Yibo just smiled and didn't say anything. His phone rang. He picked it up, put it to his ear, and greeted the caller. "We are on the road, Doctor. We will arrive soon." He put the phone down and focused entirely on driving.
After a long journey, they entered a neighborhood. He parked in front of a house. He looked around the area to make sure it matched the address he had been sent. He took his phone, opened it, and checked the house number. He started the car and drove slowly until he reached a large house and parked.
Zhan, who had been watching him, said, "So you don't even know where we are going?"
Yibo looked at him, widened his large eyes, and smiled. "I know. Didn't we just arrive?"
He dialed Dr. Luo's number. "We are outside."
Almost immediately, Yunxi came out of the large house. Zhan thought they had come to Yunxi's house. Yunxi opened Yibo's door, shook his hand, and they greeted each other. He looked at Zhan. "Good morning, mr."
Zhan smiled slightly. "How are you, Doctor?"
Yunxi said, "Well. How is the household?"
Zhan said, "I'm fine."
Yunxi looked at Yibo. "Alright, come inside. I'm being waited for, so I'll leave now and return later."
Yibo got out of the car. "But..."
Yunxi smiled. "Don't worry. Your mother-in-law is inside with Roulan."
Yibo said, "Okay, then." Yunxi went to his own car, which was parked outside.
Yibo looked at Zhan. "Come down, Meilin."
Zhan opened the car door and got out, wondering what his mother was doing here with Roulan. He went to Yibo's side. "Where is this place, please, and why are we here?"
Yibo touched his head. "We came for a bond of kinship..."
He headed for the gate. Zhan followed behind him until they entered the large house. They walked together until they reached the entrance of the main building. Zhan's heart began to sink. Yibo turned, looked at him, smiled, and said, "This is your house, Meilin. Your mother's sister's house."
Zhan gave him a look. "Whose mother?"
Yibo lowered his eyes. "Your late mother." Then he entered the living room with a greeting.
Zhan followed him with a look of surprise. Yibo turned and saw that he hadn't come in but was standing at the door. He lowered his voice. "Come in, please, Meilin."
As he said this, he turned and looked at the people sitting in the living room. There were very many of them....parents and children. Zhan could barely lift his foot to enter the living room. What Yibo had said kept sinking into his head: your mother's sister. How was that possible when even Xixue didn't know his mother's family?
Tieh, who was sitting down near her mother, lower her eyes. She quickly looked down at the floor. Zhan kept scanning the people in the living room until his eyes fell on Xixue. Roulan, who had been sitting with an elderly man, ran and hugged Zhan, smiling. "Momy!"
Zhan opened his eyes and saw Situ and Zaan. Situ stood quickly, reached Zhan, smiled, and hugged him, her eyes filled with tears. "Welcome, brother."
Zhan could only smile. He didn't say anything to her; his heart was pounding. Situ pulled him further into the living room. Yibo followed behind them, sat near an older man who looked no older than sixty, and greeted the people in the living room. They all answered, quietly.
Everyone in the living room was just looking at Zhan. Suddenly, Tieh's mother began to cry. Zhan's body went cold. He reached Xixue and sit. Xixue smiled gently, took his hand, and said, "Greet them, Zhan. These are all your Uncle's and Auntie's sitting in the living room."
Tears filled Zhan's eyes as he looked again at the people in the living room. Xixue lowered her voice. "Yes, son. They are your family."
Situ's mother stood up, trying hard to control her tears. "Come over, son. Come to me."
Zhan stood up and went to her. The woman hugged him, tears streaming. "May God have mercy on Mamei and forgive her shortcomings. You are truly a carbon copy of her, son. May God bless you. We are happy that God has reunited us with you in this world. It is truly sad that we only now come to know our younger sister's child...our sister's blood. Though it is not our fault, and this is not how we wanted it, there is always a reason behind everything. It's great meeting you, son."
Zhan didn't say anything; his body was very cold. Situ mother sat down, drew him close to her, and wiped his tears. Tieh couldn't lift her head. Seeing her mother crying made tears also stream from her eyes.
