Extra Chapter Two: Pregnancy (7)

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Before long, autumn had deepened. The mornings and evenings had turned cool enough to require a light sweater, and Wen Jiu’s due date was drawing near.

With half a month still to go, Gu Zehuai had already begun handing over the work in his care. He returned home to accompany Wen Jiu as she awaited the birth, working from home unless something urgent arose.

Although Wen Jiu had strictly followed her nutritionist’s meal plan and supplemented all the necessary nutrients throughout her pregnancy, she now suffered frequent aches in her lower back and such severe pelvic pain that she could hardly sleep through the night. The comfort she had enjoyed during the early and middle stages of pregnancy was long gone.

Whenever Gu Zehuai saw the dark circles beneath Wen Jiu’s eyes as she stubbornly insisted that she was fine, he became even more anxious than she was. He could not help wondering how much longer Jiujiu would have to endure such torment.

After calling in the family doctor, all they could do was prescribe calcium tablets and suggest that massage might provide some relief.

Gu Zehuai learned the proper techniques and massaged Wen Jiu at the same time every day.

“Jiujiu, we’ll only have this one child. We won’t have any more after this. And our baby can take your surname. Grandmother and my parents have no objections.”

Wen Jiu was about to tease him for already thinking about the future when their first child had not even been born yet, but then she heard what he said next—something she had never expected.

Gu Zehuai continued, “It makes no difference whose surname the baby takes. Either way, the child is ours. Besides, you’re the one who has endured all this hardship to carry and give birth to the baby.”

Wen Jiu nodded.

As the due date approached, Gu Zehuai grew even more anxious. Wen Jiu could not sleep, and neither could he.

By then, Wen Jiu had been moved to the Gu family’s old residence to be cared for. The Old Madam Gu and Gu’s mother often shared their own past experiences with her to ease her nervousness. Whenever they did, Wen Jiu would call Gu Zehuai over to listen as well. After all, he looked as though he needed the information even more than she did.

In truth, Wen Jiu was far less nervous than Gu Zehuai. Every prenatal checkup had shown that both she and the baby were perfectly healthy, and she believed her condition was strong enough to carry her through the entire process.

But no one could say for certain what had yet to happen.

Wen Jiu soon moved into a VIP room at the hospital. Even Zhong Yi, who was busy with work, would hurry to the room whenever she had a break, chatting with Wen Jiu so that she would not feel bored.

On the night five days before her due date, Wen Jiu had finally fallen asleep when a sudden pain seized her abdomen in the middle of the night. Cold sweat broke out across her body as she struggled to reach for Gu Zehuai beside her.

Gu Zehuai had never been a deep sleeper. The moment he woke and saw her covered in cold sweat, he immediately realized that she was about to give birth.

Knowing he could not panic, Gu Zehuai quickly steadied himself and pressed the call button beside the bed.

Throughout the hospital, all the doctors and nurses were already assembled and on standby.

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The doctors and nurses had been arranged by the Gu family a month earlier.

Before long, Wen Jiu was taken into the delivery room.

Gu Zehuai wanted to accompany her, but Wen Jiu refused. She did not want him to see her at her most unpresentable.

Unable to persuade her, Gu Zehuai could only wait outside the delivery room.

Both sets of parents had received the news and rushed over. However, out of consideration for the Old Madam Gu’s age, they did not want to disturb her rest and temporarily kept the news from her.

Although Gu Zehuai was not inside the delivery room, he kept himself informed of everything happening within it.

Wen Jiu’s labor went very smoothly. From the onset of the abdominal pain to the birth of the baby, it took only a little over two hours.

Gu Zehuai felt that his legs were about to give way as he waited outside. Several times he wanted to rush in, but whenever he remembered the stern way Wen Jiu had refused him, he ultimately held himself back.

At last, a baby’s cry rang out through the delivery room and beyond.

Gu Zehuai felt the tightness in his heart finally ease, and he could hardly wait to go inside.

Both sets of parents rose excitedly to their feet.

“She’s born! She’s born! Jiujiu, you worked so hard!”

The moment the delivery-room doors opened, Gu Zehuai rushed inside, brushing past the doctor carrying the baby.

Wen Jiu’s mother and Gu’s mother followed behind him. They first glanced at the baby before entering the room.

Wen Jiu had already fallen into an exhausted sleep. The large beads of sweat on her forehead revealed how difficult the delivery had been.

Gu Zehuai did not show the slightest trace of disgust at the sweat on her brow. He lowered his head and placed a reverent kiss upon her forehead.

“Jiujiu, you worked so hard. Thank you.”

Gu Zehuai stayed by Wen Jiu’s side. When several nurses entered the delivery room again and wheeled her back to the ward, he and the two mothers followed them out.

By then, the baby had already been bathed and wrapped snugly in a swaddling blanket. Gu’s mother waved to Gu Zehuai.

“A-Huai, come over here.”

Gu Zehuai approached. Only then did he get a proper look at the baby he and Wen Jiu had brought into the world.

The doctor placed the tiny infant in his arms.

“Congratulations, sir. Both mother and daughter are safe and well.”

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When Gu Zehuai heard the words “both mother and daughter are safe and well,” his eyes grew moist. This was his daughter—the daughter of him and Jiujiu.

Although he had practiced holding a baby countless times at home, Gu Zehuai felt as though he had forgotten everything in that moment. Yet as soon as the baby was placed in his arms, muscle memory took over. He carefully held the infant and lowered his head to look at her.

His first thought was, She’s so ugly.

But then he reconsidered. This was the baby he and Jiujiu had made. How could she possibly be ugly?

Gu’s mother saw the thought reflected in his expression and explained, “Newborn babies all look like this. What kind of expression is that?”

Naturally, Gu Zehuai did not dare argue. He simply looked down at the baby in his arms again.

The tiny infant seemed to sense something. She opened her eyes a sliver, looked at Gu Zehuai, and pulled her mouth into a little smile.

Everyone saw it and began teasing her, even though they knew it was merely a normal reaction for a newborn.

By then, Wen Jiu had also awakened. Gu Zehuai hurriedly carried the baby into the ward.

Wen Jiu lifted her head slightly. When she saw the infant in Gu Zehuai’s arms, the corners of her lips curved upward.

Only after Gu Zehuai placed the baby beside her did Wen Jiu get a clear look. Her first reaction was to crease her brows before she could stop herself.

Even though she knew all newborns looked this way, she still could not help it.

When Gu Zehuai saw that Wen Jiu had reacted exactly as he had, he burst out laughing and repeated Gu’s mother’s explanation.

Wen Jiu understood, of course, and she would never truly dislike the baby. The instant she saw her child, she felt that every hardship had been worth it.

Not long after the baby was placed beside Wen Jiu, the little infant puckered her lips as though aggrieved and began to cry.

Gu Zehuai quickly picked her up and soothed her, telling Wen Jiu to rest properly.

After finally calming the baby, Gu Zehuai lowered his head once more. This time, he kissed Wen Jiu on the lips.

“Jiujiu, thank you. I love you.”

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