Yibo's face darkened as he snapped at her, "Won't you open your mouth and speak? Stop wasting everyone's time."
Shu broke into tears, her voice trembling as she said, "It was Min who introduced me to him, I didn't even know him before."
From Lan Yi to Aunty Marquis, none of them realized when they all turned sharply to look at Shu. Granny Ai widened her eyes and asked, "Who is Min? Did I hear right? Did she just say the name of Yibo's wife? Was it not Min I heard? But isn't Min the one we all know?"
Through her sobs, Shu replied, "Yes, it was her. He was her spiritual man...he does work for her in Wuhan."
Granny Ai dropped the fan she was holding. She raised her hands in shock and muttered, "Her spiritual man?"
Yibo, only stared at Shu without blinking, just as Qiren and Hai Kuan, who stood by the doorway, also stared at her. With her voice quivering, Shu continued, "After Zhan's wedding was called off, I told Min that I liked Dr. Kexing and wished he would pay attention to me. That's when she linked me to her spiritually, claiming he was skilled. From there, we started talking on the phone. I even sent him money. One day, he told me to come to Wuhan to collect some special items I could use. I lied to Granny Fang Yu that I was going to Yantai, but instead, I went to Wuhan to meet him." At that, she broke down again, crying harder.
Granny Ai blinked rapidly and demanded, "And then what happened?"
Crying uncontrollably, Shu answered, "I swear I never meant anything wrong. It was Min who connected us. He even told me he was the one who worked for her, helping her secure her marriage with Yibo ge, and that he gave her charms she left in Aunty Lan Yi's room so that Aunty would dislike Zhan. Even she used to visit him in Wuhan, but she stopped after she got married."
Granny Ai stood up, leaning on her knees, her eyes glistening with tears as she turned to Granny Fang Yu. "Thank heavens your ears are perfectly fine. Did you hear all that your precious granddaughter just said? This is nothing but disgrace. Look at what's happening... Shu is carrying the child of a quack!" She broke down, clutching her head and sobbing.
Lan Yi too was in tears, a mix of grief and rage flooding her chest. Aunty Marquis was so stunned she couldn't move, only staring at Shu. Even Qiren kept his eyes on her, unblinking. At last, he shook his head, rose, and walked out of the sitting room. Hai Kuan followed silently behind him.
Yibo stood frozen in the sitting room for almost five minutes, thoughts racing in his mind. Then he moved toward the door and left. Lan Yi quickly rose and ran after him, still crying in frustration. She caught up with him and, her voice shaking, pleaded, "Yibo, what are we going to do about this pregnancy? How can we terminate this shame?"
Yibo looked at her in disbelief. "Terminate? Did you really just say that, Mama?"
Lan Yi broke down, "What else should I say, Yibo? How will we face the world? The disgrace is too heavy. Shu has ruined us...she has ruined us."
Yibo shook his head. "Even if someone suggested such a thing, I thought you will be the first from refusing, Mama?"
Before Lan Yi could reply, Granny Ai's voice cut sharply from inside the house, "So, you have no sense, Lan Yi? I always thought you had wisdom, but clearly not. What pregnancy do you want to terminate? Do you want to bring double shame to this family? The disgrace of the affair is already enough...now you want to add the stain of forcing her to end it? No, never. She'll give birth, whether it shames us or not. If no one here wants to take the child, then give it to Fang Yu Jie, you or find someone else to raise it. Marquis won't take it, I know that much. And as for me, I'll have nothing more to do with this. If families could be changed with a snap, I would have left this one today and joined another. Even now, I cannot raise my head to face Qiren."
Lan Yi sat back down, weeping silently. Yibo left the courtyard and found Qiren still standing outside, visibly shaken. Hai Kuan leaned against the gate, saying nothing.
Hai Kuan, however, wasn't surprised. He had always suspected a day like this would come if Granny Fang Yu continued indulging Shu. And now, here it was.
Qiren turned to Yibo as he stepped out. "I won't decide for you, Yibo. Whatever judgment you feel is right concerning your wife, you can make it. But… make sure you have solid proof to present to her family, because Shu is not trustworthy. As for me, I'm done with her. From today onward, I withdraw completely from anything that concerns her. And I'll inform your mother...I don't ever want Shu to step foot in my house again."
With that, Qiren entered his car and drove away.
