Zhan was sitting beside Yibo, who was sleeping in Yichen's room, when Yu walked in carrying a tray of food. She set it down and said, "Zhan-ge, here's the food. Mom said I should bring it to you here."
He replied, "Oh, thanks."
As she set the tray down, she glanced at Yibo and asked, "How is he feeling?"
Zhan answered, "He's improving. How's your husband?"
She smiled softly. "He's doing fine."
"That's good," he said, nodding.
She turned and left the room. Zhan turned back to look at Yibo, still asleep. He gently touched his forehead to check for a fever... thankfully, he felt normal. Zhan withdrew his hand and opened one of the containers Yu had brought. It was soup, its aroma quickly filling the room.
Yibo suddenly stirred, sat up quickly, and covered his nose, his voice weak as he asked, "What is that smell?"
Zhan smiled and quickly closed the soup container. "It's just soup sweet," he said.
Yibo didn't reply. He shifted to the far end of the bed and lay down again, still holding his nose. Soon, he drifted back to sleep.
Zhan stood and walked over to him. He knelt beside the bed and gently pulled the duvet away from Yibo's face to look at him...he hadn't moved at all. Smiling, Zhan pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, then stood up, lowered the AC temperature slightly, and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.
Down in the sitting room, Yichen was with Yu, who was eating. Zhan entered, and Yichen looked up and asked, "How is he now?"
"He's resting. Sleeping peacefully," Zhan replied.
"Good. May he recover quickly," she said. "Did you eat anything yet?"
"I will, Mom," Zhan answered.
Yichen glanced at the clock and nodded. Zhan stepped out of the sitting room and went to his car. He opened the door, pulled out an envelope he had brought along, locked the vehicle again, and returned inside.
Back in the sitting room, he sat with his eyes fixed on the TV, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He was unsure how to hand the envelope to Yichen. Finally, he stood, walked over, and handed it to her.
She looked at him curiously. "What's this?"
He returned to his seat. "It's from Ning Li, Mom."
Yichen stared at him silently, her expression darkening. "What am I supposed to do with this? And what use is it to me?"
Zhan looked down. "She called me last week to say she's pregnant. So I went and picked up the scan results from their house..."
Yichen immediately interrupted, "She's lying. I said she's lying. May the universe protect you from having any ties with that girl. Even if she is pregnant, the heavens knows what to do with it. But she's lying..."
Tears welled up in Yichen's eyes. Zhan stayed silent, his whole body tense and heavy.
Wiping her tears, Yichen asked, "Did she get the scan at your hospital?"
He shook his head.
"Then she must come to your hospital and get it done there. I'm sure she's not carrying your child. If God wills it, she's not. She has her own agenda, and she's trying to use this lie to draw you in. Zhan, I never gave you permission to visit her house, and I still don't. You have nothing to do with her. You only met her through me, and because of me, you left her. If you give her or her family even a moment of your attention, I won't forgive you. Even after I'm gone, I pray there will be no connection between you and them. You will not have a child with her, God willing.
"What I want you to do now is tell her to come to the hospital where you work. They'll perform a scan there. And even if she is pregnant, Heavens knows what will become of it. But one thing is sure... she won't give birth to your child. May we be protected from having a lineage tied to someone like her."
Zhan kept his head lowered, saying nothing. But deep down, he felt completely shaken. Yichen stood up, still wiping her unstoppable tears, and walked upstairs.
Yibo slept in Yichen's room all afternoon. As evening approached, Yu came downstairs, ready to leave. She looked over at Zhan, who was sitting in the sitting room, and said, "Ge, I'm heading out now. I hope Yibo gets well soon. I see he still hasn't woken up, so I couldn't say goodbye."
Zhan replied, "Alright, thank you. If he wakes up, we'll head out together....we're also going back to Beijing today."
Yu nodded sympathetically. "Ah, no problem. I just hope he recovers soon, Gege."
"Thanks. Safe journey," Zhan added.
"Thanks," she echoed.
He pulled ten thousand yuan from his pocket and handed it to her. "Use this for transport."
She took it with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Gege. May your wealth continue to grow." Xinyi and the others walked her out to the roadside.
