Nainai let out a sigh of relief and said, "I feel much better now that I've told you. Anyway, I'll go make my tea—no need to stress myself." With that, she headed to the kitchen.
Zhan held his head for a moment before looking up with a small smile. A few minutes later, she returned with two cups in her hands. "Should I make you some tea as well?" she asked.
Zhan glanced at her and replied, "Sure."
Meanwhile, Yibo finished cleaning the balcony and walked into the sitting room, removing his face mask. Yuting handed him a breakfast tray, which he placed on the dining table for Quentin. As he set it down, Quentin walked in. Yibo looked at him with a pleading expression and softly said, "Fu Qin, I want to go to Wei Po's house now. I'll return after sister Xia's wedding."
Quentin pulled out a chair and sat down. "No, you and your mother will go back and forth together," he stated firmly.
Yuting interjected, "He's not a handbag, dear. Just let him stay there until after the wedding."
"You know his condition better than I do," Quentin responded. "So I don't need to explain myself."
Yuting sighed. "Yibo is not a child, dear. He can take very good care of himself."
Quentin said nothing more, and no matter how much Yuting tried to convince Yibo to wait so they could leave together, he refused. As soon as Quentin approved his visit to Wei Po's house, Yibo called Sen Wen to inform him. Less than fifteen minutes later, Sen Wen called back, saying he was already waiting outside.
Yuting watched Yibo in disbelief. He hadn't even finished zipping up his small trolley, yet he was rushing out. She snapped, "Why are you in such a hurry, Yibo?!"
Startled, Yibo turned around and quickly said, "It's nothing, Mu Qin."
"That's called impatience," Yuting scolded. "When will you learn to be as calm as everyone else? Look at you, dragging your bag half-open because you're too restless."
Quentin, still seated at the dining table, commented, "Does everything have to turn into a scolding? This isn't fair."
Yuting ignored him. Yibo knelt down and carefully zipped up his bag.
"Are you sure you can carry it all the way to the main road?" Yuting asked.
"It's not heavy, Mu Qin. And the street is smooth, so I can just roll it," Yibo assured her.
"Alright, take care," Yuting said, giving him a wave before he turned to leave. He gestured toward Quentin, then stepped outside. Just as he shut the door behind him, Zhan appeared from Nainai's side of the house.
Zhan kept staring at Yibo, making him uneasy. Yibo quickly averted his gaze, his heart pounding. He glanced toward Zhan's part of the house before shifting his focus back to him. "Where are you going?" Zhan finally asked.
Yibo turned his back to him, pretending to adjust his bag. He pouted slightly and muttered, "To Wei Po's house."
When Zhan didn't respond, Yibo peeked at him from where he was kneeling. He saw that Zhan was still staring at him. Yibo pouted again and, hearing footsteps, stole a glance at the gate—Zhan was heading toward it.
Only when Zhan disappeared completely did Yibo resume moving. He dragged his suitcase toward the gate, but as he reached it, he saw Zhan leaning against his car, arms crossed. Yibo's heart sank. A wave of panic washed over him, and for a moment, he felt like bursting into tears.
Avoiding eye contact, Yibo turned toward the main road. Zhan's voice stopped him.
"Put your bag in the car."
Yibo spun around, eyes wide. "Gege, Mu Qin and Fu Qin said I should go on my own. No one is supposed to take me."
Zhan shot him a sharp look. "Before I count to three, do what I said."
Yibo pressed himself against the gate, his anxiety spiking. "Please, Gege, just go. I don't want you to take me—I'll go by myself."
Zhan's face darkened. He lifted one finger. "One."
Yibo's breath hitched.
"Two."
Before Zhan could raise a third finger, Yibo yanked his suitcase, tears welling up in his eyes. He opened the backseat, placed the bag inside, and shut the door. His voice trembled as he said, "I need to grab my handbag."
Zhan didn't respond. He simply got into the driver's seat.
Yibo ran back inside and broke into sobs.
He then dial Sen Wen's number. As soon as the call connected, Sen Wen answered.
"Sorry, Gege is heading to work now, and he insisted on dropping me off. I couldn't refuse—I didn't want him to scold me." Yibo's voice was barely above a whisper.
"It's okay, Yibo," Sen Wen reassured him. "I'll visit Wei Po's house later in the evening."
"I'm really sorry," Yibo murmured.
"There's no need to apologize, dear," Sen Wen said warmly. "Gege is your brother. We don't want to get on his bad side, do we?"
Yibo smiled faintly. "Thank you."
After ending the call, he wiped his face, straightened up, and headed back to the car, his expression hardened. Without a word, he got in and slammed the door shut.
From the corner of his eye, Zhan glanced at him, then started the car and drove off.
