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The corridor outside the delivery room.
The plastic bench under Noah felt like a red-hot iron plate, forcing him to stand up and pace back and forth every few seconds.
He was practically grinding sparks out of the rubber floor with his restless steps.
Every time a muffled cry of pain from Claire came through the tightly closed white door of the delivery room, his heart ached so much it became hard to breathe.
"Relax, Noah." Rebecca's voice came from beside him as she offered a cup of warm water.
"Claire's physical condition is far better than the average pregnant woman's. The labor is proceeding very smoothly, and the doctors are the best. From a scientific perspective, the probability of complications is less than 0.1%."
Noah took the cup, but the trembling in his fingertips betrayed him.
Science.
He knew Rebecca meant well, but at this moment, no rational data or analysis could soothe his heart, which was suspended in mid-air.
Only one thought filled his mind: Claire is suffering in there, and I can do nothing.
This sense of powerlessness was suffocating.
Chris's tall frame leaned against the wall. His face, usually etched with determination and confidence, was now covered with anxiety and worry identical to Noah's.
He paced a larger area than Noah, like a lion trapped in a cage.
Every now and then, he would punch the wall, producing a dull thud.
"Hey, big guy, if you keep that up, the hospital will charge you for the wall." Jill leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed, trying to lighten the mood with a casual tone, "Why don't we chat? Like, how did you manage to drive that armored vehicle into the river in Africa last time?"
Chris shot her a glare, but it quickly melted into helplessness.
He let out a long sigh, slumped back onto the bench, buried his hands in his hair, and fell silent.
In a relatively quiet corner, Leon and Sherry had found their own unique way to relieve stress.
"I bet it's a girl. Definitely as beautiful as Claire." Leon said, legs crossed, wearing his trademark confident smile as if he already knew the outcome.
Sherry held a tablet, her fingers flying across the screen, which displayed a jumble of data and charts that were hard to decipher.
Without looking up, she retorted, "According to the data model analysis of fetal movement frequency and intensity, along with Claire's hormone level fluctuation curves during pregnancy, there's a 73.4% probability it's a boy. Energetic. He'll be a little troublemaker for sure. I bet a box of Häagen-Dazs."
"Kid, this isn't an experiment." Leon curled his lip dismissively, "This is called intuition, got it? The intuition of an excellent agent."
"Your 'intuition' made you lose a steak dinner to me at the shooting range last time." Sherry mercilessly exposed his past failure.
Leon's expression instantly froze.
In this complex atmosphere interwoven with noise, anxiety, worry, and anticipation, time stretched out infinitely.
Every minute, every second, felt like a long ordeal.
Suddenly, "Waaah—"
A loud, clear, life-filled cry pierced through the heavy door, shattering the stagnant air in the corridor.
Everyone froze.
Chris stood up abruptly.
Leon and Sherry stopped their argument.
Noah also halted his pacing.
Squeak—
The door opened.
A nurse wearing a mask walked out, her face bearing a tired but joyful smile.
"Congratulations, mother and son are both doing well." she announced loudly, "A very healthy baby boy, seven pounds six ounces."
A boy.
Noah's mind buzzed. All the previous anxiety and fear were washed away in that instant by a massive, surging wave of ecstasy.
He felt as if he were floating on a cloud; the ground beneath his feet seemed unreal.
"I... can I go in and see them?" His voice trembled slightly with emotion.
"Of course. The mother needs rest, please keep quiet."
Noah practically charged into the delivery room.
Claire lay on the hospital bed, her hair damp with sweat and plastered to her pale cheeks. She looked utterly exhausted, but her sapphire-blue eyes shone with a gentle, radiant light he had never seen before.
Beside her lay a tiny life, swaddled in white cloth.
That was their son.
Noah walked over, carefully, as if holding the world's most precious treasure.
His little face was wrinkled, like a red apple. His eyes were tightly shut, but his mouth smacked occasionally, as if dreaming something wonderful.
Noah reached out a finger and gently touched his cheek. The warm, soft sensation instantly melted his heart into a puddle.
