Chapter Index

    Chapter 65: Chapter Sixty-Five: Please, just wear it for me…

    Pei Yumin was unconcerned. “What’s wrong with this style? It’s for you to wear for me privately, not for anyone else. There’s nothing to be shy about in front of your husband.”

    Lu Shangyan rolled his eyes at him, secretly glancing at the few people standing nearby. “Stop talking about it.”

    Jian Guo was also secretly watching them. When his eyes unexpectedly met Lu Shangyan’s, he quickly pursed his lips, trying hard to suppress a laugh, and looked down.

    Lu Shangyan’s cheeks were burning. He stared down at his toes for a long time, hesitant to move.

    Finally, Pei Yumin grabbed his wrist, signaling him to go open the package.

    Lu Shangyan looked at Jian Guo again. Seeing that he wasn’t stifling his laughter anymore, he finally walked over. “Put that away.”

    He glanced at the cabinet. “Hide it deep inside.”

    Pei Yumin was noncommittal. After entering the room, he placed the bag on the bedside table and turned to leave.

    Lu Shangyan stood in the doorway, watching him. Pei Yumin had no choice but to turn back and put it inside the cabinet as requested.

    At least he wasn’t being asked to throw it away; anywhere was fine.

    When Jian Guo saw them emerge, he gave Xia Li a look, and both of them simultaneously looked up.

    Lu Shangyan quickly averted his gaze and changed the subject. “Why didn’t you take it straight home? There’s no room for it here.”

    “What were you two doing in the room just now?” Jian Guo wasn’t buying it. “And Lu Shangyan, why is your face so red? Did you go in there to kiss?”

    Lu Shangyan instantly felt his lips heat up too. “No, I was standing at the door. I didn’t go inside.”

    Jian Guo mimicked his words. “Di-dn’t go in-side, standing at the door.”

    Pei Yumin narrowed his eyes. “Hand the bracelet back.”

    Jian Guo immediately corrected himself. “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

    He said it, but there wasn’t an ounce of remorse on his face. Lu Shangyan didn’t want to argue any further.

    He had the thinnest skin among these people.

    Jian Guo and Xia Li didn’t stay long. Now that Pei Yumin was back and could keep Lu Shangyan company, they felt awkward staying there as third wheels.

    Most importantly, Jian Guo noticed that Lu Shangyan was having trouble moving and needed rest.

    Just as they announced they were leaving, Zhao Jian slowly walked in from outside. He wasn’t wearing women’s clothes today, instead sporting a large padded jacket and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.

    Jian Guo was about to step out when they unexpectedly met eyes. Jian Guo noticed that Zhao Jian’s eyelids were severely swollen and red.

    “What happened to you?!”

    Although they constantly bickered, Jian Guo didn’t want Zhao Jian to be genuinely sad or upset.

    Zhao Jian shook his head, clearing his throat before speaking. “I’m fine.”

    His voice was still very hoarse, and Jian Guo almost didn’t catch what he said.

    “Do you look fine?! You look completely dejected, and your eyes are so swollen.”

    His voice drew attention, so Zhao Jian quickly went inside and closed the door to prevent people in the hallway from hearing.

    “I really am fine,” he insisted. Seeing Jian Guo look determined not to give up, he reluctantly explained, “It’s just that Shi Yu was away on a business trip two days ago, and he just got back yesterday.”

    Jian Guo looked him up and down. While he might be slow to react in other areas, he was lightning-fast in this regard.

    He started staring at Zhao Jian with the same knowing, meaningful look he had given Lu Shangyan earlier.

    Zhao Jian wasn’t as thin-skinned as Lu Shangyan. He immediately burst out laughing. “Jealous of me?”

    Jian Guo scoffed. “Impossible.”

    Knowing Zhao Jian was okay, he immediately reverted to his usual self. “Why would I be jealous of you?”

    Zhao Jian patted his own chest. “What’s wrong with me? Successful career, happy family life, and I’m so kind. What’s wrong with being jealous of me?”

    Jian Guo rolled his eyes. “We’re leaving, and you only just arrived.”

    Lu Shangyan had been worried about Zhao Jian, but now seeing him, he couldn’t help but look closely. “Actually, if you were busy, you didn’t have to make the trip. I’m fine here in the hospital.”

    Zhao Jian said, “I have nothing to do at home either.”

    Pei Yumin looked at Zhao Jian, sighed deeply, and then secretly grabbed Lu Shangyan’s hand, his thoughts drifting back to the box in the cabinet.

    “Wife, Tun Tun’s birth is officially counting down. We’ll have our world for two again soon.”

    He was hinting at something. Lu Shangyan twisted his wrist, trying to pull his hand away, but Pei Yumin held on tightly. After several failed attempts, he finally gave up.

    Xia Li was still organizing her backpack nearby. She turned, saw the scene, immediately looked away, and then saw Zhao Jian and Jian Guo.

    A room full of men.

    She felt dizzy. Except for Zhao Jian, they all shared the same orientation!

    She didn’t want to stay and watch the public display of affection, so she said goodbye and dragged Jian Guo away.

    They still needed to go home for the New Year and had to hurry back to pack.

    Zhao Jian lived nearby. As Jian Guo left, he instructed him to visit the hospital often when he wasn’t busy, instead of just staying home being a “little pampered wife.”

    Zhao Jian looked at him and couldn’t help but chuckle. “I wish I could be the little pampered wife. Feel these muscles. While I’m not as big as CEO Pei, I’m more than enough compared to you.”

    Jian Guo glared at him. “Why are you comparing yourself to me?”

