labor
Time flies, and Su You's pregnancy progressed smoothly amidst anticipation, careful observation, and the daily changes in her body. As the ginkgo leaves in Seoul turned golden once more, her pregnancy entered its final sprint—week thirty-six. The life that was once only the size of a tiny bean had now grown into a full-term baby in her womb, ready to be born.
The nursery was already furnished, decorated mainly in soft off-white and natural wood tones, filled with a sunny and warm atmosphere. The small wardrobe was filled with incredibly soft baby clothes arranged by month, and various parenting books and comfort toys were piled up next to the changing table. G-Dragon had even installed the baby car seat in advance, checking it countless times to ensure everything was in perfect working order.
On the surface, everything was ready and in perfect order. But in the air, a tension mixed with extreme anticipation and invisible pressure grew stronger as the due date approached.
G-Dragon turned down all work that required him to leave Seoul, kept his phone on 24/7, and kept his car charger fully charged. Su You's maternity bag was placed in the most conspicuous spot in the entryway. He became unusually vigilant; any slight frown or brief pause from Su You could instantly put him into "battle mode."
"Are you about to give birth? Does your stomach hurt?" he would often ask anxiously.
“No, the baby is just rolling over,” Su You always answered patiently, soothing his anxiety, which was even greater than her own.
However, Su You herself was not entirely at peace. The closer she got to the end, the more the fear of the unknown during childbirth and the vague anxiety about whether she could be a good mother would quietly surface in the quiet of the night. She read a lot of childbirth knowledge and practiced breathing techniques, but theoretical knowledge seemed so pale in the face of the real pain of contractions.
On a typical Thursday night, Su You was awakened from her sleep by an irregular, menstrual-like cramping sensation. She glanced at the night clock on her bedside table; it was three in the morning. She didn't immediately wake Kwon Ji-yong, who was sleeping lightly beside her, but simply lay quietly, feeling the cramping sensation slowly subside.
Is it Braxton Hicks contractions? She wasn't sure.
However, over the next hour or so, this tightening sensation returned intermittently, still irregular, but each time impossible for her to ignore. When the fourth contraction came, and she couldn't help but take a deep breath, G-Dragon almost instantly opened his eyes.
"Pomelo?" His voice was hoarse from just waking up, but he was already fully conscious.
"It seems... it's started." Su You held his hand, which had suddenly turned icy cold, and said softly.
Those five simple words were like the flip of a switch. Kwon Ji-yong sat up abruptly, turned on the bedside lamp, and the soft light illuminated the tension and excitement mingling in their eyes. He didn't panic; instead, he displayed an unprecedented calmness—a calmness he forced himself to maintain in order to reassure Su You.
"Don't be afraid, we're on track." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his voice steady. "Make a note of the time, I'll go get the car ready."
The contractions gradually shortened on the way to the hospital, from once every twenty minutes to once every fifteen minutes, and then to once every ten minutes. Kwon Ji-yong focused on driving, occasionally glancing at Su You in the back seat, who was sitting with her eyes closed, adjusting her breathing. His palms were slightly sweaty from gripping the steering wheel tightly, but his voice remained steady: "We're almost there, hang in there."
The streets of Seoul were empty and silent in the early hours of the morning, with only the long shadows cast by streetlights. The city was still asleep, while they were embarking on a grand rebirth.
Upon arriving at the VIP delivery room area of the private hospital that had been arranged in advance, the medical staff were already prepared. The gentle head of obstetrics conducted a preliminary examination and announced with a smile: "Your cervix is already dilated to two centimeters, and labor is progressing very well. Relax, this may be a rather long process."
The delivery room was decorated like a cozy suite, with soft lighting and soothing music, attempting to ease the tension of childbirth. But the real test was just beginning.
As the contractions became more frequent and stronger, like surging tides, they assaulted Su You's will and body. She gripped Kwon Ji-yong's hand tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She tried to recall and apply the Lamaze breathing technique she had learned, attempting to control the indescribable, tearing pain.
