Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

In the Longxing Machinery Factory residential compound in Beijing, Li Yu accompanied Bai Ling for a walk in the courtyard.

Bai Ling's belly was getting bigger and bigger, and she was walking with a bit of a limp. Li Yu carefully supported her, afraid that she would bump into something.

"Now it's all good. Those people won't dare to mess with you anymore," Bai Ling said, looking at Li Yu with a smile.

Li Yu smiled, lowered his head and stroked her lower abdomen, his voice gentle: "Yes, from now on, our lives will become more and more peaceful."

Nannan ran out of the house, holding a bright red apple in her hand, and handed it to Bai Ling: "Mommy, eat an apple, so that the little baby can grow strong and healthy."

In the middle of the night, most of the lights in the Longxing Machinery Factory residential compound had been turned off, except for the warm yellow light still shining from Li Yu's house.

Bai Ling turned over, then suddenly groaned and gripped the bed sheet tightly.

Li Yu, a light sleeper, woke up immediately, reached out and touched her forehead, his voice tinged with urgency: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"The baby is moving a lot, and my stomach hurts a bit. I think I'm about to give birth."

Li Yu rolled out of bed, quickly grabbing the pre-prepared maternity bag as she called towards her daughter's room, "Daughter, wake up! Mommy's going to give birth! Let's go to the hospital!"

The little girl was half asleep when she heard the words "Mommy is going to have a baby." She instantly woke up, jumped out of bed, and rushed to Bai Ling's side without even putting on her shoes: "Mommy, are you okay?"

"It's alright, sweetie." Bai Ling endured the pain and patted her daughter's head.

Li Yu had already packed the maternity package into the car, and then carefully helped Bai Ling downstairs, with Nannan following closely behind.

Clutching Bai Ling's clothes with her small hand, her face full of worry. After getting into the car, Li Yu started the engine and dialed Bai's parents' number.

"Dad, Mom, Bai Ling is about to give birth. We're going to Peking Union Medical College Hospital now. You two should come too."

Bai's mother panicked instantly on the other end of the phone, and after hanging up, she grabbed Bai's father and rushed downstairs, not forgetting to pack the toiletries and baby clothes she had prepared in advance, and urging the driver to drive as fast as possible.

On the way, Li Yu called the hospital, and the hospital immediately made preparations when they heard that the person coming was Li Yu's wife.

The hospital's emergency building was brightly lit. As soon as the car stopped at the hospital entrance, the nurses immediately pushed the hospital bed to greet Bai Ling and quickly took her into the delivery room.

The delivery room door slammed shut, cutting off the sounds inside and the hearts of everyone outside.

Li Yu stood guard at the door, his hands clenched tightly.

Nannan stood beside him, her little face full of tension, her ear pressed against the door, trying to hear what was happening inside.

Not long after, Bai Ling's suppressed cry of pain came from the delivery room. Nannan's eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls. She threw herself into Li Yu's arms, choking back sobs as she said:

"Daddy, Mommy hurts so much! I don't want the baby anymore, I only want Mommy!"

Li Yu knelt down, hugged Nannan tightly, wiped away her tears, and said gently, "Nannan, be good. Mommy will be alright soon. Mommy is very brave, we must believe in her, okay?"

Mr. and Mrs. Bai also arrived. Mrs. Bai was carrying large and small bags. When she saw the father and daughter squatting at the door, she patted Li Yu on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, this is normal for women when they give birth. Everything will be alright."

Despite saying that, her voice trembled slightly.

Time ticked by, and every second felt like torture.

The cries of pain from inside the delivery room rose and fell, gripping the hearts of everyone outside the door.

The little girl cried herself to sleep, then leaned against Li Yu's chest and sobbed, "Daddy, when is Mommy coming out?"

"It'll be over soon, very soon." Li Yu comforted her daughter and herself repeatedly.

After an unknown amount of time, a loud cry of a newborn baby suddenly came from the delivery room.

