Yibo looked up as Zhan walked slowly into the sitting room. He kept talking on the phone with his friend, though his eyes followed Zhan's quiet movements. Zhan came in and sat cross-legged on the carpet while Yibo sat back in an armchair.
After finishing his call, Yibo glanced at the wall clock....it was past four. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked.
Zhan nodded, his eyes resting on Yibo.
"There's food," Yibo said, still holding his phone. "Go dish some for yourself. You've been sleeping since morning."
Zhan looked toward the dining area and asked, "Who brought the food?"
"Lee," Yibo replied casually, scrolling through his phone.
"And he didn't ask about me?" Zhan muttered.
Yibo sighed. "Just go and eat something. You haven't had anything since morning."
Zhan hesitated, then said, "You know what, Gege? Tell Mama not to bother sending food anymore. I'll make dinner myself tonight."
Yibo raised an eyebrow. "You? When you're not even fully recovered?"
"I'm fine now," Zhan said with a grin. "I want to make dinner myself."
Yibo chuckled. "Alright then."
Zhan stood and headed toward the dining table. Yibo watched him go for a moment before turning his attention back to his phone. After a while, Zhan returned with his plate and asked, "Did you eat?"
Without looking up, Yibo answered, "I did."
Zhan hesitated. "Gege, you still seem upset with me. Please… haven't you forgiven me yet?"
Yibo lifted his head, met his gaze, and smiled. "I was never really angry, Zhan. I just give you some space, that's all. So... what are you cooking later?"
Zhan's eyes brightened. "Your favorite."
"Good," Yibo said, smiling warmly. "I've missed your cooking."
Zhan smiled too. "Let me finish eating first, then I'll start."
Yibo kept glancing at him now and then as he ate. When Zhan was done, he leaned back and said, "Gege, you know, I still don't really know this house. I only know my bedroom, the kitchen, and your room."
Yibo laughed lightly. "Alright, come on...I'll show you around."
Zhan stood up quickly, and Yibo led the way. He showed him the three bedrooms...each large, beautifully furnished, and with its own bathroom. Zhan's eyes widened as he looked around. "They're really beautiful, Gege."
Yibo only smiled and moved on.
Then he turned toward another hallway, and they walked into a separate section of the house. He opened a door, revealing another spacious sitting area.
"Wow," Zhan whispered, his eyes sparkling. "This place is stunning, Gege."
Yibo didn't say anything, just walked him farther inside, to a grand white master room. Zhan's jaw dropped slightly as he looked around.
"I think this is the master part," Yibo said.
Zhan frowned playfully. "Wait....so the other room isn't mine?"
Yibo laughed. "They're all yours. Even this one. If you ever want to stay here, you can."
Before Zhan could reply, Yibo was already heading out. Zhan followed him back to the main sitting room. They went into the kitchen next, and Zhan's eyes widened again... the counters were stacked with boxes of snacks sent from Tianjin, and shelves filled with enough supplies to start a small store.
Zhan turned to him with an amused look. "Gege, I don't even like most of these snacks....and you don't either. What are we supposed to do with all this?"
Yibo smiled. "We'll just give them away."
Without waiting for a reply, he left the kitchen. Zhan followed closely behind.
At the door, Zhan saw that Yibo was heading outside. He adjusted his shirt collar quickly as Yibo reminded, "Fix your buttons properly."
They stepped out together. The security guard sat quietly near his room as Yibo led Zhan around the back of the compound. Behind the house was a wide, beautifully landscaped garden.
Zhan's eyes widened again, taking it all in...the lush plants, the open backyard space. Then Yibo stopped at a door, unlocked it, and stepped through. Zhan followed...and gasped.
There, surrounded by greenery, was a small but elegant swimming pool.
"Gege, is that a swimming pool?" he exclaimed.
Yibo smiled, looking at the clear water. "Yeah. Baba had it built because he knows you love swimming."
Zhan's face lit up. He ran closer, knelt beside the pool, and dipped both hands into the water, grinning. "I love it so much, Gege!"
Yibo just watched him quietly, a soft smile playing on his lips.
