the surgery was successful, Fu Rong couldn’t feel at ease until Chi Yao regained consciousness.

Chi Yao’s wound was stitched, and after his vitals were monitored, he was wheeled out of the operating room. His hand remained clasped with Fu Rong’s, who sat beside him. A nurse covered Chi Yao with a blanket, and soon everyone left the room, leaving Fu Rong alone with him.

Lowering his head, Fu Rong rested his face on Chi Yao’s hand. He couldn’t control it anymore—the tears surged forward. On the operating table, as he had watched all the blood, a deep terror took root inside him, a fear that he might lose Chi Yao and the baby—almost as if he had lost them before.

That lingering fear still gnawed at him. Fu Rong raised his head, his tears falling onto Chi Yao’s hand.

He had never felt such regret. If only that night—if only he hadn’t lost control and left that room.

He didn’t want to cause Chi Yao this pain. The injury was his fault, the suffering was his fault. Fu Rong’s tears streamed down his face.

“Chi Yao, I’m sorry…” Fu Rong didn’t know what else to say. It was all his fault. He would rather have taken that cut himself instead of Chi Yao.

---

Chi Yao slept soundly, but his soul seemed to travel back to his previous life. He saw his grandfather again. At the time of Chi Yao’s burial, his grandfather had only then learned that his only grandson had passed away. Everyone had kept it from him until that moment. He hadn’t even been able to see Chi Yao one last time.

It had been Chi Yao’s wish—he didn’t want his grandfather to see how miserable he had been in the end. After Chi Yao’s death, his body was placed in the morgue. His grandfather had a health scare and fallen, so Chi Yao’s father had kept the truth from him until Chi Yao was nothing but ashes in an urn.

At the funeral, Chi Yao’s grandfather had seemed to age overnight, his once strong back now hunched. Chi Yao’s soul stood aside, continuously apologizing to his grandfather for being unfilial, for ruining himself over someone who didn’t love him.

But his grandfather couldn’t hear him.

Chi Yao noticed another person at the funeral—Fu Rong was there too. Later, as his grandfather left, Fu Rong quietly walked up to him, accompanying him without saying a word. After his grandfather was gone, Fu Rong returned to Chi Yao’s grave alone.

Fu Rong took something from his pocket. When Chi Yao saw what it was, his soul trembled.

Fu Rong placed a silver longevity lock in front of Chi Yao’s grave—the lock he had prepared for their child, the one who had never made it into the world. Chi Yao stared at the lock and then at Fu Rong, shocked to see tears flowing down the man’s face.

He hadn’t known Fu Rong could cry.

---

Chi Yao smiled, realizing he wasn’t completely unloved—there was someone who liked him.

Chi Yao thanked Fu Rong. He opened his arms and hugged Fu Rong, gently holding him. He lifted his head and kissed Fu Rong’s face, right where his tears had fallen.

—

Fu Rong kept his eyes open the whole time, even though it was late at night and his body was exhausted. He didn’t dare close his eyes, watching Chi Yao, waiting for the moment when Chi Yao would open his eyes and the first person he see would be him.

A nurse brought the baby in, freshly bathed, swaddled, and healthy. Even though the baby’s little face was all scrunched up, to Fu Rong, the baby looked adorable, just like his father.

The nurse carefully brought the baby into the room. Fu Rong looked down at the baby, lightly touching the tiny hand that was curled into a fist. As he touched it, Fu Rong’s heart swelled with both tenderness and an overwhelming surge of emotions. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he reopened them, tears were welling up.

The baby was placed next to Chi Yao, sleeping beside his father.

The nurse told Fu Rong that if he needed anything, he could just press the call button. She left the room, leaving the three of them alone.

Fu Rong looked down at the two precious souls lying before him. These two would be the most important people in his life from now on.

The next morning, Chi Yao woke up. His eyes were still foggy with sleep as he took in the unfamiliar hospital room. He felt something in his hand and turned his head. First, he saw Fu Rong, who smiled at him.

The man clearly hadn’t slept all night. His eyes were bloodshot, and his stubble had started to show on his chin.

Chi Yao felt something soft near his cheek. He turned again, and a tiny face came into view. His vision became clearer as he looked at the baby. He tried to sit up, but the pain in his abdomen made him wince.