    Zhao Jian raised a hand and pressed it onto Jian Guo’s head. “Little pampered wife.”

    Jian Guo was defeated by him again. He decided to go home and watch online videos about how to argue, so he could challenge Zhao Jian again after the New Year.

    Once everyone had left, Zhao Jian walked over, picked up one of the small clothes that had just been unwrapped, and held it in his palm for comparison. “Wow, it’s so small, almost the size of my hand.”

    He then held the garment up by the sleeves. “It certainly looks cute.”

    After carefully folding it and setting it aside, he picked up another small outfit. “Honestly, I still find it surprising that Lu Shangyan and Pei Yumin are having a child.”

    Pei Yumin smiled. “You could too.”

    He and Shi Yu certainly could have a child, but, “I can’t give birth.”

    He also didn’t want to be the one on top; lying down was much more comfortable.

    Pei Yumin chuckled again and said nothing more.

    Zhao Jian’s phone started vibrating wildly in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw that Jian Guo was showing off in the group chat that Lu Shangyan had bought him a gift.

    [Jian Fugui (Must be the Godparent): Latecomers don’t deserve anything!]

    Lu Shangyan saw it too and pulled out a small box from the side. “This is yours.”

    Zhao Jian immediately put the item on his wrist, took a picture, and sent it to the group.

    Jian Guo was so angry he sent dozens of bomb emojis. Zhao Jian replied with a tiny red heart.

    Jian Guo got even angrier, muted the group, and decided to unblock it in ten minutes.

    Zhao Jian didn’t stay long at the hospital. He was worried that Lu Shangyan and the others might be concerned about him, as he hadn’t answered calls or had his phone turned off that morning. He wanted to show his face to prove he was okay.

    He cherished the few simple-minded friends he still had from his university days, even after graduating years ago.

    He was also worried about Lu Shangyan. The last time he visited, he saw Lu Shangyan walking unsteadily with his pregnant belly, looking like he might fall at any moment. He didn’t know how to handle it. The caregiver had told him to hold his waist or support his belly when walking, but after trying a few times, Lu Shangyan still chose to walk normally.

    He couldn’t get past that psychological barrier.

    Zhao Jian felt that Lu Shangyan, being so thin and tall, looked like he couldn’t support the belly, and every time he saw him, he felt anxious.

    “Lu Shangyan, you are truly brave.”

    Not just for struggling to leave Sui County as an orphan in the past, but also for choosing to keep this child without hesitation now. Lu Shangyan was far braver than he had imagined.

    Lu Shangyan was taken aback by the sudden praise and looked at him in confusion.

    Zhao Jian stretched. “The New Year is approaching, and Shi Yu is very busy with work. We probably won’t have time for dates. I’ll come to the hospital often to see you. If there’s anything you want me to bring, just message me.”

    He originally wanted to say he could bring food, but Pei Yumin was standing right next to Lu Shangyan. That man watched Lu Shangyan like he was the apple of his eye, practically wanting to test every bite of food with a silver needle for poison. Bringing food or drinks was probably out of the question.

    Besides, Lu Shangyan was currently in a sensitive period, and Zhao Jian was also afraid that if Lu Shangyan ate something bad and got a stomach ache, it would be disastrous.

    After seeing Zhao Jian off, Pei Yumin impatiently rushed to the cabinet, pulled out the bag, and held it out to Lu Shangyan. “Want to try it on?”

    Lu Shangyan’s brows furrowed, and he refused flatly. “No way.”

    “This is a hospital! It’s not home!”

    Pei Yumin immediately countered, “So it’s okay at home?”

    Lu Shangyan almost got tricked. “It’s not okay at home either! This isn’t the style I wear!”

    Pei Yumin insisted, “Why not? The staff there said this is their best-selling item. It’s soft, skin-friendly, and the material is excellent. Didn’t you say your chest often feels chafed? Wearing this will stop the pain.”

    Lu Shangyan’s face instantly flushed crimson. “Why do you tell other people everything?”

    Pei Yumin said, “I didn’t tell them it was you, and I certainly didn’t brag that my wife is Lu Shangyan. They just sell these things and are very knowledgeable about pregnancy symptoms.”

    The explanation was plausible. Lu Shangyan looked at his expectant expression but still bit the bullet and said, “No. Doctors and nurses might come in for rounds at any time.”

    Pei Yumin moved closer to him. “I bought two sets. The top one is a dress, and the bottom set, you can just wear the top part.”

    “If you wear it underneath and put your clothes on over it, no one will notice.”

    He whispered right next to Lu Shangyan’s ear, making Lu Shangyan’s ear tickle, and his heart flutter. His mind quickly became fuzzy. By the time he reacted, Pei Yumin had already stripped off his clothes.

    Lu Shangyan’s skin met the cold air, and he couldn’t help but shrink back.

    Pei Yumin looked down. “See? Isn’t it more swollen than usual? Even more obvious than when I suck and bite.”

    Lu Shangyan was completely red. He covered Pei Yumin’s mouth, telling him to stop talking.

    Pei Yumin wickedly licked his palm, his voice muffled. “People come in here often, so we can’t be naked like before, and I can’t give you warm compresses often.”

    “Wearing this will make you much more comfortable. I genuinely want what’s best for you.”

    Lu Shangyan looked conflicted. He hadn’t had a chance all day to unbutton his shirt and apply a warm compress to ease the discomfort in his chest.

    Moreover, the surgery was being scheduled soon, and doctors were coming more frequently than before. He would have even fewer opportunities later.

    Seeing that he was tempted, Pei Yumin immediately took the small garment out of the bag. “Please, just wear it?”

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