Yunxi first dropped off Tieh at the gate of her house. He could tell she wasn't happy—she stepped out reluctantly, barely taking the shopping bags, as if she didn't even want them. She didn't say goodbye, just waved briefly at Rouxue and Roulan before walking inside.
Yunxi closed his eyes for a moment, then reversed and drove away.
When they arrived at Zhan's house, Yunxi stepped out and opened the back seat. The children were clinging tightly to Zhan, as if they didn't want to leave him.
He smiled softly. "Alright, come down."
With his help, they got out. He handed them their shopping bags.
"Take these inside."
Zhan was about to step out, but Yunxi stopped him.
Rouxue peeked back and said, "Uncle, he's not coming down."
Yunxi gently patted his head. "He will. Go inside and give your chocolates to Mommy."
The children went in, still turning back to look at Zhan.
Yunxi got into the car again and looked at Zhan with concern.
"Please… tell me why you were crying. Was it me?"
Zhan shook his head quietly, tears slipping down his face again.
Yunxi couldn't hold back anymore. He pulled him into a hug.
"No… please don't cry. It hurts me to see you like this. Tell me what's wrong… what happened at the supermarket?"
Zhan leaned into him, his sobs slowly fading as Yunxi's scent surrounded him.
Softly, Yunxi called, "Zhan…"
"…Yes," he replied quietly.
"What were you crying for?"
Zhan closed his eyes and whispered,
"Yang-Yang…"
Yunxi froze for a few seconds before asking,
"What about him?"
"I saw him…"
Yunxi quickly lifted his head, surprised at first, then his expression hardened.
"Where?"
"At the mall…" Zhan said weakly. "He ignored me… pretended he didn't know me…"
His voice broke again.
Yunxi closed his eyes, then spoke gently,
"Zhan… forget about him. Please… just forget him."
Silence followed.
But strangely, those words eased something deep inside Zhan. The sharp pain in his chest softened, and for the first time since earlier, he felt calmer.
"…Okay. Thank you," he whispered.
Yunxi felt the urge to kiss him...but held himself back.
With his eyes still closed, he said softly,
"I… I think I've loved you since the third day we met."
Zhan's heart pounded hard. No one had ever said those words to him before. Despite everything, his mind drifted back to those early days with Yunxi in the UK.
Yunxi lifted his chin slightly. Zhan quickly shut his eyes.
Smiling faintly, Yunxi whispered,
"Do you remember… or should I remind you?"
Zhan tried to move away, but Yunxi stopped him.
"Wait."
Zhan stayed still.
"Promise me you won't cry like this again," Yunxi said gently. "And… you'll let go of your past and face the future."
Zhan stayed silent.
Yunxi took his hand softly. "Zhan…"
Zhan nodded.
"No… say it."
A small smile appeared on Zhan's lips. "…Okay."
"Just okay?"
"…I promise."
Yunxi smiled. "Good baby."
Zhan pouted slightly. "You've just dropping her off earlier."
Yunxi blinked. "You mean Tieh?"
Zhan didn't lift his head.
"She's different. You're different," Yunxi said quietly.
Then he stepped out of the car and Zhan followed. As Zhan fidgeted with his fingers, he murmured,
"Thanks…"
Without waiting for a reply, he hurried into the house.
Yunxi stood there, watching him go.
***
Panzi was about to enter the living room when Yibo quickly tossed Panzi's phone aside and focused on his own.
"You still haven't eaten?" Panzi asked.
"I told you, I'm not hungry," Yibo replied. "I was just about to leave."
"So soon?"
Yibo stood up. "Yes. Since you're not being helpful."
Panzi laughed lightly.
"Even if neither you nor Yunxi told me anything, I can tell there's some tension between you two. The way you talked about him… and the way he talked about you. But he didn't ask for your contact or where you live—so I won't tell you anything about him either."
Yibo didn't even look at him as he walked out.
When Yibo got home, he went straight upstairs. Just before entering his room, he turned and opened another door.
