POTINS 55

After deciding to induce labor, the cloud of negative emotions that had been lingering over Wen Zhongyi’s heart suddenly lifted a great deal.

In their place came the joy and anticipation of finally meeting Xiao Liuyi.

The doctor gave them many instructions, and Meng Chuan remembered each one carefully.

When they left the exam room, the corridor was full of omegas with large baby bumps, each accompanied by a dutiful alpha or beta.

Wen Zhongyi was flanked on both sides, walking slowly and cautiously. After turning out of the corridor, he saw a garden through the glass, with a musical fountain in the center.

His gaze lingered for only two seconds, but Meng Chuan immediately caught on and said, “Let’s go sit there.”

The garden was surrounded by green trees, and all the benches were filled with people.

Meng Chuan found an empty seat, helped Wen Zhongyi over, and they sat in the shade.

The sun was bright, a gentle breeze brushed past, and the air carried the fragrance of blooming flowers.

Children ran and played around the fountain, and the flowing water shifted with the music, casting a rainbow under the sunlight.

Dad sat beside him, gazing at the innocent children and saying dreamily, “When Liuyi grows up, we’ll take him out to play too.”

Just as he finished speaking, two children started fighting and shoving, and one almost fell into the water.

Dad immediately changed his tune: “Forget it. Maybe we should just build a fountain at home. It’s not very safe out here.”

Wen Zhongyi chuckled, already able to imagine how indulgent Dad would be once the baby was born.

The two squabbling kids were soon taken away by their respective parents. Wen Zhongyi admired the scenery for a while, when suddenly a familiar voice sounded beside him.

“How did you get all the way out here? I turned around for one second, and you ran this far. Do you know how scared I was?”

An omega was scolding a disobedient little boy. The boy who had just been dashing around the garden instantly burst into tears.

The adults nearby all smiled at the scene. The omega took out his phone and made a call, sighing with relief, “Found him—by the fountain.”

He was about to scold the boy some more when his peripheral vision caught sight of Wen Zhongyi. Their gazes met.

The omega’s eyes widened. “Oh? It’s you!”

Wen Zhongyi smiled. “We meet again.”

The omega was the one he’d met earlier on the lawn. Wen Zhongyi had even called him last week, wanting to return the money, but the omega had refused.

He hadn’t expected to run into him here.

The little boy was still sobbing. The omega gave an embarrassed smile. “This kid is so disobedient.”

In Wen Zhongyi’s impression, this omega was gentle and understanding, never one to lose his temper—yet now he’d been driven to frustration by his own child.

With good sense, Meng Chuan got up and gave up his seat so the omega could sit and chat.

“Thank you.” The omega sat next to Wen Zhongyi and glanced instinctively at his belly. “Here for a prenatal checkup? How far along are you?”

“Mm,” Wen Zhongyi nodded. “Thirty-eight weeks. Planning to induce labor early.”

“Wow, so the baby’s coming any day now?”

Wen Zhongyi nodded again. “Planning to be admitted tomorrow.”

The omega seemed to sense his subtle nervousness and gently patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing to be afraid of. I had a natural delivery too—it was quick and not too painful. I felt fine afterward.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Wen Zhongyi said, eyes curving with a smile.

The omega returned the smile. “You’ll be fine too. You look like someone blessed with good fortune.”

The little boy, now done crying, drooped his head and crawled into the omega’s lap. The omega picked him up and said sternly, “You’re not allowed to run off like that again. Do you hear me?”

The boy sniffled and nodded. “Got it.”

Soon, the boy’s alpha father arrived. The omega stood up, said goodbye to Wen Zhongyi, and wished him a smooth and safe delivery.

Watching the omega walk farther away, Dad—seated on the other side—asked curiously, “Is that a new friend of yours?”

“A former subordinate,” Wen Zhongyi said softly. “But he doesn’t remember me anymore.”

“Not necessarily,” Dad said, hugging his shoulder. “Your father and I both remembered you. The world will remember you too, little by little.”

Wen Zhongyi smiled faintly. “I hope so.”

Back home, Meng Chuan brought the packed hospital bag downstairs.

He had prepared everything that might be needed. Dad checked it over again just to be sure, and once confirmed, had him load it into the car.

That evening, Father returned and sat in the living room talking with Meng Chuan for a long time.

Wen Zhongyi had already gone to bed.

He thought he’d be too anxious to sleep—but ended up sleeping deeply and peacefully.

After all the pressure building up, everything suddenly seemed to release the moment things were set in motion.

It was as if Xiao Liuyi knew he was about to meet Daddy. That night, he was uncharacteristically quiet, cherishing his final night in Daddy’s belly.

Wen Zhongyi didn’t even know when Meng Chuan came to bed—he slept through the night, and woke refreshed the next morning, ready for the hospital.

To be there for the birth, Father had taken three days off.

The whole family stayed by Wen Zhongyi’s bedside, while nurses came in repeatedly to run checks.

The hospital room was a VIP suite—very spacious, much like Ji Ying’s private clinic.

Wen Zhongyi lay in bed with an IV in his hand. Once the labor-inducing drug was injected, he began to feel his reproductive cavity contract in steady waves—the pain grew stronger with each cycle.

