After returning to the capital, Ying Zhiyu’s first priority was to go home with Li Xi to meet Li Songqian.
After revealing the pregnancy, even with mental preparation, Ying Zhiyu was still struck by the sheer scale of it all.
On the day they moved back into the Li family garden villa:
Nutritionists, health consultants, personal doctors, maternal and child specialists, and interior designers all gathered.
The nutritionists, health consultants, and personal doctors formed Li Xi’s dietary and routine team, customizing daily meals, pregnancy fitness plans, and real-time health monitoring.
The maternal and child specialists handled all purchases of baby products—Li Xi was only five months pregnant, yet items for five months post-birth were already prepared.
Interior designers renovated the Li family’s new nursery, from eco-friendly materials to fully equipped smart home systems, even down to baby-safe construction details.
Ying Zhiyu noted that the water purification, air purification, and temperature-humidity control systems covered all potential environmental improvements for the newborn.
He couldn’t help but marvel: this was like raising a flower in a greenhouse.
At the same time, it reinforced how much Li Songqian valued his Omega third son.
It wasn’t surprising that Li Qin and Li Lü had some complaints.
When Han Qiyu had been in the late stage of pregnancy, she stayed at the Li family’s mid-mountain estate—but Li Songqian had never arranged anything this meticulously.
In such a super-rich family, love for a child wasn’t just a matter of affection; personal feelings were usually secondary to family interests.
Li Songqian’s attention to Li Xi’s offspring sent a signal: whether from hard and soft power, strategic control over the group’s future, or the difference in family backgrounds compared to Li Qin and Li Lü, he clearly favored Li Xi as the future LI heir.
If Li Xi could bear a successor, ideally AO-differentiated, it would be better than none. Even a single child, like Li Qin’s, was preferable to none.
In the previous life, the LI Group’s succession battle might not have needed to wait until Li Songqian’s illness to erupt.
After moving back, the Li family staff took care of Li Xi and Ying Zhiyu thoroughly. Ying Zhiyu’s understanding of the previous life’s succession dynamics grew clearer.
The medical team checked on the child twice daily. They didn’t neglect Ying Zhiyu, the soon-to-be Alpha father, because the partner’s health also affected the pregnancy.
At such times, Ying Zhiyu couldn’t help but recall Li Songqian from his previous life.
A centuries-old trillion-dollar pheromone business empire, four children, three potential AO heirs, and yet no AO children born in three generations.
Particularly, the Omega third son had been married for years without children. Li Songqian must have known that Li Xi’s reports showed no health issues, yet his son remained entangled with an “unproductive” Alpha.
The frustration was understandable. Ying Zhiyu couldn’t help but admire Li Songqian’s patience in the past life.
Li Songqian’s daily routine: summer, up at 6:30 AM for an hour of morning exercise; winter, up at 7:30 AM.
During the early days after moving in, Ying Zhiyu slept less due to unfamiliar surroundings, often waking early.
He didn’t linger in bed, sometimes joining Li Songqian for morning exercises—warm-ups, Baduanjin stretches, occasionally even a few holes of golf.
Li Songqian was easy to get along with. He rarely meddled in the children’s affairs. Even if the second son’s Alpha married into a flashy lifestyle, or the third son’s Omega married an unknown Alpha, he didn’t interfere.
On the top floor of the Li family villa, at the golf simulator, after yet another hole-in-one, Li Songqian raised an eyebrow: “Practiced before?”
One fluke could be luck, but two or three times? Not so.
Li Songqian could tell from Ying Zhiyu’s swing and a few shots that he wasn’t a beginner.
Normal people didn’t play golf casually.
Li Songqian’s words could be praise, or a subtle test.
Ying Zhiyu, prepared, credited Li Xi: “Taught by Third Young Master.”
In fact, last life, sports like horseback riding, fencing, tennis, and golf had all been carefully tailored lessons arranged by Li Xi.
Li Xi’s pampering of his newlywed Alpha was well-known in the capital’s upper circles.
Li Songqian didn’t doubt that Li Xi taught him personally. Upon hearing the title, he asked: “Still calling him Third Young Master?”
Ying Zhiyu feigned shyness: “Not at home.”
Li Songqian understood—the home nickname was too mushy for an elder to hear.
Soon after, Li Xi joined them at the golf simulator.
Li Songqian was cautious with his pregnant Omega son and personally escorted him.
Ying Zhiyu also joined; mid-pregnancy, Li Xi wasn’t heavy yet. They swung a few times together, but Li Songqian didn’t let him overdo it, so breakfast was brought forward ten minutes.
Recently, Li Songqian and his son-in-law Ying Zhiyu’s relationship had visibly improved.
He even prepared an extra Chinese-style breakfast per Ying Zhiyu’s preference and sometimes chatted with him about pheromone research progress.
After breakfast today, before leaving the dining room, Li Songqian patted Ying Zhiyu on the shoulder.
Li Xi glanced at the Alpha slowly eating youtiao with soy milk beside him and remarked: “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you came home just to ‘accompany dad for the birth.’”
Ying Zhiyu nearly choked on his youtiao.
“Cough, cough.”
Li Xi patted the young Alpha, who couldn’t even eat a simple breakfast without trouble.
The “never gives peace of mind” young Alpha: “….”
After getting pregnant, the crown prince no longer got jealous of outside Omegas—he now got jealous of the Alpha father at home.
Once Ying Zhiyu finally swallowed the remaining half of his youtiao, he turned to the pregnant husband with a smile, his eyes curving with playful teasing.
Li Xi shifted his gaze uncomfortably.
Ying Zhiyu reached out, took the hand Li Xi had patted on his back, and rubbed it in his palm, feigning surprise.
