Qiren glanced at Lan Yi, who couldn't stop looking at him. She slowly lowered her gaze, stood up, and then turned toward Granny Ryu and the CEO with a brave smile, even though she already felt her blood pressure rising. "Let's go inside," she said.
Aaria also stood, and together they all left the living room and went upstairs. Qiren watched them silently until they disappeared.
Meanwhile, Zhan leaned against his mother in the living room, breathing slowly. The other guests were gathered in the upstairs sitting room. Aaria lifted her head to look at him....his eyes wet with tears, his body trembling with heat. Gently, she whispered, "You know your father would never harm you, right, baby?"
Zhan nodded weakly, fresh tears spilling from his eyes. His chest felt tight, a heavy dread pressing down on him. The last time he had felt this way was after breaking off his engagement with Dr. Kexing, when he discovered Lan Yi and Qiren were not his biological parents.
Aaria hugged him tighter, softly patting his back to soothe him. Zhan closed his eyes, still breathing unevenly, clinging to her warmth. They remained that way for nearly thirty minutes before Lan Yi finally entered the living room.
Aaria lifted her head and looked at her. Zhan, however, kept his eyes shut, heart racing, uncertain of who had just come in. Lan Yi lowered her gaze, walked over, and sat down across from them. With quiet determination, she said, "Aaria, his father wants to speak with you in his living room."
Aaria blinked at her. "Okay." She glanced at Zhan, who reluctantly opened his eyes, then stood up. Lan Yi gave her directions on where to go. Aaria nodded again and left, but not without casting one last glance at Zhan before walking out the door.
Once she was gone, Lan Yi turned back to Zhan, who sat with his head bowed. She got up, moved closer, and drew him gently into her arms, stroking his hair. "Go to my room and rest. I'll finish serving the guests their meal....they'll be leaving soon."
Zhan only nodded, stood, and went into her room. Lan Yi watched him quietly before slipping out of the living room herself. She too was only holding herself together because of all the visitors in the house.
Zhan sat on the rug in her room for nearly half an hour. Still, his chest wouldn't stop pounding, and no one in the house had said a single word to him. He began to assume perhaps Qiren had changed his mind at the last moment and decided to postpone the marriage. The thought gave him a flicker of relief....maybe the CEO had persuaded Qiren to delay the wedding.
While sitting there, the door creaked open. Zhan quickly looked up to see Aunty Marquis walk in with a tray of food. She placed it down in front of him.
He stared at her, waiting for her to say something....anything...but all she said was, "Here's your food, Zhan." With that, she left the room.
He couldn't eat. He wasn't even hungry. Instead, tears filled his eyes again. Completely overwhelmed, he picked up Lan Yi's phone from the bedside and dialed Yibo's number.
It rang only a few seconds before Yibo answered. "Hello, Gege," Zhan whispered shakily.
"Baby," Yibo said softly.
That single word broke him. Zhan burst into tears. "Gege, nobody's saying anything to me! Why is everyone silent? Please, just tell me something!"
"What do you want me to say, baby?" Yibo asked gently.
"Baba's decision," Zhan choked out between sobs.
Silence. Yibo didn't answer right away.
"Gege, don't stay quiet on me," Zhan begged, voice trembling.
Finally, Yibo said softly, "I'm sorry, baby. I just hope it will be the best for you."
Zhan's eyes widened, his heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst out of his chest. He cried harder. "Gege, please, I beg you...tell me who Baba has arranged for me to marry!"
Slowly, Yibo replied, "Mama will tell you herself. Right now, we're about to see the guests off. Stay calm, alright? Just… hold on." Then the line went dead.
Yibo kept staring at his phone screen before finally setting it down beside him on the chair in his room. He leaned his head back, his chest pounding as he stared at the air conditioner without even blinking.
Meanwhile, Zhan buried his face into Lan Yi's bedcovers, crying uncontrollably as if someone had sent him to do it. Even Yibo, his Gege, didn't have the heart to tell him who his Baba had arranged for him to marry. Unable to bear it, Zhan stood up and left Lan Yi's part entirely, heading for Qiren's sitting room. He had heard Lan Yi say that his mother was being called there.
