# bash 5.2 outputs:

# >te:142<
{ echo -n 'te'; sleep 2; echo 'st'; }   | (read -t 1 reply; echo ">$reply:$?<")
# >:142<
{               sleep 2; echo 'test'; } | (read -t 1 reply; echo ">$reply:$?<")
# >test:0<
{ echo -n 'te'; sleep 1; echo 'st'; }   | (read -t 2 reply; echo ">$reply:$?<")
# >test:0<
{               sleep 1; echo 'test'; } | (read -t 2 reply; echo ">$reply:$?<")