The wedding was supposed to stretch on into the night. After dusk, Yan Yincheng had planned an extravagant fireworks display and a drone-light show to cap the celebration — but everything came to an abrupt halt.
To get Xu Zixi to the hospital as quickly as possible, Yan Yincheng had Wei Shu arrange a helicopter immediately. Xu Zixi tried to protest that it wasn’t necessary, but as soon as she opened her mouth a wave of nausea hit and she could only curl up against him, pale and trembling.
The flight to the island base was short. Some of the Yan family helped carry her onto the chopper while others stayed behind to tend to the guests. Pei’s First Hospital had already been alerted; the director and the obstetrics team were waiting on the helipad. The moment the helicopter touched down, they rushed forward to transfer her into the care of the doctors.
After a flurry of examinations, Yan Yincheng sat rigid on the hospital bed with Xu Zixi in his arms. A small crowd clustered around them — Yan Haikun, Yin Shulan, Yan Yun, Xie Shi, and the two little ones, all waiting with bated breath.
“Brother, is Mommy very sick?” Xuxu gripped Xuanxuan’s hand, eyes wide with worry.
“No, silly,” Xuanxuan answered solemnly. “Teacher Feifei taught us. Being pregnant means there’s a baby growing in Mommy’s belly, like you and me. It’ll be our little brother or sister!”
The children’s earnestness cracked the tension like a warm laugh. Even Xu Zixi managed a small, wet smile.
Yan Haikun’s face split into a grin. He ruffled both boys’ hair. “So, Xuanxuan and Xuxu — do you want another brother or a sister?”
Xuanxuan considered the question with childlike logic. “Teacher Feifei said it all depends on the chromosomes, so I’ll like whoever it is!”
“Make it a sister!” Xuxu declared without hesitation. “If it’s another brother, who’ll I fight with for snacks and toys? Girls like pretty dresses and dolls and playing house. Cars and building blocks are fine for me and my brother to share.”
Footsteps sounded in the corridor as a doctor entered, clutching a clipboard. Every head turned; it was so quiet that the room seemed to hold its breath. The doctor, unnerved by the expectant faces, straightened his glasses and smiled.
“Well?” Yan Yincheng broke the silence. Voices rose in a chorus, urgent and hopeful. “What did you find? Is it true?”
The doctor’s smile widened. “Yes. Congratulations, Miss Xu. You’re eleven weeks along. The embryo is developing normally and all indicators are within the expected range. Please come back for regular prenatal checkups.”
The two little ones leapt into each other’s arms. “Yay! Mommy’s really pregnant!”
“Really? That’s wonderful!” Yan Haikun’s hands trembled with excitement. “Lan, did you hear? I’m going to be a grandpa again!”
“I heard,” Yin Shulan replied, laughing through tears. “I’m going to be a grandma again, too.” Xie Shi stood there stunned, tears welling and spilling down her cheeks. She whispered, half to herself, “I’m going to be a grandmother again… This time I get to be with the baby from the very beginning. I’ll watch them learn to walk, to talk — to call me Grandma.”
The flood of joy around the small new life broke something open in Xu Zixi; she began to cry. Perhaps the pregnancy had made her more sensitive. Yan Yincheng’s large, warm hands were dry and steady as he brushed her tears away and, close to her ear, whispered with all the tenderness he could muster, “This is perfect. We finally have our own little one. Are you happy, Zixi?”
Her tears came harder. She curled her hand in his and pressed her face to his palm. “Yes, Cheng-ge. I’m so happy.”
Eleven weeks — that placed conception around the night after she’d been discharged and they’d had, for the first time since returning to the villa, a night without precautions. After that night, life had rushed forward: work, experiments, papers, planning the wedding, taking care of the two kids. She hadn’t even noticed her period had been two months late.
Apparently the new arrival didn’t appreciate being ignored. On their wedding day, while everyone’s attention was elsewhere, the baby chose to make a dramatic announcement of its presence — catching the couple and the whole Yan family completely off guard. Judging by the timing, this little one already had a stubborn streak.
They completed her prenatal records at the hospital and then went home, everyone buzzing with celebration. The guests on Yiyi Island dispersed once they realized the bride and groom weren’t coming back to the party. The bridesmaids returned to the villa with Yan Chenhuan and Yan Chenyu. News of the pregnancy made the house burst into life all over again.
To mark the double happiness, Xie Shi insisted on staying to cook a gentle, nourishing meal for Xu Zixi and announced she would remain to take care of her three daily meals. Yin Shulan refused to be outdone and volunteered to help with Xuanxuan and Xuxu.
“I could—” Yan Haikun began.
“What about headquarters?” Yan Yincheng cut in. “You’ve already been in Haicheng too long. There’s no one keeping things in order there.”
“You’re the heir,” Yan Haikun protested. “Leave it to you. I’ll... I’ll retire.”
Yan Yincheng lifted his chin. “Four years ago I couldn’t be there to look after Zixi and the kids. Now you want to take away my chance to be their father?”
Yan Haikun huffed but conceded. “Fine. You’re right. I’ll go.”
As always, he ended up the one making the sacrifice. He grumbled theatrically, and everyone laughed. The villa was full of warmth and plans and the soft clatter of dishes. Tonight, the household would be full of stories about the baby that had announced itself in the middle of a wedding.
Meanwhile, in another city — Fengcheng — a different scene was unfolding in the obstetrics ward of a hospital.
“You’re saying what? Say that again!” a sharp voice demanded in the consultation room.
Behind the desk, a doctor skimmed the report one more time. Across from him sat Yuan Ya’er, her hands cuffed in front of her. Her face went ashen when he spoke.
“There’s no heartbeat. The fetus has stopped developing — that’s what’s causing the bleeding. We recommend induction immediately. If you don’t, it could become life-threatening.”
The words landed like a plunge into an ice cellar. Yuan Ya’er’s knees buckled and she lunged forward, wild-eyed. “No! You’re wrong — you must be wrong! I won’t accept it!”
Two female officers behind her grabbed her shoulders and forced her back down into the chair. “7056, control your behavior. If you act out, we’ll report it to the court.”
The doctor adjusted his collar and spoke with a clinical calm that made the room feel colder. “There are many possible causes for intrauterine fetal demise. Poor sperm quality — weak or malformed sperm — can lead to developmental problems. But in your case, your gestational hypertension is the main concern. The chances of a fetus resuming development after it has died are effectively zero. We recommend removing the embryo as soon as possible for your safety.”
No miracles. The doctor’s words hung in the air with a dull, bitter finality — an unbearable contrast to the jubilation at the Yan villa.