Chapter Text
It was a hot afternoon in Bangkok, and the sun reflected off the windows of the Chen house, casting a golden hue on the light furniture in the living room. Yi was sprawled on the couch, his arms outstretched to catch Le Ling, who was running across the carpet with a pink ribbon in her hair, while Kondiao brought a tray with glasses of iced juice. It was rare for them to have a whole day off, without meetings or training sessions, without pressures or commitments. And they were determined to make the most of every second together, as a complete family.
— Daddy Yi! Look at my pirouette! — Le Ling shouted, spinning awkwardly and almost toppling onto the couch.
Yi caught her in his arms with a muffled laugh and kissed her cheek. — Are you going to be a gymnast now?
— No! I'm going to be like Daddy Diao, and beat you at fighting! — she smiled, her eyes shining with the typical energy of her eight years.
— This girl... — Yi sighed theatrically, looking at his husband, who smiled wryly.
— You taught her to be competitive. I only taught her to kick. — Kondiao said, handing Yi a glass and sitting down next to him. Le Ling settled between them, throwing her little feet onto her older father’s lap.
The moment was interrupted by the persistent ringing of Yi's phone. He furrowed his brow when he saw the number.
— It's Lia. — he said, straightening up. Kondiao also became alert, and Le Ling stopped swinging her feet.
Yi answered with a controlled voice, but his eyes already showed his anxiety. — Lia? Is everything okay?
On the other end of the line, the young woman's voice was shaky but steady. — My water broke. I'm heading to the hospital now. The doctors said everything is on track. I just... I thought I should let you know.
Kondiao leaned in, pressing his ear to the phone.
— Do you want us to come there? Are you with someone? — he asked, trying to sound calm.
— I'm with my aunt. She’ll stay with me. You can come when you can. The hospital is Samitivej, downtown. I... I'm okay, just nervous. — Lia said.
— We’ll be there now. — Yi assured. — Everything will be fine, Lia. Thank you for letting us know.
The call ended, and within minutes, the house shifted into emergency mode. Kondiao rushed to pack a bag with what they might need. Yi called his mother, asking her to stay with Le Ling. Le Ling, scared and curious, tightly held her father's hand.
— Is the baby going to be born?
— Yes, my love. And you’ll meet your little brother very soon. — Kondiao said, kneeling down to hug her.
They left Le Ling in the care of her grandmother, Chatchai. The girl reluctantly let go of her parents but accepted with the promise that she’d be the first to hold the baby after them.
On the way to the hospital, Yi drove in silence, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel, while Kondiao tried to mask his own tension by looking out the window.
— Is he going to look like me or you? — Kondiao asked, breaking the silence.
— If he looks like me, he'll be quiet and grumpy. — Yi said with a smirk.
— If he looks like me, he’ll drive you crazy. — Kondiao replied, and both of them laughed briefly.
When they arrived at the hospital, they went straight to reception. Lia was already in the operating room and had left a note asking to see them before entering the delivery room. Wearing gowns and caps, they were led down a hallway where the young woman was waiting on a gurney, pale but determined.
— You guys got here fast. — she said with a faint smile.
— Thank you for calling us. — Yi held her hand.
— Just... take good care of him. — she said, her voice choked. — I know he’ll be very loved. I... I don’t want to see him, okay? I just want to leave here in peace when I can.
Kondiao approached and handed her a small envelope. — When you recover, read it. It’s from our family. Thank you for everything.
She nodded with tears in her eyes, and soon she was taken to the operating room. Yi and Kondiao returned to the waiting room, where they sat in silence, their hands intertwined. The tension in the air was almost palpable.
Hours passed until a doctor appeared with a calm smile.
— Mr. and Mr. Chen?
They both stood up at the same time.
— The delivery was a success. The baby is healthy. He is being cleaned now, and soon they will bring him for you to see. The mother is fine and recovering. Congratulations, gentlemen. You have a son.
Kondiao let out a muffled laugh while Yi appeared frozen.
— He’s really here... — Yi murmured.
Moments later, a nurse appeared holding a small blue bundle in her arms. The baby was asleep, his eyes half-closed, his hands clenched into fists near his face.
— This is little Le Xi. — she said, smiling. — He was born at 52 centimeters and 3.253 kilograms. He cried a little. Ten fingers on the hands and ten on the feet. A strong and calm baby.
Yi stepped forward.
— Do you want to do kangaroo care?
— Yes. — Yi replied, already taking off his shirt. He sat in the chair, and the nurse carefully handed him the baby. The skin-to-skin contact made Yi’s heart race. He held the little body against his chest, his eyes filling with tears.
— He’s so small... — he whispered, his voice choked.
Kondiao took out his phone and began recording. — This will be the video I watch every night before bed.
The next morning, after a final checkup at the hospital, they returned home. Yi stopped at the florist and had a large bouquet of roses delivered to Lia’s house, along with a letter from him and Kondiao, thanking her for everything and wishing her a speedy recovery.
Upon arriving home, Manong, the family chihuahua, ran to them, sniffing the baby with curiosity. Kondiao, eyes sparkling, picked up Le Xi for the first time.
— Welcome to the Chen house, little one. — he whispered.
A few minutes later, the sound of a car approaching announced Chatchai’s arrival with Le Ling. The girl jumped out of the back seat, running inside.
— Where is he?! Where’s the baby?!
Yi picked her up and took her to where Kondiao was holding the baby.
— He’s so... so small! — she whispered, her eyes wide.
— He’s your little brother, Le Xi. — Kondiao said, smiling.
She slowly approached and kissed the baby’s forehead gently.
— I promise to take care of you.
Makorn arrived shortly afterward, and Yi was the one to open the door.
— So today I become a grandfather again? — he said, hugging his son.
— Try not to have a heart attack now. — Yi replied with a rare playful smile.
Makorn laughed, patting his son’s back. — I have to be alive to teach this boy how to fish, at least.
Chatchai looked at the baby and sighed.
— Identical to you, Yi, when you were a newborn. He’s going to be a fine young man.
And there, in the center of the room, under the heat of the afternoon that streamed through the windows, the Chen family gathered around the new member. Smiles, hugs, teary eyes — and in the middle of it all, Le Xi, peacefully sleeping in his new home.
The house was complete.
And the love kept growing.