Pregnancy (Part 7)
Under the careful care of Xi Jiu and the two families, Ruan Qi's belly grew bigger and bigger.
The vibrant spring has passed, and in the blink of an eye, the hot summer has arrived.
The hot summer weather is not very friendly to pregnant women. For the sake of her baby, Ruan Qi reluctantly gave up ice cream and popsicles, and even took the fruit out of the refrigerator and let it sit for a while before eating it.
Xi Jiu knew Ruan Qi's hard work, so he learned many dessert and snack recipes from Chef Chen. During the harsh summer months, he made Ruan Qi a variety of snacks every day, barely making up for her inability to eat cold drinks.
In this way, the hot summer slowly passed.
Autumn, with its red leaves dyed with frost, slowly arrived, and Ruan Qi's belly, which had been very quiet during her pregnancy, suddenly began to stir.
The initial symptom is morning sickness.
After Ruan Qi became pregnant, except for a few vomiting episodes at the beginning, her appetite had been good. However, since the beginning of autumn, her appetite had plummeted. Even if she occasionally had the appetite to eat more, she would vomit it out quickly.
Under this torture of eating and vomiting, Ruan Qi quickly became thinner.
She was not fat to begin with, and even though she ate so much during pregnancy, it was all fed to the baby in her belly, so she didn't gain any weight. But now, her slender arms and legs have become even thinner, and coupled with her big belly, she looks shaky.
Xi Jiu was heartbroken.
To help Ruan Qi gain weight, he, Grandma Ruan, and Chef Chen racked their brains to cook all kinds of delicious food. But Ruan Qi's morning sickness was too severe. She couldn't stand the smell of oil, couldn't eat salty food, was too greasy to eat, and sour food made her stomach uncomfortable... Ruan Xiaoqi, who once loved to eat everything, no longer had the glory of eating two bowls of rice in one meal. She vomited everything she ate, vomiting until she was dizzy and vomiting.
In this way, more than half a month passed.
Ruan Qi, who couldn't eat, became more and more listless, and her beautiful peach blossom eyes lost their luster.
Xi Jiu was so anxious that blisters appeared on the corners of his mouth.
When people are pushed to the limit, they can do anything. Xi Jiu couldn't solve Ruan Qi's morning sickness, so he came up with a brilliant solution.
That night, Ruan Qi, who had vomited, went to bed early.
Since she became pregnant, her sleep quality has been exceptional. Once she lies down on the bed and closes her eyes, she won't wake up no matter if there's thunder or an earthquake.
Therefore, Ruan Qi, who had fallen into a deep sleep, did not know that after she fell asleep, Xi Jiu, who slept with her, sat up from the bed quietly.
The bedroom was pitch black. In order to ensure Ruan Qi's sleep, the curtains were drawn tightly, not letting in any light.
In such darkness, Xi Jiu sat cross-legged on the bed, facing the sleeping Ruan Qi, like a silent statue.
The statue was silent for a while.
A few minutes later, a faint male voice was heard in the bedroom.
"Your mother hasn't had a good meal in a long time."
In the darkness, Xi Jiu stared at Ruan Qi's big belly with a deep gaze, and his voice was full of warning and exhortation.
"As a son, it's truly unfilial to make your mother worry and work so hard. I'm your father and have the right to reprimand and teach you. Either a spanking or a slap on the palm of your hand, take your pick."
"..." Ruan Qi's stomach was quiet and silent.
Xi Jiu stared at it and continued, "You weren't born yet, so I'll keep it in mind for you. Every day your mother feels bad, I'll keep it in mind for you one more day. When you're born, we'll settle the accounts together. Oh, and by the way, I contacted Assistant Mu today and had him customize a pure gold ruler. It's two inches wide and seven inches long, perfect for spanking a child. It feels great."
I don’t know if the baby in Ruan Qi’s belly was frightened, it didn’t move at all.
Xi Jiu reached out and gently tapped her belly: "Are you scared? Then calm down and don't make your mother sad anymore. It was very difficult for her to be pregnant with you. You should feel sorry for her."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ruan Qi's stomach suddenly moved and bulged slightly.
This was not the first time Xi Jiu felt fetal movement.
