Chapter 9

The Woman in the Wedding Dress

Phapfun smiled shyly at the Alpha sitting across from him. He had been scolded by Zhang Chengyi with a stern voice when he was caught sneaking off to open the door, before the tall man brought the visitor into the room with a look of annoyance. The one who received the annoyed look merely shrugged indifferently.

"Dad doesn't listen to what I say, does he?"

"Mr. Zhang is worried about you. No, he's worried about the little twins in this Omega's belly."

Phapfun frowned in displeasure as the two spoke in Chinese. If it were English, he might have been able to catch some of the conversation. Zhang Chengyi sighed deeply before introducing the newcomer to him.

"His name is Zhao Ruyan. He's the third-generation doctor of the Zhang Family and a friend of mine."

Zhao Ruyan, besides being the third-generation doctor of the Zhang Family, was also a close friend of his. Moreover, the other party’s great-grandfather was the younger brother of his own great-grandfather, making the Zhao Family a secondary branch of the Zhang Family. His father had mentioned Zhao Ruyan's name ever since learning that Phapfun was pregnant. Naturally, someone as traditional as Zhang Chen didn't trust foreign doctors much.

"I'm the doctor who will be taking care of you, Mr. Phapfun, until you give birth. Please take care of me," Zhao Ruyan interjected. He didn't understand Thai, but he could guess that Zhang Chengyi was introducing him.

"Yes," Phapfun nodded, responding with a soft voice, unsure of his language skills, as he reached out to shake the offered hand. However, Zhang Chengyi pushed Zhao Ruyan's hand away with his finger, as if disgusted.

"Where's my room?" Ruyan asked his friend in their native language.

"I'll find one for you, but it definitely won't be here," Chengyi replied without hesitation, remembering that his friend was an Alpha.

"Come on, Chengyi, I crossed the ocean to take care of your child, and this is how you repay me?" he complained, though not seriously.

"I'll find you a new place to stay, but it can't be here."

"Why not? I've always stayed here."

"Because you're an Alpha! And the mother of my child is an Omega," Chengyi said firmly, causing the listener to push his tongue against his cheek in frustration. Zhang Chengyi's imposing demeanor made Zhao Ruyan think twice before arguing further. Having been friends for many years, he knew Chengyi's personality well. The young doctor glanced at the Omega with a slight scent of milk, realizing how protective Chengyi was. Was Phapfun really just a surrogate?

Even though Zhao Ruyan wasn't staying with them, he joined his close friend for lunch. Phapfun listened to their conversation in Chinese, feeling a bit left out as usual. However, realizing it didn't concern him, he chose not to dwell on it. His round eyes glanced at the two, who were talking with serious expressions in the corner of the room, while he took a big bite of sweet egg dumplings. It wasn't until Zhao Ruyan turned to speak to him in English.

"Goodbye, Mr. Phapfun. See you next week."

Phapfun simply smiled and waved at Zhao Ruyan before the young doctor of the Zhang Family was ushered out of the hall by Zhang Chengyi. He guessed the other man was probably escorting his friend to the elevator. It wasn't long before Zhang Chengyi returned, drenched in sweat. Who would've thought the young Alpha would be so concerned about the mother of his child that he'd rush back?

"Did you go to see the doctor off, Mr. Zhang? Where did you take him?" Phapfun asked, using the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from Chengyi's temple.

"Downstairs," Chengyi replied honestly, taking the hand that wiped his sweat and kissing it, feeling quite pleased with the tenderness Phapfun showed him.

"You're back so quickly," Phapfun said shyly before offering a dumpling to the owner of those sweet, affectionate eyes to ease his embarrassment.

Zhang Chengyi opened his mouth to accept the Thai sweet treat. He had no trouble finding a place for Zhao Ruyan. If it weren't for the fact that the other man was an Alpha, he might have trusted him to take care of Phapfun. His sharp eyes watched the man chew the treat until his cheeks puffed up, then sighed. His father wanted a professional nurse to look after Phapfun while he was away. Even though they'd only been together for a few months, Chengyi knew well that Phapfun would be uncomfortable with a stranger nurse. The other man would likely prefer to take care of himself. True, Phapfun might not be able to oppose him, but is it really good to make a pregnant person anxious?

"I have to go back to work, but I haven't found anyone to take care of you yet," he said, testing the waters. "If I were to get a nurse to look after you..."

"Don't worry about me, Mr. Zhang. I can take care of myself."

There it was, just as he predicted. Zhang Chengyi let out a big sigh.

The mother of twins spoke firmly, setting down the dessert spoon and grasping his arms with both hands as if pleading. Normally, Phapfun didn't like mingling with strangers, and during pregnancy, he felt even more irritated and uneasy when near others. Even the doctor who brought equipment to check his physical condition almost every month was strangely unappealing to him.