But the crying of Tieh's mother was nothing compared to that of Mamo's mother...the immediate sister of Zhan's late mother. She cried as if she were just now hearing of her sister's death. Everything came back to her freshly.
For the first time, Wei Jian, Situ's father and the eldest brother of Zhan's late mother, cleared his throat and opened with a prayer. He smiled. "Thanks heaven's for the gift of life. Thank you for a day like this. Thanks for everything. Sure, it is a privilege meeting with our nephew again after so many years..."
He looked at Zhan. "Come over, dear."
Zhan stood up from near Situ's mother and came back to him gently, sitting on the floor. At first, Wei Jian couldn't say anything, and that was because of Zhan's resemblance to his mother. After a moment, he found the courage to smile. "Zhan, you were two years old when we last saw you. Now, after twenty years, God has reunited us. Truly, you don't know any of us, just as we didn't know you. If we had met on the road, you would have passed and we would have passed....which is a great shame."
Zhan bowed his head and said nothing. Wei Jian showed him the remaining people in the living room...about three sitting close to him, and one on a one-seater. "Do you see all these people?"
Zhan lifted his head slowly and looked at them all. Wei Jian said, "They are all your relatives, Zhan. They are all your family, and they are all here because of you. We all left our various towns and came from different cities for you. Everyone you see here it is becouse of you, the late Mamei child...your mother. You are blessed, Zhan. You have your blessing."
In a trembling voice, Zhan said, "Then why didn't I know you? Why wasn't I shown you? Why didn't you look for me?"
As he said this, he put his head down on the chair and cried heavily. Wei Jian patted him gently. "Your father, may God have mercy on him, is the one who separated us from you after your mother's death, Zhan. We wanted to keep you because he had no female relatives, but he thought we wanted to separate you from him. May God forgive him. We had trouble with him over that, which contributed to his keeping you away from us for many years. They lived in Shenzhen with your mother. After her death, he sold his house in Shenzhen and returned to Shanghai without our knowledge. You have heard the reason why you didn't know us, Zhan. And if we had known where your father's family lived, nothing would have stopped us from coming to you. But today, through Tieh's husband, we have been reunited with you..."
Zhan didn't lift his head; tears kept streaming from his eyes. Wei Huan said, "This kind woman who kept you like a son she gave birth to....may God reward her with heaven. We have heard all the challenges you faced in life due to orphanhood. The people who stood by you through all the hardship....may God reward them with heaven too. It's truly sad, son, because you have your blessing. But nonetheless, this is what God ordained. May God have mercy on your parents and forgive your father. May God let your son live long for you and bless your marriage. God willing, the blessing you didn't get in your childhood, you will getnit as an adult. We will always be there for you, son. We're the same parents with your mother. May God have mercy on her."
Zhan lifted his head and wiped his eyes slowly. "Amen, thank you, Uncle's."
He was then introduced to his cousins and nieces in the living room. Most of them were well-behaved, with the women. As for Situ and Mamo, their resemblance was beyond words. Tieh still refused to lift her head and finally went upstairs.
It was truly a happy day for Zhan, finding himself among his relatives. And that day, he saw his mother's photo for the first time. He had never known that relatives could bring such joy until that day. He had always known that if they had known him, he wouldn't have suffered in life....but that was his fate, and he was happy at the end.
Yibo didn't stay long at the house. He left and went away. Xixue also left around noon, leaving Roulan at the house too. Zhan was in a room with Situ and Zaan, who were telling stories. He sat helplessly, watching them and smiling. Tieh entered the room.
Their eyes met. Tieh bowed her head gently. "Zhan, come and greet the Doctor. We are leaving now."
Zhan stood up. "Okay." He took his phone, told Situ he was going, and left.
Dr. Luo was sitting in the living room with Roulan on his lap. Zhan entered, looking at him, a smile on his face. "How are you, Doctor?"
Dr. Luo smiled back. "I'm fine, Zhan."
