Love Me, Please Look - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Two lines.

Chen Nan stared at the pregnancy test in his trembling hand.

Outside the bathroom, Zhang Shixu knocked on the door. “You okay?”

Chen Nan quickly tossed the test into the trash and grabbed a few tissues to cover it up. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure?” Zhang Shixu sounded concerned—he could sense something was off.

Chen Nan forced a shaky smile. “Really, it’s nothing.”

Zhang Shixu didn’t press him. “Alright,” he said, and went to take a shower.

Chen Nan felt like his body was on fire and freezing at the same time—cold sweat clung to his back.

He couldn’t let his mother find out. If Yu Hang ever learned he was pregnant out of wedlock—let alone with someone from the Jin family—he’d go ballistic. Who knew what kind of disaster that would turn into?

Desperately, he pulled out his phone and tried calling the number that had been disconnected for months.

All he got was the hollow, robotic voice: “The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service…”

Before the message could finish, he hung up.

Still, he sent a message to that familiar number:

“What should I do… I’m pregnant.”

But Jin Heng had vanished. Ever since going abroad, all contact had been wiped clean, as if he’d disappeared from the world entirely.

Zhang Shixu came out of the shower to find Chen Nan sitting dazed on the bed. He put away his things and walked over.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, reaching to touch Chen Nan’s neck to jolt him out of it.

Chen Nan flinched violently, startled.

“What are you doing? Don’t tell me you used my washbasin again,” Zhang teased.

Chen Nan gave a twisted smile, barely managing to make it look real. “I didn’t.”

“Then why do you look like you’ve done something terrible?” Zhang chuckled, thinking he was joking.

“I’m fine,” Chen Nan said, standing up. But as soon as he did, a sharp cramp seized his lower abdomen.

“Ssss…”

Zhang Shixu quickly caught him. “What happened?”

Chen Nan bent forward, breathing through the pain, then waved him off. “It’s nothing.”

Zhang frowned. “You’re sure? You’ve been acting really—”

“I said it’s nothing!” Chen Nan snapped, loud enough that even Zhang Yan turned around.

“What’s going on?” Zhang Yan asked.

Zhang Shixu shook his head, signaling him to drop it.

Chen Nan realized he’d overreacted and softened. “I’m going to lie down.”

Zhang Shixu stood where he was, still holding his arm, staring after him in silence.

Something wasn’t right.

It had been three months since Jin Heng left the country. In that time, Chen Nan had slowly returned to normal—he’d taken up tutoring gigs and even regained a little weight.

Zhang Shixu stood next to Chen Nan’s bed for a while before finally saying gently, “You know you don’t have to hold everything in, right? You can talk to me.”

The stress had already been messing with Chen Nan’s hormones—he was irritable and emotionally fragile. That simple sentence made tears stream down his face.

Growing up, his parents had always favored his Omega brother, Chen Rui. As the third child—and a Beta—he barely got any attention, let alone affection.

If he hadn’t pushed himself to get into B University, he might’ve ended up like his brothers Chen Dong and Chen Xi: married off after high school.

For a while, it had felt like his life was finally going somewhere. School was steady. He had a boyfriend who cared.

But now, Jin Heng was gone. The relationship ended in silence, and here he was—alone and unexpectedly pregnant.

Unsure of what to do, Chen Nan drifted into a restless sleep.

At the hospital.

“You’re still a student?” The doctor glanced at the test results and the young man sitting in front of him, head lowered beneath a baseball cap.

Chen Nan mumbled a quiet “Yeah.”

“Well, your test results confirm the pregnancy. Where’s your partner?”

“He’s… gone,” Chen Nan replied vaguely.

The doctor’s voice was neutral. “Do you plan to keep the baby? Pregnancy for a male Beta isn’t easy.”

Chen Nan didn’t respond.

Sensing his hesitation, the doctor said, “I’ll schedule a B-scan so you can see what’s going on.”

Chen Nan quickly grabbed the slip and left the room like he couldn’t get away fast enough.

Before he could go, the doctor added, “If you decide not to keep it, come back after the scan. I’ll prescribe the necessary meds.”

Lying on the exam table, shirt lifted, his flat belly exposed, Chen Nan felt both vulnerable and detached.

The nurse moved the probe over his abdomen. Male Beta pregnancies were hard to detect—she searched for a while before pausing.

“There it is. Look at the screen.”

A tiny bean-shaped dot flickered on the monitor.

“It’s developing well. Heartbeat is strong,” the nurse said.

Chen Nan stared at the screen, silent, not knowing what to feel.

Afterward, he collected the scan report and returned to the doctor.

“There’s only one chance in a lifetime for a Beta to carry a child,” the doctor said. “It’s a delicate process with unpredictable risks. But if you’re sure about not continuing, come back next week.”

Chen Nan thanked him and left. In the waiting area, he sat silently in a corner, replaying the heartbeat in his mind.

It was his and Jin Heng’s child.

Could he raise a child alone, with just his tutoring savings?

Before he could spiral too deep, his phone rang. It was Zhang Shixu.

“Where are you?” Zhang’s voice was annoyed. “I texted you and you didn’t reply.”

“I’m… at the hospital,” Chen Nan said quietly.

“What?! Are you okay?” Zhang’s voice jumped in pitch.

Chen Nan moved the phone away from his ear. “Just a checkup.”

There was a pause. Then Zhang Shixu asked, “Everything’s fine?”

“I’m pregnant.”

Silence.

“Not funny, Chen Nan.”

“I’m serious.” And just like that, the tears came again.

In the obstetrics ward, no one questioned tears. Women cried from joy, heartbreak, and loss. Chen Nan’s tears went unnoticed.

“What hospital?” Zhang asked.

