On Sunday morning, Zhan accompanied Yang-Yang to the airport. His heart felt the emptiness after he left; his entire body went cold. He was standing where he would get a cab at the airport when, as if told to look to his side, he saw Yunxi standing there, clearly just arriving from inside the airport. He was dressed in a white suit and wearing sunglasses. Zhan quickly looked away before Yunxi could see where he was. He hurried to a cab he spotted, got in, and told the driver where to go.
When they arrived home, he got out, paid the driver, and quickly went inside. He opened his bag, trying to get his keys out. Just then, Yunxi entered the compound. Without turning around, Zhan opened his door and went in. He went to the bedroom, gathered his reading materials, picked out two outfits and nightwear, and came out holding his bag. He locked his apartment and left as if someone was waiting for him outside, in such a hurry. He went out, found a cab, and headed to Vanessa's house.
He spent the whole day at Vanessa's house, but he was just uncomfortable because of the foreign men who kept coming in and out of the house. He didn't have enough patience for them; he felt constrained. He wanted to return home at night, but because of the cold, he gave up and stayed the night there. The next morning, he got ready from Vanessa's house and went to school with her after they had breakfast.
After lectures, Vanessa again dragged Zhan back to her house. Zhan was sitting in Vanessa's living room that evening, his eyes on the papers in his hands, when he pulled out his ringing phone. He saw Yibo's number.
Only then did he remember his son. He answered the call. From the other end, Yibo said, "How are you, Meilin?"
Zhan said, "Fine. How is my son?"
"I see you have completely forgotten about him."
Zhan took a deep breath. "How could I forget him?"
Yibo smiled. "Well, tomorrow morning I will bring him so he can go to school."
Zhan said, "Have you returned?"
Yibo said, "Yes, recently, in the evening."
Zhan was silent for a moment before saying, "Bring him in the afternoon tomorrow."
Yibo said, "Alright then."
Then Zhan hung up.
***
On Tuesday, after they finished lectures around two o'clock, Zhan returned home. He gently opened his apartment door, went inside, and closed it. He began to clean the house. After tidying up everywhere, he opened the kitchen door to throw out the trash and found himself face to face with a young girl who had also come to throw out trash.
It was the girl who spoke first. "Hello."
Zhan said, "How are you?"
The girl said, "I'm fine. When we came yesterday to check on you, you weren't here. So you've returned."
Zhan smiled slightly. "Yes, I just returned now."
The girl said, "Oh, well, welcome back."
Zhan said, "When I'm done, I'll come in now."
The girl said, "Okay, please do come in."
Then Zhan went back inside. Only heaven knew that he didn't say that because his heart wanted to; it was just that the girl had charisma, and he felt like they looked alike. Could this be the one Zaan was talking about?
He clicked his tongue and went to his bedroom. He bathed, changed his clothes, and came out. He gently pressed the doorbell of Yunxi's apartment. After a moment, a woman opened the door.
Zhan said, "How are you?"
The woman looked at him and let him in. "I'm fine."
Zhan entered the sitting room, his face fallen. There were a few people in the room, mostly adults. He sit by a chair and said gently, "How are you all?"
They answered him cheerfully. One of them said, "Goodness, he looks just like Mamo."
The girl who had opened the door said, "Honestly, Aunt, I first thought he was Situ. I stood there astonished, watching him, because I know Situ is upstairs."
Zhan didn't say anything but smile. A woman sitting next to him said, "That's how heaven works. Get up and go inside; the young women are all in there."
The one who had opened the door for him led him to the room where Tieh and her relatives were. Zhan's face kept falling as he bowed his head. He greeted as he entered the room after the girl opened the door for him. He met eyes with Tieh, who was sitting on the edge of the bed scrolling on her phone. She looked very beautiful, with glowing skin. Her hands were decorated with traditional henne. She was indeed a bride. Zhan bowed his head.
It was Mian-Mian who first stood up when she saw him. "Oh, Zhan, so you've returned."
Zhan forced a smile. "Yes, I haven't been back long."
Mian-Mian said, "Oh, welcome back. There's a place for you to sit come."
Before he could sit down, Zaan came out from the back room. Seeing him, she hugged him joyfully. "Zhan, I got tired of waiting to see when you would return. And there's no one with your number. Welcome back."
