When the person entered the sitting room, he said, "Good evening, Mother."
Cang replied, "I thought you already left?"
He smiled faintly. "Yes I Left? Didn't we just have a video call two days ago, Mother?"
Cang studied him. "I only said so because you looked as if you'd been here the entire time."
It was then he noticed Zhan, Zhan head lowered, almost avoiding his gaze. Instantly, the smile on his face faded. He looked at Cang, then at Zhan again. As if feeling the weight of his stare, Zhan quickly raised his head and said, "Good evening."
"Good evening," He answered, still holding his gaze.
Cang added, "He's a guest."
"Oh, alright." He said, leaving the sitting room for his room. As soon as he entered, he pulled out his phone and dialed Dr. Jing's number.
Meanwhile, Zhan couldn't even touch the food he had served himself from the kitchen. His mind was scattered. So… this man is from their family too? He could still recall his face vividly. Pushing the food aside, he leaned his head against the bedframe, completely confused.
Around 8 o'clock, Wei Po sent Koi to call Zhan. He rose and left his room. The sitting room was empty, so he went into Wei Po's room. His chest tightened immediately when he saw Zhe, Dr. Jing, and the man he barely knew....all sitting there with Wei Po.
He stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said, "Good evening, Wei Po."
"Good evening," she replied. "I noticed you haven't been coming around to refill my thermo with hot water as usual. I thought maybe you've started changing, or perhaps the people here are already influencing you."
At that, the man stood up and left the room. Forcing a smile, Zhan said, "Let me bring it for you."
Zhe sat silently, absorbed in her phone. Zhan picked up the flask and left for the kitchen. Dr. Jing excused himself and left too, while Zhe gave him a side glance before returning to her phone.
In the kitchen, Zhan had just lit the gas stove to boil water when the door opened suddenly. He spun around quickly. The man walked in, staring at him.
"You told me you got admission in Guangzhou, right? So what are you doing working at the hospital now?"
Zhan froze for a moment, then answered, "The admission didn't work out."
"Then why did you change your name? At the hospital you told me your name was Zaan, but here they call you Sean?"
Zhan looked at him directly. "Well, you didn't even pronounce it correctly just now. That's one of the reasons I often go by Sean. It avoids confusion."
The man raised a brow. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Well, welcome to our home, Sean."
With that, he turned and walked out. Zhan exhaled heavily, releasing the breath he had been holding, then continued with the hot water. When he later returned to Wei Po's room with the flask, Zhe and Dr. Jing had already left. He noticed that Dr. Jing seemed unusually cautious around his wife whenever Zhan was present....he didn't even speak to him.
Wei Po watched him set the flask down and said, "You've seen my grandson Daniel. He just returned from abroad. He's the eldest here and close in age with Jing. Jing is also like family, even though he isn't blood. Then his wife that woman you saw earlier, Zhe, the one glued to her phone. She already has twin daughters. Because of Jing's good character, her late father entrusted her marriage to him. I myself gave birth to her father. Aside from Zhe, there are the twin boys Hansen and Huiseng....they're always playing ball outside my window, disturbing my peace. And then Mimi, that restless girl who only dances all day. All of them are Cang's children. Maybe you'll say Jing isn't, but if you do, Cang will surely be offended."
Zhan forced another smile, eager to leave. Eventually, he excused himself, saying he needed to take a bath.
***
The next morning, in his own room, Dr. Kexing was lying in bed when Wu entered. He looked at her once, then turned his face away, having forgotten to lock the door after returning. She walked to the bed, sat beside him, and said softly, "Kexing."
He glanced at her but said nothing. She gently touched his forehead, lowering her voice. "Can't you let go of this weight you're carrying? Face reality."
He still didn't answer. She sighed and said, "Come, let's go have breakfast."
He sat up and shifted away from her. "Mom, you're the one who caused all of this. If you'd let us marry back then, he wouldn't have gone missing now. Who knows what condition he's in, wherever he is."
Wu shook her head. "Kexing, no matter the pressure, I don't believe he'd abandon his own family, the house he grew up in. He had no reason to leave. From the moment he walked out on his own and you got accused and arrested, I erased him from my heart....I won't hide that from you. Who knows what life he's living now, since he chose to disappear into the world?"