Zhan couldn't wait for the day his period will end...he was already imagining himself swimming there.
Zhan blinked, then suddenly scooped up some water with his hands and splashed it playfully at Yibo.
Yibo raised an eyebrow, his face pretending to be stern.
Before Zhan could splash again, Yibo lunged toward him. Zhan yelped and jumped back, laughing, but Yibo caught him by the arm as if he might toss him into the pool.
"Hey! Gege, wait...it was just a joke! You don't know how to play, do you?" Zhan laughed breathlessly.
Yibo let him go, shaking his head. Zhan bolted for the exit, still laughing, and Yibo just stood there watching him go before turning back toward the pool. After a moment, he slowly walked back inside.
As he reached the stairs to the sitting room, he saw Zhan sitting there, pouting dramatically.
"Gege, look! I think I hurt my foot," Zhan said, frowning up at him.
Yibo rushed over. "What? How?"
Zhan stood up, half-laughing. "Because I thought you were chasing me...but you didn't follow at all!"
"Where exactly did you hit your leg?" Yibo asked, kneeling down before Zhan could reply.
"I'm fine, Gege," Zhan said quickly. "It's not that bad."
Yibo stood up. "Alright."
Zhan headed toward the sitting room, and Yibo followed behind him, then turned toward the kitchen to start the dinner he'd insisted on cooking. The kitchen had everything...spices, vegetables, meat in the deep freezer. He had just brought out the meat to wash when Yibo walked in.
Lowering his voice, Yibo said, "Are you sure you're not overexerting yourself, Baby? You know Mama already had dinner sent to us. We didn't tell them earlier. Let's just let Lee bring it over tonight, and I'll tell him not to bother with breakfast tomorrow."
Zhan didn't say anything, just kept rinsing the meat while Yibo looked at him.
"Come on, Baby," Yibo coaxed softly.
Zhan sighed. "Fine, Gege." Then he added, "By the way, did you buy the drinks in the fridge?"
Leaning against the kitchen doorframe, Yibo shook his head. "No, not me."
"I don't like them," Zhan muttered.
"Alright," Yibo said. "Later tonight we'll go out and get the ones you like...and I'll buy your favorite junk food too, Baby. Cereal and all."
Zhan smiled. "Okay, Gege."
Yibo chuckled and left the kitchen. Zhan washed his hands and followed shortly after.
- - - -
By six o'clock, Lee arrived with the dinner delivery. Yibo walked into Zhan's room and said, "Come out and say hi to Lee...he's here."
Zhan hesitated, staring at him. His voice dropped. "Gege… I don't think I can go out."
"Why not?" Yibo asked.
Zhan didn't answer.
"You said you wanted to visit Mama's place tomorrow," Yibo reminded.
Zhan looked up at him slowly. "If we go, they'll think we're… a couple. I'd rather not go."
Yibo burst into laughter before he could stop himself. "What do you mean, you'd rather not go?"
Zhan lowered his head, embarrassed. Yibo smiled gently. "Come on, we both know we're not a couple. So why worry?"
Zhan's voice softened. "Maybe, but we're the only ones who know that. Everyone else will assume we are. I don't know, Gege...it just feels wrong to me, and I can't understand why everyone else thinks it's normal. Maybe because they're not the ones living like this."
Yibo nodded, his tone calm. "You're right...it is wrong, in a way."
Zhan looked up sharply, meeting his eyes. Yibo smiled lightly. "Now, come on. Just come out and greet him."
But Zhan turned away, lay down on his bed, and said quietly, "Just tell him I'm asleep. I can't."
Yibo stood there watching him in silence for a few moments. When Zhan didn't move, he sighed softly and left the room.
Zhan didn't step out at all to greet Lee. In his mind, he kept thinking about how everyone probably saw him and Yibo as a couple...and that thought alone unsettled him deeply.
Later, around six-thirty, Zhan finally got ready, just like Yibo had told him to. He came out into the sitting room where Yibo was waiting.
Yibo turned to him. "Can we go now?"
Zhan nodded and walked toward him.
Yibo's eyes went to his leg. "Is it still hurting, Baby? You're limping a little."
