Zhan refused to open his eyes.
Yunxi looked at him quietly before saying in a gentle voice, "You won't even look at me, Zhan."
Zhan turned his face away.
After a brief silence, Yunxi stood up and returned to the chair beside the bed. He sat down, watching him carefully.
"Fine," he said softly. "If you don't want to see me, I'll leave."
Slowly, Zhan turned his head and looked at him.
The moment their eyes met, Yunxi felt a sharp ache in his chest. He moved closer again, took Zhan's hand gently, and spoke in a low voice.
"If I did something wrong, tell me, Zhan. I don't want you hurting because of me. Please... tell me what's bothering you."
Zhan looked at him quietly. "What exactly is on my mind that I should tell you?"
"You can tell me anything," Yunxi replied softly. "I don't know what you're thinking about me anymore. Just speak honestly."
Zhan took a slow breath. "Do you think I'm in this hospital because of you?"
Yunxi's eyes widened immediately. "No, that's not what I meant."
Zhan looked away. "It's just an illness. That's all."
Yunxi lowered his gaze briefly. "Then I hope you recover quickly."
Zhan nodded faintly.
"Have you eaten?" Yunxi asked.
"Mian-Mian and the others brought food for me," Zhan replied quietly.
At that moment, his phone lit up with an incoming call. Yunxi picked it up and handed it to him.
Zhan glanced at the screen and saw Yang-Yang calling. He answered and held the phone to his ear.
"Where have you been, Meiqin?" Yang-Yang asked immediately, worry clear in his voice. "I've been calling you."
"Sorry," Zhan said softly, leaning back against the pillow. "I woke up with stomach pain this morning. It got worse at school, so they brought me to the clinic. I'm still here."
"What kind of pain?" Yang-Yang asked anxiously.
"I don't know. Just stomach pain."
There was a short pause before Yang-Yang asked carefully, "Could it be your cycle?"
Zhan blinked in surprise. Honestly, he had almost forgotten about it himself. Ever since the twin's birth, it rarely happened anymore, and when it did, it was brief but painful enough to leave him exhausted.
"So that's it?" Yang-Yang asked again.
Zhan laughed softly. "No. It isn't."
"Really?" Yang-Yang sounded relieved.
"Yes."
"Good," Yang-Yang said teasingly. "Then I'll have to increase your bridal gift."
Embarrassed, Zhan hid part of his face in the blanket, aware that Yunxi was still sitting nearby.
Yunxi kept his eyes on his phone, pretending not to listen.
"Really?" Zhan asked quietly.
"Yes," Yang-Yang replied warmly. "You're rare, Meiqin."
Zhan only hummed softly in response.
At that moment, Yunxi stood up and headed for the door. Zhan glanced at him briefly as he left the room.
"Are you feeling better now?" Yang-Yang asked.
"Yes. They said I'll probably be discharged tomorrow."
"Who brought you to the hospital?"
Zhan almost answered with Yibo's name but stopped himself.
"Mian-Mian," he said quickly. "The friend I mentioned before. She saw me at school and brought me here."
"That was kind of her," Yang-Yang said. "And Roulan?"
"He's staying with the neighbors."
"Alright. I'll send money for the hospital bill."
Zhan shook his head immediately even though Yang-Yang couldn't see him. "No, please. Mian-Mian's family already handled it."
"Then use it for food instead," Yang-Yang said. "Take care of yourself properly."
Zhan smiled faintly. "Okay."
"Rest well, dear," Yang-Yang said gently. "I hope you recover quickly."
"Thank you."
After the call ended, Zhan slowly sat up. Strangely, he felt lighter, as though some of the pain had eased.
A little while later, Mian-Mian returned to the ward.
"You're awake," she said with a smile.
Zhan nodded. "Yes."
"Dr. Yunxi said to tell you he already left. He'll come back in the morning."
"Okay," Zhan replied softly. "I was on the phone when he left."
The two of them talked quietly for hours, so long that even Mian-Mian became surprised by how much they had chatted. Eventually, close to midnight, they both drifted off to sleep.
The next morning at seven o'clock, Yibo came to the clinic. Zhan was in the bathroom brushing his teeth with the new toothbrush and toothpaste Mian-Mian had brought for him. Yibo greeted Mian-Mian and asked her.
"How is he feeling?"
Mian-Mian smiled lightly. "Much better."
Just then, Zhan came out and walked over to them. He looked at Yibo gently.
"Good morning."
"Morning, Meilin. How are you feeling now?"
"I'm much better. Thank you for taking care of everything."
