Chapter 36 is a boy
The three people were frozen in an awkward triangular position, none of them moving.
The hustle and bustle of the night market and the flow of people seemed to automatically create a vacuum around them.
Hou Yuncong's arm, which had been holding the phone, finally and stiffly lowered itself little by little. His gaze struggled to move away from Su Mu's bewildered face, slowly moving down until it finally settled on Su Mu's noticeably protruding belly.
Almost instinctively, Su Mu raised a hand and vaguely shielded his stomach: "...Wait, Skinny Monkey, let me explain."
But the tone of his voice sounded a bit like he'd been caught cheating.
Jiang Ran quickly regained her composure: "This is not the place to talk."
A dozen minutes later, at a 24-hour convenience store near the night market.
Hou Yuncong sat in a chair by the window, his body slightly turned to the side in an awkward posture, trying not to put pressure on a certain hidden wound. In front of him was a glass of steaming hot water that Jiang Ran had poured for him.
He held the cup with both hands, his gaze still somewhat unfocused, as if he hadn't fully recovered from the overwhelming information overload.
Jiang Ran explained the whole story to him in the most concise yet fluent way possible: Su Mu's physical condition, pregnancy, impending delivery, and why he was in the obstetrics ward.
Hou Yuncong listened, his expression slowly shifting from initial shock and absurdity to an almost blank bewilderment. He processed this for a while, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Jiang Ran and Su Mu. Finally, as if he had finally understood something, yet also as if he had given up trying to understand, he nodded very slowly: "Oh."
He picked up the glass of water, took a big gulp, and hissed from the heat before finding his voice. He still offered his blessing, saying, "You have a child, that's a good thing."
But soon, that forced calm could no longer be maintained.
Hou Yuncong slammed down his cup, the sudden movement aggravating his wound, causing him to wince and gasp in pain. He turned sideways, squeezing himself between Su Mu and Jiang Ran, who were sitting side by side in the chair.
He held his waist with one hand: "Bring out all the food you just bought. I haven't eaten properly all day because I've been staking out and pursuing the truth. I'm so hungry now that my stomach is practically sticking to my back, and I feel like my wounds are about to burst."
Su Mu couldn't help but say, "...You just had surgery, it's not really appropriate for you to eat this greasy street food, is it?"
Hou Yuncong turned his head: "You're pregnant, but you still eat. Hurry up, or I'll faint."
Jiang Ran didn't say anything, but silently pushed the still-warm takoyaki and the sandwich she had just bought from the convenience store in front of Hou Yuncong.
Hou Yuncong ate quickly and hurriedly, as if he wanted to swallow all the hunger and pain of the whole day, as well as the mental shock brought by the blunder.
After the food was eaten and the blood sugar slowly rose, Monkey Yuncong's brain, which had stopped functioning due to shock, hunger, and pain, finally started to work again with a creaking sound.
He tossed the bamboo skewers into the empty cardboard box, glancing left and right at Su Mu and Jiang Ran: "Damn! Am I even living on Earth right now?"
Looking at his dazed expression as his worldview was being reshaped, Su Mu felt a sense of shared misery and understanding: "When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought about the same thing as you."
Jiang Ran said from the side, "I accepted it quite well."
Hou Yuncong: "Nonsense, that's because it's your child."
Jiang Ran said with dissatisfaction, "Wait a minute, skinny monkey, I just realized something. Why do you have so little faith in my character?"
"In your eyes, I, Jiang Ran, am the kind of bastard who would cheat on Su Mu and have a child?"
Hou Yuncong was speechless for a moment when asked the question, and finally managed to say, "Young Master Jiang, you are wise. No matter how imaginative I am, I could never have imagined that a man could get pregnant."
Too.
Jiang Ran accepted this explanation.
Hou Yuncong's attention quickly returned to Su Mu, or more accurately, to the rounded curves of Su Mu's body, which were previously hidden by his down jacket but were now clearly visible beneath his loose cashmere sweater after he took it off indoors. He blinked, his face showing a mixture of curiosity, amazement, and a certain indescribable awe. He hesitated, then eagerly asked, "Um... can I touch it?"
Su Mu paused for a moment: "Although it feels a little strange, feel it."