Zhan shook his head. "Not much, I'm fine."
Yibo picked up his car keys and headed toward the door. Zhan followed him closely. When Yibo opened the door, Zhan stepped out, and Yibo locked up behind them.
"Baby, you're limping again," Yibo said teasingly.
Zhan lowered his head, smiling faintly. "I told you, it'll be fine, Gege."
They left the house, with the gatekeeper giving them a polite farewell. Yibo drove them to a large shopping mall.
After parking, they got out of the car. Even though Zhan's foot still hurt, he forced himself to walk normally so Yibo wouldn't bring it up again.
Yibo took a shopping cart, but Zhan gently took it from him and pushed it instead. He started picking out things he liked while Yibo followed silently, his gaze never straying far from Zhan.
When Zhan spotted a pack of chocolates, he let go of the cart and reached for it. Turning back, he caught Yibo watching him quietly, his expression unreadable.
In the bright store lighting, Zhan seemed to glow...his skin looked clearer, his posture lighter. All the treatments from Tianjin had really transformed him.
Yibo quickly looked away just as Zhan turned back.
"Oh, Gege," Zhan said, walking over. "Do you want some of these chocolates too?"
Yibo nodded wordlessly.
Zhan smiled and went back to grab a few more packs. Yibo watched him again before glancing away, just as a voice suddenly called out from behind them....
"Yibo!"
They both turned around at the same time to see a woman approaching them, her expression filled with surprise.
"Zizi," Yibo said, his eyes widening slightly.
"Oh my gosh, Yibo!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe my eyes. Is this really you?"
He smiled. "So you've been in China all this time, Zizi?"
She laughed. "Yes, I've been here for over three years now. It's been such a long time, Yibo! How have you been?"
"I've been fine," he replied with a polite smile.
Zizi's gaze shifted to Zhan, studying him with curiosity before she asked playfully, "Wait....don't tell me this is your boyfriend, Yibo?"
Yibo chuckled and shook his head. "No, he's my younger brother. His name is Zhan."
Zhan looked up at him briefly.
"Wow," Zizi said, smiling brightly. "You two actually look alike! Even your noses are almost identical."
Yibo nodded. "Yeah, he's Mom's youngest."
Still smiling, Zizi waved lightly. "Hi, Zhan."
Zhan looked at her for a moment, unsure whether to respond, then said softly, "Hello."
"I'm Zizi," she introduced. "Yibo and I did our degree program together. But you see," she turned back to Yibo with a teasing tone, "your brother here completely disappeared on us. He doesn't reply to messages...WeChat, Weibo, WhatsApp...nothing! His number was probably even switched off for months."
Zhan gave her a faint polite smile but stayed silent while Yibo continued placing groceries into the cart.
Zizi crossed her arms and grinned. "Don't tell me you still haven't gotten married, Yibo?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Not yet. Why...are you planning to find me someone who's ready to settle down?"
Zhan glanced at him sharply, while Zizi laughed. "Please! I'm not married either."
Yibo smirked. "Oh, poor thing."
She laughed again, "Who knows, maybe we've been waiting for each other all along."
Yibo couldn't help but laugh too. Zhan stood quietly beside them, a bar of chocolate still in his hand, watching the easy, familiar banter between them.
"So, how have you been really?" Yibo asked.
Zizi sighed softly. "Honestly, seeing you brings back memories. It's strange to think we went from spending almost every day together to not even talking on WhatsApp. It feels unreal."
Yibo nodded. "I don't even have your number anymore."
She grinned. "Oh, I still have yours! I even tried messaging you ages ago, but you never replied. Here...look."
She pulled out her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and showed him his number.
Yibo smiled faintly. "Yeah, that's mine. Call me now so I can save your number again."
Zhan, standing beside them, suddenly said quietly, "Gege, my leg hurts. I'm tired… I think I've shopped enough."
Yibo turned to him immediately. "Alright, Baby. We'll head home now."
Zizi smiled kindly at Zhan. "Oh, poor thing. Take care, Baby."
As she dialed Yibo's number, he pulled his phone from his pocket, checked the screen, and said, "Got it. I'll save your number right away, Zizi."
