ACMS 62

Chapter 62: Shaving

After taking a shower, Shen Hechuan came out and saw Qiao Le sitting on the sofa. The roasted sweet potato had been half-peeled and left to the side.

“Why aren’t you eating it? Not sweet enough?” Shen Hechuan walked over and picked up the sweet potato to continue peeling it.

These sweet potatoes were fragrant, sweet, and soft—Qiao Le’s favorite kind. Shen had gone out of his way to buy them on the way home.

Once he finished peeling, he handed the sweet potato to Qiao Le. “Hm?”

But Qiao Le didn’t take it. He just stared at him with a very strange expression.

Shen Hechuan was puzzled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Does it hurt?” Qiao Le suddenly asked.

Shen Hechuan: “What?”

“The surgery.” Qiao Le took out the paper he had been holding and handed it over. “Did it hurt?”

“You found it?” Shen Hechuan realized immediately. He’d casually stuffed the post-op instructions into his pocket and forgotten all about it.

“I found it in the pocket of your coat.” Qiao Le pointed toward the laundry room. He had already put the coat there, but kept the paper.

“When did you have it done?” he asked.

The surgery was already complete, and Shen Hechuan had memorized all the aftercare instructions, so there was no use keeping the paper. He crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash can across from him.

He sat down next to Qiao Le and replied, “Today.”

“Today?!” Qiao Le was shocked. He remembered that Shen still had work and dinner engagements today. “You had the surgery and still went back to work? And then went to a dinner tonight? Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It doesn’t really hurt.” Shen Hechuan handed him the sweet potato again. “Eat it before it gets cold.”

A vasectomy is a minor procedure—it only took about twenty minutes. Shen had the operation in the morning, rested for a bit at the office over lunch, and by afternoon, he barely felt a thing.

Qiao Le took the sweet potato but put it back into the bag. He continued asking, “Was it a surgical cut? Did they stitch you up? Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?”

Seeing how concerned he looked, Shen reassured him, “It really doesn’t. The wound’s tiny, no stitches needed.”

He paused, then pulled Qiao Le’s hand over and added, “It definitely doesn’t hurt more than a C-section.”

They both knew exactly why he had this done.

This pregnancy had been an unexpected blessing, but also a huge risk. After all, male pregnancies were incredibly rare—and extremely dangerous.

Even if they used protection every time in the future, nothing was 100% foolproof. Shen Hechuan didn’t want to take that gamble. He didn’t want Qiao Le to go through this again. The operation was his way of ensuring that.

Qiao Le suddenly recalled how, when they first met, he had randomly lied and said Shen Hechuan had already gotten a vasectomy just to complete a mission.

And now… it had actually come true.

Was this fate? Some kind of cosmic echo?

His gaze dropped below Shen Hechuan’s waist. He reached out and poked his abs, saying, “Let me see.”

Shen Hechuan: “Hm?”

“The surgery spot.” Qiao Le was dying of curiosity and started tugging at the waistband of his pants. “Let me take a look.”

Shen Hechuan stepped back. “There’s nothing to see—”

“But I want to see.” Qiao Le looked up at him, eyes wide. “Just a peek?”

…There it was again. That soft voice.

Shen Hechuan gave in and stopped backing away. “Fine. Go ahead.”

Qiao Le tugged open his waistband and immediately exclaimed in shock, “Wow—you shaved!!”

“…”

Shen Hechuan covered his face with one hand, helpless. “Don’t say that so loudly.”

Even though there was no one else at home, it still sounded super awkward.

“Oh, right.”

Qiao Le quickly shut up, though his shoulders trembled from trying not to laugh. “No wonder you didn’t want me to look yesterday. You shaved in secret, didn’t you?”

Shen Hechuan: “…It wasn’t in secret.”

He’d just shaved while showering last night.

Qiao Le commented, “It’s a little prickly. Your technique needs work.”

“…” Shen tensed his abs at the touch and said resignedly, “Stop poking it.”

“Okay.”

Qiao Le took a proper look and confirmed that there were no stitches—just two small bandages. Definitely a minor surgery.

“You showered right after the operation—was that okay?” he asked, looking up.

Shen looked down and saw Qiao Le leaning over his waist. The posture wasn’t exactly appropriate… especially considering his current condition. He quickly grabbed Qiao Le’s hand and guided him back onto the sofa.

“It’s fine. I avoided the area.” He straightened his clothes and reminded, “Go wash your hands. I’ll reheat the sweet potato.”

“Okay!”

Qiao Le hopped off the sofa to wash up while Shen put the sweet potato and chestnuts into the oven. He also took out a bottle of milk.

