Chapter Text
Wen Lang wanted to thrash everything in his vicinity when he couldn't find his childhood friend anywhere. It had been seven months now and Hua Yong was of no use. That besotted man was busy looming over his beau.
He was brooding over some files, thinking how Gao Tu would have given a better presentation when he received a call. He picked it up on the whim, uncaring of the caller. Before he could say anything, the caller asked if they are talking to Mr. Shen. He confirmed so they informed "sir, we are calling from the ob-gyn department of Hymn Hospital of V Country. You are registered as the emergency contact of Mr. Gao Tu. Would you like to continue as same or should I search for someone else?"
His breath hitched when he heard the name of his love of the life and confirmed that he would like to continue. The receptionist informed further "sir there's an emergency regarding his health. If it's not an issue, can you please be here as soon as possible?"
Wen Lang asked "do you have a helipad?" And made his secretary prepare his helicopter the moment the confirmation came. He promised to be there in an hour max and sprinted off his chair to go to the one man he had been searching the world for.
He had ensured that his company ran peacefully while he bring back his love of life. Throughout the journey he had many thoughts 'why was Gao Tu in OB-GYN?' 'Gao Tu trusted him to be the emergency contact.' 'Why was Gao Tu in hospital?' 'Why couldn't he call by himself?' 'What was the emergency?' And so on.
Finally as he deboarded from his helicopter at the helipad, he was met with a woman who introduced herself as the primary doctor of Gao Tu, Dr. Feifei, the OB-GYN head. She received him warmly and took him to her cabin where she explained "Mr. Gao Tu is eight months into his pregnancy but since he has been holding onto it without the support of his Alpha, and due to the excessive use of pheromones inhibitor, his nervous system has collapsed. He is in coma right now and we have no idea when he will wake up. The fetus is also under-developed but that can sustain if we put him into NICU. Our current options is that we pull out the baby and sustain it outwardly while keeping him on ventilator or we lose baby in about two weeks and keep him on ventilator."
Shen Wen Lang's breathe hitched hearing everything and his mind had stopped processing at some point. He then took a few minutes to calibrate, then asked "doctor, can I see Gao Tu before I take any decision?"
She smiled and led him to his room. Seeing his best friend, his right hand man, sleeping with so many tubes attached, and a belly protruding, signifying a baby on the way, he hesitated.
The medical staff had left him alone over there and he finally entered the room and sat beside his man. Clutching his fingers, as everything else was attached to tubes, he whispered "Tutu, you could have told me, I would have helped you. What do you want me to do for you Tutu? What would you have done? Seeing that you ran away from me just to keep your identity and your baby safe, I should allow them to give life to both of you right? That would be the best choice, huh? That's what my self-sacrificing Tutu would have wanted - that his baby be safe no matter what. You don't worry Tutu. I will keep you and your baby safe from now on. I promise Tutu."
Sitting there for a few more minutes, he finally breathed himself to a decision. He stood up in search of the doctor and conveyed "doctor, what do I have to do to create the entire medical set up at my home, in Jianghu?"
She was shocked listening to his question but he continued adamantly "I want Gao Tu and the baby settled in my home. I will do whatever is required. It is a big mansion with a garden and a pool so I don't think there will be any issue of space. You just have to help me inform my house designer and I will ensure the best of the medical instruments are set up in my home."
She sat in shock and finally agreed "you can take them from here the moment your house renovation is completed but what about their check ups?"
Wen Lang didn't even take a minute to think "I can ensure that you come down to our home at least once every fortnight while the best doctor of Jianghu looks after his daily check up. I can also put a few nurses on rotation, for both him and the baby."
"I must ask Mr. Shen, what is your relation with Mr. Gao? Why are you ready to go to such lengths for him?"
"He is the love of my life. We met in high school and have been together since, in the most platonical sense of the word. I didn't know he was with an Alpha and I won't interfere in his life but I can't leave him here. I need to be by his side as he heals."
"If your relationship is so close, Mr. Shen would not deny me another option, would he?"
Wen lang raised an eyebrow.
"Since you seem to be an Alpha he had been comfortable with throughout his life, please prepare some sort of nest for him when you take him back to your home."
Wen Lang smiled at the suggestion and promised to do as such.
She smiled and nodded.
As Shen Wen Lang signed the consent forms, understanding the risk he was putting the two through, Dr. Feifei talked to his team, guiding them on how the room had to be prepared for the ventilator and the baby incubator.