Zhan spoke slowly, as if counting his words. "I told you what to say to Papa… but you said something else because you don't respect me, right?" His tone was sharp as he finished speaking.
Yibo remained silent, simply turning away to look outside. Seeing this, Zhan pulled the car over. Yibo quickly turned back to him, looking as if he was about to cry. "Please, Gege, forgive me. Even Sen Wen has stopped calling me. He hasn't contacted me since the day before yesterday."
Zhan's face remained stern. "Let me see your phone."
Yibo's eyes widened. "Gege, it's at home," he said, trying to hide the phone against his chest.
Zhan grabbed his arm, making Yibo yelp as he clutched onto him. "Please, Gege, what did I do to you…?"
Ignoring him, Zhan lifted Yibo's shirt and quickly snatched the phone. Yibo gasped. "Gege, stop!"
Zhan didn't listen, unlocking the phone. He saw that it was password-protected and held it out to Yibo. "Open it."
Yibo shrugged and smirked, avoiding his gaze. Zhan studied him for a moment before placing the phone on his lap and continuing to drive. Neither of them spoke until they reached Wei Po's house.
When they arrived, Yibo got out first, opening the back seat to retrieve his bag before shutting the car door. Zhan locked the car and walked toward the house, while Yibo stood still, watching him go as if he were about to cry. Then, hesitantly, he followed.
Inside the sitting room, Wei Po was seated with some of her male relatives. Zhan sat on the floor and greeted her, then extended his greetings to the others.
Wei Po smiled warmly. "Well, well, Zhan is finally visiting us! I didn't even know you were in town, Zhan."
He gave a small smile. "I've been around, Wei Po. It's been a long time."
"Indeed… You've been avoiding me, haven't you?" she teased.
Still smiling, Zhan replied, "It's just work, Wei Po. I'll stop by later in the evening since you have guests now."
Yibo's eyes widened at Zhan's words.
Wei Po nodded approvingly. "Make sure you do, Zhan."
"I promise," he assured her.
"Good, I'll be waiting. Safe travels," she said with a smile.
Meanwhile, Yibo stood frozen at the doorway, refusing to step inside. When Zhan walked past him without a word, Yibo rushed after him. "Please, Gege, give me my phone back."
Zhan shot him a cold glare that made Yibo shrink back, stepping away hesitantly. Without another word, Zhan walked out through the gate.
🔹🔸▫️
As the evening wore on, Yibo grew anxious. He knew Sen Wen might call his phone, and if Zhan answered, things could get worse. To make matters worse, Yuting was also in the house, adding to his stress. He lay in one of Wei Po's rooms, alone, since Xia was busy entertaining her friends.
At 4 PM, Xia entered the room and handed Yibo her phone. "Here, Yibo. Jun Bin's friend wants to talk to you."
Yibo immediately sat up and took the phone as Xia walked out. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he quietly said, "Hello?"
Sen Wen's voice came through. "Is your phone off?"
Yibo's eyes widened. He hesitated before replying, "Uh… You called, and it was off?"
"Yeah," Sen Wen confirmed.
Yibo tilted his head and let out a nervous laugh. "Oh… yeah, it's off."
Sen Wen sighed. "Alright, I'm outside."
Yibo's eyes widened again. In a hushed voice, he asked, "Wait, you're here?"
"Yeah, I'm waiting, dear," Sen Wen replied.
Yibo stood up abruptly, debating whether to tell anyone. He was afraid of alerting Yuting, so instead, he went to find Wei Po. He found her in an empty room with Yuting and Xia's mother.
After greeting Xia's mother, who responded kindly, Yibo turned to Wei Po and knelt beside her, lowering his voice. "Wei Po, Sen Wen is outside waiting for me."
Yuting, who had been listening silently, studied Yibo, not knowing what he was telling her mother. Wei Po raised an eyebrow. "Sen Wen? Jun Bin's friend?"
Yibo lowered his gaze.
Wei Po let out a small laugh. "Oh my, so he's your boyfriend?"
Yibo hid his face in embarrassment. Wei Po chuckled. "Well, that's wonderful news. Sen Wen is a respectful young man who values people. Go on, then. Say hello to him for me. He and Jun Bin came by to greet me just a few days ago. I'm really happy about this."
Yuting kept staring at Yibo, who avoided making eye contact as he slowly stood up and walked out. As soon as he stepped into the sitting room, he saw Zhan standing exactly where he had been before.
Hearing his voice, Wei Po said, "So he was serious about coming back."
Yuting was too surprised to speak upon hearing his voice too. Wei Po stood up, her face lighting up with a smile as he greeted her, along with the few other people in the room. As Zhan walked in, his gaze met Yibo's, who quickly turned away as if on the verge of tears. He then made his way to a chair and sat down while Wei Po welcomed him warmly.
