Hard work after winning the lottery

Five o'clock in the morning.

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

Outside the delivery room, it was eerily quiet.

Zhou Yanjin paced back and forth in the corridor like a trapped beast.

One step, two steps, three steps...

The sound of his leather shoes on the marble floor was extremely rhythmic, yet extremely irritating.

Zhou Ye sat on the bench, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, muttering incantations, it was unclear whether he was praying to Buddha or God.

Hua Shu was squatting in the corner, a habit he had developed from years of farming. He liked to squat when he was nervous. He subconsciously reached for a cigarette, but then realized he was in a hospital and awkwardly put his hand down.

Li Guifen and Lin Yi, both new mothers, huddled together, their ears pressed against the crack in the delivery room door, wishing they could hear everything.

"Mother-in-law, why is there no movement?" Li Guifen was so anxious that she stamped her feet.

"No movement is a good sign; it means they're gathering their strength." Although Lin Yi said this, her knuckles were white as she gripped the bag.

Seven o'clock in the morning.

The butler came running up, panting, carrying the huge insulated container.

"Master, Madam, Young Master, the soup is here! Red ginseng and free-range chicken soup that's been simmering all night! It's so tender!"

Zhou Yanjin stopped and glanced at the pot of soup. Her Adam's apple bobbed, but she had no appetite at all.

"Just leave it there."

"How can this be!" Lin Yi stood up. "Yan Jin, you haven't slept all night, have a drink. Yun Yun will need you to take care of her after she gives birth. How can you collapse first?"

"Mom, I can't drink it." Zhou Yanjin's voice was hoarse, her eyes fixed on the tightly closed door.

Occasionally, a suppressed scream would escape from inside, each one like a hammer blow slamming into his heart.

His mind was now filled with Hua Yun's pale face and the words, "It hurts so much."

If he could, he would rather trade the entire Zhou Group for her to be free from pain.

Eight o'clock in the morning.

The sun had fully risen, and sunlight streamed in through the window at the end of the corridor, but it couldn't warm the anxious hearts of those in the corridor.

Suddenly, the delivery room door opened a crack.

A young nurse poked her head out: "Who is Hua Yun's family member?"

"I!"

"I am!"

"here!"

Suddenly, five or six people surrounded her, their imposing manner startling the young nurse.

"The new mother seems a bit exhausted. Did you bring any food? Chocolate? Red Bull?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Guifen produced a large piece of chocolate and several hard-boiled red eggs as if by magic. "How about these eggs?"

The nurse paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, peel it and give it to me."

Zhou Yanjin snatched the chocolate and egg, peeled them with lightning speed, and handed them to the nurse: "Please tell her I'm outside, I've been here the whole time."

The nurse took the items, gave the legendary General Manager Zhou a deep look, nodded, and closed the door.

Nine o'clock in the morning.

For Zhou Yanjin, this night felt like an eternity.

He had a bluish stubble on his chin, his shirt was wrinkled, and his tie was nowhere to be seen. He looked颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, apathy, and agitation) and 躁躁 (躁躁 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of being listless, apathetic, and irritable).

Just as his patience was about to run out and he was about to rush in without a care, the delivery room door opened again.

This time, the midwife's voice, though tired, carried a hint of joy.

"Mr. Zhou Yanjin, the cervix of the woman in labor is fully dilated; you can go in now."

Zhou Yanjin practically launched herself into the changing room, changed into a sterile gown, put on a hat and mask, and rushed into the delivery room at the fastest speed she had ever done.

The delivery room was filled with the smell of blood and disinfectant.

Hua Yun lay on the delivery bed, looking as if she had been pulled out of the water. Her hair was wet and stuck to her face, her complexion was deathly pale, and her lips were bitten raw.

The moment she saw Zhou Yanjin enter, her previously unfocused gaze sharpened for a moment, and she pouted with a wronged expression.

"husband……"

That hoarse call shattered Zhou Yanjin's heart.

He rushed over, grabbed her hand tightly, and knelt by the bed: "I'm here, I'm here, wife, I'm here."

"It hurts so much... I don't want to give birth anymore... Waaah..." Hua Yun cried like a child, all her strength crumbling at this moment.

"Okay, okay, we won't have any more children, we won't have any more..." Zhou Yanjin said incoherently, her eyes red.

The midwife next to me rolled her eyes in exasperation. "We can already see the head, and you're just going to say we don't want to give birth? Can't you at least respect us and the baby?"

"Don't cry, mom! Save your energy!" the midwife shouted. "Come on, listen to my commands! The contraction is coming! Inhale—push! Like you're having a bowel movement! Push!"

Hua Yun gripped Zhou Yanjin's hand, her nails digging deep into his flesh, using all her strength.

"ah--!!!"

Zhou Yanjin felt the excruciating pain in her hand, but seemed oblivious, only wiping her sweat and repeatedly saying, "Come on, wife, you're the best..."

After the contractions subsided, Hua Yun collapsed onto the bed, panting heavily.

"Very good! Excellent!"

The midwife suddenly shouted excitedly, her voice filled with obvious surprise.

"I can see the hair! Lots of hair! It's black, curly hair!"

The midwife pointed downwards, her eyes shining: "Mom, keep pushing! One more push, and the baby will be out soon! That curly hair will definitely be beautiful!"

Upon hearing the words "Little Curly Hair," Hua Yun, who was almost fainting, suddenly found a surge of strength.

She suddenly opened her eyes, looked at Zhou Yanjin, gritted her teeth, and said fiercely:

"Zhou Yanjin! If you're born bald... I'll never forgive you!"

Zhou Yanjin was both amused and exasperated, nodding repeatedly: "If he's bald, I'll shave my head and keep him company! Honey, push harder!"

"ah--!!!"

With Hua Yun's final scream and Zhou Yanjin's heart pounding so hard it almost stopped, the scene unfolded.

A surge of heat gushed out.

Immediately afterwards, a loud cry, so loud it seemed to lift the roof off, echoed throughout the entire delivery room.

"Wow--!!!"

At that moment, the sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Zhou Yanjin's tear-streaked face and Hua Yun's tired yet smiling lips.

The voice was strong and penetrating, and even the people waiting in the corridor outside the delivery room showed joy on their faces.

The electronic clock on the wall precisely ticked to 9:28.

Zhou Yanjin was still kneeling by the bed. At that moment, he felt a buzzing in his ears. Only that cry was like a ray of light, splitting open his chaotic mind.

"It's born! It's born!"

The midwife's voice was filled with joy as she skillfully lifted the little one, still covered in blood and vernix caseosa, as if she were holding the most precious trophy in the world.

"Congratulations, Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou!" the midwife announced with a smile, showing them the baby's most striking feature. "It's a beautiful little princess! She weighs six pounds and three ounces, and her cry sounds amazing—her lung capacity is incredible!"

Zhou Yanjin suddenly raised her head, her eyes somewhat glazed over.