Chapter 176

What? This is the mysterious big gift you talked about? I said Beast God, you're doing this too hastily! Did you ask my wishes? Do you know whether I'm actually ready to have a child?

Instantly, Zhang Fan felt as if the whole sky were about to collapse, and now he was on the verge of breaking down.

As for that, the Beast God appeared quite composed, casually waving a hand and speaking in a relaxed tone:

Exactly! This is the gift! By the way, I've already delivered the gift, and the purpose of calling you over today has been fulfilled. All right, you'd better go back now!

Just as the Beast God's words fell, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er both felt their bodies sink, as if falling from a height, and while they were dazed from the weightless sensation, the Beast God's voice sounded again.

By the way, the Dragon Egg you adopted is expected to hatch in the next few days—you two need to be more careful! Well, I've said all I have to say, bye-bye~ Looking forward to seeing you again!

Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er, as a couple, were thus tossed by the Beast God from the dream back into reality.

When Zhang Fan opened his eyes again, he saw Ba Ke Er's face, wheat‑colored from the sun. At that moment, that vibrant face was beaming with a charming, radiant smile.

Fan Fan, you're awake! Do you know? Last night I dreamed that I went to see the Beast God together with you! But the Beast God in the dream seemed quite different from the legends—hahaha……

Having said that, Ba Ke Er scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and said, a little awkwardly: 'You must think I'm still not fully awake, right? Hahaha……'

Zhang Fan met Ba Ke Er's eyes, first smiled, then put on a serious expression and said:

Ba Ke Er, that wasn't a dream! It was all real! We just didn't go to the temple with our bodies—our souls projected out. And the Beast God you saw in your dream was indeed the Beast God! Congratulations, you've finally seen the Beast God!

Ba Ke Er stared at Zhang Fan, dazed, and asked: 'Really? Is it really true? That really isn't a dream……?'

Seeing that, Zhang Fan sat up, reached out to rub Ba Ke Er's face, and said firmly: 'Really! Really! It's true! By the way, that Beast God is really annoying—hmph!'

When Ba Ke Er heard Zhang Fan utter the last word with some indignation, his dazed expression vanished instantly, replaced by a look of hurt and sorrow.

Fan Fan, could it be that you truly don't want to have a child that belongs to us both? Or have you never even thought about having a child?

Ba Ke Er pouted, his face wounded, and looked at Zhang Fan speaking with a slight sob.

Ah? No! No! I never said I didn't want a child! I just don't really want to be the one to give birth. It's not that I don't want a child! Ba Ke Er, don't be upset!

Seeing Ba Ke Er's wounded expression, Zhang Fan panicked at once and hurriedly spoke to comfort him.

And upon hearing Zhang Fan's consolation, Ba Ke Er not only failed to calm down, but became even more agitated.

No! I understand—your meaning is actually that you don't want a child! The reason you say this now is just an excuse! In fact, in your heart you've never considered yourself female, and I can understand that!

After all, you lived as a male on Earth for many years, and only because of a strange car accident did you suddenly end up in this unfamiliar world, where you were even regarded as female—so it's completely normal to feel unsuited or resistant.

So you don't need to say things that go against your own true intentions just to comfort me; I understand your position completely.

Having said that, Ba Ke Er already got up from the bed, put on his clothes, and walked out.

Watching Ba Ke Er's solitary departing back, Zhang Fan felt extremely uneasy. Even though he had thousands of words he wanted to say, by the time they reached his lips they had dwindled to a barely audible sigh.

One person sat on the bed, thinking a lot, yet still couldn't muster the courage to explain to Ba Ke Er. Zhang Fan at this moment suddenly realized that this seemed to be their first disagreement over the matter of having a child.

At the same time, this is also the first time since they met that a problem which could be solved simply by sitting down to talk has instead, because he didn't know how to speak up, led to a rift in their relationship.

After Ba Ke Er walked out of the room, he began to regret saying that, actually wanting to go in and apologize to Zhang Fan. But then, because he was too eager to know Zhang Fan's reaction to this matter, he gave up that idea.

Thus, he went into the kitchen like a walking corpse and started making breakfast. Moreover, while cooking noodles he mistakenly put sugar in instead of salt, and while cooking rice he mistakenly dumped half a jar of salt in.

When Zhang Fan had put on his clothes and shoes and stepped out of the door, he already smelled the aroma drifting from the kitchen; although he really wanted to go in and hug Ba Ke Er and say good morning,

but because he hadn't responded to Ba Ke Er in time that morning, he felt guilty and thought he didn't deserve to go in. So he turned around and went into the secondary bedroom to check on the Dragon Egg.

Upon hearing Zhang Fan's footsteps leaving, Ba Ke Er thought, 'To say I'm not disappointed would be a lie!' But even if he was disappointed, life still had to go on and breakfast still had to be eaten, so he merely let out a faint sigh and continued with what he was doing.

