Yang-Yang said, "Is it necessary?"
Zhan stood up and said. "So you won't greet Mommy?"
Yang-Yang said, "Do I need to consult you? Even the day before yesterday, I came. We come together with little Meiqin to greet her."
Zhan smiled. "Okay, then. I'm coming out."
Then he hung up and looked at Baby. "Baby, come with me so you can greet him, since you said you don't know him."
Baby said, "No, just go and come back. Just extend my greetings."
Zhan frowned at her. "Please, get up and come with me."
Baby gave a small laugh. "Okay, I hear you."
She stood up and they left the room. Only after Zhan entered Xixue's room to tell her that they were going out to see Yang-Yang did they leave. He was standing by his car, dressed in simple clothes, his arms crossed. From the moment they came out, he was looking at Zhan.
It was Baby who greeted first. "How are you?"
Only then did he look at her with a smile and return her greeting. "How are you?"
She said, "I'm fine. How is work?" He said, "We thank Heaven."
Then she turned and said, "Well, Meilin, I'm going inside." Saying this, she went into the house.
Zhan returned to his side and stood. "Welcome, my Attorney."
He widened his eyes gently. "Really?" Zhan hid his face, giggling.
Yang-Yang said, "Did you arrive safely, dear?" Zhan looked at him. "Yes."
Yang-Yang said, "So you actually have friends?"
Zhan widened his eyes. "Baby is Yibo's sister."
Yang-Yang was silent, looking at him. Then he said, "So she comes here?"
Zhan shook his head. "No. Since after Rouxue passed away, she only came back today."
Yang-Yang said, "How did she know you're back? Do you talk on the phone?"
Zhan said, "No. I know Yibo must have told her we returned."
Yang-Yang looked at him gently. "How did Yibo know you returned?"
Zhan was silent, unable to look at him. After a few seconds, he lifted his head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. He accompanied us yesterday, because Roulan was sick."
Yang-Yang bowed his head. "Really?" Zhan didn't say anything. Yang-Yang smiled slightly and also didn't say anything.
Zhan broke the silence. "We were very close to Baby. The first time I went to their house, we had a problem. After that, she was kind to me. She treated me like her brother. She liked me very much, and I like her too. And I really want us to be friends now, since I don't have any friends."
He finished speaking gently.
Yang-Yang nodded. "That's nice, then..."
Zhan said, "Why didn't you bring little Meiqin?"
Yang-Yang said, "I didn't come from home."
Zhan said, "Okay. Well, I haven't brought you any water. Should I bring some?"
Yang-Yang said, "I'm coming straight from a restaurant."
Zhan opened his eyes slightly. "You're going home, and you went to a restaurant at night, Attorney?"
Yang-Yang smiled, touching his beard, and didn't say anything. Then he said, "Where is Roulan?"
Zhan was silent for a moment, then looked up at him. "He's asleep."
Yang-Yang widened his eyes. "So early? Even though I know you're not telling the truth."
Zhan widened his eyes, looking at him. Yang-Yang gave his beautiful smile. "Yes. You just can't tell me that Yibo took him."
Surprised, Zhan said, "How did you know?"
Yang-Yang smiled. "From your facial expression. And don't forget my field..."
Zhan giggled. "You, my Attorney."
Yang-Yang said, "Sure, my Meiqin." Zhan hid his face in his palms. "Tomorrow, he will come back, if Heaven wills."
Yang-Yang said, "Alright, then. Let me go, Meiqin. Tomorrow, I will come back and we'll talk more. I'm completely exhausted today."
Zhan said, "Oh, go home, take a bath, and lie down. You will feel relieved."
Yang-Yang smiled. "Okay, my bride."
Zhan turned his back to him. "I don't like that name."
Gently, Yang-Yang said, "You will like it eventually." He opened his car, took out a bag, and came back in front of him. He looked at him and handed it over. "Though I brought it for Roulan, since you've denied me the chance to see him, here it is. And what did you say her name is..."