"So," she continued, "you're working here in Guangzhou now?"
"Yeah," he replied.
"As a medical doctor?" she asked, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile.
Zhan had already stormed off, leaving the entire cart behind. Yibo watched him go, then turned to Zizi with a polite smile.
"We'll talk later, Zizi. My little brother isn't feeling well...we should get home."
Zizi tilted her head slightly, her voice soft. "Oh no, that's alright, Yibo. I'm just really happy to see you again after all these years. You've gotten even more handsome and mature."
Yibo chuckled awkwardly. "We'll catch up on the phone," he said before pushing the cart away. Zizi watched him go, her gaze fixed on him until he disappeared from sight.
When Yibo reached the counter and paid, he was surprised not to see Zhan anywhere in the mall. Some of the store attendants helped carry the shopping to his car. There was Zhan... standing beside the car, arms crossed, expression cold enough to freeze a volcano.
"There you are! I've been looking for you, Baby," Yibo said teasingly.
Zhan didn't even glance at him, let alone reply. After the attendants loaded the bags, Yibo tipped them and thanked them warmly. Zhan slipped into the back seat, slammed the door, and locked it.
Yibo sighed, shook his head, and drove off in silence.
Halfway home, he asked softly, "Does your leg still hurt, Baby?"
Zhan ignored him. Completely.
Yibo gave up and focused on driving. When they finally reached home, he switched off the engine and turned around. His expression softened instantly....Zhan's eyes were wet.
Startled, Yibo jumped out of the car and opened the back door.
"Hey, hey… what's wrong, Baby?"
Zhan sniffed and said between shaky breaths, "My leg hurts. Don't ask me what happened again."
"Alright, alright," Yibo said gently. "Let's go inside and I'll take a look, okay? Can you walk?"
Zhan didn't answer...he just opened the door and started limping toward the house, tears still on his face.
Yibo hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the gate....the guard was gone. Perfect. Without warning, he swooped Zhan up bridal-style.
Zhan's eyes went wide. "Put me down right now, Gege! I can walk! I'm fine!"
"Really? You don't look fine," Yibo teased.
"Fine! Then...then keep carrying me, since you're so stubborn!" Zhan huffed, pouting furiously.
Yibo couldn't help but laugh quietly as he carried him all the way inside.
Once in Zhan's room, Yibo gently set him on the bed, crouched down, and inspected his pale ankle. "Let me grab the warm balm and massage it for you, Baby."
Zhan scrunched his face. "No, I'm taking a shower first."
"Alright," Yibo said with a grin. "Then I'll take one too."
He watched Zhan limp toward the bathroom before standing and heading out to his own room.
Later, Zhan came out of the shower, hair damp and dressed in his sleepwear. Still no sign of Yibo.
He tried to distract himself, but the way Zizi had smiled at Yibo earlier kept replaying in his head...and worse, Yibo's words to her.
Finally, curiosity got the better of him. He slipped quietly out of his room, tiptoeing toward Yibo's. Pressing his ear to the door, he tried to listen....only for the door to swing open suddenly.
Zhan nearly fell backward.
Yibo stood there, staring at him from head to toe. "Baby?"
Zhan immediately softened his voice, tilting his head shyly. "Gege… my leg still hurts. You didn't come to put the balm on me. Maybe you were busy...on a call or something?"
Yibo blinked, confused by the sudden change in tone, but didn't say a word. He simply turned around and walked back into his room, leaving the door open.
Zhan hesitated for a moment ...then followed him in, muttering under his breath, "He better not be calling that Zizi woman again."
Zhan watched as Yibo disappeared into the bathroom. His eyes drifted toward Yibo's phone resting on the bed. He hesitated, then walked closer and picked it up....surprised to find it now locked with a password.
What? Yibo had never used a password before....not even a simple pin. Zhan stared at the screen, his brows knitting tighter and tighter. Something felt off.
He sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Yibo to come out so he could ask when that started. He could hear the sound of running water and sighed impatiently. But the strange thing was, Yibo had already looked freshly showered when he went in.
