Chapter 42 Part 1

Song Mian wasn’t sure if Lin Zhi was scared or just stalling for time, but Lin Zhi managed to drag it out for another week. Finally, when Lin Zhi started munching on sour plum candies frequently again, Song Mian refused to let it go any longer.

“Propose marriage.”

Lin Zhi opened his mouth to speak, but Song Mian threatened, “Stall one more day, and your child becomes a bastard.”

Bastard!!!

Lin Zhi pointed at his belly. “It’s your baby too.”

Song Mian ignored him.

Lin Zhi had a reason for stalling. He wanted to wait for his system buddy to return and satisfy his curiosity, but the system had vanished without a trace after leaving! The idea of a guy going to his parents to propose marriage still freaked Lin Zhi out.

He was even willing to sneak off with Song Mian to get their marriage certificate. But Song Mian got all serious about it and refused to do anything underhanded.

sigh.

“Shouldn’t a husband give me a proper title sooner? Do you want me to be your secret lover?” Suddenly, Song Mian spoke up in a low, melancholic tone.

Lin Zhi’s expression turned strange. He rubbed his belly, popped another sour plum candy, then headbutted Song Mian’s chest hard. Looking up with a paternal air, he said, “Who asked me to play the husband role? Fine, whatever you want.”

Song Mian rubbed his chest and murmured, “Husband’s the best.”

Song Mian just loved saying things that appealed to macho egos. Lin Zhi’s face flushed red, and he buried himself in the bed shyly. Song Mian lay down beside him and whispered, “But husband, I’m a little nervous.”

Lin Zhi tilted his head, propping up his face with a patriarchal vibe. “What do you want me to do?”

“Do it once.”

Holy crap!!

Lin Zhi covered his face and waved him off in refusal. Song Mian pressed forward assertively, sealing Lin Zhi’s mouth with his own. As they kissed, Lin Zhi softened. Being a lustful man himself, he half-heartedly resisted before letting Song Mian have his way again.

Afterward, he regretted it deeply—very deeply. He lay there touching his belly in a funk for a while, then glanced at Song Mian, who was casually flipping through recipes without a care for the baby. After some thought, Lin Zhi searched his phone, found an e-book on prenatal education, and sent it to Song Mian.

Song Mian was puzzled when he received it. He glanced at Lin Zhi, who said in an old-man tone, “Prenatal education is important. As the baby’s other dad, you need to put in some effort.”

Song Mian opened it and saw it was a collection of clever little stories. He glanced at Lin Zhi’s belly and said, “No need.”

Lin Zhi propped himself up on the bed and leaned close, glaring. “You’re saying you won’t even do prenatal education now? Want to be a dad without lifting a finger? No such thing!”

Song Mian opened his mouth, but Lin Zhi clamped a hand over it.

Lin Zhi said sarcastically, “Don’t you dare say I didn’t get pregnant. That’s no excuse. Song Mian, read!”

Lin Zhi was being quite fierce.

Song Mian, in a good mood, read aloud.

Lin Zhi obediently lay back down. Thinking about his earlier performance, he felt he had some real presence—nothing like a delicate wife. He didn’t know if prenatal education worked, but he fell asleep to the sound of the stories.

Saturday.

Lin Zhi’s family lived in a county under A City. His foster mother, Xu Xia, was a local civil servant, while his foster father, a lawyer, was away handling a case. His little sister, Lin Tong, was six and still in kindergarten.

When they arrived at the neighborhood, Song Mian pulled out cigarettes, liquor, high-end ladies’ skincare products, and a full set of Barbie dolls from the trunk. Lin Zhi was shocked.

“When did you buy all this?” Lin Zhi had assumed Song Mian was showing up empty-handed for the proposal.

Song Mian couldn’t carry it all with two hands and handed the Barbie dolls to Lin Zhi.

“After the hot springs,” Song Mian said.

Lin Zhi eyed him suspiciously. “You planned the proposal ages ago?”

“Yeah, but it’s not exactly a proposal—more like meeting the parents. I thought about it last night; it’s not right to propose the second you walk in the door.”

Lin Zhi wasn’t picky about that stuff; he was just curious. “Not worried it’ll expire?”

Song Mian waved it off grandly. “I’ll just buy more.”

Lin Zhi was impressed!

At the door, Lin Zhi had a sudden thought and warned, “Don’t say anything tonight. If you flip the table, we won’t eat, can’t order takeout at night, and we’ll starve. Wait until we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Song Mian stayed silent, so Lin Zhi channeled his inner family head again. “Did you hear me?”