Zhan stood up and went to the room where Yichen was sitting. He sat on the sofa across from her, watching her quietly before speaking. "Mom, please don't get too upset over this. I'll do what you asked.... she'll go get the scan done. But Mom, don't forget: if it turns out she really is pregnant, then it's my responsibility to take care of her and the child..."
Yichen's face darkened. "What child, Zhan? I told you there is no pregnancy, and I mean it. If there is one, then heaven knows what to do with it. But Ning Li is not going to bear your child. If fate allows, you will have children with your husband, but not with her. At least I know the kind of lineage you deserve."
Zhan looked down, saying nothing, but deep inside he felt comforted by her words.
Yichen continued, "You're here talking about responsibility? Responsibility for what? Responsibility doesn't begin with pregnancy... Your responsibility is your husband, and if you truly want to see me hurt, go ahead and keep involving yourself with Ning Li's family. I was the root of everything... I introduced her to you, and I'm asking for your forgiveness for ever doing that. I can't turn back time, but if I could undo my past choices, I would.
"Life has shown me signs in ways I never expected. From now on, when I reject something, I will hate lightly. I won't show open hatred, but I'll leave everything to fate. I've learned my lesson well. No one, no matter who they are, can fight destiny. They simply aren't strong enough."
She paused, then added firmly, "And one more thing... I want to remind you to value your marriage, Zhan. May you be blessed, and may you and your husband have children full of blessings."
Softly, Zhan replied, "Amen and thank you, Mom. Thank you."
Then he stood up and said, "Let me check if Yibo is awake... we're leaving for Beijing today."
Yichen said, "He hasn't eaten yet. If he still can't eat properly, there's some congee. Let Xinyi do it for him if he can handle it."
"Okay, Mom," he said, then left the room.
Zhan entered Yichen's bedroom and found Yibo still asleep. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently lifting Yibo's shirt and lightly rubbing his stomach. Yibo slowly opened his eyes, staring at him. On the verge of tears, Yibo murmured, "Gege, I'm tired."
Zhan asked, "Tired of sleeping?"
Yibo didn't reply. Zhan pulled him into his arms gently, holding him as Yibo breathed quietly against his chest. Unlike earlier, his body now felt warm to the touch.
Softly, Zhan asked, "Where does it hurt, sweet one?"
Yibo stayed silent, so Zhan raised his head and looked into his eyes. "Tell me how you're feeling."
Yibo raised his hand slightly as if to say he didn't know, then nestled back into Zhan's chest.
Zhan asked, "Do you want to eat rice now? I can add just a little stew."
Yibo quickly shook his head. "No, I don't want it. I feel like throwing up."
Zhan was quiet for a moment before asking, "Can you try a little congee?"
Yibo said nothing, but when Zhan raised his head again, he nodded. Zhan laid him back down gently and stood up.
At the kitchen door, Xinyi had just finished cooking the congee. She poured it into a bowl and added a pinch of salt. Zhan took it and returned to the room, placing the bowl down to let it cool. He sat and watched Yibo, who had already fallen back asleep.
His body glowed softly.... aside from the pale sheen of sweat, his skin had brightened.
After making sure the congee had cooled down, Zhan gently woke Yibo. Seeing how weak he looked, he helped him sit up against the bed and said softly, "Sorry, sweet. Here's some congee. Just have a little and we'll head home, alright?"
Yibo took the bowl from his hand and brought it to his lips slowly. He hadn't even had a quarter of it before trying to set it down.
Zhan frowned and said, "No, you've barely had anything."
"I'm full, Gege," Yibo replied weakly.
"No, at least half," Zhan insisted.
"My stomach feels tight," Yibo murmured.
Zhan picked the bowl back up, his face firm, and brought it to Yibo's mouth. Yibo slowly continued drinking, forcing it down with effort. In the end, he pulled away suddenly, nearly gagging.
Zhan's brows furrowed even more. "You need to drink more."
Yibo clamped a hand over his mouth and looked at him helplessly.
Zhan pulled him closer, gently patting his back. "Stay calm, don't worry... It'll be okay."
