Zhan had been sitting in silence since he woke up, lost in thought, wondering how the day would unfold. Should he even bother going to school now that he didn't have his key? His heart skipped a beat when he remembered the lecture scheduled for that day...it was for a course he found challenging and couldn't afford to miss. He sighed, got up, and headed to the bathroom.
Around 9 a.m., he stepped into the sitting room, hoping his housemate was still home. The night before, around half-past midnight, he had come out to put away his untouched dinner in the fridge and found him asleep on the couch. Even after he finished in the kitchen, he hadn't woken up. It was only the second time he had spent the night at the apartment since moving in.
Zhan scanned the sitting room....empty. Curious, he walked to the window and peeked into the garage. His car was still parked. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. If he had gone out, his chances of getting to school would have vanished.
Zhan went into the kitchen, made himself some tea, grabbed a few cookies, and returned to the sitting room. Still, his Housemate hadn't emerged. He kept glancing at the time....ten o'clock was approaching, and he hated being late. Yet, he refused to ask him to unlock the door for him.
At ten minutes to ten, his Housemate finally walked in. Without looking up, Zhan continued scrolling through his phone.
"Good morning, Sean," he said.
Still without looking at him, he muttered under his breath, "morning."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his Housemate head toward the door. Zhan quickly got up to follow him. He noticed and stopped short, turning to face him with a serious expression.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Zhan looked away, staying silent.
He shoved the key back into his pocket and turned as if to walk away. "Oh, I get it...you're hiding your key so I can play doorman for you now?"
Zhan still didn't look at him. He didn't even know what to say.
His Housemate took a step away, and with a bit of panic, Zhan pleaded, "Please, I really need to go to school."
His Housemate turned back with a smug expression. "Be a good boy and ask nicely."
Zhan watched him walk back to the couch and sit down casually. Swallowing his frustration, he said softly, "Please open the door. I need to go to school."
"I didn't hear that," he teased.
Zhan turned away, biting back his anger. There was no time for games. He tried again, calmer this time. "Please, open the door. I have to go."
With a faint smirk, I-Bo got up and walked to the door. "Didn't know you could be this obedient," he said as he unlocked it.
Zhan didn't even look at him. As he brushed past his shoulder to leave, he added, "If you come back late again, you'll sleep outside....or in the garage."
Zhan didn't respond. He walked out, visibly annoyed.
"Oh, is that your thank you?" he called after him, sounding half-offended.
But Zhan was already halfway down the street, muttering under his breath, tired of his antics.
Later at School
After class, his friend Yu Bin caught up to him. "Guess what, Zhan?"
Zhan turned to him curiously.
Yu Bin burst into laughter. "Brother Hailong asked me yesterday if you have a girlfriend/boyfriend!"
Zhan's heart dropped a little. Yu Bin kept laughing. "I swear! He messaged me around midnight...here, let me show you. I told him you don't have anyone."
Zhan frowned. "Wait...what do you mean I don't have anyone, Bin?"
Yu Bin shrugged. "Do you? I mean, if you're calling Yiming your boyfriend, then boy... I see him as a total jerk. I told Brother Hailong you're focused on school and not dating. Besides, you know how Hailong is....I wouldn't waste a breath defending myself if he were rude. Honestly, with that sham of a husband he has, I'd love for him to remarry... and imagine if it's my best friend he marries!"
Zhan stood up, adjusting his backbag. "I'm heading home. See you tomorrow."
Yu Bin scowled. "Why are you leaving? I just brought you good news!"
Zhan stopped. "Yu Bin, if I had known what last night would turn into, I wouldn't have followed you to your brother's home. Put yourself in his husband's shoes. Would you be happy if someone treated you like that?"
"His shoes wouldn't even fit me!" Yu Bin scoffed. "I'm not like him. Did you see how he completely ignored your greeting and stormed into the room with his phone glued to his ear? Rude much? And get this...he left a little food in the kitchen even though I told him your were staying the night. If you're rejecting Hailong, just say you don't like him. But don't pretend Yiming is any better. Hailong is smart, rich, and good-looking. So what if he was married to someone useless like Peng?"
Zhan said flatly, "If you're mad at his husband, then you go marry him. He's your non-bloody cousin anyway. There's no barrier."
With that, he turned and walked off.
Yu Bin muttered under his breath, "Go ahead. I'll tell him you said yes, and we'll see who wins. You're out here clinging to a guy who treats you like trash. Just wait till he starts hitting you...no one will defend you."