~**~
Zhan was sitting with his eyes half-closed, leaning against the wall, when his phone suddenly rang. He opened his eyes and glanced at the screen, surprised to see who was calling at that hour...it was Dr. Jing.
Zhan checked the clock and saw it was six o'clock. He picked up the call, pressed the phone to his ear, and said, "Hello."
Dr. Jing's voice came warmly. "Good morning, how was your night?"
"It was fine," Zhan replied quietly.
"That's good. I just want to let you know that you don't need to come to the hospital today...the MD has a meeting. But make sure you're at Mother Cang's house by nine o'clock. We'll meet there."
Zhan paused for a moment.
"Are you there?" Dr. Jing asked.
"Yes, I hear you," Zhan answered softly.
"Good! I'll call later to check if you've gone. I'll only be at the hospital in the afternoon," Dr. Jing said.
"Alright," Zhan replied, ending the call.
Dr Jing turned and found Zhe standing there, staring at him with sharp eyes. He hadn't even realized she had come out of the sitting room.
With anger in her tone, Zhe snapped, "He better not dare step foot into my mother's house. If he does, I swear I'll humiliate him in a way he'll never forget. Find somewhere else to take him. If he makes the mistake of going to our house today, you'll see what I'm capable of. What, doesn't he have parents? Why should someone else be accommodating him in Guangzhou? Even if he doesn't, surely he has relatives. Or what, did he come here just to loiter around like some drifter?"
Dr. Jing simply stared at her, at a loss for words.
She continued furiously, "And now I see how bold you've become. So bold that you even call him at dawn, telling him not to go to the hospital because you won't be there. I've been noticing the way you've been behaving these past days. And that house of my Mother that you keep running to...since you brought him there, it's become your second home. What am I supposed to be now, just a fool standing aside? Well, you should know, there's nothing left between us."
Dr. Jing rose to his feet. "Listen, Zhe..."
But she didn't even let him finish. She stormed into the bedroom as if she would tear the ceiling down. He let out a heavy sigh, helpless to explain that there was nothing between himself and Zhan except a brotherly concern for someone he didn't want to see fall into trouble.
Soon she emerged again, dragging a suitcase she must have packed beforehand. He stared at her in surprise. "Where are you going, Zhe?"
She didn't answer. She opened the door and stormed out of the sitting room.
Dr. Jing's eyes drifted to the bedroom where their twins were still asleep. He sat back down. He knew chasing after her was useless...if she refused to listen here, she certainly wouldn't listen out there. She was most likely heading to Aunty Rui's place anyway; he knew Rui was always the one encouraging her.
About ten minutes later, Zhan stepped out of his house. Dr. Jing had called again to tell him not to bother with Mother Cang's, but instead to come directly to the hospital.
By eleven o'clock, Zhan arrived. After greeting the nurses at reception, he went upstairs to Dr. Jing's office.
He wasn't in uniform, only in his own clothes, Dr Jing was surrounded by his twin daughters who were chattering away while he worked. The last time Zhan had seen them was at the supermarket; he hadn't met them again since, not even at Mother Cang's house.
Zhan smiled at the lively girls. "So, they've come to work today too, Dr.?"
Dr. Jing chuckled, still busy with his files. "How was your trip here?"
"All good," Zhan replied.
"What are their names?" Zhan asked.
"Zeng and Neng," Dr. Jing answered.
"They're so cute," Zhan said warmly.
"I was actually waiting for you," Dr. Jing explained. "I need to step out. If you don't mind, you can stay with them here for a while."
"Alright," Zhan agreed. "Where's their mother?"
"She's not feeling well," Dr. Jing said simply.
"Oh, I see. I hope she recovers quickly," Zhan said kindly.
Dr. Jing nodded, then turned to the twins. "Girls, you'll stay here with Uncle, okay? I'll be back soon. Here, I'll put on some cartoons for you. Don't disturb him."
The twins looked at Zhan curiously. He bent down, smiling as he gently held their hands. "Hello, cuties. Daddy will be back soon. I'll keep you company till then."
Dr. Jing switched on the cartoon channel for them and picked up his car keys. Handing Zhan a bag, he said, "Their cereal and food are in here, if they need anything."
"Got it," Zhan nodded.
Dr. Jing left the office, heading toward Aunty Rui's place. He had tried calling Zhe several times, but she wouldn't pick up. He also called Mother Cang and, through their normal greeting, confirmed that Zhe hadn't gone there...proving what he suspected. He said nothing more and hung up.