Looking at the little fist bulging out of Ruan Qi's belly, he patted it lightly with his big hand, and said with a smile, "Is this considered a high five?"
The little fist in my stomach bulged again.
Xi Jiu: "Since you've high-fived me, you've agreed. If you've agreed, you must keep your word. Don't bother your mother anymore. If you absolutely must, just bear with it for now. You can bother me after the baby is born."
I don’t know whether the baby in my belly agreed or not, the little fist retracted and there was no movement.
Xi Jiu carefully touched Ruan Qi's belly.
"It's late, kid, don't stay up late. Go to bed. Mommy and I love you very much."
The baby in my belly has completely calmed down and must have fallen asleep.
Ruan Qi's face was flushed as she slept, one hand was curled up at the side of her face, and the other hand was unconsciously protecting her stomach.
Xi Jiu looked at his stomach, then looked at Ruan Qi who was sleeping soundly, lifted the quilt and lay back down.
He reached out and held Ruan Qi's hand, which was curled up beside her face, and kissed her fingertips.
"Good night, baby. Have a sweet dream."
——
I don’t know if Xi Jiu’s “night talk” that night worked, but from the next day, Ruan Qi’s morning sickness symptoms actually gradually disappeared.
Without the torment of morning sickness, Ruan Qi's appetite finally returned, and her cheeks and limbs, which had been thin, gradually gained flesh.
And so, autumn passed and winter came.
Ruan Qi's due date is approaching.
The birthing location had been decided long ago: a private hospital owned by the Xi family. Ruan Qi's medical team, comprised of top experts in the country, was already in place. With Nie Beilou on hand, the safety factor was maximized.
However, Ruan Qi and her family had a disagreement on whether to have a natural birth or a caesarean section.
As we all know, vaginal delivery is painful, but recovery is faster. Cesarean section, on the other hand, is performed with anesthesia, so the delivery process is not painful, but recovery is slower.
The Ruan and Xi families wanted Ruan Qi to have a caesarean section.
After all, no matter how slow the postpartum recovery was, the pain level was no match for dilation. Dilation was truly excruciating, and Yang Liu and Duan Wei, who had experienced this pain, didn't want Ruan Qi to experience it.
As Ruan Qi's husband, Xi Jiu decisively chose a caesarean section.
Don't tell him that a natural birth is better for the baby. So many babies have been born by cesarean section, and none are worse than those born naturally. Besides, when it comes to childbirth, the pregnant woman's feelings should be put first. His wife is the most important, and everyone else should take a back seat.
Everyone in the Xi and Ruan families unanimously chose a caesarean section.
Ruan Qi had no objection to this, but Shen Wenqian's words reminded her.
Shen Wenqian said that today's cameras are all blue-ray high-definition, and even acne on the face can be photographed. If there is really a scar on the body, it can easily cause visual impact on the audience when appearing on camera.
Especially when filming a movie. Unlike TV dramas, movies are accustomed to zooming in on a certain part of the actor's body for close-ups. In this way, if Ruan Qi needs to show her belly, the scar will definitely be photographed.
Of course, this isn't to say that childbirth scars are ugly. Every mother's belly scar deserves praise, a badge of courage and love. But Ruan Qi is an actress, and she needs to respect the character in the script. If the character in the script doesn't have scars, then she can't have scars either. This is professional ethics and respect for the audience.
What Shen Wenqian said is very true.
After listening to this, Ruan Qi thought for a few seconds and changed his mind.
She wants a natural birth.
Unsurprisingly, this decision caused an uproar in both the Xi and Ruan families.
Xi Jiu was the first to stand up and oppose.
Natural childbirth was too painful, and he couldn't bear the thought of Ruan Qi enduring such pain. If he hadn't been unable to bear children, Xi Jiu would have wanted to give birth to a child for Ruan Qi.
Xi Jiu strongly opposed it and even asked his mother-in-law Yang Liu to help Ruan Qi.
But although Ruan Qi looks soft, once he makes a decision, no one can pull him back.
She single-handedly debated with more than a dozen people from the Ruan and Xi families, even bringing out the self-cultivation of an actor. In the end, she defeated a hundred people alone and convinced everyone.
Ruan Xi's two families agreed with her decision to give birth naturally.
