The next day, Tan Sizhe cleared his schedule as usual to accompany Ye Mingxuan to his prenatal checkup.
Ye Mingxuan sat comfortably on the sofa, cradling his belly. Tan Sizhe sat sideways on the armrest, his arm wrapped around him as he asked Dr. Cai about his condition.
Dr. Cai examined the 4D ultrasound: “The fetus is healthy, and the fetal movements are normal.”
Ye Mingxuan froze: “Fetal movements?”
Dr. Cai: “Yes, you should have felt them these past few days.”
Ye Mingxuan: “I felt something in my belly, but I thought it was gas…”
Dr. Cai smiled: “Those were fetal movements.”
So that sensation a few days ago, like tiny fish bubbling, had actually been the baby moving.
Ye Mingxuan placed both hands on his lower abdomen. If the existence of the little life inside had felt vague to him in the previous months, now, beneath his hands, he felt an exceptionally strong pulse of life.
Dr. Cai’s gaze softened as he motioned them closer to the monitor. “Look here—the baby already has a distinct head and body.”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes sparkled as he leaned in. On the 4D ultrasound, the tiny figure in his belly had a clear head, torso, and limbs. At its center, beating steadily, was the baby’s heart.
It was utterly incredible—that within his male body, a vibrant little life could be nurtured.
The baby’s features were beginning to take shape, looking incredibly beautiful. Dr. Cai praised, “Such a lovely baby.”
Ye Mingxuan’s heart melted completely. He reached out to touch the computer screen, wishing he could reach through the cold electronic device to feel the baby.
Tan Sizhe looked down at him, rubbing the back of his neck. “Didn’t you have something to ask Dr. Cai?”
Ye Mingxuan snapped back to reality. His cheeks flushed fiercely as he recalled what it was. Dr. Cai asked, “What is it?”
“…” Ye Mingxuan withdrew his hand, blinking rapidly. “Um… it’s just that my chest has been feeling uncomfortable lately. It feels tight and swollen.”
Before he could finish, Dr. Cai understood. She pulled a booklet from the stack beside the computer and handed it to him. “Breast development during pregnancy is normal. When it feels tender, have your husband massage it following the steps in this manual.”
Massage…?!
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes widened like copper bells. “Do we really have to massage?”
“How else would you relieve the congestion?” Dr. Cai, true to her seasoned expertise, remained unflappable. “Circular motions, gentle pressure. Wear pure cotton clothing and consume high-quality protein in your diet.”
Ye Mingxuan was already boiling over like a kettle. Tan Sizhe waved away the steam rising from his head: “Got it. We’ll contact you for the next prenatal checkup.”
Dr. Cai nodded: “Alright. If you experience any discomfort during pregnancy, let me know promptly.”
Ye Mingxuan: “Yes, thank you, Dr. Cai.”
Dr. Cai: “You’re welcome.”
Tan Sizhe led his little wife out, wrapping an arm around Ye Mingxuan’s waist. Spotting his flushed ears, he couldn’t resist playfully blowing warm breath into his ear: “We should try it when we get home.”
Ye Mingxuan’s hair stood on end: “! Are we really going to try it?”
Tan Sizhe turned serious: “The doctor said so. We have to try it.”
Ye Mingxuan’s cheeks flushed even redder. He felt utterly embarrassed, but skipping the massage wasn’t an option.
So he climbed into the car, blushing all the while. Soon after, Tan Sizhe joined him. He raised the partition between the front and back seats, creating a separate space for each of them. The backseat was dim, with only sunlight filtering through the window, casting Ye Mingxuan’s skin in a bright, snow-white glow.
Ye Mingxuan hunched his shoulders and shifted toward the corner, glancing up at Tan Sizhe. The latter was solemnly flipping through the booklet Dr. Cai had provided.
Tan Sizhe crossed his legs, calmly reviewing the entire procedure. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Ye Mingxuan’s bashful, nervous expression, and his own desire had long since grown unbearably intense.