As soon as he entered, he found Aaria seated with Xiao Shan, who was speaking to her. They both looked up when he came in. Xiao Shan gestured for him to come closer. Though Zhan had meant to go to his mother, he walked toward Xiao Shan instead, tears streaming down his face. Xiao Shan pulled him into a seat beside him, hugged him, and said with a calm smile, "It's the best for you, son…"
At those words, Zhan broke into fresh sobs, unable to even ask who the groom was. Xiao Shan kept soothing him, while Aaria could only stare at Zhan, her own eyes filling with tears.
- - - -
By half past one, Qiren had personally escorted Xiao Rong to the car where the driver waited to take him straight to the airport. Smiling warmly, Xiao Rong thanked Qiren repeatedly. "We are truly grateful, Mr. Wang. Thank you for your generosity. I'm so pleased with today's arrangement. May this bond bring peace and lasting happiness. Thank you once again."
Qiren, still smiling, replied, "You're welcome, Honorable. In two weeks, as planned, we'll send him to Tianjin before the ceremony."
"Yes, two weeks is perfect," Xiao Rong said with satisfaction. "We'll prepare for that. Thank you so much."
Qiren asked, "So, will the reception be in Tianjin or here, as you prefer?"
"Either way is fine," Xiao Rong replied. "You've already done everything perfectly."
"Very well, we'll speak again soon," Qiren concluded, and they parted as he returned inside.
After Xiao Rong's departure, Granny Ryu and Wu prepared to leave as well, planning to take the train to Tianjin with Granny Ai, who would go and inform Granny Fang Yu about the marriage before everyone gathered back in Guangzhou for the main ceremony in two weeks.
Lan Yi tried to persuade them to stay the night, but they explained they had already purchased their tickets. Smiling, Lan Yi said, "Let me wake Zhan so he can say goodbye."
Granny Ai quickly interjected, "He'll be taken to Tianjin soon enough...why wake him now? Let him sleep. We should hurry before we miss our train."
Granny Ryu nodded with a smile. "Yes, let him rest."
Wu simply smiled quietly.
- - - -
By a quarter to five, Zhan was woken from the sleep he had drifted into in Qiren's sitting room, close to his father. Slowly opening his eyes, he sat up, glancing around the room. His mother was nowhere to be seen, nor was his father.
Lan Yi watched him gently. "You haven't eaten. Come, let's get you some food."
He rose, and she took his hand, leading him out of the sitting room. He couldn't bring himself to ask her about his mother, but when they returned to her side of the house, it was empty....everyone had gone.
Zhan turned to look at Lan Yi, who was seated deep in thought. He quietly moved closer, sat beside her, and asked softly, "Mama, have they all left?"
Lan Yi smiled faintly, brushing his eyebrow tenderly as though sketching it with her touch. "They all left while you were asleep, baby."
Zhan fell silent, just staring at her, still wondering why she hadn't said anything more to him.
Lowering her gaze, Lan Yi said gently, "You didn't eat earlier either. Let me bring you something now."
Just then, the sitting room door opened. Both turned to look....it was Yibo who had walked in. Lan Yi shifted her attention back to Zhan. "I'll get your food, son," she said softly, rising and walking out.
Zhan looked at Yibo, who was seated on the chair, scrolling through his phone without sparing him a glance. Slowly, Zhan stood, walked over, and leaned against the arm of the chair where Yibo sat, watching him closely. "Gege," he whispered.
Yibo lifted his head, meeting his eyes. "Baby."
Noticing how swollen Zhan's eyes were, he asked, "You've been crying again, haven't you?"
Zhan pouted, on the verge of breaking down once more. Yibo rose from his seat, but as he made to leave, Zhan quickly grabbed his hand, his voice trembling. "Gege… no one wants to tell me anything. Not a single word…"
Yibo turned to face him fully. "And what do you want me to say, baby?"
Tears slid down Zhan's cheeks. He remained silent, only staring at Yibo helplessly. Yibo stepped closer, brushing away the tears with his fingers while holding his gaze. That small act made Zhan burst into loud sobs. Yibo lowered his eyes, then carefully drew him into a hug, patting his back slowly, though he didn't know what to say. The sound of Zhan's crying cut straight into his chest.