Back at the Apartment
When Zhan got home, his housemate's car was nowhere in sight. Exhausted and starving, he leaned against the entrance, too tired to care anymore. He didn't know anyone well enough in the neighborhood to ask for help...and definitely not the foreigners around.
About 20 minutes later, Zhan saw his Housemate car approaching. He looked down as he parked. As he approached the door, he patted his pockets and realized he didn't have the key. Zhan watched him fumble, quietly knowing what that meant. His heart sank...he was already dizzy from hunger.
He looked at him and said, "Sean, I think I left the key where I just came from."
Zhan said nothing and avoided eye contact.
"Maybe you could wait at the neighbor's place?" he suggested.
"I don't really know them," Zhan replied softly.
"Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can."
He turned and walked back to his car. Zhan watched silently.
Fifteen minutes later, he returned. "Lucky you...I found it."
Zhan gave him a hard look. Lucky me? he thought. He walked past him into the apartment and straight to his room. After lying down for about fifteen minutes, he got up and went to take a shower.
Shortly after, there was a knock on his bedroom door.
He stared at it, saying nothing.
Sean," he called.
Bluntly, he replied, "What is it?"
When he tried the handle, Zhan eyes widened and he stood up quickly.
"What?"
Zhan rushed to the door and opened it, clearly irritated. He placed a bag in front of him and said, "I got you food. You looked a bit tired earlier."
Zhan looked at the bag, then back at him. He turned and walked away. Zhan stared after him as he disappeared into the sitting room. A few seconds later, he picked up the food and quietly closed his door.
Zhan had just started eating when his phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket and froze when she saw the name: Yiming.
His heart thudded. Sitting at the edge of his bed, he stared at the screen. When the call nearly ended, he finally answered with shaky hands, putting it on speaker.
Instead of greeting Zhan, his voice was cold. "So you were just waiting for me to call you, huh, Zhan?"
Zhan lowered his gaze. "But... you said if you ever wanted to talk, you'd be the one to call me. You told me not to call you again."
"Oh, so because I said that, you didn't think to check in on me even once? You didn't think maybe I wanted to hear from you?"
Quietly, Zhan said, "I'm sorry."
"If I don't forgive you, what will i do? Clearly you don't care about me anymore. You've been just fine without reaching out."
"I'm sorry," Zhan whispered again.
"When does your exam period start?" he asked.
"Probably in six or seven weeks."
"I can't wait that long without seeing you. If I get time, I'll come by... maybe even this week."
Zhan went quiet.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Yes....sorry. I'm here."
"What's wrong? You don't want me to come?"
"No....it's not that. The network cut off for a moment."
"Okay. I said you should expect me anytime from now."
Softly, Zhan replied, "Alright. Safe travels."
"What are you doing right now?"
"Eating."
"Good. Switch to video call."
Zhan hesitated for a second, then grabbed his phone and did as he asked.
~**~
Around 5:00 PM, Zhan stepped out of his bedroom into the sitting room. He headed to the window and peeked into the garage... his housemate's car was parked there, meaning he was home. Quietly, he walked to the kitchen to dispose of the takeaway he had given him earlier. From the kitchen window, he spotted him in the backyard, seated on the lawn with his phone to his ear. He seemed to be on a call.
Not wanting him to see him, Zhan stepped back from the window. He gently put down the bag in his hand and walked out of the kitchen, returning to the sitting room. He stood for a moment, staring at the handle of the living room door, then headed over to the table where his Housemate he often left his study materials and quickly rummaged through his books, looking for something. Nothing. Frustrated, he slipped back into the kitchen to check again...he was still on the call.
Zhan hurried down the hallway toward the bedrooms, pausing in front of his Housemate door. His heart was pounding. He stood there, clearly torn between going in or turning back. Then he shut his eyes tightly, took a breath, and opened the door quietly.
The room was neat....immaculate, even. Zhan scanned the space quickly, not sure where to begin. As he searched, his Housemate phone lit up on the bed from an incoming message. His housemate's face appeared on the screen. Zhan turned away, eyes landing on a pair of trousers nearby. His heart skipped. He picked them up and checked the pockets. His fingers brushed against a bundle of dollar bills...he quickly set them aside and reached into the other pocket.
His eyes widened.