Under Ruan Qi's eager gaze, Xi Jiu had no choice but to nod in agreement, but he had one request -
He wants to accompany the birth.
He could not personally experience the suffering that Ruan Qi endured in the delivery room, but he had to accompany her in person.
He wanted to see with his own eyes how much his lover had suffered, and then remember it deeply in his heart and repay her with his whole life.
Ruan Qi agreed to Xi Jiu's request.
Just like that, amid the anxious and joyful anticipation of the Ruan Xi family and their two families, the due date finally arrived.
Ruan Qi was sent to the hospital surrounded by celebrities.
On the second day after she was admitted to the hospital, Ruan Qi felt a stomachache just after lunch.
Then, a stream of wet heat flowed out from under the skirt.
My water broke.
At this time, Ruan Qi was taking a walk outside the ward door.
Feeling the dampness and heat between her legs, she calmly turned around while holding onto the wall and slowly walked into the ward.
Xi Jiu was washing fruit for her in the bathroom of the ward.
Ruan Qi calmly knocked on the bathroom door, and after Xi Jiu turned his head, she said to him, "Jiujiu, my water broke."
Xi Jiu:………………
Xi Jiu was stunned for a second, but it seemed like a century.
A second later, the fruit plate in his hand fell to the ground with a clang, and his handsome face suddenly turned pale.
"My water broke? I'm going to give birth?!"
Xi Jiu, who was used to the world, was so panicked that his hands were shaking.
He rushed to Ruan Qi in one step, bent down to pick her up, and rushed out with his legs raised.
"Doctor! Doctor! My wife is about to give birth!"
A few minutes later, more than a dozen medical staff rushed over, Ruan Qi was placed on the bed, and was pushed into the delivery room by everyone.
Not long after Ruan Qi entered the delivery room, both Ruan Xi and his family arrived.
Yang Liu rushed to the front and grabbed Xi Jiu's clothes when she saw him. "Where's Xiao Qi?"
"Inside."
Yang Liu: "How many fingers are open?"
"Three fingers." Xi Jiu's face was pale at this time, and he reached into his trouser pocket with trembling fingers.
Seeing him so flustered, Yang Liu couldn't help but frown: "Why are you not going in to accompany Xiao Qi? What are you doing here?"
Xi Jiu pulled his phone out of his pocket and tried to calmly answer his mother-in-law, "Let's go to the supermarket. The doctor said I need to replenish my energy for the cervical occlusion. I'll go give Xiao Qi some chocolate."
Upon hearing this, Yang Liu's brows relaxed.
She released her grip on Xi Jiu's clothes and said to him, "Don't go. Xiao Qi needs you now, you can't leave. Mu Nan, go buy some chocolate for your sister."
Ruan Munan immediately turned around and left.
Because the hospital was owned by the Xi family, Ruan Qi, as the wife of the head of the family, had some privileges. Therefore, she didn't require only one family member to accompany her during her delivery; both Yang Liu and Xi Jiu could be by her side.
Yang Liu grabbed the panicked Xi Jiu and walked into the delivery room.
At this time, Ruan Qi was lying on the hospital bed, accompanied by two nurses, waiting for the opening of the cervix.
Waves of contracting pain spread throughout her body, and the two nurses seemed a little nervous. But Ruan Qi, the person involved, was as calm as if she were not giving birth, and she was even playing games on her phone.
When Yang Liu pushed the door open, she saw her daughter lying on the hospital bed playing games with her e-sports teammates.
She looked at her daughter's nonchalant look and her eyelids couldn't help twitching.
"Xiao Qi, what are you doing?"
Ruan Qi, who was busy playing games, took the time to look up from her phone.
When she saw Yang Liu, her eyes lit up and she smiled sweetly at her mother: "Mom, are you here? Come and sit down. I'll finish this game first."
After that, she looked at the phone screen again and shouted with full energy, "Liu Nanfeng, the tower is about to be stolen, go home quickly!"
willow:……
Xi Jiu:......
Two nurses: ...
It is really rare to see a pregnant woman playing games while having her uterus opened.
Everyone was speechless and paying attention to Ruan Qi's condition.
As time went by, the pain became more severe and frequent.
Ruan Qi couldn't play the game in his hand anymore.
