During the early days of living together, Zhan made sure to set aside money every month to cover Popo Yuli's upkeep and her care for Yibo. When he first began giving her the money, she showed clear discomfort. She reminded him that she was the one who had been helped by them, not the other way around. She firmly refused to accept money under the pretense of being paid for living with Yibo...or for helping them at all.
Seeing how deeply unhappy she was about it, Zhan stopped offering it directly. Still, he could not feel at ease knowing he was not compensating her in some way. So, quietly and without explaining his reasons, he took her to the bank and opened an account in her name.
Every month, he deposited a small amount into it. Zhan was the kind of man who did not like owing anyone, nor did he like relying on favors...especially when it concerned Yibo.
Although Popo Yuli had become very special to their lives, Zhan trusted no one easily when it came to matters involving his child. Still, the deep bond and affection between Popo Yuli and Yibo earned her a place of great respect in his eyes....and a significant place in his heart.
Even with Popo Yuli living with them, Zhan remained the one who handled many of Yibo's daily needs. When it was time to dress, Yibo often went to him to help choose what to wear. They still ate together as they always had, and for a long time, Yibo continued sleeping in Zhan's room. It took firm insistence from Popo Yuli before Yibo finally stopped sleeping there. He had grown used to sharing a room with his father since infancy, and adjusting to a different arrangement was not easy for him.
Zhan himself remained constantly alert. At night, he often checked on Yibo using his phone's flashlight whenever he sensed movement. Whether day or night, he never felt fully at ease unless Yibo was within sight or close by.
Zhan was the kind of parent whose love came with extreme caution and vigilance. When it came to Yibo's safety and upbringing, he trusted nothing to chance. That was why Popo Yuli eventually became the one person he trusted completely.
At first, Popo Yuli struggled to adapt to Zhan's lifestyle...especially his strict standards of cleanliness...but over time, she grew accustomed to it. Eventually, she found comfort and peace in their life together, enjoying stability, good meals, and a healthy routine.
Every morning before dawn, Zhan returned from his jogging routine. By then, Yibo was usually ready for school. Zhan would escort him, return home to shower, and sometimes eat before leaving for work. On days when he was running late, he skipped meals to avoid being delayed.
His life revolved around two things only: dedication to his work and caring for his home. He had no close friends and kept social interactions minimal...limited to professional necessities and brief, polite exchanges.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐
Over time, their lives improved in many ways. They moved into a better, more spacious home where Yibo finally had his own room. Zhan had fully settled into his role as head of the household, raising a growing teenager while juggling demanding work and completing his master's degree. Only the final paperwork remained, and with everything nearly in place, he planned for their next chapter.
Because of Zhan's demanding job, Popo Yuli now picked Yibo up from school. Zhan could no longer leave work early as often. Yibo frequently complained about this, clearly unhappy with the arrangement, but Zhan refused to stop escorting him whenever possible and also refused to let Popo Yuli stop picking him up.
Now close to entering Grade 11, Yibo's friends teased him, calling him "Daddy's boy" and "Popo Yuli's boy." Some mocked him, while others admired the devotion his father still showed despite his age...perhaps because Yibo had no siblings.
Zhan never gave Yibo spending money. Instead, he bought everything Yibo needed or wanted himself. He neither gave him cash nor allowed others to do so.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ
When Yibo experienced his first menstrual cycle, it came with severe abdominal pain. Zhan panicked immediately and rushed him to the hospital. Numerous tests were conducted, and it was discovered that Yibo also had a uterus.
This revelation made Zhan even more protective. Learning that Yibo was a special male changed everything. Yibo himself did not panic upon learning he could menstruate and potentially bear children, though he sometimes felt uncomfortable...especially during the second cycle, which was far more painful than the first. The initial episode had passed quietly, and Popo Yuli had not explained much to Zhan at the time, assuming it was just a brief illness.
But this month was different. Seeing Yibo vomiting and crying from pain left Zhan deeply distressed.
He rushed him to the hospital again, where the doctor explained the condition in detail. At first, Zhan struggled to understand.
Later, Popo Yuli clarified everything more openly.
Zhan fell silent, staring at the door, his pale eyes heavy with thought. He felt the weight of a new stage in Yibo's life...a stage that would demand even greater care, protection, and responsibility than before.
Zhan knew almost nothing about such matters until Yuli explained everything to him. He had no real understanding of women's bodies or experiences of this nature...not academically, culturally, or through life experience. Despite his general level of education, this was an area completely unfamiliar to him.
So, after they returned home, he went back to work. Later that same day, he bought sanitary pads for Yibo on his way back. Even then, he had to ask one of the female staff members at his workplace to help him choose the right ones. He brought them home and handed them to Yuli. He did not buy underwear, because he already made it a habit to regularly purchase new undergarments for Yibo, strictly for hygiene reasons.
