Free Web NovelChapter 654: Chapter 652: Triplets
Su Shuochi had already gotten up to see a guest out, so Gu Jiaojiao walked over and took the receiver.
A voice she knew down to her bones came from the other end of the line: "Jiaojiao, I heard you’re pregnant?"
Eldest Brother Sheng’s voice was as magnetic and pleasant as ever, brimming with concern and excitement.
Just moments ago, he and Guoguo had been wondering when Jiaojiao would get pregnant, and now he had gotten a call from his brother-in-law, telling him she was.
"Yes, I’m more than three months along. We already heard from Guoguo that you’re going to be a father. Congratulations, Big Brother."
Gu Jiaojiao was swept up in Eldest Brother Sheng’s excitement and happily congratulated him in return.
"More than three months! That’s wonderful! Guoguo is only five weeks along." Eldest Brother Sheng was so excited he sounded like he was about to jump for joy.
"Jiaojiao, where are you guys right now?" Fu Guoguo asked, having snatched the phone.
"We’re at home. We just got back today, so we haven’t had a chance to call you yet."
Fu Guoguo said excitedly from the other end of the line, "Sounds good. We can talk more when we see each other later."
"Let’s talk tomorrow. I’m tired and I want to sleep," Gu Jiaojiao said wearily.
"Okay, okay, you get some rest. I’ll come see you tomorrow." After hanging up, Fu Guoguo threw her arms around Eldest Brother Sheng and showered him with kisses.
"Honey, who was that on the phone?" Su Shuochi asked with a hint of disappointment. He had just bolted the door and came in to see the call had ended.
’He hadn’t even gotten the chance to show off a little!’
"Eldest Brother Sheng and Guoguo," Gu Jiaojiao said listlessly.
"You’re tired. Let’s go get some rest."
Mr. Su and Su’s mother brought Su Qinchun to the Imperial City to celebrate the New Year, while Su Er Ya stayed in Shuanghe Village with her family of five.
She had become a central figure in the village, the go-to person for everyone’s problems, so Su Shuochi had a telephone installed in her home.
Su Er Ya’s three children called their maternal grandparents every day. Back in the village, they had also become the leaders of the local kids, no matter their age.
For them, as long as they had meat to eat and could call their grandparents every day, it didn’t matter where they lived.
Besides, they didn’t feel particularly special living in the city. It was different back in the village, where everyone envied their clothes and pencil cases.
「More than five months passed in the blink of an eye.」
Gu Jiaojiao was now nine months pregnant.
Her belly was as large as a giant beach ball, making it difficult for her to even walk.
Su Shuochi, the Su family, and the Gu Family—especially the grandfathers—all doted on her, treating her like a precious treasure.
They wished they could give her the finest things in the world: bird’s nest soup, shark fin, deer antler, donkey-hide gelatin...
Basically, any health supplement they could think of, they tried to feed to Gu Jiaojiao.
But no matter how many supplements she ate, Gu Jiaojiao didn’t seem to gain any weight elsewhere; only her belly grew exceptionally large, which made everyone very worried.
Su Shuochi and Gu Jiaojiao knew she was carrying triplets, but they hadn’t told anyone else.
During the final month, Gu Jiaojiao could do little else besides eat and sleep. She felt practically helpless.
Even though Su Shuochi cared for her meticulously, she still made sure to walk a set number of steps each day for exercise.
Yet her legs were still thicker than before; she knew they were slightly swollen.
Even after drinking so much spiritual spring water, she still had some slight swelling, but it was much better than what other pregnant women experienced.
"Haaaaah..." She stretched out her arms, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.
Savoring the scent of fresh air, she rubbed her round belly, then bent slightly to brace herself against a nearby wall.
She took another deep breath and slowly lifted her foot to take the first step. This was her daily, repetitive exercise.
「It was the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.」
In the middle of the night, Gu Jiaojiao had started feeling waves of sharp pains in her belly.
Su Shuochi was even more worried than she was—he seemed to be on the verge of developing prenatal depression himself—so Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t told him.
Gu Jiaojiao got up at eight in the morning to wash and dress. She put on a pink floral maternity dress, her exceptionally smooth, dark hair hanging loosely around her shoulders.
Her fair, round face radiated an air of quiet elegance, making her look exceptionally gentle and beautiful.
As she stood in the courtyard, she radiated a maternal beauty that was captivating to behold.
Su Shuochi brought her a steaming bowl of bird’s nest porridge, his gaze full of adoration and tenderness.
He murmured softly, "Jiaojiao, have some porridge first. Then I’ll help you with your walk."
Gu Jiaojiao responded with a faint smile, "Okay. You’ll have to feed me." The pain in her belly had intensified, and she needed to support it with her hands.
"Here, open up." Su Shuochi stood in front of her, patiently feeding her one spoonful at a time.
By the time she finished the bowl of bird’s nest porridge, it was almost ten o’clock; it had taken her nearly an hour.
After the porridge, Su Shuochi supported her as she shuffled forward one step at a time. The sunlight stretched their shadows long across the ground.
Their silhouettes were clear and distinct on the ground. The couple’s fingers were tightly intertwined, their closeness making them seem like two trees with their branches grown together, mutually dependent.
He asked worriedly, "Honey, why don’t we go to the hospital today and get admitted?"
Her belly was now so large that it made her movements incredibly clumsy.
Gu Jiaojiao insisted on exercising every day, maintaining a relaxed and healthy mindset to prepare for the arrival of her triplets.
Ever since Su Shuochi learned they were having triplets, he’d been a nervous wreck, his joy tinged with deep worry.
Gu Jiaojiao replied with a smile, "The hospital is too crowded, and I prefer being at home. Why don’t you call Xia Qiuming and Eldest Sister-in-law to come here?"
Su Shuochi sighed. His wife had a point, but her belly was just so big. ’What if...’
Seeing the worry and anxiety etched on his brow, Gu Jiaojiao couldn’t resist standing on her tiptoes to kiss his temple.
Enduring the pain, she coaxed him gently, "Husband, I’m really fine. I’m a doctor myself, you know. A Divine Doctor, even!"
Su Shuochi chuckled at her words. "Yes, yes. My Jiaojiao is the most capable one there is."
’His wife was a Divine Doctor with extraordinary medical skills. She was the one who had cured him when he was paralyzed.’
’He’d witnessed that kind of miracle more than once, so he had absolute faith in his wife. But this time, *she* was the one giving birth, not someone else!’
"Alright, I’ll go make the call now." Su Shuochi smiled and went inside to use the phone.
He told Xia Qiuming over the phone that his wife was about to give birth, and then he hung up.
He didn’t care how busy Dean Xia was, nor did he realize that his wife truly was on the verge of giving birth. All he wanted was the peace of mind that came with having a doctor by her side.
Soon, their villa was filled with people. Gu Jiaojiao was helped into the temporary delivery room that had been prepared for her on the first floor.
After a series of examinations, they confirmed that the birth was imminent. Su Shuochi was already wondering if they should just opt for a C-section to reduce the risks.
Seeing her face covered in sweat, he knew she was doing her best to endure the pain. His heart ached with worry, and he wished he could take the pain for her.
He kissed her forehead tenderly and said, "Jiaojiao, if it hurts, scream. No one here will dare to laugh at you."
