Shu took the phone Yibo handed her, typed in her number, and returned it to him, still surprised that Yibo would even ask for her number. Was this really happening?
Min looked away from them and quietly came into the living room, sitting down with no expression as she watched TV.
Yibo turned to her, "So, no dinner in this house today?"
She replied flatly, "You didn't even eat the breakfast I made for you…"
Yibo shrugged, "Okay."
With that, he stood up and left the living room. Shu's eyes widened in shock. She quickly moved closer to Min, holding her chin, "Girl, can you believe this? Yibo asking for my number? Clearly, they're trying to make Granny Fang Yu start noticing Aunt Lan Yi again… they're just looking for peace… but where does that leave me?"
Min shook her head, "Honestly, I'm just as confused."
Shu burst into laughter, clapping her hands, "Well, if it's about causing drama, this is just the beginning. The day I stop, there'll be no Zhan left in my entire family."
Just then, her phone started ringing. She quickly pulled it out, "Speak of the devil, here he is… I need to get going."
Min asked, "When are you coming back?"
Shu replied, "Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm going to Yantai to see my uncle. I'll lie to him about having practicals for our final exams so I can get some money to pay that spiritual guy. If I finish early, I'll be back tomorrow. If not, Sunday."
Min nodded, "Alright, we'll talk. I'll also update you on whatever happens between my friend and the second spiritual guy."
Shu smiled, "Thanks so much, girl."
She stood up, and Min followed her to the gate to see her off. Then Min returned to the house, heading straight to Yibo's room, only to find it empty. Though she had practically moved into his room since she arrived, she only went to her own room occasionally to get something or make calls.
Curious, she peeked into her room...also empty. She stood in the corridor, puzzled, staring at Zhan's door. No doubt he was inside; he hadn't left the house. She moved closer and pressed her ear to the door but heard nothing.
She walked outside, sneaking to the window behind Zhan's room, but the curtains were closed and the window shut. She couldn't see or hear anything. Frustrated, she returned to the house and opened Zhan's door.
Zhan was sitting on the rug with his handouts spread out in front of him, and Yibo was kneeling beside him, explaining something from the materials. They both turned to look at her.
Min scanned them from head to toe before quietly closing the door and walking away without saying a word.
Yibo finished his explanation, "Hope you understand now?"
Zhan nodded. He stood up to leave, but then paused, Zhan lift his eyes to Yibo,
"Gege… actually…"
Yibo turned to him, "Actually what?"
Zhan lowered his head. Yibo moved closer, kneeling in front of him, "Talk to me, baby… actually what?"
Zhan lifted his eyes, "Dr. Kexing will be coming…"
Yibo paused, staring at him, forcing Zhan to lower his gaze again.
"Coming where?"
"Here," Zhan replied quietly.
Yibo kept calm, "And what exactly is he coming to do here?"
Zhan stared at him but said nothing. Yibo shook his head, his anger building up,
"I don't think there's any reason for you to keep entertaining that man, baby. You two aren't getting married. You're just wasting your time, and there's no point in staying connected after everything that's happened. So, I see no reason for him to show up in my house."
Tears welled up in Zhan's eyes, "But… we never broke up, Gege. Besides…"
His voice cracked as he started crying,
"I love him."
Yibo kept staring at him. Finally, he stood up, "Then you better get over him because marriage isn't happening. His parents already made it clear they don't want this. Same with your family. Both of you need to stop lying to yourselves and face reality."
Zhan sobbed harder as Yibo added, "And all this nonsense ends after your final exams."
With that, Yibo walked out of the room.
Zhan collapsed onto the bed, crying harder. He turned off his phone completely, got under the blanket, and wept himself to sleep, which only came after midnight.
The next morning, Zhan woke up early with puffy eyes. He showered, got dressed, tucked his phone into his bag, and left the house around 7:30 AM.
~**~
He slowly opened the main sitting room door and stepped inside. As usual, the place was empty. He headed straight upstairs, his face expressionless.
The moment Zhan entered the sitting room, his eyes met Lan Yi's and Hai Kuan's, who were both seated there. Granny Ai was sprawled across the middle of the room with a mountain of food in front of her, eating and sipping tea from a huge cup.
As soon as Zhan walked in, he burst into tears, dropped to the floor, and buried his head against the sofa, his sobs growing louder. Granny Ai dropped her food and tea in shock, stood up quickly,
"Didn't I tell you all this wouldn't work with only Min and Zhan living under the same roof? But no, you all made me look like a fool! Just the other day, I told Lan Yi about the dream I had...Min beating Zhan to a pulp. But instead of taking me seriously, she called Yibo all panicked asking about Zhan, and Yibo told her they were at the hospital together. And just like that, my dream was brushed off. But look now! It's all happening exactly as I saw it. I never have useless dreams! You all refused to let me step foot in that house to monitor things because you treat me like some crazy old woman. Well, look where that's gotten us now....Min's finally laid her hands on him and driven everyone crazy!"