The door to the sitting room suddenly opened. Yibo let go of him at once and stepped back. Aunty Marquis entered, gave them both a single glance, collected what she had come for, and left. Neither Yibo nor Zhan dared to look at her.
Turning away, Yibo headed for the door. Zhan followed him with his eyes until he disappeared, then sank to the floor, curling into himself, face pressed to his knees, weeping uncontrollably.
***
Later that night, Zhan sat in Qiren's sitting room after Lan Yi had brought him from her room. His chest pounded so hard it was all he could hear. He sat stiffly in one spot, shrinking into himself. Qiren looked at him, then gestured for him to come closer. Zhan rose hesitantly and went to sit on the carpet beside his Baba.
But when he saw the bundle of money placed next to Qiren, his chest clenched harder, his mind spinning. He glanced at Hai Kuan and Yibo, both sitting on the carpet together, while Lan Yi occupied a single seat nearby. The sight dragged his thoughts back to the day in Beijing when Qiren had summoned them all to his sitting room after Dr. Kexing's family brought the bride price.
After a few heavy seconds, Qiren sighed, picked up the bundle of money, and turned to Yibo. "Yibo, keep this in your account."
Yibo lifted his head to look at his father. The words were almost identical to what he had said back then, during Zhan's engagement with Dr. Kexing. Zhan lowered his head, tears filling his eyes again. Slowly, Yibo stood, walked to Qiren, and accepted the money before returning to his seat. Lan Yi watched him carefully the whole time.
Qiren said, "Even if not now, someday you may ask him what he will do with it....or not. It will be up to him, now or in the future."
Zhan raised his eyes to Qiren, who then turned to Yibo again. This time, unlike before, Yibo said nothing. Zhan drifted into his thoughts, until Qiren's voice pulled him back.
"Baby," his father called gently. Zhan lifted his gaze slowly, his heart racing, then quickly dropped his eyes again.
"You know I would never do anything to harm you," Qiren continued. "In this world, the people who understand your pain are first your mother, then me, and then your brothers. Always remember that."
Zhan stayed quiet, trembling, listening.
Qiren sighed again. "I know right now you may not understand, because this has come suddenly. But one day, you will be proud of what I've done for you. One day, you will see it differently. I am certain Yibo will stand by you until the very end. He will make a strong partner. You now have him as both brother and husband."
Zhan's head snapped up to stare at his father in shock. Qiren, however, quickly shifted his gaze to Yibo, who avoided looking at anyone. Zhan glanced at Hai Kuan, who managed a faint smile, then at Lan Yi, whose eyes were wet with tears.
Qiren's voice echoed again, firm and calm: "May you both have peace, joy, and a lasting home together."
Lan Yi quickly stood and helped the stunned Zhan to his feet before leading him out of the sitting room.
Zhan lay wide awake in Lan Yi's room around two in the morning, in the exact position he had been since nine. He hadn't shifted, hadn't even dozed off. His eyes were dry, yet his heart throbbed with a sharp unease that refused to ease up. Not even a single tear would fall to soften the heaviness in his chest. Qiren's words kept echoing in his ears, relentless and suffocating. Maybe it was the shock that left him numb, unable to cry, unable even to make sense of himself.
Slowly, Zhan turned his head toward Lan Yi, who was asleep on the other side. When she came in around eleven, he had pretended to be asleep, squeezing his eyes shut so she wouldn't question him.
With effort, Zhan sat up and let his feet touch the floor. His head felt unbearably heavy, aching with a dull throb. He was surprised his asthma hadn't acted up that night. Lan Yi stirred instantly....she was always light in her sleep. She reached for her phone, switched on the flashlight, and caught him sitting there. Zhan quickly rubbed his eyes, pretending he had just woken up.
Lan Yi sat up. "What is it, son? Do you need something?"
He shook his head before quietly saying, "I just want some water." Then, rising to his feet, he staggered slightly as if dizziness were pulling him down.
Lan Yi turned on the room light. "Check the sitting room fridge, maybe Bing left a bottle there earlier."
