"Don't startle me with your exclamations, Doctor. I'm perfectly fine, not feeling unwell at all. Don't scare her!"
The doctor and nurse exchanged a look, then couldn't help but smile.
"Mr. Zhan's condition is quite peculiar."
"I've been working in obstetrics for over 20 years, and encountering such a case is a rarity. I've seen very few in recent years, so seeing you has actually made me quite happy."
Jiang Nan Fang looked puzzled. "Doctor, could you please explain clearly? What exactly is going on?"
The doctor chuckled. "His condition is called, medically speaking, simulated pregnancy, or pseudopregnancy syndrome."
The couple exchanged a bewildered glance. "What does that mean?"
"Simply put, it's when the body simulates a pregnant woman's pregnancy, leading to similar bodily reactions."
What?
For a grown man to simulate pregnancy? It was an utter humiliation!
Zhan Bei Jue's expression turned cold, and he was about to retort, but Jiang Nan Fang placed a hand on his arm.
"Could you explain in more detail?"
The doctor elaborated with a smile. "This is a form of physiological empathy."
"There have been professional studies on this symptom, suggesting that men who develop this syndrome typically dote on their wives immensely."
"Not only do they show consideration for their wives' well-being behaviorally, but psychologically, they unconsciously strive to align with their wives, creating a state of synchronization and communication. This is how pseudopregnancy syndrome occurs."
It was certainly eye-opening to learn about such a phenomenon.
But Jiang Nan Fang was still confused.
"I haven't felt any nausea or vomiting, so how can you say he's in sync with me?"
"We have an old saying in China: 'When the wife is pregnant, the husband vomits.'"
"The folk explanation is that because the husband is overly concerned for his wife, he wants to share her suffering, hence experiencing morning sickness."
"In reality, the true reason is simply that the husband loves you. Upon learning of your pregnancy, he experiences excessive worry and mental tension, leading to these stress-related complications."
"As his mental state relaxes, he will gradually recover. There's no need to worry. He's simply expressing how much he cares about you in an extreme way."
"You are very fortunate, Mrs. Zhan."
Jiang Nan Fang instantly felt incredibly fortunate as well.
Zhan Bei Jue cared about her and their child to such an extent that it was no wonder children kept coming to them.
After the doctor left, the couple leaned against each other. Jiang Nan Fang gently comforted him.
"Don't be nervous, it's nothing major. As long as we follow the doctor's advice, we'll surely deliver the baby smoothly."
"When the nanny arrives next month, will you interview her for me? You're like a cold-faced Yama; who wouldn't be intimidated by you? The person will primarily interact with me, so it's essential that I find someone suitable."
Zhan Bei Jue finally handed over the reins to her.
Jiang Nan Fang chose an experienced nanny in her forties. The three of them stayed in the hospital room. It felt awkward to remain silent.
The nanny was quite talkative. After introducing herself, she approached Jiang Nan Fang and offered to massage her hands and feet.
As she massaged, she began to read her palm.
"You can read palms too?"
"It's an inherited skill, I know a bit. Look, this is the life line, this is the career line, and this is the wealth line. This one is for the children..."
Zhan Bei Jue didn't believe in such things.
However, seeing Jiang Nan Fang smiling brightly, hunched over and happily chatting with the nanny, he didn't want to spoil her mood.
After listening to the nanny's seemingly miraculous pronouncements, she said to Jiang Nan Fang,
"You are destined for many children and much fortune. From my observation, you will have three sons and three daughters. Mrs. Zhan, you are a person of great wealth and honor."
Zhan Bei Jue had dismissed everything the nanny said earlier, but this particular statement caught his attention.
"How many children did you say she would have?"
"Six. Three boys and three girls. Look, there are six small lines here. These represent boys, and these represent girls, three of each. Isn't that three boys and three girls?"
Zhan Bei Jue asked Jiang Nan Fang, "Did I miss anything this morning? How many did the doctor's report say you're carrying?"
Jiang Nan Fang couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
"One."
"Zhan, are you expecting me to have more children for you? Will this never end!"
"How do you know it can't be twins? It's only been a month, what can they really tell? Let the doctor check again in a few days; perhaps it'll be twins again."
Initially feeling sympathy for Zhan Bei Jue, believing he genuinely cared for her and the baby, Jiang Nan Fang suddenly found herself angry with him again.
"Greedy insatiable man, why do you want so many children? You'd better pray this is twins. In the future, even if I get pregnant again, I'll never have another child, even if I die!"
Because of the nanny's words, the couple, frightened, stayed in the hospital for a week and then underwent another examination.
It was confirmed that there was only one.
Jiang Nan Fang then began to view him as a dangerous plague.
"Stay away from me! After this child is born, either we live separately, or you get sterilized. This is simply too much!"
Separation was out of the question, and so was sterilization.
Zhan Bei Jue was somewhat patriarchal.
"Understood. I'll be more careful with protection from now on. Besides, this sort of thing isn't just beneficial for me."
"Get lost, get lost, don't let me see you. Stay away from me!"
His scolding triggered Zhan Bei Jue's syndrome again. He rushed to the bathroom and vomited once more. Only then did Jiang Nan Fang relent.
When Zhou Jin Bei became pregnant, A Zhong and his father were naturally overjoyed.
On the first day back from his business trip, A Zhong brought his father from their hometown that very night.
Uncle Zhong had no other notable skills, but he was an excellent cook.
He and Zhou Jin Bei got along very well. They often chatted about A Zhong's childhood, forming a bond stronger than that of a father and daughter.
From then on, A Zhong came home every day for lunch, and he would leave work on time in the afternoon.
Zhan Bei Jue couldn't find him to discuss the experience of becoming a father.
Feeling frustrated, bloated, and occasionally melancholic, and tormented by morning sickness every day, the unbearable Zhan Bei Jue finally called A Zhong and asked him to come to the CEO's office.
A Zhong was still rather reluctant.
"What is it, President Zhan? I have urgent tasks. If I don't finish them this afternoon, I'll have to work overtime tonight. But I can't work overtime right now. Can we keep this brief?"
Seeing A Zhong radiant, spirited, and in a state as if he were constantly taking tonics, Zhan Bei Jue felt even more resentful.
However, he said, "I haven't had a chance to inquire about you lately. How is the pregnant woman in your family? Is she experiencing severe reactions?"
Hearing that it was about Zhou Jin Bei, A Zhong replied happily.
"She had a bit of vomiting and loss of appetite at first, but my dad is a great cook, so she got better with food. Bei Bei has a good mindset, as you know, so she's been mostly fine recently, eating, drinking, and sleeping well."
Upon hearing that Zhou Jin Bei could eat, drink, and sleep well, Zhan Bei Jue felt even more unbalanced.
She, the actual pregnant woman, was more comfortable than him, the fake pregnant man. Where would he hide his face if this got out?
"Your father is such a good cook? I've been tired of eating out lately. How about he cooks an extra portion starting tomorrow and brings it for me to try?"