From that time onward, every month came with the same struggle until Yibo gradually grew used to it and learned how to manage the pain when his period arrived. Eventually, it became something he no longer had to constantly anticipate. That was very different from the early days, when Zhan always knew the exact time because of how uncomfortable and distressed Yibo became each month.
๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ
One year after Zhan completed his master's degree, everything in their lives had changed significantly. Time had passed, they had all grown older and more mature, and financial stability had finally begun to settle in. Their lives improved across many areas.
Zhan left the mall job and returned to work at the company's main headquarters, where he was given a senior position...thanks to his qualifications, work ethic, and depth of knowledge.
At first, he faced serious challenges due to jealousy from colleagues who resented how quickly he rose above them. The tension caused him a great deal of stress, and there were moments when he felt exhausted by the work environment, especially because he disliked conflict and pressure.
At the same time, he began receiving job offers from companies he had applied to long ago. Now they were offering him senior roles with better conditions. Still, out of loyalty and principle, he chose to remain where he was...though the situation was becoming increasingly difficult.
At home, the passage of time also brought changes. As Zhan grew older, the dynamic between him and Yuli naturally shifted. The sense of respectful distance increased, as he was no longer a young man. Still, Yuli remained warm and relaxed with him, unchanged in her care and affection.
Yibo, on the other hand, grew even more attached to Zhan. In fact, he had begun handling many Zhan's personal matters himself, although they now had a house helper who came in during the day and left afterward. Zhan insisted on hiring help so Yibo could focus on his studies and so Yuli could finally rest after years of sacrifice.
Even with help in the house, only Yuli cooked the meals Zhan ate. Likewise, Yibo had taken on the responsibility of organizing Zhan's wardrobe and personal items...something he did naturally. Zhan's bedroom remained private; only Yibo was allowed inside, just as it had always been.
Zhan now had enough money to buy a car, but he chose not to. Instead, he began considering a transfer to the Beijing branch of his company. The environment where they lived was becoming unstable, and problems within the organization were starting to surface openly. Mismanagement from the company's leadership was beginning to cause serious damage.
Seeing this, Zhan submitted a transfer request and sent an email to Shang in Beijing.
Shang was immediately alarmed at the possibility of Zhan leaving. The company was already struggling to maintain the branch, and losing Zhan would mean losing one of their most valuable assets. Without delay, Shang informed his father in Singapore about the situation and the risk they were facing.
****
For two full days, Zhan rested comfortably at home with his family, his mind at ease. He had never been someone who went out much...his routine was usually work, home, a few necessary places, and Yibo's school, which he still personally handled.
With his father home for two days straight, Yibo was especially happy. Zhan's work usually kept him very busy, and when he was home, Yibo was often at school. Most of the time, they only had the evenings together.
Two weeks into his break, just as Zhan was preparing to resume work, a message arrived from Shang's father in Singapore.
It was a new job offer...this time, in Singapore. His first response was immediate rejection. He could not imagine leaving the country to work elsewhere while Yibo remained behind.
After two days of thought, he formally declined the offer.
He had already accepted another position and even begun working there, but Shang and his family refused to let him go. After careful reconsideration, Zhan finally agreed...on the condition that his family would be allowed to join him later.
For the time being, they would remain in Beijing before relocating.
It did not take long before they packed up and moved to Beijing completely, beginning a new chapter of their lives there.
At first, adapting to the city was difficult. Eventually, they settled in. School transportation became a necessity, so Yuli learned how to drive. Thankfully, she picked it up quickly.
Zhan bought a car for the family, and Yuli took responsibility for dropping Yibo off at school and picking him up. She never arrived late...not even once...strictly following Zhan's rules.
Zhan's workload increased significantly. His job required frequent travel between cities and even to other countries. As a result, Yibo's upbringing fell almost entirely into Yuli's hands. Still, Zhan constantly called and reminded her about Yibo's care, education, and well-being.
Not long after Yibo completed high school, Zhan gathered the family and moved them to Singapore, his mind torn by concern and responsibility.
Their life in Hougang, Singapore, was a fresh and comfortable one...peaceful, stable, and filled with ease, thanks to Zhan's financial success.
After nine months in Hougang, they moved into central Singapore. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, Zhan pursued further studies, completing another program within two years. Soon after, he accepted a major position in Australia, and they left Singapore.
Less than a year after Zhan departed China, the company he once worked for collapsed entirely and went into liquidation. Zhan became the first to acquire the company, including its malls in China and Singapore. He entrusted management to Shang and Shang's father, insisting they continue overseeing operations, as everything now legally belonged to him. Still, out of integrity, he allowed them full operational control.
All employees suspected of corruption were dismissed. The companies and malls were restructured, renovated, and staffed with new personnel, marking a complete rebirth of the enterprise.
๐ ๐๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ซโฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ. ๐