A pained moan slipped from her lips, stabbing straight into Julian Jarvis's heart.
He glanced irritably at his watch. Why hadn’t they arrived yet?
Song Ying turned her head, grimacing through the pain. "What time is it now...?"
"Two thirty."
"Forty minutes already, uh..."
Forty minutes had passed since her contractions started, since they'd come upstairs, since all this began.
She didn’t feel good at all—the baby was coming quickly.
Tears shimmered in the corners of Song Ying's eyes as she bit her lip. "Julian Jarvis, get the clean... towels and the little blanket. And, um, disinfect your hands... ah."
"Okay." Following her instructions, Julian Jarvis took out the towels and blanket they'd prepared for the baby.
Song Ying pressed a trembling hand to her abdomen, struggling to bear the pain. The contractions had become completely erratic now, crashing one after the other.
The baby's weight in her lower belly stretched her skin taut; she reached out, gently stroked the bulge, and managed a weak smile.
"It's okay. Mommy will help you... come into this world safely."
She had Julian Jarvis disinfect his hands again. Song Ying could feel her body gradually opening up, preparing itself for the baby's arrival.
Catching her breath, she let Julian Jarvis pull the pillow out from under her lower back. Since she’d have to deliver at home, all she could do was wait for the baby to come.
Once everything was ready, Julian Jarvis returned to her side, cupping her hand tightly in his. He bent closer, pressing a kiss to her fingers.
He was filled with guilt. If only he hadn’t gone out today, if only he’d taken Yingying to the hospital at the first sign, things wouldn’t have come to this.
"I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. Why did I ever leave the house?"
"How could I leave you alone like this...?"
Song Ying had never seen Julian Jarvis cry. He had always been so strong—sometimes even a little distant. But now, she saw a sheen of tears in his eyes.
"Julian Jarvis... don’t, mmm, you have to be strong... You need to help me."
"It’s just... having a baby, uh."
Her hand was caught tightly in his as she tried to catch her breath. "It hurts so much..."
Julian Jarvis took a deep breath, looked at her with deep affection, and forced a little smile. "Alright. Yingying, you’re the best doctor there is."
Sweat-soaked hair clung to her cheeks as Song Ying gave a feeble nod. "Check to see how dilated I am first. There should be gloves in the first aid kit..."
Following her directions, Julian Jarvis checked for dilation. The place that was usually so tight felt completely different now.
It wasn’t a comfortable check—Song Ying couldn't help but groan in pain. Julian Jarvis gritted his teeth and kept going, swallowing his own distress.
Feeling herself nearly fully dilated, Song Ying said, "Uh, help me sit up..."
Julian Jarvis carefully helped her into a sitting position, grabbing two pillows to prop behind her back.
Her thin body was taut and shaking, the dress she’d just put on already soaked with sweat. Song Ying clenched the blanket, tilting her head back to see Julian Jarvis by her side, which somehow helped steady her nerves.
With Julian Jarvis there, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Giving birth was instinctual. When the fruit is ripe, it falls. When the time comes, a baby will fight their way into the world.
She’d seen so many people welcome their children in the delivery room. That joy was always pure happiness.
The moment she learned this child was growing inside her, she’d been waiting for this day. All that mattered now was a smooth delivery.
Song Ying tried to calm herself: It wasn’t any different from what she’d seen before.
"Uh..." A sharp pain made her lift her torso a little. She felt as though something inside her belly had burst, but the little blanket still covered her legs.
She didn’t have the luxury of feeling embarrassed—after all, this was just part of giving birth.
"Honey, mm... my water just broke. It’s time."
"Alright, let’s do this." Julian Jarvis swallowed, his voice trembling. "Once the baby’s out, everything will be fine, sweetheart."
She spread her legs as much as she could and clutched the blanket. "Move the blanket away—ah."
No sooner had she spoken than the baby pushed down hard, forcing Song Ying to bear down with the pain.
Rapid labor brings intense contractions; she could only follow her body’s natural urge and push with all her strength.
She counted silently in her mind...
She managed a wry thought: Well, at least next time I help someone else deliver, I’ll really know what it’s like.
"Mmm..."
Her belly wasn’t large and the baby was on the small side—that was probably why labor was moving so fast. At least that meant it wouldn’t be too agonizing.
Her skirt was hiked high. After just a few pushes, she could feel the baby nearly sliding out.
Julian Jarvis held her hand tightly, letting her squeeze as hard as she liked. He never imagined things would come to this—that Song Ying would have to give birth at home, all on her own.
She should have been in a hospital, surrounded by people, being cared for and supported as she welcomed her child.
"Mmm... honey, it hurts so much..."
The baby's head was almost out, and the pain was at its worst—every second felt like torture.
Julian Jarvis leaned close to kiss her, trying to comfort her, wishing he could share her pain.
"Do you... uh, can you handle seeing it?"
She remembered how so many fathers fainted in the delivery room, unable to stomach the sight; but now, Julian Jarvis had no choice but to look.
"Of course. You’re my wife—that’s my child."
Song Ying squeezed his hand, gritting her teeth. "Then look—it might be coming right now."
Julian Jarvis made sure she was steady, then walked to the side of the bed. One look, and his heart twisted painfully.
He could see a sliver of the baby’s head, the thin skin stretched to the limit, streaked with blood and amniotic fluid. How much pain had his Yingying endured?
"Uh..." Song Ying braced herself on her knees, lifting her body again. The baby was struggling just as hard—she couldn’t give up now.
Gradually, more and more black hair appeared. The little head was coming out at last.
"It hurts so much... ah." Song Ying half sat up, propping herself with both hands. Her frail legs shook violently, and with a final cry, the baby’s small head was out.
"Support... the baby’s head, mm."
Julian Jarvis’s hands trembled as he cupped the baby’s tiny head, the warmth settling heavily in his palm. Tears welled up and spilled over.
Song Ying gasped for air, careful not to push too hard, then, with one last effort, delivered the rest of the baby.
"Mmm..." The little body squeezed out, then slipped into Julian Jarvis's hands.
"Yingying... The baby’s here. The baby’s finally here."
Julian Jarvis stayed utterly still, the newborn cradled in his palms, his whole body frozen.
Song Ying slumped back against the pillows, utterly drained by the pain.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to reach for the clean blanket, and spread it over herself. "Bring her here."
The baby was gently placed on the soft blanket. So tiny. Song Ying, eyes reddened, cleaned the baby’s mouth and nose. The baby let out a tiny, catlike mewl.
Soft, sweet—she had a daughter.
The doorbell rang at last: the doctor had finally arrived.
Julian Jarvis hurried downstairs to open the door. The doctor was a woman in her forties from Song Ying’s hospital.
Seeing the baby already born, she smiled. "Director Song really lives up to her title—she delivered her own baby!"
She glanced at Julian Jarvis. "And the baby’s father did an impressive job too!"
Song Ying smiled as well. "He really did. Thank you, Doctor Liu."
The doctor cut the cord and delivered the placenta. Soon, both Song Ying and her baby were bundled into the ambulance.
Delivering so fast had taken a toll, so they'd need to stay at the hospital for a few days under observation.
Julian Jarvis stepped into the ambulance too, still reeling from having delivered his own child.
It took a long moment before he finally let out a shaky breath: "Honey, I love you."
Song Ying squeezed his hand and gave him a tired smile. "I love you too."