Yibo smiled when he saw how shocked Zhan looked at him. He half-opened his eyes and said softly,
"So what's the big deal, Baby? Or did you actually mean to do it? Be honest with me, Baby…"
Zhan didn't even look at him again. Instead, he quickly turned and rushed toward the stairs. Watching him go, Yibo called out,
"Baby."
Zhan stopped and turned, his teary eyes meeting Yibo's. Seeing how shaken he was, Yibo stood up in surprise.
"Are you about to cry?" he asked.
And just like that, Zhan broke down in tears as if he had been waiting for permission. Yibo froze for a moment before rushing toward him.
"Come on, Baby. Granny Ai was only teasing you. Don't tell me you can't tell when someone is joking."
Through sobs, Zhan said,
"She wasn't joking at all...she was dead serious! And you just stood there saying nothing. Now she'll go around telling the whole house. What if Hai Kuan Gege also believes her?"
His crying grew heavier.
The sight made Yibo want to laugh, but he held it back. He caught Zhan's hand instead.
"Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Baby."
Wiping his tears, Zhan sniffled and said,
"Let's just go to her now. You have to tell her it wasn't what she thought."
Yibo raised an eyebrow.
"And what exactly am I supposed to say?"
Zhan shot him a look. Yibo kept a straight face.
"Tell me, go on."
Zhan pulled his hand free and tried to leave, but Yibo caught it again.
"Fine, we'll go. I'll explain to her. But only on one condition...before we get there, I'll kiss you too. Fair enough."
Zhan's eyes widened in confusion.
"Gege, how does that even make sense?"
Yibo suppressed a smile.
"Of course it does. That way, if she insists you kissed your Gege, at least I'll admit I kissed you back. We'll both share the blame and the embarrassment."
Before Zhan could argue or think further, Yibo tilted his face up gently and pressed his lips against his. When Zhan didn't move, Yibo deepened the kiss gently.
Startled, Zhan pulled back quickly, touching his lips and pouting.
"Gege, that's cheating! Mine was just a mistake and lips touched, but you...you actually kissed me properly."
Still smiling, Yibo shrugged.
"Oh, really? I though that's the way you did it. Sorry then. Come on, let's go to Granny Ai."
They headed upstairs together. Yibo kept sneaking glances at Zhan, whose nerves were still frazzled. When they reached Lan Yi's room, the door was slightly ajar, and Granny Ai voice carried through.
"I swear, Lan Yi, my eyes never deceive me. I was just coming from the kitchen when I saw it myself. And Hai Kuan was right there at the doorway, frozen stiff! If Zhan really loves Yibo, then what are we waiting for? Ever since Zhan came back to this house from the hospital, things have only grown stranger. That boy must have eaten something he shouldn't have... maybe it's that poison affecting him this way. Or perhaps Yibo too has been influenced?"
Zhan's eyes filled with fresh tears. He turned toward Yibo, who quickly looked away, struggling to hide the grin tugging at his lips. Embarrassed, Zhan spun around and stormed off to his own room, Yibo following right behind.
Granny Ai sat back down, fanning with her headscarf with a sharp sigh.
"Honestly, I wash my hands of this. It seems you all want to pretend I didn't see what I saw. Do you think I'm making things up? That boy Yibo has already been married before; he knows very well what marriage means. If Zhan keeps acting this way around him, one day Yibo might give in. And then what? People will say we're cursed, that our family is ruined. Perhaps his parents who abandoned him are foreign. Who knows what they mixed with foreign ways before leaving him behind? You know those people don't consider a kiss to be anything special."
Lan Yi kept her eyes fixed on the television, pretending not to hear. Aunty Marquis was busy scrolling on her phone, head bent low. Granny Ai snorted, pulled her plate closer, and began eating.
Yibo locked the door of the room, watching Zhan who sat on the edge of his bed with his head buried in a pillow, sobbing uncontrollably. Yibo walked over, sat beside him, and lifted his face gently.
"You're such a crybaby, Baby," he teased softly, what's there if you kissed me? ".
Through his tears, Zhan choked,
"Granny Ai already went to tell Mama everything. I'm finished!"
Yibo only looked at his trembling lips for a while before lowering his gaze. Then he said quietly,
"Calm down, I'll go and explain to them it wasn't what she thought."