Zhan reached his side and sat, looking at him gently. "I am very happy for your effort in uniting me with my relatives, Doctor. May God reward you with goodness. I will never forget you in my life..."
He couldn't continue. He bowed his head, and tears fell. Dr. Luo watched him gently. Zhan lifted his head with difficulty after wiping his eyes...he didn't want Roulan to see him crying. He looked at Dr. Luo. "This is among the greatest things that have ever happened to me, Doctor. I really owe both you and the Attorney. You have brightened my life. You helped me when I needed it. I don't know how to repay you both."
Dr. Luo smiled slightly. "Maybe that was why God brought you into my life...just to unite you with your late mother's family. There is always a reason for everything, you know. So just thanks heavens, not me."
Zhan nodded, wiping the tears that refused to stop. Tieh stood to the side gently, not saying anything.
Dr. Luo said, "But you are staying here tonight, aren't you?"
Zhan said softly, "I don't know yet."
Dr. Luo said, "Alright, then. We will go now. And, tomorrow we will return to the UK."
Zhan looked at him gently. "Then safe travel."
Dr. Luo stood up and picked up Roulan, who was watching. "Sweetheart, we are going now. Go to Momy."
Roulan made a face. "Uncle, please let me come with you."
Zhan grabbed him. "No, they are going far away."
Roulan started crying and went back to Yunxi. "Uncle, please."
Then Tieh said, "Let's take him, please."
Yunxi looked at her, then at Zhan. "Can we?"
Zhan was silent for a moment, then said gently, "But his..." He stopped again.
Yunxi smiled. "His father doesn't know, right?"
Zhan didn't say anything, nor did he look up. Yunxi said, "Then call him and tell him. I know he won't refuse. We are all family now after all."
Without arguing, Zhan took his phone from his pocket and called Yibo. After a moment, Yibo answered. "Meilin..."
Zhan said, "Dr. Luo wants to take Roulan with them. Can they?"
Yibo smiled. "Sure. If you're ok with that too."
Zhan said, "Okay." Then he hung up and looked at Yunxi. "He said okay."
Yunxi smiled. "Alright, then. We will see you in the UK. Tell his grandparents we have taken him...I mean all his grannies, because he has a lot..."
Then he picked up Roulan, who was smiling and waving at Zhan. They left, with Tieh following behind to say goodbye to her parents. Zhan watched them until they left, then smiled, stood up slowly, and went upstairs.
:
:
That night, Zhan stayed at the house because Yibo did not insist that they return home; he simply left. The next day, his mother's relatives all left after giving him a large amount of money as a gift, since they had not been able to give him anything for his wedding. Situ and the others refused to go with their parents, insisting that they would go to Zhan's house.
Tieh mother said, "Truly, you should go, but return later in the evening."
Zhan was very happy. "Please, let them stay the night."
Tieh's mother said, "No, let them return in the evening."
Zhan apologized. "Then we will return together."
She said, "You return and do what, Zhan? Have you ever heard of a newly groom wandering from his husband to his family? This is why I said you shouldn't have come out..."
Zhan fell silent, his body cold. A driver was arranged to take them back to his house.
Tieh's mother said, "You should call your husband and let him know you are returning with them."
Softly, Zhan said, "Okay..."
Then he went to the room, took his phone, and called Yibo. Yibo answered and greeted him. "Good morning, husband."
Zhan pouted. "We are coming home now with Situ and the others."
Yibo said, "Okay. Should I come and pick you up?"
Zhan said, "No, a driver will bring us back."
Yibo said, "Alright, then. Safe travel. I am already missing you, dear."
Zhan didn't reply and hung up.
Around noon, they set off for Zhan's home with Situ, Zaan, and Mamo. The driver parked outside, and they all got out and thanked him. Zhan opened the gate, greeting the guard who greeted him back. The others also greeted him and followed behind Zhan.
Zhan gently pushed open the living room door. There was no one inside except the cool air from the air conditioner and the TV, which was on. He entered, and Situ and the others followed him into the living room. They all sat down.