“Accompanying for childbirth? I just wanted to live together with Brother Xi Xi.”
At those words, Li Xi’s eyelashes trembled, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
He squeezed Ying Zhiyu’s hand tightly in return.
While playing with the still-long and strong fingers of the Third Young Master, Ying Zhiyu pondered.
With all the early-morning exercise they’d done together, he had gained more than just fitness.
He now clearly understood that with Li Songqian pampering his Omega third son so thoroughly, he could basically rule out any possibility that Li Songqian in his previous life had intended to eliminate him behind the scenes.
If he really wanted to get rid of him, he wouldn’t have waited more than ten years after marriage.
So, in the Li family, the only one left opposing him must be Li Lü?
In less than five months, the newborn would make their entrance.
Outside of work, Ying Zhiyu would spend his free time with Li Xi going through the baby items carefully selected by the maternal and child experts, joining in the assembly of items they could.
For instance, the newborn crib in the freshly renovated nursery was assembled by Ying Zhiyu himself.
Since Li Xi’s pregnancy, his weekly equestrian and combat training had been canceled, replaced with daily walks, swimming twice a week, and 3–5 prenatal yoga sessions per week.
One day, when Li Xi’s yoga instructor arrived, Ying Zhiyu happened to be home.
Having never seen Li Xi practice yoga before, he curiously followed into the studio.
As Li Xi went to change into his yoga outfit, the instructor warmly invited Ying Zhiyu to join in with his Omega for that day’s session.
Ying Zhiyu quickly waved off the offer: “I’ll pass, just watching.”
Just as he was about to retreat and avoid the studio, Li Xi emerged from the changing room.
Ying Zhiyu’s gaze inadvertently lingered and caught him mid-pause.
Yoga clothes were quick-drying, breathable, and allowed full movement, but their snug fit also outlined the body clearly.
Pregnancy yoga outfits came with high-waist leggings.
At over five months pregnant, Li Xi’s body, aside from the abdomen, remained lean and toned.
The first yoga pose was the Cat-Cow Stretch: kneeling on the floor with elbows touching the mat.
Ying Zhiyu listened to the instructor’s constant guidance as Li Xi moved:
“Inhale, lift head, arch back.”
“Exhale, tuck chin, round back.”
“Focus on breath, gently engage the core.”
“Tailbone up, adjust breathing.”
The second pose: Warrior II, requiring wide-legged stance with arms extended, strengthening arm and leg muscles.
The third: Wall Chair Pose, imagining sitting on an invisible chair—again for legs and glutes.
Then came the fourth, fifth, sixth poses…
Throughout the session, the only sounds in the studio were the instructor’s voice and Li Xi’s measured breathing.
Inhale, exhale.
Unconsciously, Ying Zhiyu had watched the entire class.
At the end, after assisting Li Xi with stretches, the instructor nodded at Ying Zhiyu in the corner and left the studio first.
Ying Zhiyu finally snapped out of his daze and stood up.
Li Xi, in the center of the room, also looked toward him.
In that glance, Ying Zhiyu saw an unmistakable “invitation.”
Although yoga looked slow and relaxed, Li Xi was drenched in sweat by the end of the session.
Ying Zhiyu hesitated by the doorway, but ultimately didn’t move.
Seeing the Alpha unmoved, Li Xi approached.
Ying Zhiyu noticed the droplets of sweat on Li Xi’s face and eyelashes. He gazed at him:
“Watching for so long, want to test your results?”
Ying Zhiyu kept his expression neutral, neither nodding nor shaking his head.
Li Xi’s personal doctor, Qin Baoyan, had said that during mid-pregnancy, such activities were permissible if the pregnant husband wished.
Although seeing him in yoga attire hugging his rounded belly was undeniably enticing, as a disciplined Alpha, Ying Zhiyu remained silent.
Eventually, with the Third Young Master’s enthusiastic invitation, Ying Zhiyu didn’t miss out.
He was careful, mindful of the pregnant husband, moving gently.
Li Xi, impatient with the slow pace, flipped them both over, taking control.
The Alpha, unable to resist, enjoyed his partner’s initiative while studying the Omega’s focused and serious expression.
He thought to himself: the Third Young Master really is a doer who doesn’t waste words—perfect for taking the lead.
Even five months pregnant, Li Xi’s stamina was impressive.
They ended up showering together in the studio afterward.
Back in the room, Ying Zhiyu noticed a bottle of massage oil on the bathroom counter.
He recalled Qin Baoyan’s advice: after five months, the abdomen grows, and massage oil can help prevent stretch marks.
He grabbed the bottle and asked Li Xi if he wanted to use it.
Li Xi looked at him for a moment and nodded slowly.
Ying Zhiyu carefully read the instructions, warmed the oil in his hands, and massaged Li Xi’s abdomen.
Since the oil was suitable for the whole body, he accidentally applied some to other areas as well.
As he concentrated on the massage, Li Xi suddenly said from above:
“There’s oil on your face.”
His voice was hoarse.
“Ah?” Ying Zhiyu looked up. “Where?”
Li Xi stared for two seconds before answering: “Left cheek.”
Ying Zhiyu wiped it off and asked: “Better?”
Li Xi raised his hand.
Thinking he was helping, Ying Zhiyu leaned closer.
Instead, the Omega moved in, pressing against him.
Ying Zhiyu: “…Again?”
The crown prince didn’t like turning his back to Ying Zhiyu—he wanted to see his face, even when kissing, never closing his eyes.
Ying Zhiyu suddenly realized that Li Xi’s first glance in the LI lab probably had nothing to do with his education, background, or “good-for-husband” traits.
Perhaps he had simply liked his face.