Those few hours of operation were merciless for Wen Lang. He had no one to sit with, no one to comfort him, and for the first time he realised, he didn't even want any body if not his Gao Tu by his side.
When Dr. Feifei came out after three hours and conveyed "the surgery was successful. The baby is absolutely gorgeous and healthy for his age and time. He will be in incubator for very few days before you can treat him like a new born. I will have my pediatric nurses educate you on how you to care for a new born. You can take them home in two days Mr. Shen."
He smiled as she continued "since Mr. Gao is still in coma and we have no knowledge of the father, would you be willing to sign the birth certificate? We can assign you as his guardian - "
"That won't be necessary doctor. I would like to sign the birth certificate as his father. We will name him Lele. Shen Gao Lele. Please proceed as such. When can I see the two?"
The doctor gave him a nod of confirmation "you can see the baby in an hour or so. The nurse will fetch you as she brings you the certificate to sign. You can be in Mr. Gao's room till then. He must be settled by now."
He nodded and the two went their way.
Seeing Gao Tu still peacefully sleeping, he whispered "I hope I am not doing anything wrong Tutu. I promise you, when you wake up, your baby would be right there, by your side. And if you would want me, me too."
He talked to him about many things that had happened in his absence that when the nurse arrived. He announced to nobody "I will just go see our son Tutu and then I will be right back, I promise. Wait for me okay?"
Then he went, following the nurse.
He didn't know the truth behind that statement - their son. He didn't know that Lele was his in all the senses of the world and not just somebody assigned to him or the baby of his best friend.
The nurse gave him the basic information about the baby as he signed the forms. She then reiterated that they would need to draw his blood too, to put on the certificate and the confirmation of child handover from the hospital. He folded his sleeves right there while his eyes stayed stuck on the little one attached to tubes and wires, just like his mama.
That night he was given the shock of his life when the doctors informed him that he is the biological father of the child. They could see that this news had shocked him more than any other news he had received in the past 12 hours. Wen Lang nodded to them signaling that he had heard and they were free to leave as he sat with the news.
Clutching Gao Tu's fingers he spoke "Lele is our son Tutu. My son. But I don't remember the night Tutu. What have I done? What have I put you through? Did you run because I hated Omegas? Or maybe because I said I would make them drop my baby? Gao Tu, what have you gone through because of me? I am sorry baby, I am really sorry. I know that I can never atone for it but I promise you Gao Tu, I promise you that I will do my best to serve you forever now. Get well soon baby, our son is waiting for you."
He rotated between Pediatric ward and OB-GYN ward, thankfully they were on the same floor, just different wings of the hospital, till he was allowed to bring them back. His jet arrived and as the two patients were loaded into it, he signed the last few documents from the hospital. The doctors wished him all the best as he boarded the flight alongside two people he cared the most about. The team that would be caring for them in Jianghu had also arrived with the jet and the doctors and nurses guided the other team on what needed to be taken care of and how, with the promise that they would be there every fortnight to check on two.
The family of three settled in the home Wen Lang had built with the dream of having kids with Gao Tu. He had Gao Tu and he had the kid, he just had nobody to celebrate it with. He did think about his cousin Hua Yong for a minute, but then remembered that he was too busy in his own life, handling his mate in his last trimester.
The doctors came everyday to check on Gao Tu and Lele before Wen Lang left for office, who has now issued that he would be working from home due to some family emergency and will be available on call. He would only go to office if its a major reason. He worked diligently, prepared a bare minimum meal for himself three times a day and looked after his family with all his heart and soul.
A month into the homey hospital, the doctors declared Lele grown up enough to be put out of incubator. He kept a 24-hour nurse to help him through the first few days of having an infant. A week into fatherhood, he had a routine between himself, the baby, and the nurse.
He would take the baby to his mother everyday after the check up was done and talk to the two of them as Lele drank his milk. Then he would put Lele to sleep after burping him and changing him, under the care of the nurse. After office hours, he would bring Lele back to his mommy and talk to the two of them.
Everything was going well when one fine afternoon he received a distress call from Chang Yu - Hua Yong has asked for him at the hospital. He informed all of his staff that he had an emergency so had to go but to call him if anything happened and that he would be back as soon as possible. Then he rushed to the hospital where his cousin was waiting for him.
