Chapter 254: Wuchen Siying
*Runze’s POV*
Bael’s chest behind me and the impossibly small, delicate body resting against my heart hold me anchored to this moment. Every muscle in my body aches with a deep, bone-weary exhaustion, but the fragile weight cradled in my arms makes every tear, every agonizing contraction, and every second of pain fade into insignificance.
I gaze down at her tiny, delicate face flushed a soft pink, her chest rising and falling in steady, fast rhythms. A fine fuzz of dark hair clings to her scalp, so much like Bael’s.
Slowly, carefully, I lift a trembling hand, tracing the soft curve of her cheek with the pad of my thumb.
"Thank you..." I whisper, my hoarse voice cracking on a breathless laugh. "Thank you for coming to us."
Bael tightens his arms around both of us, resting his jaw against the crown of my head, his steady breath enveloping our small world. "She’s real, Runze. You brought her home."
I swallow past the thick lump in my throat, my vision blurring with fresh tears of pure relief. For months, under the constant threat of our enemies and the terrifying uncertainty of this pregnancy, I wondered if we would ever reach this quiet shore. But holding her right now, I know the darkness has finally cleared.
I lean down, pressing my lips against the baby’s forehead, taking in the sweet scent of her skin.
"Wuchen Siying," I murmur into the quiet room, speaking her name aloud to her for the very first time. A single tear slips down my cheek and sinks into the blanket. "My little Ying-er."
At the sound of my voice, her tiny mouth twitches, a soft sigh escaping her lips as her minuscule fingers curl tighter against the fabric of my hospital gown.
Whether she grows up to be an Alpha, Beta, or Omega doesn’t matter to me at all. Right now, in my arms, she is simply our daughter.
Bael’s chest expands behind me in a deep, shaken breath. He presses a hard kiss into my hair, his hand coming down to cover mine and our daughter’s tiny body. "Wuchen Siying... It suits her perfectly."
The room’s solitude shifts as the door glides open. A nurse steps inside with a professional smile, holding a medical chart.
"Checking in on our new parents," the nurse says, adjusting the IV line in my arm and checking my vitals on the monitor. "Your numbers are stabilizing nicely, Mr. Runze. Your heart rate and blood pressure are coming down well, and your pulse is steady."
"Thank you," I rasp, giving a small nod.
The nurse looks down at Siying, checking her blanket before meeting Bael’s eyes and mine. "Your family has been waiting in the private lounge for hours. We kept them back so you could have privacy after delivery, but the elder lady refused to leave the floor until she saw the baby."
Bael exhales a low breath, a faint trace of amusement touching his eyes. "Grandmother."
"Shall I let her in?" the nurse asks.
I glance up at Bael, then down at Ying-er, feeling a deep, reassuring peace settle over me. "Yes. Please let her in."
The nurse nods and steps out into the corridor. Seconds later, the door opens again.
Grandmother walks in alone. She carries herself with her usual unyielding, regal dignity, head held high, posture straight, radiating the commanding presence of a woman who has steered our family through decades of storm and scrutiny.
But the moment her sharp eyes land on Siying cradled in my arms, that formidable composure melts.
Her step slows. For the first time since I have known her, a subtle flicker of raw emotion breaks through her stoic expression. She approaches the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed entirely on the newborn.
"Look at her..." Grandmother speaks softly, her voice carrying an uncommon, quiet reverence. She reaches out, her fingers hovering above the baby’s small head before gently brushing against the edge of the blanket. "A healthy girl."
"Grandmother," I say gently, shifting slightly so she can see her clearly. "Here is Siying."
Grandmother’s lips curve into a proud, quiet smile as her eyes rest on the child. "Siying..." She repeats the name with deliberate weight, her tone taking on the solemnity of a matriarch bestowing a lifelong blessing. "Thoughtful in mind, brilliant in spirit. You shall carry wisdom in your choices and light in your steps, my child. No shadow in this world will ever dim you."
She looks up from Siying to meet my eyes, giving me a firm, meaningful nod filled with rare, deep approval. "A name worthy of the life she will lead. You have suffered much to bring her into this world, Runze. You have done exceptionally well."
Before I can answer, the door opens wider. Mrs. Wen steps inside first, carrying an insulated container filled with nutritional broth, her face practically glowing. Ling Yue follows a step behind her, holding a bag of clothes and supplies, but he immediately hesitates near the doorway to give our family space.
Mrs. Wen sets the container on the bedside table and steps up to the bed, bowing her head respectfully to Grandmother before turning to Bael and me. Her eyes shine with tears of pure relief.
"Congratulations, Master Bael, Young Master Runze," Mrs. Wen says softly, her voice thick with joy. She bows slightly toward Grandmother as well. "And congratulations to the Old Madam on the healthy continuation of the family line."
Grandmother gives a stately, approving nod, her posture remaining perfectly regal. Mrs. Wen then carefully checks the folds of the hospital sheet over my lap, her touch maternal and tender. "I brought you nourishment, Young Master Runze. Once you feel strong enough, you must drink."
"Thank you, Mrs. Wen," I say softly. I catch Ling Yue lingering near the frame, shifting his weight awkwardly. I offer him a weary, genuine smile, gesturing for him to step closer. "Don’t just stand by the door, Ling Yue. Come see her."
Ling Yue relaxes, a broad, relieved grin breaking across his face as he sets the bag down and walks over to the side of the mattress.
"Everyone," I say gently, looking up at Mrs. Wen and Ling Yue while Bael’s lips press quietly against the side of my neck, his arms holding us possessively against his chest without his eyes ever leaving Siying or me. "This is Siying."
Ling Yue leans over to look down at her, his eyes widening in awe. "Damn, Runze..." he whispers, shaking his head with a quiet chuckle. "Wuchen Siying. She’s tiny... but look at that hair and that sharp little brow. She looks just like Mr. Bael."
The room, once cold and clinical, fills with the quiet chatter of family, soft laughter, and the undeniable safety we fought so hard to secure. Wrapped securely in Bael’s intense, unyielding hold with Siying resting soundly against my chest, I close my eyes, finally letting the last traces of fear slip away.