Zhan walked out of the room, switching on the sitting room light, his eyes roaming the place but his mind far away. Lan Yi's voice followed him softly from behind. "Did you find any?"
Zhan quickly shook his head. "I'll go down and get one now."
She watched him leave. The moment he heard her open the sitting room door behind him, he hurried down the stairs, leaning against the wall in the corridor as his heart pounded. But as soon as he reached the bottom step, his chest tightened....there sat Yibo.
The lights were dim, but enough for Zhan to recognize him. Panic seized him. If he turned back, he'd run into Lan Yi. If he stayed, he'd have to face Yibo. And he hadn't even gotten the water yet.
Yibo rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on Zhan as he started toward him. For the first time, Zhan frowned at him, a sharp expression he had never worn before. He turned abruptly, moving quickly through the sitting room into the kitchen. Yibo stopped, puzzled by his reaction, and simply watched him go. Moments later, Zhan returned, clutching a water bottle, his expression stiff, walking fast toward the stairs. Yibo only sat back down, his face unreadable.
That was when Zhan's tears finally burned their way out, slipping down his cheeks against his will. His chest ached with a pain so sharp he wanted to scream. Ever since he'd heard Yibo was the one he married… bitterness had rooted deep inside him. He hated him now. He truly hated him. Wiping his tears quickly, he hurried back to Lan Yi's side.
He drank the water he hadn't even wanted, then lay down again. Lan Yi covered him with the duvet to shield him from the chill, but even until dawn, sleep never touched him. Only sorrow and frustration filled his heart.
When morning came, Lan Yi nudged him awake gently. He greeted her quietly.
"How was your night, dear?" she asked softly.
Zhan lowered his head. "It was fine," he muttered.
But in truth, the memory of Yibo's sitting outside the door last night made his chest tighten again.
As usual, Yibo stepped in at dawn, sitting down as he always did. "Good morning, Mama," he greeted Lan Yi.
She smiled faintly at him. "Morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Yibo replied, lowering his gaze.
The room fell quiet. Zhan sat with his head bowed like a new bride who dared not meet anyone's eyes. Yibo didn't look at him, not once. After a few minutes, Yibo rose and left. Lan Yi followed him with her eyes, then turned to study Zhan's bent head, though she said nothing.
Moments later, she tried again. "Baby, won't you lie down a bit more?"
Zhan lifted his head slightly but avoided her eyes, then got up listlessly and went back under the duvet. Hot tears slipped down his face, and he pressed his hand to his mouth to stifle the sobs. Never had he imagined a day like this would come...Yibo of all people… How could fate be so cruel?
He wished for death then, just so he could rest from the torment. Buried under the blanket, he wept silently until exhaustion dragged him into shallow sleep near seven in the morning.
By ten, Zhan was in the sitting room, freshly bathed and dressed in the clothes Lan Yi had picked for him. Breakfast sat before him, but he only stirred his tea absentmindedly. His appetite was gone, his heart a tangled mess.
Lan Yi sat nearby, watching him closely, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. She only looked at him, troubled. Zhan didn't even notice....his thoughts were elsewhere.
The door opened, and his stomach clenched hard. He didn't even look up to see who entered. Lan Yi remained still, observing.
It was Hai Kuan follow by Yibo. He sat down and looked straight at Zhan. "Only now you're having breakfast, Mister?"
Zhan lifted his head slightly and forced a small smile. "Good morning, Gege."
"Morning, baby. How was your night?"
Zhan lowered his gaze again. "It was fine," he whispered.
Zhan glanced at Yibo, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. He quickly looked away, while Yibo continued scrolling through his phone.
Turning to Lan Yi softly, Zhan said, "Mama, I'll take my breakfast to my room."
Lan Yi nodded. "Alright, but make sure you eat enough, please, baby."
Zhan gave her a small nod, stood, and picked up his tray. Hai Kuan immediately got up to open the sitting room door for him since both of Zhan's hands were occupied.
Zhan smiled faintly. "Thank you, Gege," he murmured, before walking out. Hai Kuan closed the door behind him, then returned to his seat. He looked at Lan Yi and said, "Mama, did you hear what Yibo said?"
