Chapter 7

Zhang Chengyi Succeeded!

It was another morning where Phapfun woke up after Zhang Chengyi. When he awoke, the person beside him had already disappeared. Phapfun walked out of the bedroom with a gloomy expression, thinking the other had gone to work as usual. However, before he could step into his own bedroom, the sound of English conversation coming from the living room made him hurry over.

In the living room was Zhang Chengyi in casual attire with a pile of documents. Sitting with him were a young Chinese man, Luohe, and his close Thai associate, Jenjop. It seemed the three were discussing some work-related matter. Phapfun could understand English, but only in bits and pieces, until those sharp eyes turned to see him.

"Awake already?"

Phapfun walked over, somewhat hunched, to the person who had called out to him, bowing slightly to greet the left and right-hand men of the young chairman. As soon as Zhang Chengyi pulled him into an embrace, Phapfun buried his face into the strong chest without caring about anyone's gaze. Luohe was left speechless while Jenjop tried to suppress a smile. Seeing the way the boss rubbed the back and shoulders of the young omega as if to comfort him was almost unbelievable.

"Are you hungry yet?"

Phapfun nodded when asked.

"In that case, Fun, go freshen up. I'll have the chef prepare the meal for the table."

"Mr. Zhang, come with me."

The eyes that looked up at him, combined with a voice that sounded like a kitten's plea, made it impossible for Zhang Chengyi to refuse. He nodded slightly, not feeling annoyed in the slightest. On the contrary, he thought Phapfun looked quite adorable from this angle. Before the chairman of Zhang Chan Group spoke to his close associates.

"You two can go wait at the dining table."

"Yes, Mr. Zhang."

The two young men responded understandingly, watching their boss as he gently guided the small omega away. Then, Jenjop spoke up with a twinkle in his eye. It seemed the boss's suspicions were likely true, but what was surprising was the level of tenderness he showed. He remembered that when Mrs. Zhang was pregnant, Mr. Zhang wasn't this attentive.

"I think Phapfun is going to replace Mrs. Zhang."

"No one can replace anyone, Jenjop. Besides, you shouldn't meddle in the boss's affairs."

The indifferent tone of his colleague, who was also a close friend, made Jenjop roll his eyes. He knew this guy was emotionally numb, but why did he always have to contradict him? If it weren't for the fact that they were raised together since childhood, he would have thought the guy hated him for sure!

The round rotating table was laden with famous Chinese dishes, but Phapfun didn't feel good about it. The sight of the braised pork leg in red sauce made him feel nauseous. Normally, the chef would prepare these kinds of dishes for him, and occasionally, Phapfun would cook for himself, but not often, as the chef's cooking was always more flavorful.

"Eat a lot, Phapfun," Chengyi said, picking up a piece of braised pork leg for the pale-faced young man.

At the dining table, it wasn't just Zhang Chengyi and Phapfun; Luohe and Jenjop were also seated there. Chengyi wasn't one for formalities, but only his closest left and right-hand men could join him at the table. The three of them were engaged in lively work discussions. Phapfun, who could only manage to eat some stir-fried mixed vegetables, looked at the braised pork leg that Zhang Chengyi had placed on his plate, hesitating. He glanced at the person who served it, who was still engrossed in work conversations with his close associates. The young omega's eyes welled up with tears, but he feared offending the other if he didn't eat.

"Hic... Ugh!"

"Phapfun!"

As soon as the tip of his tongue touched the tender meat of the pork leg, the strong odor overwhelmed Phapfun, and he couldn't endure it any longer. He was too weak to run to the bathroom, and everyone at the table jumped up in alarm. Seeing this, he couldn't make it to the bathroom in time and burst into tears.

"Phapfun, it's okay."

"It smells, hic."

Chengyi gently rubbed Phapfun's back and shoulders, forgetting himself and not minding the food scraps on the floor. Phapfun was relieved that he wasn't scolded and quickly buried his face in Chengyi's strong chest. The scent of Zhang Chengyi truly made him feel better.