Zhan smiled. "Let me bring you some water."
Without waiting for their response, he went to the kitchen, got a tray and cups, opened the fridge, placed soft drinks and water on the tray, returned, and set it down for them.
Situ smiled. "Thanks, bro."
Zhan smiled back and went upstairs. He gently opened Yibo's bedroom door and found him sitting there operating a laptop. Zhan frowned. "You didn't come down to greet them?"
Yibo put down the laptop and smiled. "I was waiting for your instruction so I wouldn't make a mistake."
Zhan glared at him, turned, and left. Yibo smiled, stood up, and followed behind him.
He entered the living room, looking at Situ and the others. "Welcome."
They all greeted him cheerfully. He sat on a chair, smiling. "I hope you left everyone at home well?"
They all said, "We're fine."
He said, "God is great." Then he stood, looked at Zhan, and went back upstairs.
Zhan stood up. "Let's go upstairs."
They all stood and went upstairs to Zhan's room. After they had sit, Zhan said. "Let me cook something for us."
They all stood up, and Situ said, "We will do that together. It's going to be fun."
Zhan just laughed. They made Chinese Yangzhou fried rice and a healthy roast pork vegetable soup together. The work went quickly because of their numbers.
Situ finished scooping the rice with a ladle. "So where should we put your husband's portion?"
Zhan said, "It's not necessary. This is just for us. I know he will go to an eatery."
Zaan opened her mouth and looked at him. "Eatery? What's that?"
Zhan just smiled. Mamo said, "Oh my, are you going to start neglecting him so soon, Zhan? Do you want your husband to go somewhere else to eat?"
Zhan looked at her but didn't say anything.
Situ took a large cooler and a small one, went to the sink, washed and dried them, then put the rice inside and closed it. Zaan took the soup, poured soup with plenty of meat inside, and closed it. They placed everything on a tray.
Zhan just stood there watching them as if rooted to the spot. Mamo took a nice plate, bowl, spoon, and cup, arranged them, and placed them on the tray. Situ made the fresh Hibiscus juice that had been sitting since earlier, waiting for it to cool. The juice contained flavors, pineapple, and cucumber. She poured small ice cubes into the thick juice, took a new jug, filled it almost to the top, and closed it.
She looked at Zhan. "Now take it to his room. Or will the waitress at the eatery do it for you?"
Zhan didn't know when he laughed, but he said nothing. He took the tray of food and drink, left the kitchen, and went upstairs. He gently pushed open Yibo's door. Yibo was still sitting there pressing his laptop. He looked up and watched Zhan until he reached him. Zhan knelt, set down the tray without looking at Yibo, stood up, and headed for the door. Yibo followed him with his eyes until he left.
Yibo smiled, knowing this might not be Zhan's own idea. In fact, it wasn't even his thinking. Zhan to brought him food just like that. He touched his head and smiled.
By the time Zhan returned to the kitchen, they had already washed everything they had used. Mamo brought out their food and placed it in the middle of the living room. They all sat down and ate together. Zaan cleaned up and took everything to the kitchen.
They sat in the living room chatting. Zhan kept feeling as if they might say they were leaving. He prayed that God would make them forget and just stay the night.
They were still there until 6 o'clock. Only then did they start preparing to go home. Zhan's whole body went cold. He sat at the far end of the bed, watching them gently.
Zaan kept laughing at him. Situ finished fixing her face and came close to him. "Don't worry, bro. We will keep meeting frequently, God willing. And we have phones; we will keep communicating."
Tears filled Zhan's eyes. Situ laughed. "Really. Tomorrow morning we are going back to Shenzhen. Only Zaan is here. And you, I know you will soon go back to the UK for your studies."
Zhan didn't say anything. When they had all finished, Situ said, "I notice something, Zhan. It seems you still haven't calmed your heart with your husband. Are you still thinking about the past? I advise you to just erase that from your mind. If not, you will never find peace in your home. No one is above mistakes, Zhan. Let alone a mistake that wasn't intentional. I swear, if you don't focus and embrace your husband, you will see someone else outside do that to your very handsome gentleman husband. Don't let another woman snatch him away because of lack of attention from you. That will give her the chance. Oh, don't say you're not mature, Zhan..."