Inside, he found his younger sister baby packing clothes.
She frowned when she saw him.
"Where is everyone?" he asked.
"At the hospital."
"Who's sick?"
"Shao."
Only then did he remember....earlier, his Mom had asked someone to drive them to the hospital.
"Was she admitted?"
She nodded.
"Who's there?"
"Mom. We just came back to pick something with Aunt."
"Where is Aunt?"
"In her room, I think."
Yibo stepped out, then turned and entered Lihua's room instead.
It was empty.
But the bag on the bed was open, its contents scattered everywhere—papers, cosmetics… and a small wrapped bundle.
He picked it up, turning it in his hands.
Then...
A faint voice from the bathroom.
He froze.
Quietly, he moved closer and leaned against the wall, listening.
"I didn't know at first… it was only after the marriage that the pregnancy started showing…"
Yibo's expression darkened.
"…Before the wedding, I even checked it...it was still there, just as it was hidden…"
A pause.
"The problem is with the groom. If he hadn't discovered the pregnancy… if he had just taken that powder you gave me in his tea…"
Yibo's eyes widened slightly.
"…But he didn't take it… he didn't…"
Her voice turned worried.
"The pregnancy has already been removed… I don't know why she's still in pain. Maybe it's just her body reacting…"
Then her tone hardened.
"What I need now is for you to help me control that him. He's the real problem… his name is Yibo. He's too stubborn. Teach him a lesson… remember that mixture you once gave me years ago? The one I put in his tea…"
A pause...then quickly....
"Yes, exactly. Give me that again. That's the only way we'll get what we want… he must take her with him, whether he likes it or not…"
Yibo shut his eyes tightly.
The weight of her words crushed down on him.
Everything… was starting to make sense.
Lihua suddenly let out a sharp cream.
"One hundred and fifty thousand again? On top of everything else? Seriously? Look at me, please… money is not easy to come by these days. Where do you expect me to get that kind of amount when I don't even have a proper source of income? It's only my elder sister who gives me money… Even her ATM card is with me...I haven't returned it. All my savings are gone because of all these trips I keep making to see you!"
After a moment, she lowered her voice.
"But you know I said I wouldn't get involved in this kind of thing with you again. Now what do I tell my sister? Where will I say I'm going? You've really put me through a lot… and that place is so far."
Then quickly, she added,
"Fine, fine… I've heard you. I'll come the day after tomorrow. And please, about the people in the house...this time, keep all of them quiet for me. Even that grandmother from their father's side… the one they call 'Granny.' I can already tell she's going to give me a headache. She spent over ten years abroad with her daughter, and now she's back. Even though we don't live in the same house, you know what they say...prevention is better than cure. Keep her quiet too, please."
She paused, then continued,
"And one last thing… that biy I told you to arrange something with Yibo for… the one I said my sister took in years ago...where is he now?"
Then, more urgently,
"Yes! That's it. I want you to find him today. I want to know where he is now, how he's living… did he keep the pregnancy, or did he get rid of it? I need full information."
Yibo stood frozen by the bathroom door, completely confused.
What arrangement? What pregnancy? Who was she talking about?
Lihua ended the call with,
"Alright, I'll wait to hear from you."
Yibo quickly moved away from the door. Just as he was about to leave the room, she walked in. He pretended he had just arrived.
She stared at him suspiciously.
He lowered his head slightly. "Good afternoon."
She didn't respond.
Trying to ease the tension, he said,
"I just got back… they told me Shao was in the hospital, so I didn't know."
She swallowed before replying, "So… what happened?"
He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Aunty, I want to talk to you, please."
Blinking, she said, "I'm listening."
He spoke softly,
"Please help me apologize to Mom. I know she's upset with me. The reason I've been unhappy about this marriage with Shao is because we don't understand each other. You've all seen it...she doesn't listen to anyone in this house. She goes out whenever she wants and returns whenever she feels like it. So how am I supposed to lead her as her husband?"
Lihua relaxed instantly, now convinced he hadn't overheard her call.
