Chapter 262 - Pregnant? me?

Jian lay sprawled beneath him, golden eyes half-lidded, his face wet from tears yet flushed from heat, looking utterly undone. The last kiss had melted him, left his body trembling and boneless. His legs felt like air, unsteady and weak, but his mind could only focus on the man above him—the one who seemed to fill every inch of his vision.Xing Yu hovered there, silver hair cascading forward, strands brushing Jian’s shoulders and tickling his skin. His narrowed steel-gray eyes burned down into him, sharp but unbearably tender.

"Xing..." Jian whispered, his voice fragile, trembling. His fingers reached up almost of their own accord, brushing the man’s back with the gentlest of touches.

Xing Yu shuddered, his entire frame trembling from such a soft contact. His breath hitched as though Jian’s hand carried the weight of fire.

"What have you done to me..." Xing Yu groaned, his voice guttural, tortured. "Before I could even take the permission from your grandfather... I fear—I fear I might do something I regret." His teeth dug into his bottom lip as though it were the only anchor he had, biting down on the pink flesh that Jian found so maddeningly tempting.

Jian let out a small laugh, airy and sweet, though his chest still heaved with uneven breaths. "So... for all these years you refused to touch me because you needed my grandfather’s consent? That’s why?"

"Yes." Xing Yu’s voice was hoarse, his jaw tight. "It’s our tradition. Only when the elders of both families consent to the union can we wed. I... I didn’t want this to be something secret, something illicit. I wanted us to be legal, Jian. I wanted you to be mine without any shadow over us. But now..." His body lowered, pressing flat against Jian’s smaller frame, pinning him into the bed. His whisper was broken, thick with longing. "Too bad—I think all my restraint will be ruined tonight. I don’t want our children to be born out of an illicit bond."

The sheer weight of him pressed Jian down, leaving him breathless. His chest rose in quick, sharp gasps as he clutched at Xing Yu’s broad shoulders. That warmth, that solidity—he couldn’t move even if he wanted to.

"My grandfather will consent to anyone I choose to marry," Jian whispered, cupping Xing Yu’s face, running his thumb against the tense edge of his jaw. "So what we have... it isn’t illegal. It’s not wrong. Don’t chain yourself with that." His touch softened, brushing Xing Yu’s lashes, coaxing them to lower. Then, as a sudden thought struck him, his brows furrowed. "Wait... you said children. What exactly did you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like." Xing Yu leaned over him, face deadly serious, his silver hair spilling onto Jian’s chest.

Jian blinked, utterly lost. His lips parted, then pinched together before he reached up and lightly pinched Xing Yu’s nose. "I don’t get it."

"Jian... if we consummate, you will get pregnant."

The words were delivered with such unshaken certainty that Jian jolted upright, shoving Xing Yu back with wide eyes. "Pregnant? Me? But—I’m a man!"

"Yes."

"I’m a man," Jian repeated more firmly, his voice rising.

"Yes, you are. But you are also my mate." Xing Yu said it as though it was the most natural truth in the world. "Isn’t it normal for mates to have children?"

"Men? No!" Jian practically shouted, his face a mix of disbelief and indignation. His hands flailed slightly as he searched for answers. "In five years you never told me this! How... how do men give birth? Where will the child even... reside? In my belly?" His voice cracked. "And how will it even come out? Will they cut me open? Will I—" his voice dropped to a horrified whisper, "—puke it out?" His golden eyes trembled with pure panic as they locked onto Xing Yu.

Xing Yu scratched the side of his cheek, visibly sheepish. "I... I’m not sure about those details... Sorry."

"Aghhh!" Jian collapsed backward onto the mattress, groaning loudly and covering his face with both hands. "Why should I be the one to get pregnant? Can’t you? Can’t you get pregnant instead?"

"I can," Xing Yu replied without hesitation, his tone steady, almost casual. "If that’s what you wish, then I will carry our child."

Jian’s hands slipped down from his face, his mouth falling open in utter disbelief. "You said that like it was nothing," he whispered. He cupped Xing Yu’s face tightly, closing his eyes as if to steady his pounding thoughts.

"So... you’re saying everyone in our kind can carry a child?" His voice trembled with disbelief. "Then why isn’t Eren pregnant? He’s been in a relationship for ages!"

Xing Yu’s arms slid around him, pulling Jian into a tight embrace, burying his chin into his hair. "I... I wish I had the answers for that, Jian. Truly. But I don’t."

Jian shoved lightly at his chest, glaring up at him with flushed cheeks. "Why don’t you know anything? Aren’t you supposed to be this almighty general?"

Xing Yu let out a small laugh, his voice warm, his forehead pressing to Jian’s. "Yeah... but I spend my life in battlefields. I didn’t have the luxury of sitting around, discussing these things. You know..." his lips tilted in a faint, rueful smile, "you’re the first person to ever make me want to ask questions like that."

Jian peered at their connected hand with a small pout. Children... he had never imaged himself having children. What would they be like... he though as he peered up into those steel grey eyes. ’will they be like him...’ his hand gently ran through those silver strands. The strand was straight at the top but slightly curly at the bottom. ’if so... I really am tempted to see such a child.’ He though with a small smile.

Then he quickly snapped out of it. ’wait I have to get pregnant and carry the child for that.. i... I’m not sure I’m ready for that at all...’