Her words cut deep. Kexing clenched his fists and snapped, "Mom, do you know what pressure made him leave? He's too young to carry all this on his shoulders. He can't even think straight. That's why Zhan is drowning in depression...he's only twenty-two, Mom!"
Wu said, "You better cut him off and move on with your life. There's no marriage binding you to that boy, just put that in your mind. And if you've forgotten what his guardians did to us at the police station, I certainly haven't. It's simple...if you don't even like staying in this country, then go to Canada and stay with your brother Daddy…"
Dr. Kexing interrupted sharply, "Daddy? Mom, please stop connecting me to that man. I have no business with him."
Wu frowned. "He's your brother...am I supposed to stop mentioning him?"
Dr. Kexing stood from the bed, his voice tight. "A brother who's happy to see me suffer? Who's satisfied with my downfall? He hasn't called me once through everything I've gone through."
Wu said, "And why should he call you? You didn't call him either, I know you're not talking to him if not necessary Kexing."
He didn't answer, only walked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Yibo was sitting in the living room with Lan Yi, speaking in a lowered voice. "Mama, Min will be discharged from the hospital today. Baba insists I bring her here until she fully recovers."
Granny Fang Yu, seated in the living room with prayer beads in her hand, looked up sharply at his words. Even Aunty Marquis, who had come the day before with her husband to pay a visit, stared at Yibo in surprise.
Granny Fang Yu said sternly, "What house? You mean to tell me you'll continue living with that girl? Yibo, have you lost your mind? You're so desperate for Min's return that you want to bring her here?"
Lan Yi remained quiet, but Granny Fang Yu turned to her, scowling. "Why are you silent, Lan Yi? Does your silence mean you support this girl staying here? So you're fine with Yibo keeping her in this house, with all the troubled she coused?"
Lan Yi sighed, her voice soft. "It wasn't from me. I wanted to tell Qiren the same thing, but he insisted that Yibo wouldn't leave her over that incident. So I had no choice but to stay quiet."
Granny Fang Yu shook her head, her voice bitter. "Of course, you'll call it 'just an incident.' That's because it wasn't you who was dragged to the police station, insulted and humiliated. It wasn't you, nor Qiren...it was me. I was the one disrespected. And after all the obedience you've shown Qiren, this is your reward? A rival in your own home? You...forever chasing after your husband's will. You couldn't even tell him you were against this, that your own mother was shamed. Instead, you stayed silent and let him decide. Fine then...life goes on."
Lan Yi kept her head down. Granny Fang Yu rose angrily, turning to Aunty Marquis. "I should leave this house. If not for the troubles weighing me down, I'd have left long ago. What reason do I have to stay here any longer, especially with that girl's relatives visiting us constantly? This isn't my way. Come, Marquis. Let's go. I was only waiting for you, since yesterday you didn't arrive early."
Softly, Lan Yi tried to stop her. "Please, calm down Ayi. Qiren and Shu are already on their way. I spoke to him... everything has been settled, and she's coming home today. The case is closed."
She barely finished speaking when Shu entered the living room. Granny Fang Yu let out a cry and broke into tears, rushing to embrace her. Lan Yi only stared at Shu in shock...so thin, so pale, almost unrecognizable. Even Aunty Marquis was speechless, her mouth falling open as she looked at Shu.
Granny Fang Yu, sobbing, stroked her face. "Oh Shu, my poor child. You've suffered so much…"
But Aunty Marquis's tone was sharp. "Suffered? What are you saying, Ayi? Are you blessing this girl after what she did? She stole an expensive phone, and you still pity her? Do you know how ashamed I felt, to the point that I couldn't even tell my husband? If not for that, I wouldn't have come at all. Theft, Ayi. This girl brought disgrace not just on herself but on all of us. What did she lack that she had to steal other people's belongings?"
Just as Granny Fang Yu turned, furious and ready to lash out, Qiren entered the room. Granny Fang Yu instantly lowered her head and sat back down.
Qiren greeted her politely, and she responded, muttering a tired welcome. Aunty Marquis also greeted him, and he returned it with a nod. Then he fixed his gaze firmly on Shu, his voice hard.
"You...listen carefully to what I'm about to say to you."
