CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 159: CHILDBIRTH

When Qin Xiao returned home, it was already late at night. Mianmian didn’t go back to her room to sleep tonight; she was lying in the master bedroom bed, sleeping soundly with Xiao Li.

Seeing that the mother and daughter were asleep, Qin Xiao tiptoed to wash up and then gently lay down beside them.

The next day, early morning.

As soon as Xiao Li opened her eyes, she saw Qin Xiao sitting beside her. She quickly asked, "Uncle, when did you come back? How is the teacher?"

Qin Xiao put down his phone, "I came back last night. The teacher has already passed away last night."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li quickly held Qin Xiao’s hand, "Uncle, you must be very sad!"

Qin Xiao said quietly, "It’s okay. I’ve been prepared for this since we learned the teacher’s illness relapsed.

The only regret is the incident with Gou Feng, which made the teacher leave with mental burdens."

Xiao Li consoled him, "It’s not what you wanted! Don’t be too sad."

Qin Xiao embraced Xiao Li in his arms, "I know, I’m fine, don’t worry."

Xiao Li nodded, "When is the teacher’s funeral scheduled?"

Qin Xiao, "The day after tomorrow, there will be a memorial service before the burial."

Xiao Li nodded, "It’s a pity I can’t see him off."

Qin Xiao shook his head, "It’s okay, the teacher will understand. I’ll go to send him on your behalf."

Xiao Li, "Alright..."

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of Professor Zhou’s memorial service. He had many students, most of whom returned to attend. Amidst everyone’s farewell, Professor Zhou was laid to eternal rest underground.

After attending Professor Zhou’s funeral, Qin Xiao no longer left the house, not even for the aftermath press conference regarding the bombing incident, which Qin Tan attended on behalf of the Qin family.

Qin Xiao focused on accompanying Xiao Li. While at home, he even honed his cooking skills with Aunt Wu. Xiao Li had a truly comfortable last two months of pregnancy.

When the pregnancy smoothly reached full term, Xiao Li could finally get out of bed confidently and move around downstairs.

She could walk around freely now, ready to give birth any time since the baby was full-term, there was nothing to fear...

Yet, while Xiao Li was all ready to deliver, the little one inside wasn’t in any hurry. Two days past the due date, there was still no sign.

Xiao Li wasn’t worried, as giving birth within two weeks before or after the due date is normal; if the little one wanted to stay a few more days, so be it.

Calm and unhurried, in the days before giving birth, Xiao Li only thought about what she wanted to eat, knowing that after delivery, she’d have dietary restrictions for a while.

Xiao Li indulged in many cravings until one day during lunch, she suddenly wanted spicy hotpot. Just as Qin Xiao began preparing it, Xiao Li went into labor. The baby was intent on not letting her eat spicy hotpot.

As soon as she went into labor, Qin Xiao took her to the hospital. In the delivery room, Xiao Li, supported by Qin Xiao, was moving around; the more she moved, the faster the cervix would dilate...

When there were no contractions, Xiao Li felt okay walking, but with each contraction, she had to pause due to the pain.

Qin Xiao helped Xiao Li walk, watching her furrowed brow and pause, knowing she was having another contraction; he wanted to help Xiao Li with childbirth but could do nothing.

During Mianmian’s premature birth, they didn’t go through this delivery process, so Qin Xiao hadn’t fully realized the difficulty of childbirth until now.

Seeing Xiao Li suffer for just a moment, Qin Xiao thought about not having another child.

"Nini, does it hurt again?"

Xiao Li nodded, "Yeah, the contractions are becoming more frequent."

Qin Xiao said tenderly, "It’s hard on you, Nini."

Xiao Li shook her head, lightly bit her lip to endure the contraction wave.

Seeing her biting her lip, Qin Xiao worried she might hurt herself, so he kissed her to divert her attention.

After the kiss, Qin Xiao softly said, "Don’t bite yourself; if you want to bite, bite me instead..."

The contraction wave ended, and Xiao Li chuckled softly at Qin Xiao’s words...

Qin Xiao continued to help Xiao Li walk for a while. Not wanting to constantly dwell on the contractions, she started chatting with Qin Xiao, "Uncle, let’s chat a bit!

Maybe chatting will make the belly ache go away."

The belly ache couldn’t disappear; it would only get worse. Xiao Li said this to relieve Qin Xiao’s tension.

Qin Xiao naturally understood Xiao Li’s intention, so he chatted aimlessly with her to distract her...

They talked about family matters, like how playful Qin Tan and He Jie’s little son was or some special words Mianmian said, discussing topics entirely devoid of substance.

Until Xiao Li’s cervix was fully dilated, and she was taken to the delivery room, with Qin Xiao accompanying her inside.

Outside the delivery room, Qin’s father and mother also arrived.

On the delivery bed, Xiao Li followed the midwife’s instructions, exerting herself. It felt like she was being torn apart with every effort...

Watching Xiao Li sweating and straining, her face pale from the pain, Qin Xiao’s heart ached endlessly...

Qin Xiao continuously wiped Xiao Li’s sweat with tissue, "Nini..."

The last exertion didn’t work, so Xiao Li was gathering strength for the next one.

Hearing Qin Xiao’s voice, Xiao Li turned to look at him, seeing his eyes full of concern. She gave a faint smile, "Uncle, it’s okay, this is what childbirth is like..."

Qin Xiao held Xiao Li’s hand, kissed it; he knew childbirth was tough for any woman to endure, but he couldn’t bear seeing his Nini in such pain and exhaustion.

Feeling her abdomen tighten again, Xiao Li quickly mustered strength, and with the baby’s cry, the child was finally born.

After the nurse cleaned the baby, she brought it to Xiao Li, "Congratulations, it’s a boy."

Turning her head to look, Xiao Li saw that this baby, born full-term, was much bigger than Mianmian was at birth. A full-term baby was indeed different.

Thinking of Mianmian’s appearance at birth, a result of a premature birth due to an accident, Xiao Li thought of Xiao Yan, and then of her past life.

Past life...

During this time, Xiao Li had been hesitating whether to tell Qin Xiao about her past life. She didn’t know how Qin Xiao would react if she told him.

He might believe her, or he might not, as the notion of rebirth was too fantastical.

But just now, she suddenly realized; she kept saying there were no secrets between her and Qin Xiao, yet she had avoided this topic!

Whether Qin Xiao believed or not, she needed to tell him. Only then would it be truly honest!

Moreover, Qin Xiao had already dreamed about the past life, more than once.

In the past two months, Qin Xiao often dreamed about the past life; twice he even talked in his sleep, calling out to Nini. Xiao Li heard and woke him up, and Qin Xiao would tell Xiao Li he had that dream again.