The festive atmosphere of the New Year has not completely dissipated, and the bright red paper-cuts pasted on the window frames are still vibrant, while the air is already faintly filled with the stirrings of early spring.
Shang Wu, supporting her unusually heavy back, leaned back on the sofa, her gaze fixed on the date marked with a heavy red circle on the calendar.
Her due date was on the Lantern Festival.
The closer it gets, the more the tension stemming from the unknown becomes, clinging to my heart and even diminishing my appetite.
At the dinner table, looking at the carefully prepared dishes, she only took a few bites before listlessly putting the table down.
"Awu, want some more?" Lu Rang put down his chopsticks, a hint of worry furrowing between his usually composed brows.
He reached out and placed his warm, dry palm on the back of her slightly cool hand.
Shang Wu shook her head, her voice somewhat listless: "I have no appetite, I can't eat."
Lu Rang didn't try to persuade her anymore, but silently transferred the untouched rice from her bowl to his own.
After dinner, he settled Shang Wu on the sofa in the living room, covered her with a light blanket, and set the program she liked to watch before turning around and going into the kitchen.
A faint noise came from the kitchen, but Shang Wu didn't pay much attention until a familiar, sweet aroma of glutinous rice wafted over.
She turned her head in surprise and saw Lu Rang's tall figure standing in front of the kitchen counter, head down, intently kneading something.
The warm yellow light outlined his serious profile; his broad shoulders and back exuded a reassuring strength.
Seeing this, the maid smiled and said, "I know what the master made. Surely the madam doesn't know yet?"
Shang Wu smiled sheepishly: "I think I guessed it."
After a while, Lu Rang came out carrying a small white porcelain bowl. Inside the bowl were several round and cute glutinous rice balls, plump and white, squeezed together, with clear soup.
"Try it," he said gently, placing the bowl on the coffee table in front of Shang Wu. His voice was low and gentle. "I made it myself. It has sesame filling and not too much sugar."
Looking at the bowl of glutinous rice balls, Shang Wu felt a lot of her gloom dissipate instantly.
She picked up a small spoon, scooped up one, blew on it, and carefully bit it open.
The soft, chewy outer layer broke open, and the warm sesame filling flowed out, sweet but not greasy, just the taste she liked.
"I didn't expect you to have this skill, Lu Rang." She looked up at him, a faint smile in her eyes, and deliberately called him by his full name.
Lu Rang sat down next to her and naturally put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lean against him.
His tone was indulgent: "I learned it specifically. I'll make it for you anytime you want to eat it."
A warm and tranquil atmosphere flowed between the two.
Shang Wu leaned against the man beside her, eating glutinous rice balls in small bites. The little one in her belly seemed to sense the sweetness and moved slightly.
She had just finished the last one, put down her spoon, and was about to tell Lu Rang that it tasted great when she suddenly felt an unusual, intense downward pressure in her abdomen.
Immediately afterwards, a warm current surged out uncontrollably.
Shang Wu froze instantly, her face turned pale, and she instinctively gripped Lu Rang's sleeve.
“Lu Rang…”
Her voice was clearly panicked.
Lu Rang noticed her unusual behavior almost immediately, looked down, and his heart sank.
“A-Wu”.
His voice remained calm, but his arm around Shang Wu tightened instantly, and his other hand quickly picked up the phone that had been placed on the coffee table.
He said calmly, "Don't be afraid, we'll go to the hospital right away."
He gave brief instructions to the driver on the other end of the phone while simultaneously scooping Shang Wu up in his arms.
Lu Rang's movements were extremely steady, and his arms were strong and powerful.
Shang Wu buried her face in the crook of his neck and could clearly feel the rapid throbbing of his carotid artery, which made her very anxious.
The car was already waiting downstairs and sped towards the hospital.
Lu Rang held Shang Wu's hand tightly, repeatedly whispering reassurances, "It's alright, A-Wu, I'm here."
His fingertips were somewhat rough as he caressed the back of her hand, conveying a silent strength.
Upon arrival at the hospital, medical staff quickly took over, placing Shang Wu on a mobile hospital bed and pushing her towards the delivery room.
As the contractions struck, fine beads of sweat appeared on Shang Wu's forehead, and her vision became somewhat blurred. She could only feel Lu Rang holding her hand the whole time, walking briskly along with the moving bed until they reached the door of the delivery room, where he was stopped by a nurse.
"Family members, please wait outside."
Lu Rang had no choice but to let go of her hand. He looked at Shang Wu deeply and said, "A-Wu, don't be afraid."
He said one last thing.
The door to the delivery room slowly closed in front of him, cutting off his view.
Lu Rang stood outside the tightly closed delivery room door, his lips pressed tightly together.
The cold, incandescent light of the corridor shone on his angular face, casting an almost pale color.
His hands, hanging at his sides, unconsciously clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Not long after, Lu You and Cheng Zhou, having received the news, also rushed over.
Lu You was dressed in a neat cashmere coat and had exquisite makeup, but there was obvious anxiety in her eyes.
She saw her younger brother standing like a pillar by the door, and quickly walked over. Before she could even ask what was wrong, she was startled by Lu Rang's condition.
Her younger brother had always been incredibly calm and collected, never flinching even if the sky were to fall. She had never seen him so distraught, his breathing trembling as if he were suppressing something.
Cheng Zhou followed quietly behind Lu You, dressed casually, with a clean and upright demeanor, like a tall poplar tree.
He gently squeezed Lu You's hand to comfort her, then looked at Lu Rang and whispered, "Lu Rang."
Lu Rang seemed not to hear, all his senses and mind focused on what was behind that door.
Time stretched endlessly during the wait, each minute and second an unbearable torment.
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