Zhan didn't answer. He just pulled his pillow closer and lay down.
Yibo said softly, "Alright then, turn off the light and go to sleep."
"I'd rather keep it on," Zhan replied quietly.
"Oh," Yibo murmured. "I can't really sleep with the light on, though."
Zhan turned slightly and said, "Weren't you going to get coffee?"
Yibo didn't reply. He just climbed off the bed and lay down on the carpet, turning his back to Zhan. He stayed like that for hours, pretending to sleep. Around midnight, he finally turned his head slightly and glanced at Zhan...fast asleep...before quietly getting up and leaving the room.
Later in the night, Zhan woke up and noticed Yibo wasn't there. He sat up quickly, scanning the room until his eyes landed on Yibo's phone lying on the carpet. With a small sigh, he lay back down and drifted off again.
At four in the morning, Zhan woke once more to use the bathroom. On his way back, he noticed Yibo's phone, he take it and tucked hunder the pillow, then walked quietly out of the room.
He turned on the light in the sitting room....and there was Yibo, lying face down on the carpet, a half-empty cup beside him. Zhan hurried over.
"Gege," he whispered.
Yibo stirred and slowly lifted his head. "Hmm?"
"Why are you sleeping out here? Are you okay?" Zhan asked, worry in his tone.
Yibo turned his face back toward the pillow. "My stomach hurts," he said softly. "But I took some medicine....I'll be fine."
Zhan frowned. "You sure? What caused it?"
"I think it's that ginger drink," Yibo said with a faint smile. "You know I never really liked it."
Zhan nodded. "I'm sorry. Did you take your medicine?"
Yibo pointed at the cup beside him. "Yeah, I did. I'm feeling a little better."
"Then go to bed properly," Zhan said.
"It's fine," Yibo replied. "It's almost morning anyway. You go back to sleep....and switch off the light for me."
"Okay," Zhan said softly. Then he hesitated, looking at the thin blanket covering Yibo. "Let me get you something warmer. It's cold in here."
Before Yibo could protest, Zhan ran off and came back with a thick duvet. He draped it over Yibo gently.
"Thank you," Yibo murmured, smiling faintly.
Zhan smiled back, turned off the light, and went back to Yibo's room to pick up Yibo's phone before heading to his own.
Yibo fell asleep on the three-seater sofa, finally getting the rest he hadn't managed the night before. When the sound of cooking came from the kitchen around eight a.m., he woke groggily, his head heavy and his stomach lower part still heavy and hurting.
He stood and went to his room. Everything was neat, the bed made, the room faintly scented with Zhan's perfume. After a shower, he noticed his phone wasn't there....though he was certain he hadn't taken it out of the room.
Just as he was about to head out to buy more medicine, there was a soft knock. The door opened and Zhan stepped in, smiling. "Morning, Gege."
Yibo smiled back tiredly. "Morning, Baby. How was your night?"
"It was good," Zhan said. "Are you feeling better now?"
"I told you...it was just that ginger drink. I'm fine."
"I made breakfast," Zhan said.
"Oh? I'll be right there."
Zhan nodded and left. Yibo watched him go, a faint smile tugging at his lips before he followed him to the sitting room.
The table was already set. Zhan had even made coffee and placed it beside a steaming dish. Yibo sat down and said softly, "You've done well, Baby."
Smiling, Zhan opened a dish. "I even made pepper soup."
"Thank you," Yibo said. He began to eat quietly, though the discomfort in his lower abdomen made it hard to enjoy anything.
Seeing that he barely touched his food, Zhan asked gently, "Gege, you didn't eat much. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Yibo said, setting his spoon down. "Just a headache. I'll go get some medicine."
"Don't we have painkillers here?" Zhan asked.
"No, I'll be quick," Yibo replied, already standing up.
"Should I come with you?" Zhan offered.
Yibo smiled faintly. "I'll be back soon, don't worry."
He grabbed his car keys and ATM card. Still, he didn't ask about his missing phone.
After buying the medicine, Yibo sat in his car for a while, taking one of the pills with bottled water before heading back inside. He didn't want Zhan to see the kind of medication he was taking.
When he entered, Zhan was tidying up. Yibo sat down on the couch, watching him quietly. His clothes looked perfectly put together, but behind his calm face was a storm only he could feel.
