Sinoer’s voice brimmed with happiness as he kissed Su Yi’s lips. Females were delicate, and in recent years, their birth rates had declined across tribes. To others, Su Yi was incredibly lucky to be expecting one.
Sinoer clearly adored the idea. Normally reserved, he now couldn’t stop talking about Su Yi’s pregnancy.
"Su Yi, winged serpent pregnancies are short. Though you’ll suffer a bit since it’s a female, you should give birth by the hot season."
Su Yi didn’t have the heart to interrupt him, nodding along as Sinoer rambled. His mate practically glowed, his already stunning features now radiant with excitement. His gem-like eyes sparkled brilliantly as he spoke.
"Su Yi, if it’s a female, we’ll need to prepare a prettier room. Mino says females love beauty, we should build him a flower garden by the window, just like Mino’s..."
As Sinoer spoke, his pale lips moved enticingly, glistening with a tempting sheen.
Su Yi’s gaze fixated on them. Suddenly, he pulled Sinoer down and pressed their lips together.
Not scorching, but warm enough to melt the softest parts of Su Yi’s heart.
Pregnancy really does make emotions unpredictable, so sentimental now.
Su Yi closed his eyes, savoring Sinoer’s warmth. The kiss stirred something in Sinoer too.
Where would I be without him?
Still wandering like a tree without roots, homeless, without companions. Maybe dead last snow season, buried under endless white.
[无根之木 (wú gēn zhī mù): lit. a tree without roots; fig. something without a stable foundation]
"Su Yi... thank you."
Su Yi burrowed into Sinoer’s embrace for a long moment before asking, "What about the beast herd?"
"Handled, don’t worry," Sinoer said, carrying him out. He knew Su Yi must be hungry.
"What about the kids?" Su Yi clung to him like an octopus, refusing to be put down.
He chalked his behavior up to pregnancy syndrome. Right now, he was the baby who needed pampering.
"Helping clean up the valley. They’ll be back by evening," Sinoer said, adjusting Su Yi with one arm while skillfully cooking with the other. Since Su Yi had gotten lazy, Sinoer’s culinary skills had improved, although it was not as good as Su Yi’s, but decent for an orc.
After Su Yi ate his fill, Eli came storming in with a troop of little friends.
"Mother! Mother! Uncle Mino said I’m going to be a big brother?"
Su Yi watched the tiny figure toddling urgently toward him and remembered how, long ago, Eli had seemed against the idea of a sibling. Deciding to tease him, Su Yi said, "Yes."
Leaning against Sinoer, Su Yi watched Eli struggle to kick off his shoes before clambering onto the bed.
"Mother, you need to rest! Uncle Mino said it’s a female, so I have to protect him. My friends will too!"
Eli pointed solemnly at the cluster of little heads peeking through the doorway, who all nodded vigorously.
Su Yi had expected Eli to whine, Mother, I don’t want a baby! So this mature response took him by surprise.
Dino climbed up next, his small face serious. "Mother... can I touch my brother?"
Eli’s eyes lit up. "Me too!"
Sinoer frowned. "No, it’s too early, and you’re not gentle enough."
The two deflated, disappointed. Amused, Su Yi lifted his shirt, revealing his firm, flat abdomen.
"He’s too small to feel right now. How about when he’s bigger?"
The boys stared at Su Yi’s stomach, verifying there was indeed nothing to see, before reluctantly scrambling off to play.
The days that followed were awkward for Su Yi. He’d always been active, meddling in everything. Now, pregnant and lazy, he could barely be bothered to move.
Recently, he’d heard the wandering orc had found a female child outside. Unable to find him a home, he’d ended up raising him himself just beyond the valley.
Concerned for their safety, the tribe had invited them to move inside. These days, everyone was busy building the wandering orc a house.
He’d also heard Tang Yu’s temper had worsened as his due date approached, likely from anxiety.
Then there was Reg, who had confessed to Ian, only to be rejected. Free of his past burdens, Ian had grown livelier, often joining hunts and becoming stronger.
The biggest change, however, was in Su Yi’s own family, especially Eli.
The once-spoiled child seemed to have matured overnight, no longer clinging to Su Yi. He dressed himself now and even helped with chores.
Though barely three, he declared earnestly that he needed to grow up fast to protect his brother and mother.
Dino had taken up hunting and occasionally gathered herbs for Mino. Most young orcs lacked such patience, but Dino thrived on learning.
Pampered by the entire family, Su Yi had fully embraced his new role as a lazy, pampered househusband.
Time passed. Another beast horde attacked, though small enough to go largely unnoticed.
While driving them off, the orcs rescued a mated pair. The newcomers sparked curiosity, even Su Yi was intrigued.
Then, one day, Tang Yu went into labor.
Su Yi wanted to visit, but Sinoer forbade it, confining him to the house.
Counting on his fingers, Su Yi estimated Tang Yu’s pregnancy at eight months, it was long for an orc. His own would last only five months, ending around the hot season.
Tang Yu labored for an entire day. By nightfall, exhausted, he demanded Su Yi’s presence, threatening not to deliver otherwise.
Mino who was equally anxious, summoned Su Yi.
When Su Yi rushed over, Mino pulled him aside. "It’s an egg, it's big, this will be difficult."