She replied,
"Yibo, if your hand is rotting, you can't cut it off. The Shao you knew before is not the same now. She has changed. She doesn't go out to visit friends anymore. She's calmer now."
Yibo nodded slightly.
"Then I hope that's truly for the best."
Lihua smiled, clearly pleased.
"Amen to that. You haven't made me this happy in a long time, my son. Whatever happened before...let's forget it. It was all misunderstanding."
"Yes, Aunty. Are you going back to the hospital now?"
She shook her head.
"No, we're heading to the market with the baby. I want to buy ingredients and cook something special for Shao."
Yibo stood up.
"Alright, let me drop you off at the market. After that, I'll go check on her at the hospital."
Lihua could hardly believe her ears. She followed him happily, blessing him under her breath.
:
:
At the market, Yibo waited in the car while they shopped. Afterward, he will dropped them home and continued to the hospital, just as he had said.
But his mind was far from calm.
He was still in shock, unable to process everything he had overheard.
Meanwhile, Lihua bought ingredients worth thousands, all for Shao. baby stood beside her, silently watching everything.
Suddenly, baby froze, staring wide-eyed at a pair of twins walking nearby, hand in hand with an elderly woman.
"Aunty… look at those children!"
Lihua turned quickly. Her gaze locked onto them instantly.
"Don't they look familiar?" baby whispered.
Lihua wiped sweat from her forehead, her mind racing.
Then suddenly, a voice cut through the air...
"So you're still alive divorcée?"
They both turned sharply.
It was Diwa.
She stood there in elegant clothes, staring directly at Lihua.
baby gasped and rushed forward to hug her, but Lihua quickly pulled her back.
Diwa let out a bitter laugh.
"Unbelievable… So you're still alive divorcée? And you're still going around interfering in people's homes even after everything?"
Lihua's expression darkened instantly. She lunged forward and grabbed Diwa.
"You dare call me that? Who do you think you are?!"
Within seconds, the situation exploded into a fight.
Diwa fought back fiercely. In no time, she overpowered Lihua, throwing her to the ground, hitting her repeatedly, even shoving dirt into her face.
A crowd gathered.
baby, panicked, ran to call Yibo, who was still in the car.
Among the onlookers was a nanny holding the twins, watching from a distance.
It took several people to finally pull Diwa away.
Blood streamed from Lihua's nose and mouth.
Diwa spat angrily,
"If you have any dignity left, come face me properly tomorrow. Don't hide like a coward. You ruined lives...now face the consequences."
Then she turned and walked away muttering.
"I finally know where I'm going in life. As for you...you'll keep destroying homes until it destroys you."
Yibo watched her leave, stunned.
As Lihua was helped up, still shouting insults, baby hurried her into the car.
But Yibo didn't move.
Then he heard a small voice...
"Uncle…"
He turned.
The twins stood there.
The nanny had stepped into a nearby shop.
He stared in shock as one of them ran toward him.
It was Roulan.
Yibo lifted him into his arms.
"What are you doing here, sweetheart?"
Roulan smiled brightly.
"We came with nanny and Uncle to buy something. Nanny is in the shop, and Uncle is waiting in the car."
Yibo looked at the other twin...Rouxue...who stood at a distance, watching silently.
He gently put Roulan down and approached Rouxue, his heart pounding for no clear reason.
Kneeling to his level, he asked softly,
"How are you, angel?"
Rouxue lowered his gaze.
"I'm fine."
Then he turned and walked into the shop.
Yibo watched him, unsettled.
Roulan tugged his hand.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?"
"I came to get something too… but why is your twin acting like that? He looks unwell."
At that moment, Rouxue came back out. He looked straight at Yibo and said firmly...
"Because I don't like you. Stay away from me and my brother."
Yibo froze.
Roulan pushed him lightly.
"You are you so mean…?"
Rouxue stared at his brother for a long moment before suddenly slapping him, breathing heavily.
"How dare you call me that!"