With permission, Hou Yuncong reached out and gently touched Su Mu's stomach through the soft cashmere sweater. The touch beneath his palm was warm and firm, and he could feel the fullness and presence of life within. He touched it, then immediately withdrew his hand as if burned, his eyes widening even more.
“Really,” he murmured, looking at Su Mu and then at Jiang Ran, “You two are absolutely amazing.”
"I'm speechless. I wasn't watching you two closely, and you two got together without me even noticing. Then I wasn't watching you again, and good heavens, you two are almost having a baby."
Su Mu's cheeks flushed slightly at his words, and she felt a little embarrassed: "Life is unpredictable. If you have it all, then just let nature take its course."
Looking at his gentle yet maternal demeanor, and recalling his own dramatic blunder of catching someone cheating, Hou Yuncong felt like sighing to the heavens. He picked up a glass of water and took a large gulp: "Being gay these days is so complicated! Not only do you have to deal with societal expectations and manage both families, but you also have to have children?"
"Never mind, let's not talk about that. When exactly are you going to give birth, you blockhead?"
Hou Yuncong thought this statement was really strange.
Su Mu was clearly used to being asked this question. His mother was in a similar situation. He felt a warmth in his heart. Skinny Monkey was usually loud and boisterous, but he was loyal and took the lead when it mattered. He said with emotion, "I guess my due date is still a little over a week away. Skinny Monkey, you are really loyal to me. You have difficulty moving around, but you are still thinking about catching my husband cheating."
Hearing the word "adultery," Jiang Ran, who was standing nearby, said with great dissatisfaction, "Mu Mu, where have I been having an affair? This is a complete slander against my character. From beginning to end, I've only ever had you."
Hou Yuncong: "Hey, it's nothing. Just a misunderstanding. Seeing that you two are fine and nothing went wrong, I'm relieved."
The three of them chatted for a while longer.
Upon learning that Su Mu had returned to her hometown because she was pregnant, Jiang Ran followed her there, and that's how the two got together.
Hou Yuncong: "Wait, are you two filming a TV series?"
It was getting late, and it was time for Su Mu to go back and rest.
Jiang Ran carefully helped Su Mu rewrap his scarf and hat to make sure he was warm before turning to look at Hou Yuncong. Hou Yuncong had some difficulty getting up on his own, so Jiang Ran didn't say anything, but went over and supported his arm, helping him to his feet steadily.
"Let's go, I'll take you back to your ward."
Hou Yuncong didn't stand on ceremony with him, leaning most of his weight on him. While grimacing and slowly moving forward, he didn't forget to bring up the old matter again: "Hey, Young Master Jiang, you see, I've made some indelible efforts for your pure love and future family harmony, right? Shouldn't you restore my status as a best man?"
Jiang Ran felt that if the skinny monkey hadn't come to catch him cheating, he would have been very touched: "Alright, alright, I'll restore your qualifications."
Hou Yuncong was helped back to his department by Jiang Ran. He turned around and waved to Su Mu: "Mu Mu, I'll come see you again in a couple of days when I'm feeling better."
Seeing how difficult it was for him to walk, Su Mu couldn't help but urge him, "Don't run around. Take good care of yourself. It would be even more troublesome if the wound reopened."
Upon hearing this, Hou Yuncong immediately put on an exaggerated expression, a mixture of pain and bitterness, and sighed from the bottom of his heart: "Sigh, alright, now I realize that being gay is pretty tough for you guys too."
Su Mu: "…………"
The next morning, as expected, Su's father came again with his signature heavy thermos, which, as usual, contained a nourishing soup that had been simmering for a long time.
He tugged at Jiang Ran's sleeve and whispered, "I really can't drink anymore. Take some to Skinny Monkey. He's in the hospital all alone, with no one to take care of him. He's so pitiful."
Jiang Ran took the thermos, poured out half of it, closed the lid, and carried it to Hou Yuncong's ward.
When he pushed open the door, Hou Yuncong was lying awkwardly on his side, leaning against the headboard. When he looked up and saw Jiang Ran, his eyes immediately lit up: "Oh, Young Master Jiang, you've come to help us in our time of need."
