Although Zhan himself knew that there was no way around a visit to the doctor, he refused to go and be examined there. The fear was too great that the doctor would confirm what he already suspected. Namely that this one unprotected time with Yibo, impregnated him.

It was not even so much the panic of the pregnancy itself. But rather the panic, because he did not know how he should explain it to Yibo and his parents. Surely, he thought, his parents would be very disappointed in him. And if there was one thing he didn't want and couldn't bear, was the thought of his parents being disappointed in him. And of course he wondered how Yibo would react when he learned the truth?

Would Yibo want nothing to do with all of this? Would he perhaps break up with Zhan? Many unresolved questions were buzzing through Zhan's mind and he knew it would only help if he talked about it with the appropriate people. But he just couldn't manage it.

But how much longer would he be able to avoid talking? Yibo was getting more and more worried by the day, getting angrier and angrier the more Zhan resisted going to the doctor. And yesterday in the early morning, Yibo had threatened him to turn to Zhan's parents if Zhan did not finally go to the doctor.

Afraid that Yibo would talk to Zhan's parents and that they would find out that Zhan might be pregnant, he promised Yibo to go to his family doctor. But for this he had to fly to Chongqing, because there is his family doctor, who knows Zhan almost better than anyone else. And who, of course, knows about Zhan's special body.

So instead of going to work together, only Yibo went to the office and Zhan went to the airport. He immediately took the next flight to Chongqing and then took a cab to his family doctor, whom he had already informed about his arrival on the way there.

When he arrived at the doctor's office, he was immediately called. Several tests, including a blood and urine test, were done and then he had to wait. And the longer he had to wait, the more nervous he became. He also had the feeling that he was being stared at by the nurses in the practice.

He even thought he saw one of the nurses pointing in his direction and then at her stomach. Zhan even changed seats and turned away from them to avoid their stares. Still, he thought he continued to feel their gazes on him. Piercing glances that stared at him and his belly.

After almost 2 hours he was finally called by his doctor. Almost running, Zhan went to the treatment room, where his doctor then also did an ultrasound examination. Zhan did not dare to look at the monitor. Rather, tears came to his eyes. He was afraid that he was really pregnant and Yibo would separate from him and his parents would be disappointed in him.

The doctor handed Zhan a paper towel and patted his hand. "Now, calm down. You don't have to cry." He said kindly.

"I'm just panicking." Replied Zhan, sobbing.

"There's no reason for that. Come, put your clothes back on and sit with me."

Zhan did as the doctor said and sat down. "So, am I pregnant?"

Smiling, the doctor shook his head. "No. The symptoms do indicate that. But these are symptoms that have been triggered by too much stress. So you're not pregnant."

"Really?"

"Yes. You can be quite reassured. But I must warn you and urge you to reduce your stress. Because if you don't, you're going to get worse soon, and it's going to lead to chronic stress or even burnout."

"Well, my boyfriend and I, we just started our own business a few months ago with our own marketing company. That's where a lot of stress still comes in."

"I can understand that. Still, you should listen to your body. It's warning you right now." Replied the doctor. He gave Zhan a thin book about too much stress and what can happen in the worst case if he doesn't listen to his body now and change something to reduce the stress.

Relieved that he was not pregnant after all, but worried about his physical symptoms caused by all the stress, Zhan headed back home, where he arrived only in the evening and an impatient Yibo was already waiting for him. "Have you been to the doctor's until just now?"

"Well, I had to fly to Chongqing. My family doctor is there." Replied Zhan. Had he forgotten to tell Yibo this?

"Why don't you find a doctor here? You don't live in Chongqing anymore, you live in Beijing."

"Yeah sure. But my family doctor has known me all my life and I trust him."

"Never mind for now. By the way, your parents were here today..."

"My parents? What did they want? What did you tell them where I was?"

"Well I told them that I sent you to the doctor because you've been so bad lately. Why are you so nervous?"

"What, what did they say about that?"

"Well, they asked me what exactly was wrong with you and then they were worried. And all of a sudden they started telling me about a small group of men who could get pregnant. I don't know what that had to do with this."

"Mhhh, I um so..."

"And you know what was weird?"

"No, what?"

"They asked me if I wanted kids someday."

"And what did you answer?"

"That I could imagine it rather less. I've never thought about it. And our lives are much too hectic for a child. Besides, we're much too young. And apart from that, it might be hard for us to adopt a child."

"Mn."

"Well, and then they started again with these men who can get pregnant."

"And what do you think about that? I mean, about these men?"

"I don't know. I imagine it would be difficult with a man like that. I mean, you could never really let yourself go if you're always afraid your partner might get pregnant."

"You mean sex without a condom?"

