The next day, Thursday, Diwa went to the market with Zhan after Mrs. Wang had left for work. Lihua had also gone out, leaving only Yibo at home since he was on night duty. He watched them silently as they walked out of the living room.
The Driver, who was to take them to the market, started the car as soon as he saw them. Zhan was wearing one of the outfits Xixue had bought for him, along with a cap Diwa placed on his head and a small scarf tied around his neck.
Zhan held the shopping list and began reading through it, while Diwa kept shooting him annoyed glances.
The Driver asked, "So Ma'am said we should take this boy along for shopping?"
"Yes," Diwa replied.
"So we're buying everything for him too? She gave me twenty-five thousand before leaving."
Diwa scoffed. "Stop adding your own ideas. We're going grocery shopping, not clothes shopping."
"Alright then," the Driver said. "We'll go to the clothing market tomorrow."
By around 1 p.m., Diwa finished all the shopping, and they returned home. The house was empty-even Yibo had stepped out. She hurriedly started cooking, while Zhan went to the room as instructed and lay down, refusing to come out.
By 3:30 p.m., Siya and the others returned from school. Diwa served them food and gathered their uniforms to wash. Baby was the only one in the living room, watching cartoons with a plate of food in her hand since she had no lesson that day.
The others were at the dining table.
Zhan came out of the room, just waking up from sleep, and stood by the wall, watching the cartoon Baby was watching.
As soon as Baby noticed him, she switched off the TV with the remote, her face tightening in annoyance.
Zhan said nothing.
Siya and the others began laughing, staring at him.
Just then, the door opened, and Yibo walked in. Baby greeted him, "Welcome back our Gege."
He walked in, dropped his car keys on the table, and leaned back into the chair. "How was school? No lessons today, just TV?"
Baby didn't answer. She simply put a fork of pasta into her mouth.
Yibo glanced at the TV. "Who turned it off?"
Baby pointed at Zhan. "Isn't he the one watching cartoons like he owns the place? Tell him to leave."
Yibo snatched the remote from her and turned the TV back on, shooting her a look.
She kept quiet.
"Just being silly," he muttered before getting up and heading upstairs.
Baby bent her head to her knees, on the verge of tears.
Zhan quietly turned and went into the kitchen, while Siya and the others glared after him.
Zhan stood in the kitchen, watching the meat frying in oil. Diwa was outside at the time.
When he heard someone enter, he turned-it was Yibo.
Without looking at him, Yibo picked up a cup and asked, "Have you eaten?"
Zhan nodded without meeting his gaze.
Just then, Diwa entered the kitchen. Seeing Yibo, she quickly said, "Welcome, sir. Should I bring you food?"
"Thank you," he replied and walked out.
Zhan widened his eyes slightly. "I didn't say anything to him, I swear. He's the one who spoke to me-ask him."
Diwa quickly shut the kitchen door and stared at him. "What have i done now? Why are you trying to drag me into trouble?"
Zhan said nothing.
Diwa opened the door and pushed him out. "Just leave here."
Pouting, Zhan stepped out and saw Yibo sitting in the living room while Baby was still sulking. He quietly walked away.
:
:
That night, Zhan came out after bathing, a towel wrapped around him.
Diwa was still cleaning the kitchen when the door suddenly opened.
Lihua walked in, with Baby right behind her.
The moment Zhan saw her, he froze in fear.
Lihua grabbed both his hands with one hand, her face cold and expressionless. "Do you even know this girl's position in this house?" she said, pointing at Baby.
Zhan trembled. "Ma'am... I'm sorry..."
Before he could say more, Lihua slapped him hard and immediately covered his mouth to stop him from making a sound.
Tears streamed down Zhan's face as he shook his head desperately.
Lihua looked around the room as if searching for something, then slapped him again.
Crying, Zhan pleaded, "Ma'am, please... I didn't do anything to her..."
She began hitting his bare skin with her hand, squeezing and striking him harshly. "If I ever see you even look at Baby again in this house, I will deal with you. And from today, don't ever stand in the living room-only the kitchen or this room. If I see you anywhere else, I'll make you regret it."
