silent
Summer in southern France arrived swiftly and fiercely, the sun scorching everything. The shutters of the cottage were kept closed, creating a cool, yet sticky heat. Shao Wei's pregnancy was entering its final stages, and the strain on her body had reached its peak.
His belly was already noticeably bulging, a striking contrast to his thin limbs and pointed chin. His blood pressure, like a cunning enemy, fluctuated, requiring medication to maintain a steady state. Edema spread from his ankles to his calves, leaving his skin shiny and taut, leaving a persistent indentation when pressed. Most worryingly, the growing fetus placed incredible pressure on his already damaged glands, sending pheromone levels into overdrive and causing frequent palpitations and brief periods of respiratory distress.
Si Qi stayed by Shao Wei's side. He had lost a lot of weight, with dark circles under his eyes and a beard he often forgot to shave, giving him a rather shabby look. All his energy was consumed by caring for Shao Wei. Like a precise and tireless machine, he recorded every blood pressure measurement, every fetal heart rate monitoring, and every medication time. He had learned every massage technique that could relieve discomfort and rarely dared to sleep deeply at night. The slightest movement would wake him up immediately to check Shao Wei's breathing.
Worry gnawed at him like a malignant tumor, gnawing at him day and night. But he suppressed all his anxieties deep within his heart. In front of Shao Wei, he was always the calm, reliable rock. His pheromones were controlled to be extremely smooth and gentle, like the strongest silk, carefully wrapping Shao Wei in an attempt to isolate him from all external pressures and internal chaos.
Shao Wei's condition fluctuated. On good days, he could recline in a recliner, watching Si Qi busy in the yard or listening to him read a soothing poem, his icy blue eyes brimming with tranquility. On bad days, a sudden heart palpitation would leave him pale, sweating profusely, breathing hard, and requiring immediate oxygen. Severe edema would render him unable to walk, even to turn over. He would sleep all night long, yet fatigue would keep him awake.
He almost stopped talking, as if all his strength was used to fight the silent war inside his body. But the look he gave Si Qi was always filled with a quiet, almost dependent trust.
The doctor arranged an admission to the hospital in advance. Given the special and high-risk nature of Shao Wei's situation, they had to go to Marseille, where medical conditions were the best, to prepare for delivery in advance.
The morning we left town, the sky was gray. Old Jeanno and a few familiar neighbors came to see us off, their faces filled with worry and well wishes. Shao Wei, sitting in a wheelchair (it was difficult for him to stand for long periods of time), wrapped in a thin blanket, nodded gently to everyone as a farewell.
Si Qi thanked everyone, carefully carried Shao Wei into the car, and put away the wheelchair. His movements were steady, but his eyes were as solemn as steel.
They drove in silence. Shao Wei kept his eyes closed most of the time, and it was unclear whether he was asleep or awake. Si Qi drove intently, occasionally glancing at him in the rearview mirror, his heart always in his throat.
The private hospital in Marseille boasts an elegant environment and advanced equipment. The private suite is quiet and spacious, with a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea. However, the smell of disinfectant and the cold medical equipment still bring an invisible pressure.
More detailed inspections and stricter monitoring were implemented. The expert team held multiple consultations and developed several emergency response plans. Every step was rehearsed, and every possible risk was mapped out with a response plan.
Si Qi engraved every word the doctor said in his mind. He could even feel every nerve in his brain tense to the extreme. He held Shao Wei's hand and whispered over and over again: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. The doctors are here, it's okay."
Shao Wei looked at him with calm eyes, and gently shook his hand back with his backhand. The force was weak, but it was soothing.
The cesarean section was scheduled for an early morning. This was the safest option.
The night before the surgery, Si Qi barely slept. He sat beside Shao Wei's bed, holding his hand, watching his face finally fall into a deep sleep due to the effects of the medication. His fingertips gently traced over and over his protruding wrist bones and the back of his cold hand.
Fear was like an icy tide, beating against his heart again and again. He was afraid of any slight accident on the operating table tomorrow, afraid of hearing bad news, afraid of losing everything he had.
Shao Wei woke up at dawn. He looked at Si Qi's bloodshot eyes and tense jaw, remained silent for a moment, then very slowly raised his other hand, which was not receiving the IV, and gently touched Si Qi's dry lips with his fingertips.
"Brother." He called out very softly, his voice hoarse and weak.
Si Qi was shocked and looked up at him.
Shao Wei's ice-blue eyes appeared exceptionally clear in the morning light. He looked at him and spoke very slowly and clearly:
"name……"
"You decide."
Then, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he closed his eyes again, but his grip on Siqi's hand tightened slightly.
Si Qi's eyes instantly became moist. He knew that this was Shao Wei's way of giving him trust, strength, and telling him that no matter what the outcome, he would accept it and believe in him.
