“Hailou… if I die, promise me you’ll bring my body home and bury me with my grandfather and mother, okay?”
Hailou felt as if he’d fallen into an ice cellar, his hands and feet freezing. His face darkened immediately, and all pretense of gentleness vanished. “Absurd!”
A fierce energy, sharp as a spear, shot out from him.
Shen Yuan froze, tears stopped mid-flow, staring at him dumbly, helpless and pitiful—he had never seen Hailou like this.
Hailou couldn’t entertain the thought. His eyes reddened as he half-squatted beside the bed, meeting Shen Yuan’s gaze. “Don’t speak such nonsense! What’s wrong with you? You’re usually so fearless, and now you’re scared? The doctor said your condition is fine, and the risk is minimal!”
Shen Yuan frowned, anxious. “Even if it’s small, it’s still a possibility. Things in this world often go the worst way. I just want to anticipate the worst and prepare for it—what’s wrong with that?”
“Of course it’s wrong!” Hailou said firmly. “That’s killing your own morale. Illness isn’t something you defeat by fearing it. If you think you won’t make it, then you’re done for. Don’t scare yourself! You’ve even frightened me! No more of this doom-and-gloom talk.”
Shen Yuan’s lips trembled. “Y-you’re… really fierce.”
Today, Hailou had no patience for gentleness. “Who told you to talk like that! I treat you so well, and you dare say such things!”
Shen Yuan pressed his face against the pillow, tear-streaked, hair damp at the temples, trembling and gasping, pitiful beyond words.
Hailou’s heart softened seeing Shen Yuan’s panic-filled, tearful eyes. He wiped his face with a tissue and swapped his pillow.
He didn’t know whether to scold or comfort him, muttering, “You’re the classic tough-on-the-outside, timid-on-the-inside type. Always so fierce, always planning to climb at any cost. And now you face a real challenge, yet you don’t have the confidence to overcome it? You even anticipate that I’ll abandon you, so you prepare to abandon me first, leaving me no choice. And now, you insist on this child, the chances are high, yet you’re already thinking about where to be buried if something happens… next to your grandfather? You pick? No. I’m telling you, Shen Yuan—you’ll wait a hundred years and be buried with me. Nothing else.”
Hailou’s tone hardened further. “If this child truly threatens your life, I won’t hesitate—I’d choose you. If you die, I wouldn’t even want to see the child. You said you didn’t want our child to repeat history, right? Then live. For me, for us.”
Faced with Hailou’s serious scolding, Shen Yuan didn’t dare respond. But after this outburst, he felt a measure of relief and whispered a soft, “Mm,” stopping his tears.
Meanwhile, Li Lin performed steadily on his college entrance exams and was admitted to his first-choice school, K University, though in a different program—Business Administration. Graduation events, reunions, and thank-you parties kept him busy.
He had hoped Shen Yuan could take leave to attend his thank-you banquet, but Shen Yuan said he was busy abroad. Their father agreed, telling Li Lin not to push.
Though Li Lin was pleased to receive a gift celebrating his high exam scores, he wanted more than presents—he wanted his brother’s presence, a smile, a word of praise: “You did so well, Li Lin.” That mattered more than anything. But Shen Yuan couldn’t come.
Even for his birthday in mid-June, Li Lin had saved money from allowances and livestream earnings to buy a designer jewelry piece he knew Shen Yuan loved—but even then, Shen Yuan wouldn’t return. To make matters worse, he moved frequently, so even sending a gift was forbidden. Li Lin couldn’t help feeling frustrated.
He asked to visit Shen Yuan abroad, but his father refused, preferring he stay home and play games. When Li Lin asked about a professional esports training camp invitation, his father surprisingly allowed it—after personally inspecting the company and training facility.
At the camp, Li Lin quickly adapted, making friends his own age with similar interests. The days were busy and enjoyable.
He would call Shen Yuan from his dorm window. Shen Yuan gently asked, “How’s it going?”
“Pretty good. They take care of me well. When will you be back? If you don’t return soon, school starts.”
Shen Yuan teased, diverting the topic. “I saw part of your livestream last night. Just a few minutes, and you died—rusty from not playing much?”
Li Lin blushed furiously, explaining, “That was just bad luck! My overall performance is top three in the camp.”
“Good, keep it up. Maybe you’ll win a championship someday.”
“I will,” Li Lin said proudly.
After the call, he noticed teammates peeking. Blushing further, he said, “You guys listening in?”
“Li Lin, talking to your girlfriend? So sweet,” they teased.
“Stop it! I’m talking to my brother!” he snapped.
Shen Yuan sighed softly at the phone. Hailou, nearby, asked, “The exams are over—why not tell him about us? Won’t affect his scores now.”
Shen Yuan shook his head. “He might get upset. I’m selfish.”
Hailou smiled, patting his head. “You’re a good brother, always putting your sibling first. That’s not selfish at all.”
Li Lin started school in September—military training, classes, gaming, livestreaming. He frequently called Shen Yuan to share his university experiences.
One day, after a month, Li Lin returned home and found his father absent. When he called, his father said, “Can’t talk now, boarding the plane.”
Before Li Lin could ask, he explained, “Sudden business issue—traveling abroad. I’ll tell you when I’m back.”
Li Lin found the explanation unnecessary; his father frequently traveled.
Shen Yuan’s uncle and Aunt Lin rushed to the hospital where Shen Yuan was staying. The doctor scheduled a C-section for the day after tomorrow. Shen Yuan was touched by their presence.
Having traveled abroad with Hailou for the birth, Shen Yuan hadn’t video-called much lately. Months later, seeing him again, Li Lin noticed Shen Yuan’s exhausted, pitiful state.
Anger welled in Shen Yuan’s father at the thought of Hailou causing such suffering. Aunt Lin tried to soothe him, emphasizing Hailou’s efforts to learn child and maternal care—he was a responsible husband.
Finally, the day of the surgery arrived. Shen Yuan’s father recalled past medical emergencies, his heart clenching.
Hailou, as Shen Yuan’s husband, signed the consent form and donned sterile clothing to accompany him in the OR. He gripped Shen Yuan’s hand, seeing him pale and sweating, unsure how to help.
Shen Yuan murmured, “Hailou… are you there?”
“Yes, I’m here,” Hailou replied, holding his hand to his lips, choking back tears. He wished he could take all the pain upon himself.
Shen Yuan lay there, weak and childlike, evoking deep tenderness. He didn’t want Shen Yuan to suffer like this ever again.
Thankfully, the surgery went smoothly.
Their little Peanut arrived—a baby boy, four pounds, two ounces, slightly small but healthy. Hailou glanced at the baby briefly, then focused on Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan released Hailou’s hand, weakly asking, “Hailou… is the baby healthy? Not like me, right?”
Hailou checked, then stroked Shen Yuan’s head. “He’s healthy.”
Relief washed over Shen Yuan—after nearly ten months of tension, he could finally relax. At that moment, he felt their family was truly established.
The nurses weighed the baby and swaddled him in a beige blanket. Tiny hands and feet tucked in, his small body supported a slightly large head—he truly resembled a peanut. Soft and cloud-like, even Hailou, trained in infant care, was amazed at the feel of him.
Looking at the red, wrinkled little boy, Hailou thought: So this little guy is what made his father suffer so much?
He also mused: Not exactly handsome yet—doesn’t look like Shen Yuan. Maybe he’ll resemble him more as he grows.
Carefully, Hailou placed the baby beside Shen Yuan. “Do you want to see little Peanut?”
Shen Yuan didn’t respond—he had already fallen asleep. Exhausted.