Yibo quickly reacted when he saw Roulan about to attack Rouxue. He lifted Roulan up and held him close, gently saying,
"Calm down, just let him go, sweetheart."
Roulan burst into tears, struggling in Yibo's arms.
Rouxue, still fuming, snapped,
"I don't like both of you!"
Just then, the nanny came out of the shop. She rushed toward them, alarmed by Roulan's crying, asking what had happened.
Rouxue immediately started crying too.
"Nanny, Roulan started it first! He insulted me!"
The nanny frowned.
"So even inside the market you had to fight, Rouxue? I know you....you must have started teasing him. Don't blame Roulan. Silly boy. From now on, I'm not taking you anywhere with me again. Even if you beg, I won't. I might even punish you next time."
Rouxue turned away, crying even harder, and ran off toward where he thought Zhan was.
The nanny chased after him, calling his name, but he didn't stop. He kept running, crying and calling out,
"Uncle! Uncle!"
Yibo, seeing this, hurried after them with Roulan still in his arms.
Zhan was sitting in the driver's seat of the car....he had driven them to the market himself. Suddenly, an uneasy feeling hit him hard. His chest tightened at the exact moment loud screams erupted from the crowd.
He turned sharply...
....and saw Rouxue in the middle of the road.
Everything happened too fast.
Two cars were speeding toward him, each trying desperately to avoid him, but it was impossible.
Zhan let out a scream so raw and piercing that the entire market seemed to freeze.
Then....
impact.
The world fell silent for a split second before chaos exploded.
Zhan stumbled out of the car, his body trembling violently. There, on the ground, lay Rouxue… covered in blood.
A broken scream tore from Zhan's throat. His head spun, but somehow, he didn't faint...though the nanny collapsed instantly.
Yibo stood frozen for a few seconds, unable to move, his mind blank. Then suddenly, something snapped back into place. He gently set Roulan down...who was screaming and crying for his brother...and rushed toward Rouxue.
People had already gathered. Women crying, men shouting in panic.
Meanwhile, Lihua didn't witness the scene. Overwhelmed by fear and shame, he had already left earlier with Baby in a taxi, not waiting for Yibo.
Yibo reached Rouxue and took him from a man who was shaking him helplessly.
At that moment, Yibo felt like he had never been a doctor in his life.
All his knowledge vanished.
He didn't know what to do.
The child in his arms was unconscious, his face covered in blood.
Zhan ran toward them, sobbing uncontrollably. He dropped to his knees beside Yibo, his whole body shaking as he cried out,
"Please… someone help me… please don't let him die… please, don't let him die!"
Yibo looked up at him for the first time, recognizing his voice.
For a moment, everything in him froze again.
Zhan didn't even notice Rouxue was in Yibo's arms....he just kept shaking him, crying desperately, begging him to wake up.
Diwa nearby gasped loudly, staring at Zhan.
"It looks like Zhan… is that really him?"
Zhan turned toward her instantly and rushed over, grabbing her arm, crying weakly,
"Aunty cook, please help me… don't let him die… please…"
Diwa's eyes widened in shock.
"This child… is he yours, Zhan?"
Zhan nodded repeatedly, unable to stop crying.
Diwa's expression broke, and she began to cry too.
"He won't die… he won't. We're going to the hospital right now. He'll be fine…"
Suddenly, another woman angrily snatched the child from Yibo's arms. She glared at him furiously and snapped,
"What kind of father are you?! Just standing there like you were planted in the ground while the child is dying in front of you! Instead of giving first aid, you're just staring?!"
Zhan abruptly stopped crying and rushed toward the woman, grabbing her in panic.
"My child is not dead! Don't say that again, please don't say that! He's not dead...he won't die!"
His desperation moved everyone around them.
A man quickly helped place Rouxue and the woman into his car to rush them to the hospital. Then he turned to Yibo, who was still standing there, staring at Zhan...who hadn't even noticed him yet...and said gently,
"Don't worry, he'll be alright. Come, let's go to the hospital."
