From the moment he finished getting ready that morning, Zhan busied himself packing the rest of their belongings. Once he was done, he woke Roulan, helped him get dressed, and gave him tea with the remaining cake in the house. After preparing himself as well, he picked up his phone and scrolled through the call log, searching quietly for Yibo's number. Even though he had never saved it, he knew it by heart.
He stared at the number for several long seconds before finally calling.
After two rings, Yibo answered. In his gentle voice, he said, "Meilin, I hope everything is alright?"
Zhan lowered his gaze. "Good morning."
"Morning," Yibo replied softly. "Where is Roulan?"
Zhan glanced at Roulan, who was sitting beside him. In a quiet voice, he said, "Can you come and take us to the airport, please? If it won't trouble you."
"Of course," Yibo answered immediately. "You're leaving for China today?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I'm on my way."
Then he hung up.
About fifteen minutes later, Zhan sat on the couch with Roulan in his arms. Anyone who saw him would have thought he was ill. He looked drained, weak, as though something deep inside him had collapsed. Every time Tieh's words from the previous evening replayed in his mind, a bitter smile would appear on his lips.
Bitch.
Leftovers.
Clinging to married men.
The words would not leave him.
His phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts. Seeing Yibo's name, he stood up slowly, picked up his small bag, and made sure everything in the apartment was switched off before locking the door. Then he walked outside with Roulan's hand in his.
Yibo was already there, leaning against his car with his arms crossed, dressed warmly against the cold. The moment Roulan reached him, Yibo bent down and hugged him gently.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
Roulan smiled weakly. "Good morning, Daddy."
Yibo lifted his eyes to Zhan, who quickly lowered his gaze.
"Good morning," Yibo said.
"Morning," Zhan replied softly.
Yibo walked around the car and opened the back door for him. Zhan got in with Roulan beside him, and Yibo closed the door before taking his place in the driver's seat.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the airport.
After parking, Yibo got out and carried Roulan in his arms. Concern filled his face as he looked at Zhan.
"Meilin, the cold has affected him badly."
Zhan looked at Roulan, who was coughing against Yibo's shoulder, and lowered his eyes. "I've been very careful with him. I don't know how this happened."
"Does he drink cold water?"
Zhan shook his head. "No."
Roulan coughed again, harder this time. Worried, Zhan stepped closer.
"Put him down before he throws up on you."
The moment the words left his mouth, Roulan vomited the tea he had drunk all over Yibo's clothes.
Zhan's eyes widened. "Oh no..."
Yibo didn't react with anger. He simply rubbed Roulan's back gently and spoke softly to calm him.
Flustered, Zhan said, "Where can we get water? He ruined your clothes."
"I think I have bottled water in the car," Yibo replied.
"Give me the keys. I'll get it."
Yibo handed them over without hesitation.
Zhan hurried to the car and quickly returned with the water bottle. He handed it to Yibo, who set Roulan down carefully before pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and clean the mess from his clothes.
Zhan watched him for a moment before asking quietly, "You didn't rinse his mouth?"
"It's too cold," Yibo answered gently.
After cleaning Roulan up, Yibo tried taking off the stained sweater. Seeing him struggle slightly, Zhan stepped behind him and carefully helped him remove it.
For a brief moment, they stood very close together.
Yibo turned to look at him.
Zhan immediately lowered his eyes, focusing only on the stain on the sweater in his hands.
"Pour some water for me," he murmured.
"It'll be freezing," Yibo said. "Let me do it."
"No. Just pour it." Zhan insists.
Without arguing further, Yibo opened the bottle and poured water while Zhan carefully washed the stained area. Once he finished, he wrung the sweater gently.
Meanwhile, Yibo turned toward Roulan and saw him leaning weakly against another car nearby. His face had gone pale.
Yibo immediately walked over, lifted him back into his arms, and held him close.
"Sorry, son," he whispered.
Zhan looked at them anxiously. "I don't want him vomiting on the plane."
Yibo turned toward him calmly. "He won't. Let's get him some medicine first."
Then he started walking, carrying Roulan, while Zhan followed silently behind him.
Only after Zhan had settled into the car did Yibo walk around the vehicle, hand Roulan carefully to him, close the door, and return to the driver's seat. He started the engine and drove toward a nearby pharmacy, where he bought medicine for Roulan's cold and cough.
Once they were back on the road, Yibo spoke quietly.
