14 You are pregnant.

The cell phone ringtone cut off abruptly, leaving only a single missed call displayed on the screen.

Shen Zhi set the phone down and turned his head toward the sound he had just heard, spotting a tall man walking toward him from not far away. The man was also holding a phone, the screen lit up to reveal his recent calls list.

"Shen Zhi!" the man called out again, waving at him.

Shen Zhi looked at the somewhat familiar face. It was Xu Lin.

They had been chatting on and off for a while, and Xu Lin had sent him countless photos of himself. Although Shen Zhi hadn't made a conscious effort to memorize Xu Lin's appearance, he couldn't help but be influenced by the sheer volume of images. But why was Xu Lin here?

Before Shen Zhi could process this, Xu Lin had already jogged up to him. Xu Lin was a bit taller than Shen Zhi, sporting a neat, short haircut. He looked young, sunny, and cheerful—the kind of person who easily makes a good impression.

Shen Zhi, however, didn't react much. He put his phone back in his pocket, keeping his hands tucked inside. "Xu Lin?"

"It’s me!" Xu Lin smiled, revealing a set of straight, white teeth. His eyes and brows were filled with delight. He gave Shen Zhi a quick once-over before saying, "I saw you when you came out, but I didn't dare to be sure. I called just to confirm it was you when I saw you pull out your phone."

"What are you doing here?" Shen Zhi asked.

At this, Xu Lin rubbed his chin and gave an embarrassed laugh, though he didn't try to hide his intentions. "I sent you so many messages yesterday and you didn't reply to a single one. I waited until this morning, and since I was worried about you, I asked your aunt for your company address. I thought I'd come and try my luck."

Xu Lin was clever. Even though he usually lacked boundaries and loved to bombard people with messages, he could sense that Shen Zhi wasn't particularly enthusiastic about him. Afraid of being disliked, he hadn't dared to go directly to Shen Zhi's home, choosing instead to wait downstairs at the office.

Of course, this approach still made Shen Zhi frown. He felt a bit uncomfortable, but considering Xu Lin had been introduced by his aunt, he suppressed his annoyance.

"Are you not working today?"

"I'm on leave." Xu Lin chuckled, then glanced at the car slowly pulling up in front of Shen Zhi. "Are you heading out?"

Shen Zhi hummed in acknowledgment, not mentioning where he was going. Assistant Ma, sitting in the driver's seat, saw the stranger standing next to Shen Zhi and noticed they were talking, so he tactfully remained in the car.

Xu Lin checked his watch. "It's only twelve o'clock. Have you had lunch?"

Shen Zhi’s gaze swept over the expensive watch without a trace of emotion. After a brief silence, he bowed his head and gestured with his chin toward Assistant Ma in the car. Assistant Ma immediately lowered the window.

"Xiao Ma, take the car back first. I’ll have lunch with a friend and give you a call when I’m done."

Assistant Ma reminded him, "Mr. Shen, you need to be fasting for your checkup."

"I know," Shen Zhi said. "I won't eat."

Once Assistant Ma drove off, Shen Zhi turned to Xu Lin. "You haven't eaten yet, right?"

"I came before the lunch rush," Xu Lin said honestly. Recalling what Shen Zhi had just said, he asked, "You aren't eating?"

Shen Zhi explained, "I have a physical exam at the hospital this afternoon. I need to fast, so I can't eat, but I can accompany you."

"A physical exam?" Xu Lin asked nervously. "Are you sick?"

"Just a minor issue."

Shen Zhi didn't want to discuss his personal affairs, so he didn't dwell on it. He asked Xu Lin what he wanted to eat, and upon hearing that it didn't matter, he decided to take him to a restaurant nearby that he frequented.

As they were about to leave, Xu Lin asked him to wait a moment; his car was parked close by. Shen Zhi followed him and discovered that Xu Lin had driven a Maybach. As if suddenly noticing something, he looked Xu Lin over and realized he had dressed quite formally and styled his hair specifically for the occasion.

Once in the car, Xu Lin steered and asked, "Were you busy all day yesterday?"

"Yes."

Shen Zhi stared ahead, hands still tucked in his pockets. He wore a bulky down jacket, and sitting in the passenger seat, he seemed to sink entirely into the garment.

Xu Lin glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Busy with what?"

"The company's annual meeting."

Shen Zhi's tone was flat, yet it carried a lazy, languid quality. Xu Lin swallowed hard, his ears itching slightly.

After parking, they went to the restaurant and were led by a waiter to a window seat on the second floor. Since Shen Zhi wasn't eating or even drinking water, Xu Lin ordered only for himself, chatting with Shen Zhi as he ate.

