Side Story
Cheng Yi didn’t remember Gu Jiao Wu was his friend. Cheng Yi mistook Gu Jiao Wu as the father of Zheng Jia Ju’s baby. Cheng Yi cancelled his promise to Zheng Jia Ju to stay the full month because he thought her baby’s father was back.
After Cheng Yi left Zheng Jia Ju’s shop, Zheng Jia Ju’s water broke. Gu Jiao Wu thought he was forced to be a midwife in his lifetime. Gu Jiao Wu called an ambulance, and went to the hospital with Zheng Jia Ju because Cheng Yi had amnesia. Zheng Jia Ju begged Gu Jiao Wu to get Cheng Yi to come to the hospital.
At the hospital.
Outside the delivery room, Gu Jiao Wu called Cheng Yi’s phone. Cheng Yi didn’t pick up. Gu Jiao Wu finally believed Cheng Yi had amnesia, because Cheng Yi wasn’t a man who would abandon Zheng Jia Ju when hers and Cheng Yi’s baby’s lives were at risk.
Gu Jiao Wu could hear Zheng Jia Ju’s screams from the delivery room. It made him remember when Qiao Tan Yuan gave birth to Xiao Bao, and he realised he was a blessed man. If that day he wasn’t with Qiao Tan Yuan, he wouldn’t know how scared and anxious Qiao Tan Yuan would be. He was blessed he was there for Qiao Tan Yuan to protect Qiao Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao. He was blessed Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t die during childbirth, he didn’t want to think about Xiao Bao not having a mother.
In the past Gu Jiao Wu would have been indifferent if Qiao Tan Yuan pa.s.sed away. But after he got to see Qiao Tan Yuan’s maternal heart, the thought of Qiao Tan Yuan dying sickened him. He thought about how Qiao Tan Yuan laid naked under him last night, and was certain he no longer hated Qiao Tan Yuan.
A female doctor came out of the delivery room, and broke Gu Jiao Wu’s deep thoughts.
‘Is the patient’s family here?’ the doctor asked.
‘Yes,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu thought about how Qiao Tan Yuan suffered during childbirth, and he was worried Zheng Jia Ju was in pain too.
‘The umbilical cord is coiled around the baby’s neck,’ the doctor said. ‘Do you agree for the patient to have an emergency C-section to save the mother and baby?’
‘I agree,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu looked at his phone, there was no miscalls from Cheng Yi. He saw Cheng Yi as his friend. If Cheng Yi had amnesia then he felt a duty as a friend to support Zheng Jia Ju during childbirth.
‘Doctor, the patient is my little sister,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I’m begging you to help my little give birth to the baby.’
‘Um, we’ll do our best,’ the doctor said and walked back to the delivery room.
Gu Jiao Wu heard Zheng Jia Ju screamed again. He couldn’t stand idle and do nothing. In his worried state, he forgot Cheng Yi had amnesia and texted a coded message to Cheng Yi. He realised his mistake, and sent a direct message, ‘Zheng Jia Ju is giving birth. Come to the hospital now.’
Gu Jiao Wu waited. He wished Cheng Yi’s heart had a little compa.s.sion, and Cheng Yi would come the hospital even though Cheng Yi didn’t know Cheng Yi was the father of Zheng Jia Ju’s baby.
By three in the afternoon, Gu Jiao Wu knew Cheng Yi didn’t hear his wish. Zheng Jia Ju refused to have a C-section, and gave birth to a baby boy after five hours of labour.
The doctor walked out of the delivery room, and explained Cheng Yi’s son’s situation.
‘The baby boy is having trouble breathing on his own,’ the doctor said. ‘He’s sent to the ICU.’
Gu Jiao Wu panicked. ‘What about my little sister?’
‘The patient is stable but weak after giving birth,’ the doctor said. ‘You can go with her to her hospital room.’
‘Thank you doctor,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu saw a nurse pushed a portable crib to the ICU. He was worried to see Cheng Yi’s son’s blue face.
‘Will my nephew be OK?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘The ICU ventilator will help the baby boy breathe until he can breathe on his own,’ the doctor said.
Gu Jiao Wu believed Cheng Yi’s son would be monitored carefully in the ICU. He saw another doctor pushed Zheng Jia Ju’s stretcher to a hospital room. Zheng Jia Ju’s unconscious pale complexion, and weak body looked the same as Qiao Tan Yuan after Qiao Tan Yuan gave birth to Xiao Bao. He cursed Cheng Yi, and followed Zheng Jia Ju to the hospital room. He was furious at Cheng Yi after he heard Zheng Jia Ju murmured Cheng Yi in her sleep.
Gu Jiao Wu called Cheng Yi, but Cheng Yi’s phone was switched off. Where was Cheng Yi when Cheng Yi’s woman and son’s lives were at risk?
End of Chapter Forty-Three