Author
As promised, another short chapter.
Min clung to the window, wide-eyed, refusing to step out ever since the househelp came crying and called Yibo. She didn't even know how to feel.... relieved or otherwise. Deep down, she had hoped Yibo would be the one to eat that food. The fact that it was Zhan instead left her burning with bitterness, but still, she wished nothing more than for him to die. She whispered it to herself again and again, feeling not even the faintest flicker of remorse for what she had done.
Lost in thought, she noticed an ambulance pull into the compound. No matter how hard she strained to peek, she couldn't see who exactly had been carried Zhan inside, but she could hear Lan Yi crying hysterically. Panicked, Min turned and hurried back to her room, already thinking of where she could discard the poison bottle. She knew she could never just toss it in the trash....it would be far too reckless.
Meanwhile, the MD was about to climb into the ambulance after the paramedics had fitted an oxygen mask on Zhan, with Yibo by his side. He paused, glancing at Lan Yi, who was following them frantically, weeping as though her soul was tearing apart, insisting she wanted to get inside too. Speaking calmly but firmly, he said, "He will be fine. You can't come into the ambulance…"
Without waiting for her reply, he climbed in, and they drove off, sirens wailing. Lan Yi broke down completely, sobbing harder.
The moment Min heard the ambulance leave, she rushed out into the compound, feigning panic, and ran toward Lan Yi. "What's happening, Mother? I was about to sleep when I heard the sirens...what's going on?" she asked breathlessly, her eyes wide in false alarm.
Lan Yi ignored her, barefoot, chasing after the ambulance, not even looking back.
Min quickly turned to the househelp, her voice sharp. "What's happening here? What's wrong in this house?"
Between sobs, the househelp stammered, "It's Zhan… he's very sick. Foam was coming out of his mouth…"
Min clutched her chest, widening her eyes in mock horror. "And… did he die?"
The househelp didn't answer. She hurried back inside to fetch Lan Yi's shoes, since she had run out barefoot. Fortunately, Lan Yi had already memorized the name of the hospital printed on the side of the ambulance.
- - - -
At the hospital, Yibo sat in the main reception, his head heavy in his hands. Every so often, he lifted his gaze toward Lan Yi, who sat pale and broken, with the househelp beside her trying to calm her down. Nothing seemed to help. Lan Yi had wept so much her body was nearly spent, her strength gone.
Almost two hours passed, with no doctor coming out to give an update. That silence only heightened her panic. Finally, around 12:30 a.m., Dr. Han emerged. Yibo immediately stood and rushed toward him, recognizing him as one of the doctors who had gone into the emergency room with Zhan. Lan Yi also jumped up, her heart hammering.
Dr. Han looked directly at Yibo and said, "He's been transferred to the ICU…"
Without another word, he walked away.
Yibo watched him go, while Lan Yi broke into fresh sobs, clinging to Yibo's arm. "Yibo, what does that mean? He said ICU....what does it mean?"
Yibo tried to stay composed, forcing his voice into something steady. "It's normal, Mama. They have to take him there because his pulse stopped for some time. But he'll be fine." He was trying to reassure her, even though his own chest felt hollow.
Close to 2 a.m., Dr. Jing finally entered the reception area from the ICU. Lan Yi immediately stood, wiping her tears with trembling hands, and rushed to him. Her voice shook as she grabbed his hand.
"Please, tell me...how is my son? Don't hide anything from me, I'm begging you. Just tell me… is he alive?" she pleaded, tears rolling down her face.
Yibo had also risen to his feet, his eyes fixed on Dr. Jing, desperately searching his expression for an answer.
Dr. Jing spoke quietly, though his voice carried clear worry. "He will recover, Mama. Please try to calm down."
He turned to Yibo, who had approached him. "Dr. Yibo?"
Yibo nodded.
"Come with me to the office. We need to talk," Dr. Jing said.
Lan Yi broke into fresh sobs, grabbing onto him. "You can tell me as well, Doctor. Whatever it is....let's go to your office." She didn't wait for his response but started walking ahead, as if she already knew the way.
Dr. Jing let out a heavy sigh, then looked at Yibo standing before him. "How did this happen, Dr Yibo? Who could have done such a thing?" His concern was written all over his face.
In a low voice, Yibo asked, "What kind of poison was it? How is he now? Is he responding? Can I see him? Please?" His heart was pounding as he spoke.
Exhausted, Dr. Jing sank into a chair and held his head in his hands. Yibo sat beside him, equally distressed. Lan Yi had gone ahead without checking whether Dr. Jing followed.
At last, Dr. Jing asked, "Please, how exactly did this happen? Who was at home? Did he eat anywhere outside?"
Yibo cut in urgently, "Can't I at least see him?"