"Actually, we met a long time ago," Xu Lin said. "At the welcome banquet when Sheng Jun returned to the country. I was sitting next to him, and you arrived late. Sheng Jun introduced us, and we exchanged greetings. Do you remember?"

Xu Lin looked at Shen Zhi with anticipation.

Shen Zhi had no memory of it. Even after a careful mental search, he couldn't recall anything.

"Sheng Jun has been back for four years now," Shen Zhi remarked.

"True, it has been a while." Xu Lin masked the disappointment in his eyes and smiled. "I had a very deep impression of you, so when my mother mentioned you, you have no idea how shocked I was."

Shen Zhi just smiled. He suspected he had drunk too much coffee that morning, as his stomach was beginning to ache again. The dishes Xu Lin had ordered were light and looked fine, but the smell wafting toward him made him feel nauseous. He fought back the urge to gag several times.

Xu Lin remained oblivious, chattering on. "I really didn't expect you to like men too. I heard you've been on many blind dates with women. How did you discover you liked men?"

Shen Zhi clutched his abdomen with one hand, waiting a moment before replying, "I didn't feel anything for women, so I decided to try finding a man."

"Then you must be one of us," Xu Lin said. "I realized I liked men in high school. I felt nothing for the girls in my class but kept noticing the boys. It wasn't until I met my first love that I was certain of my orientation."

Shen Zhi gave a noncommittal hum. The smell of the food continued to assault him, making it agonizing to sit there.

Xu Lin set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and leaned forward, looking intently at Shen Zhi. "Shen Zhi, I really like you. You’re my type. When I learned I was going to meet you, I was so excited I couldn't sleep all night. I’m really happy to be here with you." He paused, then added, "Can I ask a rather private question?"

Shen Zhi took a breath, steeling himself. "Go ahead."

"Are you more of a top or a bottom?"

"..."

"Personally, I lean toward being a top, but I’m not opposed to being a bottom. If you’re a bottom, we’re a perfect match. If you want to be the top, I can be the bottom for you..."

Before he could finish, Shen Zhi stood up abruptly. His chair scraped harshly against the floor, drawing the attention of guests at nearby tables. Xu Lin was startled, his voice cutting off as he looked up at Shen Zhi.

Shen Zhi’s face was expressionless; he couldn't even be bothered with the pretense of politeness anymore. "Xu Lin, do you think this is an appropriate conversation to have right now?"

Xu Lin blushed and quickly apologized. Shen Zhi looked down at him. Xu Lin was not only clever but also moved with ease, quick to climb a pole and just as quick to descend a slope. It was no wonder he had managed to reach his position at the Procuratorate.

After a long silence, Shen Zhi asked, "Are you done?"

Xu Lin nodded hurriedly. "Yes."

Shen Zhi tried to pay the bill, but Xu Lin stopped him. Looking guilty, Xu Lin insisted on paying for his own meal and offered to drive Shen Zhi back to the office. Shen Zhi declined. The restaurant was only a few hundred meters away, and driving would actually take longer.

However, in that short time, Shen Zhi’s anger had mostly dissipated. He realized that many of Xu Lin’s behaviors weren't malicious; in Xu Lin’s mind, his words and actions were likely perfectly normal. This didn't surprise Shen Zhi; he had heard that Xu Lin had come out to his family long ago and had spent several years living quite freely before deciding to settle down as he got older. Shen Zhi had seen many people like this who enjoyed the social scene.

Xu Lin wasn't offended by the rejection. Afraid of upsetting Shen Zhi again, he kept his attitude almost humble.

"Then let me walk you to the crosswalk."

"No need," Shen Zhi refused again. "You should go, too."

Xu Lin stood still, saying cautiously, "I offended you just now. I’m not very bright, and I didn't think it through. Please don't be upset."

Shen Zhi frowned. Seeing the light turn green on the other side of the pedestrian crossing, he said coolly, "I’m leaving."

As he turned, Xu Lin suddenly reached out. "Shen Zhi, wait..."

Shen Zhi’s hands weren't in his pockets, and Xu Lin caught hold of one. Xu Lin’s palm was burning hot, pressing directly against the back of Shen Zhi’s cold hand. The moment their skin touched, Shen Zhi reacted violently, spinning around and jerking his arm away.

But at that exact moment, the familiar sensation returned. Before Shen Zhi could even turn his head, he doubled over and retched.

Xu Lin: "..."

***

Half an hour later, they arrived at the hospital.

It was a private hospital that operated by appointment, so it wasn't crowded. Shen Zhi had an appointment for two o'clock and was over half an hour early. Because Sheng Jun held shares in the hospital, Shen Zhi received special treatment; after verifying his identity at the front desk, he was immediately sent for his physical exam.