Zhan smiled. "She has the same name as me. But she is called Baby."
Yang-Yang widened his eyes. "So she also calls her that."
Gently, Zhan nodded at him.
Yang-Yang said, "Well, give her my special greetings. She has a great name, and I see she looks like her brother's too."
Zhan took the bag. "She will hear it. Thank you very much."
In a low voice, Yang-Yang said, "No, thank you, sweetheart."
Zhan bowed his head. Yang-Yang said, "Tomorrow, I will bring you an IV, in case you have people to give it to."
Zhan said, "Okay."
Yang-Yang said, "Dear. Let me get going."
Then he opened the driver's door and got in. Zhan stepped back, watching him. Only after he reversed did Zhan wave at him. Yang-Yang gave him a smile, then started the car and drove off. Zhan turned and went back inside the house.
***
The next morning at ten o'clock, Baby said she wanted to go home. Zhan felt sad. No matter what he did to make her stay until evening, she said she would leave at that time. Zhan said, "Then call your brother to bring back my son, since I'm also waiting."
Baby laughed heartily. "Don't you have his number. You call him yourself."
Zhan took his phone and called Yibo. When Yibo answered, Zhan said, "Bring back my son, since Baby is also leaving now."
Yibo said, "Really?"
Zhan said, "Yes. I told her to stay until evening, and she refused." As if about to cry, he finished speaking.
Yibo smiled gently. "Okay, give her the phone."
Zhan handed the phone to Baby. Baby answered, laughing, and put it to her ear. Yibo said, "Baby, stay until evening, please. I promise to buy that thing you want."
Baby said, "Well, brother, it's done."
Then she gave Zhan back his phone. Zhan hung up, smiling. "What did he say?"
Baby glared at him. "If not for my nephew, I would have left this evening."
Zhan felt very happy. "Yes! You see, before now, the Attorney brought the wedding cards, I'll said give you one to take it to Aunty."
Baby was silent, looking at him. Zhan widened his eyes. "Won't you do that?"
Gently, Baby said, "You should take it yourself. That would be better."
Zhan said, "Okay, then. On Friday, Yang-Yang will take me to deliver it."
Baby said, "Zhan, I want to say something to you, but may Heaven grant that it doesn't upset you."
Zhan looked at her. "I'm listening, Baby."
Baby took his hand, lowered her voice, and said gently, "Zhan, why did you refuse to let Yibo marry you, after he showed he wanted to? You'll see the advantages of that, two or three. First, Roulan... If you were to marry Yibo today, even if the world ended, the boy wouldn't necessarily know the kind of fate that befell you both and how he came to be, unless you told him. He will never ever know, honestly. If you marry into another house? No matter how long it takes, someday he will know. He will know his position, Zhan.
Second, Yibo will never insult you in life. If he ever does, he insulted himself. It would be shame on him. Besides, he wouldn't do it because he knows he hurt you. And you won't have any problem with his mother, or with his siblings. Aunt Lihua is the problem, right? Well, she is still there in the hospital. She's just getting worse before she gets better; things will go back. Her illness has made her weak. So now, she is on her own. Whoever goes to her says, she beg for forgiveness,' even the guards and the driver...
So who will you marry, Zhan? Though I know the Attorney knows everything about you, but Zhan, leave a man. Honestly, even if not directly, someday he will insult you with that. Leave the one you said has a wife. Even out of bitterness, someday he might throw a dark insult at you, maybe without even knowing he did it, just out of bitterness. Let alone going to his siblings and relatives, and his wife's parents.
The world is such that it's hard to keep your secret. Zhan, please consider this thought of mine. Not because I like you and my brother, but it's better to marry my brother, come together, and be happy. You see, we want you to give us more beautiful children from both of you..."
She finished speaking with exhaustion.