"Can I accompany the two of you, Meilin? Because of Roulan's condition, I can postpone my schedule for today."
Zhan sat silently, holding Roulan close against his chest. He did not answer immediately.
When he realized Yibo was driving toward the airport road again, he turned to him gently. "You're not prepared. You can't just travel like that."
"I'll go home first," Yibo replied calmly. "I'll leave the car there, then we'll return to the airport and complete the boarding process."
Zhan lowered his eyes. "But your Aunt and the others don't know."
Yibo glanced at him softly. "I'll explain everything. She'll understand."
Zhan remained quiet for a moment before finally saying, "Alright then."
Yibo drove home and parked outside the gate. Turning slightly toward him, he said, "You probably don't want to go inside and greet aunt right now. Besides, it's still early. Let me get a taxi so you can wait inside where it's warmer."
Zhan said nothing.
Yibo stepped out, stopped a taxi, and explained to the driver that he would only be a few minutes. He transferred their luggage into the taxi before opening the back door for Zhan.
Zhan got in with Roulan in his arms.
Yibo handed him the small bag containing Roulan's medicine.
"Keep this with you."
Zhan accepted it quietly.
Then Yibo drove his own car into the compound and parked it. A few minutes later, he returned carrying a small travel bag, got into the taxi with them, and together they headed back to the airport.
Around nine o'clock, their flight finally took off.
After boarding, Yibo noticed the woman seated beside Zhan preparing to settle in. He looked at her politely, silently asking if she would mind switching seats.
The woman immediately understood and smiled. "That's alright."
She returned to Yibo's seat, and Yibo took the place beside Zhan, holding Roulan carefully in his arms.
He glanced at Zhan, who had his eyes closed. "Did you eat before leaving the house?"
Zhan opened his eyes slightly and adjusted his posture. "I drank tea."
Yibo nodded and said nothing more.
Not long afterward, Roulan fell asleep against Yibo's chest.
At first, Zhan only rested with his eyes shut, but eventually exhaustion overcame him completely.
Yibo looked at him quietly.
Even without being told, he could tell something was deeply troubling him. There was pain sitting heavily inside him, something Yibo did not dare ask about.
He leaned back slightly, memories drifting through his mind.
The first day Zhan had arrived at their house...
How he had stared blankly at the television, barely hearing anyone speaking to him.
How he had accidentally stepped on Yibo's foot while rushing toward the kitchen and apologized so softly.
From that very day, Yibo had felt that fate itself had brought Zhan into his life.
His gaze softened as he looked at him now.
Zhan was beautiful in too many ways.
Slowly, Yibo lowered his eyes to Roulan. Aside from the boy's pink lips, there was almost nothing he had inherited from him. Everything else belonged to Zhan.
A gentle weight suddenly rested against his shoulder.
Yibo looked down.
Zhan had fallen asleep against him.
For several seconds, Yibo simply stared at him quietly. Then, without moving away or waking him, he allowed him to remain there peacefully.
By evening, they landed in Beijing.
After collecting their luggage and passing through the airport, Yibo accompanied them all the way to Xixue's house.
The taxi stopped outside the gate.
Yibo stepped out first, carrying the still-sleeping Roulan in his arms. Zhan followed behind him.
Yibo picked up Zhan's bag and handed it over. "Take this inside first, then come back for him."
Without arguing, Zhan went inside with the bag.
Yibo turned to the taxi driver apologetically. "You'll need to take me home afterward."
The driver nodded.
A few moments later, Zhan returned.
Yibo stepped toward him carefully and transferred Roulan into his arms.
Zhan held the sleeping boy close and looked at Yibo. "Thank you very much."
Yibo only smiled faintly.
"Make sure he eats before giving him the medicine."
"Alright."
"I'll head home now," Yibo said softly.
"Send my greetings to Aunty and Bqby."
Then he got back into the taxi.
The driver started the engine, and the car slowly pulled away.
Zhan stood there watching until it disappeared from sight. Only then did he turn toward the house.
Before he could enter properly, the nanny hurried over and gently took Roulan from his arms. Together, they went inside.
Warm water had already been prepared for them.
The nanny bathed Roulan first before helping Zhan settle in as well.
When Zhan finally came out afterward, he found Xixue feeding Roulan.
She looked at him with mild reproach. "I knew this cold weather would affect the child. But you always insist on dragging him around with you during winter."
Zhan simply smiled quietly without saying a word.