Jiang Ran placed the thermos on the bedside table, opened it, and handed him a spoon. Hou Yuncong couldn't wait to scoop up a spoonful, blow on it, and put it in his mouth. He was immediately conquered by the rich and delicious taste, squinted his eyes, and let out a long "Mmm," exclaiming, "It's so good to have you guys. I, all alone, can finally taste some human warmth."
Jiang Ran sat down on the chair next to him: "This was stewed by Su Mu's parents. He almost threw up after drinking it, but he insisted on sneaking out to eat it last night."
Hou Yuncong took a few more sips, looked at Jiang Ran, and the playful expression on his face slowly disappeared, becoming much more serious: "Young Master Jiang, you have to treat Mu Tou well in the future. Although I don't understand the specifics between you gay men, not everyone can make up their mind to have a child."
What Su Mu has given is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. This determination and commitment deserve to be cherished and treated with utmost respect.
Jiang Ran replied, "You don't need to tell me. I know, I cherish it very much."
Hou Yuncong: "I know you two are good people and wouldn't do anything to betray each other. I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday, Young Master Jiang."
He touched his nose a little embarrassedly: "I must have had surgery; my brain is all numbed by the anesthesia. Back in college, you were a nice person. Although you seemed a bit cold, you were very straightforward in your actions."
He scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, put it in his mouth, and mumbled, "To be honest, I'm not surprised at all that you two are together."
Jiang Ran: "I was actually quite happy when I was in college with you guys."
Hou Yuncong grinned: "Of course."
With a mix of curiosity and anticipation, Hou Yuncong asked, "By the way, Young Master Jiang, am I going to have a nephew or a niece?"
Jiang Ran shook her head: "I don't know, I didn't specifically look it up. Boy or girl, it's fine."
Hou Yuncong nodded and didn't ask any further questions. Whether it's a boy or a girl really doesn't matter; safety and health are the most important things.
As the due date approached, Su's parents became extremely vigilant, not daring to relax for a moment. Su's mother even brought two balls of soft baby yarn, and whenever she had free time, she would sit on the sofa by the window, put on her reading glasses, and skillfully knit little socks and hats.
At first, Jiang's mother could still take Su's parents to nearby shopping malls and parks to stroll around and distract them from their anxiety. Later, even she couldn't bear to go shopping anymore, her heart was always on edge, so she simply came to the hospital every day without fail to help Su's mother sort through the tangled yarn.
After getting off work, Jiang's father would come over directly, usually just to check on Su Mu and ask Jiang Ran if she needed anything.
Fortunately, the ward was spacious enough; otherwise, with so many people gathered together, it would be impossible to squeeze in.
However, Su Mu's every move became the focus of everyone's attention. Sometimes, a single action would immediately draw several concerned glances.
Jiang Ran spent almost the entire day with him.
He had even enrolled in a prenatal counseling course beforehand. Because it would be too conspicuous for two grown men to attend that kind of class together, Jiang Ran decided to learn it herself and then teach Su Mu when she got back.
He listened attentively to the lecture, sitting among a group of expectant mothers and occasionally a few expectant fathers, intently taking notes. He watched the nurses demonstrate how to bathe, change diapers, and swaddle newborns. Tall and with a cool demeanor, he stood out in the group.
After returning, he pulled Su Mu along, held the doll and practiced with it, showing it to Su Mu. Jiang Ran imitated what the teacher taught, supporting the doll's head and neck with one hand and its waist and hips with the other, holding it steadily, and humming a soothing hymn in a low voice: "Baby, sleep, sleep."
At first, Su Mu found it a little funny, but as he watched Jiang Ran's earnest, even somewhat clumsy, gentleness, his heart was slowly filled with a huge, warm current.
Jiang Ran's prenatal anxiety was no less than anyone else's, but he habitually suppressed his emotions under his calm face, only revealing a hint of it in the dead of night.
He would suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, sit up abruptly, and subconsciously reach out to check Su Mu's breathing beside him. Only after confirming that Su Mu was still asleep could he slowly lie down, but he could no longer fall asleep easily.
Finally, in the early morning two days before her due date, Su Mu went into labor.