Zhan said, "Oh, I didn't know you were coming yesterday. I was at a friend's house."
Zhan sat down gently, and Zaan sat next to him, looking at him happily. "We came to accompany the bride."
Zhan looked at Tieh gently. "Hello, bride. May heaven grant you a happy marriage life together."
Only then did Tieh look at him again, neither praising nor exposing him. She said, "Thanks."
Zaan kept looking at Tieh, indicating she didn't like how she had responded to him. Mian-Mian herself just looked away.
Situ entered the room. "Oh, so you've come in."
Zhan smiled. "Yes, I came in."
Situ hurried over and sat down as well. "Zaan told me about you in China, and now today I see you. Have you noticed how much we look alike?"
Zhan laughed. Mian-Mian and Zaan also laughed, except for Tieh, who frowned.
Gently, Zhan said, "That's just how heaven makes us."
Situ said, "It's true. Our mother greets you."
Zhan smiled. "I return the greeting warmly."
They began chatting in the room, except for Zhan, who only smiled whenever they looked at him. He was completely constrained, wanting to get up and leave, but he couldn't. He looked at the clock, saw that three o'clock had passed, and gathered the courage to stand up.
"I'll go inside for a bit; I have work to do."
Situ said, "But you will come back, right?"
Zhan smiled. "Yes, I'll come back this evening."
They walked him to the living room. Zhan greeted those sitting in the room and opened the door to leave. As he did, he almost collided with Yunxi. Their eyes met. Zhan quickly bowed his head. As he dodged, Yunxi quickly made way for him. Seeing Zaan and Situ behind him, Zhan gathered the courage to say to him, "How are you?"
Yunxi said, "I'm fine. How is Roulan?"
Zhan left the place without saying anything else. He opened his apartment door, went in, and closed it. Seeing that the afternoon had progressed, he just lay down.
He opened his eyes quickly, remembering that recently Yang-Yang had said he would send him a package. He checked, wondering if the Attorney had even left Dubai. As he opened his phone, he saw many messages that the Attorney had sent him. He went in and looked at the messages. Almost all of them were pictures.
He began downloading them.
He smiled when he saw a set of boxes. The Attorney said he should choose which one he wanted. Gently, he began scrolling, looking at the boxes. There wasn't a single ugly one among them. He smiled back as a reply, then sent him a message saying they were all very beautiful. Then he turned off his data.
After about ten minutes, the Attorney called him. Zhan glanced at the phone, then slowly answered and put it to his ear, greeting.
From the other end, the man said, "Meiqin."
Zhan said, "Yes, good day."
"Good day, I saw your reply. But I didn't ask you whether they are beautiful or not."
Zhan gave a small laugh. "Attorney, you also know they are beautiful."
"My question is, which one do you prefer, for your wedding iteams gifts?"
Zhan smiled. "I don't know which one to say, Attorney."
"Ask your friends, then."
Zhan said, "Okay, I'll ask."
"I'll be waiting for you before tomorrow, because tomorrow I will leave Dubai."
Gently, Zhan said, "Okay, Attorney."
Then he said goodbye and hung up.
Zhan went back to lying down gently. He tossed and turned, trying not to let the worry that was trying to find a space in his heart get to him. Then he got up, feeling hungry. He went to the kitchen to put on hot water to boil for tea.
As if told to look through the window, he saw Yunxi sitting outside doing nothing.
Their eyes met.
Zhan quickly looked away and continued what he was doing. Yunxi stood up slowly, came close to the window, stopped, and looked at him.
Trying his best not to look in his direction, Zhan said, "Wishing you a happy married life. May heaven grant you a good journey."
Yunxi just looked at him. Then, gently, he said, "Zhan."
Zhan turned off his gas without looking in Yunxi's direction. He headed to the kitchen door, and Yunxi watched him until he went out and closed the door.
Not having drunk his tea, Zhan was sitting in the sitting room when his phone began to ring. He picked it up, saw who was calling, answered, put it to his ear, and was silent.
"Come outside, we are out front."
That's what Yibo said to him. Zhan stood up gently, went to the bedroom, got his head warmer, put it on, and went out. When he reached the car, he opened it. Seeing no sign of Yibo getting out, he pulled out Roulan, looking at him.