Shu, who was leaning against Granny Fang Yu, lifted her head as Qiren spoke sternly:
"You see that one week you spent in jail? That should have been a lesson for you. If you don't learn from it, then I doubt you ever will. At your age, with your sense, I don't see why you'd take someone else's phone. What is it that you lack, Shu, that you'd feel the urge to steal?"
Granny Fang Yu lowered her voice gently.
"Qiren, perhaps there was a mistake. I know Shu well, stealing isn't in her nature. She's never taken anything from me since she grew up."
As she said this, Shu broke into tears.
"Uncle, it was my friend's! She gave me the phone to keep. I didn't know she had stolen it."
Qiren snapped at her sharply.
"So your mouth won't stop running, will it? When the police asked you to tell them where your friend was, you refused. Lies upon lies! You're the one who stole the phone, not your friend."
Aunty Marquis cut in with contempt.
"She has no shame. Absolutely none. If she had any, she wouldn't be talking back here. And liars are always found in the middle of theft...stealing what isn't theirs. You've brought disgrace upon yourself, not us. Besides, there's already a record of theft against you at the police station."
Granny Fang Yu glanced at Aunty Marquis from the corner of her eye but said nothing. Qiren simply stood up and left the sitting room.
The whole matter embarrassed him deeply...he couldn't believe his wife's niece would be caught stealing, and in a hotel no less. He didn't even want to discuss it further, only intending to bring it up later with Lan Yi. Still, he was disappointed. Yibo and Hai Kuan had refused to get involved, leaving him to struggle with the mess alone for a full week.
Seeing Qiren walk out, Aunty Marquis left in anger as well, before Granny Fang Yu could say anything to her. Granny Fang Yu turned to Shu, helped her up, and said softly, "Come, let's go home. Take a bath and eat something. It's all right...life goes on. What hasn't come yet, we still wait for."
Lan Yi watched them silently, filled with frustration. Shu was the daughter of her late sister. If Rui were still alive, Shu would never have turned out this way. Lan Yi had tried her best to raise Shu with the same values she gave her own children, the same she gave Zhan, but Granny Fang Yu kept interfering, spoiling Shu out of misplaced pity. Because of that, Shu had lost respect for everyone else, knowing Granny Fang Yu would always defend her.
Even Yibo and Hai Kuan looked at Shu with disdain, which only upset Granny Fang Yu further. Sometimes even Lan Yi's life was disrupted for weeks at a time because of Shu's troubles. When Shu said she wanted to marry Dr. Kexing, Lan Yi didn't advised against it, but Granny Fang Yu insisted she should get her way. In the end, Lan Yi regretted it, especially since Shu's influence had indirectly caused Zhan's disappearance. That thought alone brought tears to Lan Yi's eyes.
Yibo simply watched silently, his eyes fixed on Shu. Granny Fang Yu studied the girl closely and asked,
"Are you sick? You look pale. Did they beat you in there?"
Shu pouted weakly.
"I feel dizzy and…"
Suddenly she covered her mouth and, standing there like a frightened child, began vomiting. Granny Fang Yu panicked, holding her tightly. Lan Yi hurried to them, while Yibo stared at Shu in terrible shock.
~**~
Zhan was sitting with Hannah at around half past nine. Other nurses were busy attending to patients who had come for injections. Hannah said,
"Sean, maybe you should grab an energy drink so you don't get weak later. When I checked, your blood count had dropped a little. Besides, there are five surgeries scheduled today…"
Zhan smiled faintly.
"But I won't be the one going into the theatre, right?"
Before he could finish, Dr. Jing walked into the reception from the meeting room. He and the MD had been in meetings since early morning, and only now did they come out. The MD passed through quickly, exchanging brief greetings with nurses. As he was about to leave, he turned back and looked closely at Zhan.
"Hey, I didn't see you in either of the two meetings. Are you even a staff here?" he asked.
Every nurse turned their attention toward Zhan, some barely hiding their curiosity and excitement, waiting to hear his response. Dr. Jing stepped forward, glancing at the MD.
"He just started this week, and..."
The MD raised a hand to cut him off.
"He should speak for himself, please."
Turning back to Zhan, he asked directly,
"Mister, what kept you from attending the meetings?"
Zhan briefly pointed toward Dr Jing and said, "He has already said everything answering your question."