Zhan pouted. Situ came close to him and took his hand. "That's just it. Be patient and be of one heart with your husband. Forget the past. I am sure your husband loves you, and you love him very much too."
Zhan lowered his eyes. Situ's words made his whole body cold. Finally, she stood up. "So we are going now, Zhan. We will call."
Zhan stood up gently. "Let me tell him." Then he left and entered Yibo's room. They nearly collided because Yibo was also about to come out. Yibo pulled him into his body, closed the door, and looked into his eyes. Zhan lowered his gaze. "Let me go."
Yibo released him and smiled. Zhan said, "They are leaving."
Yibo said, "I was thinking they would stay the night."
Zhan shook his head. "They are going back to Shenzhen tomorrow morning."
Yibo said, "Okay, but aren't they staying here?"
Zhan said, "Only Zaan is staying here."
Yibo said, "Alright. I'm coming now."
Zhan turned and left. He gave them plenty of perfume and cosmetics, and they went downstairs. Zhan felt their absence. Almost immediately, Yibo came down. He gave them money all together. They refused to take it. Zhan frowned, took the money from Yibo's hand, opened Zaan's bag, and said, "Didn't you hear what he said? Take it."
Yibo just smiled and watched him. They thanked Yibo. He said, "No thanks, sisters. Or should I drop you off?"
Situ said, "No, thank you. We will get a driver at the main road."
He said, "Alright, then. May God protect you on the road."
They all answered, "Amen."
Zhan accompanied them to the gate. Mamo said, "Thank you very much, Zhan. May God preserve our bond."
Then tears filled Zhan's eyes. In a low voice, he said, "I am going to miss you all."
They all hugged each other. Zhan watched them leave, then turned and went back inside, wiping the tears that were streaming down his face. Yibo, who was in the living room, watched him until he went upstairs.
Not even thirty minutes after Situ and the others had left, the Attorney arrived. Yibo opened the door for him, and they greeted each other. The Attorney sat on a chair. "How is the household?"
Yibo touched his head and sat down as well. "We're fine. How is work?"
The Attorney said, "We thank God. How is Roulan's momy?"
Yibo stood up. "He's upstairs." Then he went upstairs, opened Zhan's bedroom door, and found him lying with his face covered by a pillow. He reached the bed, sat close to him, lifted him gently, and said, "Roulan's Momy."
Zhan opened his eyes and looked at him. Yibo gave him a soft smile. "Let's go and greet the Attorney."
Zhan said, "He came?"
Yibo said, "Yes."
He helped Zhan get off the bed. After Zhan got down, he pulled his hand away. Yibo didn't say anything. Zhan put on his shirt, and they left the room.
They greeted Yang-Yang. He handed a paper to Yibo. "He hasn't seen it. I don't want to do anything without his knowledge."
Yibo took it and handed it to Zhan. Zhan took the paper, opened it, and looked at the content. After a moment, he looked up gently at Yang-Yang. Yang-Yang smiled. "Is that okay?"
Zhan nodded gently. "Attorney, just leave him. I have forgiven him, for the sake of my father."
Yibo took the paper and looked at it. The Attorney looked at Zhan. "Are you sure, Meiqin?"
Zhan nodded, smiling. "Sure, Attorney. I have forgiven my uncle. Now it's between him and his Creator."
The Attorney stood up. "Okay, thank God. May God forgive us all. But I don't think your forgiveness will count, because he tampered with the property of orphans."
Yibo nodded. "That's true."
The Attorney said, "Alright, I'll go. That's what brought me here."
Zhan said, "Thank you very much, Attorney. Let me bring you some water."
He said, "No, Meiqin, I'm fine."