As he was about to leave, Yibo said, "Wait, take the package from his grandma."
Zhan didn't say anything. He stopped. Yibo got out, opened the back of the car, took out a bag, and gave it to him.
Zhan accepted it. "We are grateful. May Heaven reward you with good."
As he turned to leave, he stopped again, looked at Yibo, and handed him his phone. "Put in her number for me so I can call her and thank her."
Yibo took the phone, entered his mother's number, and handed it back. Zhan accepted it. "Thanks."
Yibo said, "Don't forget to ask about Aunt Lihua's health when you call her, please."
Zhan said, "So she hasn't gotten better yet?"
Yibo said, "She is still in the hospital."
Zhan was silent. His body went cold for a moment. Then he said, "Well, may Heaven grant her health."
Yibo said, "Amen."
Gathering his courage, Zhan said, "And how is Shao's health?"
Yibo touched his head. "She is with her father's family. I didn't get to go see her because I only spent three days, and I was traveling all around Wuhan going to Aunt Lihua's hospital."
Zhan said, "Well, may Heaven make it easy. When we go home on vacation soon, I will go to visit Aunt Lihua and Aunty."
Yibo said, "Alright."
Zhan was silent again. Then he looked at him. "I want to ask you something, please."
Yibo was looking at him. He crossed his arms. "I'm listening."
Zhan said, "What is your relationship with Zaan and the others?"
Yibo was silent for a moment, thinking, before saying, "Who is Zaan?"
Zhan looked at him. "You don't know Zaan?"
Yibo opened his eyes wide. "Oh, you mean the one you met at my aunt house the day I took you there? Mian-Mian's mother."
Zhan said, "Yes."
Yibo said, "I think... no, they are just family friends. Mian-Mian's father and their father are just good friends, childhood friends if I'm not mistaken. That's just it."
Zhan said, "Then what about Mian-Mian?"
Yibo touched his head. "Her mother is my father's sister. Her father was once under my father, so Mian-Mian is my cousin."
Zhan said, "Okay."
Yibo looked at him. "But why did you ask?"
Zhan glare at him. "Is there anything wrong with me asking?"
Yibo smiled. "Not at all. When do your exams start?"
"In three weeks."
"Okay, good luck in advance."
Zhan said, "Amen." Then he took Roulan's hand, as Roulan was picking flowers, and headed inside the house. Yibo watched them, and Roulan waved at him until they went inside the house.
:
:
In the evening, Zhan was in the bedroom studying after Roulan had fallen asleep when he heard the doorbell ring. His face fell completely. He looked at the clock. It was already eight o'clock. He stood up gently, reached the door, stopped, and said, "Who is it?"
Hearing a woman's voice, he opened the door. Situ was standing at the doorstep. "Zhan, I want to spend the night here if it's okay with you."
Zhan said, "Oh, you are welcome."
Then he let her in. She came into the parlor, saying, "Zaan was crowding me, that's why I came here. If It's not late, I would have gone to Mian-Mian's house."
Zhan smiled. "Then let's go inside."
Situ followed him until they reached his bedroom. Situ looked at Roulan, who was sleeping, and said, "Wow, is this your little one?"
Zhan smiled and didn't say anything.
Then Situ said, "I want sleep here with you guy's." She climbed onto the bed on one side. "I hope I'm not crowding you and it's ok with you?."
Zhan sat on the edge of the bed. "Oh, it's no trouble at all."
Situ said, "You know, I've even started telling our father about you."
Zhan laughed. "Oh, really?"
Situ said, "Yes. Even Tieh's husband, Dr. Yunxi, was staring at me yesterday when we came. Since he didn't know me, because we don't live in the same house as Tieh. She is my cousin. My father and her mother share the same parents."
Zhan said, "Oh, that's nice."
Situ said, "So you only came to this country to study?"
Zhan nodded. "I'm almost finished."
Situ said, "Oh. In China, which state do your parents live in?"
Zhan said, "Beijing."
Situ nodded. "Tieh's family is in Beijing too. We are in Shanghai."
Situ's phone began to ring. She checked it, stood up, and went to the far end of the bed. "Let me answer this call, Zhan."
Then she took the call. Zhan smiled, stood up to get them sweaters. He felt in his heart that he liked Situ. She was just free-minded. He went to the other side of the bed and lay down after setting a sweater for Situ. He closed his eyes, and sleep immediately took him.
