Inside the quarantine room, quiet except for the hum of the old air-conditioning unit, Muchen knelt by Yunfeng's side. He gently took his lover's hand—still pale, still weak—and guided it down to rest against his stomach. His other hand covered Yunfeng's fingers, warm and trembling.
"Our child… is in here," Muchen whispered, voice cracking. "The baby is healthy as a horse. Even though I did so many shitty things, even though I bled so much… the baby is safe, Yunfeng. By God's grace, the baby is safe."
He bent low, his lips brushing against the shell of Yunfeng's ear, voice soft enough to tremble against his skin.
"You hear that? You're going to be a dad… and you're going to meet our baby."
And then, suddenly, a flicker of movement—so slight, Muchen almost didn't believe it. But then Yunfeng stirred again, his brows twitching faintly as his eyes opened just a sliver, glazed and tired but unmistakably his.
