190: Chapter 190 Racing Against Time

Zhao Yang's head buzzed for a moment, but in just a second, he forced himself to calm down.

Having been a reporter for his entire past life, he had interviewed people in such emergencies before.

He knew what a ruptured amniotic sac meant: umbilical cord prolapse, fetal distress, and risk of infection; not a single minute could be wasted.

The more urgent the situation, the less one could afford to panic!

He steadily supported Jiang Nan, his voice low and calm.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here. Sit down first, don't stand."

Zhao Yang helped Jiang Nan sit slowly on a nearby bench, then folded his jacket into a simple pillow to gently elevate her hips.

This position would reduce the continued leakage of amniotic fluid and lower the risk of umbilical cord prolapse.

"Nan Nan, take deep breaths and try to relax."

As Zhao Yang spoke, he pulled out his phone while turning his head toward the garden entrance to shout loudly.

"Someone! Doctor! We need help over here!"

His voice was loud and full of vigor, possessing great penetrating power.

Several family members of patients strolling in the garden heard his shouts, and someone already ran toward the inpatient department to call for a nurse.

Zhao Yang quickly dialed the number of the obstetric specialist Lin Xuecen had left with him.

"Director Zhang, this is Zhao Yang, Jiang Nan's husband. She's in the hospital garden and her water just broke. We are on the bench on the east side of the garden. Please send someone immediately."

The other end of the line replied with just one word: "Okay."

After hanging up, Zhao Yang squatted down, holding Jiang Nan's hand with one hand while gently placing the other on her abdomen to feel the fetal movement.

Jiang Nan's palms were covered in sweat and her body was trembling slightly, but her gaze remained steady.

"Hubby, will the baby be okay..." Jiang Nan's voice carried a tremor.

"No, it'll be fine. It's normal for the water to break; it happens to many mothers. The doctor will be here soon."

Zhao Yang's tone was steady, and his expression was certain.

"Nan Nan, think about it, our baby is in a hurry to come out and see the world. It shows he's healthy and has an impatient personality, just like you."

Jiang Nan's lips curled up at his last sentence, and her tension eased slightly.

In less than two minutes, three nurses came sprinting from the direction of the inpatient department pushing a gurney, followed by the deputy director of obstetrics, Zhang Min.

Zhang Min was in her early forties and was an authority in the obstetrics and gynecology department of Jiangzhou City, boasting extensive experience.

She walked quickly to Jiang Nan's side, glanced at her elevated hips, and checked the color of the amniotic fluid.

She looked up at Zhao Yang and nodded: "Well handled."

The nurses quickly lifted Jiang Nan onto the gurney and pushed her toward the delivery room.

Zhao Yang followed alongside at a jog, holding Jiang Nan's hand the entire time.

"Family members wait outside the delivery room."

Zhang Min left those words behind and followed the gurney through the delivery room doors.

The moment the doors closed, Zhao Yang was blocked outside.

The lights in the hallway were blindingly white, and the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant.

Zhao Yang stood at the door with his hands on his hips and let out a long breath, only then realizing his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Lin Xuecen's number.

"Mom, Nan Nan has entered the delivery room. Her water broke, but the doctor said the situation is stable. Don't worry, just come over slowly."

Lin Xuecen's voice on the other end clearly changed its tone.

"I'll be right there!"

After hanging up, Zhao Yang called his brother, Zhao Ze.

"Brother, Jiang Nan is in the delivery room. Go pick up Mom and bring her over; let her have something to be happy about in a bit."

Zhao Ze's voice was excited. "Oh, that's wonderful! Our Zhao family is gaining another member! I'll go pick up Mom right now, and your sister-in-law too!"

After finishing the call, Zhao Yang's heart gradually calmed down.

During the emergency process just now, he had appeared calm and composed on the surface, but he had actually been panicking internally.

Even when he was being pointed at with batons by thugs at Platinum Night, he hadn't been this panicked.

But he was a man and a husband; he could panic in his heart, but in front of Jiang Nan, he had to be as steady as a rock.

The delivery room doors were well-insulated, and no sound could be heard from inside.

The hallway was so quiet that he could only hear his own heartbeat.

As Zhao Yang looked at the closed door, a thought flashed through his mind.

The three-plus billion from eighteen years later, the investment attraction in Cangyun County, the road construction...

At this moment, none of it was as important as the two people behind that door.

The rapid clicking of high heels came from the end of the hallway.

Lin Xuecen arrived almost at a run, her hair a bit messy from the wind and her face filled with anxiety.

"How long has she been in?" she asked, grabbing Zhao Yang's arm.

"About ten minutes." Zhao Yang helped her sit down. "Mom, don't worry, Director Zhang is personally in there. There won't be any problems."

Lin Xuecen took a few deep breaths to force herself to calm down, but her hands were still trembling slightly.

As a woman, she naturally knew what this moment meant for her daughter.

She couldn't sit still at all and paced anxiously in the hallway.

Time passed minute by minute.

The wall clock in the hallway ticked away, every second seeming to stretch ten times longer.

Half an hour later, the delivery room door opened and a nurse poked her head out with a smile on her face.

"Family of Jiang Nan, congratulations! It's a girl, six pounds and eight ounces. Both mother and daughter are safe."

Zhao Yang was so excited his head went "boom." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But he found his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Lin Xuecen grabbed Zhao Yang's hand, and tears instantly streamed down her face.

"Did you hear that? Both mother and daughter are safe. You're a father!"

By this time, Du Lanxin and Zhao Ze's family had also arrived. Hearing the good news, everyone said almost in unison:

"A girl is great, she'll definitely be as beautiful as Nan Nan!"

Another half hour passed before the delivery room door opened again.

A nurse walked out holding a tightly wrapped little bundle, with Jiang Nan lying on a gurney beside her.

Jiang Nan's face was somewhat pale, and fine beads of sweat still hung on her forehead, but her eyes were bright, and a tired yet satisfied smile was on her lips.

The nurse handed the little bundle to Zhao Yang: "Come, Daddy, give her a hug."

Zhao Yang reached out, his movements as stiff as a robot's.

He carefully took that feather-light little life, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Looking down, he saw a tiny, wrinkled face with closed eyes.

Her mouth was slightly open, like a little kitten's.

This was his daughter, a blessing given to him by the heavens after his rebirth, completely making up for the regrets of his previous life.

Zhao Yang's eyes suddenly turned red.

He gently pressed the child to his chest, lowered his head, and touched his lips to the baby's little forehead.

The skin was as tender as tofu, carrying the unique warmth of a newborn.

Jiang Nan lay on the gurney, her head turned to watch this scene with a satisfied smile on her face.

Lin Xuecen was both laughing and crying on the side, fumbling to take out tissues.

The nurse smiled and said, "Don't be so busy being moved yet; both mother and baby need to go back to the ward to rest."

Only then did Zhao Yang reluctantly hand the child back to the nurse and walk to the gurney to hold Jiang Nan's hand.

"Wife, you did so well!"

Jiang Nan's fingers tightened slightly as she held his hand back, her voice weak but carrying a hint of a smile.

"Zhao Yang, you big liar."

Zhao Yang was stunned. "How did I lie to you?"