Chi Yao lay back down, and Fu Rong immediately stood up, alarmed.

“Don’t move around too much, you’ll hurt your wound.”

Chi Yao chuckled, his voice raspy.

“How is the baby?” Chi Yao asked, turning his head with a soft, tender expression.

“Very healthy. The nurse fed some formula earlier, and now the baby is back to sleep,” Fu Rong said, gently touching the baby’s tiny fingers. Even in his sleep, the baby grabbed Fu Rong’s finger, making him smile.

Chi Yao leaned over, pressing his lips to the baby’s swaddled cheek.

“You should get some rest,” Chi Yao said after gazing at the baby for a while. Then, he turned to Fu Rong, who had been by his side all night. Chi Yao knew he had been there throughout the surgery as well.

At the same time, the memories of his dreams were still vivid in his mind—visions from his past life that he had never seen before.

Maybe it was because his body was weak after giving birth, or perhaps it was because Fu Rong had stayed by his side, but Chi Yao found himself relying on him emotionally. His feelings for Fu Rong had begun to shift.

“I’m not tired yet. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” Fu Rong asked.

“I’m not hungry, but I’m thirsty,” Chi Yao smiled. Despite the paleness of his face, the smile lit up his features, making Fu Rong apologize to him once again.

“Don’t. Don’t apologize,” Chi Yao said. This was his choice, after all.

Fu Rong called their housekeeper to bring some nutritious porridge. Since Chi Yao had just undergone surgery, he could only eat soft, liquid food for now.

Chi Yao turned his head back to the baby, watching him intently.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” Chi Yao asked. He had just woken up and didn’t know yet.

“A boy,” Fu Rong answered.

“That’s good enough,” Chi Yao said, his tone carrying a hint of regret.

Fu Rong bent down and kissed Chi Yao’s hair. Chi Yao laughed softly, his eyes shining.

“I need to use the bathroom,” Chi Yao said with a raised eyebrow.

Fu Rong quickly moved to help. However, since they were still holding hands, Fu Rong had to let go. His fingers were stiff, but all he wanted was to hold Chi Yao’s hand forever.

Fu Rong fetched a small container as instructed by the nurse. He handled everything with utmost care, his movements gentle and focused. Chi Yao watched him, reaching out to touch Fu Rong’s hair.

In his dream, Chi Yao had wanted to do just that.

The hair was soft, not prickly at all.

Fu Rong returned to the bathroom, and after a moment, he came back.

Soon after, the housekeeper arrived with hot porridge. Fu Rong helped Chi Yao sit up in bed, holding the bowl and feeding him.

Chi Yao watched him closely. Fu Rong had slipped into the role of father quite naturally.

Chi Yao decided to keep him around, curious to see just how far Fu Rong would go for him and their baby. Suddenly, Chi Yao felt that having an extra person in his life might not be so bad after all.

After eating half a bowl, Chi Yao felt tired and dozed off again, leaning back against the pillows.

The baby was also fast asleep, his little face scrunched up. Fu Rong watched him closely, wondering if the baby resembled him or Chi Yao.

He hoped the baby looked like Chi Yao.

Fu Rong left the housekeeper behind and stepped into the next room to rest for a few hours. Suddenly, he woke up in a panic and rushed back to Chi Yao’s room, his heart pounding with fear that something had happened to them.

Seeing that both Chi Yao and the baby were safe, he let out a sigh of relief.

Fu Rong entered the room and immediately bent down, hugging both Chi Yao and the baby.

Chi Yao had been playing with the baby, who had woken up and was grasping at the air with tiny fingers. Chi Yao gently touched the baby’s hand.

---

Suddenly, someone hugged him, and the scent of the man’s body made it feel a bit stifling.

“Go take a shower, don’t stink up the baby,” Chi Yao gently pushed Fu Rong.

Fu Rong laughed, “Alright.”

Fu Rong’s assistant arrived in the afternoon, bringing some urgent company documents that needed immediate attention. He flew directly to the hospital and found Fu Rong. Fu Rong told him to wait for a moment and went to handle things.

The assistant knew a bit about the situation, as he had been in charge of many of the items sent to Chi Yao’s house, especially the baby supplies.

The assistant secretly followed, and when he saw Fu Rong and Chi Yao talking, and the baby in the room, his eyes widened little by little.

