Zhan didn't go to bed until he finished packing everything the twins would need for their trip home. As he folded the last of their clothes, a quiet ache settled in his chest. He was already starting to miss them, and he hadn't even had the time with them that he truly wanted.
The next morning, before eight o'clock, Zhan had already finished getting the twins ready. The nanny was prepared as well. He was just about to step out to call a taxi when the doorbell rang.
At the same time, the door opened.
Yunxi stepped in.
His eyes met Zhan's, and after a brief pause he said quietly, "Morning."
Zhan lowered his gaze, wondering if he had heard correctly. Yunxi had never greeted him before.
"Same to you," Zhan replied.
"When are they leaving for the airport?" Yunxi asked shortly.
"We're about to go now," Zhan answered.
"Alright. I'll wait for you."
Zhan watched him as he turned away.
Despite Zhan's quiet objections, Yunxi insisted on driving them to the airport. The twins clung to him happily, leaving Zhan no room to refuse.
But the moment they arrived, Zhan felt his body grow cold. The twins were about to leave again. They themselves seemed unhappy, sticking close to him and refusing to let go.
In the end, Yunxi was the one who walked them all the way in. Zhan couldn't bring himself to do it.
The twins waved at him from a distance.
After they disappeared from sight, Zhan couldn't hold himself together any longer. He leaned forward in his seat, resting his head against his knees.
Almost ten minutes later, Yunxi returned.
"Hey," his voice called softly.
Zhan slowly lifted his head.
Yunxi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Wow… are you crying?"
Startled, Zhan quickly wiped his face, only then realizing tears had been falling.
Yunxi chuckled softly and stroke his hair. "They were crying too, you know. I guess they could feel that you were."
Zhan immediately stood up. "They were crying?"
"Yeah," Yunxi replied. "But I made sure they calmed down before I left. The bond between you and your siblings is really amazing."
He started walking toward the exit.
"Let's go home."
Zhan followed quietly until they reached the car. Slowly, he opened the front door and sat down. Neither of them spoke during the drive.
After a while, Yunxi clicked his tongue in annoyance and grabbed his phone. It had been ringing repeatedly since he started driving, but he had been silencing it.
Meanwhile, Zhan had drifted deep into his thoughts about the twins.
When Yunxi parked at the house, Zhan spoke in a low voice while nervously playing with his fingers.
"Thank you very much."
Yunxi caught his hand. "For what?"
Zhan quickly pulled his hand away, shooting him a sharp glare before stepping out of the car and walking toward his apartment.
Yunxi watched him through the mirror.
The moment Zhan entered his bedroom, he collapsed into bed and slept until one in the afternoon.
He woke around two-thirty, washed up, took a shower, and got dressed. Afterward, he went to the kitchen to find something to eat.
Even without being told, he knew he was alone in the house. The silence was overwhelming.
After eating, he brought out his study materials. He hadn't touched his books since the twins arrived, and he had even missed his lectures that day.
By midnight, he finally gave up studying and went to bed. He had an early lecture the next morning.
The next day, just before eight, Zhan stepped out of his apartment on his way to school.
At that exact moment, Yunxi was leaving as well.
The moment their eyes met, Zhan quickly looked away and increased his pace. Before Yunxi could even pull out his car, Zhan had already taken a taxi.
Around three in the afternoon, Zhan left school with Vanessa and Angela.
He had just finished listening to Vanessa complain before laughing lightly and explaining that he hadn't cancelled his visit....he would come to her place, just during the weekend.
Not once did he mention that the twins had visited him.
Zhan suddenly noticed Vanessa and Angela staring toward the road.
He turned to look.
That was when he saw Yunxi's car parked beside them. The window rolled down, and Yunxi raised a hand casually.
"Hi."
"Hello," Vanessa and Angela replied.
Yunxi looked at Zhan.
"Are you heading home?"
Zhan paused. When exactly had they become familiar enough for this?
"No, thank you," he said.
Yunxi smiled slightly, brushing his hair back.
"Oh? You're rejecting me in front of your friends?"
"Do you usually drive me home?" Zhan replied dryly.
"I'll start now," Yunxi said. "Get in."
Zhan clicked his tongue before turning to Vanessa and Angela.
"Alright. See you girls tomorrow."
He opened the front seat and got in.
Yunxi waved goodbye to them and drove away.
After a short distance, he asked, "Did the twins arrive safely?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes."
Just then, Yunxi's phone lit up beside him.
The name on the screen read: Tieh.
Zhan quietly looked away.
After about five seconds, Yunxi answered.
"I'm driving, baby. I'll call you when I get home."
He ended the call immediately.
When they arrived at the house, Zhan got out without another word and walked straight to his apartment.
Yunxi stared after him, confused.
:
:
The following Tuesday evening, after returning from school, Zhan changed clothes. He planned to visit the shopping mall to buy perfumes and body lotion.
