For Your Happiness - Chapter 42 - Little Sprite
“Shao Han.” Shao Bin’s voice was filled with excitement and elation.
“Has Liu Xin given birth?” Shao Han had guessed correctly.
“Yes, a boy, weighing six jin1 and two liang2. Mother and son are both safe.” Shao Bin could hardly hide his joy, and just by hearing his voice, one could imagine his beaming smile.
“Really? Congratulations!” Shao Han’s eyes welled up with happy tears, both thrilled and excited.
Wu Di found her reaction amusing; she cried when sad and cried when happy, too. How easily her tears flowed-no wonder she was an Aquarius, seemingly filled with water.
“We should head home now.” Shao Han was eager to see what the little baby looked like.
“Ah? There’s no rush,” Shao Bin said.
“No, I’m anxious. I want to see the little baby,” Shao Han exclaimed as if she were about to jump with excitement. Wu Di looked at her-she didn’t seem like a 28-year-old woman, more like an 18-year-old girl.
“Alright, we are at the Central Hospital, Ward 602,” Shao Bin told Shao Han.
“Okay.” Shao Han hung up the phone, about to speak to Wu Di, but he interjected, “Let’s drive home now.”
“Right,” Shao Han nodded.
“Look how happy you are. What would you be like as a mother?” Wu Di teased her.
“Hehe, I don’t know.” Shao Han smiled so wide she couldn’t close her mouth. “Really curious about what he looks like.”
Wu Di and Shao Han went to their garage, took their car, and headed back to the Shao Family home. It was less than an hour’s drive to the hospital where Liu Xin was staying.
“Should we go up without any baby clothes prepared?” Wu Di asked.
“It’s okay, they’re family after all. Besides, we’ve already bought and brought everything previously,” Shao Han wasn’t really focused on those details, eager only to see the little baby.
At Ward 602, Shao Han peeked inside. It was very quiet. Liu Xin was sleeping, a very small baby carriage beside her. Shao Bin sat by the bed, watching over Liu Xin’s IV drip. Mrs. Shao and Liu Xin’s mother whispered beside the baby carriage. Shao Han gently knocked on the door and walked in.
“You’re here?” Shao Bin greeted them.
“Hmm,” Shao Han whispered softly, then glanced at Liu Xin on the bed, “How is she?”
“She’s asleep, all is well,” Shao Bin said quietly.
Turning around, Shao Han greeted Mrs. Shao and Mrs. Liu, eagerly going to see the little baby, “Wow, so tiny.” Shao Han exclaimed in surprise.
“They all start out this small,” Mrs. Shao laughed, clearly delighted as she looked at her grandson.
“He’s really tiny,” Shao Han repeated. Wu Di just watched silently, careful not to disturb the resting mother and infant.
“He’ll grow up slowly, just like you did,” Mrs. Liu added with a smile, seeming to think of the infant as a little piece of honey.
“Can I hold him?” Shao Han’s maternal instincts were overflowing.
“Yes, he just woke up. This baby is particularly well-behaved, doesn’t cry or fuss at all,” Mrs. Shao explained.
“How do I hold him, how do I hold him?” Shao Han seemed a bit clumsy, like handling a plush toy, shifting through several positions, always feeling it wasn’t quite right.
Wu Di, watching from the side, couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics, and Shao Han shot him a glare when she noticed.
Mrs. Shao gently placed the infant in Shao Han’s arms, so light, so soft, so nerve-wracking. Shao Han’s posture was stiff, as if afraid to move. “Wow, he’s so soft,” she thought, marveling at the little life cradled in her arms, the realization dawning that everyone starts from something so small-it was truly miraculous. Suddenly, the nephew opened one eye and glanced at Shao Han.
“Ah, he’s looking at me, he’s looking at me,” Shao Han said excitedly.
“He can’t see yet, he’s too small, probably just saw a shadow,” Mrs. Shao explained.
“Is that so? But his gaze felt like he saw me,” Shao Han was convinced her nephew was looking at her. Then she said gently, “Baby, I’m your aunt.” Her face was full of love; perhaps a woman’s maternal instinct is innate, holding the infant brought a very special feeling that filled her entire body.
Shao Han gently kissed the little baby’s face.
“He’s so cute, but… why is he so red?” Shao Han curiously asked.
“Because he just came out of his mother’s belly, that’s how infants are. It will take about a month before you can really start to see his features,” Mrs. Shao explained.
“Oh, really? That’s amazing,” Shao Han laughed.
“Okay, you should put him down now; it looks like he’s uncomfortable being held like that,” Wu Di commented. It seemed that Shao Han really needed to practice holding little babies, otherwise their own child would suffer, Wu Di thought to himself.
“Does he? Is he uncomfortable?” Shao Han frowned.
“If he could talk, everyone in this room would be terrified,” Wu Di teased her.
“Hmph, he didn’t say he was uncomfortable, how would you know?” Shao Han reluctantly put the little baby down.
“Hehe, okay, you two should think about having one of your own,” Mrs. Shao said with a smile as she took the child. Honestly, she was quite worried seeing how awkward Shao Han held the baby.
“Oh.” Shao Han stuck out her tongue.
Shao Han and Wu Di then quietly chatted with Mrs. Shao and Shao Bin in the ward for a while before preparing to leave, not wanting to disturb Liu Xin’s rest.
“Wu Di, the little baby is so cute,” Shao Han cooed, swinging Wu Di’s arm playfully.
“Mm, yes,” Wu Di smiled, suddenly both of them thought about if their baby was still here, would he have already been born.
“Wu Di, if…” Shao Han started to say something but hesitated.
“Mm, hehe, if…” Wu Di understood what she wanted to say.
“Hehe.” Shao Han didn’t continue.
“But…” Wu Di paused buckling his seatbelt to look at Shao Han: “You really do hold a baby awkwardly. You need to practice more, otherwise our son is going to be miserable.”
“Ah?” Shao Han was startled by Wu Di’s comment, then playfully punched him: “Stop it.” She lowered her head in thought, then raised her eyes to meet Wu Di’s: “Is it really that awkward?”
“Really,” Wu Di laughed.
“Then I’ll practice when we get home,” Shao Han murmured to herself.
“Ha-ha, a newborn little baby is really tiny,” Shao Han recalled her own nephew, “It’s truly magical. Two cells combine to form a human being, who then gradually grows up.” Thinking about this, Shao Han couldn’t help but laugh.
After getting home and changing her clothes, Shao Han picked up a plush toy, about the size of a newborn infant, and hugged it, trying to imagine what it feels like to hold a little baby. Wu Di saw her and walked over with a smile, hugging her from behind.
“My dear,” Wu Di buried his head in her hair, “then let’s try to have a baby.”
“Ah? Has it been a year already?” Shao Han counted the days, “Isn’t it still two months away?”
“Silly, we are both healthy, what’s there to fear?”
“Can we?” Shao Han hesitated, still somewhat afraid.
“We can.” As he spoke, Wu Di’s hands began to wander, caressing and kissing her.
“Stop it,” Shao Han said, blushing with a shy smile.
Thus, Wu Di and Shao Han decided to try to conceive their baby. Despite their worries, fears, and some reservations, they were determined to give it a try.
Footnote:
- Jin(斤):Jin is a traditional Chinese unit of weight. One jin is equivalent to 500 grams, or approximately 1.1 pounds.
- Liang(两):In traditional Chinese weight measurement, a “Liang” (两) is a unit of weight. 1 Liang is typically equivalent to 50 grams.