Fifteen minutes later, Yibo finally stepped out, towel around his neck, hair damp. He glanced at Zhan once before looking away.
Zhan frowned. "Didn't you just take a shower earlier, Gege?"
"Didn't finish," Yibo said flatly without meeting his eyes.
Before Zhan could speak again, the phone on the bed began to vibrate. The screen lit up: Dr. Zizi.
Yibo's hand moved fast...he grabbed the phone, answering it with a calm voice. "Hey, Zizi. I'll call you back." Then he ended the call quickly and set the phone down, meeting Zhan's eyes for a brief second before saying casually, "Let me get the warm balm."
Zhan said nothing.
Yibo opened his small first-aid box and frowned. "Hmm. We're out of balm. I'll have to go buy some."
Still no response from Zhan.
Yibo sighed, picked up his car keys, and left the room.
The moment the door closed, Zhan's chest tightened. He didn't even know why tears filled his eyes...only that his throat ached, and before he knew it, he was crying into the pillow, muffling every sob.
By the time Yibo returned, Zhan had cried himself into a light doze.
Yibo entered quietly, surprised to still find him there. He sat down beside the bed, looking at Zhan's sleeping face. A faint smile tugged at his lips....even while pouting in sleep, the boy looked ridiculously soft and cute.
He reached for Zhan's foot and gently lifted it, but Zhan's eyes fluttered open.
"I was just going to rub the lotion for you," Yibo said quickly, holding up the tube.
Zhan frowned, lips pushing into a sulky pout, but said nothing.
"Which foot hurts?" Yibo asked.
Silence.
He sighed and started inspecting both feet himself. When his hand touched the sore ankle, Zhan jerked back, whining, "Don't! I don't want it!"
"I'll be gentle," Yibo said, smiling faintly.
Knowing how dramatic Zhan could get, Yibo worked carefully, massaging the balm softly into his skin. There was barely any pressure, but Zhan still sniffled as if it hurt.
Yibo bit back a laugh. "You're crying again? It can't be that bad."
Zhan's eyes filled again as he burst out, "Of course you'd say that! You don't even feel my pain! You only came back after your phone call! If you cared, you wouldn't have left me hurting while you chatted with her!"
Yibo blinked. "What? I went to the pharmacy, Baby. To get the balm." His voice softened. "I know it hurts....that's why I went out in the middle of the night."
That only made Zhan cry harder.
Yibo sighed and pulled him gently into his arms. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Baby."
Zhan's face pressed into his chest, his tears dampening Yibo's shirt. Yibo closed his eyes and held him close for a moment before whispering, "It's okay."
After a while, Yibo eased back, smiling. "It's late now. Go lie down and sleep, hmm?"
Zhan sniffled and looked up at him. "You just want to make a call, don't you?"
Yibo chuckled. "And what if I do? What else do you want me to do, Baby? I am a human. Or would you rather your brother never talk to anyone, never date, never get married? Or…" he smirked, "you got a girlfriend for me too...like you got one for MD?"
Zhan froze, lips tightening, refusing to answer.
Just then, Yibo's phone buzzed again....Dr. Zizi flashed on the screen.
Zhan immediately turned his head toward it, glaring.
Yibo sighed. "Go to sleep, Baby. Let me take this call. Or do you want to sleep here?"
Still no response.
Yibo guided him down gently onto the bed. "Then lie here." He grabbed a pillow and tossed it onto the sofa, turned off the lights, and lay down there with his phone.
Zhan closed his eyes, pretending to sleep...but he could hear everything.
The line connected, and Zizi's soft voice filled the dark room. "So… what are your plans now, Yibo?"
Zhan's hand clenched into the blanket. If she called one more time tonight, someone was going to need real medical attention.
Yibo, who had been speaking calmly, smiled and said, "Marriage...and building a family."
Zizi blinked in surprise. "Really? And when exactly are you planning to get married? Do you already have a girlfriend?"
He shook his head lightly. "Not at all. I'm single. If I meet the right person tomorrow and she's ready, I'm ready too....within a month."
Zizi laughed softly. "Hard to believe, Yibo. You expect me to believe you don't have a girlfriend?"