Yibo smiled faintly, relieved to see him looking calmer than he had the previous day. He placed the breakfast Aunt Marry had packed on the small table nearby.
Zhan sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him. "Please, go home now. I don't want to trouble everyone because of me. Please pick Roulan up and take him to school."
Yibo touched his own hair lightly. "Wouldn't Dr. Yunxi take him?"
"Well, if you won't go, then I'll go myself and take him to school. Besides... I know Dr. Yunxi's there..."
Yibo smiled. "I never said I wouldn't go, sir."
Zhan pouted slightly, making Yibo laugh under his breath before turning and leaving the ward.
Mian-Mian watched him go, then stood and prepared tea and an egg from the breakfast Yibo had brought.
Zhan accepted it quietly.
"Thank you."
He began eating slowly, stirring the tea with a spoon.
About an hour later, Yibo returned to the ward. He dragged a chair closer, sat down, and leaned back.
"So you only sent me away to make me look stupid?"
Zhan looked at him. "What happened?"
Yibo only smiled before glancing at him again. Zhan continued drinking his tea.
Then Yibo stood up. "Your discharge papers are ready. We can leave now."
Zhan immediately looked up. "What about the hospital bill? I don't have money with me right now. If we go home, I'll give it to you later. How much was it?"
Yibo stared at him silently for a long moment before turning and walking out of the ward again.
Mian-Mian smiled knowingly. "He already paid it, Zhan."
Zhan lowered his gaze, gathered his phone, and bag, and stood up slowly.
"Then... thank you."
Mian-Mian carried the tea things Yibo had brought, and together they walked outside.
In the hospital courtyard, Yibo was already waiting inside the car. Mian-Mian got into the front seat while Zhan sat in the back. As they drove away from the clinic, every time Zhan lifted his head, he found Yibo's eyes watching him through the rearview mirror.
Three times their eyes met.
Three times Zhan quickly looked away.
Feeling uncomfortable, he shifted farther toward the window and stared outside for the rest of the drive.
When they arrived home, the car stopped. Zhan stepped out and walked around to Mian-Mian's side.
"Thank you so much, Mian-Mian. And please thank your mother for me too. I'll come by this evening or tomorrow if I can."
Mian-Mian smiled softly. "It's nothing. Please come anytime."
Then Zhan looked at Yibo, who had been quietly watching him the entire time.
As though he had almost decided not to speak to him at all, Zhan finally said softly, "Thank you."
Then he turned to leave.
Yibo's voice stopped him gently.
"I'll bring your medicine this evening, Meilin."
"Okay."
Without another word, Zhan went inside the house. Yibo started the car, and they drove away.
✴✴✴
From that day onward, Zhan completely pushed Yunxi and Tieh to the back of his mind.
Greetings between them became brief and distant.
Even Zhan himself was surprised that he could now greet Tieh casually, when before her coldness had always made him uneasy. Somehow, all the emotions he once carried for Yunxi had been cut away in a single moment.
The restless feelings that used to keep him awake at night slowly disappeared too. Whenever thoughts of Yunxi tried to return, Zhan forced himself to push them away.
Now his focus was only on his exams.
Most mornings he left early and returned late, often discovering that Yunxi had already picked Roulan up from school before he even came home.
Sometimes they did not realize Zhan had returned until much later.
And strangely, Zhan felt lighter this way.
Every few days, he visited Mian-Mian's house to greet Aunt Marry. Almost every time he went there, he met Yibo as well.
Sometimes he allowed Yibo to drive him home.
Other times he refused and walked back alone.
Yibo never argued. He would only smile quietly and let him go.
And each time, Zhan walked away feeling a strange guilt he could not explain.
More and more, Yibo reminded him of little Rouxue. Roulan had inherited so many of Yibo's habits and expressions that it became impossible for Zhan not to notice. Perhaps because of that, his resentment toward Yibo no longer burned as fiercely as before.
Yunxi, meanwhile, was trapped in a confusion he could not escape from.
He had investigated quietly and discovered the truth: Tieh and Zhan truly were related.
Close relatives.
That knowledge alone left his thoughts tangled beyond repair.
What hurt him most, however, was not the truth itself, but the distance Zhan now kept between them.
Whenever Zhan greeted him, it was only when Tieh was nearby. If they happened to meet alone, Zhan would not even raise his eyes toward him. He would simply walk away as quickly as possible.
And despite everything, Yunxi realized he still could not remove Zhan from his heart.
Not even after believing he had betrayed him.
Not even after discovering the connection between him and Tieh.
It should have made things easier.
Instead, it only left him more lost than before.