Yibo slipped out through the kitchen door and left the house.
Seeing him outside, Sen Wen removed his sunglasses. Yibo lowered his gaze as he approached the car. Sen Wen leaned against it, smiling in a relaxed manner, and greeted him, "Good evening."
Yibo didn't look up. Sen Wen gently asked, "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Yibo replied softly.
Sen Wen nodded. "And how's your mother?" He glanced toward the house.
"She's inside," Yibo answered.
"But you didn't come here together?"
Shaking his head, Yibo said, "I left before her."
Even then, he avoided making eye contact. After a brief pause, Sen Wen said, "You look really good today. I love what you're wearing. You look adorable in it."
Yibo tried to hide his face, smiling shyly. Sen Wen watched him closely, but Yibo suddenly seemed to remember something. He quickly pulled his hand away and said, "I forgot I left something in the kitchen. I need to go before it burns."
"Are you going back inside?" Sen Wen asked.
"I'm sorry," Yibo said softly. "I know we planned something else, but at least we got to greet each other."
Sen Wen chuckled. "Sure, but I wanted to have a proper conversation. I told you I had a lot to share, Yibo."
"Maybe later, okay?"
"Later when? At night?"
Yibo nodded.
"Alright then," Sen Wen said. "But before you go, wait..." He reached into his car and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box. "Wear this for the wedding."
Yibo hesitated to take it.
Sen Wen spoke gently. "Take it, please, Yibo."
Yibo glanced at him, then slowly took the box. In a quiet voice, he said, "Thank you."
Sen Wen gave him a smile that revealed his dimples. Yibo returned a small smile before saying, "See you later." Then, he turned and walked toward the house while Sen Wen watched him go.
Yibo's heart pounded when he saw Zhan step out of Wei Po's sitting room, staring at him. Yibo started walking slowly, but suddenly, he dropped to the ground, waving his hands in a panic.
Zhan approached him. "Where are you coming from?"
Tears welled up in Yibo's eyes as he quickly replied, "Mu Qin sent me on an errand, Gege. I hurt my foot."
Zhan said nothing and simply walked toward the gate, his face expressionless.
Yibo watched him go, his heart racing, silently praying that Sen Wen had already left the neighborhood. He glanced at the box he had hidden under his jacket, then carefully opened it. Inside was a stunning pair of gold earrings, glistening in an elegant case.
Yibo quickly got up and hurried into the house, glancing back to see if Zhan had returned. As soon as he stepped inside, he locked the door behind him. He went straight to Wei Po's room and hid the box inside his trolley. His biggest worry now was Yuting—he had no idea what she would say if she saw the earrings.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
That night, they were having dinner with Xia and one of her friends when Xia's phone started ringing. She glanced at the caller ID before looking at Yibo.
"Where's your phone?" she asked.
Yibo hesitated before replying softly, "Gege took it."
Xia's eyes widened. "Why?"
Yibo just shrugged, holding out his hands to show he didn't know.
Xia handed him her phone. "Then talk to your caller first."
Yibo took it and placed it to his ear, answering with a quiet "Hello?"
Sen Wen's voice came through from the other end. "You still haven't charged your phone, Yibo?"
Yibo sighed. "No."
"But why? I'm near the neighborhood."
"My phone is at home," Yibo said, tilting his head.
"Alright, I'll call you after eight. It's almost time now."
"Alright," Yibo replied, and the call ended. He placed the phone beside him.
Xia looked at him. "So Zhan-ge just took your phone like that?"
"Yeah," Yibo said. "He said it was because of Jun Bin's friend calling me."
Xia's mouth fell open. "And what business is that of his?"
Yibo sighed. "I don't know either."
Cui, Xia's friend, raised an eyebrow. "Is he your brother?"
"He's his cousin," Xia answered for him.
Cui widened her eyes slightly. "Then maybe he likes you."
Yibo froze and stared at her, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he finally said, "Zhan ge? He's my Gege."
Cui burst into laughter. "You keep saying that, but why else would he be so possessive? He takes your phone, stops you from talking to certain people... there's definitely something more to it."
Yibo carefully placed his spoon down. "Like what?"
Xia smiled. "Wait, what exactly did he say when he saw Sen Wen calling you?"
Yibo leaned against the headboard. "He just told me I couldn't talk to him. He even blocked his number, but I unblocked it. Then, when Bobo called me at home, he ask me straight up what was between me and Sen Wen. Before I could even answer, Gege told me to pretend I didn't know Sen Wen at all."