He slung his small bag over his shoulder and stepped out, locking his apartment door behind him.
Seeing Yunxi's car parked outside told him Yunxi was home. They hadn't seen each other since the ride the day before.
The shopping complex was large and busy. Zhan picked out several perfumes and lotions before deciding to add disinfectants and antiseptics to his basket.
He reached for a large bottle of Dettol.
He didn't notice the man standing behind him.
Neither of them realized the other was there.
They turned at the same time.
Their backs collided.
The pack of Dettol soap in the man's hand fell to the floor.
They both crouched down simultaneously.
Zhan picked it up before the man could reach it.
"Oh, sorry… I..."
He froze.
They both stood up.
Eye to eye.
For nearly four years, Zhan had not felt what he felt in that moment.
He slowly released the soap from his hand, staring at him without blinking.
The man stared back, a strange expression on his face. He tried to speak, but the words seemed trapped in his throat.
Then suddenly, they slipped out.
"MEILIN…"
Zhan turned his back on him immediately. The people around him blurred into a double vision.
Without thinking, he hurried toward the exit of the complex.
Behind him, he could hear the man calling his name and following him.
His voice trembling, Zhan told the guard near the door that he had forgotten his ATM card at home. The guard opened the door for him.
Zhan rushed out instantly.
He ran to the back of the mall as if he might collapse.
Finally, he sank down against a wall, pressing a hand to his chest and squeezing his eyes shut.
He sat there for more than fifteen minutes.
It felt as though someone had injected something into his body that froze all the adrenaline in his veins.
Nothing seemed to work anymore.
His body didn't even feel like his own.
The shock Zhan had experienced only strengthened his determination to leave. With great difficulty, he forced himself to stand. His legs felt weak, as if he had just risen from a severe illness. After reaching the front of the mall, he managed to get a taxi.
Only after the taxi had been driving for a while did he manage to tell the driver his destination. He lowered his head and rested it on his knees for the entire ride.
When they arrived, the driver told him several times that they had reached his destination, but Zhan couldn't even lift his head.
Concerned, the driver hurried out of the car and opened the back door.
"Sir, are you okay?"
Summoning the last of his strength, Zhan slowly raised his head. His eyes were red and unfocused.
"You look sick…" the driver said.
With the driver's help, Zhan stepped out of the taxi. The driver refused to take his fare and simply told him to go inside and take some medicine.
Zhan nodded weakly in gratitude and staggered toward the building.
By sheer willpower, he managed to reach the door of his apartment.
But just as he reached it, his body collapsed in front of Yunxi's door. He clutched his chest as if something sharp had been driven straight into his heart.
He knocked weakly once before his forehead dropped to the floor.
The door opened.
Yunxi stepped back in surprise when he saw him.
He quickly knelt down beside him. "Are you okay?"
With great effort, Zhan lifted his head. Tears streamed down his face as he pointed weakly to his chest.
Yunxi grabbed him immediately, panic filling his eyes. "What happened to you?"
Zhan could only shake his head helplessly. He couldn't say a single word.
Yunxi's figure began to blur in his vision.
Slowly… everything went dark.
****
When Zhan finally opened his eyes again, they felt heavy and unfocused. He slowly scanned the unfamiliar room around him.
Just then, the door opened.
A young man walked in, with Yunxi following behind him.
The man approached the bed and crouched beside him with a gentle smile.
"Hello…"
Zhan simply stared at him.
"How are you feeling now?" the man asked.
Zhan remained silent.
"Don't worry," the man continued kindly. "You'll be fine. Nothing hurts now, right?"
Zhan slowly nodded.
The man turned toward Yunxi, who was leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded.
Smiling slightly, the doctor said, "Quack MD… do you mind coming over?"
Yunxi gave a faint smile and slowly walked closer, though he looked reluctant.
Standing beside the bed, he asked softly, "Where does it hurt now?"
Zhan still said nothing.
The doctor beside him spoke instead. "He needs to eat something first. Then give him the injection and the medicine."
Zhan looked at Yunxi but remained silent.
After wishing Zhan a quick recovery, the doctor stood and headed toward the door.
"Doctor, I'll take my leave."
Yunxi followed him outside.
With concern in his voice, Dr. Zang said, "But… he's too young for this kind of condition. He looks like he's in his early twenties."
Yunxi sighed quietly. "Maybe it's hereditary."
Dr. Zang laughed lightly. "Sometimes I really wonder what kind of doctor you are."
Yunxi interrupted him. "You should know me by now. I don't treat people who are close to me. I just… can't."
"Close to you?" Dr. Zang raised an eyebrow. "You mean that boy is close to you? Where do you even know him from?"
"That's not what I meant," Yunxi replied quickly.