***
Back in China, Yang-Yang had finally finished preparing all the wedding packages. Every item had been carefully selected by him personally. Whenever he bought something new, he would send pictures to Zhan on WeChat, asking whether he liked it or not.
After everything was completed, he took the gifts meant for Zizi to her as part of the formal wedding preparations.
The moment Zizi saw the boxes being brought inside, her chest tightened painfully.
Yang-Yang briefly explained what they were for, but he did not stay long enough to listen to anything she might say before leaving again.
The instant he was gone, Zizi broke down into bitter tears.
She sat staring at the expensive packages in front of her, feeling as though her entire world was collapsing around her.
:
:
As the wedding day drew closer, she still had not managed to get Zhan's number from Yang-Yang's phone. Every trick she had tried had failed completely.
What she did not know was that Yang-Yang had already noticed her behavior. Quietly, he had changed the name under which he saved Zhan's contact....from "Meiqin" to "Roulan's Pa."
Zizi sat slowly on the chair, wiping her tears.
Then suddenly, another idea entered her mind.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Let the wedding day come first," she murmured softly. "The person thinks he has won, doesn't he? Fine... on the very first night in that house, I'll show everyone exactly who he really is."
Her smile widened coldly.
"And after that, he'll regret ever marrying him."
With her heart racing wildly, she stood and walked toward the bedroom.
No matter what happened, she was determined to destroy Zhan's place in that house forever.
Only one week remained before the wedding.
Zhan had finally finished his exams and gone on holiday.
Meanwhile, Yang-Yang traveled to Uncle Jincai's town after Zhan mother gave him the address.
The old man was suffering badly from pain in his legs, but he still forced himself to move around the house. His two married children were both struggling in unhappy marriages, and most of his wealth had disappeared over the years. All he had left now were two cars and the old family house he still lived in.
After Yang-Yang explained the reason for his visit, Uncle Jincai leaned back in his chair inside the living room and looked at him coldly.
"No," he said flatly. "You are mistaken. I have no sin named Zhan. Go to his mother's people, not me. You may leave now."
Yang-Yang looked at him calmly.
"But you know him right?."
The old man scoffed.
"So what if I do? It's been more than ten years since I last saw that boy. He has been wandering around with his father's enemy all this time."
Yang-Yang had expected this reaction from the beginning. That was exactly why he had come alone, without involving anyone else from his family.
He also never expected Uncle Jincai to willingly stand as Zhan's guardian in the marriage arrangements.
A faint smile touched Yang-Yang's lips.
"Uncle, whether you accept the marriage or not is not the issue," he said quietly. "You know very well that money can open many doors in this world. I came here today because I wanted your blessing as his father's representative."
He paused slightly before continuing.
"And since Zhan is now an adult of sound mind, I believe it is also time you released the inheritance left to him by his father."
The old man's eyes widened instantly.
He struggled to his feet in disbelief.
"Inheritance?" he repeated sharply. "Whose inheritance are you talking about?"
Yang-Yang stepped closer calmly, pulled out his identification card, and held it where the old man could see it clearly.
"I am Attorney Yang-Yang," he said in a low voice. "And I advise you not to let this matter reach the courts. Ten years is already far too long."
His eyes hardened slightly.
"Return what belongs to him."
Then without another word, he turned and walked out of the house.
Uncle Jincai stood frozen where he was, watching him leave as unease settled heavily inside him.
That same day, Zhan had finally completed his exams.
He was in the bedroom folding clothes carefully into a travel bag, preparing the things he would take back to China.
Roulan had fallen asleep in the living room after playing all afternoon.
Zhan smiled faintly to himself while arranging the last set of clothes neatly.
Then suddenly, he heard the front door open.
He froze.
He had not even realized the door was unlocked.
Quickly he hurried toward the bedroom entrance....Only to nearly collide with someone standing directly outside the door.
Zhan stepped back immediately, staring at Yunxi in surprise.
Yunxi entered the room and quietly shut the door behind him.
Zhan's eyes widened. "Doctor... what is this?"
Without answering right away, Yunxi walked closer to him.
"Tell me why you've been avoiding me, Zhan."
Zhan frowned and stepped farther back. "Avoiding you how? I greet you when I see you. What else do you want from me?"
Seeing Yunxi continue toward him, Zhan quickly turned, intending to escape into the bathroom. But Yunxi caught his wrist, stopping him before gently turning him back around.
Zhan struggled immediately, panic flashing across his face.
"Please stop, Doctor. What are you doing? Let me go."
Yunxi held him firmly but not harshly, his eyes fixed on him.