Zhan, who had been looking at the door, pulled his hand from hers gently. "I really like you, Baby. I feel for you in my heart because of the good deed you did for me, which I will never forget. Please, Baby, don't make me start to dislike you, by making it seem like you're not my friend. Baby, let's leave this talk, please. I don't want it. And don't ever bring it up again."
Gently, Baby said, "Okay, I'm sorry."
Zhan said, "So you haven't told me your level yet. And when will we drink at your wedding?" He finished speaking with a smile, looking at her.
:
:
In the afternoon, Yang-Yang called Zhan and said he was outside. With difficulty, Zhan persuaded Baby to stay but she called Yibo to come and pick her up. Zhan finished getting ready, and they went outside to him. Today, he was also standing by his car when they came out. Baby greeted him first, and he answered cheerfully. "I'm fine, Baby. So you haven't gone back?"
Baby said, "No, I'm waiting for my brother."
Yang-Yang said, "Alright. How is home?" Baby said, "Fine." He looked at Zhan. "How are you, sir?" Zhan smiled. "Fine. How is work?" Yang-Yang said, "Fine. How is our mother?" Zhan said, "She's inside."
Baby turned. "Well, see you later. I'm going inside." Yang-Yang said, "Alright, thank you for the greeting."
Then she went inside. Yang-Yang opened his car, took out an invitation card, and handed it to Zhan. "Here, dear." Zhan took it. "Thank you. Where is Meiqin?"
Yang-Yang said, "She's at home."
A car parked next to Yang-Yang's. Zhan kept looking at the car until Yibo got out. Roulan also got out from the other side. He ran and hugged Yang-Yang. "Uncle!" Yang-Yang lifted him up, kissing his forehead.
"Evening, son. Where are you coming from?"
Roulan widened his eyes. "From my kind grandmother's house."
Yang-Yang said, "That's good."
Yibo came in front of him, extended his hand, smiled, and greeted him. Yang-Yang gave him his hand, and they shook hands. Then Yibo looked at Zhan. "Good evening."
Zhan said, "Evening. How is Aunty?" Yibo said, "She sent her greetings."
He looked at Roulan. "Go inside and tell Baby to come out. I'm waiting for her now."
Roulan went inside the house. Yibo said goodbye to Yang-Yang and returned to his car, watching them from inside. Yang-Yang didn't say anything else, leaning against his car until Baby came out.
She reached Zhan, smiling. "Zhan, I'm going home. Please thank your mother for me when you go inside. Thank you very much."
Zhan said, "Well, thank you too, Baby. Greet your mother for me. I will bring the card, and I will call you later."
Baby said, "Alright, dear." She said goodbye to Yang-Yang and went to Yibo's car. She got in, he started the car, and they left the street.
✴✴✴
On Friday, as Zhan had told Baby, around one o'clock, he got ready and went to their house with Roulan, because Yang-Yang said he had a court case that day. He gently turned the living room door and found it open. He entered.
Yibo was sitting in the sitting room with Bozai, operating a laptop. He lifted his head and looked at them. Zhan lowered his eyes, came into the living room, greeted Bozai, then looked at Yibo. "Good morning."
Yibo sat Roulan down next to him as Roulan greeted him. "I'm fine. How is home?"
Zhan said, "Fine. Where is Aunty?"
Yibo was silent for a moment. "She's not here. Wait for her; she's coming back now."
Zhan said, "Where is Baby?"
Yibo said, "They went out together." Zhan said, "Then let me leave the package with you to give to them."
He opened his bag, took out the IV, looked at him, and handed it to him.
Yibo took it, his eyes on the content of the invitation card. He slowly looked up at Zhan without blinking.
Zhan refused to look back at him. "Please deliver it to her for me." Then he took Roulan down from where he was sitting next to Yibo, turned, and left the living room, while Yibo was telling him to leave the boy there.
Seeing how Yibo was still shocked, Bozai took the card to see what it was.
:
:
Zhan returned home, with Roulan crying because he hadn't left him at his Daddy's house. He was crying like he was beating. As they got off the taxi, Zhan said, "Because of your mother, you don't have to go back there, since that Isn't the house of your mother's family."