She put down her phone, frowned and grabbed Xi Jiu's hand, a few drops of cold sweat running down her slightly pale face.
"Jiujiu, I feel a little pain."
Xi Jiu's face was even paler than Ruan Qi's.
He held Ruan Qi's hand tightly, constantly comforting her: "Baby, bear with it a little longer, everything will be fine after the birth. We'll just have this one child, and we won't have any more. I'm going to get a vasectomy tomorrow. I definitely won't have any more children, even if I die."
Ruan Qi, who was in pain, was amused by Xi Jiu's words.
"It hurts to get a ligation."
"It hurts, it hurts." Xi Jiu didn't care, his eyes filled with heartache for Ruan Qi, "No matter how painful it is, it's not as painful as giving birth to a child. You even dared to give birth to a child, so why can't I bear that little bit of pain? I'm so unworthy of you."
Ruan Qi smiled and raised the corners of her lips.
"After I give birth to my baby, I want to eat crayfish."
"Okay, eat." At this time, if Ruan Qi asked for the moon in the sky, Xi Jiu would immediately build a spaceship and say, "Whatever flavor you want, I'll make it for you."
Ruan Qi frowned in pain, but smiled and said, "Which baby are you doing this for? Me or the baby?"
Xi Jiu: "I only have one baby. The one in my belly is a cub."
Ruan Qi couldn't help but laugh again.
"Have you thought of a name for the little one?"
"I've thought it through."
"What's your name?"
Xi Jiu: "If it's a boy, we'll call him Ruan Sui. If it's a girl, we'll call her Ruan Nian."
"Ruan Sui, Ruan Nian..."
Ruan Qi took two sharp breaths and repeated the two names several times. "What does it mean to have these two names?"
Xi Jiu nodded.
"Yes. I'll tell you after you give birth."
…
Ruan Qi's cervix was soon dilated to four fingers, and she was able to go into the delivery room for an epidural.
The medical staff pushed her in, and Xi Jiu, who was accompanying her in delivery, also changed into sterile clothes and followed her into the delivery room.
The door of the delivery room slowly closed.
The Xi and Ruan families were waiting anxiously outside.
In the delivery room, Xi Jiu watched with his own eyes as the doctor injected the pain-free needle into Ruan Qi's spinal foramen.
He burst into tears.
Seeing their boss holding his wife's hand and crying, the doctors and nurses in the delivery room felt very complicated.
Out of respect for his boss, the doctor who delivered Ruan Qi kindly advised Xi Jiu a few words.
But as soon as she finished saying, "This is how all pregnant women give birth," Xi Jiu started crying even harder.
"I'm sorry, baby. It's my fault. I made you suffer." The man's eyes were red, and his usual calmness was gone. He looked at Ruan Qi with a look filled with heartache and guilt. "We will never have another child. When that child is born, I will teach him/her a good lesson. If he/she dares not be filial to you, I will donate all my property, not a penny left."
Ruan Qi, who was trying hard, almost laughed to death.
Xi Jiu kept saying sorry, and the doctor in charge of the delivery tried to endure it, but finally couldn't bear it anymore.
"Mr. Xi, could you please be quiet? Your chattering is affecting the mother's ability to push harder!"
“…”
Xi Jiu instantly became as quiet as a chicken.
Without Xi Jiu's mumbling and crying, the delivery room finally became quiet.
The medical staff concentrated on delivering Ruan Qi's baby, while Ruan Qi put all her strength into pushing the baby out of her belly.
Sweat soaked her hospital gown, and her face looked pale and fragile.
She held Xi Jiu's hand tightly, and her slender neck was stretched into a beautiful arc due to the force.
finally--
"Wow--!!!"
A loud cry echoed throughout the delivery room.
At 3:28 p.m. that day, Ruan Qi and Xi Jiu's child was born.
"Jiujiu, what's the little guy's name?"
"If it's a boy, we'll call him Ruan Sui. If it's a girl, we'll call her Ruan Nian."
"What's the meaning of these two names?"
"Yes. Their meaning is..."
Stay with you all your life, never forget you.
…
When we first met, I couldn't forget you.
I only wish to be with you for life.
Finished!
There will be a final chapter tomorrow, a few short stories about raising a child. It won't be too long, just a few small stories. And then it's all over!
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