Chapter 119: Who’s Pregnant?
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
While Guy was mentally sifting through parenting books he’d read—trying to decide which early childhood guides might suit—Heinrich stayed quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice trembled slightly before he forced it back into its usual calm, unwavering tone.
“What are you talking about?”
Guy blinked. “Wait… you didn’t know he was pregnant?”
“Lin Xu, he…” Heinrich hesitated.
“So he doesn’t know himself?” Guy muttered. “That would explain why he’s been doing all kinds of reckless things. Or maybe he didn’t tell you?”
“I don’t think…” Heinrich faltered again, then said more firmly, “He’s not pregnant.”
“But his symptoms match.” Guy looked at him skeptically. “Those are classic signs of early pregnancy.”
Heinrich closed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head. “If he were pregnant, it’d be obvious. He’s been completely normal lately. No signs of anything unusual.”
Lin Xu’s abdomen was still flat—unlike the last time, when that egg had expanded his stomach into a noticeable curve. No signs of fever, no unusual fatigue, no sudden and overwhelming cravings. …Well, maybe that last one was debatable.
“Oh.” Guy nodded thoughtfully. Then, after a beat, he added, “So he has been pregnant before?”
He’d never seen a child around them, and neither of them had ever brought it up.
“Was there… an accident?”
“That time… was an accident from the start,” Heinrich admitted.
Guy glanced sideways at Marshal Chu. The man still wore the same unreadable expression, not a single crack in his demeanor. Guy found himself suddenly worried about Lin Xu’s choice in partners. “Seriously,” Guy muttered. “You’d think after an accidental pregnancy, you two would’ve taken more precautions. At the very least, you should be tracking the dates. Can’t you figure out which time it happened?”
Heinrich looked utterly cornered. “I… I can’t calculate that.”
Guy let out a long breath. What a hopelessly clingy, overly energetic couple.
Heinrich had been thinking about it though. If Lin Xu was pregnant, it might’ve been due to him knotting inside during sex. But… that happened pretty frequently between them.
For a typical alpha and omega, internal knotting was associated with a permanent mating mark. Lin Xu’s reproductive system didn’t have the capacity to accept such a mark, but Heinrich’s alpha instincts still compelled him to leave his scent on Lin Xu again and again.
On top of that, Heinrich had no idea what a normal pregnancy cycle for a mermaid hybrid should look like. He couldn’t even estimate a timeline if he tried. No. Stop. Heinrich forced his thoughts to a halt. There was no real sign that Lin Xu was pregnant.
Guy, watching the silent battle unfold in Heinrich’s eyes, sighed again. He shelved his long list of parenting advice and patted Heinrich on the shoulder.
“Think about it for yourself,” he said gently. “I’m going back to feed Adrian.”
After Guy left, Heinrich returned to the lounge, his steps slow and uncertain.
Lin Xu was still sitting by the panoramic window that displayed the vast Star Ocean, absorbed in his book. The darkness of space flickered faintly with distant stars. He wore a loose, thin knit sweater that accentuated the sharp angles of his features, giving him a contradictory, arresting sort of beauty. The dairy drink Guy had handed him was long gone—just an empty glass sitting quietly on the table.
When Heinrich approached, Lin Xu didn’t turn around. But his hand paused ever so slightly in the middle of flipping a page, clearly waiting to hear what Heinrich would say.
“Lin Xu,” Heinrich said, voice low, “do you… want something to drink? A glass of hot water?”
Lin Xu’s hand froze. He raised an eyebrow, turning to glance at Heinrich—still in full uniform, posture impeccable, not a hair out of place.
“…A cold soda.” Heinrich’s lips parted, clearly about to suggest that cold drinks might upset his stomach—but in the end, he said nothing. He turned and went to pour Lin Xu a glass of ice-cold soda.
The ship’s service bots could’ve handled it, but after his time living on Cacamorra, Heinrich had gotten used to doing things by hand. As he held the glass, condensation formed along the smooth surface, fogging the outside. His palm warmed it just enough for the droplets to bead up and cling to his skin.
Lin Xu took the glass, drank a sip, and returned to his book—unbothered, as though nothing unusual had happened. But Heinrich could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his chest, echoing like the pressure valve in an overheating mecha. Tiny bubbles hissed in the coolant pipes just before boiling. What if… Lin Xu really was pregnant?
Last time, Lin Xu’s reaction was intense. The egg had drawn massive amounts of energy from him in order to sustain itself. He’d been pulled back from the edge of danger, both physically and mentally drained, which only amplified the symptoms.
Sure, a lot had happened recently too—but it wasn’t the same as being on Sand Star, where the threat to survival had been immediate and primal. And now, Lin Xu had been steadily recovering—thanks in part to the crystalline energy he’d absorbed from the cores. But then again…
What exactly could a dragon and a mermaid create?
…
Maybe it was another unfertilized egg—nurtured by the host body but never fertilized—a phenomenon fairly common among oviparous species. But still…
Heinrich had never given much thought to offspring, not once in the past few decades. He didn’t have the urge or desire to pass on his bloodline. Yet, if it was a child between him and Lin Xu… that somehow felt different.
—
Lin Xu had taken Guy’s training advice from a few days ago to heart and started working on his flexibility. In combat, flexibility was crucial—it affected the execution of many moves and helped prevent muscle and joint injuries. The new training even inspired a few creative maneuvers of his own.