Su's father held Su Mu's hand the whole time: "Mu Mu, it's okay, relax, it'll be over soon."
Su Mu's forehead was already soaked with cold sweat, and his face was a little pale, but his eyes were clear. He even comforted his father, whose eyes were red, saying, "Dad, I'm not scared, really. Jiang Ran, don't cry either."
Jiang Ran came over and kissed his forehead: "You'll be safe."
Su Mu was genuinely not afraid. When a person holds a great and warm belief in their heart, when they know that what they are about to face is not an unknown fear, but a long-awaited life connected by blood and love, that courage derived from the instinct for life overwhelms everything.
Even if he were to be slashed, there was nothing to be afraid of. He just felt a strange, sacred tension.
The anesthesia went smoothly, and I remained conscious. I felt no pain, only a slight, dull, pulling sensation.
All around were the calm and professional hushed conversations of medical staff and the subtle hum of the operating instruments.
Time became blurred, as if it had been stretched out for a long time.
About ten minutes passed? Or less? Su Mu couldn't say for sure.
He suddenly felt a distinct, empty pull in his abdomen, followed by a loud cry, full of indomitable vitality, that pierced the tense silence of the delivery room without warning.
"It's a boy, weighing six pounds eight ounces, and he's very healthy!" came the surgeon's smiling voice.
Su Mu blinked, seemingly not quite processing what was happening. Soon, a tiny, red bundle of flesh, wrapped in a soft, sterile towel and still covered in damp blood and vernix caseosa, was carefully placed by the nurse next to his face.
"Come on, let Daddy touch your cheek." The nurse's voice was very gentle.
Su Mu turned his head, his cheek touching something incredibly soft and warm. That unique scent of new life, mixed with a faint smell of blood yet incomparably pure, instantly filled his nostrils.
He tried to roll his eyes to see more clearly. The little guy had his eyes closed, his brows slightly furrowed, his little mouth pouting, and he was making a soft, dissatisfied whimper like a kitten. His face was all wrinkled.
magic.
These two words suddenly entered Su Mu's mind.
From his own body, such a complete and vibrant little life was actually born.
It's not a blurry shadow on the ultrasound screen, nor the touch through the belly when the fetus moves, but a real, tangible presence with warmth, sound, and weight.
A dizzying, overwhelming torrent of emotions swept over him, washing away all his fatigue and tension.
He moved his fingers, using all the strength he could muster at the moment, and touched the little guy's warm cheek very gently.
Hello, my little crane.
Su Mu lay quietly in the observation room for two hours. Only after confirming that all her vital signs were stable was she carefully wheeled out of the delivery room by the nurses.
The moment the door opened, light from the waiting area outside flooded in.
Su's parents, Jiang's parents, and Hou Yuncong, dressed in casual clothes, were waiting there even though their posture was a bit awkward. Everyone immediately gathered around.
The little crane is very healthy.
According to Jiang's mother's later description, when the nurse first handed the wrapped-up baby crane to Jiang Ran, Jiang Ran, who had been keeping a straight face and hardly speaking, looked down at the small bundle in her arms with its rosy face and eyes closed in a deep sleep, and her eyes almost instantly turned red.
Jiang Ran didn't say anything, wanting to hug him, but seemed afraid of hurting him, so her movements were stiff and cautious.
Now, after being cleaned and dressed in soft, pure cotton clothes, Xiao He looked noticeably more rosy and tender. He was placed in the portable crib next to Su Mu, occasionally letting out a soft hum or unconsciously waving his little fist.
Su's parents bent over, almost touching the crib, unable to get enough of looking at the baby, their faces showing undisguised affection.
Jiang's parents weren't idle either. Jiang's mother whispered to Su's mother, saying that "the eyebrows and eyes look like Mumu's" and "the nose looks like Aran's when she was little," while also taking out her phone to share the good news.
The ward was filled with hushed conversations and joyful exclamations, lively yet warm.
When the visit ended, the elders left reluctantly, repeatedly telling them to "rest well" and "call anytime if you need anything." Hou Yuncong also left with them, giving Su Mu a thumbs-up before he left.
Only Jiang Ran, Su Mu, and the sleeping little life remained.
Only one soft wall lamp was turned on in the ward.
