Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

Lin Youxi's words sent shockwaves through Xia Yuan and Mei Fang. Given how recklessly they'd been behaving lately—often skipping protection—this possibility wasn't entirely unfounded.

"Youxi… have you… have you noticed something lately?"

"Not really… It just occurred to me when we were talking about periods."

Lin Youxi nestled in Xia Yuan's arms, pondering. "But periods can be early or late by a week normally. The nausea could just be psychological—"

"We should still get checked! The hospital… wait, where do we buy pregnancy tests?"

"Yuan, search for the nearest pharmacy. I'll drive us there."

"Right, okay…"

Xia Yuan frantically searched on her phone. "Where sells these? Adult shops?"

"…Just search pharmacies."

"Oh, right, let me check…"

Sigh…

A guilty Mei Fang admitted they'd been playing with fire recently. The pleasures of adulthood were something his past self could never have imagined.

What did his past self dream of?

Maybe a cute girlfriend to hug and kiss occasionally—that would've been paradise. Even holding hands would've thrilled him.

Now?

Holding hands?

He could hold two at once until his palms calloused!

Kissing?

French kisses till the end of time!

As for going further…

Well.

They'd been careful about protection at first—not for health reasons (having grown up together, they were each other's exclusive partners), but because they'd agreed to focus on stabilizing their company and enjoying their youth before considering parenthood.

So if there really was a baby…

"A-Fang."

On the way to the pharmacy, Xia Yuan couldn't help asking, "If… if it's true, should we keep it or… say goodbye for now?"

"This is a decision for two people. Or three, in our case."

Mei Fang thought carefully. "Logically, saying goodbye makes sense. Your virtual idol career just started, Yuanxi Entertainment is expanding rapidly—we don't have bandwidth to raise a child. Our plan was parenthood after retiring post-dream-achievement."

"Yeah… you're right…"

"But personally… I can't bear the thought."

Mei Fang spoke softly, "Yuan, you've talked about having my baby since we were kids. If it's really here… asking me to let go would break me. I want to give it a chance at life. I want to take responsibility—for it, and for you."

"A-Fang…sob…"

Xia Yuan teared up. "I feel the same… If it's true, let's have it, okay?"

"If we do, there'll be countless challenges…"

Gazing at the neon-lit streets, Mei Fang continued, "But I'll prepare with everything I've got. So… don't worry too much. Okay, Yuan?"

"Okay! Okay!"

Xia Yuan beamed at him. "My A-Fang is the best to me."

"Could you two save the PDA for later?"

Lin Youxi, still curled up in Xia Yuan's lap, deadpanned, "I'm still in pain here. No one cares about me. I might cry."

"Ahhh sorry sorry Youxi! My bad!"

Xia Yuan hurriedly rubbed Lin Youxi's belly, but the latter pulled her hand away. "Don't overexert yourself. What if you hurt the baby?"

"W-we don't even know if there is one! Youxi, really!"

"Better safe than sorry."

Parking outside the pharmacy, Mei Fang unbuckled. "Wait here. I'll get what we need."

"Mm…"

"Want any snacks? Midnight munchies?"

"Stomach hurts. Pass."

Lin Youxi declined.

"I—I… should I avoid certain foods?"

Xia Yuan hesitantly withdrew her hand, prompting Mei Fang to add, "If… if there is a baby, you should eat more."

"Then fruit! Fruit should be fine! I want peaches, mandarins, water chestnuts, durian—"

"That much fruit?"

"I'm craving it!"

Xia Yuan pouted, rubbing her belly. "My little one must want it too."

"Uh."

She seemed oddly excited about potential motherhood…

Mei Fang indulged her whims—baby or no baby, he adored spoiling her.

But… a child…

If Xia Yuan were pregnant, she'd need to pause her studies and career for maternity.

They'd have to marry quickly, facing Xia Xun's wrath—the Xia family's strict values would deem a shotgun wedding scandalous.

Mei Fang dreaded that confrontation.

As for Lin Youxi… she'd understand, but her parents? Lin Guochuan was easygoing, but Youxi was his world. Marrying Yuan first then Youxi later felt… irredeemably scummy.

Ah.

My ultimate balancing act just got exposed.

While Mei Fang shopped, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi brainstormed in the car.

"Youxi, what should we name our first baby?"

"Boy: Mei Xi. Girl: Mei Xi."

"That's practically the same! And both have your name?"

"Mm. Let me live vicariously through your kid."

Lin Youxi smiled. "When A-Fang and I have one, we'll name it Mei Yuan."

"No no! 'No Hope' (Mei Xi), 'No Fate' (Mei Yuan)—those names are tragic! Our child would be bullied!"

"Can't help it. The surname 'Mei' (没) means 'without.' We'd have to name them Mei Youbing (No Illness), Mei Youzai (No Disaster)—"

"Then don't use A-Fang's surname!"

Xia Yuan countered, "'Xia' and 'Lin' make lovely names! Like Xia Nai, Xia Mo, Xia Qing—all pretty."

Lin Youxi pouted. "I lose my connection."

"Fine! Xia Lin Meng! Happy now?"

"Xia Lin Meng… sounds like 'lemon.' I like it."

Lin Youxi nodded. "Xia Yili works too—first lemon, then pear. Your kids sound delicious."

"What names would you pick for yours?"

Without hesitation: "Boy: Mei Xiaochen. Girl: Mei Xiaoxi."

