Chapter 2184: Childbirth 2_2

While cooking dumplings, Hui De came in for a routine check-up. As soon as he entered, he smelled the aroma and smiled, “Smells delicious.”

Zhuang Xiyue poked her head out from the kitchen, “Dr. Huide, stay for some dumplings later.”

Hui De slapped his forehead, shaking his head with a laugh, “I got so busy I forgot it’s your Country Hua’s New Year’s Eve tonight.”

In Country Hua, the custom is to eat dumplings during the New Year.

Hui De walked in and personally checked Yun Ya’s blood pressure and did an electrocardiogram, smiling, “Everything’s normal, but we mustn’t let our guard down. Ring the bell immediately if you feel any discomfort; doctors and nurses are on call 24/7.”

Yun Ya nodded with a smile, “Thank you.”

As Hui De stood up, he caught the eyes of the man opposite him, nodded with a smile, and walked out of the ward unhurriedly.

The corridor was too silent, isolating the warmth inside the ward; Hui De’s smile remained unchanged. He glanced sideways and said softly to the nurse following him, “The results from earlier weren’t optimistic. Be exceptionally vigilant tonight; I’m on duty, call me immediately if anything happens.”

The nurse nodded cautiously, silently noting his words.

Hui De stepped to the window, looked up at the gray sky, no stars or moon, clouds overhead, an oppressive silence before an impending storm.

Suddenly, the corner of his lips curled into a smile.

——

Yun Ya took a bite of a dumpling, then suddenly furrowed her brows slightly. Yan Song, aware of her every subtle expression, immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Yun Ya shook her head and looked up to smile at him, but her smile was tinged with a weak pallor, “I’m fine….”

After speaking, she tightly clutched the blanket, veins bulging on the back of her hand, breathing unevenly, evidently enduring something.

Zhuang Xiyue was eating dumplings, saw this and tossed her chopsticks aside, rushed over, and quickly pressed the bell.

Yun Ya took a deep breath, smiled at Yan Song, “Brother Yan, I’m fine….” The moment she finished speaking, she gasped suddenly.

Yan Song grasped her hand tightly, his gaze deep and cold, lips pressed firmly together, “I’m here.”

At this moment, he was extremely frustrated with himself but helpless.

All he could do was hold her hand tightly, offering her strength.

“Brother Yan, I want to eat dumplings.” She murmured, glancing at the dumplings beside her.

Zhuang Xiyue anxiously paced back and forth, “Looks like it’s time….”

Said to Yan Song, “Childbirth consumes a lot of energy, but since she’s having a cesarean, the doctor advised against eating before the surgery….”

Yan Song pressed his lips, picked up a dumpling, blew on it, and offered it to her lips.

Yun Ya opened her mouth to eat, seemingly struggling even to chew. She turned to Zhuang Xiyue and said, “Mom, your dumplings are delicious, the best I’ve ever had in my life.”

Zhuang Xiyue’s eyes were brimming with tears, “Child, why say such things at a time like this? After, I’ll make dumplings for you every day until you’re tired of them.”

Yun Ya replied with a smile, “I’ll never get tired of them.”

Doctors and nurses soon rushed in and, upon pulling back the covers, saw that beneath her was soaked through.

“The pregnant woman’s water has broken, immediately prepare for surgery.”

Yun Ya was hurriedly pushed out. Yan Song held her hand tightly, staying close by her side. Yun Ya sensed the chaos around her; some were crying, some calling out, some gently whispering beside her ear…

She saw the lights above rapidly changing, like a giant vortex seemingly wanting to pull her in.

Gradually, her consciousness began to blur, her arms falling powerless.

As she was pushed toward the operating room, Yan Song was stopped by a nurse: “I’m sorry, sir, you cannot enter.”

“I am her husband, I want to be with her.”

The nurse looked at the man in front of her, his eyes bloodshot yet incredibly determined, felt a sudden emotional stir, inquired with the nurse behind her, then turned and said, “Sorry sir, our hospital has a policy; family cannot accompany during a cesarean, please stop here.”

With that, she turned and entered the operating room, the door slowly closing. Yan Song suddenly took a few quick steps but was finally separated by the door.

Zhuang Xiyue, Yan Nanmo, and Yan Ke soon arrived. Zhuang Xiyue clasped her hands together, praying to the sky, “Buddha bless Yun Ya and the two children with safety. I’ll offer incense money every year, do good deeds, gather blessings for my two grandchildren.”

Yan Nanmo felt a sense of déjà vu from over twenty years ago when Yueyue was pushed into the operating room, and he was anxious as ever, but now, he was even more apprehensive.

Watching his son stand silently like a sculpture before the operating room, an aura of aloof coldness radiating from him, making others tremble in fear.

He approached, lightly patted his shoulder, and sighed, “Don’t worry, mother and children will be safe.”

Yan Song remained silent, his hand hanging by his side, almost piercing a hole in his palm.

Yan Ke dared not joke now, his eyes fixed on the electronic board above the operating room door. The red words seemed like devil’s claws reaching from Hell, grasping all his fears and anxieties.

He never believed in ghosts and gods, but now he silently prayed in his heart, hoping heaven would bless his sister-in-law and the two children with safety.

Even if it meant trading his own life, he wouldn’t hesitate.

The operating room, all prepared.

Yun Ya lay on the operating table, her clothes completely removed, surrounded by doctors and nurses, feeling like meat on a chopping block, at their mercy.

Under the blinding surgical lights, her vision was empty, anesthetized, she felt no pain.

Hui De prepared to proceed, but suddenly, his wrist was grasped tightly.

Hui De looked down to see the woman’s clear yet hazy eyes gazing into his.

At this moment, those beautiful eyes were filled with plea, as if refusing her would be the gravest sin.

“I beg you… please save them….”