Dr. Zang shook his head. "Seriously, you need to fix that behavior. May he recover quickly. Go find him something to eat and give him the injection… unless you can't even do that either?"
Yunxi shot him an annoyed look. "Who knows…"
Dr. Zang laughed again. "Alright then. I'll go home and do some reading. Unlike you, I know you finished studying long ago."
Yunxi rubbed the back of his head. "I'll try. Thanks for your help, my friend."
They said their goodbyes, and Yunxi returned inside.
He slowly pushed open the bedroom door.
Zhan was still sitting on the bed, watching him quietly.
"What would you like to eat, Zhan?" Yunxi asked.
Zhan didn't respond.
Yunxi stood there for a moment, studying him, before turning and leaving the room.
Not long after, he returned holding a cup of tea.
Under Yunxi's steady gaze, Zhan reluctantly accepted the cup.
He drank slowly, almost like someone taking medicine.
Yunxi sat down on the edge of the bed.
After a while, Zhan handed the remaining tea back to him. Tears filled his eyes.
Yunxi stared at him with concern.
In a low voice, he asked, "What's wrong with you, Zhan? Tell me what your problem is."
Zhan simply shook his head.
Yunxi stood up, took the cup away, and returned shortly after with the prepared injection.
"Let me give you this," he said gently. "Then take your medicine. You'll feel better soon."
Seeing that Yunxi was waiting, Zhan slowly lifted his shirt and lay back.
Yunxi administered the injection carefully, then handed him the medicine and a bottle of water.
Zhan swallowed the pills.
Afterward, he tried to stand.
"I… need to use the bathroom," he said quietly.
Yunxi pointed toward it.
Zhan sat still for nearly a minute before finally managing to stand and walk inside. He returned shortly afterward.
Later, Yunxi went to Zhan's apartment to get him a sweater.
When he pushed open the bedroom door, his eyes immediately landed on several large photographs on the wall.
He stepped further inside.
The pictures showed Zhan smiling with the adorable twins. They were hugging him tightly, their faces bright with happiness.
Another photograph showed the twins covering Zhan's cheeks with kisses.
Yunxi looked away after a moment.
He picked up the sweater folded neatly on the bed and left the room.
Back in his own apartment, he placed it on the bed for Zhan.
Meanwhile, Zhan sat quietly on the carpet.
His eyes were fixed on a framed photo of Yunxi placed near the mirror. In the picture, Yunxi wore a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging around his neck.
Slowly, Zhan lowered his gaze.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
With effort, he stood up, doing his best to keep the tears threatening his eyes from falling.
He neatly folded Yunxi's soft carpet and placed it aside. Then he picked up his jacket from the bed.
Carefully counting his steps, he walked out into the living room.
Yunxi was sitting on the couch, focused on the phone in his hands.
When he noticed Zhan standing there, he lifted his head.
"You need something?"
Zhan shook his head.
"No… I'm going back to my apartment. Thank you for taking care of me."
He turned toward the door.
"But..." Yunxi began.
Zhan stopped and looked back at him.
"Are you sure you'll be okay all alone?" Yunxi asked.
"Yes, I'll be fine."
Yunxi walked closer and handed him his key. Zhan took it, opened the door, stepped outside, and closed it behind him.
The moment Zhan reached his bedroom, he collapsed onto the bed.
Only then did the tears finally come.
It was the cry he had been holding back all day. The moment it escaped, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if the tightness in his chest had loosened.
Even so, he still couldn't believe what he had seen.
Why… all of a sudden?
That night he barely slept. Whenever he managed to drift off, he would wake up in shock. Eventually, he gave up trying to sleep at all.
Only shortly before dawn did exhaustion finally drag him into a deep sleep.
☀☀☀
Yibo slowly opened his eyes at the sound of someone knocking on his door.
He sat up in bed and looked toward it.
"Who's there?"
He heard his aunt's voice from outside.
"Are you alright, Yibo? You haven't come out today."
"I'm awake, Aunt," he replied slowly. "I just had a slight headache."
"Oh! Sorry," she said kindly. "Come out and have breakfast, then take some medicine."
With that, she walked away.
Yibo stood up slowly, pressing a hand against his heavy head. He walked to the window and stood there for a moment before returning to sit on the edge of his bed.
Holding his head, he muttered to himself.
"No… I know it's not him. It can't be Meilin. It must be someone who only looks like him… but…"
Suddenly he jumped to his feet, his mind full of confusion.
"Then why did he run?" he whispered anxiously. "Why did he run away? Does that mean it really is him? Oh God…"
He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Almost twenty minutes passed before someone knocked on the door again.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, big brother," his cousin's voice answered.
"What is it?"
She didn't reply immediately, so he walked over and opened the door.
"How was your night?" she asked.
"It was good," he said quietly.
"Mom said you should come out and have breakfast."
"Alright."