Finding him in front of the ICU brought back a sense of Deja Vu for Wen Lang. When Hua Yong said "Wen Lang, they said that Mr. Sheng is in critical stage. I have already signed the papers of guardianship. If anything happens to him, please take care of our Peanut for us."
Wen Lang hugged him from the side and consoled him "nothing will happen to Shao You okay. He will come out of it strong and happy and both of you will see your son grow up happily. After all, he chose to have an enigma for a mate, he is the bravest of us all. You will see, nothing will happen to him."
Hua Yong went lax in his grip as they waited for the door to open.
When it finally did, the two straightened up faster than light. The doctor informed them that both the mother and child are safe. The baby is healthy and will be shifted in their room after basic clean up. Shao You on the other hand, had lost a lot of blood and will be kept in hospital till his numbers come back to normal.
Wen Lang confirmed the procedure henceforth and took Hua Yong to Shao You's room. Seeing that he hadn't arrived yet, Hua Yong was ready to cause havoc when Wen Lang clutched him and said "they are just bandaging his wounds. You will have to treat him like a glass princess for now A-Yong. No more manipulations, no more stress. Take care of him okay? Wait for him here, I will go see your baby."
When Hua Yong nodded his assent, he finally moved, ordering Chang Yu to be there anyways. It was only then he noticed that Shao You's secretary was also there. He looked scared out of his wits for his boss so Wen Lang consoled both of them as well "don't worry, he is safe. The doctors are just cleaning him up and then he will be here. Look out for him okay while I take a look at the baby?"
They both finally relaxed a little.
Wen Lang went to the doctor who informed him that since the father has refused to sign the certificate without his mate, Wen Lang was the only option they had. Wen Lang signed the forms and asked when the two will be discharged. The doctor confirmed "the baby can be discharged tomorrow but the mother will have to be kept for a week or so."
Wen Lang gave a short laugh as he said "doctor, you have referred Shao You as mother more than two times now. I hope you know that he is a S-Class Alpha. And if I know anything about him, he would hate to be called mother. So for the sake of your life, I suggest you to start calling him father. Thank you for the help doctor, I will see Hua Sheng now."
And Wen Lang left to see the new born. After ensuring that everything was taken care of, he went back to his cousin. Seeing that Shao You was back in the room and sleeping, Wen Lang knocked and entered the room.
He informed Hua Yong "I have talked with the doctors. For now, I have signed the guardianship certificate, you can sign the parental one after Shao You wakes up. Hua Sheng will be discharged tomorrow while they will keep Shao You here for a week or so. Do you want me to take Hua Sheng with me? You can come pick him up after Shao You is discharged."
Hua Yong looked at him like he was seeing for the first time, and he probably was, when he nodded and thanked him "I don't know what I would have done with you. Please keep Peanut safe till Mr. Sheng is strong enough to have him back."
Wen Lang gave him another hug and left for his home.
When he reached his home, the nurse was holding a very fussy baby. She recited "I have tried everything Mr. Shen but he is just not quieting down."
Wen Lang nodded, went to the kitchen, washed his hands and came back to the nurse to have his baby back. The baby immediately soothed from being in his vicinity and turned to his chest. The nurse smiled seeing that and left the two alone. That's when he remembered something. He called all the nurses and informed "there would be another baby in the house tomorrow. He will be here for a week only. He is the cousin of Lele. Please help me take care of him as well. The pay will be compensated obviously."
They agreed seeing how good natured their boss was for a top tier Alpha.
Next day, after the regular first half of the day, he went to the hospital, collected the baby from the pediatric ward, and then moved to Shao You's room. Seeing that he was awake but weak, Wen Lang took the baby to him and helped him hold him.
He then told him what had been decided, just in case he didn't know, "so, I will be taking your precious Peanut for a week till the doctors discharge you. I have a set up for him so you don't have to worry about it. I am sorry I can't keep bringing him here to meet you as it is not safe for a new born to be in hospital so often. Pick him up when you are discharged. I have talked with the doctors, my guardianship will not be discharged when you sign your parental papers."
Shao You thanked him sincerely and asked him to take care of his baby as he handed him back. He was a little sad to know he cannot see his baby everyday but knew that it was for the best of his baby, so he didn't say anything.
Wen Lang held the baby tightly to his chest "c'mon baby, say bye bye to your papa and dad. We will meet them again in a week since both of them needs to rest and be strong for you okay. And A-Yong behave. Get well soon Shao You."
And off he went!