Dr. Jing shook his head. "He's in critical condition. We've tried everything, but his body is shutting down. He's on life support."
Yibo's face drained of color. "…" He could hardly breathe.
After nearly a minute of silence, Dr. Jing finally said, "We're doing everything we can. Two senior specialists from another hospital have already joined us." He rose from his chair and walked out, leaving Yibo staring after him.
Yibo had never known fear like this. It felt as if the world itself had stopped turning. He wished it were only a nightmare. He wished he had eaten that food instead of Zhan. He knew the poison had been meant for him...not Zhan. Staggering out of the reception, the building seemed to spin around him. He leaned against the hospital wall, shut his eyes tightly, then forced himself outside, his heart pounding painfully.
By 4 a.m., Dr. Jing re-entered the ICU for what felt like the hundredth time. Since 3 a.m., most of the doctors had stepped out, leaving only the MD inside. Dr. Jing studied him; he had been standing in the same spot all along.
"You need to rest, MD," Dr. Jing said softly. "I'll stay. Go take a break."
The MD only stared at him, saying nothing. Dr. Jing could see the turmoil in his eyes....confusion, disappointment, heartbreak. Slowly, the MD turned his gaze to Zhan lying motionless on life support. His voice was low, heavy.
"I wish we could do more. I wish…" His words trailed into silence.
"It's not our fault," Dr. Jing told him gently. "We've done our best. All we can do now is keep hoping and not give up."
The MD sank into a chair, leaning his head back, eyes closed.
***
At dawn, Qiren arrived at the hospital after rushing all the way from Beijing, anxiety etched deep in his face. Lan Yi, sitting in the reception with tears streaming down her cheeks, looked up at him. The househelp was at her side, still shaken.
Qiren hurried over. "Where are the doctors? Where is the office? Transfer him abroad at once if you must!"
Lan Yi only wept harder, unable to speak.
Qiren strode to the nurse at the reception. "I want to see a doctor immediately."
"Yes, sir," she replied, and within two minutes Dr. Jing arrived, having just stepped out of the ICU.
After hearing Qiren's request, Dr. Jing spoke in a calm, steady voice. "Sir, this hospital is among the best in China. We have excellent specialists here. Even if he were transferred abroad, he could not receive more than what we are already providing. Two foreign doctors were also with us tonight. All we can do is keep fighting for him."
Still unsatisfied, Qiren pressed, "No. Refer us to one of the best hospitals in the world. We will take him there....please."
Dr. Jing fell silent, watching him closely.
Later, in the ICU, Dr. Jing relayed Qiren's demand to the MD. The MD, eyes fixed on Zhan, replied firmly, "The CEO is already on the way, bringing two more foreign specialists."
The MD stood up, leaning against the wall, his tired eyes fixed on Dr. Jing. Calmly, he said, "She's on her way with medical toxicologists. Try to convince them."
Dr. Jing stayed silent, watching the MD closely. He could see the man was unraveling, forcing himself to keep speaking. In a quiet voice, Dr. Jing urged, "MD, you need to rest. I'll remain here."
The MD sat back down, shaking his head. "Please… explain everything to his father the way I just told you." After a pause, Dr. Jing left the room.
The MD rose again and walked slowly toward Zhan, who lay motionless on the ventilator. He bent down, carefully taking his hand. Looking at him with deep pain, he whispered, "I know you're strong. You're going to make it. You have so many years ahead, such a bright future… come back, please." Gently, he rubbed Zhan's fingers, holding on for nearly five minutes before finally lowering his head onto the bed, closing his eyes.
Meanwhile, Yibo returned home. Min, lying in her room and half asleep, stirred when she heard the door open. She glanced at the clock.... just after 4 a.m..... and quickly left her bed. Meeting him in the corridor as he headed toward his room, she asked in alarm, "What's going on, Yibo? The househelp told me Zhan was taken to the hospital. Before I could even reach the sitting room, she and Mother had already left without me. How is he now?"
Yibo opened his door, his voice flat. "He's stable." Then he stepped inside and locked the door.
Min froze, stunned by his words. Stable? She had been expecting to hear that Zhan was already gone, that her plan had succeeded. Rage burned in her chest. All the effort she'd gone through....getting hold of that poison, keeping it hidden all the way from Beijing....now wasted. She had intended it for Yibo, waiting for the right chance to slip it into his food. But since he never ate anything from her, not even tea at the chalet, she had been forced to find another way. She hadn't counted on the boy ruining everything by eating the food instead. Now they were saying he was stable?
Fuming, she returned to her room, dropped onto the bed, and buried her face in her hands. That boy had ruined everything.