Zhang Chengyi didn't respond, choosing instead to remain silent and offer a slight smile to the man who was so endearing. He understood now that if he insisted on hiring a professional nurse to care for Phapfun, it would likely cause more harm than good. Was this stubbornness inherited from the mother or the child?

That night, Phapfun continued to sleep soundly in Zhang Chengyi's arms. Naturally, since becoming pregnant, he often woke up later than the other man. Getting out of bed was a real struggle. But as he stepped out of the master bedroom, the familiar sound of conversation made the young Omega's ears perk up.

"Thirty thousand a month is already too much, Mr. Zhang..."

"Aunt Da!" Phapfun exclaimed, calling out to the woman chatting with Zhang Chengyi. The aunt opened her arms wide to embrace the increasingly plump figure of her nephew. She hugged him tightly, rubbing his back and shoulders as if to comfort him. Tears welled up in Phapfun's eyes from the longing he felt, and he wrapped his slender arms around his aunt, holding her tightly despite his rounded belly.

"Don't cry, don't cry. You're a mother now, dear Fun," Kanda consoled her nephew, though she was crying just the same.

"How did you get here, Aunt Da? I've missed you."

Kanda turned to look at Zhang Chengyi, who was watching the aunt and nephew embrace warmly. Phapfun began to understand that Zhang Chengyi must have arranged for his aunt to come because he had been complaining about missing her and his sister for days. However, Phapfun didn't fully grasp the situation, and his fair face broke into a wide smile when the father of his child spoke up.

"From now on, Nanny Da will take care of you while I'm at work."

Chengyi had thought long and hard about who should look after the mother of his child while he was away. He realized that besides selling homemade snacks, Kanda didn't have any other occupation. Nanny Da had helped raise him from the time his mother was pregnant until he started school. Taking care of Phapfun wouldn't be difficult, and it would be beneficial for Phapfun to be close to someone he loved. This would surely brighten the spirits of both mother and child.

"Do you think that's a good idea, Fun?"

"Yes... it's good."

"Are you feeling relieved now, hmm?"

A deep voice asked gently while stroking the soft hair of the person who had come closer. Once again, Phapfun bowed down with a sweet smile against the strong chest. Zhang Chengyi's attentiveness made Phapfun feel even better. Kanda watched her nephew and Mr. Zhang, whom she had cared for over the years, with a doubtful gaze. She wondered why her beloved nephew, who was in the position of a surrogate mother, received such care and attention. She was happy for him but also worried, knowing that the beautiful cloud castle would soon crumble.

"Anyway, I'll leave you to take care of Fun, Nanny Da. If there's anything, you can call me anytime."

"Yes, Mr. Zhang."

Phapfun heard this and looked up at the taller man. "Are you going back to work, Mr. Zhang?"

"Yes," Chengyi nodded, pondering something. "But if you miss me, you can call. If you miss my scent, you can stay in our room."

"Please come back soon, Mr. Zhang. I'll be waiting."

Not only did Phapfun say this verbally, but he also hugged the tall man, burying his face in the broad chest, inhaling the scent of the young Alpha without any embarrassment. Zhang Chengyi responded by wrapping his arms around him, burying his nose in the soft hair to inhale the familiar milky scent. They hugged each other as if they were going to be apart for a long time, ignoring Kanda's gaze. It was the middle-aged woman herself who had to step back a little.

Once Zhang Chengyi was out of sight, the aunt and nephew began to chat fondly. Phapfun learned that Zhang Chengyi had contacted Kanda a few days ago, offering to help take care of him during his pregnancy while he was away. Initially, Kanda hesitated because, although she was concerned about her nephew, she was also worried about her daughter. She didn't dare leave her alone with her alcoholic father. However, when Zhang Chengyi mentioned that he would arrange for a driver to pick her up and drop her off every morning and evening, she agreed immediately.

"Take your time eating," Kanda advised her nephew, who was grabbing snacks with both hands.

"I miss Aunt Da's cooking the most," he said, stuffing banana treats into his mouth without stopping.

"Fun... is your pregnancy natural?" Kanda asked, even though she didn't know much, she was sure there was something unusual between her nephew and Zhang Chengyi.

Her aunt's question made Phapfun drop the snacks in his hands and hunch his shoulders in worry, looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Are you disappointed in me, Aunt?"

 Upon hearing this, Kanda immediately understood everything. She broke into tears, making Phapfan feel distressed. In a moment, her time-worn arms reached out to hold him tightly. Kanda wasn't disappointed in her nephew; she blamed herself for being the reason he had to face such hardships. Phapfun was still so young, and she worried that if he found love and started a family in the future, this situation would become a stain on his life, especially as an Omega who was already marginalized.

"Please don't cry, Aunt."

"I'm not disappointed in you. How could I be disappointed in you, Fun?"