Why did a simple facial expression alone ignite his passion? What a teasing little thing.
He felt as if something was about to explode, yet Tan Sizhe remained composed, setting the book aside.
Why did a simple expression alone ignite his desire? It was a teasing little thing.
Though he felt like he might explode, Tan Sizhe still restrained himself. He set the book down, restrained himself from undoing more than the top button, and restrained himself from patting his thigh. “Come here.”
Ye Mingxuan crawled over and sat down. Road construction ahead meant the road was littered with uneven stones. The car jolted as it rolled over them, and Ye Mingxuan grabbed hold of Tan Sizhe’s clothes.
Tan Sizhe produced a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from somewhere and put them on. “The doctor needs to examine you. Unbutton your shirt.” !!! What kind of plot twist is this?! Ye Mingxuan couldn’t make sense of it.
Tan Sizhe: “Patients should listen to their doctors. Delaying treatment could be fatal.”
His words were professional, but his burning gaze betrayed him. Ye Mingxuan shivered, forced to play the obedient “patient” as he undid his shirt buttons.
The booklet described the procedure in detail. Novice Doctor Tan examined Ye Mingxuan meticulously: “Swelling needs to be relieved. If not, there’s a chance of inflammation.”
Ye Mingxuan bit his lip, whimpering softly. He felt utterly at the man’s mercy.
Tan Sizhe was clever—even as a clumsy doctor, he played the part convincingly. The treatment worked remarkably well, and Ye Mingxuan’s mood lifted.
The car pulled into the parking lot. The driver got out and left. Ye Mingxuan was pressed against the car window as Tan Sizhe kissed him.
Half an hour later, Ye Mingxuan stepped out of the car, his legs weak. His full lips parted slightly, their color as red as pigeon blood. Tan Sizhe followed behind him, calmly wiping his hands with a tissue.
Ye Mingxuan walked forward, his steps light as he gripped his own belt. For some reason, his body felt unusually sensitive during pregnancy. The rough texture of the other man’s palm felt twice as intense as before. Ye Mingxuan cradled his stomach, his heart racing.
Ye Mingxuan walked with a light, floating step, clutching his belt as he moved forward. For some reason, his pregnancy-sensitive body felt everything intensely—the rough texture of Tan Sizhe’s palm felt twice as pronounced as before. Cradling his small belly, Ye Mingxuan felt lightheaded.
Tan Sizhe took a few quick steps to his side. “Want me to carry you?”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head vigorously. Aunt Fu must be inside, and he certainly didn’t want her to see him like this.
The moment they entered the house, Aunt Fu came to greet them: “Ming… Mr. Mingxuan, what’s wrong?”
Ye Mingxuan hid behind Tan Sizhe, clutching the man’s arm for cover. “Aunt Fu… I, I’ll go upstairs and rest for a bit.”
Tan Sizhe addressed Aunt Fu, “The medical checkup was tiring, going back and forth. Let him rest a while.”
Aunt Fu replied, “Oh, alright. I’ll tell Mr. Mingxuan the good news later!”
Just as she turned to leave, Ye Mingxuan peeked out curiously from behind Tan Sizhe: “What good news?”
Tan Sizhe raised an eyebrow. Aunt Fu spun back around: “Mr. Mingxuan doesn’t know yet? It’s all upstairs!”
Upstairs? Ye Mingxuan tilted his head, looking up at Tan Sizhe with eager eyes. Tan Sizhe chuckled: “Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
Ye Mingxuan’s curiosity was already piqued—there was no way he could suppress it so quickly: “…Can I take a look?”
Tan Sizhe pinched his smooth, delicate cheek: “Go ahead.”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he scampered upstairs. He scanned the bedroom but found nothing, then dashed back out.
Tan Sizhe watched him from downstairs, pointing to a room on the right. “Over there.”