Xixue was observing Zhan as he pushed the food around on his plate. Even if he didn't tell her, she could see that he was very troubled. She said, "Zhan."
He quickly looked up, saw how she was looking at him, and took some of the rice in front of him and put it in his mouth. He wanted to ask her if she had spoken to him, but he remained silent, eating his food.
Xixue said, "Tell me your problem. What are you thinking about?"
Zhan widened his large eyes. "Nothing, Mommy. I'm just tired."
She said, "Well, finish eating, then go and rest."
Gently, Zhan said, "Okay."
With difficulty, he kept pushing the food around because he had no appetite at all. Why was he finding it hard to erase Tieh's hurtful words from his mind?
He finally stood up and went to the kitchen with his plate of rice. As he was washing it in the sink, Yang-Yang came to his mind. He knew Yang-Yang would not be happy that he came without telling him. He decided to just send him a message to let him know. He returned to the living room, picked up his phone, sat next to Xixue, and began writing him a text saying that he had returned now, and apologizing for not telling him before coming back.
Unfortunately, the phone was in Yang-Yang's bedroom, and he had gone into the bathroom. Just as Zizi entered the room, the text came in. She had intended to come in and take his ATM card without his consent.
Seeing his phone lit up on the mirror, she went quickly to the phone. She picked it up, saw the message, and used her finger to pull it down so she could read the content. She was very careful not to erase the message from the screen. She clicked her tongue as she looked at the text.
She emphasized "Roulan" in her heart more than could be counted. She smiled. So he had changed Meiqin to Roulan so she wouldn't recognize it. She quickly put the phone down when she heard a sign that he was about to come out. She turned on the light and began rummaging through the drawer in the mirror with a very serious face.
Yang-Yang came out wrapped in a towel, looking at her. He was very surprised to see her... since he had brought her the rival's gifts, she had stopped paying him any attention in the house.
She looked at him with a tense face. "Why are you staring at me that way?"
He didn't care what she said. "What are you looking for?"
She said curtly, "A razor blade. I saw some old one here when I'm fixing it. I want to sharpen my daughter's pencil; she has an assignment."
He clicked his tongue. "All her miscellaneous school materials, isn't there a sharpener that you have to come in here looking for a razor?"
She gave him a look. "Well, you are not blind. You see everything. She takes everything to school and comes back without it like some fool. Or am I supposed to become a razor to sharpen her pencil???"
She didn't wait to hear anymore. She left the room. He shook his head and went to the mirror. He turned on his phone, saw Zhan's text on the screen, and widened his eyes. Then he looked quickly at the door. He didn't see any sign that she had touched the phone. Besides, if she had taken it, she would have opened the message, and he wouldn't have seen it on the screen.
That made him sure she hadn't taken the phone.
Zizi returned to the room and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking deeply. So now, whose advice would she seek? What she said she would do, waiting until the wedding was tied, was not far off. No, honestly, it was very far off. Her friend Anna called. She answered.
"Anna, please come early tomorrow morning. I am in big trouble."
Anna said, "Okay, I will come."
She put down the phone, stood up, and went up to her room. She wished Heaven would give her a chance to see this Meiqin so she could beat him up thoroughly before revealing the secret he knew about him. She left the room and went to Yang-Yang room, opening it gently to see what he was doing. No one was in the room, and he had taken his phone.
She ran downstairs. Seeing the kitchen light on, she knew he was there. She heard him on the phone in the kitchen. She pressed herself against the wall and heard him say, "Alright, dear. My regards to him. Tomorrow morning, I will come..."
Zizi quickly went to the stairs when she heard him about to come out. As he came out, she turned around as if she was just coming down. He didn't look at her, just as she didn't look at him. He reached a chair and sat down, holding a cup of tea.
***
Zhan was lying down around eleven o'clock at night.
Xixue said, "How are Yunxi and his wife?"
Zhan said, "They are there, fine."
"Does he know you came?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes, he knows. Mommy, Yibo accompanied us."
Xixue lifted her head, looked at him, and said, "Is he in the country?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes, he's around."
Xixue didn't say anything else. She lay back down. Zhan began showing Mommy the items that Yang-Yang had put in the package for him, via phone, because when he bought everything he sent it to Zhan to see if he wanted it.
Xixue said, "Wonderful."
Zhan said, "But, Mommy, how will I cope with studies and marriage? Or should I just tell him to leave me in that country to finish, if the wedding happens?"
Xixue said, "How many days is your vacation?"