As he spoke, he wiped Zhan's tears with his hand.
"It's okay, little brother."
Zhan leaned against his shoulder, still sobbing. Yibo lowered his voice further.
"Are you really not going to stop crying?"
With a trembling voice Zhan said,
"But Gege, she accused me of something terrible."
Yibo patted his back, smiling gently.
"We all know how she is."
He stayed with him until his crying calmed down. Finally Yibo lifted his chin and said,
"Let me go and talk to them."
Zhan nodded faintly. Yibo got up, left the room, and locked the door behind him. He went downstairs, smiling to himself, and settled back in the sitting room continue watching his match.
- - - -
Upstairs, Zhan remained in his room until nearly six o'clock, too ashamed to come out or greet Lan Yi. When the door opened suddenly, he turned quickly. It was Lan Yi. She came into the room quietly. Zhan had never felt this much shame in front of his mother. She sat beside him, touched his head, and said,
"My son, you've just returned, yet you shut yourself up in here?"
Zhan couldn't raise his head. He fumbled for words. Lan Yi studied him closely, her thoughts racing. Normally, she never believed Granny Ai's dramatic stories. But seeing Zhan's reaction now, doubt began to creep in.
"How are the people at the other house?" she asked softly.
"They said to greet you," Zhan murmured.
Lan Yi smiled.
"Alright, we accept. I'll go to the kitchen, your father will soon be home."
Zhan said nothing. She stood and left, but glanced back, surprised that he didn't even offer to help as usual. His discomfort unsettled her.
Downstairs, Yibo watched as Lan Yi came down. She glanced at him only once before heading toward the kitchen.
"Mama, ignore Granny Ai. You know she just likes stirring trouble," he said casually.
Lan Yi pressed her lips together without answering, disappearing into the kitchen.
By 7 p.m., Yibo grew surprised that Zhan hadn't left his room. He went up, opened the door, and found him sitting on the rug. Yibo sat on the bed's edge.
"You still haven't come down to eat, Baby?"
"Bing brought it," Zhan said quietly, pointing to a covered plate. Lan Yi had instructed Bing to bring it when Zhan refused to come out.
"I see," Yibo replied and left the room.
By nine, Zhan was about to sleep after plugging in his phone when there was a knock on the door. He opened it carefully and found Hai Kuan standing there. Zhan lowered his head.
"You didn't know Bana is back? Aren't you going to greet him?" Hai Kuan asked.
Zhan lifted his eyes, looking pitiful.
"Gege, did you see what Granny Ai did to me?"
Surprised, Hai Kuan asked,
"What did she do?"
"Weren't you there?" Zhan's voice cracked as if he might cry again.
"Oh, that?" Hai Kuan chuckled lightly, then straightened his face.
"You know she's had problems with her eyes...three surgeries already. Maybe that's why she sees things doubled."
Zhan's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Go and greet Baba," Hai Kuan urged, before leaving the doorway.
Zhan went straight to Qiren's living room. After knocking, he entered to find only Lan Yi and Qiren seated there. Zhan sat on the carpet before them and greeted his father respectfully.
"How are you, my son? Did you return safely?" Qiren asked warmly.
"I'm fine, Baba. They all send their greetings," Zhan replied softly.
"Good," Qiren said with a nod.
Lan Yi, however, kept watching him, her gaze sharp, while Zhan's eyes stayed fixed on the floor.
After a moment, Qiren spoke calmly,
"Tomorrow, your relatives from Tianjin will arrive."
Zhan's stomach tightened. He had known this already, but he had been pushing the thought away all day. Still, he kept his head down, saying nothing.
Qiren leaned forward slightly.
"Do you have anything you'd like to discuss with us, son...about your marriage with Kexing? Speak freely."
Zhan forced a faint smile, shaking his head.
"No, Baba. Nothing."
"Are you sure?" Qiren pressed gently.
Zhan nodded again. He would never reveal the details of his call with Dr Kexing; the man could speak for himself tomorrow, or let his family do so. For now, Zhan would remain silent.
Qiren broke his thoughts.
"Very well. We only wish the best for you, son."
Zhan kept his head low.