"He's... so small." After a long pause, that was the only silly thing he could manage to say.
Seeing Noah's flustered look, Claire gave a weak laugh. "He has your nose, Noah." Her voice was hoarse but filled with tenderness.
Noah leaned down and planted a loving kiss on her forehead. "You've worked hard, Claire."
"Hmph, guess you win."
"Don't forget my Häagen-Dazs."
Sherry's voice came from the doorway. She poked half her head in, made a face at Noah, then looked at Leon.
Chris and Jill also walked in, gathering around the bed to look at the newborn. Genuine smiles lit up everyone's faces.
"Hey, little guy." Chris extended his thick finger, wanting to touch the baby but afraid of hurting him. His hand hovered in mid-air, looking both comical and endearing. "I'm your uncle, Chris Redfield."
They had already decided on the baby's name long ago.
Holding Claire's hand and gazing at the miracle they had created together, Noah said softly, "Welcome to the world, Antirui Redfield Noah."
Antirui Redfield Noah.
Redfield, representing Claire's Legacy and honor. Noah, his belonging and roots.
Antirui, representing a star, a hope that he would have his own bright and brilliant life.
At that moment, sunlight from outside the window streamed through the glass, bathing them all in its warm, bright glow.
Noah felt his life had never been so complete.
One month later, Antirui was one month old.
The weather in New York had warmed. The lawn in the villa's backyard was lush and green, flowers in full bloom.
A small party was being held here.
(The U.S. doesn't have a 'full moon' tradition, but they have baby showers or'sip and see' parties, typically held before the baby is born or 2-6 weeks after.)
Today, the family welcomed two very special guests.
Noah's parents had flown all the way from China.
When the two elderly figures, travel-weary, appeared at the door, Noah saw his mother's eyes instantly redden.
She hurried in, barely sparing him a word, and headed straight for the little bundle in Claire's arms.
"Oh, my precious grandson..." Noah's mother carefully took Antirui from Claire's hands, the wrinkles on her face blossoming into a smile.
Noah's father stood to the side, trying hard to maintain the stern demeanor of the family head, but his slightly upturned lips and his eyes constantly darting towards his grandson betrayed his inner excitement.
He took out an exquisite red brocade box from his luggage.
"This is for the child." He handed the box to Noah.
Opening it revealed a Longevity Locket made of pure gold, lying quietly inside. It was intricately carved with a pattern of dragons and phoenixes, symbolizing auspiciousness. It was heavy, laden with the most ancient and sincere blessings from the East.
"Dad, Mom, this is Claire's older brother, Chris." Noah pulled over Chris, who looked somewhat at a loss.
Chris had probably never dealt with a situation like this in his life.
He straightened his back as if standing for inspection, forced a smile that looked worse than crying, extended his hand, and boomed in his loud voice, "Uncle, Auntie, hello!"
Noah's father was startled by this thunderous greeting. He paused for a moment before snapping back to reality and shaking Chris's hand.
The awkwardness of the language barrier was easily dissolved by one figure.
"Grandpa, Grandma, welcome to New York." Sherry walked over carrying two cups of hot tea, greeting the elders in fluent Chinese. "You must be tired from the long journey. Please, have a seat."
With graceful ease, she took their luggage, settled them in, and naturally assumed the role of translator, turning Chris's stiff greeting into a warm welcome.
The elderly couple clearly adored this clever and beautiful young girl. Noah's mother, upon seeing her again, immediately took Sherry's hand, asking all sorts of questions, while Noah's father also cast an approving glance her way.
Watching Sherry effortlessly switch languages and topics between the elders and their group of 'foreigners,' taking care of everyone seamlessly, Chris wore an expression of both admiration and bewilderment.
He probably couldn't understand why this teenage girl was a hundred times better at handling this situation than he, a battle-hardened captain.
The atmosphere of the evening feast gradually reached its peak, catalyzed by alcohol.
While the women gathered together, whispering around little Antirui, the other side of the living room had transformed into a men's battlefield.