"Clean up the table," Chengyi ordered his staff before asking Jenjop, "When will the doctor arrive?"

"Probably in the afternoon, Mr. Zhang."

"Now! He needs to come now. I'll pay extra, whatever it takes!"

"Yes, sir!"

Jenjop replied before rushing to find his phone, while Luohe helped the butler clear the dishes. Phapfun felt even worse, knowing that so many people were inconvenienced because of him. He didn't want to be like this, didn't want it at all.

The person checking on Phapfun was the same doctor who had previously suggested trying natural methods, accompanied by two familiar nurses. As they began examining him, the three exchanged tense looks, possibly due to the pressure from the young alpha watching nearby. Normally, Phapfun would be affected by such pressure, or rather, it would impact him the most since he was an omega. However, this time, Zhang Chengyi's pressure didn't affect him at all.

"There's nothing to worry about, Mr. Zhang. Mr. Phapfun is just pregnant."

Phapfun froze for a moment before lowering his head, while Jenjop and Luohe broke into smiles. Although Luohe couldn't speak Thai, he understood enough to catch the news. They were delighted because the long-awaited heir of the Zhang Family was finally on the way. However, Zhang Chengyi, the soon-to-be father, wore a serious expression. He was happy, but his worries outweighed his joy. Perhaps because Phapfun's pregnancy wasn't unexpected, it was what came next that was concerning.

"Is it a boy or a girl? An alpha, beta... or omega?" he asked, sounding almost demanding.

"The gender can only be determined between eighteen to twenty-two weeks, Mr. Zhang. Mr. Phapfun is just four weeks pregnant. The symptoms he's experiencing are typical morning sickness," the doctor replied with a smile.

"I want the doctor to check him every week," Chengyi stated. He wasn't asking; he was ordering.

"I think a monthly check-up for Mr. Phapfun is sufficient."

"Every week," Zhang Chengyi's tone was now harsh. He took a check from his trusted right-hand man and signed it, silencing the doctor who had intended to object.

"Every week, as you wish, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Chengyi looked at the person who took the check with an indifferent gaze. He didn't care how often pregnant women were typically examined because he had enough money to have the doctor check on the mother of his child whenever he wanted. Right now, the safety of Phapfun and the baby in his womb was more important than anything else.

However, Zhang Chengyi failed to notice that Phapfun had been silent ever since he asked about the baby's gender. The young omega wanted to ask if it would be a problem if the child were a girl, if it would be okay if they were born a beta, and if they were an omega, would they be abandoned? Be abandoned… like him? But because he feared the answer he might receive, Phapfun chose to remain silent, keeping his fears to himself.

Phapfun wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, but he became aware when he heard Zhang Chengyi's voice from afar. Squinting his eyes, he saw the other man talking on the phone in the corner of the room, sounding tense.

"Yes... he's pregnant. Dad, you don't need to fly over. Just come when the baby is born. Don't be stubborn, Dad. Do you think China and Thailand are that close?"

Zhang Chengyi sighed into the phone at his stubborn father, who was ready to fly over from China as soon as he heard Phapfun was pregnant, even though he had just returned last month. But when he turned and saw the person on the bed staring at him with wide eyes, he paused.

"That's all for now, Dad."

The young alpha decided to hang up on his father before walking over to the person on the bed, gently stroking his plump cheek. Since the examination and until the doctor was sent off, Phapfun had remained silent. Zhang Chengyi thought the other man might still be shocked at the prospect of carrying a child for nine months, so he didn't disturb him. He hadn't expected that when he turned to look again, the pregnant man would have fallen asleep. Thus, he decided to carry him to his own room.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Phapfun nodded in response. Naturally, after his breakfast had come back up, he hadn't eaten anything since. Now, he was craving sweets desperately.

"I... want to eat some dessert."

Upon hearing this, Chengyi smiled fondly. "Alright, but you need to eat some rice first. What would you like?"

