Chapter 104: The Baby Is Born

On the plane, Zhang Xiluo took out the sketchbook she always carried and drew the moment she had embraced Jiang Xueting and Xu Xinyi. Her eyes were filled with happiness.

She had not told them her destination, because she did not want anyone to find her—not even her father or mother.

Apart from chatting with them regularly, Zhang Xiluo devoted herself entirely to her own affairs. Before she knew it, three years had passed.

Jiang Xueting’s and Zhao Chengyi’s baby was about to be born. She video-called Zhang Xiluo and urged her to return home.

“Luoluo, if you don’t come back, I’m not having this baby! I miss you so much. Boo-hoo-hoo.” Jiang Xueting wept miserably over the phone.

“Luoluo, if you’ve finished your studies, hurry home. You won’t even let us visit you. It’s been three years. If you don’t come back, Xueting really won’t give birth.” Xu Xinyi stood beside Jiang Xueting with a solemn expression. “I’m not trying to scare you. A pregnant woman’s mood is very important.”

Zhang Xiluo was speechless. “You two can stop acting now. I was planning to come back anyway. Xueting’s due date is in half a month, so I’ll be home next week.”

“We’ll be waiting for you. You’re finally coming back.” Jiang Xueting wiped away her tears and broke into a smile. “The baby is waiting for you too. No backing out.”

“Don’t worry. I’m really coming home.”

Zhang Xiluo returned home according to her original plan, but who could have known that Jiang Xueting would go into labor early? The moment Zhang Xiluo got off the plane, she hurried straight to the hospital. By then, Jiang Xueting had already been in pain for an entire day and night, and Zhao Chengyi’s anguished howls filled the room.

Whenever Jiang Xueting felt a contraction, she would pinch his arms. Both of them were covered in dark bruises.

“I’m not doing this anymore! Boo-hoo-hoo, it hurts so much!”

“Wife, hang in there! I’m right here. Ah—ow, ow, ow!”

Zhang Xiluo appeared in the hospital room and looked at Jiang Xueting with a pained expression. The moment Jiang Xueting saw her, she became so excited that her labor progressed.

“Ahhh! The baby’s coming!”

The doctor and nurses hurriedly wheeled her into the delivery room, leaving Zhang Xiluo no time to say a single word to her.

“You should have come back sooner. Then my wife wouldn’t have suffered for so long!” Zhao Chengyi paced frantically outside the delivery room, his eyes red and swollen. He had no mind for anything else.

“We’ve finally gotten you back. Do you not miss us at all? You disappeared for three years and wouldn’t even let us visit you. How heartless.” Xu Xinyi held Zhang Xiluo’s hand and complained like a neglected wife.

Zhang Xiluo embraced Xu Xinyi, too overwhelmed to say a word. How could she not have missed them? Whenever the night grew quiet, she would think of her parents and of them.

“Now that you’re back, are you planning to leave again?” Xu Xinyi asked.

Zhang Xiluo shook her head. “No. I’m staying to be with you.”

As they spoke, Jiang Xueting’s screams rang out from the delivery room. She was the only one inside, and her cries were so loud that everyone outside could hear them clearly.

Zhang Xiluo grew extremely nervous. She and Xu Xinyi stood together at the door, peering inside, though they could not see anything.

She could not help thinking of the child she had lost. Her mood grew heavy. If he had been born safely, he would be more than three years old by now, wouldn’t he?

She cast the memories from her mind and silently cheered Jiang Xueting on.

At last, Jiang Xueting gave birth to a son.

“Mother and child are safe.” The doctor came out carrying the baby and congratulated Zhao Chengyi with a broad smile. Jiang Xueting was wheeled out shortly afterward.

Her hair was plastered with sweat, her entire body limp with exhaustion, and the tears on her face had not yet dried.

When Zhao Chengyi heard the doctor’s words, he grinned like a child. He glanced at the baby only once before rushing to Jiang Xueting’s side and bursting into tears as he held her hand.

“My wife, you’ve worked so hard. We’re never having another child.” Zhao Chengyi cried even louder than the baby. Jiang Xueting scolded him for being so useless, but at the same time, she clung to him, deeply moved.

Watching them, Zhang Xiluo smiled. She was happy for Jiang Xueting. Zhao Chengyi was a good man. In his heart, his son was nowhere near as important as Jiang Xueting.

If she could meet a man like that, she would be happy too, wouldn’t she?

Now that she had returned, she was determined to find a good man and get married.

Over the past three years, she had carefully nursed her health, maintained a balanced diet, and exercised in moderation. Her condition was much better than before.

As for whether she could become pregnant, she had not yet gone for an examination.

“You’re incredible. You’re amazing.” Zhang Xiluo praised Jiang Xueting with reddened eyes as she took a warm towel and gently wiped her face. “Get some good rest. We’re all here with you.”

Jiang Xueting was too weak to speak. She merely nodded at Zhang Xiluo.

Zhao Chengyi hired a professional nursing team. They first helped Jiang Xueting wash and change, then taught her the precautions she needed to take.

“Luoluo, you should go home. Everything’s fine here now. Your aunt and uncle must be waiting for you at home. Go back and come see me tomorrow.” After regaining some strength, Jiang Xueting urged Zhang Xiluo to leave.

Zhang Xiluo had rushed straight to the hospital after getting off the plane, and the entire ordeal had taken all day. Hearing Jiang Xueting say this, she did not bother with formalities.

“All right. You rest well too. Call me if anything happens.”

Zhao Chengyi walked her to the hospital-room door, then returned to care for Jiang Xueting. Zhang Xiluo left alone, dragging her luggage behind her.

She had just pulled her suitcase into the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors when the elevator beside hers opened. She did not notice that the person who stepped out was Li Mingye.

Neither of them saw the other. Li Mingye glanced at the newborn, left behind a large red envelope, and then departed the hospital.

“Mom, Dad, I’m home.” Zhang Xiluo took a taxi home. The moment she entered, she set down her luggage and threw herself into her mother’s arms. “I missed you so much.”

“We missed you too. Come and eat. When your father heard you were coming home, he went out early this morning to buy all your favorite dishes.” Mrs. Zhang lovingly patted her and led her to wash her hands and eat.

From her mother, Zhang Xiluo learned that her parents had not eaten all day. They had been waiting for her, reheating the food again and again. Zhang Xiluo felt both heartbroken and deeply touched.

That night, she squeezed into bed with her mother and told her about some of the things she had seen and experienced over the past few years.

“My Luoluo has changed. Seeing you like this makes Mother so happy.”

“Mom, don’t worry about me anymore. I know what I need to do.” Zhang Xiluo leaned against her mother’s arms, basking in that unique warmth and happiness.

Early the next morning, Mrs. Zhang received a phone call. The Mu family had returned and would soon be holding a reception, to which the prominent figures of Dragon City’s business world had been invited.

Mrs. Zhang wanted Zhang Xiluo to accompany her. Now that her daughter was home, she needed to return to a normal life as well.

Zhang Xiluo did not refuse. She felt the same way as her mother: it was time to meet new people and begin a new life.

On the day of the reception, Zhang Xiluo dressed with care. She chose a black slit evening gown and jewelry in the same color, creating an image of understated luxury.

It was the first large-scale reception Dragon City had held in three years, and many people had come. Nearly everyone from high society was there.

Would Li Mingye come?