Yibo began shaking his head as if he wanted to get down from the bed, but the moment he tried, dizziness overtook him. Just as he was about to fall, Zhan caught him.... only for Yibo to vomit all over him, bringing up all the congee he had tried to swallow.
Zhan stared at him, full of sympathy, his clothes soaked.
Yichen entered the room after hearing the sound of retching. "Maybe you should take him to the hospital, Zhan?"
"No, Mom. We're heading home now," Zhan replied, lifting Yibo in his arms and taking him into the bathroom. Yichen stripped the bed and carried the congee bowl out of the room.
By five in the evening, Zhan met Yichen in her room and said, "Mom, we're heading home now."
"Shouldn't you spend the night here since he's not feeling well?" she asked.
"No, Mom. I want us to go home so he can take his medication properly..."
Yichen nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I wish he recover soon. I hope it pass quickly."
Zhan hold Yibo's hand as they walked out to the sitting room.
One look at Yibo and it was clear he was extremely weak. Zhan opened the front seat and helped him in. Yichen said again, "It was pass quickly. Safe journey." Yibo, barely audible, replied with a weak "Thanks."
Zhan said his goodbye, and they left the house. As he drove slowly, glancing at the drowsy Yibo beside him, he said, "Sweet, I told Li Na that we'll stop by when we get to Tianjin so you can greet each other briefly before we head home."
Yibo simply nodded, not even wanting to speak.
When they reached Li Na's house, Zhan called her. At first, she refused to come out, insisting they come in instead. But Zhan told her they were in a hurry and Yibo wasn't feeling well, so she finally came out.
She opened Yibo's car door. Yibo adjusted his position and gave a small smile. "Li Na Jie, how are you?"
Holding her waist, Li Na looked at him with concern. "Oh Yibo, so it's true... you really are unwell."
Yibo only managed a weak smile.
"May you get better soon. May it pass quickly," she said kindly.
"Amen, Shi Jie," Yibo whispered.
Then Li Na greeted Zhan briefly and wished them well. She told them she'd come visit when she visit Beijing. With that, they parted ways and Zhan reversed out of the neighborhood.
Yibo slept the entire ride back to Beijing. When they arrived, Zhan parked the car and came around to Yibo's side. He didn't let him get out on his own... instead, he carried him inside. In his bedroom, he laid him down gently.
"I'm cold, Gege," Yibo whispered faintly.
Zhan pulled the duvet over him and turned off the AC.
That night, no matter how Zhan coaxed him, Yibo refused to eat anything, saying it would only make him throw up again. He continued sleeping. Around ten to ten, Zhan walked into the room and found Yibo sitting up in bed.
He smiled, sat beside him, and helped him lie back down. "You need to eat something even if it's only the tea so you can rest properly."
That night, Yibo barely slept due to fever and chills. Zhan stayed by his side, caring for him through the night. Neither of them got any sleep.
▪️🔸▫️🔹
The next morning, which was Sunday, Zhan went out and bought medications he knew would help. After another round of persuasion, Yibo finally managed to drink some tea and take the medication. Then Zhan went into the bathroom and ran a warm bath for him.
Despite Yibo's resistance, he eventually gave in and took the bath, shyly, with Zhan still in the bathroom.
By around 11:45, Zhan entered the bedroom and found him sound asleep. He knelt beside him, closed his eyes, and gently kissed him on the lips. Then he pulled the blanket up to his shoulders, drew the curtains, and quietly left the room, picking up his car keys as he went out.
He drove until he reached Ning Li's street. He parked and called her.
"I don't see you outside," he said when she picked up.
Just then, a car pulled up beside his and she stepped out. She got into the front seat, and without saying a word, Zhan started driving again.
All the way to the hospital, he didn't look at her once. Her mood was somber, almost like someone in mourning.
He parked, stepped out, and locked the car. She followed slowly behind him, eyes down, as if counting her own steps. Once inside, she sat at reception while Zhan went straight to his office.
Ning Li greeted a few nurses she recognized. One of them smiled and said, "Haven't seen you in a while, Madam. You haven't come by with the doctor lately."
Ning Li forced a smile. "That's true."
She sat restlessly, shifting constantly, until another nurse came to call her and led her upstairs.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