Back Then, I Adored You

“Why is she suddenly having a difficult labor? Didn’t they say during the previous checkup that it would be a smooth delivery?”

“Xiao’ai, Xiao’ai!”

“Madam, madam…”

Qin Zhi’ai heard many familiar voices outside the delivery room in her grogginess. She really wanted to pull herself together, but her exhaustion and sleepiness enveloped her like a black fog.

In her muddled state, Qin Zhi’ai vaguely heard Xiaowang’s voice. “Doctor, please take this inside…”

Take this inside… Where? What is it?

Even though Qin Zhi’ai was curious, she couldn’t focus on it. The voices in her ears seemed to be gradually getting farther away. Just when she was about to sink into a deep sleep, she heard an elegant and familiar voice.

“Xiao’ai…”

It was Yusheng’s voice. He seemed to be right by her side… Qin Zhi’ai’s brows twitched slightly.

“Xiao’ai, wait for me to come back. I’ll marry you then.”

That night on the brightly lit pedestrian bridge, he had pushed her away from his embrace and gazed at her so intensely that his eyes had seemed to reflect all the stars in the universe, becoming bright and attentive. He had said, “Xiao’ai, listen to me. There’s only one thing I want to tell you, so remember this always: wait for me to come back. I’ll marry you then.”

Right, he made that promise to me. He will marry me when he returns…

Qin Zhi’ai’s breathing gradually grew smoother, and her erratic heartbeat stabilized, as well.

“Xiao’ai, you have to take good care of yourself and little peanut when I’m not around. I don’t want to not be able to see you guys when I get back. I’m only complete with the two of you in my life.”

“Take good care of yourself and little peanut”… Little peanut…

Qin Zhi’ai raised her hand self-consciously and touched her abdomen. As if the baby had felt her caress, she moved gently in her abdomen. Qin Zhi’ai abruptly opened her eyes, as her heavy body was suddenly filled with energy.

“Her condition is improving. Miss, please focus and listen to my instructions. Push only when I ask you to. Don’t just push meaninglessly because you’ll lose the strength you’ll need during the critical moments…”

Her contractions gradually regained normalcy as they intensified, until wave after wave of pain engulfed her like a tide. Qin Zhi’ai tightly gripped the bed sheets and gave the serious doctor a slight nod. Then, she gritted her teeth to bear with the pain.

The doctor asked her to exert strength while he monitored her condition. From time to time, he complimented her, which encouraged her. Qin Zhi’ai’s tears flowed continuously down her face due to the pain, but she refused to be defeated.

After 2 hours and 10 minutes, the baby was born without complications. The piercing sound of her crying spread throughout the delivery room.

Qin Zhi’ai was exhausted as she lay in the bed, drenched in perspiration, with no strength left in her body. The nurse wiped the baby clean and dressed her before she was presented to Qin Zhi’ai.

The baby’s skin was very tender, perhaps from all the fruit Qin Zhi’ai had eaten while she was pregnant. When the baby felt the presence of her mother, she licked her lips and spit out an air bubble with her eyes still closed. Then, she fell asleep.

Despite being so exhausted, Qin Zhilai kept her eyes on her baby until the nurse carried her away for various examinations. It was only at this moment that Qin Zhi’ai felt like she had finally accomplished her mission. She shut her heavy eyes and sank into a deep sleep.

……

When she awoke, it was already the next morning.