"You may leave," Qiren added gently. "We want nothing but happiness for you."
Barely audible, Zhan whispered,
"Thank you."
He stood and walked out slowly, Lan Yi's eyes following him with tears she fought to hold back.
When he was gone, Qiren turned to her.
"Listen. I don't want anyone trying to change his decision in any way. I know you. I know your heart isn't in favor of this, but justice for him means supporting him to marry the one he loves. After everything he's been through these past months, his silence now only proves that he still loves Kexing. And that young man loves him in return....we both know it. He has never abandoned Zhan despite all the obstacles. His parents' mistakes should not be counted against him. He is steady, thoughtful, and clearly devoted to our son. That is all a parent could hope for."
Lan Yi sat in silence, blinking back her tears, while Qiren's voice lingered in the air.
Lan Yi wiped the tears streaming down her face and said softly, "But you judged me too quickly, Dear. Even last week, when I spoke with Marquis, I told her that Zhan's happiness is my happiness. I would never try to force him, and no one can change his decision."
Qiren nodded and replied, "That's better. I only hope this truly turns out well for all of us. From the start, it's Kexing we arranged for him to marry, but fate shifted things. Now we should support him. It isn't the boy's fault. Did you, at any time in the past, ever imagine Zhan marrying one of your own children?"
Lan Yi forced a faint smile and shook her head. "Honestly, never. Back then, I saw all of them the same in my heart."
Qiren raised a brow. "Oh, and now they aren't the same anymore?"
She broke down crying, staring at him. "This is what I never expected. I thought it would always be just me and Zhan. But now, I have to accept reality...that I only raised him, I didn't give birth to him. Once, I never saw him as just the boy I was raising, but now… he's no longer mine alone. Slowly, he'll drift to his rightful place, to the one who claims his heart. As for me, I'll only watch from a distance."
Qiren sighed. "That's how you see it, and that's why it's settled so deeply in your heart."
Lan Yi didn't reply. She stood, wiped her tears, and quietly left the sitting room. Qiren watched her go, feeling a heavy ache of pity for her.
- - - - -
Meanwhile, Aunty Marquis sat in Hai Kuan's room, watching him. "For goodness' sake, put that laptop aside. I'm talking to you, Barrister."
He set the laptop down reluctantly. "Aunty, I already told you...we need to leave Zhan alone. I don't want it to seem like we're forcing him to change his mind, pushing him into something he never intended. Let's just hope this is for the best. Zhan isn't a child. And Mama already convinced herself that marriage would take him far from her. But marriage can take anyone anywhere...it could even send someone overseas, not just to another city in China. I believe Baby won't forget the kindness done for him. That's it. Honestly, I already regret mentioning this to him at all. Even Yibo made a joke out of it when I brought it up...he turned me into a clown in front of the workers in the compound."
Aunty Marquis blinked. "Clown? What do you mean by that?"
Hai Kuan gave her a wry look. "He doesn't take me or this matter seriously. To him, it's all funny...how could Zhan forget Mama just because he marries far away? In the end, he told me he never even thought of such a thing. Which means it's only you and I imagining it. That's why I think we should drop it and let him choose. Even Baba said the same when we spoke. And honestly, Aunty, you made me wasted my time preparing that marriage contract between Yibo and Zhan. We even wasted our money buying them wedding rings."
Aunty Marquis sighed. "Fine then. Hopefully, this turns out well for all of us. Still, we don't know what tomorrow might bring. Why not at least show Zhan the contract and the rings? If Yibo is too nervous to confess his feelings for fear of rejection, then Zhan might confess first. I know he would agree to marry Yibo."
Hai Kuan let out a laugh of disbelief at her words. "Aunty, Dr. Kexing still loves him, and Zhan loves him too. That's what really matters most." He pulled his laptop back and resumed his work. Aunty Marquis stood and walked out, closing the door behind her.
***
The next morning, before sunrise, Aunty Marquis, Lan Yi, and Bing were already in the kitchen preparing a variety of dishes to welcome Zhan's grandparents. Granny Ai sat on a chair by the dining table near the kitchen door, muttering, "If you noticed yesterday, Zhan has been playing hide-and-seek with me in this house…"
Aunty Marquis turned sharply and glared at her. "Please, spare us this talk that has dragged on since yesterday, Aunty Ai. I know very well it isn't true...you're just twisting things as usual."