It wasn't only the Medical Director (MD) who was shocked at his blunt reply...even Dr Jing himself looked stunned. The nurses too stared at Zhan in disbelief, their mouths slightly open.
Dr Jing placed a hand on the MD's shoulder and lowered his voice. "I spoke to you about..."
But the MD cut him off sharply. "Meet me in my office." Without another glance, he strode upstairs as though in flight.
Zhan, however, looked completely unbothered. He didn't even raise his head to watch the MD leave. Dr Jing turned and followed after him. Hannah returned to Zhan's side, wide-eyed, whispering, "Sean, why did you talk to him like that? He doesn't like being disrespected. He's our boss, Sean."
Zhan looked at her calmly. "How did I talk to him? He asked me a question, I answered, and he kept repeating it even after I'd already responded. So what if he's the boss? That doesn't give him the right to speak to me that way."
One of the nurses glared at him. "You're playing with your job. Don't you know he's the MD of the entire hospital? Is this how you were raised...to stay seated and answer with arrogance instead of standing up respectfully? Who do you think you are? You just started working here last week. If you're not careful, today could be your last day. You think this is Dr Han or Dr Balogun who tolerate your attitude? The MD is different. He won't. You're lucky if he doesn't fire you today."
Another nurse chimed in, rolling her eyes. "Leave him alone. These kids who went to private universities think they're smarter than everyone else. They come here acting like we don't know our work. Let's see what happens when reality hits."
Zhan didn't even bother looking at them, much less replying. To him, it was as though they weren't speaking at all. Honestly, he wasn't desperate for this job. If it became too much, he'd simply walk away. He had no interest in bowing to arrogance, and he certainly wasn't going to let nurses mock him.
He turned to Hannah instead, who looked nervous, her shoulders tense. Even the senior doctors respected the MD, some even feared him.
Zhan leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "So that's the almighty hospital director everyone's afraid of?"
Hannah shook her head. "Not the owner. But he's in charge of everything."
Zhan raised a brow. "Then who actually owns the hospital?"
"The CEO. She probably not even from this country," Hannah explained softly. "But the MD is the Managing Director because he's really good at what he does. Everyone knows him. My fear is that he'll decide to fire you. Did you notice he didn't even argue with you? He just walked off and told Dr Jing to follow."
Zhan shrugged, playing with his fingers absentmindedly. "At worst, I'll go back to Foshan and sleep peacefully. Nothing more."
Meanwhile, Dr Jing sat across from the MD in his office. Lowering his voice, he said, "Doctor, that boy doesn't know you. He's only been here a week. Please, just consider..."
The MD interrupted angrily. "I don't want to see him in this hospital again, Jing. I mean it. The next time I go downstairs, if I see him, I'll be furious. And besides, who even brought him here? Who hires health workers without following proper procedure? I never saw his CV, no interview, nothing. You just let him start work without my approval and even gave him a uniform. Now look...you've brought in someone rude. He has to leave immediately. We have no vacancy."
Dr Jing sighed heavily. "Your temper is always too quick. Just hear me out..."
The MD slammed his hand on the desk and glared. "I will not hear you out, Jing. He must leave this hospital immediately, or I'll call security to remove him."
Dr Jing gave a thin smile. "Do you even know whose son you're treating this way?"
The MD leaned back, calm now, choosing his words carefully. "I don't care."
Dr Jing stood. "Please, give him a second chance. I know he was wrong, but he desperately needs this job. You're usually patient. Please reconsider. If you want, I can tell him not to return until you officially approve his employment. That way he won't show up again without your consent."
The MD rose again, his voice firm. "No. I am not employing him at all. I meant what I said."
Resigned, Dr Jing left the office and went down to his own floor. Once seated, he called for Zhan to be sent to him. Within minutes, Zhan stepped into his office and waited. Jing motioned for him to sit, then asked quietly, "Sean, why did you speak to the MD so rudely?"
Zhan looked puzzled. "Did my words sound rude? I didn't realize."
Dr Jing studied him in silence. Zhan lowered his head. After a few moments, Jing sighed deeply. "You need to go to his office, Sean. Apologize politely. Be careful with your words. Tell him you made a mistake and it won't happen again. Speak to him sincerely, with humility."
Zhan's eyes widened. "His office?"
"Yes," Dr Jing insisted. "You have to, Sean. His office is on the top floor."
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