DREB CHAPTER 75

The butler signed for the box of books, and Lu Lianning carried it into his study, not coming out for the rest of the evening. By the time he finally emerged, Li Yan was already asleep.

Recently, Lu Lianning had been spending much more time at home than usual. Considering it was nearing the end of the year, he should have been busier.

With him around, Li Yan had little opportunity to go out. His main activity each day was digging the soil and watering the flowers in the garden. Even then, the butler often took over those tasks.

By the time Li Yan reached five months, he woke up one night to use the bathroom. His steps were unsteady, and he wasn’t fully awake.

After finishing, he shuffled to the sink to wash his hands. Suddenly, he felt something move inside his belly. At first, he thought he was imagining it. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and froze, letting the water run over his hands until they turned red from the heat.

The man in the mirror had a swollen belly, but his arms were as thin as ever. He stepped back, noticing that his legs hadn’t changed much either.

How had he gained weight only in his stomach? His mind was a swirl of confusion. He recalled all the times he had vomited during meals, Lu Lianning’s strange behavior, and the injections. Then, another thought hit him—Chonk. He hadn’t seen Chonk in a long time.

His gaze finally settled on his belly. Trembling, he lifted his oversized pajamas and placed a hand on it. The movement inside happened again.

This time, he was sure it wasn’t his imagination. His eyes widened in disbelief.

The terrifying truth began to sink in. His breathing quickened as he stumbled out of the bathroom. There, he saw the culprit, lying in the same position they’d been sleeping in together—on his side with his arms stretched out, eyes closed under the soft glow of the nightlight.

In the middle of the night, Lu Lianning was roused by barely audible sounds. He couldn’t believe such quiet noises had woken him. His arm moved slightly, but the space beside him was cold.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Sleepiness disappeared as he turned his head toward the source of the sound, his breath catching for a moment.

Li Yan sat on the bay window, legs pulled to his chest, the window wide open.

Lu Lianning knew the pregnancy couldn’t be hidden from Li Yan forever. No matter how capable he was, it was impossible for Li Yan to unknowingly carry his child. All he had managed to do was delay the inevitable, spinning one lie after another. He wasn’t sure how Li Yan had felt in the past when lying to him—whether he’d been nervous or uneasy. Now, Lu Lianning didn’t feel as confident as he appeared.

But what were the chances that Li Yan would willingly have a child with him?

Lu Lianning wasn’t like Li Yan. He wouldn’t take a gamble with no chance of winning.

Slowly, he pulled back the covers, walked over to Li Yan, and reached out to close the window.

Li Yan remained still, tears slipping down his face one by one, landing on his round belly with soft “plops.”

He slowly lifted his red eyes to meet Lu Lianning’s gaze. “Am I pregnant?”

After a long silence, Lu Lianning stopped hiding the truth. “Yes.”

Li Yan’s tears streamed down even more intensely. With red-rimmed eyes, he demanded, “Even someone who’s not a compulsive liar can still deceive people, huh?” He stared at Lu Lianning, who stood there calmly as if responding to something trivial.

The answer hit Li Yan like a stone sinking completely into his chest. Closing his eyes, he spoke slowly, each word deliberate. “Lu Lianning, no Beta can have children. You’re trying to kill me.”

As if burned by the word “kill,” Lu Lianning immediately denied it, “No.” His response came so quickly even he hadn’t fully processed it. After a brief pause, he gathered his thoughts, trying to reassure Li Yan, “I promise, nothing will happen.”

But his promise did nothing to soothe him.

“Get rid of it. Can it be aborted?” Li Yan suddenly stood up, grabbing Lu Lianning, crying and pleading, “I’m begging you… please… Lu Lianning, I’m begging you. I don’t want to give birth…”

“I’m begging you… please…” Li Yan sobbed so miserably that he could barely catch his breath.

Lu Lianning stood there silently. He knew Li Yan wasn’t the type to cry or beg for mercy. Except when he deliberately tormented him in bed, Li Yan rarely shed tears.

Lu Lianning reached out to wipe his tears away, but Li Yan was crying so hard he could hardly breathe. Lu Lianning’s tone turned harsh. “Stop crying!” His face remained cold, trying to intimidate him as he had before. “You know I don’t soften when it comes to you. Crying won’t work!”

He lifted Li Yan off the bay window. His body was ice-cold, and Lu Lianning had no idea how long he’d been sitting there in the chilly wind.

He placed Li Yan back under the blanket, holding him close and pressing his icy feet between his own thighs to warm them.

However, Li Yan couldn’t stop crying. All the usual ways to calm him had failed tonight. Lu Lianning continued wiping away his endless stream of tears.

At that moment, Lu Lianning had a stark realization. In the days to come, restraining his love for Li Yan would prove to be far harder than controlling his temper ever had been.

People who love each other, even if they quarrel, have conflicts, or hurt one another, still leave room for reconciliation. But those who hate each other don’t.

He knew that his treatment of Li Yan had been too extreme, leaving almost no space for repair. Yet, he refused to admit he had been wrong.

He needed to hate Li Yan to maintain his sense of invincibility around him.

But that sense of invincibility crumbled tonight, beneath the flow of Li Yan’s tears.

It didn’t take long before Li Yan had soaked Lu Lianning’s shoulder with his tears. Lu Lianning wrapped his arms around him, gently rubbing his back and trying to help him calm his breathing. In the warm orange glow of the lamp, he fumbled for words that might ease Li Yan’s pain.

It was difficult for him; he was undeniably inexperienced. Struggling, he said, “We’ll only have this one. I won’t make you get pregnant again.”

He tried to offer something more, holding Li Yan’s trembling body in his arms. “From now on… I’ll treat you better…”

But that night, Li Yan didn’t say another word to him.

Suddenly, Lu Lianning experienced a moment of clarity. It wasn’t as he had thought. He had believed Li Yan to be a very traditional person, which was why they needed a child. He had assumed that someone like Li Yan would take on the responsibility, raise the child with him, and navigate the tedious yet tender challenges of parenthood together.

But in reality, it was only him—he was the only one who wanted to build a family with Li Yan.

That night, 27-year-old Lu Lianning made a wish. He hoped their child would be a girl, preferably an Omega. He hoped Li Yan would love her more and, perhaps in the process, she wouldn’t hate her other father as much.