Granny Ai gaped at her. "So now you're calling me a liar, Marquis?"
But Aunty Marquis ignored her and went back to her work. She knew that if Granny Ai wasn't silenced, this matter would never die. She could even run to Qiren and stir up more trouble. But the truth was, none of them wanted her around, especially now that Zhan's grandparents were coming. They feared she would embarrass them in front of their guests.
Granny Ai, however, didn't stop. "Useless woman! If I gave birth to my own children, they won't allow you to insult me and yet people look at me like this while you sit here insulting me. You...who have been married for thirteen years without a single child of your own. And during Yibo's wedding, you even tried to drive me away like I'm some kind of a street bagger…"
She broke down crying bitterly. Lan Yi looked at Bing and said firmly, "Bing, go. If I need something, I'll call you."
Bing nodded. "Okay, Madam." Then she left the kitchen.
Lan Yi turned to Granny Ai and said gently, "Please, Auntie, let's just leave Marquis alone. You haven't even asked who the special guests are today...we've been busy cooking for them."
Granny Ai sniffed. "And why should I ask? Since I didn't have children, you all treat me like I'm useless in this house."
Lan Yi gave a small smile. "Come now, Auntie, don't say that. You're like a mother to us. The truth is, Zhan's biological parents are coming today. That's why we've been preparing, and why I didn't tell you earlier."
Granny Ai's eyes widened. "Zhan's parents? And who are these so-called parents, if not you and Qiren?"
Calmly, Lan Yi answered, "His real parents, the ones who gave birth to him. That's the reason for our trip to Tianjin last week. I just didn't want to reveal it too soon."
Granny Ai frowned. "I don't understand...are you talking about the parents who abandoned him in a box, or someone else?"
Lan Yi sighed. "Let me explain it in a way you'll understand." She carefully told the story, though she deliberately altered many details. She didn't mention that it was the CEO who had abandoned Zhan, only saying it was an enemy of the family acting out of spite against Aaria. She also hid the fact that Xiao Shan had secretly married Aaria against his parents' wishes, and avoided mentioning anything about Zhan's ties to Dr. Kexing. She reshaped the story to prevent Granny Ai from ever having anything dangerous to repeat.
Granny Ai jumped to her feet, muttering angrily and cursing the woman who had abandoned Zhan. Aunty Marquis kept working silently.
Lan Yi added quietly, "His grandfather is a well-known figure in this country."
Granny Ai's eyes went wide. "Who?"
Lan Yi told her the name. Granny Ai gasped and said, "I used to line up outside his mansion in Hainan to collect leftover food and bring it home to Fang Yu Jie. We barely survived sometimes, especially with your father gone for months on his trips. And that same grandfather inherited wealth beyond imagination, later even becoming governor. And now you're telling me Zhan comes from that lineage? His grandfather was a man of immense fortune. I don't know about his father, but his grandmother...people call her Ryu...was kind and generous. I remember she only had one child in her life. I don't know if Mr. Xiao Rong ever married another wife, or if Zhan's father is her co-wife son."
Lan Yi lowered her voice. "Yes. That only child of hers is Zhan's father."
Granny Ai sat back down, her eyes bulging. "So Zhan…? Heaven help us. We never knew he came from such a family. It's a wonder we never mistreated him."
Lan Yi said nothing further. She went back to her work, leaving Granny Ai muttering to herself.
At ten o'clock, Zhan finally came out of his room. Since morning, after greeting Lan Yi, he had locked himself in. Even breakfast had been brought up to him by Bing. Now he walked slowly downstairs, only to hear Granny Ai's loud voice echoing from near the kitchen door. Startled, he quickly turned back and hurried upstairs, his heart pounding.
Instead, he made his way to Lan Yi's sitting room. He opened the door quietly and peeked inside.
Yibo was sitting there with a bowl of pepper soup in front of him, though he hadn't started eating. Their eyes met, and Zhan quickly turned away, leaning against the wall. Yibo ignored him, busy with his phone. Zhan hesitated, then slowly edged toward the doorway of the sitting room, resting against the doorframe. Without looking at Yibo, he muttered, "Good morning, Gege."
