AMBTICBPIB Chapter 71

Generally, pregnant people tend to experience more cramps as their pregnancy progresses.

However, apart from one minor cramp Chu Yi had experienced earlier, he hadn’t had any since.

Chu Yi had convinced himself that he was one of those lucky individuals who wouldn’t suffer from cramps. After all, Dr. Meng always assured him during check-ups that all his vital signs were excellent.

Uncle Wen prepared delicious and nutritious meals for him daily, ensuring he received a balanced diet and lacked nothing.

“I probably won’t get cramps,” Chu Yi declared confidently.

Yet that very afternoon, while studying, Chu Yi suddenly experienced a severe cramp.

As he reached for something, sharp pains shot through his leg, causing him to groan.

Shen Jin, who had just entered the room, heard him. “What’s wrong?”

“I have a cramp,” Chu Yi whimpered. “It hurts so much.”

Shen Jin immediately lifted him from the chair and laid him on the bed, propping him up against soft pillows. “Which leg is it?”

“My right leg.”

As Shen Jin massaged his leg, he asked, “Why the sudden cramp? Have you been sitting for too long?”

Chu Yi pursed his lips guiltily. “I don’t think so.”

Shen Jin immediately recognized the subtle expression on Chu Yi’s face.

“How long did you study today?” Shen Jin asked.

Chu Yi tried to brush it off. “Not too long.”

Shen Jin looked up at him gently. “A few hours?”

Chu Yi answered honestly, “A little over three hours? I think so.”

Shen Jin’s tone turned slightly exasperated. “That’s too long to sit. You shouldn’t study for such long stretches in the future.” This meant that Chu Yi had been sitting at the computer studying the entire time Shen Jin was at the company meeting.

He knew Chu Yi could become completely absorbed when studying, but even a healthy person would feel uncomfortable sitting for three consecutive hours without moving.

Shen Jin advised patiently, “When you study in the future, you should get up and walk around every half hour. Go outside and look around the yard. Staring at the computer for too long is bad for your eyes.”

Chu Yi grinned foolishly. “Okay, I understand. I definitely won’t sit for that long again.”

Truthfully, Chu Yi had initially planned to take breaks, but he got so engrossed in his studies that he completely forgot. The chair was so comfortable that he didn’t feel tired at all, so it never occurred to him to get up and move around.

“It’s your fault for buying such a comfortable chair,” Chu Yi said.

“Is that my fault?” Shen Jin asked.

“Of course it’s your fault,” Chu Yi insisted.

“Yes, yes, it’s my fault,” Shen Jin conceded.

Shen Jin gently massaged Chu Yi’s right leg.

Chu Yi, who was sensitive to pain, cried out, “Shen Jin, be gentler! It hurts!”

Though the pain was in Chu Yi’s leg, it stung Shen Jin’s heart. He reduced his pressure even more.

But Chu Yi complained, “Too light! I can’t feel anything.”

Shen Jin raised his left eyebrow. “Alright, I’ll use a little more force. How’s this?”

“Much better.”

Shen Jin loved how Chu Yi relied on him like this.

After massaging for over ten minutes, Chu Yi’s right leg finally relaxed.

Chu Yi wiggled his toes. “It really doesn’t hurt anymore.”

As Shen Jin rubbed his head, Chu Yi noticed a cut on Shen Jin’s finger out of the corner of his eye.

Chu Yi grabbed Shen Jin’s hand. “How did you get hurt?”

The wound looked like a knife cut.

The thought that Shen Jin might not even realize he was injured made Chu Yi’s heart ache. He had been so focused on his phone earlier that he hadn’t noticed the cut on Shen Jin’s hand, and he had even made Shen Jin massage his leg.

Seeing how anxious Chu Yi was, Shen Jin smiled reassuringly. “It’s nothing, really. I just accidentally cut myself while slicing fruit.”

“Are you sure? How could you be so careless?” Chu Yi’s eyes reddened with concern. “It must hurt terribly.”

Shen Jin joked, “Have you forgotten I don’t feel pain?”

At those words, tears spilled from Chu Yi’s eyes without warning.

Shen Jin was completely stunned. “Don’t cry,” he said hastily. “I was just teasing you. I can feel pain now, you know? Getting cut with a knife hurts, of course.”

It had been a long time since Shen Jin had seen Chu Yi cry like this. He fussed over him, feeling flustered. “Do you want to help me put on the bandage?”

Chu Yi sniffled and retrieved a bandage and a disposable iodine swab.

“Give me your hand,” Chu Yi said.

President Shen, the decisive and commanding figure he was in public, obediently extended his hand. Chu Yi carefully applied the iodine to disinfect the wound before applying the bandage.

The wound was somewhat deep, and Chu Yi still felt a pang of concern. “Be more careful next time,” he said.

“Alright, I will,” Shen Jin replied, bringing a plate of fruit to him. “Eat some fruit.”

The fruit was sweet, and the two chatted as they ate.

After the leg cramp, Chu Yi had worried he would experience them frequently, but his body seemed to be holding up well. He hadn’t had another cramp since that day.