Hai Kuan rushed over to Zhan, knelt in front of him, clearly worried, "Baby, what happened? What did they do to you?"
But Zhan refused to lift his head or say a word. He just cried harder like his heart was shattering.
Granny Ai, adjusting the scarf on her shoulders, declared, "Well, we're going to the police station. I've had enough! I've been trying to avoid this mess. The moment I found out Min was Shu's friend, I was on edge. You know what they say... show me your friends, I'll show you who you are. And where the hell was that useless Yibo while all this nonsense was happening to you?"
When it became obvious Zhan wasn't answering any questions, Hai Kuan gently lifted him up and sat him on the sofa. Granny Ai dashed toward the door, shouting, "And that shameless woman clinging to her husband....let me go knock on their door. This is exactly what I've been predicting!"
Hai Kuan, still kneeling in front of Zhan, lowered his voice, "Calm down, baby… tell me what happened. Who hurt you?"
Through tears, Zhan wiped his face and whispered, "Gege..."
Hai Kuan blinked in shock, "Gege? You mean Yibo? What did he do to you?"
His expression changed instantly.
"Tell me what he did!"
Zhan cried harder, refusing to speak. Hai Kuan stood up, visibly disturbed by the Zhan's tears.
Just then, Lan Yi entered the sitting room, followed by Granny Ai, who kept ranting,
"His whole face is swollen. He could barely walk when he came in here! And I told you I had a bad dream!"
Lan Yi rushed to Zhan, grabbed his hands with concern, and sat beside him, scanning his body, "What happened, my son? What did they do to you over there?"
Through trembling lips, Zhan whispered,
"Gege..."
Lan Yi and Granny Ai gasped in unison,
"Gege?!"
Granny Ai grabbed her chin, "Yibo did this to you?!"
Right at that moment, the sitting room door opened. Everyone turned. Yibo entered.
The moment Zhan saw him, he pouted and buried himself deeper against Lan Yi.
Granny Ai charged at Yibo, "Since when did marrying a reckless woman turn you into a reckless man? What did Zhan ever do to deserve this kind of beating from you, an orphaned boy no less?!"
Yibo kept staring at Zhan, who had hidden his face against Lan Yi. Without saying a word, Zhan stood up and stormed off toward Lan Yi's room, sulking.
Lan Yi kept watching Yibo, waiting to hear what he had to say. She knew deep down Yibo wouldn't raise his hand against Zhan, he never had.
Meanwhile, Hai Kuan followed Zhan into the room. Zhan was seated on the carpet, his face full of distress.
"What happened?" Hai Kuan asked.
Zhan wiped his eyes, his voice shaking,
"Dr. Kexing was supposed to come yesterday… Gege wouldn't let him…"
His voice cracked into fresh sobs.
Hai Kuan stared at him, speechless. Suddenly, Zhan saw Hai Kuan clench his jaw and tense his shoulders, about to kick him in anger. Zhan quickly darted into Lan Yi's bathroom and locked the door.
Hai Kuan stormed out of the room and left that part of the house entirely.
Granny Ai grabbed a chair, plopped down, and sighed loudly, glaring at Lan Yi bedroom door, "Zhan's become something we all don't know. Why is he still clinging to that man after what his family did to us? Do you all not tells him how Dr. Kexing's family humiliated us the day they came to take back the engagement gifts? They disrespected us like we were nothing! And yet, Zhan still finds time to look at that man, even consider entertaining him? Maybe because his parents weren't directly insulted, so he doesn't care?"
She turned her attention to Yibo,
"And you too! Instead of making him see sense, you let him continue this nonsense. If you had any sense, you'd have called the police the moment that man stepped near our house. What else could he possibly want if not to ruin Zhan's life after the wedding was called off? But me? I wash my hands off this."
Lan Yi, who had been watching them quietly, spoke softly, "Granny Ai, I think you should've given him time. He would've walked away from him gradually, not all at once. Dr. Kexing is a decent man, he's not bothering anyone..."
Yibo kept staring at Lan Yi in disbelief. Granny Ai snapped, "Listen to this nonsense Yibo! So while we've all been here shouting, you're the one secretly encouraging him to stay attached to that man? You really believe it's normal that he can't cut ties with him immediately? What is he, his father's twin?"
Lan Yi turned to Yibo, "Please, take it easy on him. Stop scaring my boy. Have you ever seen anyone walk away from someone overnight? Let him breathe, please."
With that, she stood up and walked into her room. Granny Ai stared after her with her mouth open, shocked. Yibo remained standing there, speechless, before he finally turned and left the sitting room.
✨✨✨
At exactly 10:50 AM, Hai Kuan entered the sitting room with Yibo following behind him. The moment Zhan saw them, he quickly lowered his gaze and kept scrolling on his phone.
