Chapter 404: Scared?

Chen Yan was momentarily at a loss for words, and just silently stared at the person on the bed.

Gao Yang's forehead beaded with fine drops of sweat, her complexion turned a bit pale, she was clearly in pain and gasping, yet her mouth wouldn't stop for a moment, chattering on about the little fellow in her womb.

As he kept watching, his heart suddenly felt blocked by something, both sour and swollen.

Indeed, he could call Gao Yang stubborn, say she won't give way to reason, claim she's full of a princess's nasty habits—here's something wrong, there's something off.

Yet this very Gao Yang, at this moment bearing the hardship and risk of nurturing life for him, when the pain spikes, instinctively clutches his sleeve.

Chen Yan leaned down, brushed aside her sweat‑damp hair, his fingertips carrying a gentleness he himself hadn't noticed.

The words that had reached his lips, meant to spare her effort and stop nagging, suddenly couldn't be spoken.

He gently took her clenched hand and said warmly, "Alright, when that stinky brat is born, I'll help you pull him out. For now, conserve your strength; when it hurts, just hold my hand."

Gao Yang was stunned for a moment, apparently not expecting that reaction, and the next complaint she had prepared got stuck in her throat.

Seeing Chen Yan's rarely softened brows and eyes, feeling the warmth of his palm, the force she had been holding back suddenly eased a bit, her nose tinged with an inexplicable sourness, she turned her face away and muttered softly, "... that's about as good as it gets."

Seeming not to adapt to the mood, Gao Yang changed the subject: "By the way, why aren't you staying with the emperor?"

"My wife is about to die in pain; how could I have the leisure to keep that old man company?" Chen Yan forced a smile, picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped her sweat.

Gao Yang opened her mouth and suddenly scoffed, "That doesn't sound like something you'd say."

"Then what do you think I'd say?"

"Hmm..." Gao Yang thought for a moment, coughed, mimicking Chen Yan's old manner, and said hoarsely, "Don't overthink it; I just forgot to grab something, and I'm also coming back to see whether my Death‑Seeker Little Wife is dead or not."

"If she's near death, I can prepare the coffin in advance and send out invitations for friends and relatives to attend the banquet."

Chen Yan: "......"

She imitated him so vividly that even Chen Yan's usual expression and tone were copied almost perfectly.

She even made Chen Yan laugh in anger: "Li Zhaotang, when did I ever say that?"

"Never have I ever cursed you with talk of death or banquet."

"Almost the same," Gao Yang raised an eyebrow, nonchalantly saying, "We've quarreled so many times; what harsh words haven't we hurled at each other?"

"You may not have said it that bluntly, but you've said plenty of similar things; I remember them all."

"And you've said plenty too," Chen Yan retorted, "Do you need me to help you recall them?"

"I'm not denying it!" Gao Yang declared confidently, "One thing is one thing; I'm not denying those words. I'm just saying your tongue's venom isn't any worse than mine."

"Back then, the second time we met, you cursed my waist wasn't a waist, my butt wasn't a butt, and without looking at the direction of my head you couldn't tell my front from my back."

"You're just insulting without using dirty words."

Chen Yan twitched the corner of his mouth, helplessly saying, "Alright, alright, I won't argue about this; you're just not a normal person."

"You keep saying I'm wrong about treating you well, but the point is you never appreciate my kindness!"

【9】 "Look at that broken mouth of yours!"

Look at your broken mouth!

"Sooner or later I'll tear you apart."

"Tear it!" Gao Yang sang, "If I tear you apart, won't I have a mute bride then?"

"I know you've been thinking about it for a long time."

Chen Yan just felt a headache, stared at her wordlessly, and said, "If you keep this up, I'll really go find Li Lizhi; from now on I won't bring you into my room."

"Look, look, you get angry after I say two sentences to you," Gao Yang teased, "Are you about to say you're disappointed in me next?"

"By the way, how long have you been using this trick? Can you change it? I haven't said I'm going to look for a wild man in ages, why are you still using the old move?"

Chen Yan stared at her steadily, saying nothing.

Gao Yang had intended to keep ranting, but seeing that, she suddenly dared not speak.

Afraid of really making him angry.

"You don't want me to worry about you, right?" Chen Yan's eyes held a smile.

"You're trying to divert my attention with these words?"

"Xiao Tangtang, you… sometimes are actually cute."

Little… Xiao Tangtang?

Cute?

Hearing his words, Gao Yang was incredulous, her expression turned as if she'd just swallowed something terrible.

How did such a word end up on her?

"Think whatever you want!" she snapped, turning her face away in angry embarrassment, while the base of her ears involuntarily grew warm.

"Alright, alright," Chen Yan now completely lost his temper, his tone unusually soft, "Don't be angry; it's already like this. If the fetal qi gets disturbed, who'll suffer the most but you?"

He said this while reaching out to wipe her sweat again.

Gao Yang, in a sour mood, tried to slap his hand away, but he smoothly grasped it.

"Let go!" she glared at him.

Chen Yan not only didn't release, but squeezed even tighter, "Don't let go! Didn't you just say we'd pull my son out together? You're already trying to strike me?"

Gao Yang struggled twice but couldn't break free, so she let him have his way, yet retorted, "Who said 'we'? That's my son; he has nothing to do with you."

"Alright, alright, your son," Chen Yan nodded obligingly, and with his other hand carefully wiped her sweat, no longer arguing.

Gao Yang for a moment also didn't know what to say; the room fell silent, only her occasional heavier breaths from pain remaining.

Chen Yan simply sat quietly beside her.

After a while, Gao Yang seemed to finally give up on something, letting out a very light hum, and her fingers subtly clasped his again.

"Chen Yan." she suddenly whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I'm a bit thirsty."

"Wait, I'll go fetch you some water."

Chen Yan got up, poured a cup of warm water and came back, carefully sat on the edge of the bed. He didn't directly hand the cup over, but gently helped her up, letting her lean securely in his embrace, then brought the rim to her lips.

Watching her eyelashes tremble slightly as she sipped water, Chen Yan spoke in a low voice:

"Zhao Tang."

"Hmm?"

"Are you scared?"

Gao Yang's action of drinking water paused. The room fell silent for a moment; she lowered her hand, didn't push him away, instead wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and muttered, "What's there to be scared of?"

"I'm scared of giving birth." Chen Yan's jaw lightly rested against her crown, "During this time you've had Xiang Lan inquire about many people's childbirth experiences, and you haven't been as active as before."

"Did you see some bad news?"

Gao Yang's body trembled, she feigned calm on the surface and said: "I just wanted to find out exactly how childbirth is done; my Li Zhaotang dictionary has no word for 'fear'!"

"Mm, I know you're not afraid." Chen Yan didn't expose her obvious bravado, speaking softly: "But I'm a little afraid!"

Gao Yang, hearing this, suddenly lifted her head, looking at him with some surprise.

Chen Yan met her gaze, raised his hand and used his fingertip to wipe the water stain from her lips, his eyes sincere and gentle: "I'm afraid you'll hurt, afraid you'll suffer, so, Li Zhaotang..."

He looked at her eyes with utmost seriousness, saying each word clearly:

"When the time comes, let me accompany you, okay? Even the fiercest general going into battle needs a personal guard beside him; I'll be that guard for you."

"........."