Cui laughed even harder, while Xia shook her head with a knowing smile.
"Wow, Zhan," Xia murmured.
Yibo just stared at them, confused about why they found this funny.
Cui finally calmed down and looked at him intently. "I'm telling you, he's in love with you."
Yibo's eyes widened, and he instinctively scooted back. "Please, don't say that. He's my Gege."
Xia chuckled. "You keep saying that, but you're just deceiving yourself, Yibo. You're not even blood siblings. Zhan loves you—a lot. I noticed it years ago when he used to bring you here. The way he looked at you… it was never just casual. And the way he takes care of you? Even his actual siblings don't get that kind of attention.
"What Zhan feels for you is way beyond just familial affection. One day, you'll wake up and realize it."
Yibo's breath hitched. "No way…"
Yibo's heart pounded as he suddenly burst into tears, shaking his head furiously. "Please, stop saying that. It's not true! He doesn't love me like that! He's my brother—how could he? I'm his younger cousin!"
Cui couldn't stop laughing at Yibo's reaction. She was convinced now more than ever that he was still quite naive, perhaps because he was an only child and had never had to deal with something like this before.
Without another word, Yibo jumped to his feet and rushed out of the room, heading straight to another bedroom where he threw himself onto the bed. Their words kept echoing in his head, making his heart pound even harder. He clenched his fists, his body trembling with frustration.
"I won't stay in this house tonight," he whispered fiercely. "How could they even say such a thing? That Gege loves me? Gege, romantic feelings?"
Yibo had never felt this disturbed before. The idea that Zhan might have feelings for him beyond brotherly love made his skin crawl. Even if it was impossible, just the fact that someone had said it out loud made him feel sick. The thought alone made him despise Zhan in that moment. He didn't even want to see his face.
And then, his mind drifted back to a memory from a few months ago—his birthday.
A Few Months Earlier
"Why do you look so down, Yibo? Today's your 18th birthday! You're officially an adult now, but you don't seem happy at all."
Mian Mian's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Since the moment he had cut his cake and the celebration began, Yibo had quietly withdrawn from the lively atmosphere, isolating himself in a corner where his cousins' laughter couldn't reach him.
Mian Mian followed him, trying to make conversation, but she could tell that Yibo's mind was elsewhere.
Yibo forced a small smile. "It's nothing, really. I just… I haven't seen Zhan-ge all evening. And even yesterday, he seemed a bit off—like something was bothering him."
Mian Mian chuckled. "That's what's bothering you? This Zhan-ge of yours—you care about him way too much. I don't see you worrying like this over Seth-ge. Anyway, I saw Zhan-ge a while ago in the backyard. He wasn't alone, though—there was a girl with him. They've been there for quite some time."
Yibo stiffened. "Zhan-ge is my Gege. Seth-ge is my cousin brother. You wouldn't understand." He didn't wait for her reply before turning and heading toward the backyard.
When he arrived, he stopped in his tracks. From a distance, he could see Zhan sitting on a stone bench, and right next to him was Li Na, seated comfortably close. She had her hands gently placed over his, their legs brushing against each other.
A strange sensation twisted in Yibo's chest, something he couldn't quite understand. His stomach clenched, and without thinking, he started walking toward them, his expression hardening into a glare.
"Gege."
Zhan's head snapped up in surprise, while Li Na quickly pulled her hands back and stood up. She flashed Yibo a sweet smile.
"Oh, birthday boy! You must've been looking for your dear brother," she teased. "Well, here he is. Go on, have a chat. He's been so moody today." She turned back to Zhan and winked. "See you later, Zhan. I'll head home now."
As she passed Yibo, she ruffled his hair playfully. "Happy birthday again. We'll talk later, okay?"
Yibo barely responded, offering only a stiff smile. He waited until she was gone before sitting down beside Zhan, resting his head on Zhan's shoulder.
"Gege, what's wrong? You've been upset since yesterday."
Zhan sighed. "It's nothing, Yibo. I was just thinking… once I get married, everything will change. You won't cling to me anymore, you won't sleep next to me, you won't follow me everywhere. You'll stop looking for me all the time. Everything will be different. And I don't like that. My Yibo is mine alone. I don't want to share you with anyone."
Yibo lifted his head abruptly, looking at Zhan with wide eyes. Then, suddenly, he smiled.
"Then let's not change, Gege. What if we get married instead?"
Zhan blinked, caught completely off guard. "What?"
"Yes, Gege. Let's marry each other. I'm 18 now—we can do it. If we get married, we'll always be together, forever. I don't want to be apart from you. I don't want anyone else by your side. You're my Gege. You belong to me alone."
He pouted as he spoke, his voice filled with childish stubbornness, completely unaware of the weight of his words.