He furrowed his brow and let out a muffled groan.

Meng Chuan leaned over the bed rail, gripping his hand tightly, letting Wen Zhongyi’s nails dig into his palm.

Dad, eyes red, wiped the sweat from Wen Zhongyi’s forehead.

Father stood outside, speaking with doctors and nurses. Hospital administrators also came by to check in—the hallway was crowded.

As the contractions became more frequent, a nurse came in and wheeled Wen Zhongyi to the delivery room.

At the last moment before he entered, Meng Chuan finally let go of his hand and watched the door close in front of him.

He stood frozen, red-eyed, his hand at his side clenched tight.

Dad, wiping his tears in Father’s arms, asked if he wanted to sit down.

Meng Chuan shook his head slightly.

Above him, the fluorescent light shone silently. His tall shadow stretched across the floor—quiet, unmoving.

He looked calm at first glance, but closer inspection revealed that his whole body was trembling unconsciously. His eyes were unfocused, filled with an overwhelming tension.

The red light above the surgery door stayed on. No one knew how long it had been—Meng Chuan had lost all sense of time.

Leaning against the cold wall, he lowered his head, pressing a hand over his eyes, fingers digging into his hair, exhaling a searing breath.

Suddenly, a loud, piercing cry broke the silence.

It shook everyone to their core.

Meng Chuan’s head shot up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the surgery doors.

Soon after, a nurse came out and said, “It’s a boy. 3.2 kilograms (about 7.05 pounds). Both dad and child are safe.”

Only then did the weight crushing Meng Chuan’s chest finally fall back into place. His mind spun, and he staggered slightly.

The nurse quickly supported him and smiled. “Hey, new dad, don’t get so emotional you faint.”

Meng Chuan steadied himself, grabbed the nurse’s arm, and confirmed, “He’s okay, right?”

“He’s fine,” the nurse patted his hand. “It went very smoothly. You can relax.”

Soon, Wen Zhongyi and Xiao Liuyi were wheeled out.

He looked a bit weak, hair drenched with sweat, and his cheeks were stained with tears or sweat—it was hard to tell. Meng Chuan gently wiped it all away.

“You did great.” Meng Chuan kissed his cheek, as if no one else were around. His nose stung, and a tear fell onto Wen Zhongyi’s face.

“Why are you crying?” Wen Zhongyi asked with a small smile, turning his head. “Hurry up and wipe it off.”

Only after Wen Zhongyi was back in the room did Meng Chuan get a good look at his son.

Xiao Liuyi was red-faced from crying. His skin was a bit wrinkly, but not ugly at all.

He was a healthy, beautiful baby.

Dad held him cautiously and said to Father, “Look how much he looks like Xiao Yi.”

“He really does,” Father said, gazing at his newborn grandson with a gentle smile.

Dad turned to Meng Chuan. “Xiao Meng, want to hold him?”

Meng Chuan was nervous, but took the baby anyway.

His arms were stiff, unsure of how to hold him properly.

Wen Zhongyi laughed. “Didn’t you practice every day at home with the plush dumpling? Why do you look like you’re holding a bomb now?”

“That’s different,” Meng Chuan muttered. He held the baby for less than thirty seconds before quickly handing him back.

Sensing his father’s nervousness, little Liuyi suddenly began crying again—his voice loud and clear.

The nurse entered right on cue and reminded Wen Zhongyi it was time to nurse the baby.

“Oh, okay,” Wen Zhongyi replied. Then he looked at the people standing around his bed.

Father quietly left the room. Dad glanced at Meng Chuan.

“Want me to help?” Dad asked gently.

Since Meng Chuan didn’t dare hold the baby, Dad was a bit worried.

Meng Chuan looked to Wen Zhongyi for his opinion.

Wen Zhongyi said, “Help, please.”

Dad happily stayed.

Wen Zhongyi slowly turned to his side. His body, freshly post-labor, had little strength, and his lower body felt strange.

Meng Chuan unbuttoned his shirt and exposed his chest.

Dad brought the wailing baby over and patted him gently. “There, there. Don’t cry.”

Once in Dad’s arms, surrounded by his pheromones, Xiao Liuyi calmed down almost instantly.

When he latched onto the breast, his crying stopped completely. He suckled instinctively, swallowing repeatedly.

Dad was amazed. “There’s milk already?”

Wen Zhongyi shot Meng Chuan a subtle look.

Meng Chuan awkwardly rubbed his nose and said nothing.

After feeding, Xiao Liuyi fell asleep and was laid in the nearby crib.

Meng Chuan took a few tissues to help Wen Zhongyi clean up, buttoned his shirt, and couldn’t help but kiss his temple.

His eyes were still bloodshot—he looked pitiful.

Wen Zhongyi smiled slightly. “I’m fine, see?”

He shouldn’t have said it. Hearing it only made Meng Chuan feel worse. Giving birth was always a gamble with one’s life. Accidents weren’t rare.

He took a deep breath, leaned in close to his ear, and said, “If something had happened to you, I would’ve gone with you—no joke.”

Wen Zhongyi had still been smiling, but was stunned by the seriousness in Meng Chuan’s voice. Before he could say anything, Meng Chuan cupped his face and kissed him deeply.