Lan Yi turned toward Yibo, who was still busy with his phone. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Hai Kuan replied, "He want to tell Baba that he want to annul his marriage with Baby. As if it's just a game."
Lan Yi stared at Yibo in shock, mouth slightly open. Yibo, however, didn't lift his head.
"Yibo," Lan Yi finally called.
He raised his eyes slowly to meet hers.
"Didn't you hear everything I said to you?" she asked quietly.
Yibo dropped his gaze again. "Mama, can't you see how Zhan behaves with me now? He hates me, I'm sure of it. And from the very beginning, no one even asked him about this marriage…"
Lan Yi cut him off, tired of repeating the same words since the day before. "Fine then," she said bluntly. "Go to your father and do whatever you think suits you."
Yibo's voice softened. "Mama, I don't mean to go against Baba or disrespect him. That's not what I want. But Baby should be considered too. Even if they didn't consult me, at least they should've asked him first. This feels forced on him. I never imagined things would come to this."
Lan Yi lowered her eyes and spoke gently. "Yibo, it's you who must teach Zhan how to live with you as a partner. You two share a bond I can't even explain. That's why I even mentioned it to you early that morning, though you were reluctant then."
Yibo gave a small sigh. "Mama, this was so unexpected. It's difficult for both of us. Yes, I do have feelings for him, feelings I've always kept to myself. But does he even know I never asked Baba for this marriage?"
Lan Yi stayed silent, not knowing what more to say.
Hai Kuan, who had been listening quietly, smiled faintly. "With time, all this will just become history," he said as he rose and walked out.
After he left, Lan Yi turned back to Yibo. "Be patient, son. I knew from the beginning there would be resistance, but it's only a matter of time. He'll accept you, and you'll learn to accept him as your husband too."
"I'm not thinking about myself, Mama," Yibo said softly. "I never thought life would turn this way. I just feel like it's unfair to him, because we all know what he truly wants."
Lan Yi frowned. "But didn't you hear what the CEO said? And didn't you hear what Baby himself said?"
Yibo adjusted his seat. "After all, he's only twenty-two. We should've given him more time before bringing up marriage."
Lan Yi could only watch him as he got up and walked out.
Hai Kuan went to Zhan's room, knocked gently, then entered. Zhan hadn't touched his tea. His red, swollen eyes made it clear he'd been crying.
Hai Kuan walked closer, his voice calm. "Let's talk, Baby. Tell me what bothers you about Baba's decision."
Zhan broke down into sobs. "Gege, I don't love him. Imagine....someone I've always seen as my older brother, and now they say I should marry him? Why would he tell Baba he wants me? Didn't he ever see me as his little brother?"
Hai Kuan blinked, surprised. "Who told you Yibo asked to marry you? I only suspected he might have feelings for you....that's why I mentioned it before. But I think I was wrong."
Zhan cried harder. "Baba would never decide this on his own if Yibo hadn't said something. Baba would never! Why didn't Yibo see me as his younger brother? Does this mean I'm not really part of this family?"
Hai Kuan lowered his voice. "Listen, Zhan. Yibo never told Baba to marry you off to him. He was just as shocked. I swear, he didn't know about it. He just didn't want to argue with Baba in front of your father and grandfather. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have agreed either."
But Zhan kept crying, shaking his head. He couldn't believe Yibo hadn't known. His voice cracked. "I can never live with him as my husband. Never. He's my brother in every way I see it. That's the last thing I could ever accept in this life."
Hai Kuan wanted to laugh at the irony but held it back. Instead, he smiled lightly. "What I'm trying to tell you is, don't worry. Yibo himself doesn't want this marriage either. He haven't told Baba this early only because of your extended relatives. And remember, you're still here in your mother's home. No one has said you'll be taken elsewhere. At most, you'll just visit your grandparents in Tianjin and return. So keep in mind...you're still just Zhan, living your own life. Nothing has changed yet. And honestly, none of us support this arrangement."
Zhan grew quiet, wiping his tears, comforted by Hai Kuan's words.
Hai Kuan opened his eyes a bit wider, as if to emphasize, "Even Mama said this marriage shouldn't happen. She's on your side. So relax, cheer up."