She slapped him again, pushed him aside, then grabbed Baby's hand and headed for the door.
"And if Jie dares question me," she continued angrily, "let her try it when I'm around. I'll make sure you-and even that useless Diwa-are thrown out of this house. I can handle everything here myself if I want. Useless freeloader's"
Her voice faded as she walked out, leaving Zhan standing there in tears.
Zhan cried uncontrollably, his sobs breaking out in waves-he hadn't cried like this since the days he lived with his uncle.
He left the room and went to the kitchen, still crying, but Diwa wasn't there. He stepped outside to the spot she usually told him to sit. There, he dropped down and cried as if his heart would burst.
Upstairs, Yibo paused from his work on his laptop. Hearing the sound, he stood up and looked down, then walked out.
He came to stand in front of Zhan, watching him. Seeing Yibo, Zhan curled into himself, burying his face in his knees as he continued crying.
Yibo crouched down. "What happened?"
Zhan lifted his head, looking at him, but the crying overwhelmed him-he couldn't speak.
Yibo stayed quiet for a moment, letting him calm down, watching fingers mark on Zhan's face. Slowly, the sobs softened into shaky breaths.
"Who did this to you?" Yibo asked.
With trembling hands, Zhan pointed toward the house, tears still rolling down his face. "That aunt... she beat me."
Yibo's gaze hardened slightly. "Which aunt?"
Zhan tried to speak, but another wave of tears hit him.
"Don't cry," Yibo said more gently. "Tell me which aunt did this."
Zhan shook his head helplessly. "I don't know her name..."
Yibo pulled out his phone and opened his gallery. He scrolled through photos of the household members and showed them to him. "Which one?"
Zhan wiped his tears and looked carefully. After a moment, he pointed. "The one wearing blue."
Yibo glanced at the photo-it was Aunt Lihua.
"What did you do?" he asked.
Zhan's eyes filled again. "Maybe... that girl told her I was watching TV in the living room..."
"Which girl?"
Zhan didn't answer. He just lowered his head, tears gathering again.
Yibo showed him another photo. This time, Zhan pointed at Baby.
Yibo looked away briefly, silent. Then he asked, "Where were your clothes?"
"I had just finished bathing... that's when she came into the room," Zhan said, his voice breaking again as he started crying.
"Wait here," Yibo said, standing up.
He walked back inside and returned shortly after, holding Baby's hand.
She looked nervous.
They stopped in front of Zhan.
"Stand up," Yibo said.
Zhan stood.
Yibo turned to Baby, his expression firm. "What did he do to you that made you report him to Aunt? And if you lie to me, you're in serious trouble."
Baby's voice trembled. "I'm sorry...Gege"
"I will slap you if you don't answer my question properly."
"I only told Aunt that...Gege"
"That what?"
Tears filled her eyes. "Please... I'm sorry...Ge"
Yibo looked around, then broke a small branch from a nearby plant and returned.
"Just because you're being spiteful, you went to report him so he would be beaten?"
She shook her head quickly, panicking. "No! I'm sorry, I won't do it again! Let me apologize to him, please..."
Yibo grabbed her arm. "If you scream, I swear I'll drag you straight to the hospital."
Then he struck her lightly but firmly with the branch-enough to sting. About five times.
She jumped and struggled to pull away, tears streaming down her face, but she didn't dare scream.
When he saw her palms redden, he stopped and let go.
"Go and apologize to him," he said sternly.
She hurried to Zhan, her voice shaking. "Please... I'm sorry."
Zhan lowered his eyes. "You should forgive me too..."
Yibo pulled her back slightly as she cried. "Tell him you two are friends from now on."
She quickly turned back to Zhan. "We are friends from this moment."
Zhan nodded softly. "You're welcome."
Yibo released her. "Go wash your face and go to bed. And if I hear a single word about this from you, you'll regret it."
She ran off immediately to clean herself and went inside.
Yibo looked at Zhan, who was still watching her leave. "You too-go to bed."
Zhan looked at him and nodded slowly. "Okay... good night."
"Good night," Yibo said quietly.
Zhan turned and went back inside.