Zhan just laughed at Yibo's ridiculous idea before casually asking, "You're saying we should get married? I'm sure you don't even understand what marriage means or what it involves."
Yibo lifted his head to look at him before lowering it again, saying, "Gege, I'm 18 today… Of course, I know what marriage means and what it includes. Marriage is a promise between two people to live together, for better or worse, to share the same room, the same bed, to cuddle with each other, kiss, and… and make love… all those kinds of things."
Zhan stared at Yibo, not even blinking. Since when did Yibo know about all this?
Seeing the way Zhan was looking at him, Yibo hid his face in his hands and whined, "Geeegeee."
Zhan turned to hold Yibo's hands, this time serious. "Yes, my Yibo knows what marriage is, but do you have those kinds of feelings for me?"
Yibo hesitated for a moment, thinking, then pouted. "But Gege, I'm already comfortable with you, and you can do… that things I mentioned earlier with me. I don't mind it. But Gege, let's not tell anyone until I start college. You know Shengjie doesn't like me—if she finds out, she might try to separate us. And Nainai too. We just have to pretend that nothing has changed between us. In fact, for your mother's sake, you can even be a little harsh toward me. You could even have a fake relationship with Li Na Jie so no one gets suspicious."
"And what about you?"
Zhan found himself agreeing with everything Yibo said, simply because, deep in his heart, he loved Yibo. Ever since Yibo was a toddler, he thought it was just brotherly love. But as Yibo grew older, he realized it was something else—romantic love. That was why he had requested a transfer back to Beijing from his hospital job. But Yibo was immature, spoiled, and childish, and Zhan had spent all this time wondering how to approach the situation—how to make Yibo fall in love with him.
And now, just like that, everything was falling into place. He could tell that Yibo didn't truly have those feelings for him yet, but with time, he would. He would make sure Yibo fell in love with him, that he understood how deeply he was loved. For now, they could have a traditional wedding, and in the future, they could have a legal one.
"Gege, what are you thinking? Let's go now and get married." Yibo stood up and tugged on his hand, urging him to get up.
Zhan's eyes widened. "You mean today? Right now?!"
Yibo nodded. "Of course, Gege! What better day than my birthday? That way, we can celebrate both occasions together every year."
Zhan stared at him for a moment before saying, "Before that, Yibo, promise me this: you will never back out of this, no matter what happens in the future. You won't ever look at anyone else. Honestly, I don't even know what we're doing right now."
Without hesitation, Yibo made every promise Zhan asked of him, because, at that moment, he thought it was all just fun. He didn't realize that Zhan had real feelings for him. Yibo assumed it was just the same kind of brotherly love and attachment he had always felt. At the time, he saw no reason why they couldn't get married, live together, and do all those things.
And just like that, Zhan took him to the temple, and they got married.
But now, just minutes ago, when Xia and Cui told him that Zhan actually had real romantic feelings for him, Yibo felt uncomfortable and anxious. Because right now, he thought he liked Sen Wen.
Yes, he loved Zhan—a lot—but it was brotherly love. Not the kind he had for his other cousins; what he felt for Zhan was different, deeper, reaching into his very soul. He couldn't be happy without his Gege. He loved clinging to him, loved the way Zhan touched him, loved… their kiss. He dreamt about it almost every night, their first kiss, even though he hadn't reciprocated. And of course, he always felt weird and angry whenever someone touched his Gege or even looked at him. That Nian Li—he hated her for no reason.
Yibo knew all these feelings, the happiness and the jealousy, but they weren't romantic. How could Gege have those kinds of feelings for him?
Yibo lay restless on the bed when the door suddenly opened. Xia walked in and said, "Sen Wen is calling you." Yibo slowly sat up, took the phone, and placed it against his ear. "Hello," he greeted.
Sen Wen replied, "I'm outside, Yibo."
"Alright, I'll inform Wei Po," Yibo responded before ending the call. He went to find Wei Po and told her.
Wei Po nodded and said, "Then let him come in. There's no one in the sitting room anyway. Tell him to come in directly."
Yibo said nothing and left. He found Sen Wen standing outside, leaning against his car. As he approached, he kept his gaze lowered, maintaining a respectful distance between them. Sen Wen simply stared at him, while Yibo avoided meeting his eyes.
Softly, Sen Wen asked, "What's wrong, Yibo? You look troubled."
Yibo quickly lifted his head, forcing a smile. "No, it's nothing. How's home?"
"Everything is fine," Sen Wen replied. "Wei Po said you should come inside. There's no one in the sitting room."
Sen Wen hesitated. "No, I won't come in. I feel a little shy around her."
Yibo chuckled. "There are chairs outside in the compound. You won't have to go inside."