Kanda hugged her nephew, comforting him. She couldn't be disappointed in Phapfun when everything stemmed from her own selfishness. Her thoughts turned to her departed sister, hoping she would protect her son both physically and emotionally. She prayed that Phapfun's fate wouldn't mirror his mother's, loving someone he shouldn't, only to end up heartbroken.

A month passed quickly and smoothly for Phapfun, whose pregnancy had now reached its fifth month. He was under the close care of doctors from both Thailand and China. Not only that, but from morning till evening, his aunt was always by his side. In the evenings, Zhang Chengyi took over, as if the young Alpha was switching shifts with his aunt. Though Phapfun often felt annoyed by the constant pampering from those around him, he was secretly pleased with the attention he received. The expectant mother shook his head as his thoughts scattered in different directions, before a deep, gentle voice speaking English interrupted his mind.

"Mr. Phapfun, you need to cut down on sweets. Your sugar levels are too high. I have to inform Chengyi."

"What did you say, doctor?" Phapfun gave a dry smile as the young doctor spoke so quickly that his limited English skills couldn't keep up. The doctor murmured before speaking again, slowly and clearly.

"I said you need to cut down on sweets, Mr. Phapfun."

Phapfun gave a weak smile upon hearing this. If Mr. Zhang hadn't been called to the company, he would surely have been reprimanded by him. Phapfun couldn't deny that since becoming pregnant, he had developed a sweet tooth. Whether it was Thai desserts or international sweets, they all appealed to him. Even though Zhang Chengyi had tried to warn him, he couldn't force him to stop eating them. It wasn't until the young doctor advised him that Phapfun felt guilty for not exercising restraint. The thought of not being able to enjoy delicious sweets anymore brought tears to his eyes.

"Don't cry, Mr. Phapfun. I'm just asking you to cut down, not to stop completely," Zhao Ruyan said with a deep, gentle voice, watching the pregnant man smile dryly and feeling amused. He thought of his dear friend who had been called to the company suddenly. If it weren't urgent, Zhang Chengyi wouldn't have left Phapfun with him, even though there was a middle-aged woman who was known to be the young Omega's aunt present. He wondered why Zhang Chengyi was so protective, especially since he always denied it when asked.

"I'll talk to the father about it," Ruyan smiled slightly. After all, the one who was with Phapfun most of the time was Zhang Chengyi. He was concerned that if he said anything that upset the pregnant man again, it might cause trouble.

"Is he... is he healthy?" Phapfun asked hesitantly, rubbing his belly that had just entered the fifth month but was larger than usual because it was a twin pregnancy. He was worried... Aunt Da had mentioned that the little ones should start moving by now, but everything remained quiet. Phapfun felt scared and deeply concerned for the little ones inside.

He began to love them... love them without reason. Phapfun once wondered how someone could love without ever seeing the other person. Now, he had found the answer himself.

"They're healthy, very healthy," Zhao Ruyan smiled. "If the twins had any issues, Chengyi wouldn't be sitting still, that's for sure." Hearing this, Phapfun felt relieved, just as Kanda walked in.

"Fun, ask the doctor if he'll stay for lunch." Of course, his aunt's English was much weaker than his, so Phapfun had to act as the interpreter.

"Doctor, would you like to have lunch with us?"

"No, thank you," Zhao Ruyan declined. "But may I sit here for a while?"

"Feel free. Then, I'll excuse myself for now."

Phapfun spoke with a sweet smile. He was so hungry he felt like he could faint, having refrained from eating anything in preparation for the check-up, and now it was almost noon. Kanda helped her nephew, and the two made their way to the kitchen, leaving Zhao Ruyan alone in the spacious hall. He had been taking care of Phapfun and the babies in his belly for over a month now. His slender fingers tapped on the glass table as he pondered, then he murmured softly,

"You want to know just as much as I do, don't you... Lin Meiling?"

Phapfun returned to the hall, his eyelids heavy with sleepiness, but he didn't dare leave the doctor from China and sneak off to bed. Upon arrival, he found Zhao Ruyan was no longer there. The only indication that he hadn't left was his personal bag and a luxurious iPad.

The plump figure settled into his favorite sofa. His aunt was probably preparing snacks for Zhao Ruyan. Suddenly, Phapfun's gaze caught the image on the iPad screen, and the young Omega's heart skipped a beat, his limbs strangely weak.

The screen displayed an image of Zhang Chengyi with a mysterious woman he had never met before. All he knew was that she was incredibly beautiful, even more stunning than any heroine in the dramas he had seen. Both were dressed in crimson outfits, smiling slightly at the camera. Although Phapfun had never seen it with his own eyes, he was certain that the attire they wore was Chinese wedding attire. His pale hands clenched his pants tightly in anxiety and fear, his full lips trembling, feeling a burning sensation throughout his body.

His current position... besides being a surrogate mother, did it also include being Zhang Chengyi's mistress?