He and Yibo left together. Zhan went upstairs, because he truly felt he had forgiven his uncle. He cleaned his bedroom, wiping everywhere, then came out of the room and saw Yibo also coming out, holding the tray of food Zhan had taken to him earlier. Zhan approached him and took the tray from his hand. Yibo looked at him. "Thank you."
Zhan said nothing and went downstairs to the kitchen.
After he had finished everything, Zhan was sitting on a chair when Yibo entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Let's go. Accompany me."
Zhan said, "Where?"
Yibo said, "Home. I need to get some files from there."
Zhan shook his head. "No, I'm not going out. I..."
Yibo interrupted him. "You won't go inside the house."
Zhan said, "Yes, I know."
Yibo apologized. "Please, Roulan's Momy."
Zhan pouted as if about to cry. Yibo smiled and stood up. "I'm waiting for you downstairs."
Zhan stood up slowly, and left the room.
Yibo parked at their own gate and looked at Zhan. "I won't be long."
Zhan didn't say anything because he felt he shouldn't refuse to go in. Finally, he said, "Let me greet your mother."
Yibo said, "No, leave it. We'll come on Sunday to greet her. It's already late."
Zhan just looked at him. Yibo nodded. "Yes, dear." Then he turned and went inside.
As he said, he didn't stay long. He came out, placed the files in the back of the car, got into the driver's seat, and they left the street.
He said, "What do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you."
Zhan shook his head. "I'm not hungry."
Yibo said, "I know you're not hungry... I mean something sweet."
Zhan said, "I won't eat anything."
Yibo took his hand. "No, better to buy you something, even just one piece, right?"
Zhan said, "I told you I'm not eating."
Yibo parked where they sold grilled chicken. "You'll eat baby." He got out and bought two pieces. He opened the back of the car and placed them inside. He looked at Zhan. "Do you want fresh milk or something.?"
Zhan said, "I ate earlier. What will I do with fresh milk?"
Yibo laughed a little. "Okay, I heard. I'll buy some, anyway."
He parked again where they were sold, got out, bought chilled fresh milk, placed it in the back, and they headed home.
Zhan barely agreed to sit in the living room, making faces. He kept looking at the chicken placed in front of him...it smelled good...and the milk in a glass cup beside it. His mouth watered. Slowly, he reached out and took one piece of chicken. "This is enough for me."
Yibo glanced at him and said nothing. He took his own meat and put it in his mouth. Zhan stole glances at him after eating one piece, because the meat was very tasty. He pouted. "It really is delicious."
Yibo suppressed a laugh and didn't even look at him. Zhan took another piece and started eating. He ended up eating almost half of what had been set for him. He took the glass cup of milk and drank it all.
Only then did Yibo look up at him. "So you only started feeling hungry after we came in?"
Zhan quickly stood up and went upstairs. "I don't know either."
Yibo smiled and followed him with his gaze, just as Zhan was also smiling as he went upstairs. Zhan removed his clothes, folded them, set them aside, and went into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, bathed, and came out. He didn't spend long at the mirror. He sprayed himself with various perfumes, put on his nightclothes, placed a net over his long hair, turned off the room light, got into bed, pulled the duvet over himself, and closed his eyes.
Until nearly eleven o'clock, he couldn't sleep because of the thirst he felt. Finally, he got off the bed, went to the door, opened it gently, and came out. He looked at Yibo's door, which was closed. He went downstairs and saw that all the living room lights were off, including the kitchen. He turned on the living room light and headed to the kitchen. As he was about to turn on the switch, he felt someone grab him.
He screamed in great fear. Yibo quickly turned on the light. Seeing that Zhan was truly frightened, he hugged him. "I'm sorry, Meilin. I didn't mean to scare the life out of you. I was playing with you. Please forgive me."
Tears streamed from Zhan's eyes, his body trembling, his heart pounding. Yibo felt sorry for him because he was truly scared. He couldn't finish the remaining coffee in the cup he was holding. He set it down. Holding Zhan, he turned off the light and they came out. "I heard your footsteps, that's why I turned off the light. I'm sorry for scaring you..."