"Is it a crime that I got married?"
Zhan clicked his tongue in disbelief before taking a deep breath.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"Yes, you do," Yunxi replied quietly. "Ever since I got married, you've pushed me farther away than before. I cared about you, Zhan. I wanted to marry you, but you shut me out completely. Tell me what you want from me. What exactly am I supposed to do?"
Zhan's voice hardened. "Let go of me first."
This time, Yunxi released him immediately.
Zhan stepped back, straightened himself, and looked directly at him.
"If you loved me the way you claim, nothing I say would change what's already in your heart. And now you have someone you love. You're married to her. So don't stand here telling me these things, Yunxi."
Yunxi stared at him, stunned by the calmness in his voice.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of the living room door opening.
Both of them turned toward the bedroom entrance.
Yunxi walked to the door and opened it, with Zhan following slowly behind.
Tieh was standing in the middle of the living room, one hand resting on her waist.
Yunxi approached her cautiously, stopping a short distance away.
But Tieh refused to look at him.
Instead, she walked straight past him toward Zhan.
Zhan remained near the bedroom doorway without fully stepping into the living room.
Tieh looked him up and down before giving a cold smile.
"Zhan," she said softly, "who exactly do you think you are?"
Zhan said nothing.
Tieh's expression sharpened.
"Let me warn you before I take things further. Stay away from my husband."
Her eyes burned fiercely as she pointed at him.
"I'm repeating myself clearly...stay away from him."
Yunxi's face darkened instantly.
Tieh continued without hesitation.
"Whatever fantasy you've built in your heart, erase it. Yunxi is far beyond your reach. He's not your equal. He's not someone meant for you."
She folded her arms.
"And let me give you some advice. If you truly want a peaceful marriage, then go back to the father of your children. At least that one will protects your image."
Her lips curled cruelly.
"Honestly, that is the only thing saving you."
Yunxi clenched his fists.
Tieh looked Zhan directly in the eyes.
"If Yunxi ever wanted another wife, I'd rather he married someone untouched like me. At least then we would stand equal."
Her voice turned even sharper.
"But you? Where exactly do you get the confidence to challenge me?"
She laughed bitterly.
"The leftovers of another man?"
Yunxi snapped.
"Tieh!"
In seconds, he reached her, fury blazing across his face.
"Have you lost your mind? Do you even know who you're speaking to?"
Tieh shot him a cold look and raised a hand to silence him.
"Don't interfere. I'm talking to him, not you."
Her eyes returned to Zhan.
"I don't care who he is. Since he's managed to turn your head, then I'll deal with him myself."
Yunxi grabbed her arm roughly, barely controlling his anger.
"Do you know I could slap you right now for these words?"
Tieh laughed mockingly.
"And if you do, I'll make him pay for it."
She tilted her head.
"You'd really raise your hand against me because of a man who chases married men?"
Yunxi went silent for a moment.
Then slowly, he released her arm and stepped back, disgust flashing in his eyes.
"I'm waiting for the day you'll regret these words, Tieh," he said quietly. "The day you won't even be able to look him in the eye after knowing the truth."
His voice lowered further.
"And one day, you'll watch me marry him and bring him into this family openly."
A strange smile appeared on Zhan's face.
He said nothing.
Quietly, he turned around, walked back into the bedroom, closed the door, and locked it behind him.
For nearly ten minutes, he remained lying motionless on the bed.
He didn't even understand why he couldn't cry.
But four phrases kept echoing endlessly inside his head.
Leftovers of another man.
Chases married men.
Not your equal.
Stay away from my husband.
So this was how Tieh truly saw him.
A faint, bitter smile crossed his lips.
Then he touched his cheek and realized tears were already falling.
He buried his face into the pillow and stayed there silently for hours.
By midnight, the cold had become unbearable.
With difficulty, Zhan forced himself to stand. His entire body trembled as he pulled winter clothes over himself.
Only then did he realize Roulan was not beside him.
Alarmed, he hurried into the living room.
He found the little boy curled tightly on one of the chairs, shivering despite the thick sweater he wore.
Zhan's chest tightened painfully.
He rushed over, lifted Roulan into his arms, and held him close against his chest for warmth.
Then he locked the front door, switched off the living room light, and carried him back into the bedroom.
After laying Roulan carefully on the bed, he tucked the duvet tightly around him.
Zhan then went into the bathroom and turned on warm water.
Much later, around two in the morning, he finally lay down beside Roulan.
Exhaustion pulled him into a deep sleep almost instantly.
💚💙❤🖤