Chapter 216: Born! Born!

On Wednesday afternoon, Su Ruan was in the company's pattern‑making room discussing a new idea with Wang Shifu.

"I want to create a series about memory," Su Ruan drew on the blueprint, "not nostalgia, but fragments from memory. For example, grandma's old teapot, mom's sewing machine, the old locust tree in the Hu Tong, turned into design elements."

Wang Shifu pushed his antique glasses and said, "The idea is good. But how to transform it? Directly printing the pattern might be too obvious."

"Abstract it," Su Ruan said, "use embroidery, use patchwork, use special textures."

She pointed to the Sketch and said, "For example, this coat: the front‑collar pattern is the texture of the Hu Tong brick wall, but abstracted—far away it looks like a texture, up close it's detail."

Sun Shifu also came over to look and said, "The treatment of this waistline is like an old Cheongsam, but with a modern modification."

"Right," Su Ruan's eyes lit up, "what I want to make is not retro, but to blend memory into modern life."

The three discussed earnestly until Jiang Ran knocked and came in.

"Not off work yet?" Jiang Ran glanced at his watch; it was already seven o'clock.

"Lost track of time," Su Ruan only then noticed that it was already dark.

"Let's go home. Mom and dad are waiting for us to eat."

In the car, Jiang Ran asked, "Has the new series made progress?"

"Hmm," Su Ruan said excitedly, "Wang Shifu and Sun Shifu gave many good suggestions. I want to call it Memory Realm, the artistic conception within memory."

"Memory Realm…" Jiang Ran mused, "Nice name. When can we have a Sample Garment?"

"Next month," Su Ruan said, "I want to polish it slowly, no rush."

"Right, take it slow," Jiang Ran grasped her hand, "good things are worth waiting for."

Back home, the dishes were indeed already set out. Li Huijuan ladled rice while muttering, "So late again, the food has been reheated many times."

"Sorry, Mom, I lost track of time discussing the design," Su Ruan said apologetically.

"Work is important, but health is more important," Jiang Jianguo said, "Eat first."

At the dining table, Jinjin and An'an argued to tell dad and mom about today's kindergarten events.

"I got a little red flower today!" An'an said proudly, "because I drew well."

"Great!" Su Ruan kissed her daughter, "What did you draw?"

"I drew our family," An'an said, "Great‑grandmother, grandpa, grandma, aunt, uncle, dad, mom, older brother, and the little sister in aunt's belly."

"That many people, can you fit them?" Jiang Ran laughed.

"I can fit them!" An'an gestured, "It's a huge sheet of paper."

Jinjin said, "I helped the teacher distribute notebooks today."

"Jinjin is really capable," Jiang Ran patted his son's head.

Suddenly, Yan Shen called, "Jiang Ran, Jiaojiao is about to give birth! We're heading to the hospital now!"

Jiang Ran sprang up immediately, "Which hospital? We'll go right away!"

"Provincial Maternal and Child Hospital!"

After hanging up, Jiang Ran put on his coat while shouting, "RuanRuan! Sister is about to give birth!"

Su Ruan was accompanying the kids in drawing; hearing that, she stood up immediately, "Now? Isn't it still two weeks away?"

"It might be early," Jiang Ran was already rushing to the door, "Mom, dad, grandma, we're going to the hospital! Jinjin and An'an, you watch over them!"

Li Huijuan also panicked, "How did it suddenly… you go quickly, we'll watch the kids!"

When the two hurried to the hospital, Jiang Jiaojiao had already entered the delivery room.

Yan Shen paced back and forth outside the delivery room, his face ashen.

"Brother‑in‑law, how's it going?" Jiang Ran asked.

"It's been half an hour since she went in," Yan Shen's voice trembled, "the doctor said the fetal position is correct, should be fine, but I…"

"Don't worry," Su Ruan comforted, "Jiaojiao is healthy, it will go smoothly."

The three sat on the long bench outside the delivery room waiting. Time passed second by second, each second feeling especially long.

An hour later, the delivery room door opened, and a nurse stepped out, "Yan Shen's family?"

"I am!" Yan Shen immediately stood up.

"Congratulations, mother and daughter are safe. It's a girl, six jin three liang."

Yan Shen's leg went weak, he almost sat on the floor.

Jiang Ran quickly steadied him, "Brother‑in‑law, you're a dad now!"

"I… I'm a dad now…" Yan Shen murmured, tears spilling down.

Su Ruan's eyes also reddened, "Great, Jiaojiao is fine, the baby is healthy."

After waiting another ten minutes, Jiang Jiaojiao was pushed out.

She looked very exhausted, but her face bore a smile.

"Jiaojiao!" Yan Shen rushed over and grasped her hand, "How are you? Does it hurt?"

"I'm okay," Jiang Jiaojiao said weakly, "Did you see the baby?"

"The nurse said they'll first take the newborn to the NICU for a check, we can see soon," Yan Shen held his wife's hand tightly, "Thank you for your effort, Jiaojiao."

Jiang Ran and Su Ruan also gathered around.

Jiang Jiaojiao saw them and smiled, "RuanRuan, Ranran, you both came too."

"For something this big, could we not come?" Jiang Ran said, "Sis, you're amazing."

"Who does the baby look like?" Su Ruan asked.

"I haven't seen clearly yet," Jiang Jiaojiao laughed, "I only glanced, all wrinkled, like a little old man."

Just then, the nurse came out holding the baby, "Here, mother, take a look at the baby."

The tiny infant was wrapped in a pink blanket, skin rosy, eyes closed, little mouth moving.

"So tiny…" Jiang Jiaojiao reached out, gently touching her daughter's face.

"Like you," Gu Yanshen said, his eyes unwilling to blink, "the nose looks like you, the mouth also looks like you."

Su Ruan stood nearby watching, and a wave of emotion rose in her heart.

She recalled the time when she gave birth to Jinjin and An'an, it was the same—both tiring and blissful.

"Have you chosen a name?" she asked.

"We have," Jiang Jiaojiao said, "named her Gu Si Yuan. 'Si' from thought, 'Yuan' from socialite. We hope she will be smart and graceful."

"Nice name," Jiang Ran said, "What about a nickname?"

"We'll call her Yuan Yuan for short," Gu Yanshen said, looking at his daughter, "simple and easy to remember."

After Jiang Jiaojiao and the child settled, Jiang Ran called home to share the good news.

Li Huijuan and Jiang Jianguo, upon hearing, immediately said they would come to the hospital, but Jiang Ran persuaded them not to.

"Come tomorrow instead; today let Sister Jiaojiao rest well."

After hanging up, Jiang Ran said to Su Ruan, "Let's go back too, and let the brother‑in‑law and sister have some time alone."

"Alright."

When they left the hospital, it was already afternoon. Neither had eaten lunch, yet they didn't feel hungry, their hearts full of joy.

"So fast," Su Ruan sighed, "Sister Jiaojiao is already a mother now."

"Indeed," Jiang Ran hugged her shoulder, "Time really flies. I remember when we were kids, my sister used to run wild with me in Hu Tong, and now she's a mother."

"We're getting old too."

"Not at all," Jiang Ran laughed, "We're still young. When Yuan Yuan reaches her full month, we must celebrate properly."

"Of course."

Back home, Jinjin and An'an immediately gathered around, "Where's aunt? Where's the little sister?"

"Aunt gave birth to a little sister, named Yuan Yuan," Su Ruan said, picking up An'an, "We'll take you to see her tomorrow."

"Yay!" An'an clapped happily, "I have a sister now!"