Chapter 51
Shi Nuo’s mind was a whirl, struggling to process the Alpha’s words.
The implications of that short confession were unexpected, and he was afraid he had misunderstood. After a long moment, he asked hesitantly, “Every time?”
“Every time I brought back food,” Hugh Elvis replied, his expression unusually downcast.
Shi Nuo’s mouth opened and closed, then after a long pause, he mumbled, “I thought…you wanted payment for the food.”
He lowered his eyes, his expression once again a mixture of sadness and disappointment.
Hugh pursed his lips, regret evident in his eyes. “No,” he said. “I brought those things back because I wanted you to be happy.”
Those simple words dispelled the lingering shadows of Shi Nuo’s earlier distress.
He thought about the past two weeks, how Hugh, after bringing back fresh meat, hadn’t demanded anything in return, their nights filled only with kisses and gentle touches.
And the flowers, the formal dinner, the Alpha’s earnest attempts at “dating.”
None of it had been a lie.
Shi Nuo cautiously looked up, wanting to gauge the Alpha’s expression, and their eyes met.
He didn’t know what to say and quickly looked away, flustered.
The news of his pregnancy was still a shock, and he had walked from the bathroom to the dining room in a daze, only now pulling out a chair and sitting down, his mind blank.
Hugh Elvis couldn’t bear the silence. He hated it.
Even when they weren’t talking, they were usually close, cuddling on the sofa while watching movies. This distance, this quiet formality, was unsettling.
“None of it was payment. Could you…be a little happier when you eat?” he asked cautiously, his gaze fixed on Shi Nuo, observing every subtle shift in his expression.
“Okay,” Shi Nuo nodded softly.
Seeing the tension ease from his face, the sadness fading, Hugh Elvis breathed a sigh of relief.
Silence fell between them again, but this silence was different from the earlier, strained quiet.
The sweet fragrance of tea olive blossoms gradually intensified, a clear sign of relaxation, the Omega unconsciously releasing his pheromones in a comfortable environment.
Hugh, staring at the still-dazed Shi Nuo, suddenly asked, “Is it still tight? Do you want me to rub it?”
Shi Nuo’s heart skipped a beat. The tightness was still there, but he was too embarrassed to admit it.
Seeing his hesitation, Hugh continued, “Rubbing it might help.”
It concerned his health, so even before Shi Nuo could agree, he was lifted from his chair and held in the Alpha’s arms.
He raised his hands as if to protest, but he lacked the conviction.
And being held like this, his back against the Alpha’s warm, firm chest, brought a sense of comfort and security he didn’t want to break.
His hands fell to his sides, his lips pressed together, his ears burning.
The Alpha’s hand, large and strong, its touch gentle, not possessive, slowly massaged his chest.
The man’s deep voice rumbled softly, asking where it hurt, if the pressure was too much, if it felt better, and Shi Nuo, his face burning, could only stammer his replies.
After a long while, Shi Nuo lay on the dining table, his cheeks wet with tears, a bright blush staining his skin, his body flushed.
The handsome, white-haired Alpha straightened up, admiring the sight before him, his throat moving slightly.
The desire that had been left unsatisfied in the bathroom finally found its release.
Shi Nuo, coming back to his senses, ignoring his trembling legs, tried to sit up, wanting to retrieve his scattered clothes.
Hugh Elvis leaned down, kissed the top of his head, then lifted him into his arms and carried him to the bedroom.
Shi Nuo, startled, protested weakly, “No…not with the baby…”
“Just to clean you up. Nothing else,” Hugh reassured him, holding him securely.
Shi Nuo relaxed slightly, then, looking up, saw the moisture on the Alpha’s face, chest, and hands, and his cheeks flushed crimson.
Shi Nuo sat on the sofa, staring at the virtual screen, the results of his earlier scan.
So that was the reason for his weight gain.
His body’s changes, the development of his lactation ability, embarrassed him, especially since Hugh now knew.
The male Omegas he knew, even those who were married and had children, rarely experienced this.
In recent centuries, except in extremely impoverished areas, pregnant male Omegas were given infant formula or fresh milk, their own less efficient lactation ability rarely utilized.
There was no formula here, no way to order sterilized fresh milk, so if he could breastfeed, it would ensure the baby’s nourishment, which was a good thing.
But the thought still embarrassed him, and he closed the display, his cheeks burning, trying to calm himself.
There was no point in dwelling on it. It was already happening.
Fortunately, they were alone here, and no one else would know.
Ten minutes later, Hugh Elvis emerged from the kitchen, carrying their breakfast.
Shi Nuo quickly went to the dining table. He had woken up early, and after all the…activity, he was finally having breakfast.
The warm rice porridge was fragrant, and there were two peeled boiled eggs and a small plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots with diced chicken.
The chicken was from the snow chicken Hugh had caught earlier. They had roasted two, their meat tender and delicious, and the remaining one had been deboned and diced.