Song Mian’s eye twitched, but he agreed.

Once inside, Lin Tong, who had been watching TV, heard them and waited at the door. She excitedly called for her brother, then stared wide-eyed at the giant Barbie doll Lin Zhi handed her. Cleverly, she turned to Song Mian and said while hugging it, “You’re Brother Song Mian! Mom said Brother’s friend Song Mian was coming over. You bought this, right?”

This sister didn’t look like Lin Zhi at all, but oddly, Lin Zhi saw a bit of himself in her.

Song Mian was polite. “Yeah, do you like it?”

Lin Tong nodded vigorously. “I love it! My brother would never buy girly stuff like this—he only gets me mechs. I’m so happy! Brother Song Mian, can you be my brother too? If not, can you play with my brother forever?”

Lin Zhi’s eyes widened. What the heck was she saying?

Song Mian’s lips curved up. He crouched down and patted her head. “Of course.”

“Yay yay yay!”

Xu Xia came out of the kitchen. Seeing Song Mian’s gifts, she looked helpless. “Song Mian, you shouldn’t have. First time visiting and you bring such expensive stuff—we feel bad. Zhizhi mentions you a lot. You look decent, and thanks for taking care of our Zhizhi.”

Song Mian’s voice softened. “It’s nothing. Zhizhi deserves it.”

Lin Zhi wanted to retort but shut up under Song Mian’s cool glance.

What a show-off!

Xu Xia thought the two boys’ dynamic was amusing. “Dinner’s almost ready. Zhizhi, I made your favorite carrot stir-fry and braised radish. Song Mian, I didn’t know your tastes, but Zhizhi said they’re the same as his.”

Song Mian accepted it.

That night, there was a guest room, but Xu Xia didn’t prepare it. She put Lin Zhi and Song Mian in the same room. While Song Mian was checking out his room, Lin Zhi dashed to his mom’s room. Xu Xia was squatting on the floor admiring Song Mian’s gifts. “Make Song Mian sleep in the guest room! I won’t share with him.”

Xu Xia jumped. “You’ve been buddies since freshman year—why not now?”

Lin Zhi figured sharing a bed would complicate things when Song Mian brought up the real topic tomorrow. He mumbled vaguely, “Just can’t.”

Xu Xia assumed they had a little spat. She stood and sat on the bed. “Fight?”

Lin Zhi touched his belly and suddenly got an idea. Gazing sincerely at Xu Xia, he asked, “No. Mom, what do you think about men giving birth?”

Xu Xia was speechless and ignored it.

“Do you know how much this stuff from Song Mian costs?”

Lin Zhi shook his head.

“Mom still hasn’t answered my question.”

Xu Xia said, “The liquor isn’t even listed online—I asked your dad. One bottle’s worth 200,000.”

Lin Zhi was stunned!

He’d thought maybe a few thousand at most!

“And the skincare—each one’s pricey.” She pointed at the watch on Lin Zhi’s wrist. “That’s from Song Mian too, right?”

Lin Zhi had gotten used to wearing it and forgot to take it off. He tensed up. Was he outing himself?

“Mom?” he called softly.

Xu Xia patted his hand and chatted casually. “He’s too generous with you. Zhizhi, thought about how to repay him?”

He was giving Song Mian a baby!

Lin Zhi looked innocent.

“We can’t accept this—too expensive. I’ll have your dad send you money to buy Song Mian a gift.” Xu Xia advised, “Get along well with him. He’s a good friend—no snobby rich-kid habits, treats you like real family. Zhizhi, mom’ll be blunt: next year in your senior internship, with his connections, you could go straight to Song Corporation and skip so many hurdles.”

Lin Zhi scratched his face. “Maybe keep it? It’s normal.”

Xu Xia knocked his head. “Normal my foot. Go to bed. I’ll talk to Song Mian in the morning.”

Lin Zhi rubbed it, persistent. “Mom, what about men giving birth?”

“Bed. Now.”

At the door, Lin Zhi stubbornly added, “You won’t think that way tomorrow.”

Xu Xia: “…”

Back in his room, Song Mian was holding a photo of four- or five-year-old Lin Zhi, holding hands with a man and woman, big round eyes staring at the camera with a hint of caution.

Song Mian asked as Lin Zhi returned, “When was this taken?”

Lin Zhi peeked. “Right after they brought me home.”

Song Mian stared at the kid’s chubby cheeks. “Why aren’t you fat?”