In the morning, after they had finished their morning routines, Situ went back to lie down. Zhan went out to the kitchen, thinking about what to make for breakfast to take to Zaan and the others. He decided on chips, fried eggs, and brewed tea for them, since that was the extent of what he could cook there .... either noodles or English breakfast. He didn't care for the local food, which was why he didn't even buy the items.
He preferred English food. By the time he finished what he was doing in the kitchen, Situ was still sleeping. He took Roulan out of the room to another room, bathed him, got his uniform, dressed him, put on his cold-weather clothes, and then gave him breakfast. He bathed himself before Roulan finished, dressed in an casual clothes. Seeing that there was still time, he didn't take the breakfast to them; instead, he took Roulan to school. When he returned, he found Situ in the living room.
Zhan said, "So you're awake?"
Situ said, "Honestly, Dr. Yunxi woke me up just now. He came looking for you."
Zhan said, "Looking for me for what?"
Situ said, "No, he was going out and said he would drop your little one at school, but I said you had probably already taken him."
Zhan said, "Oh, I just came from there. There's hot water in the bathroom if you want to bathe."
Situ stood up. "No, let me go over there and bathe, since my things are over there. I was just waiting for you to return."
Then she headed to the door. Zhan said, "Okay, then. But will you come back?"
Situ laughed. "Yes, I'll come back."
Zhan said, "I'll leave your breakfast for you here, then."
Situ said, "But we are leaving this morning, Zhan."
Zhan said, "Really?"
Situ said, "Yes, but we will go to Mian-Mian's house. Our mother is there. This evening, we will head back to China."
Zhan said, "Oh, okay then. When I finish lectures this evening, perhaps I will come to Mian-Mian's house and say goodbye."
Situ said, "Not 'perhaps.' Just come and greet our mother, she is at the house. Please come. Honestly, I like you, Zhan. I want us to be friends."
Zhan laughed. "Okay, I will come."
Then Situ left. Zhan took the breakfast he had made for them in the kitchen and brought it to them. He gently opened the door that was already ajar and entered the living room. No one was in the room, but the air conditioning was on despite the cold weather. He gently knelt in the middle of the room and set down the items in his hands. He was thinking of going into the room when a feeling told him to just leave, and they would see the food when they came out.
He was about to stand up when Yunxi came out. He entered the living room, looking at Zhan. Just then, Situ came out of the room. Seeing Zhan, she said, "Oh, Zhan, I left my phone in your bedroom."
Zhan stood up quickly. "Oh, let me go get it for you. I was just about to come back with the flask."
Then he left. Yunxi kept looking at Situ, and she didn't refuse to look back at him. She said, "Good morning, Doctor."
He said, "morning." He turned and went into his bedroom, sat on a chair, and looked at Tieh as she entered the room. She had draped a wrap over her body and wore a veil; she looked very beautiful. Gently, she said, "Good morning."
He said, "I'm fine, dear. I want to ask you something, may I?"
She looked at him. "I'm listening."
He said, "Situ, that's what they call her, right?"
Tieh looked at him. "Yes. What about her?"
He said, "What is your relationship with her, please?"
Tieh said, "She is my cousin. My mother and her father share the same parents. What's wrong?"
He kept looking at her before saying, "Where do they live?"
She said, "Shanghai."
He said, "Okay, sorry for asking this, dear. Besides Situ's father, your mother, and your uncle in Guangzhou, are there any other uncles or aunts that I don't know about? I'm asking you about your mother's side."
Tieh was silent for a moment, then said, "Well, there were only five siblings on my maternal parents' side. Our uncle in Guangzhou is the eldest, then Situ's father, then Uncle Ayuo, then my mother, and then the youngest, but she passed away."
Yunxi, who was looking at her, said, "Since when?"
She shook her head. "I really don't know. Mom told me we were children at the time. She still talks about her younger sister to this day. It seems she loved her very much."
Yunxi looked at her for a long moment. "And did she marry before she died?"
Tieh said, "Honestly, I don't know."
Yunxi came close to her. "Please do me a favor and ask your Mother to tell you more about her."
Tieh looked at him in surprise. "But why?"
He touched his head. "Just ask her for me, please, wife."