Inside his room, Yibo locked the door and quickly pulled out his laptop. His hands trembled as he opened the CCTV software he had installed for the sitting room cameras. Fast-forwarding through the footage to the right time frame, he stared intently at the screen, sweat trickling down his forehead despite the air conditioning.
Finally, he sank onto the bed, his head heavy, whispering to himself, "Why… why did this have to happen?" He struggled to stand, dizziness washing over him, then snapped the laptop shut, grabbed his car keys, and left the room, carrying the laptop with him.
Hearing the door open, Min rushed out again. "Please, Yibo, let's go to the hospital together," she pleaded.
Without looking back, he steadied his voice. "No. He'll be discharged tomorrow."
Min stared after him in disbelief. Discharged? So Zhan hadn't even swallowed enough poison to kill him? The fury rising in her chest was unbearable. She said nothing as Yibo walked out through the sitting room. Only after he had gone did she let out a long, furious hiss, storm back into her room, and slam the door, her mind racing about her next move.
In his car, Yibo leaned forward against the steering wheel, breathing heavily. His heart thudded painfully. He wished he had been the one to eat the poisoned food instead of his baby. He couldn't imagine losing him. After several long minutes, he forced himself to regain composure, started the engine, and drove off....barely aware of the road....until he found himself pulling into the police station.
- - - -
Qiren sat with his head in his hands, unable to respond as Dr. Jing tried his best to convince him to wait for their CEO's arrival. Qiren would have given up every bit of his wealth to save Zhan's life. Lifting his head, he leaned back heavily in the chair, his face drawn with grief. Dr. Jing, though equally burdened, tried to speak calmly.
"The medical toxicologists are already on their way. Don't forget, Zhan is one of our own staff members. Our CEO will do whatever it takes to save him. She is recognized internationally as a medical expert, with work experience in more than four countries, and she mentors PhD and Master's students at universities in the UK. You can rest assured she won't stop until every option has been tried."
Qiren, struggling to steady himself, asked, "How many more hours before she lands?"
"From the UK to China it takes about nine hours and forty-five minutes," Dr. Jing explained. "They left some time ago. By around eleven or eleven-thirty in the morning, they should arrive."
Qiren rose to his feet. "I want to see my son. Please, let me see him."
Dr. Jing shook his head gently. "I'm sorry, sir. That won't be possible right now. Please understand." With that, he turned and left, leaving Qiren staring after him, confused and torn.
At dawn, Min lay dozing in her room when she heard the door in the sitting room open. She smirked and turned over, uninterested in going out. But then came a sharp knock at her door. Frowning in surprise, she sat up. Was Yibo actually knocking for her today? That was rare. She stood and opened the door....only to freeze.
Four policemen stood at the entrance. One stepped forward, pulling out handcuffs. "You are under arrest for attempted murder."
Min's eyes widened in shock. "What? Arrest? For what? Are you sure you're in the right place? This is my husband's house....I'm a married woman!" Her voice faltered as her gaze caught Yibo standing behind the officers, looking at her with raw disgust. Her stomach lurched.
"Yibo… what's happening? Who are they here for?"
Yibo shook his head, his face hard with fury. His voice cut through the air. "I regret the very first day I met you. I regret ever marrying you. It was the worst mistake of my life. The poison....you meant it for me, not for my brother. You tried to kill me. If those who gave you that deadly poison had given you another method, you would've used it without hesitation. Min, you will pay for this."
"All this time, the only reason I stayed with you was because of my mother's wishes. She was the one who advised me to install CCTV cameras in the sitting room, to monitor you. There is nothing left between us. From this moment, I end whatever remains of our marriage."
Min's knees buckled, sweat breaking out across her body. The mention of the CCTV cameras was like a knife to her chest. Collapsing to the floor, she burst into tears. "No, no, I'm finished… ruined!"
"Get up!" one of the policemen barked. Shaking violently, she scrambled to her feet as they snapped the handcuffs onto her wrists and led her into the sitting room.
Crying hysterically, she broke free for a moment and dropped to her knees before Yibo. Her voice cracked. "Please, don't forget.....I'm carrying your child...!"
Before she could finish, Yibo's fist crashed into her mouth, followed by a resounding slap that sent her vision spinning. She reeled backward, blood rushing into her mouth as one of her front teeth clattered onto the floor. Stunned, she spat, staring at the blood and tooth in horror.
One officer quickly restrained Yibo. "Sir, stop! You've handed her over to the law. Let justice take its course."
With her mouth bleeding heavily, Min was dragged out, wailing Yibo's name. He sank to his knees in the sitting room, clutching his head, his eyes red as tears finally broke free.
NB
Who to feel sad for... Yibo or Zhan or his parents, Ahh... MD and Dr Jing too, I forgot about the CEO... She loves Zhan too. 😔😔😔
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