In crying voice Roulan said "Momy, i want to stay with grandma and Daddy today."
Zhan said "Then go back on your own." He opened his bag, paid the driver, and went inside. Roulan followed him, crying as if he would tear the house down. Zhan stood for over ten seconds looking at the shoes at the entrance door. Then he slowly opened the door and went inside. He saw Yunxi sitting in the living room.
Mommy was also sitting there. He took a deep breath, not looking at the people inside again as he headed to the bedroom.
Xixue said, "Zhan."
He stopped, refusing to turn around. When she didn't say anything, he turned slowly. "Yes, Mommy?"
He lock eyes with Yunxi. He lowered his gaze. "Afternoon?"
Yunxi said, "Afternoon."
Zhan looked at Xixue. "We returned, Mommy. We didn't find her there."
Xixue looked at Roulan, who was stuck at the doorway crying. "What's wrong with him?"
Zhan threw a glare at him. "Are you still crying? Didn't I say you should go back to that house?"
Gently, Roulan said, "I don't know the road."
Xixue said, "Why didn't you leave him there?"
Zhan said, "Aunty wasn't there. Baby wasn't there either. So where does he want me to leave him?"
Roulan looked at him. "With my Daddy and uncle there."
Yunxi turned and looked at him. "Come here, dear."
Only then did Roulan see him. He quickly went to him. "Uncle, when did you come?"
Yunxi sat him down next to him. "Today."
Roulan smiled. "Uncle, did you come with my aunt?"
Yunxi touched his head. "Sure."
Zhan clicked his tongue, turned, and went into his room. He sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling on his phone. Xixue came into the room. She sat on the edge of the bed as well and said gently, "So that's what happened, Zhan between you and Yunxi's wife?"
Zhan refused to look at her. A moment later, tears came to his eyes. That was when he began to feel the sting of Tieh's words to him. The words kept coming back to him freshly.
Xixue said, "I didn't tell you to cry. Wipe your eyes, go out to him, and hear what he has to say."
In a trembling voice, Zhan said, "I won't go, Mommy, i have nothing to do with them now."
Xixue said, "So I'm not enough for you?"
He gently wiped his eyes, stood up, and went out slowly. From the moment he came out, Yunxi looked at him until he came and sat on a chair without looking at him. He gently heard him say, "Zhan."
Only then did Zhan lift his head and look at him.
Yunxi looked toward the bedroom, then looked at Roulan. "Go and get momy's phone from the bedroom."
The boy ran off, then Yunxi came and sat next to Zhan. Zhan moved slightly and lifted his head. Yunxi looked at him gently. "Please forgive me, Zhan. I wasn't happy with what happened either. And... please forgive Tieh for the sake of..."
Zhan interrupted him. "So you think I hold a grudge against her in my heart? Not at all. She didn't do anything to me."
Yunxi closed his eyes and opened them. "Please forgive me, Zhan."
Zhan said, "I have forgiven you. And everything has passed with me. As for her, if I ever do anything to her, I hope she will forgive me too."
Yunxi was silent, unable to say anything. Zhan stood up to leave. Yunxi quickly stopped him. Zhan glared at him. "What is this now?"
Yunxi just looked at him. Zhan clicked his tongue. "I'm coming now." Then he went inside and soon came back with a card. He reached Yunxi and handed it to him.
Yunxi didn't take it. "What is this?" Zhan said, "Take it and see."
As if he wouldn't take it, Yunxi then took it and looked at the card. He slowly looked up at Zhan. Zhan crossed his arms. "Will you be able to come, even though you haven't invited me to yours?"
Yunxi lowered his eyes. After a few seconds, he said, "Why not?"
Zhan sat back down gently. "Well, thank you."
Yunxi just kept turning the card over, not saying anything. Then he looked up at Zhan and said in a gentle voice, "Your happiness is mine, Zhan. Since this will makes you happy, since this is what you want for yourself, I am wishing you the best in it. May Heaven bring us to that time and make it fortunate."