She smiled slightly. "Okay, I will ask her for you."
He said, "Yes, thank you very much."
Zhan returned to his apartment, picked up Situ's phone and the flask of Lipton tea he had made, and went back to Dr. Yunxi's apartment. Situ was in the living room waiting for him.
After she took her phone, she said, "Thanks so much, Zhan. Won't you come in and greet Zaan and Tieh?"
Zhan smiled. "Well, I'm going. I'll be right back."
Then he left. He entered his apartment, grabbed only his school bag, and left the house because he didn't want to run into Yunxi again. He just couldn't stand the sight of him anymore.
***
Just as he had told Situ, they finished lectures at three-something, and he went to Mian-Mian's house since he had promised. Aunt Marry was happy to see him, and so was Situ's mother. Zhan recognized Situ's mother because she was the one he had video-called days earlier.
Situ said, "Mum, you see him?"
Her Mother smiled. "Yes, I see him. How are your parents, Zhan?"
Zhan said, "They are fine..."
She said, "You live in Beijing?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes."
Aunt Marry said, "Where is Roulan, Zhan?"
Zhan said, "He's at school, Aunt."
They were preparing to leave for the airport. Zhan just sat in the sitting room with Aunt Marry and Situ's mother. His mind was completely on Roulan, knowing he had finished school, but he didn't know why he couldn't just say goodbye and leave. His phone rang. He looked at Zaan, who was sitting next to him, excused himself, and went outside.
He didn't pick up the phone; his whole body went cold. He had completely forgotten that Yang-Yang was waiting for his call. Seeing that he would hang up, he finally answered and put it to his ear, greeting him gently.
The Attorney responded, "Hmm, it seems... Meiqin, am I the only one going crazy here?"
Worried, Zhan said, "I am very sorry, Attorney. I meant to call you, but I forgot. But you know that whatever you see that looks good to you, honestly, I want it. I want your choice."
The Attorney was silent. Zhan said gently, "You've gone silent, Attorney."
The Attorney said, "Okay, then..."
Zhan interrupted. "You're still angry, right?"
The Attorney said, "Sure."
Zhan said, "But I said I'm sorry."
Yang-Yang said, "Meiqin, if I were important to you, you wouldn't have said you forgot. I am still in Dubai because of you, and you tell me you forgot."
Zhan's body went cold. "Please, I'm sorry..."
The Attorney said, "I've heard you." Then he said goodbye and hung up.
Zhan stood there, not feeling well at all, because he knew he hadn't treated Yang-Yang fairly. Just then, a car entered the compound. He followed the car with his eyes until it parked and Yibo got out.
Yibo stared at him, then hurried to where he was standing. "Meilin, when did you come?"
Zhan said, "Just now."
Yibo said, "Good evening."
Zhan said, "Same. Please tell the mothers that I have left. Roulan is still at school."
Yibo looked at his wristwatch. "Still at school? It's after four."
Zhan said, "I came to say goodbye to Situ and the others."
Yibo looked at the clock again. "Okay, then let's go pick him up, and I'll take you home. I have to take them to the airport anyway..."
Zhan said, "No, don't worry. Just take them to the airport. Thanks."
Then he turned and left the house.
When he arrived at Roulan's school, he found that someone had already come to pick him up. Zhan went home. In the bedroom, he took off his clothes and wrapped a towel to take a bath when the door opened quickly. He turned around.
Roulan entered with a greeting, widened his eyes, and said, "Momy, today I'm home before you again!"
Zhan said, "Who brought you back?"
Roulan said, "Uncle, of course."
Zhan pulled him and sat on the edge of the bed. "And the aunt at the house, what did she tell you?"
Roulan said, "Nothing. She only gave me food with juice. Then she said I should come and take off my uniform."
Zhan clicked his tongue. "And what is that uncle doing?"
Roulan opened his eyes. "He's also in the room...and Momy are you gossiping?."
Zhan clicked his tongue again and glare at Roulan, he took off Roulan uniform, and began to bathe him. Then they came out. Zhan got him ready and told him to rest. Zhan went to take a bath, came out, and got ready himself.
Roulan was doing his assignment on the bed. Zhan picked up his phone and began writing a text to the Attorney apologizing. As soon as he finished writing and sent it, the doorbell rang. He stood up and went out.
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