"Putting quality aside—you've clearly planned this forever!"

"Since elementary school."

"Liar! You didn't like A-Fang then! That started in middle school!"

"Liked him in elementary too."

Lin Youxi murmured, "I imagined having his baby back then."

"Seriously?!"

"But you were our leader. I'd never have stolen him."

Lin Youxi whispered, "I only got close to A-Fang where you couldn't see."

"Honestly, you not confessing to him sooner gave me my chance."

Xia Yuan shook her head, squeezing Lin Youxi's hand. "No—you loved A-Fang, and he loved you."

"Even if it was vague then, we knew we were irreplaceable in each other's lives."

"Mm."

"So your kids should take 'Lin.' I've got perfect names—girls could be Lin Anran (tranquil), or Lin Shenlu (deep woods, glimpsed deer). 'When woods are deep you see deer; when seas are blue you see whales; when dreams awaken, I see you.'"

"I won't burden a child with our romance. A name without aspirations is cruel."

"Then what about yours? Lin Youxi—'Mountains have woods, trees have branches; my heart adores you, but you don't know.' Clearly your parents' feelings—"

"Dad said he just liked the poem's rhythm."

"That casual?! No way!"

"Speaking of which—do you know why you're Xia Yuan?"

"There's a story?!"

"Teacher Yu once told me it commemorates your parents' summer romance…"

"WHAT?! First I'm hearing this!"

"Don't freak out. I might be misremembering…"

"Your guilty face says otherwise! Hah…"

Their banter eased Lin Youxi's cramps. Laughing together, they painted vivid futures with children.

For their trio, already a stable triangle, blood ties could weave their families closer—shared joy, shared purpose.

The thought alone warmed them.

But.

They couldn't ignore reality.

After shopping, Mei Fang sat on the pharmacy steps under the night sky, groceries beside him.

Am I—someone this irresponsible—ready to be a father?

His own parents hadn't been ready. Childhood memories flashed: being beaten for wetting the bed, parental fights, broken promises.

He wasn't always patient.

With his company's growing empire came crushing pressure. Barely enough time for his soulmates, let alone a child.

But abandoning his career for fatherhood?

His mission to revolutionize China's gaming industry had just begun. His ambition to become the anime mogul—barely launched.

Exhausting either way.

Yet he couldn't show this turmoil to Yuan and Youxi.

Because he loved them.

Enough to sacrifice his dreams.

But he knew they'd never let him.

Thus the paradox:

Compromise. Accommodate. Yield.

Healthy for relationships, but always demands more from someone.

A thriving family and business empire simultaneously?

Nearly impossible.

Even for a reincarnator.

Still…

If there really was a baby, they should keep it.

Having died once, Mei Fang revered life more. His second chance underscored its preciousness.

After a brief respite, Mei Fang returned to the car. He handed Xia Yuan the pregnancy test, gave Lin Youxi a heat patch for her cramps, then presented Xia Yuan's fruit haul.

"Thanks A-Fang!Mwah!"

Xia Yuan planted a loud kiss on his cheek, then cupped his face with a radiant smile.

"A-Fang."

"Yeah?"

"After talking with Youxi… if it's true, maybe we should wait."

"No… no no. We agreed—if pregnant, we keep it."

Mei Fang insisted firmly.

"Having a child now has too many downsides. Honestly, I'm not mentally ready to be a mom—I'm still a kid myself…"

"Are you… truly against keeping it?"

"Or are you sacrificing for my career? Our careers?"

"Well—"

"Hesitation answers that."

Mei Fang gently removed her hand, closed the door, and started driving.

"Either way, I'll take responsibility."

"I want this child—if it exists."

"A-Fang, you listed all the reasons this is bad timing…"

Keeping his eyes on the road, Mei Fang explained:

"We might regret having this baby—how it derails our careers, disrupts our trio's plans."

"But losing it? We'd regret that more."

"Possibly for life."

"But—"

As Xia Yuan wavered, Lin Youxi intervened.

"Yuan, A-Fang's made his stance clear."

Lin Youxi soothed, "Besides, raising a child with three parents is easier than two, no?"

"If everyone insists… Ugh, I'm so conflicted!"

Since pregnancy tests required morning urine, they'd have to wait until dawn.

That night was agonizing. They debated genders, names, parenting philosophies.

Children were magical.

Though modern youth feared parenthood, envisioning that joyful future sparked boundless anticipation.

———

Next morning.

Lin Youxi and Mei Fang sat at the table—him scratching his head nervously, her pinching his thigh—awaiting Xia Yuan's return from the bathroom.

Xia Yuan emerged blushing furiously.

Must be positive.

Exchanging glances, they rushed to see the test she held up.

Oh.

Oh.

A single line.

…

The trio sat in deflated silence, mourning an absence they'd already begun to love.

"After all that… false alarm."

"A-Fang, it's not too late to try."

Lin Youxi grabbed Mei Fang's hand, eyes shining. "Yuan's cycle's coming—these next few days, go all out. Skip the fancy stuff, just focus on making our little Yuan-bao!"

"Youxi you LITTLE-! Why don't YOU have his baby then?!"

"Me? Babies require willing participants."

Lin Youxi flipped her hair smugly. "I don't want one yet—I just want to babysit."

"So you'll pimp me out but not contribute?! NO!Hmph!"

Post-scare, the trio became meticulous about protection.