Running a hand through his hair and smiling sweetly, Sen Wen agreed, "Alright then, let's go."
Yibo led the way, and Sen Wen followed him into the compound.
Yibo sat first on a white plastic chair before Sen Wen took his seat as well. He averted his gaze when he noticed Sen Wen watching him.
Sen Wen smirked. "Don't tell me you're the one feeling shy now?"
Yibo smiled. "Maybe I am."
Sen Wen laughed. "Come on, don't be. Please."
Yibo remained silent, and after a few seconds, Sen Wen said, "Did you know something, Yibo?"
Yibo looked up at him briefly.
In a gentle voice, Sen Wen continued, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Yibo lowered his gaze.
"I was born and raised in the UK. I spent most of my life there before moving back to China. I never once thought I'd fall in love with someone here, but then I met you, Yibo."
Sen Wen sighed. "My ex was white, but I never had deep feelings for her. It was just to pass time. Here in China, I've only had friendships with women. I never really believed in love—until I met you a few months ago. Please, don't break my heart, Yibo. It's too fragile for that."
Yibo gave him a small, quiet smile but still said nothing.
Sen Wen continued, "I've been counting down the days until your exams start. Promise me something, please."
Yibo remained silent, watching him.
"Promise me you won't betray my love for you. I promise you the same—I will never leave you for any reason."
A warmth spread through Yibo as he responded softly, "My family already know you, so there's nothing to worry about."
Sen Wen nodded. "Yes, but I'm afraid of your cousins."
Yibo blinked in surprise. "My cousins?"
Sen Wen chuckled. "Yes, they might try to intimidate me."
Yibo frowned. "They're my brothers, not love rivals."
Sen Wen shook his head. "I saw how they reacted the day your older brother's father called me. Especially the really fair one."
Yibo's heart skipped a beat.
"They might not tell you now," Sen Wen continued, "but what if one day they come to you and say they have feelings for you? Please, don't forget our promise." His voice was laced with worry.
Yibo felt like crying. "Stop saying that. None of them love me that way. They're just concerned because I haven't finished high school yet."
"Well, I hope that's true. But don't cry, my king. I was just reminding you."
Yibo hid his face, and Sen Wen chuckled, watching him fondly.
In a soft voice, Sen Wen asked, "Do you know where I plan to take you for our honeymoon?"
Yibo scrunched his nose playfully and covered his face with his hands. "I don't want to know!"
Sen Wen laughed heartily. "Alright, I won't tell you. But you'll find out when the time comes. We'll go together—with your grandmother."
Yibo's head shot up, eyes wide. "No way! She's not coming with us!"
Sen Wen burst into laughter. "Are you serious?"
Yibo immediately realized what he had said and blushed. He quickly stood up to leave.
"Wait, please, walk me to the gate first," Sen Wen pleaded.
After some hesitation, Yibo agreed, keeping his head lowered as he walked him to the gate. Sen Wen turned to face him before leaving.
Yibo softly said, "Thanks so much for the earrings."
Sen Wen looked at him and said, "I don't like it when you thank me for gifts. I didn't give them to you for gratitude."
Yibo simply smiled and said nothing more. They said their goodbyes, and Sen Wen waved before Yibo returned inside.
The Next Day
Wei Po's house was filled with family and friends since the wedding was the next day. Yibo, however, stayed in the room, feeling overwhelmed. He had never been comfortable around large crowds.
Xia had tried convincing him to go with them to a neighbor's house, where she would be staying until the wedding, but he refused.
Even Yuting brought him lunch in his room after realizing he wouldn't come out. Noticing his reluctant expression, she asked, "Do you want to go home? I don't want any trouble."
Yibo shook his head. "No, I just have a headache. I'll take medicine after I eat."
Yuting sighed and left the room.
After eating, Yibo took his medicine and got up to take his plate to the washing area.
The moment he stepped into the sitting room, he felt his breathing become uneven. He cleared his throat multiple times before heading outside.
The compound was filled with smoke from burning firewood. Yibo held his breath as he quickly placed the plate down and turned to go back inside.
But the moment he inhaled, a violent cough wracked his body. He fell to his knees at the doorway, drawing immediate attention.
His asthma attack hit full force.
Wei Po panicked, calling for help. Yuting rushed inside to find his inhaler in his bag. Zihan and other guests hurriedly carried him into the sitting room.
Later, Yibo finally managed to fall asleep in Wei Po's room. All the windows were shut, and a fan was turned on to help him breathe easier.
Xia entered and knelt beside him. "How are you feeling, Yibo?"
He opened his eyes but was too weak to speak. His asthma had hit him hard, and they had almost taken him to the hospital before it subsided. He simply nodded weakly.