After washing his hands, Qiao Le called out, “Let’s watch a movie! What do you feel like watching?”

Shen Hechuan’s voice came from the kitchen, “Anything’s fine.”

Qiao Le turned on the projector and browsed for a bit but didn’t find anything interesting, so he just queued up an old film to wait for Shen Hechuan.

When Shen Hechuan came out with the food, the freshly reheated sweet potatoes and chestnuts smelled heavenly. Qiao Le quickly scarfed down one and then drank half a cup of milk.

He rubbed his belly. It felt like the babies had grown again in the last couple of days—and so had his appetite.

“What’s wrong?” Shen asked. “Didn’t you want to watch a movie?”

Qiao Le said, “Feel my belly. I think it’s gotten way bigger. I can’t even see my abs anymore.”

He lifted the hem of his shirt to inspect his stomach.

He never had prominent abs, but there used to be a bit of definition. Now it was all stretched out.

“Abs?” Shen warmed up his hands and gently placed them on Qiao Le’s belly.

It had been over three months—Qiao Le’s belly was slightly rounded, but if someone didn’t know, they’d just assume he’d gotten chubby over the holidays.

Shen softly stroked the bump, carefully feeling for his children’s presence.

He stared quietly for a long time, saying nothing. Eventually, Qiao Le’s arms got tired from holding up his shirt and he asked, “You done yet? Any longer and my skin’s gonna blister.”

Shen Hechuan chuckled and was just about to pull his hand back when Qiao Le suddenly grabbed him. “Wait!”

“Hm?”

“I think I just felt something move.” Qiao Le said uncertainly. “It was kind of a weird feeling.”

“What kind of feeling?” Shen Hechuan asked urgently, pressing his hand against the bump. “Where did it move? Did it hurt?”

“It wasn’t a kick—”

Qiao Le thought for a moment and tried to explain, “It’s a very strange feeling, hard to describe. There’s no obvious movement, but it feels like they’re moving.”

Like fish blowing bubbles underwater—those bubbles floating to the surface and popping with a soft glug.

It was faint, but because it was inside him, he could feel the subtle stirrings clearly.

This was the first time since getting pregnant that Qiao Le had felt anything like this. He looked down at his belly again, and a slow, growing smile spread across his face. He leaned over and kissed Shen Hechuan, who was still a bit dazed.

Caught off guard by the kiss, Shen Hechuan’s gaze shifted from Qiao Le’s belly to his face.

Qiao Le’s eyes curved as he smiled. “Shen Hechuan, even though I didn’t plan to keep them at first, I want to tell you now—I don’t regret it one bit. I’m really happy.”

Shen Hechuan braced himself on the sofa and leaned in to kiss him. “Me too.”

“Thank you for letting them stay,” he said, pulling Qiao Le into his arms.

After this little moment, neither of them had any more interest in finishing the movie. Instead, they went online to look up information about fetal movement—what it feels like, when it starts. Shen Hechuan was especially focused, quickly bookmarking over a dozen posts.

The two rookie dads kept reading late into the night until they were too tired to stay awake and finally went to bed.

–

The next day, as soon as Shen Hechuan arrived at the office, Judy told him that a Mr. Liu Feng had scheduled an appointment to meet with him.

Shen Hechuan wasn’t surprised. He’d already anticipated Liu Feng reaching out. He had Judy arrange for Liu to wait in the meeting room and only went to meet him after finishing his work.

“President Shen!” Liu Feng greeted him warmly the moment he walked in.

Shen Hechuan gave a slight nod. “President Liu.”

As expected, Liu Feng was here to discuss a business collaboration. Hualang Group had a branch in Hong Kong, and Liu had done his homework before arriving. He’d come prepared with a detailed proposal for Shen Hechuan.

Shen Hechuan flipped through the proposal as Liu Feng introduced it in fluent Cantonese-accented Mandarin.

By the end, Liu Feng’s throat was dry, but his tone remained passionate. “…President Shen, rest assured, our wind energy technology is already very mature. Partnering with Hualang Group will definitely be a win-win situation.”

Shen Hechuan set the proposal down, neither agreeing nor rejecting it. “President Liu, are you planning to stay on the mainland long-term?”

“There’s a possibility,” Liu replied. “But of course, it depends on your intentions, President Shen.”

“I recall your wife is a Yunjing local?”

“Yes, yes! In fact, that’s sort of a connection between us—”

Liu Feng immediately tried to build rapport. Shen Hechuan asked a few more questions about how they met and gathered some information about Liang Shuling. Then he rose from the couch. “President Liu, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

“What about the collaboration—?”

Judy stepped forward at just the right time to intercept Liu Feng, who was about to follow. “President Liu, our project team will evaluate the proposal. Let me show you out.”

