Zhang Yu Han helped his wife into the Cayenne while Aunty Su placed the bag into the car. Unfortunately, because it was during the peak hour, the traffic was slightly congested. Usually, they would arrive at the hospital after a fifteen minutes drive, but on that day, they were expected to arrive in another ten minutes. The usual fifteen minutes drive has become almost half an hour.
Seeing the frown on his face and how he was slowly tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, Li Qin Yao patted at his arms to ȧssure him. "Don't be anxious. There were five more days before my due date."
Just as the words dropped, Li Qin Yao let out a soft hum as she bore with another wave of pain.
"Qin Yao, what's wrong?" Zhang Yu Han asked anxiously. He shifted his eyes between his wife and the road. His hand reached to hold hers and he could feel the muscle around her hand tightening. He gave a light squeeze at her hand to comfort her.
The pain soon stopped and Li Qin Yao leaned on the seat as she caught up her breath. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but she turned to her husband and mustered a weak smile. "Hubby, maybe the baby was anxious to come out."
Seeing the smile on her face, Zhang Yu Han let out a helpless sigh. At this time, he did not know how she can still smile. Just then, her expression while holding on to her pain was very terrible.
He then focused on his driving and soon they arrived at the hospital. As soon as the car stopped in front of the entrance, Qi Zheng was already waiting for them along with a few nurses. Zhang Yu Han carried his wife out of the vehicle and placed her in the wheelchair.
"Give me your keys," Qi Zheng said. "I'll help to park your car. You go and follow your wife. I will come over shortly."
Zhang Yu Han glanced at his car which was blocking the road and passed the keys to his friend. "Thank you." Then he jogged to follow his wife and nurse to the delivery room.
Once they arrived, Doctor Qiao was already waiting for them. She gave a few comforting words to Li Qin Yao as she went to check on her cervix. Then, she told her to conserve her energy and reminded her of what she had learned in childbirth class.
Seeing her husband appearing beside her, Li Qin Yao let out a whimper.
"How was it?"
Doctor Qiao turned to look at Zhang Yu Han with a calm expression. "It's still early before it begins. We will have to wait for a while before the dilation is wide enough. Don't worry. It looks like your wife and child are in good condition. We will make sure that everything is safe."
Zhang Yu Han let out a breath as he heard Doctor Qiao's words.
At this time, Qi Zheng appeared beside him and he immediately asked the doctor about Li Qin Yao's condition. Then, he patted at his friend's shoulder and said, "She'll be alright. Do you need me to inform anyone that your wife is here?"
Zhang Yu Han checked at his watch and hesitated. "Let's wait for a while longer. I don't want them to worry."
Before Zhang Yu Han was able to follow her, Qi Zheng had already held him from entering the room.
"You should wait here," Qi Zheng said. He saw that his friend opened his mouth to protest and continued, "Our hospital doesn't usually let the husband into the delivery room. Sometimes the husband would get irrational and prevented the Doctor's job. Just let Doctor Qiao and the others do their job peacefully, alright?"
"Just listen to him," Li Qin Yao said. "Zhang Yu Han, you should wait outside, and don't forget to inform everyone, alright?"
Zhang Yu Han finally nodded and he watched as the nurses pushed the bed into the delivery room. Then, he took a seat and took a deep breath to calm down. He covered his face with both hands and prayed that everything will be safe.
When he looked up again, a bottle of drinking water materialized beside him.
"Drink," Qi Zheng said. "It will take hours before the baby come out. You need to conserve your energy as well. Later, you need to look after your wife and child, right?"
Zhang Yu Han forced a smile before he unscrewed the cap and took a few mouthfuls of drinks. Once he was able to calm down, Zhang Yu Han gave a call to his Grandfather and his mother-in-law. Then, he gave a call to his parents in Country C.
Xu Yilan decided to grab a cab and come over to Y City once she heard the news, while the Zhang couple in Country C immediately booked the earliest flight.
Grandfather, Zhang Yu Ying, and Wei Jun Hao were the first to arrive.
"How is it?" Grandfather asked the moment he saw his grandson.
"Qin Yao is still in the delivery room. She has been in there for more than an hour," Zhang Yu Han said anxiously.
Seeing the worry on his face, Grandfather patted at his grandson's shoulder to comfort him. Then, he turned his gaze towards the delivery room and the worry on his face started to show.
"The last time your mother gave birth to you, you came out after almost a day." Zhang Jing commented.
Zhang Yu Han turned to his grandfather and wonder whether he was trying to comfort him or torment him.
Seeing his friend's pale face, Qi Zheng took his turn to comfort his friend. "It usually took a while with the first child. This is normal. Don't worry."
Zhang Yu Han let out another long sigh as he glanced at his watch again.
An hour later, Xu Yilan showed up at the hospital. Zhang Yu Han greeted his mother-in-law and explained to her about the situation before he went back to sit down silently. Knowing that he was worried about his wife and child, the others decided not to disturb him.
The sky was still bright when Li Qin Yao entered the delivery room, but after the sky turned dark, she still had not come out yet.
Time passed by and Zhang Yu Han continued to stare at the delivery room anxiously.
"Grandfather, mom, the two of you should go back first," Zhang Yu Han said once he saw that it was almost midnight. He turned to his sister and spoke again, "Yu Ying, please look after them."
Zhang Yu Ying nodded before she turned to Wei Jun Hao and pulled his arms.
"Then, we'll go back first. You should immediately tell us any news," Grandfather said as he stood up. He then turned to Qi Zheng. "Look after Yu Han, alright?"
"I will stay here," Xu Yilan said. "I won't be at ease if I leave now."
Zhang Yu Han nodded. He sent his Grandfather to the elevator and went back to the delivery room to wait.
Around two in the morning, the door finally opened and a nurse walked out with a tiny baby in her arms. "Congratulation. Your wife has safely delivered a baby girl. The mother and baby are both safe and healthy."
Xu Yilan heaved a sigh in relief upon hearing the nurse report on the baby's weight and such.
Meanwhile, Qi Zheng congratulated his friend as he had gained a new status.
Zhang Yu Han glanced at the baby and asked, "My wife?"
"She will be out in a few minutes," the nurse said. "Mr. Zhang, would you like to hold your daughter?"
With the nurse and his mother-in-law's guidance, he finally held the tiny baby in his hand. Just as his daughter had nestled safely in his arms, the baby's lips tilted up into a smile. Suddenly, Zhang Yu Han felt as if the time around him had stopped.