Xia watched him with concern.
A moment later, she said, "Sen Wen called twice. Should I tell him you're sick?"
Yibo didn't respond.
Xia called Sen Wen back, and he picked up immediately.
"You called earlier," she said. "I just got home and found out Yibo isn't feeling well."
Sen Wen's voice was immediately filled with worry. "What's wrong with him?"
Xia hesitated, unsure if he knew about Yibo's asthma. Finally, she said, "He's lying down now. Let me give him the phone."
With effort, Yibo sat up and took the phone. In a weak voice, he said, "Hello."
Sen Wen's concern was evident. "What happened, dear?"
Yibo murmured, "I'm feeling better now."
"But what happened? Were you already sick?"
Yibo was silent for a moment before saying, "I had an attack..."
Sen Wen looked surprised. "Are... you asthmatic?"
Yibo nodded as if he could see him. "Um."
Sen Wen exclaimed, "Oh, I see. Is your breathing okay now?"
"Sure."
"Can you come outside now?"
Yibo hesitated before replying softly, "I will try."
"Alright, I'm on my way," Sen Wen said before ending the call.
Yibo lay back down. Xia, who had been watching him, said, "I hope you feel better soon, Yibo."
Yibo gave her a small smile.
Xia then said, "Keep the phone close in case he calls again. I'll be heading out—someone's waiting for me."
"Alright, thanks," Yibo replied.
Xia stood up and left. Not long after, Wei Po entered with a bowl of soup and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Here, Yibo. I made some soup for you. Have some," she said kindly.
Yibo sat up. "Wei Po, I already ate. I'm full."
Before Wei Po could respond, Yuting entered the room with Zihan.
Zihan looked at Yibo. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm better now, Yemei," Yibo replied with a faint smile.
"That's good. I hope you continue to recover quickly," Zihan said before leaving to continue her work.
Yuting sat beside Yibo. "Is the tightness in your chest easing up?"
"It's getting better, little by little," Yibo admitted.
Yuting sighed. "I told you to avoid this from the start. I knew this would only cause more trouble for you."
Wei Po frowned. "What kind of talk is that, Yuting? It's not like he gave himself this condition, did he?"
Yuting didn't say anything.
Xia's phone rang again, and he glanced at it. Slowly, he picked it up and answered, lowering his voice as he spoke to Sen Wen. "Yes..."
After a brief exchange, the call ended.
Wei Po asked, "Who was that?"
Yibo looked down. "He said he's outside."
Wei Po turned to him. "Sen Wen?"
Yibo nodded.
Wei Po looked thoughtful. "Should he just drop you off at home? I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay here overnight. We haven't even started the major preparations for tomorrow."
Yuting frowned. "Who just called you?"
Yibo didn't answer immediately.
Wei Po spoke up. "It was Wen Yo Lee's son."
Yuting's eyes widened. "Wen Yo Lee's son?"
Wei Po turned to Yibo. "Does she not know you two are close?"
Yibo spoke softly. "She knows."
Yuting's expression was full of disbelief. "And how do I know him?"
"He's Jun Bin's friend," Yibo explained.
Yuting was taken aback. "He's really Wen Yo Lee's son?"
Wei Po nodded. "Yes, his biological son. A very well-mannered and composed young man. He always comes with Jun Bin to greet me. I had no idea he and Yibo were this close, but there was one time he came looking for him here. Maybe they've been seeing each other since then."
Yuting didn't respond, simply staring at Yibo.
Wei Po sighed. "Go on then, tell him to come inside. I'd like to speak with him."
Yibo didn't argue. He got up slowly and made his way outside.
After he left, Yuting sat on the bed, looking worriedly at her mother. "Are you sure about this, Mama? Wen Yo Lee's son? Do you think he's really trustworthy? You know how much deception exists in this world now."
Wei Po frowned. "I don't like this kind of talk. Sen Wen doesn't seem like a deceiver. He's been coming to see me even before he knew Yibo. Just because he's rich doesn't mean he's untrustworthy. He's always been polite and respectful. Honestly, I'd be happy if he's the one for Yibo."
Yuting still couldn't believe it. The thought of Sen Wen being Wen Yo Lee's son left her stunned.
Meanwhile, as soon as Yibo stepped outside, Sen Wen looked at him.
Lowering his gaze, Yibo greeted, "Good evening."
Sen Wen smiled. "Good evening. How are you feeling?"
"I'm better."
"Are you taking medication or using an inhaler?"
"Inhaler."
Sen Wen was quiet for a moment before saying, "I hope you recover soon."
"Thank you. Wei Po said you can come in."
Sen Wen blinked in surprise. "Really?"
