It was raining when the then full term pregnant Aoi Xiu went into labor . Her husband could barely see the road to the hospital through the wind s.h.i.+eld .

Aoi pulled through the car ceiling handle as she felt another strong contraction . Contrary to melodramatic, noisy mothers in labor, she breathed in and held her breath, then pushed with teeth clenched .

This reminded Xiu Jin that his wife is a strong woman . He was chanting in his mind .

'I've done this before . It's gonna be alright . I've done this before . ' He gritted his teeth as he swiftly pa.s.sed through an intersection, not caring about which light is on . 'Sh**! Not in this rain!'

When they arrived, Xiu Jin hurriedly went out to help his wife out of the car .

An emergency medicine doctor went to check on them and called out to a nurse . "Page OB!"

Xiu Jin requested access to the delivery room, so the nurses made him change into a pair of scrubs with surgical cap and booties .

After changing, he immediately returned to her side and clasped their hands together .

The attending doctor did another internal examination .

"The baby is almost there . Be ready to push on your next contraction . "

Aoi Xiu nodded her head as she breathed deeply .

Xiu Jin's fingers were almost broken as she squeezed his hand as she effectively makes each push .

After awhile, she pushed a little longer and harder until the baby's head was delivered .

The doctor maneuvered to deliver the rest of the body and the attending pediatrician was there to catch the newborn and started drying her with a sterile cloth .

Aoi heaved a sigh of relief when she heard her child cry after stimulation .

Xiu Jin was in tears to see his daughter, still clutching his wife's hand .

"Congratulations! It's a girl . Will the father cut the cord?"

Xiu Jin was surprised . 'I can do that?' he thought .

The doctor had smiling eyes above her mask . "Give the father a pair of gloves and the bandage scissors . " she ordered the nurse .

Xiu Jin hesitated to let go of Aoi's hand, but seeing the gloves being served, he felt it was impolite to decline .

The cord was clamped on both ends and he was instructed to cut near the plastic clamp .

He was startled by some of the blood gus.h.i.+ng out, but recovered himself as he saw his daughter .

The pediatrician was considerate enough to swaddle the baby so he could carry her .

"Sweetheart, look! Our little girl looks so much like you!" He leaned to show the baby's face to his wife .

"Hmmn . " Aoi nodded and smiled, but she was too tired to comment .

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The second child of the Xius were publicly announced in newspapers and in television news as the family is a prominent figure in the business . Since it was female, she would make a suitable future wife to the heir of a company .

Many became interested, to the point that some of them were already introducing their sons to Xiu Jin .

Midori's birth was like a pebble dropped into a lake . It created an impact greater than anyone would expect .

Su Linyu had just weaned her then toddler son from breastmilk when she heard the news . It reminded her that the boy she was holding should have been fathered by her first love . This led to her change in behavior towards her son . She was mad to see Aoi Xiu holding the little baby girl in her arms . 'That should be me!' she thought, as she clenched her teeth .

On the other hand, Ming Xiaoyu was nursing her child when the news flashed on her television screen . She looked at her own daughter .

Few weeks ago, a temporary restraining order against her was filed by the Xius . Good thing that her husband was on a business trip, for he need not know about it .

Her anger rose on the news about the daughter of the Xius .

"How dare him deny you of your rights?! That daughter of hers is the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" She glared at the image on the TV, then she turned to the baby in her arms . "Rus.h.i.+, my daughter, time will come that we will take back what is rightfully ours!" Her laughter was between sinister and crazy .