This time, he chose to ask the young omega's preference, thinking it better to let him choose himself rather than picking for him. If Zhang Chengyi were to choose, it would likely be nourishing foods that might not appeal to the pregnant man. Phapfun paused to think about what he wanted to eat. Although he wanted to choose sweets, he had to restrain himself. After all, he had another life to take care of inside him.

"I want to eat tom yum goong with big shrimp."

Phapfun made his request just as he wished, and the listener nodded in agreement, willing to indulge him without any objections. Tom yum wasn't a bad choice; the herbs could provide some nourishment for the pregnant man. The head of the Zhang Chan Group pondered the ingredients of the tom yum dish carefully. Should he add or remove anything?

In the end, Phapfun got to enjoy the tom yum goong he craved, prepared by the top chef of a renowned hotel. Naturally, Zhang Chengyi requested that the spicy and sour flavors be toned down. He even ordered seafood with dipping sauce for the pregnant man, who ate with such enthusiasm that he went for two rounds of rice. Chengyi noticed that Phapfun loved eating shrimp but wouldn't touch any other type of seafood.

"Is it delicious?" he asked, reaching out to wipe the sauce from the corner of Phapfun's mouth.

Phapfun refused to eat at the table properly, instead asking to eat in front of the TV. He wouldn't sit on the sofa either, choosing to sit on the floor, which made Chengyi feel a bit exasperated. He couldn't help but blame his own flesh and blood curled up inside the omega with a fresh milk scent. Phapfun wasn't usually stubborn, but since becoming pregnant, he had been acting up from the very first day.

"It's delicious," the one being asked replied with a smile, feeling good after a satisfying meal. He pushed the cake box towards the person in front of him. "Mr. Zhang, could you open this for me?" Chengyi took the medium-sized cake box and opened it without hesitation. As soon as he handed it over, the other party eagerly took a bite. His sharp eyes watched with fondness before he opened another cake box for himself. But when he noticed the gaze directed at him, he paused.

"Yes?"

"Can I try yours, Mr. Zhang?"

"Of course, you can have it all," Chengyi did not mind sharing, offering the entire box. Naturally, his cake was chocolate strawberry.

"Let's trade... let's trade."

 Chengyi chuckled when the other pushed his orange cake over. Didn’t he say he wanted orange cake? Why was he giving it away just because he got the chocolate one? The young president took a bite of the orange cake, his eyes quietly observing. Phapfan liked shrimp but didn’t touch other types of seafood, and it seemed the new mom had a particular fondness for chocolate and strawberries.

"Excuse me, Mr. Zhang, Mr. Phapfun."

As the two were enjoying their treats, Jenjop's voice rang out. The alpha with a minty scent entered with a smile, accompanied by several men and women dressed like salespeople. Soon, clothes and shoes were brought in.

"They're for you, Fun. Choose whichever you like."

"Okay," Phapfun furrowed his brow in confusion.

No one understood Zhang Chengyi's care for Phapfun better than Jenjop and Luohe. Even the person being cared for might not realize it. As soon as Zhang Chengyi learned Phapfun was pregnant, he called to order several collections of clothes, underwear, and shoes, insisting they must be the best, most expensive, and comfortable for a pregnant person.

"Mr. Phapfun, I'll take you to try on the outfits shortly."

"He's eating now, can you wait?"

The person who seemed to be the head of the staff made a move to assist Phapfun, but the firm voice and intense gaze made her shrink back, apologizing profusely. She was the branch manager of a famous maternity clothing brand and didn't need to personally offer sales. However, this time the customer was Zhang Chengyi, a young Thai-Chinese man whom even the country's big shots had to pay attention to. She was curious about when he got married, but who would dare to ask?

"I'm really sorry."

"I'm full now," Phapfun said, starting to get up, feeling sympathetic towards the woman's crestfallen expression. He had worked in service before and knew nothing was more embarrassing than being reprimanded in front of a crowd.