Zhan lowered his head, remembering how just yesterday he had asked Yibo who his supposed spouse was, and Yibo had refused to answer. The memory of Yibo hugging him to comfort him still made his chest burn with anger.
He looked up at Hai Kuan. "Then tell Yibo Gege not to talk to me again in this house. I don't want to speak to him either." His voice broke again as tears welled in his eyes.
Tears welled up in Zhan's eyes as he spoke. Hai Kuan only smiled and said nothing, then stood up. Zhan quickly wiped his face and asked softly,
"Gege, are you leaving?"
"I'm going to get ready," Hai Kuan replied calmly.
"Oh, okay."
He headed to the door, but before leaving, he turned back to Zhan and said,
"Make sure you eat breakfast, Baby."
Zhan nodded, and Hai Kuan left the room. That simple reminder gave Zhan a bit of relief. He finally sat down and ate the breakfast before him. When he was done, he carried the plate and teacup to the kitchen.
Earlier, he had accidentally glanced at Yibo once in the sitting room, not realizing he was there. After that, he avoided looking at him again, walking straight to the kitchen with a stiff expression. Yibo, too, didn't glance at Zhan. Even when Zhan came out of the kitchen later, he didn't notice Yibo wasn't in the sitting room.
***
Yibo and Hai Kuan were in Lan Yi's sitting room. Lan Yi looked at Hai Kuan and said,
"Yibo told me you gave him 5 million. May it increase and multiply for you."
Hai Kuan blinked at Yibo in surprise....he hadn't expected Yibo to tell Lan Yi. He had only wanted to quietly help with the wedding preparations that Lan Yi had mentioned the night before.
Lan Yi smiled faintly, "So, what's your budget for the wedding expenses?"
Yibo lifted his head, thought for a few seconds, then said,
"I'll add 7 million to the 5 million he gave."
Lan Yi nodded slowly.
"Good. I'll buy the set of gold jewelry that will be included in the dowry. Your father, Qiren, will also contribute something, though I'm not sure what. Mr. Xiao Rong has already promised to furnish the entire house, and the CEO said not to worry about kitchenware or electronics. So we'll just need three sets of trunks...six boxes in each."
Hai Kuan widened his eyes.
"That's a lot. Eighteen boxes?"
Lan Yi chuckled.
"No, it's not too much. He's my youngest, after all. I'll even prepare two trunks for his personal items."
Hai Kuan laughed.
"And who's preparing Yibo's wedding gifts then?"
Yibo said nothing. Lan Yi looked at him.
"No, he's the elder one. His partner is the one marrying in....so nothing special will be prepared for him. Unless they want to share. And then there's the beauty and body preparations...how much will you contribute?"
Yibo hesitated, as though he wouldn't answer, then said simply,
"Okay."
Hai Kuan teased, laughing,
"And how much does that cost? We'll all do it too, so we can see the results."
Lan Yi shot him a look.
"How much are you contributing?"
"Two hundred thousand should do?" Hai Kuan said with a grin.
Lan Yi frowned.
"What is two hundred thousand supposed to cover?"
He bowed his head, smiling sheepishly.
"Well, I didn't know the standard rate."
Lan Yi shook her head.
"Contribute one million. If there's any balance, it'll be kept aside."
Hai Kuan smiled.
"Alright, no problem."
She added,
"By Sunday, he'll travel to Tianjin for two nights. I want him back early so we can start the beauty treatments. Unless they decide to do everything over there."
Hai Kuan said, "Alright."
"And within the next five days, I want all the wedding items completed, since they'll be sent to Tianjin," Lan Yi continued.
Hai Kuan asked,
"Will the items be arranged here in Guangzhou?"
"Yes," she replied. "I'll ask Dr. Jing's in-law for help. We're close. Jianmen will also come to Guangzhou, so we can arrange everything together. Marquis left today, but she'll return for the ceremony."
Hai Kuan, thoughtful, said,
"But Mama, Aunt Aji in Beijing can handle this too....it's her line of business. There's no need to involve outsiders."
Lan Yi just looked at him, then said,
"Fine. Send her the money and let her handle it then."
Hai Kuan chuckled, got up, and said,
"I have somewhere to be now. I'll return later."