Zhan couldn't say anything, looking at him. Yunxi said, "But I am happy for a another reason. Soon, I will give you something that will make you happy forever." Then he stood up. "Tell Aunty that I have left."
He headed to the door and left before Zhan could find a word to say. Zhan lowered his eyes gently, feeling his heart weaken.
***
With six days left until the wedding, Xizue and the nanny began preparations without seeing or hearing anything. Zhan himself took the wedding card to his uncle. He went with about twenty of them for him to give to their other relatives there. He didn't stop to listen to him, let alone his wives, who had now become pitiful because they had nothing. Their children's marriages had all died while they sat at home. Despite the dark words they threw at him, he didn't engage them. He just left. Because they didn't know the fate that had befallen Zhan.
He went to Yulan's house, gave his mother a wedding card, and then turned back to Shanghai to give it to Rahel and Yulan.
...As the wedding approached, Baby came to the house every day with three of her close friends, since Zhan truly had no friends as he had said. Together, they planned everything and went to the market. Everyone praised the wedding's package that Yang-Yang had put together for Zhan. Honestly, nothing could be said about it. He spent a lot of money on it.
Xixue spent a lot of money their part too, and on fixing Zhan up. Now, Zhan had become even more silent, and also thinner. This didn't worry Xixue, because she knew every bride/groom experiences this.
Since the wedding approached, Yang-Yang didn't come around much, only talked on the phone. This made Zhan's mind settle, because if he came, Zhan didn't think he could go out to him.
Mrs. Wang had finished putting together her contribution. She looked at Yibo, who was sitting scrolling on his phone in her room. "Yibo, can you help? Please, go and deliver them."
Only then did he look up at her. She sat on the edge of the bed. "I told you to remove this worry from yourself, Yibo. You were never destined to be married to Zhan. It's not in your fate, and you can't fight Heaven. Mr. Yang-Yang is his husband. So please, take him off your mind. Find a woman and get married..."
He lowered his eyes to the ground. In a gentle voice, he said, "But I have never once complained, Mumy. You see, I have even wished him, saying, 'May Heaven put good in it.'"
Mrs. Wang said, "You are not complaining, but your mind is. Here you are, losing your senses and trying to throw yourself into a situation. Isn't a person supposed to marry a someone who is not his, Yibo? Why not behave well and be happy with Heaven's plan?"
He gave a certain smile. "I am not complaining, Mumy. I am telling you the fact. But the thing is, please help me talk to him so he will leave me the boy. Let him reconsider and leave Roulan with me. Whenever he wants to see him, he can be taken to him, or he can go and spend vacations with him. I know he can't be separated from his son. But I just want to save my son from some humiliations. As long as the world is round, in this house, no one will insult Roulan, no one will look at him as a child born out of wedlock, and no one will make him feel constrained. If Zhan marries, even if Roulan gets the things I've mentioned here, honestly, it won't be 100%. So please, Mumy, persuade him to leave Roulan in this house."
Mrs. Wang sighed gently and couldn't say anything.
No matter how much Mrs. Wang wanted to tell Zhan Yibo's message, when she went to the house, she failed because of shame. She didn't even know where to start. So she returned home. When Yibo asked for Zhan's feedback, she lowered her voice. "Son, just leave it until after the wedding. It will look as if we are not happy with his marriage. It will seem like we think too much of ourselves. You see, after the wedding, we will explain to him. I think that will be better."
He said, "Okay, then, Mumy. Thank you."
She said, "I hope you ate?" He said, "Sure, Mother." Then he stood up and headed to the door. She followed him with her eyes, full of pity, until he left. She knew he was just trying his best to be okay. And she was happy with how he was handling his affairs, even though you could see he was very troubled. She prayed for him that Heaven would soon bring him a woman so he could also marry.
💚💙❤🖤