✴✴✴
The next day, even after Baby had gone to school, she refused to look in Zhan's direction. Not only that...even when Mrs. Wang asked her what was wrong with her eye, she said nothing.
Lihua even took her to her room to ask if something had happened, but Baby still kept quiet.
As for Zhan, the moment he entered the kitchen that morning and heard Lihua's voice, he froze and refused to step out. Truthfully, he had never been as afraid of anyone...not even the women in his uncle Jincai's house...as he was of Lihua.
The night before, Diwa had cursed Lihua thoroughly after Zhan told her everything that happened. She even went as far as swearing at her before finally applying ointment to Zhan's back and body. Then she made him lie down and muttered,
"Next time, don't just stand there staring at their TV like a fool."
Zhan didn't say anything.
That was also why, since he came into the kitchen that morning, Diwa didn't even ask him to lift a spoon. He just stood quietly in a corner, watching her work.
When Diwa stepped out to meet Lihua, who was sitting in the living room drinking tea, Mrs. Wang asked,
"I haven't seen Zhan. Is he still asleep?"
Diwa replied,
"He's in the kitchen, Ma'am. We came out together."
Lihua simply scoffed and continued sipping her tea.
When Diwa returned, she said sharply,
"You've been standing here doing nothing. Go greet Ma'am."
Zhan hesitated, but she pushed him out. He walked slowly into the living room, pouting slightly.
Mrs. Wang looked at him with concern.
"What happened to your face?"
Zhan shook his head and lowered his gaze.
"Nothing, Ma'am."
She kept staring at him until he finally knelt down and greeted her properly.
She replied, then said,
"Call Diwa for me."
Zhan didn't move immediately. He first greeted Lihua, who barely responded and threw him a cold look.
Then he went back to call Diwa.
When Diwa returned, Mrs. Wang asked,
"What happened to his face? Why is it swollen like this?"
Diwa lowered her head.
"I've asked him so many times, Ma'am, but he won't say anything. His face looks like he was hit, and even his body has marks. I tried everything, but he refused to tell me."
Mrs. Wang stood up and went into the kitchen, where Zhan was hiding. She examined him closely.
"Did someone beat you in this house?"
Zhan quickly shook his head.
"No, Ma'am."
She stared at him for a moment, then turned and left without another word, heading upstairs.
Lihua watched her leave with a displeased expression, while Diwa hurried back into the kitchen before their eyes could meet.
Around eleven, Driver took Diwa and Zhan to the market to buy everything Mrs. Wang had requested for him.
Diwa picked out all kinds of useful things for him....clothes, toiletries, and more....until the money was completely spent.
On their way back, Zhan kept peeking into the shopping bags, curious about everything inside, until Diwa lightly tapped him and tied the bags properly.
When they returned home, they met Yibo sitting in the living room with his friend Panzi.
Diwa greeted them and went inside.
Zhan looked at Yibo, who didn't even glance their way, and said softly,
"Good evening."
"Evening," Yibo replied briefly.
Zhan followed Diwa inside, while Panzi asked Yibo who the boy was, saying he had never seen him before.
****
On Saturday, Mrs. Wang asked Zhan to get ready so they could go to the same school the other children attended and register him for lessons.
Luckily, Lihua was still asleep in her room and unaware of everything happening.
At first, Mrs. Wang told the Driver to handle the registration, but when Yibo returned from the hospital, she said,
"Yibo, since you're back, can you help take him to register?"
Yibo frowned slightly.
"No, let the Driver go. I'm getting ready to Tianji for a friend wedding."
"Tianji? When will you be back?" she asked.
"Later, by God's will."
"Alright," she said.
So the Driver ended up taking them.
At the school, Zhan sat quietly by the car door while the other children avoided him completely. None of them even looked at him; instead, they kept their distance, clearly uncomfortable being near him.
After a short interview, Zhan was placed in Baby's class. The Driver paid all the fees, collected the forms, and returned home.
That same day, Mrs. Wang sent him to buy all the lesson materials Zhan would need.
When they returned in the evening, Diwa was overjoyed for him, while Zhan couldn't stop smiling as he excitedly told her about the school.