Yibo stood by the door, while Hai Kuan sat down, looking at Lan Yi. Calmly, he said, "But Mama, I don't think it's right for you to be supporting...."
Lan Yi cut him off, "Please, I don't want to hear this conversation. Everyone should mind his business. I don't want this issue brought up again."
Granny Ai shifted her plate of pepper soup like she was about to cry, "I've seen it all today. Lan Yi, why are you like this? You're defending lies just like your mother Fang Yu used to. Is this the family legacy now? You're just going to sit there and watch Zhan ruin himself? The boy already has enough issues....identity struggles, lack of stability.... and now you want to add heartbreak to it? What's his business with that man who broke off their engagement? If we're being honest, that man clearly has another motive for chasing Zhan around. But you're so blinded by his love, you refuse to see it. As for me, I wash my hands off this."
Lan Yi frowned but said nothing, focusing on the TV. Granny Ai looked at Hai Kuan and Yibo, "It'd be better if one of you married that stubborn Zhan. Let me see how he'd cope!"
Both Yibo and Hai Kuan froze, completely caught off guard by her words. Even Zhan, who overheard it, felt like his whole body tensed up. Even Lan Yi looked uncomfortable hearing that.
Granny Ai, as if she hadn't just dropped a bomb, returned to eating her soup. Hai Kuan stood up and left the room without a word.
Zhan lifted his head slightly and locked eyes with Yibo. But as quickly as their gazes met, Zhan looked away.
Granny Ai kept eating her soup. A few seconds later, Yibo looked at Zhan again and gentle said, "Get up, let's go."
Lan Yi quickly cut in, "Not until late evening."
Zhan felt a wave of relief wash over him. Yibo turned around and left the sitting room, locking the door behind him.
Around 4 PM, Zhan was lying on Lan Yi's bed, on a call with Dr. Kexing. Most of their conversation was about Zhan's upcoming final exams. Dr. Kexing was giving him tips on how to prepare.
"But sir, unlike before, I find it hard to concentrate when reading now. I can spend hours on one handout without understanding a thing..." Zhan confessed.
Dr. Kexing lowered his voice, "That's because you're carrying too much stress in your heart, Zhan. Please, clear your mind and read like your future depends on it...because it does. Don't worry about your project for now, I'll take care of it. Just focus on your studies. I'll send you the AOC for both of my courses, and I'll try to get them from other lecturers too if I can. I'll write them down and when we meet at school tomorrow, you can share them with your cousin Shu."
Zhan fell silent at his words.
Dr. Kexing asked, "Do you two live in the same house?"
Zhan shook his head as if the man could see him, "No."
"Oh, but you're related through your dad's side or your mom's?"
Zhan quickly replied, "We'll talk later, someone's calling me."
"Alright dear, take care. I'll call you later," Dr. Kexing replied.
Zhan ended the call without saying another word, got off the bed, and left the room.
Later that night, Zhan was seated in Lan Yi's sitting room while Lan Yi combed his hair, something she always did for him. Granny Ai had gone next door to the neighbors and hadn't returned yet.
Yibo walked into the sitting room, greeted Lan Yi, and sat down. She returned the greeting without looking at him.
Zhan said, "Good evening."
Yibo looked at him, "Good evening."
After a few seconds, Yibo turned to Lan Yi, "I came with Min. She want to say hello."
Lan Yi replied, "Then bring her in."
Yibo stood up and left the sitting room. It wasn't long before he returned with Min, who was dressed in a long gown. Min sat down on the carpet, lowered her head, and smiled softly.
Lan Yi said, "Ah no, get up and sit on the couch, Min."
Min shook her head, "I'm fine here, Mama. Good evening."
"Good evening, Min. How's everything at home?"
"Everything's fine, Mama."
Min smiled at Zhan, "Getting your hair done, Zhan?"
Zhan glanced at her, "Good evening."
"Good evening, how's everything?" she asked.
Lan Yi put a cap on Zhan's head,
"Go bring her some water, baby."
Zhan got up and headed for the door. Yibo watched him from the corner of his eye, then stood up and followed him out.
Lan Yi turned to Min, "I hope everything's fine, Min?"
Min shook her head, "Everything's perfectly fine, Mama. No worries."
Lan Yi smiled, "Good, that's how it should be."
Min leaned back against the couch, her hand sneaking under the couch with her long sleeve of her gown, feeling around for any open place to drop a charms her spiritual man give her to make sure she put it inside Lan Yi part, feeling non. She discreetly checked her watch, then said,
"I'll use the bathroom, Mama."
Lan Yi replied, "Just go inside the room, Min."
Min got up, her handbag concealed under her gown, and headed to Lan Yi's room. Just as she entered, Yibo walked back into the sitting room with Granny Ai, who was whispering something to him…
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