Ye Mingxuan walked in the direction he indicated, pushed open a door, and froze.
What had once been an empty room was now transformed into a French-style art studio. White gauze curtains fluttered in the breeze, framing the pale pink cherry blossom tree outside the window.
An easel and sculptures stood within, while a solid wood table held neatly arranged paints and brushes of various sizes.
“How is it?” Aunt Fu called from downstairs. “Isn’t it a wonderful surprise!”
Ye Mingxuan’s pupils fluttered. Turning, he saw Tan Sizhe approaching and asked, “Sir, when did you…”
Tan Sizhe replied, “I saw you shopping online yesterday. Thinking you might need to paint, I had Bai Yu prepare this. Do you like it?”
Ye Mingxuan turned his gaze to the blank canvas, waiting for him to apply its first bold stroke. His eyes instantly welled up.
“Um… Sir, thank you…” Ye Mingxuan wiped his eyes and murmured softly.
Tan Sizhe lowered his gaze, placing a hand on Ye Mingxuan’s head. He’d wanted to say, “If you want to thank me, just give me a kiss,” but seeing Ye Mingxuan’s genuine emotion, such flippant words felt inappropriate.
Instead, he wrapped his arms around Ye Mingxuan’s shoulders, turning him to face him and pulling him into an embrace. “As long as it makes you happy.”
Ye Mingxuan froze, his tears dampening the dark fabric of Tan Sizhe’s coat. Pressing his lips together, he slowly wrapped his arms around Tan Sizhe’s waist.
–
After getting the studio, Ye Mingxuan spent all his free time there—except for meals, studying, and his part-time job.
Every day when Tan Sizhe returned home, he’d look around and see no sign of his little wife. He’d check the bedroom, then wander aimlessly through the study, only to finally find Ye Mingxuan painting in the studio, wearing an apron.
The paints and oils Tan Sizhe bought were highly safe, and the studio was always well-ventilated. Now that Ye Mingxuan had passed the early stages of pregnancy, the paints had little effect on him.
Seeing Ye Mingxuan more absorbed in painting than in playing the piano struck Tan Sizhe as quite novel.
He leaned against the doorframe, lazily watching Ye Mingxuan for over ten minutes. When Ye Mingxuan grew tired from painting, he removed his apron. Spotting Tan Sizhe, he stood up happily: “Sir!”
Tan Sizhe entered, walked up to him, and gently wiped the paint from his nose. “Dinner’s ready.”
Ye Mingxuan nodded. Tan Sizhe glanced sideways at his painting. “Is this… the ivy on the balcony?”
Exposing his artwork to the man made Ye Mingxuan feel a little embarrassed. “Mhm.”
Tan Sizhe studied the painting closely. Ivy burst outward from a glass planter, its supple tendrils cascading gracefully onto the table.
In truth, Ye Mingxuan’s focus wasn’t the ivy itself, but the sunlight piercing through it. It illuminated half the balcony wall, casting dazzling golden patches that danced across the surface.
The entire scene felt serene and beautiful. Like discovering a private haven of love and hope on a bustling afternoon street.
“It’s lovely,” Tan Sizhe praised generously.
Ye Mingxuan: “Really?”
Tan Sizhe: “Really.”
Hearing Tan Sizhe’s words, Ye Mingxuan perked up excitedly: “Thank you, sir~”
As the other’s scent drew near, Tan Sizhe closed his eyes, tilting his head to receive his little wife’s loving kiss. He waited for a long while, but it never came.
“Oh, right!” Ye Mingxuan walked away.
Tan Sizhe opened his eyes: “?”
Ye Mingxuan picked up the paint palette and brushes: “I should go wash the paints! See you in the dining room later, sir!”
He darted out in a flash, leaving Tan Sizhe alone, still frozen in the pose of “welcoming a loving kiss.”
Tan Sizhe: “…”
He raised an eyebrow. Oh well. His little wife was so happy—that kiss of love would come eventually.
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