Yibo got into the back seat, and they sped off.
Only then did his instincts as a doctor return. In a panic, he took Rouxue into his arms and noticed his breathing was weak. He immediately started assisting him, trying to stabilize him.
The woman beside him kept crying nonstop, praying and begging for the child to survive.
Moments later, the driver stopped abruptly. Yibo looked up...and realized they had arrived at his own hospital.
Without wasting a second, he rushed inside with Rouxue. They were taken straight into the emergency unit.
Another doctor and a nurse stayed behind with the child while Yibo stepped out about thirty minutes later with a colleague.
Dr. Saif walked toward Zhan, who was sitting at the reception with the woman and a few others. They had tried everything to calm him, but nothing worked....he was beyond consolation. Even Roulan, clinging to him, was crying and asking what had happened to his brother.
The nanny, who had fainted earlier, was also admitted.
Zhan immediately stood up when he saw the doctor approaching.
Yibo remained at a distance, his mask still covering his face.
Dr. Saif asked,
"Who is the child's mother?"
Zhan, his heart pounding, answered shakily,
"I am."
At that moment, Yibo slowly removed his mask, staring at Zhan in shock...mixed with confusion.
The doctor studied Zhan's face as if trying to confirm something, then asked,
"And the father?"
Zhan wiped his tears and replied in a trembling voice,
"He's not here."
The doctor glanced at Roulan and widened his eyes.
"They're twins?"
Zhan nodded, still crying.
The doctor softened visibly. He gently patted Roulan's head.
"Don't worry, your brother will be fine. You can go in and see him," he said to Zhan, "but please, try to stay calm. He just has a head injury and some bruises. Don't cry while you're inside. And leave this one here...you don't need to take him in."
Then he turned to Yibo and said,
"Doctor, please accompany him inside...but don't let him stay too long."
He then took Roulan's hand.
"Come on, big boy, let's go to my office and wait for your mom."
Roulan resisted at first, wanting to follow Zhan, but the doctor gently lifted him and carried him away, not wanting him to see his brother in that state.
Yibo put his mask back on and walked ahead slowly, counting his steps, while Zhan followed behind...too overwhelmed to even notice who he was following.
Inside the ward, Yibo stopped at the door while Zhan stepped in.
The moment Zhan saw Rouxue...
he screamed.
The nurse rushed over and quickly led him back out.
"Please, you can't behave like this!"
Zhan broke down completely, grabbing the nurse and shaking.
"Please… don't let anything happen to my child… they're all I have… please, help me!"
The nurse hugged him gently.
"It's okay. He's stable. Just pray he recovers fully and doesn't have any complications."
Zhan collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm finished… what if he dies… please help me…"
The nurse went back inside and shut the door.
Yibo couldn't keep watching. His eyes trembled.
Zhan's children?
That thought kept echoing in his mind.
Who was their father?
Before he could process further, Zhan stood up weakly and walked toward him. It was clear he was exhausted from crying. He grabbed Yibo's arm and pleaded softly,
"Please, doctor… don't let my child die… I'm begging you… they're all I have in this world, aside from my mother… please help me… remove whatever you put on his nose, I want my child…"
Yibo couldn't respond.
Tears filled his eyes.
If Zhan hadn't been so overwhelmed, he would have recognized him instantly...especially by his eyes.
But in this state, he didn't.
Zhan suddenly noticed the tears in the doctor's eyes and froze, his heart pounding as he stared at him.
After a few seconds, he whispered,
"Doctor… is he dead?"
Yibo still couldn't speak.
Tears streamed down his face.
He didn't want to believe it.
Did Zhan really conceive with him that day?
If so...then he had committed something unforgivable. Something beyond redemption.
The words Lihua had spoken earlier started replaying in his mind.
He turned away, pressing his head against the wall, breaking down silently.
Are they really mine?
Those boys… his and Zhan's…
Born from that one terrible mistake.
Suddenly, a sound behind him...
He turned quickly.
Zhan had collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
💚💙❤🖤