Zhan didn't say anything until his heartbeat returned to normal. When they reached the stairs, Yibo quickly turned and looked at him. "What did you come down for?"
In a low voice, Zhan said, "I wanted to drink water."
Yibo released him, went to get him water, and Zhan followed behind him. Yibo smiled, opened the fridge, took out water, poured it into a cup, and handed it to Zhan. Zhan took it, drank, and Yibo took the cup back and set it down.
Holding Zhan, they went upstairs. Yibo opened his door. Zhan tried to pull his hand away to go to his own room, but Yibo refused to let him go. He pulled Zhan into his room and closed the door. The room was very cold because of the air conditioner, and the light was off.
Zhan tried to open the door to leave, but Yibo held him. His voice low, he said, "You know we still haven't prayed to show gratitude to heaven's... to pray for lasting peace and tranquility, Meilin?"
Zhan quickly said, "I have prayed. You're the one who hasn't."
Yibo said, "No, it's better we pray together."
Zhan said, "I am not clean."
Yibo looked at him in the darkness. "Really?"
Zhan's heart sank. "Yes."
Yibo said, "I don't believe you."
Zhan frowned. "Because I am a liar?"
Yibo laughed a little, then lifted Zhan and carried him to the bed. He laid him down. "I have to check for myself..."
Zhan struggled in confusion. "I'm in trouble, don't..."
Yibo didn't let him finish. He covered Zhan's mouth. Zhan kept pushing, trying to free himself until he grew tired. Then his body went numb. Yibo did not give him any breathing space. He explored him as if his life depended on it. Finally, Zhan surrendered his body completely. Consenting to whatever is happening between them. His lips didn't stop saying, "Stop it, please," but he kiss back, touch and moan. If Yibo wasn't paying close attention, he wouldn't hear what he was saying.
Suddenly, Zhan panicked, seeing that Yibo was not playing. Then tears started, and he begged him. He felt like it was the same as seven years ago. The only difference was that Yibo was not fierce....just romantic and very careful. Despite Zhan's pleas, Yibo could not let him go, even though he tried. He couldn't.
:
:
After a long while, Yibo lifted himself gently and saw that Zhan was not beside him as he had left him. He sat up quickly. He heard Zhan sobbing on the other side of the bed. He stood with difficulty and went to him. Zhan had curled up in one spot, crying softly.
Yibo's body went cold. He stooped in front of him. "I am very sorry, Meilin. I..."
Not knowing what to say, he lifted Zhan. Zhan burst into intense crying. Yibo hugged him, his heart pounding. "I didn't mean to hurt you again."
Zhan went completely limp. He just cried. Yibo lifted him and laid him on the bed. "Please forgive me, Meilin. Forgive me..."
In a trembling voice, Zhan said, "You tell me I won't feel any pain."
Yibo looked at him in the darkness...he didn't even realize he had said that. He laid Zhan on his chest gently. "But did you feel any pain?"
Zhan kept nodding, tears streaming. Yibo was silent. After a moment, he brought his lips to Zhan's ear. "Just like the first experience?"
Zhan shook his head. Yibo stroked Zhan's back, smiling, knowing that if he hadn't been the one taking his virginity. Nothing would stop him from saying he was a virgin. He laid Zhan down, stood up, and went into the bathroom. He made bathwater for Zhan, returned, and took him to the bathroom. He helped Zhan bathe while Zhan whimpered, then they came out together.
Without wasting time, Zhan fell asleep. Only then did Yibo turn on the room light and look at the bedsheet. He didn't see what he expected. He smiled, returned close to Zhan, and looked at him, feeling an intense love for him that was fixing him in place. It was just great being with Zhan, and it was the sweetest thing he had ever imagined.
Finally, he stood up, went into the bathroom, bathed, came out, got ready, turned off the room light, and lay down next to Zhan. Zhan moved into his body as if waiting for it. Yibo held him tightly and closed his eyes.
Finally, they become one, heart and soul.
NB
One chapter remaining. 🙇
💚💙❤🖤