Zhan walked closer, took the small bag of medicine, and began checking through it carefully. Yibo gave a faint smile but said nothing. After examining the drugs, Zhan went to fetch him a glass of water. Yibo took the paracetamol and swallowed it.
Zhan asked softly, "Gege, what should I cook for lunch?"
Yibo replied, "Let's decide later. Are you even hungry yet?"
"I'll cook now," Zhan said, "because I want you to take me to see Mama today."
Yibo raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Didn't you say yesterday you didn't want to go? Did you forget?"
"No, I just changed my mind. If you're going out, please drop me at the house. I really want to visit."
Yibo went quiet for a while, then muttered, "Maybe on Sunday…"
Before he could finish, Zhan pouted. "Please, Gege, I really miss Mama. I even dreamed about her."
Yibo sighed. "Fine, I'll take you later when I get back."
Zhan frowned. "Why can't we just go together now? You'll only drop me off and leave again."
"I said later in the evening. Now bring me my phone."
Zhan glared at him but didn't respond, simply walked out of the sitting room.
By a quarter to six, Yibo finally drove Zhan to their family house. Zhan had been sulking since four o'clock when Yibo delayed taking him, and Yibo only agreed because he couldn't stand the tension anymore.
When they arrived, only Lan Yi and Lee were home. Granny Ai had gone out with Aunty Marquis to Dr. Jing's house to deliver a gift basket as thanks. Lan Yi was overjoyed to see Zhan.
But Zhan refused to meet her gaze, focusing instead on the TV. Yibo, on the other hand, scrolled through his phone, not even lifting his head after greeting Lan Yi... as if he, too, wanted to avoid her. The air in the sitting room was thick and awkward, like they were strangers.
Finally, Lan Yi broke the silence. "So, you'll resume work this coming Monday, right?"
Without looking up, Yibo said, "Yes, this Monday."
"I thought you took two weeks off," she said gently.
He shook his head. "Just one."
Lan Yi stood up and went to her room to get a box of perfume that Xuxui had sent three days earlier. Seeing her leave, Zhan quickly stood and followed her in. Yibo quietly watched him go.
Lan Yi picked up the perfume bag and smiled at Zhan. "Baby, your Aunty Xuxui sent this for you. I actually forgot to give it to Lee earlier when he was taking the food. When you get home, call her to say thank you."
Zhan sat down at the edge of her bed in silence. Lan Yi studied him closely...his whole mood had shifted completely. She moved closer and asked softly, "Are you okay, Baby?"
At that, Zhan suddenly broke down crying. Lan Yi sat beside him, but hesitated to ask more. Her heart felt heavy; she couldn't find the right words. So she just held him close quietly, unsure how to comfort him.
Just then, Yibo entered the room, holding Lan Yi's ringing phone. He placed it gently on the bed and stood still.
Without looking at him, Lan Yi asked Zhan, "Have you been talking to your Baba?"
Zhan shook his head, tears still falling. "No, my credit runout… and you know what, Mama? Everywhere we go, Gege keeps introducing me to people as his little brother. He says he's not married, and he even gave his number to a chubby woman at the shopping mall. They talk every night. He told her he'll marry her in a month."
Lan Yi's eyes widened in disbelief. She turned sharply toward Yibo, who stood frozen, staring at Zhan in shock.
"Yibo?" she said in a trembling voice. "So this is the kind of man you are? I can't believe it."
Yibo couldn't utter a word. His mind was spinning.
Lan Yi's phone started ringing again...it was Aunty Marquis. She grabbed it and said, "I'll take this call." Then she left the room, her expression hard.
Yibo turned to Zhan, voice shaking. "So that's who you really are, Baby?"
Zhan avoided his eyes, refusing to answer.
Yibo's tone grew sharp. "Didn't you say we're still like siblings?"
Zhan whipped around angrily. "Yes, I did! But did I tell you to announce it to strangers? Couldn't you just say you're married and move on? You had to go and flirt with that woman and even promise to visit her tonight after six? You better call her now and tell her I'm your husband, or I'll tell both Mama and Baba everything."
Yibo was speechless. So this was why Zhan had been so insistent on coming home...he had planned this all along.