A key and a remote. Zhan pulled them out quickly and confirmed...it was the key to the sitting room door. Without realizing it, he smiled, placed the pants back exactly where they were, and turned to leave....
And froze.
There he was....his housemate...standing at the door, arms crossed, silently watching him.
Zhan heart sank. Embarrassment burned through him. He turned his back to him, wishing the floor would swallow him whole. After a few moments, his Housemate he spoke.
"Well done," he said dryly.
Zhan didn't respond. He just fiddled nervously with the key in his hand, too ashamed to turn around. Calmly, his Housemate he said, "Hand me the key."
Zhan pouted and muttered, "It's not like I was going to use it."
"So, what...you sneak into my room every time I'm out?"
That hit Zhan. He turned sharply and glared at him, eyes wide. Then, without saying a word, he walked over, placed the key on the bed, and stormed out of the room, brushing past him. Back in his room, Zhan slammed the door and let the tears fall. He sat on the edge of the bed, then collapsed face-first onto his pillow, sobbing.
By 7:00 PM, Zhan was still sitting on the rug where he had been for hours. Every time he replayed his housemate's words in his head, he felt more humiliated. He hated living in this house now. He knew he couldn't go on like this, especially with him around. Finally, he decided he would ask Yiming to help him move out...just like Yu Bin had suggested from the beginning. He had ignored that advice before. Not anymore.
His phone rang... it was Hailong. He ignored it. He called again. Still, he let it ring out. A moment later, it rang again. This time, it was Yiming.
Reluctantly, Zhan picked up and greeted him.
"What's with your voice?" he asked, catching the strain in his tone.
Zhan hesitated. How could he even begin to explain everything?
"Hey," he said again, firmer this time. "You can't just go silent on me."
"I'm here," Zhan said weakly. "We've got an exam tomorrow, and I haven't covered enough. I'm just... stressed and have a headache."
He said, "I told you to stop pushing yourself so hard. You're smart, you don't need to study like your life depends on it. Just relax... you'll do fine."
Zhan gave a faint smile. "Okay."
"Have you eaten?"
He shook her head. "Not yet."
"Well, go eat something and call me
afterward. I'll be waiting."
Zhan hung up, opened his WeChat, and checked if their neighbor had replied to his message. No response, though they were online. He hadn't spoken to his mom in three days. Something didn't feel right.
He dialed Aunt Sisi. No answer. He tried again. This time, it connected.
"Hello, Zhan. How's school?"
"Fine," Zhan replied. "How's everyone at home? Is Ayi okay?"
Sisi paused. "She hasn't been feeling well, but it's better now."
Zhan's heart skipped. He had felt something was wrong.
"How long has she been sick?"
"About three days. We didn't want to tell you so you wouldn't worry. That's why I didn't reply to your Weixin message. Please don't panic. Just pray for her."
Zhan sat frozen.
Sisi continued, "She collapsed on her way out of her room. She hasn't been well for a while, and we've been begging her not to stress herself. Fin came from Shanghai yesterday to help. Don't worry too much, just keep calm."
Tears filled Zhan's eyes. His airtime ran out mid-call, and the line disconnected. He dropped the phone and broke into tears.... deep, chest-wrenching sobs.
***
By 10:00 PM, Zhan was still sitting there, unable to move. Hailong had called twice. He ignored him. At 10:30, someone knocked on his door. He wiped her tears but didn't move. The knock came again. Still no response.
Then he heard him speak, "Hey... Sean?"
Before he could say anything, the door slowly opened. Zhan turned quickly. Their eyes met.
He stepped inside but stayed a respectful distance away.
"If you're upset because of what I said earlier," he began, "I was only joking. I didn't mean anything by it."
More tears filled his eyes.
"I was just teasing," he added. "Don't take it seriously."
Zhan buried his face in his shirt, quietly crying. His Housemate knelt down, looking at him, unsure of what to say.
Finally, Zhan looked up at him with a frown. "Do you think I'm crying because of you?"
"Then why are you crying?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
Zhan didn't answer right away. Then, in a soft voice, he said, "My mother is sick."
His face changed. "Oh no... what's wrong with her?"
He wiped his face but didn't reply. He exhaled slowly.
"Well, sitting here crying won't help her. What she needs is for you to be strong. Focus your energy on wishing her well."
Still, Zhan said nothing.
"Do you plan to go home and see her?" he asked gently.
Zhan looked up at him but stayed silent.
"Are you from Chongqing?" he added.