But then Diwa suddenly frowned and said,
"So why didn't they put me in lessons too?"
Zhan widened his eyes and placed his hands on his waist, staring at Diwa in disbelief.
"So you want lessons too, Aunty cook… after you've already grown up?"
⏭ ⏭ ⏭
On Sunday, after they returned from lessons in the evening, Mrs. Wang asked Driver to take them to the salon, since it was their usual routine every Sunday.
The moment Zhan heard he was included, panic set in. He quickly went to lie down in Diwa's room, pretending to be asleep. But Diwa came in, dragged him out, and locked the door behind her.
So he had no choice but to go.
At the salon, he looked completely distressed, like someone being led to punishment.
Siya's hair was done first, then Anie's, then Baby's.
When it was Zhan's turn, tears had already started forming in his eyes.
He said nervously,
"Please… my hair isn't dirty. You can check."
The stylist looked surprised.
"If it's not dirty, then why are you here?"
With a shaky voice, he replied,
"Aunty said I must come…"
The stylist, sensing his fear, simply decided to leave it after being paid for the others.
Back home, Mrs. Wang watched Zhan in confusion as he tried to hold back tears.
"You're acting like a child, Zhan. Why refuse something as simple as fixing your hair?"
Lihua, who was sitting nearby, scoffed and said sharply,
"That's exactly your problem. Better he embarrasses you since you took him like your child."
Mrs. Wang glanced at her and replied calmly,
"What if he has a scalp issue?"
At that moment, Yibo, who had been eating in the dining area, dropped his food and walked into the living room, car keys in hand. He looked straight at Zhan and said,
"Let's go back to the salon."
Zhan's eyes widened. He immediately ran toward the room, almost crying.
"Aunty, please tell him my hair isn't dirty! Even the stylist said so!"
Yibo's expression hardened.
"If you step into that room, I'll drag you out myself."
Lihua stood up, shocked.
"This is unbelievable. What does it have to do with you, Yibo? Why are you so involved in whether his hair is done or not?"
He ignored her completely and repeated his command for Zhan to come out.
Diwa intentionally quickly pushed Zhan outside, sneaking glances at Lihua.
Yibo followed, with Baby trailing behind him.
Mrs. Wang said nothing, only watching them leave.
Baby sat in the front seat, while Zhan sat quietly in the back, wiping his tears. Diwa closed the car door and bowed slightly, waving as she said,
"Safe journey."
Back at the salon, it took a long time, but eventually Zhan's hair was done.
It was long, thick, and incredibly soft...shiny and beautiful. Becouse he doesn't want anything to touched his hair, not even for hair cut.
Zhan cried so much during the process that it was almost funny, but by the end, everyone in the salon couldn't stop staring at his hair in admiration.
He kept calling out names...his mother, Diwa, Mrs. Wang....anyone he could think of, as if seeking comfort.
Yibo stood quietly, watching, clearly holding back laughter.
Baby stood beside him, also staring at Zhan.
Truthfully, if not for Yibo, Zhan would never have sat still long enough for the stylist to finish.
After paying, Yibo looked at him and said,
"Get up, my friend."
Zhan pouted, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks.
Yibo then sat down and told the stylist,
"Go ahead and braid it....."
That was the final straw.
Zhan bolted out of the salon.
Baby burst into laughter, and even the people inside joined in.
Zhan stood by the car, peeking nervously toward the salon, afraid the stylist might come after him.
But when Yibo stepped out and headed straight for him, he grabbed and carry him off, desperately, almost shouting....Zhan apologized over and over.
The stylist laughed and said,
"He's surrendered, big brother. Please forgive him."
Baby covered her mouth, laughing uncontrollably.
Yibo opened the back door of the car, placed Zhan inside, and shut it firmly.
Zhan went completely silent, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Yibo glanced at him through the rearview mirror and said coldly,
"I'll deal with you later girlish boy, who even cry when washing his hair?."
After they returned home, Lihua followed Yibo straight to his room.
She shut the door behind her and fixed him with a sharp look.
"Yibo, for what reason did you take that boy to the salon? I don't understand what that means. Have you known him before, or is this just interference… or that soft-hearted nature you inherited from your mother? Are you also becoming like her?"