Zhan didn't realize the kids were this sharp. They bombarded him with chatter until he couldn't even decide which one to respond to. About thirty minutes after Dr Jing left, little Zeng tugged at him and said, "Uncle, I want cereal."
Zhan smiled and replied, "Okay."
Neng quickly added, "Me too!"
Still smiling, Zhan walked over to where Dr Jing had pointed out the bag, crouched down, and searched until he found the cornflakes. Just then, the office door opened. Zhan turned sharply, his heart skipping at the sight of the person who stepped in. But without saying a word, he quickly averted his gaze and continued what he was doing.
The man walked in, and the kids immediately rushed to hug him. He bent down, kissed each of them on the cheek, and with a soft smile asked, "Where's Papa?"
Zeng said, "He's gone."
The man frowned slightly. "And he left you two all alone?"
Neng pointed towards Zhan, who had already risen to his feet. Their eyes met briefly...his gaze sharp and unreadable, no trace of that earlier smile. He tossed the files he was carrying onto Dr Jing's desk and strode out without a word. The children watched him leave, while Zhan simply pressed his lips together and handed the kids the bowls of cornflakes he had prepared.
- - - -
By around 1:30 p.m., Dr Jing returned. The children had already fallen asleep, so Zhan had laid them down on the couch. Dropping his car keys onto the desk, Dr Jing let out a long sigh, then turned to Zhan and said quietly, "Why didn't you greet the MD when he came in earlier? Tell me, Zhan, why please?"
Zhan frowned. "Honestly, Dr, I can't work in this hospital if that man is here. He hates me...how am I supposed to greet someone who barely looked at me before storming off? He's arrogant, rude, and constantly nagging. And with all due respect, you're not making things easier either. Stop treating me like a child who can't tell right from wrong."
Dr Jing looked at him in shock, momentarily speechless. He thought Zhan was softeir when he first saw him at this hospital, but he's wrong... This cutie is fierce too "Let me tell you something," he finally said. "When you're working under someone, you must learn patience. All of us here endure it. The MD is strict, yes, and he has a temper, but he's also a man of principle. We studied together, that's why he cuts me some slack. He's tough, but he's brilliant. His father's a doctor in the U.S. now, and he's the only son. You'll have to deal with him if you want to grow here. Honestly, I'd like to see you join us permanently. It would open doors for your future."
Zhan, still fuming, picked up his bag. "Since you're back, I'll be leaving now."
"No," Dr Jing stopped him. "I already spoke to him. He's ready to interview you...he's free in his office now."
Zhan's heart sank. "But I'm not ready, Dr."
"You have to, Zhan," Dr Jing insisted. "Your data must be entered today. Tomorrow the hospital owner will be around for the next workshop. If the MD doesn't approve your employment, then you won't be considered a staff member. And honestly...there won't be another vacancy anytime soon."
Zhan, already anxious, said, "But what kind of interview will he give me? I don't even know how it works…"
Dr. Jing cut him off. "Just compose yourself. You're not dull, Zhan. I know you can handle it." He opened a drawer, pulled out a sheet of white paper, and handed it to him. "This is an apology letter. When you go in, greet him respectfully, apologize verbally, and then hand him this."
Zhan's jaw dropped as he stared at the paper. After a pause, he asked, "Apology letter? For what? Are we in high school?"
Dr. Jing kept a stern face. If only Zhan knew the stress he had gone through today on his behalf, he wouldn't be making things more difficult. First, Dr. Jing had to calm his own wife because of Zhan. Then, before he was even done with her, he got a call from the MD...who, over the phone, had hurled all sorts of harsh words at him. When Dr. Jing arrived at the hospital, he spent almost thirty minutes persuading the MD before finally convincing him to agree to interview Zhan today. And now, Zhan was still complicating things further…
Reluctantly, Zhan accepted the paper.
On a serious note, Dr. Jing said, "Zhan, even if he insults you, just say thank you. And don't you dare walk out of that office, no matter what he says. You must work at this hospital weather you like it or not, as far as your are in Guangzhou"
Zhan gave a small smile, turned, and left.
Dr. Jing sank into a chair with a sigh, realizing that Zhan's pride might actually surpass even the MD's...though Zhan himself had no idea.
Walking upstairs, Zhan stopped at the MD's office door, staring at the nameplate fixed neatly above it.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