Zhan nodded.
He stood up. "I hope she gets better. Try to eat something before bed, alright?"
Zhan kept his head down. His Housemate turned and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
:
:
It was around midnight when Zhan, lying on his bed, heard another knock on his door. He turned to look at it. After a few seconds, he sat up, staring at the door as he knocked again. Slowly, he got off the bed, pulled on his top, and went to open it.
"Are you still crying?" his housemate asked.
Zhan frowned slightly and shook his head without meeting his eyes.
"Alright," he said, "I noticed you haven't had dinner and it's already past midnight. Go find something to eat before sleeping."
Zhan said nothing.
"Hello?" he called again.
Zhan raised his head slightly. "I heard you."
"Good."
Zhan shut his door gently and headed for the kitchen, walking slowly. I-Bo waited until Zhan stepped inside the kitchen before entering Zhan's room, glancing around silently. After a few minutes, Zhan came out of the kitchen holding a cup of tea and a few cookies, only to see his Housemate standing in the corridor.
"You know," I-Bo said, "my Mumy is also sick, but you don't see me sitting around crying the way you did."
Zhan ignored him and slipped back into his room, locking the door behind him.
He finished his tea, lay back on the bed, and sighed. Sleep would be hard to find tonight. How he wished he could be home in China...but how? Tears welled up again. He picked up his phone and, remembering Yiming had called twice earlier, decided to call him back. But he didn't answer...twice. As usual, he was probably angry with him for ignoring his calls.
The Next Morning
Zhan sat in his room, trying again to call Aunty Fin, but her line wouldn't connect. He even tried calling Sisi, but hers didn't go through either. He didn't know who else to call. Sighing, he set his phone down. It was already past 11:00 am. Zhan hadn't felt at peace since the previous night, and even school felt impossible today.
A knock at the door startled him. He stayed seated, waiting, until he knocked three times in total. Finally, he stood and walked slowly to open it.
"Good morning, Sean. How was your night?" his Housemate asked.
"Fine," he muttered without looking up.
"How's your mom? Have you spoken to them yet?"
He only nodded, keeping his eyes down.
He handed him a paper and a pen. "Can I have your email address?"
Zhan blinked at him in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Your email address," he repeated. His phone rang, and he quickly handed him the paper and pen before stepping aside to answer the call.
Zhan stood there staring after him, confused. Eventually, he went back inside, wrote down his email, and returned the paper when he came knocking again.
"Why do you need it?" he asked.
"Just write it, please," he said.
After Zhan handed it over, he walked away. A few minutes later, Zhan got an email notification. Opening it, he froze...an image of a flight ticket stared back at him. His eyes widened as he stared at the door, unable to move.
Then came his Housemate voice again, calling softly outside his room. Zhan struggled to his feet and opened the door.
"I don't know if this is okay or if it's a good idea," his Housemate said hesitantly.
Zhan just stared, speechless.
"I hope your family won't be upset about this back home?"
When Zhan still didn't respond, he sighed. "I guess it's a bad idea. I should've asked you first before booking it."
Zhan eyes instantly filled with tears, and he bowed his head.
"Alright," he said gently, "I'll cancel the ticket."
"No…" Zhan managed, his voice trembling as tears rolled down his face. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate this, and I will pay you back in the future."
"You're sure?"
Zhan nodded.
"Alright, then. You can book a taxi to the airport later. Your flight is at 3 p.m. today."
Zhan stared down at the documents he handed him, too stunned to speak. How had he even gotten them? He shut his door and sat heavily on the edge of the bed, staring at his phone screen where the e-ticket still glowed. It all felt surreal.
Then joy began to replace the shock. He would finally see his mother again, something he'd been desperately wishing for since yesterday. In one instant, almost 80% of his worries melted away.
Zhan glanced at the clock...it was already past eleven. The weakness he'd felt all morning instantly vanished as he stood up, wiped his tears, and picked up his medium-sized suitcase.
By 2:00 PM, Zhan had finished all his packing and preparations. All that was left was to wait for the taxi he had booked. He sat quietly at the edge of his bed, lost in deep thought. His only wish was to be near his mother. Whatever happened after that could be dealt with later.
His phone rang, and seeing Yu Bin's name on the screen made him pause. He hadn't been able to answer earlier because of his emotions.
"Zhan, why didn't you come to school today? Are you okay?" Yu Bin's voice held concern.