Chu Yi had always been rather oblivious to the passage of time. It wasn’t until he was showering one day that he noticed his belly had grown remarkably round in the mirror.

He was surprised. It hadn’t seemed this round just a few days ago.

Yet his waist remained slender, and his limbs were still delicate. From the back, he looked exactly as he always had. But from the side, he looked like he was carrying a basketball under his shirt.

When Chu Yi emerged from the bathroom, Shen Jin immediately sensed his preoccupation. “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

“My belly seems to be getting bigger and bigger,” Chu Yi replied.

Shen Jin glanced at him. “It is. You’re due in just over a month.” Even Shen Jin noticed that Chu Yi looked different every day.

Chu Yi blinked in surprise. *It’s already been that long?*

Initially, Chu Yi had thought the ten months would drag on endlessly, especially during the difficult early stages when each day felt like a year. He had even convinced himself that the entire period would be unbearable.

But now he realized how quickly time could pass. Every day was filled with joy.

Since Chu Yi had taken a leave of absence from school, Shen Jin had been home with him almost every day. Even when he had to attend meetings at the company, he would return within half a day.

While managing company affairs, Shen Jin had also been preparing for Chu Yi’s delivery.

The surgeon for the operation had been confirmed, and all the baby’s essentials were fully stocked.

The day Chu Yi walked into the nursery, he was completely stunned. The room was overflowing with tiny baby items.

Uncle Wen told him that Shen Jin had personally prepared everything.

Every day, besides spending time with Chu Yi and handling company matters, Shen Jin had somehow found the time to gather all these things. Chu Yi couldn’t imagine how he had managed it.

He knew these preparations couldn’t have been done in just a day or two. Perhaps Shen Jin had started planning as soon as he learned about Chu Yi’s pregnancy, but he had never mentioned it.

Ever since Chu Yi noticed his belly growing larger, he had also begun to feel increasingly heavy and lethargic.

Shen Jin took over many tasks for him, helping him dress and put on his socks.

Even when food was right in front of him on the coffee table, Shen Jin would fetch it for him.

“Will you only pamper me like this during this time?” Chu Yi asked. “Will you stop treating me this way after the baby is born?”

Shen Jin smiled. “I’ll always pamper you.”

Chu Yi grinned foolishly.

For the past month, Shen Jin had stopped going to the office, staying by Chu Yi’s side at all times and never letting him out of his sight.

One afternoon, Chu Yi woke up after only half an hour of napping.

He had been awakened by pain—a sudden, inexplicable, and persistent ache in his abdomen.

Chu Yi frowned, unsure what the pain meant. He assumed it was just a cramp from sleeping awkwardly.

Since it wasn’t too severe, he dismissed it and tried to distract himself by scrolling through his phone.

Shen Jin, who was nearby, looked at him curiously. “Why are you awake so early today? Are you feeling unwell?”

By now, Chu Yi’s stomachache had subsided, so he didn’t mention it to Shen Jin.

It wasn’t until half an hour later, when the pain intensified, that Chu Yi realized this wasn’t normal discomfort.

“Shen Jin,” he cried, “my stomach hurts so much! It hurts so, so much!”

This was a pain Chu Yi had never experienced before, so intense it brought tears streaming down his face. Shen Jin had seen him cry before, but never in such agony.

Shen Jin’s heart ached more than Chu Yi’s. Though his brow furrowed, his voice remained gentle, reassuring Chu Yi: “Don’t be scared, Chu Yi. We’re almost at the hospital. We’ve prepared everything.”

Based on their calculations, Shen Jin and the others had scheduled Chu Yi’s surgery for ten days before his due date, wanting to spare him unnecessary suffering. They hadn’t anticipated this sudden labor, a week early.

The searing pain made Chu Yi grip Shen Jin’s hand tightly. This being his first experience with such agony, fear overwhelmed him, intensifying the pain. His hand trembled in Shen Jin’s grasp.

Large patches of tears soaked Shen Jin’s shirt, his own eyes rimmed with red.

Chu Yi sobbed, “Shen Jin, I’m so scared.” The pain was unbearable; was he going to die?

“Don’t be afraid, Chu Yi,” Shen Jin reassured him. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll stay with you.”

“It hurts so much,” Chu Yi cried, his face streaked with tears, his voice trembling with pain. “Shen Jin, it really, really hurts—worse than being scalded with boiling water, *waaaah*.”

Shen Jin’s heart felt like it was being crushed by a thousand-pound weight. His little one was the most pain-averse person he knew, and he understood exactly what Chu Yi was enduring. He should have scheduled the surgery a week earlier. Overwhelmed with self-reproach, Shen Jin unconsciously bit his lip until it bled.

The hospital had been notified and was ready. As soon as they arrived, Chu Yi was rushed into the operating room.

Shen Jin and Uncle Wen waited anxiously outside the operating room. Uncle Wen noticed Shen Jin’s tightly clenched fists and the wound on his lip. He knew that no matter what he said, Shen Jin wouldn’t be able to focus on anything but Chu Yi’s well-being.

Half an hour later, the operating room door finally opened, and a nurse emerged carrying a newborn infant.

“Congratulations, Mr. Shen! Both father and son are safe and healthy.”