Just then, Lan Yi returned, her face stern. She pointed at the door. "Leave."
Yibo lowered his head, said nothing, and quietly walked out of the room.
Yibo sat quietly in Lan Yi's sitting room, still reeling from what Zhan had said earlier.
Evening shadows began to fall, yet neither Lan Yi nor Zhan had come out of the room. What unsettled Yibo most was not knowing what exactly Zhan might be telling Lan Yi behind closed doors. Restless and uneasy, he finally stood up and walked out of the sitting room.
Not long after, Aunty Marquis returned home with Granny Ai. Seeing Yibo seated there, Granny Ai greeted him warmly but couldn't resist teasing:
"Well, well...so the groom is here today! I was just telling Lan Yi that it's strange how Zhan hasn't called or checked in. After all that drama we went through trying to convince him to go with Qiren to drive him to your house, he's been so quiet since then. You'd think he'd forgotten us!"
Yibo smiled politely, greeting both women in turn.
Aunty Marquis asked, "How are you, Yibo? Everything fine at home?"
He nodded. "Everything's fine."
Granny Ai studied him closely. "Hmm… you look fresh, brighter than before. So, where's Zhan?"
"He's upstairs," Yibo replied simply.
Granny Ai chuckled. "We were planning to visit with Marquis on Monday, since we'll be leaving for Tianjin on Tuesday."
"Oh," Yibo said, "and from Tianjin, you'll go back to Yantai, right?"
Granny Ai didn't respond, busy unpacking the gift bag that Dr. Jing's daughter-in-law had sent. She soon excused herself and went upstairs.
As soon as she was gone, Aunty Marquis laughed lightly. "Why would you bring up Yantai to her? She's been complaining about wanting to have the rest of her luggage sent back there!"
Yibo asked, "So she'll be staying with you in Tianjin?"
"No," Aunty Marquis said. "She didn't mention that. I'm not even sure whose place she'll stay at... maybe Yisue's?"
Yibo nodded, saying nothing more.
Aunty Marquis tilted her head. "You left Zhan alone at home?"
He shook his head. "No, he's upstairs."
"Oh, good," she said. "Anyway, Lan Yi Jie mentioned that on Sunday we'll visit the wife of Qiren's colleague. So by Monday, we should be on our way."
Yibo smiled faintly. "Alright, that sounds good."
Aunty Marquis went upstairs, leaving him alone again. Yibo couldn't shake his disbelief...he still couldn't understand how Zhan could have done what he did. When Lee walked into the sitting room, Yibo returned his greeting, then quietly excused himself and went to his room.
Around 8 p.m., Granny Ai entered Lan Yi's room, clearly irritated. "So this man is still sitting here at someone else's house? Shouldn't he go down and tell his husband it's time to go home? It's almost nine! If it were up to Yibo, he'd never say a word...too polite and soft-hearted for his own good."
Aunty Marquis, who was sitting nearby, added her voice, but Lan Yi only said calmly, "They're staying the night." That silenced them for a moment.
Granny Ai frowned. "Staying the night? Marquis, you heard her, right? Don't let her ruin that poor boy's marriage. If Qiren were here, he'd never allow this nonsense. And Lan Yi, stop using the excuse that Zhan is your son just to meddle in Yibo's home. You and Zhan will both regret it if you keep interfering. Look at him....sitting alone downstairs like an orphan. The boy's supposed to be the husband, yet he's being treated like a stranger. The marriage is barely a week old, and already you're undermining him. Keep this up, and soon he won't even be able to manage his own home."
Aunty Marquis kept glancing at Lan Yi, waiting for her to respond, but Lan Yi said nothing. Granny Ai scoffed and left the sitting room.
She found Yibo downstairs and said sharply, "Are you two really staying the night? It's getting late."
Yibo answered quietly, "I'm waiting for him."
Granny Ai clicked her tongue. "Just as I thought... this must be one of Lan Yi's bright ideas. That woman has no sense of limits. If you're not careful, she'll ruin your marriage before it even begins. You'd better call Qiren and tell him everything... how you came for a visit and your partner refused to go home with you. Don't let Lan Yi and that cunning boy twist things against you."
