MWMM Chapter 101: Just for the Child

Yan Yuzhou, cradling his growing belly, walked into the kitchen and was in the middle of pouring himself a glass of water when he suddenly heard the front door close with a soft click.

Shen Ci had already left for work. At this time, the only person likely to return would be one of the staff coming back from a grocery run.

He let out a bitter chuckle and continued drinking his water.

But the sound of footsteps that followed—strong, steady, and all too familiar—struck his heart like a rhythmic drumbeat.

His heartbeat quickened. He turned around, and right there behind him… was the face he fell asleep next to every night.

Suppressing the faint, irrational hope that surged within him, burying the bitterness deep down, he forced a smile. “What’s this? Did Mr. Shen forget something and come back for it?”

Shen Ci had said he had work at the office. If he came back now, it could only be because he forgot some important file.

But to his surprise, Shen Ci walked straight toward him, took the glass from his hand, and immediately frowned upon feeling how cold it was. “In your condition, how can you drink something this cold?”

He set the glass down—not too hard, but not gently either—and reached for the kettle to boil a fresh pot of hot water himself.

Yan Yuzhou stood to the side, heart aching and tinged with sourness. Shen Ci had always been attentive like this—that wasn’t new. But he also knew full well that this attentiveness wasn’t out of love. It was for the sake of the child in his womb.

That was it.

Ever since Shen Ci lost his memory, he hadn’t once said I love you. He had never voluntarily kissed him on the lips. And despite the fact that he was four to five months pregnant now—well past the period of early vulnerability, when couples might resume intimacy—Shen Ci had never once hinted at wanting him in that way again.

Perhaps in Shen Ci’s eyes, he was just a vessel now—a duty-bound pregnancy tool. And once he delivered the heir, these tender moments between them… Shen Ci likely wouldn’t be willing to give them anymore.

It hurt.

Yan Yuzhou sniffled, holding back the urge to cry. As he watched Shen Ci in his suit, earnestly boiling water for him, something stirred in his chest.

If he could still openly enjoy this man’s care, even if only for a little while longer—then he wanted to ask for more. Just a bit more.

Suddenly, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Shen Ci from behind.

“…Hubby.”

The word made Shen Ci freeze.

That’s right—for as long as Shen Ci had been suffering from amnesia, Yan Yuzhou had only ever addressed him as Mr. Shen.

“Hubby, if you’re not in a hurry to get to the office… how about we do it? Just once, okay?”
Yan Yuzhou’s hands began to wander with clear intent.

Shen Ci spun around abruptly and pinned him in place, his brows furrowed deeply, face filled with firm disapproval. “With your current condition, there’s no way I’ll touch you.”

An omega in the middle of pregnancy was already in a delicate state—more so for Yan Yuzhou, whose emotional fluctuations had led the doctor to warn them that his fetal condition wasn’t stable.

If anything happened because of intimacy—anything that could harm the baby—Shen Ci knew he would never forgive himself.

But to Yan Yuzhou’s ears, those words morphed into something entirely different.

“Oh? My current condition?” he asked, pointing to his own belly. “You mean you think I look ugly with a big belly now? That you’re no longer attracted to my body?”

Shen Ci’s eyelid twitched. His face was full of helpless frustration. “What nonsense are you talking about? I mean it’s dangerous—for the baby.”

Yan Yuzhou chuckled softly, but his eyes carried a faint sorrow. He latched onto Shen Ci’s explanation, twisted it in his mind, and asked in a quiet voice, “So you’re worried about hurting the baby? Mr. Shen… do you really want this child that much?”

Shen Ci was momentarily stunned by the question. Did he really want the child? Not particularly, if he were being honest. In fact, this baby had never even been part of his plans.

He didn’t even remember sleeping with this omega—let alone had time to form any emotional attachment or anticipation toward the child.

But still, it was his child. It would be unreasonable to say he didn’t care at all. After some thought, he nodded slowly.

And with that single nod, the light in Yan Yuzhou’s eyes visibly dimmed. His already pale and worn-out face lost even more color.

Shen Ci furrowed his brows, puzzled. He reviewed everything he’d just said—none of it seemed inappropriate. So how had he managed to hurt this sensitive and fragile omega again?

What he didn’t realize was that Yan Yuzhou—deep in the throes of pregnancy-induced emotional spirals—had already drawn his own conclusions. In his mind, Shen Ci’s every answer pointed to one thing:

Shen Ci didn’t love him. He only loved the baby.
Refusing to sleep with him wasn’t about caring for him, it was about not harming the child.
Everything… was just for the child.

He, Yan Yuzhou, was utterly insignificant in Shen Ci’s heart.

With this bitter and irrational belief now firmly rooted, Yan Yuzhou gave a mechanical nod and turned to leave, eyes dull and movements stiff.

After taking just two steps away, he was gently pulled back into a warm embrace from behind. The voice beside his ear was low and pleasant, laced with concern:
“What’s wrong? If you’re feeling unwell anywhere, you have to tell me.”

So gentle—so gentle it made him want to cry.

Yan Yuzhou softly wriggled free, shook his head with a faint smile. “I’m fine. Everything’s good.”

He really was fine. He just missed—desperately missed—the version of Shen Ci who had once loved him to his very bones.

He loved this current Shen Ci too. But the more he loved him… the more it hurt.

Suddenly, the baby inside him must’ve picked up on his sadness, and gave a strong, discontented kick. The jolt of pain made Yan Yuzhou shiver and double over slightly.
“Ow.”

That one word—“Ow”—instantly changed the atmosphere behind him. The man swept him up in a princess carry and strode directly to the living room sofa, gently laying him down.

He immediately clasped Yan Yuzhou’s hand in both of his, enveloping it in his warmth.
“Are you in pain again? Don’t be scared. I’ll call the doctor.”

Yan Yuzhou looked up at that tense, anxious face and gave a faint smile.

So worried… was he worried about him, or just the baby?

The more he thought about it, the more his heart ached.

In the days that followed, Yan Yuzhou became noticeably calmer. He no longer threw tantrums or pouted to get Shen Ci’s attention. Instead, he appeared quiet and obedient—more docile than ever before.

He ate when it was time to eat. Slept when it was time to sleep.

But at meals, he never again opened his mouth and waited for Shen Ci to feed him. Even though his appetite remained poor when eating alone, he never asked for special treatment again.

Shen Ci, watching him force down each meal with that too-understanding, too-enduring expression… felt a heavy discomfort settle deep in his chest.
And more and more often, without saying a word, he would quietly pick up the spoon and feed Yan Yuzhou himself.

At bedtime, Yan Yuzhou no longer clung to Shen Ci’s arm like he used to. Whether or not he was actually sleepy, he would lie down on the bed at the proper time—always in the most optimal, flat-on-the-back position for the baby.

It got to the point where Shen Ci began worrying that sleeping in the same posture every night would exhaust him. He would gently reach over and pull Yan Yuzhou into his arms himself, encouraging him to change positions.

But Yan Yuzhou always wore that soft, faint smile—one that never reached his eyes.

And Shen Ci’s worry deepened day by day.

On the surface, it looked like the omega’s depression had passed. But in reality, Shen Ci could feel it—it hadn’t gotten better. If anything, it had worsened.

Most importantly, this omega… had stopped acting spoiled.

That quiet distance in his bones, paired with his placid, indifferent expression, hit President Shen harder than he ever expected.

No more snuggling into his arm, no more asking for kisses.

And Shen Ci… didn’t know how to deal with that.

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[Author’s Note]:
Alright, Zhouzhou’s melodramatic phase is officially ending next chapter~ Time for the baby to make an appearance~~~