"Yes, for example. And besides, what would people think if you were out with your boyfriend and he had a huge belly?"

"Anything else Yibo?"

"Not really. I don't think I could be with a man like that."

"Well then I guess I better pack my bags now. Because I am that kind of man!!!"

"What?"

"I'm one of the tiny percentage of men who can get pregnant! And since you don't want a relationship with such a man, I guess I'd better go." Said Zhan angrily and stormed past Yibo.

Yibo grabbed Zhan and wrapped his arms around him. He held him from behind and didn't let go no matter how hard Zhan tried to resist. "You're not going anywhere Zhan! I won't let you leave!"

"But you don't want a boyfriend like me."

"I'm sorry Zhan. I was just talking without thinking. It all sounds like science fiction to me, that men can get pregnant. I heard about it for the first time today and I still can't believe that such a thing exists. I am really sorry ZhanZhan. Please believe me. I love you and I promise I still want to be with you."

"But you think that you'll never be able to really let yourself go now, I'm sure."

"I admit, it's a shock. I'm actually pretty overwhelmed right now that men, my man, can get pregnant. But that doesn't change the way I feel about you. No matter what, I will always love you. And once I process this a little bit, I'll see it with different eyes too. I'm sure I'll still be able to let myself go and continue to make love to you as I always have."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this before. I was just afraid that if I did, you wouldn't want to be with me anymore." Said Zhan, sobbing bitterly.

Yibo turned Zhan around to face him and wiped the tears from his face. He kissed his cheeks and gave him a kiss. "I love you ZhanZhan. And I'm sure I'll love you even more once I've processed all of this a bit. And believe me, I would never break up with you because of this."

Zhan hugged Yibo and rested his head on Yibo's shoulders. "I love you too Yibo. I'm just afraid of losing you."

"That's not going to happen. Never. I would never let you go. Because then a part of me would die, believe me. I can't be without you anymore. Now don't cry anymore. You better tell me what came out at the doctor's office. Are you pregnant?"

"I am not pregnant. He examined me thoroughly and found that it's because of too much stress that I feel this way."

"Okay. That means we're going to look for a way to reduce the stress. So you can get better quickly."

"Mn. Aren't you even mad at me for not telling you about my, well, special body?"

"No. You couldn't have known in the beginning if this was really going to work out with us. I think it would have been hard for me, too."

"Well, yeah, but we've been together for a year now."

"Sure. But you know Zhan, you could also say it's only been a year. I don't blame you for that. I don't know how I would have acted in your place."

"Thank you."

"But for the future, please remember, you can talk to me about everything."

"Mn, I will."

"And hey. There's something good about your body, too. Someday you and I can have a child of our own. A child that's from both of us. It will have our genes. We won't need a surrogate and we won't have to go abroad to adopt a baby. Because you have that special body and will be able to have our child."

"I thought you didn't want kids."

"Sometime in the next few years, for sure. We're still young and have only been a couple for a year. Besides, we've only just started our own business and have little time and money for a baby. But in a few years, things will look different."

"Sounds like you're making plans."

"I am. But before you and I make a baby, I'm going to marry you. The way it should be!"

"You're going to marry me?"

"Of course! That was my plan and has been from the beginning. I told you I love you and I can't imagine my life without you. Just the thought of losing you makes me feel like something is dying inside me. No, I won't let you go away anymore. I'm going to marry you and someday we're going to have a baby. Does that sound good?"

"Mn. Very good."

"And ZhanZhan?"

"Mn?"

"You do realize that now that I know your secret, I'm going to watch you a lot more, right?"

"Huh? Why is that?"

"So no one can come and snatch my special ZhanZhan away."

"That's not going to happen Bo. My heart has been yours since I was 13 years old. That will never change."

"I'll still pay attention."

"Okay. Then I'll make sure no one steals you away from me, too."

"Fine, but you'll see, no one stands a chance anyway. Because I already have the perfect boyfriend who fills my heart completely."

"Haha, you're cute Bo."

"You too my ZhanZhan. Now kiss me." Said Yibo. Zhan kissed him and felt incredibly relieved.

Zhan had already feared the worst and let his panic get the better of him. But as it turned out, his fears had been in vain, because his Yibo is much more mature and adult than he had assumed.

And now Zhan also knew that Yibo was already making plans for them both. Plans that Zhan likes very much. Especially the plan for Yibo to marry him. Finally freed from this panic, he could just enjoy his happiness again. And to reassure his parents, he called them and told them what the doctor found out. And his parents reminded him that Zhan can always come to them with anything. And when Zhan explained to them that he was afraid of disappointing them, the two of them calmed him down and told him that he could not disappoint them. Unless, at the most, he didn't trust them enough and therefore didn't talk to them.