Xu Lin had brought him there and insisted on staying, but Shen Zhi wouldn't let him into the examination rooms, making him wait in the lounge.

Midway through the exams, Xiao Ma rushed over. The process was extensive and took nearly an hour. Shen Zhi, holding the results that had come out first, sat in the lounge with Xu Lin while letting Xiao Ma handle the rest.

Xu Lin was worried, glancing at Shen Zhi from time to time. The hospital was warm with the heat turned on, but Shen Zhi remained bundled in his down jacket, looking listless and exceptionally pale.

Shen Zhi had monolids with a slight double-eyelid crease, thin eyelids, and long, slightly upturned eyes that looked almost like phoenix eyes but rounder. They were beautiful eyes. His lips were pale, and his skin was fair and clean. Whether due to his natural features or his dislike of expressive facial movements, he always looked calm, almost aloof. But if you spent time with him, you’d realize that while he was quiet, he never let a conversation die, nor did he ever put on airs. He seemed distant, but was actually quite easy to get along with.

Xu Lin had encountered people like Shen Zhi before—several of his ex-boyfriends were similar. Coming from wealthy business families, pampered from childhood, and successful in their careers, they all had little quirks. The common trait among his ex-boyfriends was an inherent sense of superiority hidden beneath the surface, which would inevitably emerge during arguments, leading to sharp, cutting remarks.

Xu Lin didn't want to compare Shen Zhi to them, but given his past experiences, his interest in Shen Zhi only continued to grow. It was just that Shen Zhi’s health was so poor—he had been retching all the way to the hospital, frightening Xu Lin enough that he had almost run a red light.

Xu Lin wanted to express his concern, but Shen Zhi had already closed his eyes, resting his head on his fluffy down jacket collar.

Just then, footsteps echoed. Assistant Ma’s leather shoes clicked against the tile floor. He jogged over, his voice waking Shen Zhi.

Shen Zhi sat up slowly. Assistant Ma wasn't holding any reports. He said, "Mr. Shen, Dr. Li wants to see you."

Shen Zhi, having just dozed off, was a bit dazed. "What’s wrong?"

"I'm not sure," Assistant Ma said, scratching his head. "He seemed to be in a hurry and asked me to bring you over."

Shen Zhi cleared his head and followed Assistant Ma to an office. Xu Lin tried to follow them inside, but Assistant Ma caught him with a sharp glance, stopping him. Assistant Ma didn't enter either, instead closing the door from the outside.

Three doctors—a mix of men and women—were standing inside, huddled around the test reports held by the doctor in the center. As Shen Zhi entered, all three looked up, eyeing him with varying expressions.

Shen Zhi recognized the doctor in the middle; his surname was Li. He stopped at the desk and asked, "Dr. Li, is there a problem with my health?"

Dr. Li gestured to the chair beside him. "Mr. Shen, please sit."

Shen Zhi sat down as instructed. Dr. Li sat opposite him, while the other two doctors remained standing by the desk, showing no sign of leaving. Dr. Li’s expression was somber. He flipped through the reports, looked at Shen Zhi several times, and finally spoke.

"You’ve undergone several tests, and the results indicate that you are pregnant. We can't determine the exact gestation period yet, so we would like to schedule an ultrasound."

Shen Zhi froze, doubting he had heard correctly. "Who is pregnant?"

"You," Dr. Li said. "You are pregnant."

"..."

Shen Zhi suspected that Dr. Li had made a mistake or that the report belonged to someone else. But surely, even Dr. Li could tell he was a man. How could a man be pregnant?

Dr. Li handed the report to Shen Zhi and added, "Have you been experiencing frequent nausea, vomiting, and fatigue lately?"

Shen Zhi looked at the report, but his mind raced back to the physical irregularities he had experienced over the last two months, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"And frequent urination, as well as mood swings," Dr. Li added.

Shen Zhi looked up, opening his mouth, but he couldn't refute it. Dr. Li was right.

"These are all signs of pregnancy," Dr. Li said, pausing. "You’ve had same-sex sexual activity recently, right? And you were the receiving partner."

Shen Zhi didn't speak, his hand trembling as he held the report. He remembered the things he had cleaned out after those incidents. He and He Si had used condoms, but somehow, at some point, they had stopped.

Seeing Shen Zhi’s pale face, Dr. Li comforted him, "There are precedents for male pregnancy. Everyone’s physique is different, and circumstances vary. This report doesn't tell us enough yet. You should get an ultrasound first, and we can discuss the rest after that."