Chapter 346 My dear, you've worked hard

Song Ni stood there blankly, unsure of what to do, nor daring to ask. She was afraid that if she voiced her question, the answer would still not be what she desired. The nurse, aware of their story and their distinguished identities, noticed Song Ni's lack of reaction and quickly came to assist her. “Mrs. Tan, are you alright?” The question pulled Song Ni back from her thoughts. She looked at the nurse, grasped her hand, and mustered her courage to ask, “What did you just say?” The nurse’s eyes softened. “I said, Mr. Tan has woken up. The doctor is currently running a series of tests on him.” Song Ni tightened her grip, her body trembling uncontrollably, her voice even shaking. “You said… he has woken up?” Having witnessed all kinds of life and death, and all sorts of worries and hopes from family members, the nurse still felt a pang in her heart at Song Ni’s sharp reaction. She had seen how Song Ni had endured these past few months. Pregnant, yet still caring for her husband, not to mention studying and managing work matters. “Yes, Mrs. Tan. Mr. Tan is quite coherent. As soon as he woke up, he was asking about your condition. The checks should be almost complete now.” As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Song Ni utterly frozen in place. Following Song Ni’s gaze, the nurse saw a group of medical staff, and among them, Tan Zheng in a wheelchair, being escorted by the medical personnel. The nurse, after ensuring Song Ni was standing steadily, released her hand and quietly stepped aside. Song Ni stood clutching her belly, watching the man who had been lying in bed for over four months now sitting in a wheelchair. His eyes were no longer tightly shut, and in them, there was finally a spark of awareness again. Tears began to flow silently. At first, Song Ni tried to hold them back, but it was impossible. The tears flowed more and more, and she even felt the urge to burst into a loud cry. As she slowly approached, the doctor, with keen insight, pushed Tan Zheng towards Song Ni. It wasn't crowded at the hospital at this hour, allowing the two of them to truly see each other after months apart. Tan Zheng’s complexion was still pale, but much better than when he was lying in bed. Sitting in the wheelchair, Tan Zheng had to look up at Song Ni. He extended his hand, and Song Ni placed hers in his palm. Almost instantly, Tan Zheng rubbed his fingers against the back of her hand a few times, then tightly clasped her hand. As if to feel her presence. “Why are your hands so cold?” Having not spoken for so long, Tan Zheng’s voice was extremely hoarse, almost unrecognizable, yet Song Ni immediately felt a sense of familiarity. Her tears fell even harder. Her silent crying turned into sobs, her chest heaving, her breathing becoming rapid. Tan Zheng’s eyes were full of tenderness. He raised his other hand. He said, “Baby, come here, let me hold you.” Song Ni lowered herself, wrapping one arm around Tan Zheng’s waist, the other wiping the tears from her face. He gently patted Song Ni’s back. “I’m back, baby. Don’t cry, I’m back. Your crying is breaking my heart.” When she received no response and everyone else was trying to comfort her, Song Ni hadn't cried this hard. Now, Tan Zheng said he was back and told her not to cry because it hurt him. … This single sentence triggered all of Song Ni’s pent-up grievances, fears, and longing. Her tears couldn’t be stopped, soaking Tan Zheng’s entire hands. Song Ni even began to gasp for breath from crying. It was the same nurse who had previously cared for Song Ni, who, upon realizing her condition, stepped forward and prevented the crying from becoming so intense that it might endanger the fetus. “Mrs. Tan, Mr. Tan waking up is a joyous occasion. You must not cry anymore. If you continue to cry, the baby in your belly will not be happy.” Baby? Hearing this word, Tan Zheng stared at Song Ni’s belly in disbelief. Song Ni also emerged from her emotional state. She took Tan Zheng’s hand and placed it on her belly. She didn’t look at Tan Zheng, but lowered her head to look at her stomach, and whispered, “Baby, I’m bringing you to see your daddy. Come say hello to Daddy, won’t you?” Song Ni had been crying intensely, and the baby had also felt her mother’s emotional fluctuations. This time, it kicked more forcefully than before, a powerful, tangible presence. Tan Zheng felt as if his hand was no longer his own. He could clearly feel it, yet now, he felt as if he had been struck on the head by an immense surprise, unable to process it. Song Ni winced in pain from the kick, her body slightly arching to alleviate it. Tan Zheng quickly supported her waist. He wanted to stand up, but after lying down for four months, his body’s functions hadn’t fully recovered, and his legs lacked strength. He sank back into the wheelchair. It was the first time Tan Zheng felt so powerless. His wife was pregnant, and he could only sit in a wheelchair, unable to even stand up and give her a hug. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He pulled Song Ni’s hand. “Nini, sit on my lap.” Song Ni smiled. “I’m not that weak yet.” But as soon as she spoke, the baby kicked again, still very hard. Song Ni gasped in pain, frowning as she looked at her slightly protruding belly. “Baby, are you too excited to see Daddy? You can’t do this. If you kick Mommy and hurt her, Daddy will be angry.” As if by telepathy, after Song Ni finished speaking, the baby in her belly stopped kicking. Song Ni smiled and looked at Tan Zheng. “See, our baby is so obedient.” Tan Zheng stared blankly at the smile on Song Ni’s face, at the trace of maternal gentleness that now adorned her. He felt as if his heart was being squeezed. Tang Qin Yun was right; Tan Zheng was indeed about to die of heartache. After his accident, how had Song Ni managed? How had she and the baby endured those months while he lay in bed? The more he thought about it, the tighter Tan Zheng’s lips pressed together. “Nini, come here, sit on my lap.” Let me hold you properly. Song Ni hesitated, a little afraid. Tan Zheng had been bedridden for four months, and now she was pregnant. Would it be too much for Tan Zheng if she sat on his lap? Seeing Song Ni’s hesitation, Tan Zheng firmly gripped her wrist. “Nini, come here.” Song Ni met Tan Zheng’s determined gaze, and her heart fluttered. She also longed to embrace Tan Zheng tightly. The attending physician standing nearby smiled and said, “Mr. Tan’s physical condition was excellent before. His injuries have healed after four months of recovery. It’s fine for Mrs. Tan to sit on him, as long as the duration is managed appropriately.” Only then did Song Ni grip Tan Zheng’s hand in return and slowly sit on his lap. Almost as soon as she sat down, Tan Zheng tightly wrapped his arms around Song Ni’s waist, then rested his head on her shoulder, taking a deep breath. He felt her presence. He said, “Baby, you’ve worked hard.” You’ve worked hard these past four months.