"And did you see how Zhan greeted me earlier? Sitting there on the carpet, pretending to be so polite, calling me 'Granny' like some angel, after all the trouble I went through...traveling from Tianjin to Guangzhou for his wedding. The boy didn't even bother to thank me. I swear, now that he feels he's married into something big, he's starting to show attitude."
Granny Ai shook her head in frustration. "Ah, that Zhan…"
Yibo just sat there watching silently, saying nothing. Granny Ai turned away toward the kitchen, muttering under her breath.
"If you want to save the little respect you have left, do as I told you. Your mother doesn't have your best interests at heart. And really... how long have you even been married before dragging Zhan here? These young people today have no sense of decency."
With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.
- - - -
Lan Yi was still in the sitting room with Aunty Marquis, while Zhan lay quietly in the bedroom. Lan Yi didn't hide anything from Aunty Marquis... she repeated everything Zhan had told her earlier.
Aunty Marquis listened in silence, staring at her without knowing what to say. Lan Yi sighed.
"I think it's because Yibo had Zhan in a easy way...that's why he's started behaving this way. Everything Zhan said points to one thing: he doesn't want the marriage. Imagine, he was on the phone with another woman right in front of him! And he's been telling people that Zhan isn't his husband but his younger brother.
"Honestly, from the first day he and Hai Kuan wolked in here and Yibo said he wanted to divorce Zhan because he didn't love him, I suspected he only agreed to the marriage out of pressure. You can see it clearly now. That's why Zhan will never get the respect he deserves from him. It's better to face the truth early before things get worse."
Aunty Marquis finally exhaled deeply.
"But Lan Yi Jie," she asked gently, "did you even give Yibo a chance to explain his side? Maybe hear what he has to say?"
Lan Yi shook her head.
"There's nothing he can say. Zhan isn't lying, and I know Yibo well enough....he wouldn't dare tell me the truth anyway."
Aunty Marquis frowned slightly. "Still, I hope this ends peacefully."
Lan Yi nodded. "Yes, but please...don't mention any of this to Aunt Ai. You know how she gets."
She hadn't even finished her sentence when Granny Ai stormed into the room, pointing an accusing finger at her.
"You! Don't play the victim here, Lan Yi. That boy Yibo just told me himself...they never planned to stay the night, and now you're keeping his husband here against his will! He's sitting downstairs in the dark like an abandoned orphan. Why must every mess in this house start with you? And after how rudely you treated Qiren's wife yesterday...just because she and her husband were heading back to Beijing together!"
Aunty Marquis quickly stood up and slipped out of the sitting room. As she walked downstairs, she found Yibo still sitting where he'd been all along. Taking a seat beside him, she spoke softly so Bing, who was tidying the dining area, wouldn't hear.
"Yibo, what's going on?"
He sighed heavily but didn't speak. She got up and said, "Come with me. Let's talk in private."
He followed her quietly. Once inside, Yibo told her everything that had happened between him and Zhan....from the moment they'd returned home until now.
Aunty Marquis listened carefully and then said, "You should understand...Zhan is acting out of immaturity and emotion. You shouldn't have matched his energy like that. And honestly, your biggest mistake was making that phone call in front of him. That was careless, Yibo and inappropriate."
Yibo said nothing.
Aunty Marquis finally stood and said, "I'll go speak with Lan Yi." Then she left the room.
When she found Lan Yi again, she repeated everything Yibo had told her. But Lan Yi barely looked up from what she was doing, half distracted, and said flatly,
"Marquis, I'm not interested in excuses. How could he sit there calling another person right in front of Zhan... as if marrying him was some kind of charity case? You're a woman... how would you feel if someone did that to you? I won't defend what's wrong. Honestly, I never even wanted Zhan to return to his house yet. When Yibo learns to respect himself, then he can take him home...but not now."
"And if Qiren shows up trying to interfere, I swear I'll hide Zhan away first thing."
Despite her irritation, Aunty Marquis couldn't help but laugh quietly at Lan Yi's bluntness. Lan Yi stood up and left the room, leaving her sitting there with a long sigh.
Meanwhile, Granny Ai had retreated to her room with a cup of tea and some bread, satisfied that the quarrel no longer directly concerned her... but still muttering under her breath about "young people who don't know their place."