He closed the door again and sat on the edge of the bed. After glancing at the clock and seeing it was already eight, he went into the bathroom.
After taking a shower, he came back out and lay down for nearly fifteen minutes, feeling a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm him.
Finally, he forced himself up, got dressed, grabbed his car keys, and quietly left the house without letting his aunt notice.
:
:
Zhan woke suddenly when the doorbell rang.
He sat up slowly, feeling slightly dizzy. After washing his face and brushing his teeth in the bathroom, he walked to the living room and opened the door.
Yunxi was still standing outside.
Looking at him carefully, Yunxi asked, "Were you sleeping? Did I wake you?"
"I was already awake," Zhan replied.
"How are you feeling now?"
"I'm better. Good morning."
"Good morning."
There was a brief silence.
When Zhan lifted his head, their eyes met, and he quickly looked away again.
"You cried," Yunxi said.
Zhan shook his head.
"No, you cried," Yunxi insisted.
At once, tears filled Zhan's eyes again, leaving him unable to say anything.
Yunxi remained silent for a moment before saying quietly, "Can i come inside.?"
Without protest, Zhan turned and walked back into the apartment. Yunxi closed the door behind him.
Zhan returned to his room and buried his face in the pillow as fresh tears slipped out.
At that moment, he felt like he hated everything about being in the UK...his studies, this place, everything.
Suddenly, a name appeared in his mind.
Yang.
Without realizing it, a small smile formed on his face. It felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.
He rested his chin in his hand, sitting quietly.
More than fifteen minutes passed like that.
At that moment, there was only one person in the world he truly hated...the man he had encountered yesterday at the mall.
Just then, he heard a door open.
Zhan quickly wiped his eyes and stepped into the living room.
Yunxi was sitting on the couch, preparing an injection.
He looked up and saw him.
His expression immediately turned serious.
"Are you alright?" Yunxi asked. "Even in this condition, you're still sitting in your room crying like that. Since when is crying a cure? If you're worried about something, at least place your trust in God."
Zhan said nothing and kept his head lowered.
After about three minutes of silence, Yunxi pointed at the cup of tea and bread on the table.
"There."
Zhan walked over and picked up the tea.
"With the bread," Yunxi added.
Zhan shook his head and began drinking the tea.
"Look…" Yunxi said quietly.
Zhan raised his eyes.
Yunxi pointed to the chair.
Zhan walked over and sat down slowly. After finishing the tea, he placed the cup aside.
"Your injection," Yunxi said.
Right there in the living room, Yunxi gave him the injection and handed him his medicine.
"Go get some rest now," he said. "Try to sleep as much as you can."
Then he lowered his voice.
"And please… don't cry again. Your condition isn't encouraging. Remember God...you'll find peace that way."
Zhan didn't respond. He simply stood up and returned to his room while Yunxi watched him leave.
Yunxi then took the empty cup and walked out.
Zhan woke again after 2 p.m.
His chest felt much lighter now, thanks to the long sleep and the medication.
But hunger was beginning to bother him.
After showering and getting dressed in short clothes, he walked into the living room, planning to cook something simple...maybe noodles.
But the moment he stepped in, he froze.
Yunxi was standing there near the center table, placing a shopping bag down as if he had just arrived.
Without waiting to hear what Yunxi might say, Zhan quickly turned around and rushed back into his room, closing the door.
He sat on the bed with his head resting against his knees, embarrassment flooding him.
Nearly ten minutes passed before he finally stood up again.
After putting on a long coat, he returned to the living room.
Yunxi was no longer there.
Zhan walked to the shopping bag and opened it.
Inside was food and a drink.
He ate a little, then began cleaning the apartment.
Around four o'clock, the doorbell rang.
He hesitated before finally walking to the door.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Me," Yunxi replied.
Zhan opened the door and walked back into the living room.
Yunxi stepped inside but remained near the entrance.
"Sorry…" he began.
Zhan quickly interrupted him.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Nothing?" Yunxi said, raising his eyebrows. "You didn't even wait to hear what I wanted to say."
Zhan glanced at him, feeling embarrassed.
Yunxi looked at him closely.
"What I wanted to say was… sorry. Why did you run away yesterday?"
Zhan didn't look at him and didn't answer.
Yunxi smiled faintly.
"Did you eat the food?"
Zhan nodded.
"How are you feeling now?"
"I feel better."
Throughout the conversation, Zhan never turned fully toward him and kept busy adjusting things around the room.
"What about your injection..."
"No," Zhan interrupted quickly. "I'm better. I'll just take the medicine."
About thirty seconds of silence passed.
"Zhan," Yunxi said.
Only then did Zhan turn around.
Their eyes met.
Yunxi was wearing a milk-colored shirt that highlighted his sharp features.
He was the first to look away.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Take your medicine."
Then he turned and left.
Zhan watched him until the door closed.
💚💙❤🖤