Kwon Ji-yong knelt by the bed, wiping her forehead and neck repeatedly with a warm towel, and whispered in her ear in a deep and firm voice, "You did a great job, Yuzu, very good... Follow your breath, yes, that's it... I'm here, I've always been here."
He watched her writhe in pain, enduring it, her cheeks flushed red from the effort, and the veins bulging on her neck, and his heart ached unbearably. He hated that he couldn't share even a fraction of her suffering, that he could only be a powerless bystander and a voice of support. This feeling of powerlessness was more agonizing than any pressure on stage.
Time passed slowly with each intense contraction, from dawn to sunrise, and then until the sun was high in the sky. Su You's strength was gradually waning, and her mind was beginning to wander. After a particularly strong contraction, she wearily closed her eyes, her voice trembling with tears, "Zhilong... I'm so tired... I feel like I have no strength left..."
Kwon Ji-yong's heart tightened. He cupped her face, forcing her to look into his eyes, his tone more serious and resolute than ever before: "Su You, look at me! You can do it! We've been through so much together, you're the strongest person I've ever met! Our baby is working hard to come out and see us, you can't give up!"
His voice was like a shot of adrenaline, injecting into Su You's almost depleted body. "Think about our first walk along the Han River, think about the snow in Boston, think about the concert in Bangkok... there are so many places we still want to take the baby to!" He spoke quickly, trying to awaken her strength with beautiful memories.
The midwife encouraged her, saying, "I can see the hair! Keep going, Mom! Push one more time! For the baby!"
Looking into G-Dragon's bloodshot eyes, which were filled with encouragement and love, and feeling the baby's powerful downward thrust within her, Su You felt a surge of maternal instinct and resilience. She took a deep breath and, with the last of her strength, pushed downwards…
It felt like an eternity had passed, yet it also felt like just a moment.
"It's out! The head's out! The shoulders... Good, very good!"
After a burst of intense effort, Su You felt a heavy, warm presence suddenly slide out of her body, followed immediately—
"Wah-wah-wah-"
A clear and loud cry, like heavenly music, suddenly broke through all the tension and dullness in the delivery room.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
The doctor cradled a tiny baby, her body covered in vernix caseosa and glowing pink, and announced with a smile, "Congratulations, it's a beautiful little princess! Very healthy!"
G-Dragon's tears burst forth without warning the moment he heard that loud cry. He stared blankly at the newborn who was crying and waving its tiny hands and feet, as if he were witnessing the most incredible miracle in the world.
The nurse quickly cleaned the baby, wrapped her in a soft blanket, and then carefully placed her on Su You's sweaty chest.
The moment that warm, soft little body, brimming with the first breath of life, touched Su You's skin, all the pain, exhaustion, and struggle vanished instantly. An indescribable, overwhelming love, like the gentlest tide, engulfed her entirely. Her tears mingled with sweat, silently sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the baby's soft hair.
She lowered her head and gently touched her daughter's warm forehead with her lips, her voice choked with emotion but filled with boundless love: "Baby... welcome..."
Kwon Ji-yong bent down and wrapped his arms around the two people he loved most in his life. He looked at his daughter's wrinkled but incredibly cute little face, at her eyes that looked just like Su You's as she tried to open them a crack, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented, almost sacred emotion and satisfaction.
He kissed Su You's damp temples, his voice hoarse: "You've worked so hard, Youzi... thank you... thank you for giving me the whole world."
Outside the window, the afternoon sun shone brightly, gently enveloping the newly formed family of three through the sheer curtains. The air was filled with the scent of new life, mingled with tears, sweat, and boundless love.
The battle of childbirth was over, leaving behind exhaustion and scars, but also an unparalleled victory and immense happiness. The fruit of their love, their long-awaited "Little Dragon"—no, "Little Dragon Girl"—had finally arrived safely into the world.
A new chapter has officially begun with this loud cry. Kwon Ji-yong and Su You know that from this moment on, their lives will be given a completely new and deeper meaning by this little one.
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