CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 355: THE INEVITABLE ARRIVAL_2

Dressed and fed, other than during childhood, it was only during this period of pregnancy that one could enjoy such care.

Since New Year’s Day, Qin Guanglin had started to feel as though each day was a year, closely monitoring He Fang’s fetal movements daily. He would often bend over to place his ear against her belly to listen in, which somewhat dissipated He Fang’s original tension, allowing her to relax and wait quietly for the day of labor to arrive.

Qin’s Mom had been familiarizing herself with this new home, the kitchen, the egg beater, the juicer, the bottle warmer... These were all novelties to her. Having lived in the old house with Qin Guanglin, she had never fussed with such devices, not paying much mind to the quality of life. Now, seeing their exquisite living conditions, she couldn’t help feeling comforted. Each generation being better than the last was the wish of every parent.

On the seventh, He’s Daddy rushed to Luo City, having only briefly informed the couple He Fang that he was coming, asking about the due date without clarifying when he would arrive. He only let them know he had arrived when he got off the train. Qin Guanglin quickly drove to pick him up. Along the way, he discussed with He Fang over WeChat, deciding to temporarily put him up in a hotel next to their street—as their home only had their own master bedroom, Qin’s Mom’s room, and a small room prepared for their daughter. It was natural not to move the father-in-law into the small room first; the small bed wouldn’t fit him anyway, so a temporary hotel stay it was.

By the tenth, at 2 p.m., He Fang began to experience contractions. Qin Guanglin, without a moment’s delay, grabbed the maternity bag, checked for their IDs, health insurance card, cash, and other such items, and together with Qin’s Mom, helped He Fang into the car. He’s Daddy took the passenger seat, and the family headed straight for the hospital.

"How are you feeling? Is the baby coming?"

While waiting for the traffic lights on the road, his palms were already soaked with sweat, tightly gripping the steering wheel, glancing at the two women in the backseat through the rearview mirror.

"It’s just contractions, not so soon..." At that moment, He Fang inexplicably felt calm, gripping Qin’s Mom’s hand, feeling the pain inside her.

The child was ready to come.

Qin’s Mom felt the strength of her grip, her palm also full of perspiration, seeming even more nervous than He Fang, her heart twitching with anxiety. Despite the cold winter, her forehead broke out in a fine sweat. He Fang’s sweat was from pain; hers was from nervousness.

"Don’t panic, we’ll be at the hospital soon."

He’s Daddy appeared calm, but his hands constantly rubbing his pants betrayed the unrest inside.

He had always felt his daughter was still young, still a little girl—even after getting married, she was still the little girl who called out "Daddy." Yet, in the blink of an eye, she was about to become a mother herself.

"Guanglin is here, no need to be scared, we’ll arrive very soon..." He didn’t know what else to say, only offering soft reassurance.

It wasn’t Daddy who was there but Guanglin; he made it clear who was most important to his daughter at the moment.

"That’s right, I’m here."

Qin Guanglin nodded vigorously, eyes fixed ahead, driving fast and steady toward the hospital while keeping an eye on the traffic.

It was afternoon, and the roads were not too busy, no traffic jams occurred. The family arrived at the maternity hospital smoothly. After parking the car, the two elders helped He Fang out, while Qin Guanglin went ahead, running to the emergency registration.

By the time the doctor examined her, He Fang had already had her ’show.’

...

"Pain is normal, don’t worry, natural births are supposed to hurt... You go and get the hospital admission processed now."

After the checkup, the doctor consoled Qin Guanglin, sending him to take care of the formalities.

"The painless ones might need cesarean; relax... everyone has a different constitution, it could take from several hours to a couple of days. Go on, get admitted for observation."

It was the same middle-aged female doctor who had been responsible for He Fang’s prenatal care since the early stages of pregnancy. She had watched them all the way to labor and was quite familiar with them. Seeing Qin Guanglin’s impatient demeanor, she spoke a few more words.

"Thank you! Thank you! I’ll go right away!"

Qin Guanglin was always running: running to register, running to handle the paperwork, running to fetch hot water for He Fang to drink.

"It’s soon, the doctor said everything’s normal, pain is normal, just bear with it... If it’s too painful, you can bite me, I’ve got plenty of flesh on my hands..."

"I know." He Fang, weakly, pushed his hand away, "Take your smelly paw away, it stinks."

"Yes yes, very stinky!"

"I want to drink water."

"Here."

"It’s hot..."

"Wait, I’ll pour it out for you."

Qin Guanglin, who was just one month shy of thirty, was as nervous as a child at that moment, clenching two cups and pouring hot water back and forth, puffing his cheeks and blowing hard.

...

The contractions continued for eighteen hours; Qin Guanglin remembered it very clearly, as he stayed by her side for eighteen hours.

Eighteen hours later, when the intervals between contractions became regular, He Fang was moved to the delivery room. Unable to enter, he paced back and forth in the hallway, occasionally glancing up, taking deep breaths, going to the restroom to mop his face before returning to continue waiting.

"Have some dinner, from yesterday till now you’ve only had a bit of porridge, don’t starve yourself."

He’s Daddy brought some takeout for Qin Guanglin. That day and night, both He’s Daddy and Qin’s Mom had gone to rest, while Qin Guanglin, no matter how much he was persuaded, refused to budge, only after He Fang couldn’t finish her porridge did he take over and help her finish it.

Qin Guanglin instinctively wanted to refuse, glanced at the door to the delivery room, but still took the food in his hands and began to eat heartily.

"Am I too anxious?" he asked, mouth full of food, unable to help a sheepish smile.

Everyone was anxious, but not to the extent he was. The labor hadn’t even started, she had only been in pain, and he was already panicking just getting to the delivery room.

"It’s okay, I understand," He’s Daddy nodded, "First time... every parent gets nervous, it’s just that you reacted a little too much. Relax, every day so many children are born, and nothing happens."