Liu Feng could only watch as Shen Hechuan left the meeting room, frustrated but powerless.

He waited a few more days, hoping for a response, but none came.

When it comes to business deals, silence usually means rejection. Still without any reply from Hualang Group, Liu Feng lost his temper and smashed two vases in the hotel room.

Liang Shuling was startled and came out of the room to see the shards scattered across the floor. “What happened? Why are you so angry?”

Liu Feng paced in circles with his hands on his hips, face tense, then explained the situation with Hualang Group.

Hearing that, Liang Shuling tried to soothe him. “If they won’t cooperate, we can find someone else. There’s no need to get this upset. It’s not like they’re the only ones in the business. Don’t get yourself worked up.”

“What do you know?!” Liu Feng shoved her aside irritably. “Hualang is a leader in the industry! If I can get in with them, it’s like catching a ride on an express train. And now, after wasting all this time, I’ve got nothing to show for it!”

“Well, if they’re not interested, what can you do—”

“Enough!” Liu Feng snapped, cutting her off and turning all his work-related frustration on her. “What else do you do all day besides shopping and spending money? You’re completely useless! Why did I even bring you along?”

Being unfairly blamed, Liang Shuling was upset as well. She wanted to help, but she hadn’t been able to get in touch with Qiao Le at all.

Liang Jiancheng and Chen Li’s mouths were like clam shells—no matter how much she cried, pleaded, or threw tantrums, she couldn’t pry a single bit of information from them.

She truly had no idea where to start. At least Liu Feng could still approach Shen Hechuan—

Her thoughts paused.

That’s right. Even if she couldn’t find Qiao Le, she could still go through Shen Hechuan, couldn’t she?

Qiao Le and Shen Hechuan were already engaged. Shen Hechuan must know where Qiao Le was. For all she knew, they might even be living together.

If she found Shen Hechuan, she’d find Qiao Le.

The thought flashed by, and Liang Shuling instinctively glanced at Liu Feng. She would have to keep this from him. If she couldn’t help him and he found out Qiao Le was her son, she’d be in deep trouble herself.

Having made up her mind, Liang Shuling softened her tone. “Don’t be angry. Why don’t we ask President Zheng for help? He and President Shen are close—he might be able to put in a good word.”

Liu Feng considered it briefly, then grabbed his coat and headed out.

“Where are you going?” Liang Shuling asked.

“Going to find Zheng Hui,” he said without turning back, then left the hotel.

Liang Shuling glanced at the broken vases on the floor, called the front desk to send someone up to clean, then grabbed her bag and went out as well.

She took a taxi to Hualang Group and told the receptionist she wanted to meet with President Shen.

“Ma’am, do you have an appointment?” Xiao Tao asked politely.

“I don’t,” Liang Shuling replied, “but I’m an acquaintance of your President Shen.”

Plenty of people tried to meet Shen Hechuan every day. Xiao Tao looked at her with suspicion and didn’t follow her instructions. “I’m sorry, ma’am. President Shen is very busy today. If you don’t have an appointment—”

“My surname is Liang. I’m an acquaintance of your President Shen’s fiancé, Qiao Le.” She changed her tactic. “Just tell President Shen that, and he’ll want to see me. It’s not much trouble for you to ask, but if you delay my business, I don’t think you can bear the consequences.”

Xiao Tao studied her expression—she didn’t seem to be lying—and hesitated for a moment before calling Judy’s extension.

Judy happened to be heading to report to Shen Hechuan, and after hearing the details, she said, “Have her wait. I’ll inform President Shen.”

As Shen Hechuan was signing documents, he paused and looked up. “Where is she?”

“Downstairs,” Judy replied.

He handed over the signed documents. “Bring her to Meeting Room A1.”

“Yes, President Shen.”

Judy called Xiao Tao back and told her to send Liang Shuling up.

After leading her to the meeting room, Shen Hechuan arrived shortly after. Judy brought them tea and stepped out—only to receive a message from Qiao Le just as she closed the door, asking if Shen Hechuan was busy since he wasn’t answering his phone.

Judy glanced at the meeting room and guessed Shen Hechuan had left his phone behind. She replied to Qiao Le.

[judy: A Ms. Liang came claiming to know you—President Shen is meeting with her now.]

As soon as Qiao Le saw the message, he jumped up from the sofa.

He should’ve known—if Liang Shuling couldn’t find him, she’d go to Shen Hechuan next.

He was hard to track down, but Hualang Group? That massive building was too easy.

[Qiao Lelele: I’m on my way.]

He messaged Judy back, grabbed his jacket, and headed out the door.