Or rather, a 'world of their own' for Noah's father and Chris.
A bottle of Chinese Maotai and a bottle of Scotch Whisky stood between them.
No one knew how they communicated, but after three rounds of drinks, these two men from different countries, with completely different languages and personalities, were both red-faced and slurring their words.
"Let me tell you... hic..." Noah's father clapped Chris on the shoulder, launching into a long speech entirely in Chinese. "My son... he's been sensible since he was little... just too stubborn! I wanted him to study medicine in China, but he insisted on going to America... Now it's good. Married such a wonderful wife, had such a lovely grandson... My life is complete! You... you are now family! My son's... brother-in-law! You have to... you have to take good care of them! If anyone dares bully my daughter-in-law or my grandson, you be the first one to... teach him a lesson!"
Chris obviously didn't understand a single word, but he sensed a certain sentiment from Noah's father's animated gestures and expression.
He also patted Noah's father on the back and began to ramble in his own slurred English: "I... I tell you, old man... my sister, Claire, she's my most precious sister in the world... If that kid Noah dares treat her badly... I'll be the first one to... break his bones! And my nephew... Antirui... no one touches a hair on his head! I'll teach him to shoot, teach him to fight... make him into... hic... the strongest man!"
One speaking Chinese, the other English, they patted each other's shoulders, gestured wildly, talked animatedly, sometimes pounding their chests, sometimes roaring with laughter, as if they had achieved some kind of Soul connection transcending language and culture.
Leaning against Noah, Claire watched this absurd yet heartwarming scene, laughing until tears nearly came to her eyes.
Noah's mother also couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head helplessly.
Sherry outright took out a video camera and recorded this precious moment, planning to save it as future 'blackmail' material.
Looking at the room full of people he loved, at his drunken father and equally drunken brother-in-law, Noah could only smile wryly.
This was probably what family was like.
Noisy, chaotic, yet filled with irreplaceable warmth and peace.
A week later, the elderly couple reluctantly began their journey back home.
Before leaving, Noah's mother kissed Antirui over and over, while Noah's father solemnly patted Noah's shoulder and simply said, "Live well."
After seeing off his parents, life seemed to return to its familiar, simple, and happy routine.
The commotion faded, and tranquility returned to the villa.
But this tranquility was no longer emptiness; it was now filled with the breathing and cries of a new life.
Noah began his new life as a part-time 'dad' and part-time 'commander.'
Most of the time, he worked remotely from home.
On the desk in his study, on one side were the intricate intelligence files and mission reports from the BSAA Asia-Pacific Branch; on the other side was the screen of the baby monitor.
On the screen, little Antirui slept peacefully in his crib, occasionally waving a tiny fist.
Noah would often stare at the screen, feeling like the worlds on either side were different: one of gunfire and danger, the other of peaceful days. And he stood at the boundary between these two worlds, guarding this hard-won balance.
Sherry had completely become the star of the BSAA North America Division.
Rebecca would call every few days, excitedly 'bragging' about how her prized student had overcome another technical hurdle or proposed some astonishing theory in the field of genetic research.
This little girl who once needed protection had now grown into a Genius scientist who could hold her own, shining brilliantly in her own field.
Days flowed by like a babbling brook, quietly passing in peace and warmth.
In the blink of an eye, four months had passed.
Antirui had grown a lot. He was no longer that wrinkled little thing; he had become chubby and fair. His eyes, strikingly like Claire's, were clear and bright, and he would flash a toothless grin at anyone he saw.
It was another quiet afternoon. Noah had just finished processing an assessment report on a new virus sample from Southeast Asia.
He was lying on the sofa, watching Claire give Antirui some sun in the garden.
At that very moment, the encrypted satellite phone in his pocket chose to ring, its sharp tone utterly ill-timed.
It was Leon.
An inexplicable tightness gripped Noah's heart as he answered the call.
The voice on the other end was no longer its usual playful self. It carried a rare gravity and weariness.
"Noah,"
"Something major has happened..."
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