Zhan said, "Not much. One month and a few weeks."
Xixue said, "And the wedding, how many weeks did you decided?"
Gently, he said, "Two."
She said, "You know he won't stop you from studying. Don't even say anything to him. But surely, he will let you finish."
Zhan said, "Okay, Mommy."
She said, "May Heaven bring us to that time safely."
Zhan said, "Amen. But, Mommy, my heart keeps falling."
Xixue said, "Then pray more. There is nothing anyone can do to you that Heaven has not already done."
⏭ ⏭
The next morning, from the time Zizi woke up, she was thinking of how to find out where Yang-Yang would go. Seeing that he had finished getting dressed in a suit and was sitting in the dining room drinking tea, she put on her scarf and went out as if to throw away trash. She didn't even return the guard's greeting, knowing that his mouth was one with Yang-Yang's; whatever happened in the house, Yang-Yang would ask him about it. Like how many of her friends came in a day, and despite the warning she gave him, he would tell him. If she left the house, Yang-Yang would know.
She stepped all the way to the main road and greeted the gas filling station attendant at the corner, who had a small container shop. He said, "Mother of Meiqin, just say when the gas runs out, and I will come and get it. I see it's been two weeks since it was done; I'm running low."
(You don't have to understand everything i wrote you know?😂 i don't understand it sometimes either 🤣🤣)
She said, "Oh, it's not like we use gas in the house. That's not what brought me here, Mr. Rabilu. I need a different favor from you, please. And honestly, I will pay you, whatever it is. But it's a secret between you and me."
She was talking while looking down the line to see if she could spot Yang-Yang's car.
Rabilu said, "Oh... a secret, Mother of Meiqin?"
She said, "It's nothing much. Very soon, Meiqin's father will come out in his car. So, please, I want you to start your machine and follow him to find out where he is going. Honestly, whatever you need, I will pay you, Rabilu. Don't worry; no one will know about you."
The man laughed heartily. "You want me to follow the Attorney on a machine, Mother of Meiqin?"
She took a deep breath. "You just do it; your payment will be made, no problem. And you people, it's only like this. I don't approve of his movements these days. Now, please, close up this container, get on your bike, and wait for him. He will come out anytime soon, I know. Come back this evening, and I will hear how it went. And your money, I will bring it, if Heaven wills."
Then she went back inside the compound. She was almost at the house when she saw Yang-Yang's car. She moved aside. He stopped the car and looked at her. "Zizi?"
She turned, her face tense, looking at him. He said, "With whose permission did you go out? And where did you go?"
She pointed to the house next to theirs. "The woman there called me. Her son burned himself with oil. So shouldn't I go? Or didn't you see that I rushed out?"
He closed his window, started his car, and drove off. She clicked her tongue and went inside the house. Yang-Yang went straight to his office, as a client was waiting for him.
:
:
Zhan was in the kitchen checking the stew that the nanny had made. He turned and looked at Roulan, who was handing him the phone. He took a deep breath. "Who is calling now?"
Roulan said, "Doctor."
Zhan said, "I told you not to bring it again. Didn't you hear?"
Roulan said, "I'm sorry, Momy."
Then he turned and went back with the phone. Yunxi had been calling him for a while, but he had refused to pick up. When he called, Roulan would bring the phone because it was in his hand.
Xixue, who could hear them in the living room, said, "Who is calling you that you won't pick up, Zhan?"
Zhan pouted, stirring the stew. "Mommy, it's a number, and I don't want to pick up."
Xixue didn't say anything, even though she had heard Roulan say it was a doctor. Zhan took the stew off the heat, and when it was done, he prepared plates to wash. Then Roulan returned with the phone, handing it to him.
Zhan gave him a look. "Do you want a beating?"
As if about to cry, Roulan said, "Momy, it's a number. It's not saved."
Zhan took the phone and saw that Yibo was calling. He answered the call, put it to his ear, and went silent.
Gently, Yibo said, "Meilin, how are you?"
Zhan said, "I'm fine. How are the family?"
Yibo said, "They are fine. Where is Roulan?"
Zhan said, "Here he is."
"How is his body?"
"He's better, only the cough."
"Okay, give him the phone."
Zhan handed the phone to Roulan and continued what he was doing. After a while, Roulan returned the phone to him. Zhan wiped his hands, took it, and put it to his ear. Yibo said, "Baby wants to come to your place. Is that okay with you?"
Zhan said, "When will she come?"
"I will bring her this evening."