When Ba Ke Er had carried the prepared breakfast into the main hall and set it on the table, Zhang Fan also came out holding the Dragon Egg, pushing open the door.

Ba Ke Er saw Zhang Fan come out, felt a little pleased inside, but his face didn't show his true feelings.

Zhang Fan saw Ba Ke Er standing blankly at the table's edge, thinking Ba Ke Er must still be resenting him—otherwise why wouldn't he speak to him? Normally he's quite talkative.

Thinking this, Zhang Fan's mood grew worse. He didn't smile at Ba Ke Er as usual and softly say good morning; instead he just sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and prepared to eat.

Ba Ke Er saw that Zhang Fan had no intention of attending to him, felt embarrassed to interrupt, and simply sat down quietly.

After the meal, although Ba Ke Er had mistakenly added the wrong seasoning and even too much of it, the couple, tasteless as they were, didn't notice any difference in the breakfast's flavor from usual; they simply each ate a bite or two in unison and then put down their utensils simultaneously.

For the rest of the day, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er remained in this silent, mutually uncomprehending state. Moreover, before each mealtime Ba Ke Er would proactively go to the kitchen to prepare their food; once it was ready, they would again, just like in the morning, eat silently without a word, each consuming only what was in his own bowl.

Thus, on the surface they seemed fine with each other, but secretly each felt guilty for several days.

That day, Fei Er and Nuoya, again taking advantage of their partners being absent, sneaked out to play. This time Nuoya also brought along her own two young offspring.

Zhang Fan watched the two young male lions that Fei Er and Nuoya were holding in their arms, and felt even more guilty toward Ba Ke Er, and toward the child now lying quietly in his own belly.

Ba Ke Er saw Fei Er and Nuoya coming over, and hurriedly got busy, pouring water and making tea for them, and also bringing out some little snacks so that Zhang Fan and Fei Er's group could have a good chat.

After finishing those tasks, Ba Ke Er no longer kept a straight face, but gave a slight smile and said to the three people and two lions: 'All right, you take your time chatting; I still have some things to attend to, so I'll be off.'

Having said that, Ba Ke Er also reached out and gently stroked the heads of the two young male lions, and only after hearing their soft cries did he feel satisfied and leave.

Ba Ke Er's recent actions were all seen by Zhang Fan, and deeply etched into his heart.

As it turned out, Ba Ke Er actually likes children so much—so when he earlier, for my sake, spoke against his own true feelings, what was his state of mind then? Was it disappointment? Or even greater disappointment?

Zhang Fan felt he could go on thinking no further, because he was afraid—yes, afraid! He was afraid that he had never truly understood his bedmate, never knowing what was in his heart.

Only after Fei Er and Nuoya left with the young lions did Zhang Fan finally snap out of it. He kept recalling, at unexpected moments, the time he told Ba Ke Er that they might not have children in the future, and Ba Ke Er's reaction.

Soon an afternoon had passed; Ba Ke Er had finished his own affairs and returned home. Then he silently began tidying the house, and afterward quietly went to the kitchen to start preparing dinner for the couple.

Zhang Fan at this moment had been waiting—yes! He had been waiting for the right opportunity, the right setting, the right person, to say the appropriate words.

At the dinner table, Zhang Fan this time did not sit down before Ba Ke Er as he had done the previous days; instead he stood to the side, waiting until Ba Ke Er sat, then he walked over and sat beside him.

Zhang Fan looked at Ba Ke Er's face, hesitated for a long while, yet still spoke up.

Ba Ke Er, regarding what I said a few days ago, I feel very sorry! Actually I'm not unwilling to have a child; I just……haven't prepared yet! Although I'm the receptive partner, I'm still male after all!

I still haven't prepared to give birth, yet that hateful Beast God already cast a spell, making me pregnant early! It's really hasty! And now it's the cold season; I had originally planned to teach the kids to read, but because of the pregnancy I have to postpone that plan.

Besides, the Dragon Egg is expected to hatch soon, and I'm pregnant again—how am I supposed to take care of the baby?! This feels like deliberate sabotage!!

Ba Ke Er listened to Zhang Fan's slightly indignant tone as he spoke words akin to complaint, yet felt not a trace of impatience; on the contrary, he felt quite reassured.

I'm very happy, Fan Fan, I'm very happy that you're telling me this; actually I know it's all my fault—I shouldn't have regarded you as female here, and even for a long period I didn't believe you when you said you were male.

Here, I hope you can forgive me, although I also know this is merely a vain hope……

Saying this, Ba Ke Er's mood grew ever lower, and he gradually lowered his head.

Zhang Fan, upon seeing Ba Ke Er's current expression, although his heart felt somewhat uncomfortable, he still smiled and used his own hand to lift Ba Ke Er's head, gently placing a light kiss on his lips.

"Thank you, Ba Ke Er, it is you who made me understand the meaning of life. I am truly very grateful to you!"

Ba Ke Er looked at Zhang Fan before him, also gradually curled the corners of his mouth, and smiled.