The baby didn’t wake up often, usually sleeping peacefully, perhaps soothed by the presence of his father nearby.

When the baby was hungry, he would cry briefly, but most of the time, he remained quiet and calm.

Chi Yao asked Fu Rong to get him something sweet, which the housekeeper had already prepared. Chi Yao quietly enjoyed his dessert while Fu Rong watched him, feeling utterly satisfied just by seeing him eat.

As dusk approached, Fu Rong left the hospital room briefly to handle some company matters. When night fell, he returned to Chi Yao’s side, where Chi Yao was reading a book. Fu Rong sat on a chair, keeping his eyes on the baby.

Suddenly, the baby woke up, his clear cries filling the room. Fu Rong picked him up. A nurse came in, preparing to take the baby, but Fu Rong insisted on feeding the baby himself.

Fu Rong had learned how to feed the baby in secret, so the nurse was a bit concerned at first. But after seeing that his technique wasn’t perfect but passable, she realized he had practiced beforehand. She corrected a few minor details, and Fu Rong carefully held the baby, supporting his head while feeding him.

The baby had a good appetite, suckling the bottle while Fu Rong gazed at him with a tenderness so deep it seemed like it could overflow. The nurse couldn’t help but feel a little envious—such a gentle man was a rarity.

And the baby’s father? Absolutely stunning. The most handsome person the nurse had ever seen.

It was hard to believe that someone like that would have a baby. It was headline-worthy news, though their identities might prevent it from becoming public.

After the baby finished feeding, he fell back asleep almost immediately, still holding the bottle in his mouth. Fu Rong gently cradled him in his arms and brought him back to Chi Yao, who was now holding the baby as well, their faces close.

“You fed him?” Chi Yao noticed a wet spot on Fu Rong’s expensive shirt.

Fu Rong smiled, “Yeah, I learned a little.”

Chi Yao raised his eyebrows, thinking it was probably more than “a little.” He didn’t call him out on it, though. After all, Fu Rong was the father, and it was his responsibility to care for their child.

That night, Fu Rong stayed at the hospital, in the room next to Chi Yao’s. He couldn’t sleep and would sneak over to check on Chi Yao and the baby in the dark. He kissed Chi Yao’s cheek and the baby’s little hand as they slept.

Chi Yao stayed in the hospital for about a week. He recovered quickly, faster than most people after giving birth, and was already able to walk on his own. But Fu Rong insisted he rest longer. Chi Yao, however, wanted to take the baby to visit his grandfather.

Fu Rong was stunned by this request.

“Can I… come too?” His voice trembled.

“If you’re not afraid of getting beaten,” Chi Yao said. He knew his grandfather would definitely grab a broom to hit Fu Rong once he found out who the father of the baby was.

“Chi Yao, let me take care of you and the baby, please?” On the day they left the hospital, Fu Rong knelt down in front of Chi Yao and the baby, grabbing Chi Yao’s hand. The baby, now awake, gazed up at Fu Rong with big, bright eyes, reaching out a tiny hand toward him.

Fu Rong extended his thumb, and the baby grabbed it, trying to put it in his mouth.

Chi Yao gently rocked the baby. “Do you like me?” His tone was certain.

Fu Rong nodded, “Yes, I’ve liked you for a long time.”

“Not Shen Ling?” Chi Yao teased.

“No, it was never him. We were never lovers, and he’s not even into my type.” Fu Rong admitted the truth. People might have misunderstood his relationship with Shen Ling, but both of them knew they would never be in love.

“Thanks for everything these past few days.” Chi Yao stood up, heading for the door.

Fu Rong reached out, grabbing Chi Yao’s hand. Chi Yao turned to face him, seeing a plea in his eyes, almost desperation.

“Chi Yao…”

Chi Yao’s heart softened.

“Did you even chase^[1]In the context of a relationship, “chasing” typically refers to one person actively pursuing or trying to win over the other. me?” Chi Yao suddenly asked.

Fu Rong froze.

“Then chase me first.” Chi Yao left with the baby, leaving Fu Rong standing in the room for a moment. When both Chi Yao and the baby disappeared from view, Fu Rong’s expression suddenly changed. A smile slowly spread across his face as he quickly followed after them.