Still not raising his head, Yibo replied, "Morning. So you just woke up now?"
Zhan lowered his head and walked further in, sitting on the carpet a short distance away. "No."
Yibo didn't respond. Zhan stayed quiet too, though his mind kept circling back to Hai Kuan's words from last night. Hai Kuan had come into his room with marriage documents and a pair of wedding rings, suggesting that if Zhan wanted to break off his engagement to Dr. Kexing, he could consider marrying Yibo instead. The thought of it left him so uneasy that sitting near Yibo now felt almost uncomfortable.
After a long silence, Zhan asked quietly, "Aren't you going to work today, Gege?"
"Not until evening," Yibo replied.
"Oh." Zhan nodded. Yibo stood up, walked slowly to the door, and left, closing it gently behind him.
At half past eleven, Xiao Rong and his family arrived at Qiren's house. Almost at the same time, the CEO and Aaria arrived as well. Zhan was lying in his room, unaware that they had all come. His chest felt heavy, his pulse racing for reasons he couldn't explain.
Suddenly, his door opened. He sat up quickly, startled. Hai Kuan entered, walking toward him. Zhan stared at him nervously.
Hai Kuan asked, "Why have you locked yourself up here since morning? Is it because of Granny Ai?"
He forced a smile, lowered his head, and said softly, "No, I just slept in and woke up late."
Hai Kuan asked, "Hope you've taken your bath?"
Zhan nodded, and Hai Kuan continued, "Our visitors are already here."
Zhan's chest tightened, his heartbeat quickening as he looked up at him. Hai Kuan calmly sat at the edge of the bed and said, "You don't need to be so tense, little brother. Dr. Kexing loves you, and you love him too. Besides, you two already promised to marry each other, so hold on to that promise. Don't let your mind wander, alright? Be a good boy, get dressed, and come downstairs now."
Tears welled up in Zhan's eyes as he looked at him. Hai Kuan added gently, "Yeah, dress up and come down. Everyone's waiting." Then he stood and walked out, leaving Zhan struggling to hold himself together.
With effort, Zhan slid off the bed, dressed slowly, and stepped into the hallway. There he ran into Yibo, who was just coming upstairs. Yibo studied him carefully and asked, "What's wrong, baby? Why haven't you gone to greet them yet?"
Zhan lowered his gaze. "I just finished dressing."
"Oh, okay. Let's go then," Yibo replied, walking past him calmly. Zhan followed closely, both descending the staircase together.
Keeping his eyes low, Zhan entered the living room and settled quietly on the soft carpet, greeting everyone present. The moment his eyes met his mother Aaria, he instinctively rose and walked toward her. He sat beside her on the carpeted floor, smiling softly, and greet her.
Lan Yi sat near Aunt Marquis, while Granny Ai could hardly contain her excitement at seeing Xiao Rong in person...someone she had only ever seen in pictures. If not for Lan Yi's sharp warnings, she would have filled the room with chatter. Now she only smiled like a new bride, her face glowing.
Qiren sat with his cousin brother from Shanghai, who he had left his home in Beijing for him to stay in with his family. Xiao Rong and his brother were also there; it was his brother who had personally collected the groom price for Dr. Kexing's marriage arrangement with Zhan. However, he could barely meet Qiren's gaze, lowering his head after the initial greetings. Xiao Shan also sat in the living room, his eyes constantly drifting toward Zhan.
Granny Ryu and Dr. Kexing's mother were seated together, while fruits, drinks, and small chops filled the table in the center. As Zhan looked around, he noticed Dr. Kexing was not present...neither was his elder brother, MD. He glanced at Hai Kuan, who gave him a reassuring signal to stay calm. Still uneasy, Zhan dropped his gaze again until he noticed Yibo smiling warmly at him. That quiet, steady smile gave him just enough comfort to breathe more freely.
Xiao Rong turned toward Qiren and said, "Well, Mr. Wang, I have a flight to catch to Germany at two o'clock. So we're waiting to hear your final decision about the marriage between your son and Dr Kexing." He ended with a polite smile.
The CEO, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "If I may, I'd like to say something first."
Qiren looked at her, nodded, and said, "Go ahead, Madam. We're all listening."