The equipment has been removed, leaving only a faint smell of disinfectant and the unique, clean, milky scent of the newborn.
Jiang Ran walked to Su Mu's bedside, bent down, stretched out her arm, and very gently pulled Su Mu and the little crane beside him into her arms.
It was an awkward hug that required careful adjustments to the posture to complete, encircling his entire world within its embrace.
Jiang Ran's cheek brushed against Su Mu's temple: "God has been so good to me."
Little Crane was fed and was sleeping soundly. The little one's breathing was soft and even, her little belly rising and falling slightly with each breath, and her little fists were loosely clenched and placed against her cheeks. She was indeed a very quiet baby, not making a fuss or crying. When she was hungry, she would make a few soft whimpers like a kitten.
Su Mu couldn't really tell whether Xiao He looked more like him or Jiang Ran. Her little face was still wrinkled, and her features hadn't fully developed yet, but you could see the delicate outline. She was fast asleep with her eyes closed, and her mouth was unconsciously pouting slightly, like a little goldfish quietly blowing bubbles.
A professional postpartum care nanny tiptoed in, skillfully and gently picked up Xiao He, and whispered to Su Mu and Jiang Ran, "Sir, I'll take the baby to the next room to sleep. You two can also get some rest."
She adjusted her holding position to ensure that the baby crane's head and neck were supported, then carried the soft little bundle out and gently closed the door behind her.
Only then did Su Mu have a chance to shift his gaze from the child and look closely at Jiang Ran. Jiang Ran was very close to him, her eyes slightly lowered, as if she were looking at her clasped hands, or perhaps lost in thought.
Su Mu then noticed that Jiang Ran's eyes, even under the light, still had a noticeable layer of bloodshot veins that hadn't completely faded, and her eye sockets were slightly swollen.
Today, everyone's attention, concern, and joy are naturally focused on Su Mu, who has just given birth, and his newborn son, Xiao He. Almost no one pays special attention to the new father's allergic eyes.
Su Mu's heart suddenly softened completely. He reached out, his fingertips slightly cool, and gently stroked Jiang Ran's cheek, his fingertips brushing against the corners of his slightly reddened eyes, his movements very gentle.
"Young Master Jiang, you've worked hard too." Su Mu's voice was still weak and hoarse from giving birth. He knew that Jiang Ran hadn't had a good night's sleep for almost a week.
Jiang Ran looked up at him, but didn't say anything. She simply pressed her cheek closer to his cool palm and rubbed it against it.
Looking at his unusually tired and dependent appearance, Su Mu continued to gently caress his skin with her fingertips before saying with the sentiment of someone who had experienced it firsthand, "You might still have to get a tubal ligation. Childbirth... it really does hurt a bit."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran gently rested his forehead on Su Mu's shoulder and remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he responded in a muffled voice, almost immediately, "That's exactly what I was thinking too."
Once is enough; Jiang Ran doesn't want Su Mu to go through the agony of labor again.
He reached out and wrapped his arm around Su Mu's shoulder, pulling him closer into a gentle embrace, careful not to touch the wound on his abdomen. The two nestled quietly in the warm lamplight, enveloped in the profound peace and security that followed the initial surge of emotion of becoming a father.
Su Mu was processing a strange and subtle feeling. Then, he turned his head slightly, resting his forehead against Jiang Ran's chin, and asked with a hint of existential doubt, "...Honestly, do you also think Xiao He looks like us?"
Jiang Ran lowered her head and answered honestly, even a little bluntly, "He looks wrinkled like a little old man, I can't tell."
Su Mu was amused by this and said, "Me too."
The two new fathers reached an agreement. For the time being, they couldn't tell from that soft, rosy, wrinkled little face whether it belonged to each other. But this didn't stop the heavy, innate love and sense of responsibility in their hearts, which had taken root and spread everywhere since they began to care for Xiao He.
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A note from the author:
Our little crane baby is born!! I love writing about babies. I've written about so many babies before: Lili and Xue'er in "Ex-Husband O," Lan Yan in "Feng Xing," the twins Maodou and Keke in "Marriage," and several other books with babies. Why do I love writing about childbirth so much? [shrug][shrug][shrug]
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