Li Yu suddenly stood up, and Nannan also looked up abruptly, her eyes still wet with tears.

The delivery room door finally opened, and a nurse came out carrying a baby wrapped up tightly, a smile on her face: "Congratulations! It's a big, healthy boy, weighing eight pounds and two ounces. Mother and child are safe and sound!"

"Thank you! Thank you!" Li Yu said excitedly.

Mr. and Mrs. Bai breathed a sigh of relief, and smiles of satisfaction appeared on their faces.

Immediately afterwards, Bai Ling was wheeled out by a nurse, her face pale, but with a tired smile on her face.

Li Yu quickly went over and took her hand: "You've worked hard, my wife."

Bai Ling shook her head, her gaze falling on the baby in the nurse's arms, her eyes full of tenderness.

Nannan stood on tiptoe, looking curiously at the tiny baby. Her fear and worry from before vanished, and her little face was full of joy.

After Bai Ling was settled in the intensive care unit, the nurse brought the baby over. The little one had his eyes closed, his chubby face, and his mouth was still smacking—he was incredibly cute.

Mr. and Mrs. Bai gathered around the bed, utterly delighted. Mrs. Bai even carefully reached out and touched the baby's little face, beaming from ear to ear.

Li Yu walked to the bedside, bent down and picked up Nannan, letting her bring her close to the baby: "Nannan, look, this is your little brother."

The little girl opened her eyes wide and carefully examined the tiny life. She gently touched her little brother's face with her small hand; it was soft and warm.

She gave a bright smile and whispered, "My little brother is so cute. I'll be his older sister from now on, and I'll protect him."

The lights stayed on all night in the intensive care unit.

Li Yu and Nannan stayed by Bai Ling's bedside. Nannan lay on the edge of the bed, looking at her mother and her little brother, her eyes glued to each other.

The baby was cared for by the mother and the nurse on duty in shifts, occasionally letting out a small whimper.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Li Yu, worried that Nannan would be hungry, got up to go out and buy some breakfast and light porridge that Bai Ling could eat.

As soon as he stepped out of the ward and into the corridor, he saw a familiar figure walking slowly forward with his head down.

The man was wearing a faded white shirt, with a medical report tucked under his arm, and he was walking with a limp. It was Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu's wrist had been aching slightly lately, so he had to go to the hospital for a checkup. He had just received the report and was about to leave when he looked up and saw Li Yu walking towards him.

The moment their eyes met, Shazhu's body stiffened abruptly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—jealousy, resentment, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

He recalled his days in the courtyard house, how he was schemed against by Xu Damao, dragged down by Qin Huairu, and finally crippled by Li Yu.

Li Yu, however, left that small courtyard house and made a name for himself in this vast world, living a very successful life.

A surge of anger welled up inside him, and Sha Zhu wanted nothing more than to rush forward and vent all the pent-up frustration and resentment in his heart.

But when he looked at Li Yu, he thought of his own crippled hands, and of Xiao Dang and Huaihua at home. All his anger was instantly extinguished, leaving only a heart full of helplessness.

How could he possibly be a match for Li Yu?

Sha Zhu gritted his teeth, suddenly lowered his head, quickened his pace, and tried to pretend he hadn't seen her, slinking past Li Yu in a dejected manner.

Li Yu's gaze swept over him indifferently, without lingering, as if he were merely looking at an insignificant stranger. He continued walking straight towards the door at the end of the corridor without sparing him even a glance.

Sha Zhu stopped in his tracks, standing still and watching Li Yu's receding figure.

Li Yu's disregard was more hurtful than any ridicule or accusation.

He was like a defeated rooster, dejected and as if all his strength had been drained.

It turns out that in Li Yu's eyes, he was nothing at all.

Sha Zhu gave a bitter laugh. He walked out of the hospital and boarded the bus back to the courtyard house. The bus was noisy, but he didn't want to say a word. He just stared blankly at the scenery passing by outside the window, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, which he couldn't lift no matter what he did.