294 — Su Qianhua's Confession

Jiang Philip frowned, trying to recall where he had come across the term. Then his face cleared, "But I heard there are risks to that. Would she be okay?"

Doctor Zhong nodded, "There are risks to everything, but you don't need to worry. The procedure will be done carefully."

Jiang Philip was still hesitating, but when another sound of pain travelled up from the bed, Jiang Philip nodded quickly, begging, "Do what you need to do please. Just help her. She's in so much pain."

Doctor Zhong promptly went to work.

When the mothers came in, they met a much calmer Su Qianhua, who had fallen into an exhausted sleep, and a Jiang Philip who looked like he was about to kill the doctor.

"Why didn't you suggest this earlier?" The medication had kicked in minutes after it was given and Su Qianhua said the pain all but vanished. The remaining pressure was not overwhelming, enabling her to focus on her surroundings before finally dozing off.

Doctor Zhong said seriously, "You didn't ask."

Jiang Philip felt especially violent at that moment, but reminded himself that his child had not come out yet.

The plan was to leave his child in the best of hands, though he had begun to doubt if the doctor in front of him could be described as such.

Reading the room and perhaps fearing for his life, Doctor Zhong excused himself and left quickly.

The baby was born about three hours later, after more than half an hour of pushing on Su Qianhua's part.

He was a plump boy, weighing 4.2kg, with a strong pair of lungs and legs that kicked as he cried.

Su Qianhua closed her eyes in relief as her stomach deflated. The baby was finally here ah. From the day she discovered his existence to the present, it had been a long, rollercoaster nine months.

Jiang Philip's hand never left hers throughout the process till she was wheeled back to the private room. While Su Qianhua had her eyes closed, Jiang Philip kissed her sweaty forehead, "You've worked hard Baby. Thank you very much."

She nodded tiredly and managed to smile a little.

A few minutes later, the nurse brought their baby back, wrapped in a swaddle for his first feeding and bonding session.

Jiang Philip helped her adjust her posture so that she was sitting, then the nurse handed the baby to her. He had quieted down and was looking very peaceful with his eyes closed.

She taught her how to feed him and waited to see him latch on correctly before excusing herself.

The first time parents crowded close to each other as they admired him.

"We turned out to be right you know, he was a "he" after all." Jiang Philip remarked. He sounded casual, but his heart was filled with reverence and so much love that he thought it would burst.

Although they had always spoken of him as a boy, both didn't want to check the baby's gender until he was born, in order to be fully surprised. Both guessed he would be a boy and it just grew on them, especially when the baby started kicking.

Continuing to speak, he asked, "So what should we name him?" All the names they came up with during the pregnancy suddenly didn't seem to fit their bundle of joy, and it wasn't like they agreed on any one name either.

Their son was so small, so fragile. A bundle of miracles.

"I love you too." Su Qianhua said.

"That sounds like—" Jiang Philip was still speaking with awe as he fixed his eyes on the baby, but when the sentence sank in, he froze and turned to look at her.

"What did you say?"

"I love you very much Jiang Philip." She had wanted to say it yesterday, but the labor started at the time and she hadn't been herself since then. She wanted to tell him when she was back to her rational self.

Now she waited for his answer anxiously. She couldn't even tell the reason for her anxiety. After all, she knew he loved her too, probably more than she loved him.

But somehow, she needed to know if her admission would delight him as much as it delighted her.

"Qianhua, I– Baby, you—"

Jiang Philip was so overwhelmed by emotions that he didn't know what to say. He thought she didn't love him, and he had tried all these months not to let that fact bother him.

He figured that having her as his wife, seeing her smiles and being able to shower her with love was already more than enough for him. He had enjoyed endless happiness all these months.

But hearing her say she loved him brought a kind of giddy excitement and all-encompassing exhilaration that he didn't quite know how to react. He didn't know such level of ecstasy was even possible. He just wanted to scream for joy.

Su Qianhua didn't know what she was expecting, but certainly not him turning into a stammerer. She was further surprised when his eyes turned red.

Was he really about to cry???

"You— no, Darling, you really don't plan to cry right? Scientists say that crying too much is bad for your eyes." Alright, she wasn't doing better either. She just said anything that came to mind.

She couldn't make big movements in order to not disturb their son that was currently suckling, but she used her free hand to frame his face, "It's a happy thing, isn't it?"

Jiang Philip nodded like his life depended on it, "It's the best gift you've ever given me. Thank you, thank you. I'll not let you down, I promise."

Su Qianhua nodded with a smile, "I trust you."

This is the man she chose. Of course she believed him.

With the same thought in mind, both of them moved in one accord and entangled each other. Lips brushed and tongues entwined in a gentle, almost reverential dance.

Their family of three were now one in heart.

Or not, because their son, feeling squished, chose that moment to let out a soul gripping cry, shattering the warm atmosphere.

As if summoned, both sets of parents rushed into the room. They had been itching to come in, but tried to give the family of three some time to bond first.

Now hearing their precious grandson crying, they forgot about their good intentions and rushed in.

Before Su Qianhua could process things, the baby had been snatched from her bosom by her husband, who covered her with a light blanket before handing the baby over to the first person to reach them— Mother Su.

"Please take him outside and let him sleep Mom. He'll be in your care."

He effectively silenced the mothers that were just about to berate them for making their long awaited grandson shed tears.

After staying back for a few minutes to greet Su Qianhua and thank her for her hard work, the parents turned and left just like that, already beginning to fuss over the new baby.