Chapter 284 Old Debts

Zhou Anping gasped in pain, but still insisted on continuing, "I deliberately did something very, very bad before, but... that woman wasn't punished... Now, I'm the one who's being punished..."

"Stop talking, Anping. I'm willing to resent and hate with you... You've done nothing wrong..."

Nan Zhiyi wiped away her tears and tried to force a smile at Zhou Anping, "Even if you want to hit someone, I'll hand you the stick... Whatever you want, I'll be there for you..."

Gu Xiao, who had been standing silently beside his wife, watched as Zhou Anping continued to dredge up old grievances at this critical moment, causing Nan Zhiyi even more heartache and exhaustion. Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer and spoke in a deep voice, "Zhou Anping, now is not the time to talk about these things! Save your energy for having the baby!"

At this moment, Zhou Anping didn't care whether her fifth brother was angry or not. Her sweat and tears mingled together, her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and she murmured, "Zhiyi... if... if I can't make it... the child... I'll have to trouble you... to keep an eye on him..."

Nan Zhiyi's tears welled up even faster. "Zhou Anping! What nonsense are you talking about! You'll be alright, just hang in there..."

She held Zhou Anping's hand tightly, as if she could transfer her life force to him in that way.

Meng Qingshan, who was standing by, was heartbroken. He rushed to the bedside, grabbed Zhou Anping's other hand, and pleaded, "Anping! Don't think like that! You and the baby will be alright! I swear! I've decided on you for the rest of my life. You and the baby, neither of you can be missing! You'll be fine, and we'll watch the baby grow up and start a family together..."

Zhou Anping looked at Meng Qingshan. He was a good husband. He knew she had done something dishonorable, but he never blamed her. He always tolerated her with his somewhat clumsy but sincere kindness.

She was actually doing quite well, even possessing a sense of security and warmth that many others could only dream of, yet she seemed to be blindfolded, stubbornly fixated on…

"Qingshan...I'm sorry..."

Meng Qingshan gently wiped away the tears that kept overflowing from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, his own eyes also red and swollen: "Let's not talk about these things, Anping, I don't care... Your well-being is more important than anything else... You'll be alright..."

Gu Xiao frowned more and more as he looked at the sorrowful atmosphere that seemed to be a separation of life and death.

He reached out and helped Nan Zhiyi up from the bedside.

"Zhiyi, I'll take you out to see a doctor and ask about your condition."

Nan Zhiyi watched the young couple comforting each other and wanted to give them some space, so she stood up with Gu Xiao's help, bent down and said softly to Zhou Anping, "Anping, you talk to Qingshan, I'll be right back."

Gu Xiao put his arm around her and walked out of the ward. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears that were still wet on her face. "When you gave birth to Xiaoman, I didn't see you cry like this... but you still remember to comfort me and tell me not to be afraid."

Nan Zhiyi let him wipe her, shaking her head: "How can this compare to... Anping has always been exceptionally afraid of pain since she was little, and she's also very impatient..."

As she spoke, she raised her hand to look at her watch. "Oh dear, it's been almost forty minutes since the doctor last came to see us. Let's hurry and find the doctor to come and see us again!"

She grabbed Gu Xiao's wrist and pulled him toward the doctor's on-call room.

Gu Xiao was being pulled along by her, so he could only take steps to keep up and let her lead him forward.

The doctor checked twice more and finally nodded: "Your cervix is ​​almost dilated. Take her to the delivery room."

Nan Zhiyi and Meng Qingshan stepped forward and helped Zhou Anping move to the transfer bed.

"Anping, listen to the doctor. He told you to push harder and save your energy, okay?" Nan Zhiyi tidied her wet hair.

Zhou Anping closed her eyes and nodded with difficulty; her clothes were soaked with sweat.

Meng Qingshan's voice was hoarse: "Anping, don't be afraid, I'll wait for you outside... You must be alright... I'll stay here, I won't go anywhere..."

After Zhou Anping entered the delivery room, Aunt Meng and Lin Yaru also rushed back.

Meng's mother said to Meng Qingshan, "Qingshan, take advantage of this break and go eat. Childbirth isn't quick. This is her first pregnancy, so it will take time. You can't help by staying here."

Meng Qingshan stood rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the delivery room door: "Mom, I'm not hungry, I'll just wait here."

The group waited silently outside.

Inside the delivery room, the faint sounds of other women in labor, their cries of pain rising and falling, and the instructions from the midwives could be heard.

Nan Zhiyi listened intently, trying to discern Zhou Anping's movements from the chaotic sounds, her brows furrowed the entire time.

Gu Xiao walked to her side and asked in a low voice, "Wife, are you hungry? You didn't eat much tonight."

Nan Zhiyi shook her head; she couldn't care less about being hungry at the moment.

She suddenly remembered her son at home, glanced at the wall clock, and realized it was almost eleven o'clock.

“It’s so late, Xiaoman is at home… Fifth Brother, you should go back first, I’ll wait here a little longer.”

Gu Xiao refused to leave her here alone.

"I'll make a call and ask Sister Zhang to look after Xiaoman for the night. Once we're settled here, we'll go back together."

Nan Zhiyi: "Mm."

After a while, Gu Xiao returned from his phone call, carrying a brand-new enamel mug filled with steaming hot brown sugar water, and handed it to Nan Zhiyi.

"Don't eat anything, drink some hot water first to warm yourself up. I've washed the cup."

Nan Zhiyi held the warm cup in both hands to warm her hands, and then drank a few more sips.

She held the cup to his lips: "Have some too, you didn't eat anything tonight...Are you hungry?"

Gu Xiao took a sip from her hand, put down the cup, and watched as she finally came to her senses and turned to care about him. A smile flashed in his eyes, and he raised his hand to rub her slightly cool cheek with his knuckles: "My wife finally remembered to care about me."

His teasing made Nan Zhiyi's ears burn slightly, and she gently nudged him.

Gu Xiao took her hand and said, "I know you were just too worried and lost your composure. Now it's alright, with Sister Zhang looking after our son, we can just wait here in peace. We'll get good news eventually."

Nan Zhiyi's restless heart settled back down a little.

She nodded, then turned her gaze back to the tightly closed delivery room door.

Meng Qingshan still stood in front of the door like a stone statue, his back straight and motionless. His silent perseverance spoke volumes about his deep affection for Zhou Anping.

Thinking of the guilt Anping expressed when she was delirious, I realized that beneath her cheerful smile lay such a heavy burden of guilt, which she had endured alone for so many years...

Her nose tingled, and her eyes welled up with tears again.

Gu Xiao noticed her low spirits and quickly pulled his arm around her, gently pressing her head against his shoulder.

"Alright, alright, my dear, please stop teasing me. If you keep shedding tears, my eyes will start to sting too. If people see that, where will I put my face?"