Taking a deep breath, Zhan replied softly, "My mom's unwell, Bin."
"Oh no, how is she now?"
"She's better."
"Please don't stress yourself, bestie. Just focus on her and don't cry too much, okay?"
Zhan stayed silent, fighting the tears again.
"I'll come over after lectures," Yu Bin said.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I'm leaving for China at 3 PM," Zhan confessed.
"What? You're going to China? Did Yiming book the ticket for you?"
"Yes," Zhan lie quietly.
"Is it that serious?"
"Maybe not that critical, but I won't be at peace until I see her myself."
"Are you at the airport already?"
"No, I'm waiting for my taxi now."
"Okay, I'll see you there so we can say goodbye properly. I'll get an Uber."
"Thanks, Bin."
After the call, Zhan stood as the taxi arrived. Carrying his trolley bag and backbag, he left his room and locked the door behind him. Dressed in a maroon shirt and black pant, he walked to the sitting room, where his Housemate set aside his phone.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes," he replied, avoiding his gaze.
"You booked your ride already?"
"Yes."
"Good." He stood, pulled out $1,000, and handed it to him. "Use this for yourself, and you don't have to payback in the future."
Zhan shook his head. "No, thank you."
"Come on, I'm giving it to you, not asking," he said, but Zhan still wouldn't look at him or take the money. He placed it inside his backbag along with a folded piece of paper. Zhan glanced at him questioningly as he sat back down.
"Take care of yourself and give my regards to your mom and everyone back home. I hope she feels better soon," he said gently.
"Thank you," Zhan whispered.
"The number on the paper is for the driver picking you up at the airport in China. Call him when you land."
Unable to say more, Zhan softly replied, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Safe trip."
Dragging his trolley, Zhan walked toward the door. He glanced back briefly and saw his housemate already focused on his phone. Closing the door, he headed straight to the waiting taxi.
At the airport, Zhan met Yu Bin, who took his hand gently. "How long has your mom been unwell?"
"Since yesterday. Aunt Sisi told me."
Yu Bin sighed. "I hope she recovers quickly."
"Thank you," Zhan said gently.
Yu Bin smiled. "I'm honestly surprised Yiming bought you a ticket so you could visit her immediately. That's thoughtful of him."
Zhan gave a faint smile.
"How long will you stay?" Yu Bin asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I'll decide when I get there."
"Safe journey, bestie. Please greet your mom for me." Yu Bin handed him $300. "Here, keep this."
"Huh!, that's too much, Bin..."
But Yu Bin simply waved and walked away smiling, leaving Zhan standing there, touched.
Moments later, Zhan was stunned to see his ticket was Business Class. He blinked and double-checked, but it was indeed correct. His legs felt weak as he boarded, guided by a flight attendant who gave him the warmest welcome he'd ever experienced.
The flight from Baltimore Washington International Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for a layover was smooth and comfortable. Zhan had never experienced traveling this way before. From Amsterdam, he boarded his next flight, heading to Beijing, China.
***
Sixteen plus hours later, the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.
After Zhan collected his trolley bag at the airport and went through customs, he paused, unsure what to do next. It was almost eight in the morning. Should he check for an available flight to Chongqing?
But how much did he even have in his account for such a sudden expense? Maybe he should just head to the motor park and take a bus to Chongqing instead. That was when he remembered the dollars his housemate had given him, something he had completely forgotten about. He opened his backbag, pulled out the cash, and stared at it. A folded paper slipped out along with the money and fell to the ground. He bent to pick it up, noticing a series of numbers written on it before putting both the paper and the money back into his bag.
He headed to the airport area then sat quietly for a while, and checked his phone. It was already 8:10 a.m. He took out the money again and counted it...$1,000. He stared at the notes in disbelief; he hadn't expected him to give him this much.
His eyes shifted back to the white paper. Could those numbers be his? He quickly bought airtime and dialed the number on his phone. The call was about to cut off when someone answered.
"Hello?" a male voice said.
"Hello, good morning," Zhan replied politely, though the voice didn't sound like his Housemate.
"Are you the young man who just arrived from America?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Welcome, mister. I've been expecting your call. Are you at the airport now?"
"Yes."
"Alright, I'm on my way to get you."
After the call ended, Zhan stared at his phone, slightly confused. Who exactly was this? He put his money back in his backbag, took out a face mask, and left the area with his trolley bag and backbag.
