Why Isn't She Crying

In the birthing room, Belle struggled through labor, while Lily Evans, Simon Yu, and Lin Xiaowu waited anxiously in the adjacent chamber.

Simon Yu couldn't sit still, as if there were nails in his seat, while Quentin Lin pulled out a foreign medical book from his pocket and read it with great interest.

Belle had been in labor since morning, and by evening the midwife came out to report that she was doing well. It was just taking longer because it was her first child.

As dusk fell and the lamps were lit, Lily Evans had just finished a snack and was feeling drowsy when suddenly someone outside shouted, "It's born! Belle has given birth to a daughter!"

At the news, Lily Evans perked up, jumped to her feet, and hurried outside.

Quentin Lin was energized too, putting down his book and shouting that he wanted to see the baby.

Lily Evans and Quentin Lin rushed toward the door, but then Simon Yu called out from behind, "Wait, don't you feel like something's off?"

Lily Evans, caught up in the excitement and eager to see Belle and the baby, turned and replied to Simon Yu, "What could be off?"

Simon Yu stepped forward and said, "The midwife just announced Belle has given birth, but did you hear the baby's cry?"

Lily Evans froze, her excitement cooling as her mind suddenly sobered and a chill ran through her heart.

Simon Yu was right—they really hadn’t heard the baby cry at all.

Normally, newborns cry right after birth. If they don’t, a gentle slap on the bottom usually does the trick.

But it had already been a while since the midwife announced the good news, and still, there was no sound of crying.

Lily Evans’s heart sank. Could something be wrong with the baby?

Thinking quickly, she told Simon Yu to wait outside while she and Quentin Lin went into the birthing room to check on Belle and the baby.

Lily Evans entered the birthing room, catching the faint scent of blood. After washing her hands and changing clothes, she walked into the inner chamber, lifted the curtain, and saw Margaret Evans and several others gathered at the bedside. Belle lay there, pale and weak, while the midwife cradled a naked baby, patting her bottom.

The baby was alive—plump and seemingly healthy—but her expression was blank, and she didn’t even know how to cry.

One look at the baby’s face, and Lily Evans’s heart dropped. She suspected something might be wrong.

Lily Evans rushed over to check the baby, while all the adults nearby wore worried expressions.

The midwife was sweating, rocking the baby and saying anxiously, "Why won’t this little girl cry...?"

"That's right, why isn't she crying?" Mrs. Wang and Belle's mother-in-law exchanged glances. Mrs. Wang said, "When I gave birth to Alexander, he cried so loudly the moment he was born."

Belle's mother-in-law added, "When I gave birth to my son, he cried loudly as soon as he was born. What's wrong with my granddaughter?"

The midwife looked distraught. She had delivered babies for most of her life, but she'd never seen a child who couldn't cry right after birth!

Simon Yu anxiously squeezed inside, staring at the baby in the midwife's arms.

Belle had just given birth and was extremely weak, drifting in and out of consciousness, with Butler Yuan tending to her.

Belle opened her eyes and saw Lily Evans. "Princess Consort, is my child alright? Why haven't I heard her cry?"

Looking at Belle's pale face, Lily Evans forced a smile and lied to comfort her: "The baby is fine. Some children just don't cry at birth, so don't worry."

"Really?" Belle asked, half-conscious and doubtful. It was her first time as a mother, and she hadn't been taught these things.

Lily Evans nudged Mrs. Wang, who quickly caught on and reassured Belle, "That's right, some babies cry at birth, some don't. Yours is just one of the quiet ones. You're exhausted, Belle. Rest and regain your strength so you can nurse the baby later."