Yibo, who had been watching her calmly, replied,
"What's wrong with taking him to the salon, Aunty? You heard Mumy asked him to go with the others, but he refused. I only stepped in so she wouldn't have to stress over it. And in the end, didn't he sit still and get it done?"
Lihua scoffed.
"So now you're talking back to me? Fine. I'll deal with you too in this house."
With that, she turned and left. Yibo clicked his tongue, got up, and shut his door firmly.
✴✴✴
Zhan had now spent two weeks in Yibo's house.
There was nothing Mrs. Wang withheld from him...she treated him just like Siya and the others. The only difference was that he still stayed in Diwa's room.
In truth, Diwa was the only one doing most of the housework. She never forced Zhan to work, only teaching him small things here and there...letting him help a little, like wiping surfaces or arranging items.
A week after Zhan arrived, Lihua had traveled to Guangzhou to see her children. Since then, Zhan had been much more relaxed.
Ever since Baby was punished by Yibo, she no longer looked at Zhan with hostility. Sometimes she even passed him notes for schoolwork, asking him to copy things for her.
Mrs. Wang didn't interfere...after all, Zhan's handwriting was better than Baby's. He even helped her with assignments.
As for Siya and the others, they barely interacted with him, so they simply minded their own business.
That afternoon, exactly two weeks later, Mrs. Wang was in her bedroom when Yibo came in.
He greeted her, and she asked,
"Aren't you on night duty?"
He replied,
"That was three days ago. Now I work mornings to evenings."
"Alright," she said. "Have you spoken to your father?"
Yibo rubbed his head lightly.
"Yes, he'll be back tomorrow, by God's will."
"That's what he told me too," she replied.
Then Yibo took out his phone and asked,
"When is Aunty coming back?"
Mrs. Wang sighed slightly.
"I'm not sure. When she called yesterday, she sounded worried… maybe something is wrong with her children."
Yibo nodded, then added,
"Mum, why won't Shao come back here? The boy Hai can manage, but she's a girl…"
Mrs. Wang shook her head.
"Her father won't allow it. Unless she brings her secretly."
"May heavens protect them," Yibo said.
"Amen," she replied.
There was a brief silence before she looked at him closely.
"You seem like you want to say something."
Yibo smiled faintly...he knew she had already read him. Facing her, he said,
"It's about the boy…"
Since Zhan came into the house, he had never called him by name because of Lihua.
Mrs. Wang's attention sharpened immediately.
"What about him?"
Yibo hesitated slightly, then said,
"I think… you should help enroll him in proper school."
She cut him off at once.
"Why?"
He opened his eyes slightly, choosing his words carefully.
"Mum, he's not uneducated. He's just been deprived of his rights. From everything I've seen, he wasn't born into hardship… it's just the situation. I feel sorry for him. You've seen how he even helps Baby with her lessons...he's very intelligent. If you help him, heaven will reward you."
Mrs. Wang smiled faintly.
"You know something, Yibo?"
He shook his head, watching her.
Her tone suddenly turned firm.
"Never...under any circumstances...should you make the mistake of telling me you like that boy. Because if you ever do, I will show you a different side of me. That will never be possible. Ever."
Yibo stared at her in shock.
"Like him… Mum?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
He was silent for a few seconds before asking,
"Why would you even think that?"
Her expression hardened.
"You brought it up. Why are you so concerned about him? Did you bring him into this house yourself?"
Yibo shook his head.
She continued,
"Be careful. Yes, I may put him in school...but don't ever imagine, not even in your dreams, that anything like relationship or marriage could exist between you and that boy. That's final."
Yibo looked at her slowly.
"But… why?"
"Because that's how I want it," she replied coldly. "Or are you questioning me?"
He sighed, clearly frustrated.
"Mum, I never said I like him. I only asked you to help him go to school...for humanity's sake. Why would you think that? Do you think I have no one else to like except a child? I swear, I've never even thought about that. Honestly… I'm not happy right now."
With that, he stood up and walked out of the room annoyed.
💚💙❤🖤