It wasn’t the first time Shi Nuo had eaten Hugh’s cooking. The chicken was slightly burnt, but the flavor was good, and he dutifully ate it all.
Hugh Elvis sat beside him, eating half a bowl of porridge and a few bamboo shoots. He glanced at the slightly charred chicken pieces, which he hadn’t eaten himself and hadn’t given to Shi Nuo.
He would have to be more careful next time.
After Shi Nuo finished eating, Hugh put down his chopsticks. “I’m going out tomorrow to buy some baby supplies. Make a list of anything you need, like last time.”
Shi Nuo paused, then looked up at Hugh. “To the black market again?”
Hugh considered this. “There are shops on the black market, but they’re not as…regulated. It’s better to buy baby supplies somewhere else.”
A flicker of hope appeared in Shi Nuo’s eyes. “Can I go with you?”
“Yes,” Hugh Elvis agreed.
Shi Nuo’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t seen another person in months, since summer, almost eight months of isolation.
He opened his optical brain and started making a list, carefully noting everything he wanted. It wasn’t easy to go shopping; they had to travel to another planet.
He had already been thinking about the baby’s formula.
His lactation ability was still developing, and it wasn’t guaranteed to be sufficient. Not all male Omegas could successfully breastfeed, and if he couldn’t produce enough milk, the baby would go hungry.
He needed to prepare formula, clothes, toys, everything, just in case the baby arrived early.
This thought made him anxious, and he turned to Hugh. “How long is a white wolf’s gestation period?”
Hugh Elvis thought for a moment. “About eight months.”
He glanced at Shi Nuo’s stomach. “It’s been almost two months. Just six more to go.”
At two months, the pregnancy wasn’t visible under his clothes, which was why they hadn’t noticed.
Hugh looked up again. “Have there been any new birthing assistance devices? We should get one if possible.”
Shi Nuo tried to recall but shook his head. “I haven’t been keeping up with those.”
He had no experience with childbirth. Even when visiting new parents, it was always at the hospital or their homes, and no one discussed birthing equipment.
“We’ll have Long Xu check when we get there,” Hugh Elvis said, then hesitated, looking at Shi Nuo. “Is it alright if we don’t hire a doctor for now?”
“After three months, I’ll be able to sense the baby’s development. And Long Xu’s scanning functions are advanced. It can switch to medical mode and monitor both your and the baby’s vital signs.”
“As for a chef…I can learn to cook. I’ll have Long Xu download some recipes and instructional videos.”
His childhood experiences had made him wary of having too many people around. More people meant more potential threats.
He pursed his lips. “With a baby…not everyone is trustworthy.”
Beastmen were fiercely protective of their mates and offspring, especially their vulnerable young. Shi Nuo nodded. “I remember there are some intelligent prenatal checkup devices available. They’re quite expensive, though.”
Hugh wasn’t concerned about the cost. As long as it wasn’t illegal, even expensive items wouldn’t be prohibitively so.
He stood up to clear the table. “We still have over a hundred energy crystals. We can have Long Xu dig up some more.”
Shi Nuo remembered the wristband spatial storage device Hugh had given him, filled with large energy crystals. Their pure, concentrated energy was evident even to him, and each one was worth at least a hundred thousand star coins.
They would be buying medical equipment, some of which could be large and expensive, so it was better to have more funds available.
Hugh Elvis carried the dishes to the kitchen, his mental energy surging.
Shi Nuo felt the black crystal pendant around his neck pulse, and a moment later, Long Xu materialized outside, its massive, dark gray form visible through the window.
“Go to the previous mining site and dig up some crystals,” Hugh instructed casually.
Long Xu immediately pinpointed the location and flew away.
After the mecha was gone, Shi Nuo followed Hugh into the kitchen. The Alpha didn’t let him wash the dishes, so he stood there, thinking about what clothes to buy for the baby. He didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl, so he would buy a set for each.
The sound of running water filled the kitchen, and the man washing dishes suddenly asked, “Do you prefer Long Xu?”
“Hmm?” Shi Nuo looked at him, puzzled.
“You seem to like Long Xu a lot. You take pictures with it, have it take you out.” Hugh Elvis’s tone was casual, as if just making conversation.
Shi Nuo paused. Long Xu was just a mecha, but it felt…reliable, and he did enjoy its company.
And during Hugh’s hibernation, Long Xu had been his constant companion. He didn’t want to lie. “Yes,” he admitted.
Hugh stopped washing the dishes and looked up, his expression unreadable. “Why do you prefer it? You were so happy when it built you a snowman. When I brought you nuts, you weren’t as happy.”
Shi Nuo suddenly understood. “I…I didn’t know the food wasn’t payment,” he said cautiously, then added softly, “And Long Xu is different. It doesn’t ask for anything in return.”
Hugh Elvis felt a pang of frustration. So it was that again.
He was silent for a moment, then said, “My mistake.”