A few minutes later, he called again, instructing him to come outside. Zhan stepped out of the airport and immediately saw a man approaching him with polite composure. He greeted him with a respectful nod.
"How was your flight, mister?"
"Fine, thank you," he replied softly.
He smiled and gestured toward a sleek car nearby. "Your flight to Chongqing is at two this afternoon. I'll take you to a hotel where you can rest until then."
Zhan was stunned, staring at him, then at the expensive-looking car. He quickly took his trolley, placed it in the trunk, and opened the back door for him.
"Please, have a seat, mister."
His legs felt heavy, but he walked slowly toward the car and got inside. He drove him to a luxurious hotel not far from the airport, personally ensuring he was checked into his room before leaving.
Not long after Zhan arrived, a hotel attendant brought him an exquisite breakfast. But Zhan was too overwhelmed to eat. He opened his trolley, grabbed his toiletries, and went straight to shower.
:
:
Around 1:20 p.m., the vibration of his phone woke him from a nap. The same man was calling.
"Mister, I hope you're ready. I'm coming to pick you up. Your flight departs in thirty minutes," he said.
"Alright," he answered gently.
Within minutes, he packed his things and headed downstairs with his trolley and backbag. The man met him at the reception, collected his trolley, returned his room key to the front desk, and led him out to the car.
In no time, they were back at the airport. He stayed with him until he had his boarding pass in hand. With a warm smile, he said, "Safe travels, mister. Once you land in Chongqing, someone will drive you straight home. We'll stay in touch."
"Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it," Zhan said sincerely.
"You're welcome," he replied with a polite nod before leaving.
Zhan slowly walked toward the departure lounge. About twenty minutes later, his flight took off for Chongqing... a smooth journey lasting just under two and a half hours.
When Zhan arrived in Chongqing and stepped out of the airport, his heart pounded. He adjusted his face mask nervously, glancing around. Where should he even go first? He knew he couldn't go straight home...not yet.
His phone rang, startling him even more. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. He hesitated but picked up.
"Hello," he said quietly.
"Hello, mister," a man's voice replied.
"Li Han gave me your number. He said you just landed, and I'm here to pick you up and take you home. Where are you right now?"
"I'm outside the airport," he answered.
Within minutes, he spotted the man walking toward him. He helped him with his trolley and guided him to a car similar to the one he had taken in Beijing. He opened the back door for him.
"Thank you," he said softly as he got in.
He bowed his head politely before saying goodbye and wishing him a safe trip. The driver also greeted him, asking how his flight had been before starting the car.
"Where are we heading, mister?" he asked.
Zhan paused, thinking, then gave him the name of the neighborhood he wanted.
"Alright, we'll be there soon," the driver said.
When they arrived at the gate of the house he indicated, he stopped and got out to retrieve his trolley. Zhan adjusted his face mask, took the suitcase from him, thanked him, and hurried into the compound.
Inside, Nainai Gaxi was seated, sifting grain. She looked up in surprise as Zhan lowered his mask slightly and smiled.
"Nainai, good afternoon," Zhan greeted warmly.
"Zhan? Where are you coming from all of a sudden?" Nainai Gaxi asked, setting her basket aside.
"From school," Zhan replied with a small, nervous laugh.
"Really? I just came back from your mother's house not even twenty minutes ago, and nobody told me you were on the way!" Nainai said.
Softly, Zhan asked, "How's my mom's health?"
Nainai frowned. "So, you traveled all the way back without telling anyone?"
Zhan just nodded.
"Hmm. And I suppose Yiming paid for your ticket?"
Shaking his head quickly, Zhan murmured, "He doesn't even know I'm back, Nainai."
"Oh my goodness! Then let me call Fin, or better yet, you should call her yourself. You were wise to come here first, so your father doesn't cause trouble over this sudden return." She gestured to a mat. "Come, sit down and rest from your long journey. America is even farther than Beijing, isn't it? Call Fin while I finish this."
Zhan sat down and took out his phone, though his heart still pounded. He dialed Auntie Fin's number, but Nainai quickly said, "Don't bother; she doesn't have her phone. It was stolen in a rickshaw last week."
Zhan looked up, startled, as Nainai continued, "Anyway, help me finish this grain, then check the pot on the fire for porridge. There are some soup ingredients too... just blend them and make soup for me. I'll go inform your mom that you're here."
"Okay, Nainai," Zhan replied quietly.