Zhan felt happiness in his heart. "Okay, I'm waiting for her. Let her come."
Yibo said, "Okay." Then he hung up.
In the afternoon, Xixue was sitting in the living room with the nanny, calculating the items to buy in Dubai for furniture. Zhan was lying down, scrolling on his phone, when Yibo's call came in. He answered, put it to his ear, and heard Yibo say, "We are at the gate of the house, Meilin."
Zhan sat up. "Okay, I'm coming out."
He hung up and looked at Xixue.
"Mommy, she has arrived. Let me go and bring her in."
She said, "Okay"
He went out to the gate. Baby got out of the car, saw him, and quickly ran to hug him. "Zhan..."
Zhan smiled. "Baby, how is Aunty?"
Baby said, "At home. She said to greet you."
Zhan said, "Oh, I return the greeting."
Yibo got out of the car and looked at him. "Where is Roulan?"
Zhan said, "He's inside." He took Baby's hand. "Let's go inside."
Baby looked at Yibo. "Well, brother, thank you. See you later."
Yibo just looked at Zhan. "Bring Roulan to me so we can go to Mumy's place and greet her."
Without turning around, Zhan said, "Okay."
Xixue welcomed Baby cheerfully. Zhan took Roulan's hand after getting his shoes and looked at Xixue.
"Mommy, he wants to go and greet Yibo's mother."
She said, "Okay, may Heaven protect you."
Then Zhan went out with him. Yibo took Roulan's hand, looking at Zhan. "I will return tomorrow, Meilin."
Zhan looked at him. "Okay."
As Zhan turned to go, he turned back. "But please, will Baby spend the night?"
Yibo said, "I don't know. Ask her."
Zhan said, "Okay."
Then he went inside, after smiling at Roulan, who was waving at him.
Zhan himself did not know that he would open up to Baby like this. Their closeness just reminded him of the good deed Baby had done for him at their house. They were just chatting, Zhan telling Baby about the things that had happened since he left their house.
Baby looked at him with such pity that she began to cry without realizing it.
Zhan widened his eyes and burst out laughing. "Crying again, Baby? Well, the story is finished."
Baby wiped her eyes gently. "Please, continue, Meilin. Only someone without faith wouldn't shed tears at your story..."
Zhan smiled bravely and didn't say anything. Baby continued wiping her tears gently. "Please, continue, Meilin."
Gently, Zhan continued the story to the end. Baby just cried, and Zhan looked at her.
Baby said, "Please, Meilin, forgive my brother, please."
Zhan smiled. "I don't have to forgive him, Baby. I forgave him long ago. Even Heaven forgives us when we do wrong, let alone beings."
Baby said, "May Heaven reward the Attorney."
Zhan was silent, looking at her. Then he smiled gently. "I'm is getting married, Baby."
Baby looked at him in surprise. "When?"
Zhan said, "In less than three weeks."
Baby said, "So that's why you didn't tell us, Meilin? Are you still feeling angry with us?"
Zhan said, "Oh, it's not like that. You see, we just returned yesterday. I intended to bring a card to your Mother."
Baby said, "Does Yibo-ge know?"
Zhan shook his head at her.
Baby said, "Well, may Heaven bring us to that time and put good in it. But is the Attorney in this town?"
Zhan said, "Yes, he is here. Do you know him."
Baby said, "No, I don't know him."
Zhan said, "The day we went to your house, we went with him."
Baby said, "There were two of them that day."
Zhan said, "He will come this evening, and you can greet him."
Zhan kept persuading Baby to spend the night at the house, seeing that it was starting to get late. Baby said, "But I didn't tell Mumy I would spend the night."
Zhan interrupted. "Please, Baby. You see, I don't even have friends. I am always lonely. I will tell Mommy to call your mother and say you will spend the night."
He didn't wait for Baby to respond. He went out and told Xixue, then got the number of Yibo's mother on his phone and give Xixue to called her. While she was on the phone, he went back to the room to Baby, smiling. "Okay, now Mommu will call her."
There was no way Baby could refuse. She gave up and decided to spend the night.
After they had completed their evening routine, they were sitting in the room. Baby was telling him about Shao's condition. Zhan's entire body went very cold. The ringing of his phone made Baby fall silent. He answered and saw that the Attorney was calling.
After they greeted, the Attorney said, "I'm outside, dear."
Zhan smiled. "Okay, then. You will have to come in."
💚💙❤🖤