Yibo fell silent for a moment before saying quietly, "Not only do I not have a girlfriend....I've actually been married before, Zizi. But the marriage didn't even last six months before we separated."
Zizi's eyes widened. "What happened, Yibo? You've always been patient and calm. What kind of woman would throw away someone like you?"
Yibo sighed, his tone low. "She didn't like my family, Zizi. She poisoned my younger brother...the one you saw with me at the mall. I was actually her real target."
Zizi gasped. "That's horrible! What happened to her?"
"I told you....I divorced her. There's nothing between us anymore."
"I mean, was she punished for what she did? Did you report it to the police?"
"I did," Yibo replied. "I personally handed her over to the authorities. Unfortunately, she was pregnant at the time. So despite having clear evidence of her crime, she was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. But because of the pregnancy, my father intervened....he felt pity for her. He insisted that even though our marriage was over, she should be treated with some compassion for the baby's sake. He even persuaded my brother, Barrister Hai Kuan, to hire top lawyers to appeal the case. None of us...my mother included....agreed with him, but we had no choice. The court hearings start this Monday. With the lawyers my father hired, she might not be fully acquitted, but they'll probably grant her house arrest until she gives birth and the child turns two. That doesn't mean any of us have forgiven her, though."
Zizi exhaled slowly. "That's really sad, Yibo. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
"Thank you, Zizi," he said softly.
"So, are you really thinking about marriage again?"
"I am," he said firmly. "I'm tired of being alone."
Zizi smiled teasingly. "I guess you've gotten used to having a woman around."
Through all this, Zhan....who had been lying nearby....could hear every word.
After a pause, Zizi asked, "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Yibo said.
"Tell me the truth... would you marry me, Yibo?"
Zhan's head jerked up before he realized what he was doing. Yibo smiled. "Why not? As long as you're still the same Zizi I used to know."
She smiled shyly. "I haven't changed, Yibo. And my feelings for you haven't either."
Yibo's gaze softened. "Then there's no reason not to. As long as you can love my little brother...the one you saw earlier...and care for my family as your own, because after my mom, he's the person I love most in this world."
Zizi smiled warmly. "That's not a problem, Yibo. I have siblings too, and I'll treat your family as mine just like you would do for me."
"Then it's settled," Yibo said, smiling.
"So... when are you coming to see me?"
"Where exactly are you in Guangzhou?"
"At my aunt's house. I work at a private hospital nearby."
"Alright," Yibo said. "I'll come tomorrow after work."
"Okay, I'll text you the address. Just promise you mean it this time."
He chuckled. "Didn't I just say I'll come? You'll see."
Zhan didn't realize when the tears started falling. Yibo turned sharply when he heard the quiet sobbing. Ending the call quickly, he said, "Zizi, I'll call you back," and set the phone aside. He sat beside Zhan, confused. "Hey, what's wrong? You're not asleep?"
Zhan didn't answer....just kept crying silently.
"Talk to me, please," Yibo said, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "What happened?"
Zhan brushed his hand away. "Leave me alone. My stomach hurts."
Yibo frowned, concerned. "When did it start hurting?"
Zhan didn't reply, just turned away, tears still streaming down his face.
Yibo stood quickly. "Alright, let me get your injection." He turned on the light and looked back at Zhan...but immediately turned away when he realized Zhan's sleepwear had shifted. He quickly prepared the injection without glancing back. Sitting beside him again, Yibo said softly, "Hold still, I'll make it quick."
Zhan didn't say a word. Yibo gave him the shot, then gently massaged the spot. Finally, he pulled Zhan into a loose embrace and whispered, "Please stop crying. You'll feel better soon."
But Yibo was so lost in the moment that he didn't realize how close they were...until Zhan pushed him away sharply, face tense. "Stop. Just stop."
Yibo froze and stepped back immediately. "I... I only meant the pain will pass. I'll go get some coffee."
Zhan wiped his tears silently, refusing to look at him.
Yibo hesitated, not daring to meet Zhan's eyes. "Maybe you should go back to your room and rest, hmm?" he murmured softly.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