Nainai stood up, grabbed her scarf from the clothesline, and draped it over her shoulders. "I'll be back soon. I only need a small fare for a rickshaw."
Zhan opened his backbag, only to find dollars inside. "I don't have any Chinese yuan, Nainai, but I'll use ATM and withdraw for you."
Nainai waved him off. "No need, just finish what I gave you. There are also dishes by the water pump... wash those and clean up the yard. If the children come back from school, wash their uniforms too. The room is a mess, so sweep it."
With that, she left.
Zhan removed his jacket, set it on his suitcase, and continued sifting grain as instructed.
Nainai Gaxi had once been their family's close neighbor before her children bought her a small house here, where she now lived with five grandchildren. She and Zhan's mother had always had a relationship like mother- daughter.
By six in the evening, Zhan had finished everything Nainai had asked. He boiled water for a bath, then collapsed onto the mat, exhausted, staring blankly at the wall. His housemate came to mind, and he fell silent. Eventually, he carried the clean dishes back inside just as Nainai returned, this time with Auntie Fin.
Zhan ran to his aunt, hugging her tightly.
"And who told you to travel without informing anyone? Did Yiming tell you to come?" Auntie Fin asked.
"He said he doesn't even know," Nainai interjected quickly.
"What? He doesn't know?" Auntie Fin said, staring at Zhan in disbelief.
Avoiding the question, Zhan asked softly, "How's Ayi doing now?"
Auntie Fin took his hand and sat down. "She's much better, Zhan. She was even discharged from the hospital already. Who told you she was sick?"
Tears welled in Zhan's eyes. "Auntie Sisi told me."
Nainai sighed. "So Sisi is still spreading trouble? I specifically told her not to upset you by sharing news like that. Yet she still went ahead and told you."
Auntie Fin shook her head. "That's Sisi for you. She never changes."
Zhan sniffled. "Can I see Ayi now?"
"Don't worry," Auntie Fin said gently. "Stay here tonight with Nainai. Tomorrow morning, we'll visit with her together."
Relieved, Zhan agreed.
That night, after dinner, Nainai prepared a small sleeping area for Zhan, complete with a mosquito net. "At least this will keep you from the mosquitoes," she said kindly.
Zhan smiled and said nothing. The real issue was the heat; the tiny room had only a small window, and seven people would be sleeping in it. Still, he took a shower, crawled under the net, and accepted the fan Nainai handed him.
For the first time since leaving the U.S., he finally logged into WeChat, replying to Yu Bin's earlier message asking if he'd arrived safely. He wasn't surprised to find no message from Yiming.... he hadn't expected one anyway. Setting his phone aside, he lay down, closed his eyes, and thought about his housemate. He didn't even have his phone number to thank him, and he realized he hadn't even offered to drive him to the airport when he left.
Zhan tossed and turned under the mosquito net, eyes closed but unable to sleep. After what felt like forever, exhaustion finally pulled him into slumber.
~**~
The next morning, Zhan completed all of Nainai Gaxi's household chores. He lit the charcoal stove, heated water, bathed the younger children, and prepared porridge. Nainai had gone out to buy some fried snacks from a nearby vendor. By ten o'clock, there was still no sign of Aunt Fin or his mom.
Zhan was restless; he desperately wanted to see his mom.
Nainai Gaxi teased, "You're still waiting to take a bath? The water's going cold, you know."
"I'll go now," Zhan replied and headed to the bathroom.
When he came out, he immediately noticed shoes at the door... the ones Aunt Fin had worn yesterday and another pair he instantly recognized as his mom's. Without hesitation, he hurried to Nainai's room and found his mom sitting with Aunt Fin.
Overcome with relief, Zhan rushed past Aunt Fin and knelt in front of his mom, hugging her tightly.
"Have you lost your mind?" Aunt Fin said, startled.
Nainai chuckled. "Take it easy, child."
His mom just stared at him, quiet and watchful. Zhan had completely forgotten that his mom was supposed to be unwell; he was just thrilled to see her.
Softly, his mom asked, "Why would you travel all the way back here like this, Zhan? Did Yiming tell you to come?"
Holding his mom's hands, Zhan asked, "How are you feeling Ayi?"
His mom replied gently, "I'm much better now."
"But… Auntie Sisi told me you were very sick," Zhan said, confused.
Nainai Gaxi frowned. "Oh, that girl again! I told her not to say anything that would upset you, yet she still went ahead and told you. Even when I warned her not to message you about it!"