He told him.

A few more words of comfort, then the call ended.

Back at home, Zhang Shixu barged into the room. “Qi Junhe, drive me to the hospital.”

Qi Junhe looked up from his canvas. “What happened?”

“It’s Chen Nan,” Zhang said, grabbing his bag.

Qi Junhe didn’t ask again. He stripped off his apron, snatched his keys, and followed him out.

At the hospital, they found Chen Nan right away—sitting alone in a corner, face hidden under a cap.

Zhang crouched in front of him. “Hey… you okay?”

Chen Nan looked up, eyes wet. His face crumpled the moment he saw a familiar person.

Zhang hugged him. “Don’t cry, just tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m fine.”

Zhang pulled back. “So, what now? Are you… keeping it?”

They were still students. Raising a child was no small thing.

“I’m planning to,” Chen Nan said, softly but surely.

“You’ve lost it.” Zhang’s voice rose involuntarily, drawing a few stares.

He lowered it again. “Have you really thought this through? You think you can handle raising a baby? What about school? Your future?”

“I know.” Chen Nan nodded, eyes brimming. “I know all of it.”

“Then why?”

Chen Nan reached out, placing Zhang’s hand gently over his abdomen.

“The doctor said this might be my only chance to have a child.”

Zhang’s face stiffened. He tried to pull his hand away, but Chen Nan wouldn’t let him.

“I won’t abandon my baby. I’m not going to be like Yu Hang—giving birth and then walking away.”

If not for his grandmother, Chen Nan might not even be alive today. His parents had always looked down on Betas, especially him.

“And how are you planning to pay for it?” Zhang snapped.

“I’ve saved up a bit from tutoring.”

“Enough for diapers?” Zhang scoffed.

Chen Nan froze for a moment… then smiled faintly. “Jin Heng’s grandfather gave me two million to break up with him.”

“What???”

“I took it.”

“Does Jin Heng know?”

“I was the one who suggested breaking up,” Chen Nan admitted.

No wonder Jin Heng disappeared so cleanly. He probably thought it was what Chen Nan wanted.

Zhang had nothing more to say. “What about support? Who’s going to look after you? What about your mom?”

“I’m not telling her. I’ll apply for a leave of absence.”

Zhang sat beside him, both of them quiet for a long while.

“Honestly… it might be better if I don’t go home. Chen Rui didn’t get into B University, and my mom’s too busy managing his retake year.”

Chen Nan turned to him. “Zhang Shixu… you’re all I’ve got. Will you support me?”

Zhang sighed. “If anything happens—if this pregnancy starts to harm you—promise me you’ll give it up.”

Chen Nan smiled, “Okay.”

“…By the way, where’s your boyfriend?” Chen Nan added suddenly.

Zhang cursed under his breath—he’d forgotten about Qi Junhe entirely.

He texted him quickly, and Qi Junhe replied: “Waiting in the parking garage.”

“Let’s go.”

Zhang helped Chen Nan up. “I even forgot the person I live with…”

“I swear I will never have a baby—just forgive me already,” Zhang pleaded later, clinging to Qi Junhe.

Qi ignored him, scrolling through his phone.

“Babe ~” Zhang crooned dramatically.

Qi finally lost it and clapped a hand over his mouth.

Zhang, unfazed, licked his palm.

Qi yanked it back, blushing furiously.

“Chen Nan’s pregnant,” Zhang whispered in his ear.

Qi froze. “…What?”

“I saw him at the hospital.”

“But… he’s a Beta?”

Zhang: “That’s your takeaway? Beta can have a reproductive cavity too, you know.”

“What’s he going to do?”

“He’s keeping it. Said Jin Heng’s family gave him hush money.”

“…If you and I broke up, would you take two million in hush money?” Zhang asked suddenly, narrowing his eyes.

Qi blinked. “Too low. My mom might offer more.”

“EXCUSE ME?!”

Two weeks later, Chen Nan officially filed for leave. The doctor said he was undernourished, so they prescribed supplements.

Only then did he tell Zhang Yan, who looked like he’d been struck by lightning. “Some friend you are, telling me this late.”

“I didn’t know how,” Chen Nan said with a sheepish smile.

“If you ever need help, you better call me,” Zhang Yan patted his shoulder.

“Promise.”

They helped him move into a small place not far from campus. Even Luo Jia came to help.

That night, after unpacking, Zhang Yan and Zhang Shixu cooked dinner.

“We’re just inside the school,” Zhang Yan reminded him. “Need anything, text us—even if you’re stuck in Old Liu’s class.”

Chen Nan raised his cup. “Thank you. All of you.”

“Here’s to friendship!” Zhang Shixu toasted.

They clinked glasses—juice for everyone, except Chen Nan’s plain water.

His pregnancy symptoms were severe. Anything he ate made him sick. He’d regained some weight, but now he was losing it again.

Later, while the others cleaned up, Luo Jia and Zhang Shixu sat with Chen Nan.

Luo Jia excitedly touched the slight curve of his belly. “So amazing!”

“The doctor said I might feel movement soon,” Chen Nan said.

Luo Jia pulled out a tiny set of baby clothes. “Here. I bought this for the little one.”

Chen Nan was stunned—he hadn’t bought anything yet.

Zhang Shixu took the gift silently.

“I didn’t even know where to start,” Chen Nan admitted.

“I asked a shop assistant,” Luo Jia said quickly. “Just wanted to give something.”

“Thank you—for the baby,” Chen Nan smiled.

“Anytime. We’ve got your back.”

After everything was done, the group began to leave.

“Take care of yourself,” Zhang Shixu reminded him as he left.

Chen Nan watched them get into the elevator.

The road ahead would be tough, uncertain—but he silently told himself:

I can do this