Yibo nodded.
"But... there are people inside, right?"
Yibo gave a small smile. "You'll see when you enter."
Still unsure, Sen Wen followed him into the house, keeping his head slightly lowered. After exchanging greetings with Wei Po, she said, "Please take Yibo home, Sen Wen. He's not feeling well."
"Of course, Wei Po," Sen Wen agreed without hesitation.
He didn't linger in the living room, leaving soon after bidding her goodbye.
Yibo came out of the room, dragging his trolley bag behind him. He said his goodbyes to Yuting and Wei Po before following Sen Wen out.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
The journey was silent. Yibo leaned against the window, taking slow, steady breaths. Every now and then, Sen Wen glanced at him and offered a gentle smile, but Yibo simply lowered his gaze.
When they reached Yibo's home, he parked the car. Yibo turned to him and said softly, "Thank you."
Sen Wen asked, "How will I reach you later? Or will you plug in your phone when you get inside?"
Yibo was quiet for a moment before saying, "Give me your phone."
Without hesitation, Sen Wen picked up his expensive phone and give it to him, Yibo dialed Nainai's number. As soon as it started ringing, she answered, as if she had been waiting.
"I've been overwhelmed! I've been working since morning without a break. Who is this now?"
Yibo chuckled and ended the call. Sen Wen smiled too. "That was your grandmother, wasn't it?"
Yibo nodded, opened the car door, and stepped out. Sen Wen followed, retrieving Yibo's bag from the backseat. Handing it over, he said, "Make sure to rest well once you're inside, please."
Yibo smiled faintly. "I will."
"Alright, take care," Sen Wen said warmly before driving off.
Yibo headed inside towards Nainai's part of the house. She looked him up and down and immediately asked, "Why are you coming in with a bag?"
"I was at Wei Po's house," he replied.
"Well, that's a relief," she muttered.
Yibo didn't respond. Instead, he placed his bag down and lay on the couch.
"So, is the wedding over, or did you just run away from it?" Nainai asked.
Yibo said nothing.
"Aha! That's why I didn't bother attending. I wasn't about to go there and return home on an empty stomach. That wedding was for the lower-class folks, and besides, Yunchung never told me she was marrying off her granddaughter. I just contributed my five thousand and moved on. Whether she appreciated it or not is her business. God will reward me."
Yibo glanced at her as she opened a covered bowl. From his position on the couch, he could see it was filled with fried meat. When their eyes met, Nainai quickly grabbed the bowl and hurried off to her room, locking the door behind her.
She reappeared moments later with an empty buckets, securing the lock on her bedroom door.
"Why are you locking the door?" Yibo asked.
"If I don't, mosquitoes will fill the room and make me sick. I'm not about to leave it open and suffer later," she replied, heading outside to wash the bucket.
Yibo turned back to the TV, but soon, he heard her voice again.
"Zhan, you were the one insisting I attend Yuting's family wedding. Now look at that—the grandson of the house has run away from the wedding himself. Imagine how we were throwing around roasted chickens at your sister's wedding! But of course, I knew they wouldn't do the same over there. I know them too well…"
Yibo immediately sat up, his heart pounding at the mention of Zhan's name.
Zhan, who had been listening quietly, sighed and said, "Nainai, you really need to stop this."
"Who's going to stop me from speaking the truth?" she huffed. "Anyway, forget all that. Did you buy the roasted chicken I asked for?"
Zhan didn't reply. Instead, he headed towards the sitting room.
Yibo quickly pulled the blanket over himself, pretending to focus on the TV.
When Zhan entered, he barely glanced at Yibo before setting a bag on the table and scrolling through his phone. Yibo refused to look at him, but his heart wouldn't stop racing. The entire situation made him uneasy.
Nainai came back inside and beamed. "Bless you, my dear! You're the only one who listens."
She went to the kitchen, grabbed two plates, and returned, wiping them clean before unpacking the chicken. She split it in half, keeping one portion for herself and giving the other to Zhan.
Then she turned to Yibo. "What about him? Since it wasn't bought with him in mind, what should we do?"
Zhan didn't say a word.
With a shrug, Nainai grabbed another plate, took one drumstick and a chunk of meat, and handed it to Yibo. "Here you go. After all, you've been eyeing it."
Without even looking at her, Yibo gently shook his head. "No, thank you."
Zhan gave him a surprised look. Even Nainai was taken aback.
"Are you sick?" she asked. "Because the only reason you would refuse chicken is if you're ill. And if that's the case, don't expect me to nurse you!"
Still, Yibo said nothing.
Moments later, he stood up and walked toward the door. "I'm already full," he muttered before stepping out of the sitting room.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