Zhan said quietly, "I called her because she wasn't responding to my messages, and that's when she told me."
Aunt Fin shook her head. "She just wanted to cause panic. There was no need for that at all."
Zhan managed a small smile and greeted Aunt Fin properly.
"Does Yiming even know your mom was unwell? He hasn't called to check?" Aunt Fin asked.
Zhan lowered his gaze. "He doesn't even know I came back."
"What? He doesn't know? Then who paid for your flight?"
Zhan hesitated, his eyes wide. "Someone else… not Yiming."
His mom looked at him sharply. "Someone else? Who?"
"Who would pay for that?" Aunt Fin added, astonished.
"My neighbor did," Zhan answered softly, starting to stand up.
"Are you serious? Who pays for such an expensive flight just because you were sad about your mom's health?" his mom asked incredulously.
Zhan said nothing.
"You better explain this properly," Nainai said firmly. "Who gives out that kind of money for free? Do you know how much that ticket costs? Over a thousands yuan! Where did you even meet this person?"
Zhan stayed silent.
"I don't like this silence," Aunt Fin said sternly. "Answer when we're asking you a question."
His mom simply stared at him, looking both confused and concerned.
Zhan finally whispered, "He saw me crying over my mom being unwell, and he paid for the flight so I could see her."
Nainai relaxed a little. "Oh well… good people do still exist. Was he foreign? A Westerner?"
"Um… yes," Zhan muttered quickly, hoping to end the conversation.
"I thought so. Only a foreigner would pay for something like that. No local man would do it unless it concerned his own family," Nainai said. "Anyway, may life be kind to him. For someone like him, that ticket money is probably nothing."
Zhan changed the subject. "Auntie, are we going to the hospital now?"
"We already came back from there earlier today. We'll go again tomorrow morning," Aunt Fin replied.
His mom added, "And what about your return ticket? Who's paying for that? Don't think Yiming won't hear about this if we're not careful. It could create unnecessary problems."
The thought hit Zhan hard; he had completely forgotten about his return flight. His stomach dropped as panic spread through him. He suddenly felt weak.
Aunt Fin asked, "You didn't even tell Yiming that your mom was sick?"
Still feeling shaken, Zhan shook his head. "He wasn't around."
He left to change clothes... still wrapped in the towel from his bath.
As he unpacked, the $1,000 his housemate had given him came to mind, and he quickly remembered the extra $300 from Yu Bin. Relief washed over him. That money could cover a return ticket. He finally exhaled, feeling calmer.
From the next room, he could hear Nainai asking Aunt Fin about his mom's co-wives and whether they had visited.
"They didn't come yesterday, why would they stopped by today," Aunt Fin replied.
"Typical," Nainai muttered. "Hoping for the worst, I suppose. And what about Xiao Aiyun? Did he help at all?"
"No. I didn't even bother with him. I just used my savings for the rest of her medication," Aunt Fin said.
"Figures," Nainai muttered.
By noon, his mom had fallen asleep due to her medication. She was still limping slightly but her hands had improved a lot. Zhan came in carrying rice he'd cooked, while Nainai went to visit a neighbor.
Aunt Fin kept stealing glances at Zhan, clearly surprised at how healthy and radiant he looked, even though he was still slim.
When Zhan returned with fried groundnut oil for the meal, he dished food for his mom and aunt.
His mom, seated on a small mat, asked, "Have you started exams yet?"
"He wouldn't have traveled during exams," Aunt Fin interrupted. "That wouldn't even be allowed, right?"
Zhan shook his head with a small smile. "Not yet. We still have time before exams."
"Good. But before someone spreads gossip about you being back here, when are you returning, Zhan?" Aunt Fin asked.
"This week," Zhan said softly.
"Has Yiming stopped all his usual behavior?" Aunt Fin pressed.
Placing the plates down, Zhan hesitated but finally said, "I'm tired of his behavior now."
His mom looked up in surprise, and so did Aunt Fin. Zhan had never said anything like that before.
Aunt Fin sighed. "I told you... no one can change him for you but you. You're his husband to be; by now, you should know exactly how to handle him."
Zhan quietly walked out of the room without replying. He didn't even want to hear Yiming's name anymore. Since he'd gotten upset two days ago, he still hadn't called him, and unlike before, he didn't feel like calling him either. He didn't even want to send him WeChat messages like he used to.
💚💙❤🖤