She began calmly, "Two days ago, I called Zhan to discuss this marriage matter. I wanted to hear directly from him, to know if there was anything in his heart that might be different. I asked him to be honest with me. He told me that Dr. Kexing had even blocked his number. That very day, Dr. Kexing's elder brother came to my house and Zhan used his own phone to call Dr Kexing..."
The CEO fell silent, her eyes fixed on Zhan who sat on the floor beside his mother. Then she said firmly,
"Sean, tell everyone what happened on the phone. What did Dr. Kexing say to you?"
Zhan slowly lifted his head, tears already brimming in his eyes.
"Yes, say what he told you," the CEO pressed.
With his head lowered, Zhan whispered, "He told me… he gave up."
The entire living room turned to look at him. The CEO then faced Xiao Rong.
"There's no way he would say such a thing without consulting you first, sir. Clearly, you all knew about this already. And from what Zhan told me, the bride price you've been preparing is intended for someone else entirely. Let's be sincere, please...was there really any need to come here pretending you wanted to hear his parents' decision when, in fact, you already made your choice? What's even more shocking is that Dr. Kexing went so far as to block Zhan's number, which shows he has nothing to do with him anymore. And yet, you didn't even bother to inform us. In this day and age, do you still think young people can be forced into marriage?"
She turned back to Zhan.
"After he told you he had given up, what decision did you make on your side?"
Zhan stayed quiet.
"Answer me, Sean," she insisted.
After a pause, he whispered, "I said… I also gave up."
The CEO faced Xiao Rong again. "So we will not force them to marry each other simply because of family ties or any such excuse. That is why, the other day, I said perhaps their feelings had changed and that we should wait before making any decision. And clearly, I was right."
Xiao Rong and Qiren stared at her in silence. Dr. Kexing's mother deliberately avoided eye contact, while Xiao Rong himself looked completely speechless. True, Dr. Kexing had told them the same thing earlier, but he had his reasons. He simply didn't want his heart broken again, especially since he already suspected the marriage might not happen. They all thought the same...given how the wedding was blocked the first time. But they never expected him to tell Zhan so quickly, without waiting to hear Qiren's decision first.
Just as Xiao Rong was about to speak, Qiren interrupted.
"Then that settles it. It's good that Kexing spoke up. But as Zhan's father, I will not leave things hanging. I will ensure his marriage is secured today...with the partner I know will be best for him. From the beginning, my plan was that if you all came today, we would not leave until the marriage was confirmed, just as you wanted on that previous day. So now, in Kexing's absence, I will arrange his marriage to the person I have chosen, the one I know will bring him happiness. Xiao Rong, you will be his witness, and I will stand as Zhan's witness, together with the others present."
Everyone in the living room turned to Qiren in shock. The CEO herself was stunned, her mouth slightly open...she had never anticipated such a sudden declaration.
Zhan, with his head resting on his mother Aaria's lap, could barely process the words. His mind spun in confusion, unable to truly grasp what his father had just announced. Lan Yi's own heart pounded heavily as she stared at Qiren, while Xiao Rong, who had swallowed his protest, forced a polite smile and nodded.
"That's fine, Mr. Wang," Xiao Rong said diplomatically. "It's all the same. Just let us know the groom price, and I will handle it."
Qiren glanced at Hai Kuan. With a nod, Hai Kuan rose and left the room, returning shortly with some documents in his hands. He handed them to Qiren.
Qiren looked at Zhan.
"Come here, my son."
Still dazed, tears blurring his vision, Zhan stood and stepped forward. He sat before his father, who opened the document, his face unreadable.
"Son," Qiren said steadily, "I know you will not refuse or disobey me. Please sign this marriage contract between you and your Gege."
Zhan could hardly comprehend what was happening. His hand trembled as he accepted the pen from Qiren. His vision swam, his head dizzy, his eyes wet with tears. He could barely see the words, but Qiren calmly pointed to where he needed to sign, and Zhan did exactly as told.
"Thank you, my son," Qiren said quietly when it was done. "Thank you so much. Now go to your room and rest. Later, we will hold a proper ceremony with the exchange of rings."
Still unsteady, Zhan rose to his feet, the room spinning double before his eyes, and walked out of the living room in silence.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