- - - -
At ten to ten, Yibo entered Lan Yi's part to greet her before heading home. He didn't see her in the sitting room, which led him to her bedroom. Upon opening the door, he saw Zhan sitting in front of Lan Yi's mirror, drying his hair after having a shower and preparing for bed. When Zhan noticed him, he turned his head away and continued with what he was doing. Yibo stepped into the room and locked the door behind him.
Zhan paused what he was doing, looking at him in the mirror as he put a key in the door. At that moment, Lan Yi emerged from the bathroom. Yibo leaned against the door, looking at her since he didn't know she was inside. Lan Yi wrinkled her face and then Yibo lowered his head, saying, "Goodnight, Mama." Briefly, Lan Yi replied, "May the heavens keep us safe."
He glanced at Zhan from the corner of his eye and then turned slightly, like a sneak, and opened the door where he had locked it and exited.
***
The next day, Zhan spent the entire day at home, from Lan Yi's room to her sitting room, never going downstairs. Food was served to him only from Lan Yi's side. Lan Yi was in the room with Granny Ai, preparing souvenirs for their trip to Tianjin since Aunty Marquis said they would leave the next day. They cancel going to Zhan's houes, as he was home now, and they had already visited and seen the house before.
Granny Ai looked at Aunty Marquis and asked, "So, when are we going to collect the things? We are set to leave for Tianjin tomorrow."
Lan Yi and Aunty Marquis turned to look at her, and Aunty Marquis asked, "What do you mean, Aunt?"
Granny Ai adjusted her sitting position and replied, "Zhan's things, of course, his room's items. We should go collect them so they don't get ruined, especially since they are expensive gifts from his family. Look at that empty room in this house; they should be stored and arranged since his mother wants to break his marriage. Don't you agree? I only brought this up as a suggestion."
Lan Yi averted her gaze and continued gathering her items. Aunty Marquis didn't say anything. Granny Ai added, "Every embracing things, they come from our family before they reach other families, after all." She stood up and walked into the bathroom.
Aunty Marquis whispered while looking at Lan Yi, "Please, Lan Yi Jie, let Yibo come and take Zhan; he will returns to work on Monday, you know."
Lan Yi replied, "Marquis, step aside while I close my eyes. He should go there and marry whoever he wants, just like he said; maybe he will knows the value of marriage since it won't be a charity case. As for Zhan, he gets him for free."
Aunty Marquis said, "But Lan Yi Jie, you know Yibo's character better than anyone. Why won't you spare him or give him a listing ear…"
Lan Yi interrupted, "I don't know, whether he changes or not, you should focus on your own issues and leave me out of this talk."
Aunty Marquis shut her mouth and remained silent...
Zhan entered Lan Yi's room around eight-thirty after he had gone to his room to check his things for bed. Most of his belongings had not been taken to Yibo's home. He placed his sleeping clothes at the side of the bed and then moved to the front of Lan Yi's mirror, wrapping a towel around himself, having already showered. Zhan opened Lan Yi's perfume and began applying it when he heard the door to the room open. Having assumed it was Lan Yi, he lifted his head only to see Yibo standing at the entrance. Quickly, he turned to him as he came inside and locked the door.
Zhan closed the perfume bottle and approached the bed to grab his pajamas, but he froze in shock seeing Yibo had reached him first and grabbed his clothes. Zhan frowned in annoyance and said, "Gege, you didn't knock, and look, I haven't put on…"
Before he could finish, Yibo pulled his towel. Zhan got scared and hugged him tightly, exclaiming, "I swear I haven't put anything on my body; for God's sake, please, I'll tell Mama I lied to her about you yesterday, just please forgive me!"
Yibo didn't respond until he fully yanked the towel from Zhan's body and threw it on the floor. He looked at Zhan from head to toe in the mirror without blinking. Suddenly, his heart raced, and within seconds, he felt as if his strength was draining away. He struggled to maintain his balance while trying to turn Zhan around to face the mirror, but Zhan, trembling, pulled him close while shout for Lan Yi.
Yibo's legs felt extraordinarily heavy, and he didn't realize he had fallen onto the bed, still tightly holding onto Zhan. The door opened quickly, and Yibo swiftly changed their position, placing Zhan beneath him, trying to shield Zhan's naked frame. Before Lan Yi could finish entering the room, she quickly turned around and exited within seconds...
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