At this moment, all the fear seemed to have suddenly found an anchor. Si Qi took a deep breath and buried his face in Shao Wei's palm, feeling the faint warmth and firm strength.
"Okay." His voice was choked, but he was very determined. "I'll wait for you."
The operating room door closed behind him, and the sound was like thunder striking Si Qi's heart. The long wait began.
Every moment seemed stretched to infinity. Si Qi stood at the end of the corridor, gazing out the window at the azure Mediterranean, but his vision was blurry. All he could hear was his frantic heartbeat and the rush of his blood. Horrifying images flooded his mind uncontrollably, yet he forced them back down.
Time seemed to have stopped.
I don’t know how long it took, maybe just a century, but the door of the operating room finally opened.
A nurse came out holding a swaddling baby, a smile on her face. "Congratulations, it's a little boy. He's underweight, but his vital signs are stable. He needs to be sent to the intensive care unit for observation immediately."
Si Qi's heart leaped, nearly bursting out of his chest! He stumbled forward and looked at the tightly wrapped little baby, only to see a red, wrinkled face that looked like a little monkey.
His children...his...
Just as the huge joy surged up, it was instantly suppressed by a deeper fear! He suddenly raised his head and looked behind the nurse, his voice hoarse and trembling: "Where is he? Where is Shao Wei?! How is he?!"
The nurse smiled understandingly: "The doctor is still conducting follow-up treatment. There is no immediate danger to life, but close observation is required..."
Si Qi couldn't hear the rest of the words clearly. The words "no life-threatening situation" were like a lifeline, nearly causing him to collapse. He leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, his gaze fixed on the operating room door that had closed once more.
Another agonizing wait.
When Shao Wei was wheeled out, his face as pale as a sheet, he lay lifeless on the hospital bed, with various tubes and monitoring equipment plugged into his body. Si Qi's heart tightened again, and he rushed to the bedside, shaking and holding his cold hand, calling his name over and over again.
Shao Wei did not react at all, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
For the next few days, Si Qi felt like he was teetering on the edge of hell. He watched over Shao Wei outside the intensive care unit, peering through the glass at a fragile figure inside, seemingly shattered at the slightest touch. Every moment felt like his heart was frying in oil. He would then rush to the neonatal intensive care unit, watching the tiny child in the incubator, dependent on a machine to breathe, a mixture of joy and heartache nearly tearing him apart.
Shao Wei's condition was initially unstable. Due to the impact of the surgery and the extreme strain of pregnancy, her glands showed signs of dysfunction. Her pheromone levels dropped to critical levels, causing a persistent low-grade fever and weakened organ function. Doctors worked tirelessly to save her, using a variety of medications and procedures.
Si Qi stayed there sleeplessly, his eyes bloodshot, his beard unshaven, and his whole body gaunt and worn. He held Shao Wei's hand and talked to him non-stop, telling him about the children, the weather in the town, and the crooked little socks he had hidden away. He was sure Shao Wei could hear him.
Perhaps his plea had worked, or perhaps it was Shao Wei's incredible will to survive that had once again kicked in. After several terrifying relapses, Shao Wei's condition finally began to stabilize. The fever subsided, and his organ function indicators gradually improved. Although still weak, he had finally left the most critical stage.
When Shao Wei truly woke up for the first time and slowly opened his ice-blue eyes, Si Qi was holding his hand and dozing off on the edge of the bed.
Feeling the slight trembling at his fingertips, Si Qi suddenly woke up and met the pair of eyes that were still weak but had regained their clarity.
The huge ecstasy of regaining what he had lost instantly overwhelmed Si Qi! His eyes almost instantly turned red, his lips trembling, but he couldn't say a word. He just held Shao Wei's hand tightly, pressed it against his cheek, and felt the faint warmth and real touch.
Shao Wei looked at his disheveled and tearful appearance, blinked lightly, and moved his lips silently.
Si Qi bent down to listen.
The extremely faint sound penetrated his ears clearly:
"……child……"
Si Qi couldn't hold back his tears. He nodded vigorously, his voice choked with sobs: "Yes! The child is fine! It's a boy, a little small, but very strong, just like you... He's in the intensive care unit and will be able to see you soon..."
Shao Wei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, closed his eyes very lightly, and then opened them again with great effort. His gaze fell on Si Qi's bearded and haggard face, and he looked at it for a long time.
Then, very slowly and with all his strength, he shook hands with Siqi's hand.
At that moment, Si Qi knew that they had finally survived this silent thunder and the longest plum rain together.
The sun finally broke through the thick clouds.
Although there is still a long road to recovery in the future, they have already overcome the most difficult hurdle.
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