But for some reason, Heinrich had recently gone back to being unbearably gentle again—like spring rain and a soft breeze. Even when trying new things, he acted as if Lin Xu were made of fragile snow, something that might shatter at the lightest touch.
If it weren’t for the fact that the duration of their… activities hadn’t changed, Lin Xu might’ve seriously bitten him in frustration and demanded, “Are you incapable or something?”
Oh, well. He hadn’t actually said that to the strong and very capable S-Class Alpha yet… but he had definitely bitten him a few times. Hard. His sharp teeth had even torn off several scales from Heinrich’s wounds.
Heinrich never got angry. On the contrary, after a fleeting moment of flustered panic, he always ended up comforting Lin Xu nonstop. Lin Xu didn’t want to talk. He just kept biting. But after a bit of biting, once Heinrich carried him off to clean up, Lin Xu would often fall asleep in his arms not long after.
The next morning, Heinrich would turn off the alarm Lin Xu had set, letting him sleep in.
Even when he’d already slept enough, as long as Heinrich coaxed him a little, Lin Xu would close his eyes and drift right back off for several more hours. After adjusting to the new schedule, his body had become increasingly sleepy.
When he finally woke, Heinrich would already be in the kitchen, having cooked a full meal with his own hands. Lin Xu just needed to stretch a little before heading over to eat.
During interstellar travel, freshly cooked meals were a rare luxury—let alone ones made by Marshal Chu himself. Guy, lured by the smell, had come by several times to mooch a meal. Each time, he’d bring up stories about Lin Xu roasting exotic beasts out in the borderlands. After a few visits, Heinrich’s icy glare was enough to send him packing. Inwardly, Guy muttered, “So what if you have a wife? I have one too!”
Thankfully, Heinrich didn’t have to do the dishes himself. The kitchen’s auto-cleaning program handled everything afterward. After eating with Lin Xu, Heinrich would usually head off to train. He’d tell Lin Xu to take a nap.
Lin Xu, however, felt he absolutely could not sleep anymore. He waved him off and told him not to worry. He sat for a while, sipping the last of the claryfish soup from his bowl. Once he finished, he brought it into the kitchen to hand over to the cleaning bot.
That’s when something on the central island caught his eye—a glowing screen that hadn’t been turned off. From across the room, he could see images of food on it. Curious, he walked over.
It was a recipe. Was Heinrich… learning to cook from a recipe? As he scrolled through the page, he noticed it didn’t just include cooking steps—it also listed a full meal plan and broke down the nutritional value of each dish. According to the guide, the dishes provided comprehensive nutrients to meet all pregnancy needs. Pregnancy needs? His finger slipped. The page scrolled back to the top, revealing the title and introduction:
“Learn With Me: Daily Meal Plans for Your Pregnant Beta Wife”
Lin Xu: “…?”
“As we all know, Betas have different physiology from Omegas. They often experience stronger pregnancy symptoms and require more nutrients and energy. If you love her/him and are willing to cook a heartfelt meal, join our editor in preparing lovingly restored classic Earth dishes!”
Lin Xu: “??”
The first dish listed was none other than the claryfish soup he had just finished.
The description read: “Claryfish is rich in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins. It helps soothe the mood and ease fetal movement.”
Lin Xu: “???”
Whose fetus was moving? Lin Xu didn’t react right away. Then he noticed a few more tabs open on the browsing screen. It looked like someone had been on an anonymous forum on StarNet. Curious, he clicked the page. The title of the post was displayed in bold letters:
“How Do You Take Care of a Pregnant Male Beta?”
Inside, commenters from all over were enthusiastically offering advice.
“A pregnant male beta? That’s super rare. Just go to the hospital—listen to the professionals.”
“This is the relationship board. The original poster must be looking for advice beyond medical stuff. By the way, OP—has he started his maternity leave yet? Is work stressful? Have you had time to be with him lately?”
The original poster responded:
“Neither of us has been busy. We’ve been together all the time. But we’re in space—does that affect anything?”
Was this… Heinrich’s post?
“Space! Taking maternity leave in Star Ocean sounds so romantic… If you’re on a standard ship, you don’t need to worry too much about health, but registering the child’s birth can get complicated. It’s still better to return to your official residence to give birth.”
“There’s no real day or night in space—make sure to help your partner adjust their circadian rhythm and get plenty of rest.”
“I still can’t believe it—a pregnant male beta is so rare. I read a report once that said it only happens if the other partner’s deoxyribonucleic carrier cells have extremely high activity.”
“Hey! That sounds dirty!”
“What? It’s an academic discussion!”
“Even if your natural vitality isn’t great, don’t worry! Check out my No. 6754 formula: one dose to activate, two to sustain, three for lifetime alpha performance!”
“Ugh, take your miracle pills and scram!”
Lin Xu stared at the screen. “…”
Did the Imperial public have any idea that the Marshal Chu they so admired spent his free time browsing forums like this? Lin Xu genuinely couldn’t understand what he’d done recently to make Heinrich think he was pregnant. He looked down and touched his stomach.
Surely it wasn’t because his waist had thickened a little? He had been wearing looser clothes lately…But an increased waistline was completely normal during a muscle-building phase. His muscle tone and strength were steadily returning. Honestly, with a bit more training, he was pretty sure he could knock Guy out in under five moves.