"Eat until you're full. If they can wait, let them wait... if not, they can leave." The sentence directed at Phapfan sounded almost scolding, yet carried no trace of menace. Yet, when the president of Zhang Chan Group glanced at others, it made many bow their heads in fear.

"It's no problem at all, Mr. Phapfun. I'm happy to wait. It's not good to interrupt a pregnant person when they're hungry," she smiled sweetly, letting out a sigh.

Zhang Chengyi was indeed intimidating, not just because of his wealth but also his true nature. It was strange how, when he spoke to the person sitting on the floor eating cake, he was so gentle, as if he was a completely different person in the blink of an eye. Perhaps this was a unique ability of a secondary alpha.

Seeing people waiting, Phapfun hurried to finish eating. Soon, several staff members surrounded him to take him to try on clothes and shoes. Although he didn't quite understand why he needed shoes since he wasn't going anywhere, seeing Zhang Chengyi's expectant demeanor made him easily comply. He didn't want to hurt the feelings of someone who wanted to buy him something.

"Here we go."

The voice of the young female staff member drew Zhang Chengyi's attention away from his iPad screen to look at the person who had been gone for nearly ten minutes. Phapfun was dressed in maternity overalls with shorts, the overalls were a soft pink while the shorts were pure white, matching his shoes. The young alpha couldn't help but smile at how cute and charming he looked. Normally, Phapfun would wear only old t-shirts paired with ordinary pants. Zhang Chengyi had noticed that lately, the other man had been wearing the same outfits repeatedly. He had intended to buy clothes for him several times but lacked an excuse if the curious man asked why he bought them. He didn't mind Phapfun's old t-shirts, but this was adorable in a different way.

"Mr. Phapfun looks really cute."

 Before the owner of the room could compliment, it was his confidant who dared to speak out of turn. Phapfun's shy demeanor only made Zhang Chengyi more displeased, and he shot a glance at Jenjop, causing the person being looked at to flinch.

"Mr. Jenjop, you don't need to be my assistant tomorrow. Go help the housekeeper with cleaning instead."

"Yes, Mr. Zhang," Jenjop replied, mouth agape, wanting to ask what he had done wrong. But seeing his boss's gaze, he simply nodded in agreement. He realized he was truly foolish and thought he needed to return to his Chinese friends for some guidance.

"Do you like it?" Chengyi turned his gaze from his close acquaintance to ask the new mother with a gentle tone.

"I like it," Phapfun admitted truthfully. Even though they were maternity clothes, it had been a long time since he had spared any money to buy new clothes. His rough hands from work gently caressed the soft fabric with care.

"I'll take every style. If your company designs a new collection within this year, send it over. I'll gladly accept." With that, he handed his elegant credit card to the young female manager, making her so excited her hands trembled.

"With pleasure, Mr. Zhang," she took the card with trembling hands. Her company's maternity clothing brand wasn't just one of the best in the country, but also the top in Asia. Naturally, the prices were high to match the quality. Although wealthy people and celebrities loved using her brand's clothes, no one had ever ordered an entire year's collection like Zhang Chengyi. She glanced at the omega in front of her with a hint of envy.

Such a person was truly enviable!

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang," Phapfun said softly, walking over to sit beside the kind-hearted man and raising his hands in a respectful gesture against the strong chest. This made Zhang Chengyi smile with satisfaction, gently stroking the soft hair. The little one in the womb hadn't made the mother stubborn at all; there was still plenty of charm and adorableness.

Jenjop watched his boss, who was smiling at the Omega with Fresh Milk Scent, and sighed. It was almost like a scene where the groom waits for the bride to try on her wedding dress, except his boss had skipped the step of waiting for a bride in a wedding dress and was now waiting for the mother of his child to try on maternity clothes. Perhaps Phapfun might really replace Mrs. Zhang someday.

But tomorrow, he really had to help the housekeeper clean the company, didn't he?