Lan Yi didn't even glance at him as he left. She muttered,
"If his wedding comes, he can give his aunt the money, but he has no right to dictate to us how we'll handle things."
Yibo only smiled, stood up quietly, and Lan Yi said to him,
"Go eat, my dear."
When Hai Kuan left, he knocked on Zhan's door. Zhan opened it slowly, looking at him.
"Gege, are you going out again?" Zhan asked.
"Yes. Come eat," Hai Kuan replied.
"I already ate," Zhan said softly.
"Mama said you didn't eat much," Hai Kuan countered.
Zhan fell silent. After a while, he asked,
"Gege, can I ask Mama if I can visit CEO's house?"
Hai Kuan shook his head.
"They're going to Tianjin on Sunday. You'll see them there next week."
Zhan stayed quiet. Hai Kuan urged,
"Come downstairs and get some food."
Zhan followed obediently. As he was about to dish food in the kitchen, he asked,
"Should I serve you too, Gege?"
Hai Kuan shook his head.
"No, I'll eat when I return."
(Zhan, 🙄 so now Hai Kuan is your favorite Gege? 🤨)
Zhan entered the kitchen...only to find Yibo there. His heart skipped a beat. Yibo turned stiffly and walked out with a cup of coffee, not sparing Zhan a glance. Hai Kuan almost laughed at the sight but said nothing.
Zhan carried the food out quietly. Hai Kuan smiled and called softly,
"Baby."
But Zhan ignored him and went upstairs.
- - - -
As Lan Yi had planned, the next morning she left for Dr. Jing's in-law's place after informing Qiren, who had returned to Beijing the evening before. She didn't leave until she made sure Zhan ate breakfast, knowing he usually avoided meals.
Later in the afternoon, when Hai Kuan was about to leave, Zhan pouted and said,
"Gege, you're leaving too? Mama isn't back yet."
Hai Kuan looked at him in surprise, holding his car keys.
"Did I forget to do something for you, Baby?"
Zhan lowered his voice.
"Then I'll be alone at home."
"Bing is here, and even the doctor hasn't gone to work yet. He leaves in the evening," Hai Kuan reassured him. He headed for the door.
"Please, Gege, let me come with you," Zhan pleaded.
Hai Kuan laughed.
"Come with me where?"
"Wherever you're going."
"I'm only meeting a client, not going anywhere fun. Do you plan to sit in the car and wait?"
"Yes," Zhan said earnestly.
"Then tell the doctor first," Hai Kuan said firmly.
Zhan frowned.
"Why?"
"Because it's proper to let him know, or he'll be worry."
Zhan sighed and sat down, refusing to move. Hai Kuan shook his head.
"Then wait here. I'll be back."
"Please, Gege," Zhan begged again.
Hai Kuan frowned.
"Didn't you hear what I said? And what....are you suddenly afraid of Yibo now? Yibo, your favorite Gege? I thought you two shared a bond that could make life wonderful. Baby, you know Yibo....he would never force himself on you, never push you into anything without your consent."
Zhan was silent. Hai Kuan left the room.
When Zhan came out later, he saw Hai Kuan about to leave. He rushed down and pleaded,
"Please wait for me, Gege!"
Hai Kuan turned to look at him, then watched as Zhan slowly went toward Yibo's room. He knocked gently, opened the door without expression, and said,
"Hai Kuan Gege said we're leaving. Please watch over the house."
Yibo didn't look up from his phone. Zhan stared at him for a moment.
"Gege, I'm talking to you," he said with a pout.
Still, Yibo ignored him. Zhan pouted, turned, and went back to Hai Kuan.
"I told him," he muttered.
"What did you say?" Hai Kuan asked.
"That we're leaving," Zhan replied.
Hai Kuan nodded.
"The client meeting was moved to tomorrow anyway."
He settled back on the couch, while Zhan, disheartened by Yibo's coldness, walked upstairs slowly. Hai Kuan watched him with a small smile.
NB
DOUBLE UPDATE, NEXT ONE WILL BE COMING IN A FEW HOURS. SEE YOU LATER. 🫰🫶
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
HAPPY 34 BIRTHDAY XIAO ZHAN ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