Suyue laughed. "Yibo, do you always love prying into things that don't concern you?"
Yibo pouted. "Just tell me already."
Still smiling, Suyue said, "Well, we didn't go anywhere special. Zhan-ge just took his fiancée shopping. He bought gold rings for the engagement, then we dropped her off at home. After that, we went to pick up some drinks that his mom asked him to get, along with flasks and bedsheets she's planning to give as souvenirs to her friends..."
Yibo clicked his tongue. "Then why did you act like it was such a big secret? It's not like I care."
Suyue grinned. "I was just messing with you. It's Nainai he told me not to tell her, but you're not her."
Yibo rolled his eyes and continued drying himself. "And yet, you said you guys went there because of me?"
"I was just teasing," Suyue said. "Have you even seen his fiancée before?"
"Yeah, I saw her at her house once."
Suyue nodded. "She's pretty, but her fairness isn't natural."
Yibo laughed. "So it's artificial?"
"Probably..." Suyue smirked. "And she isn't very friendly either. She barely acknowledged me, like she didn't want to be around people. You should've seen how she responded when I greeted her... she completely shunned me."
"Then why didn't you just leave and come home?" Yibo asked, frowning.
Suyue sighed. "I didn't know the way back home, and I wasn't carrying any money. Besides, let me tell you, she was acting all clingy in the car, and Zhan barely responded to her. Out of ten things she said, he probably answered three at most."
Yibo chuckled. "Well, that's their problem."
"Yeah, anyway, I almost forgot—I've decided what you should get your boyfriend for his birthday."
Yibo, now applying lotion and watching her through the mirror, asked, "And what's that?"
Suyue hesitated for a moment before smiling. "Wait... did he even invite you to the birthday party?"
Yibo nodded.
"And are you going?" she pressed.
Yibo tilted his head slightly. "I haven't decided yet. I don't know."
Suyue raised an eyebrow. "And even if you do decide, do you think you'll be allowed to go?"
Yibo's eyes widened. "Who said I'd tell anyone? No way. I'm telling nobody." He quickly moved closer to Suyue and sat beside her. "Please, Suyue, this has to stay a secret between us. Even Meiling, my best friend, doesn't know. Whatever you do, don't let it slip to Gege about the birthday."
Suyue stared at him in silence.
Yibo's heart pounded. "Wait... don't tell me you already told him?"
Suyue smile. "Of course not! Why would I?"
Yibo let out a relieved sigh. "Good."
Suyue grinned. "Maybe... the day before the birthday, we can go to the biggest shopping mall, and I'll show you what you should get for him."
Yibo remained silent, deep in thought. After a moment, he said, "Well, let's hope we make it to that day."
He put on his sleepwear and climbed onto the bed, moving closer to Suyue as he watched her work on her laptop.
🔹▫️🔸
As the days passed, only two days remained until Zhan and Ning Li's engagement. The house was bustling with relatives and close family friends. Uncle Hanba's wife, Yong Dan and her children—everyone had gathered, filling the house, especially Yichen's section. Wherever Yibo was, Suyue was sure to be nearby, just like always.
Zhan, however, had been keeping an eye on Yibo the whole time. Not that Yibo even noticed or cared.
That evening, Yibo and Suyue were in the sitting room with Nainai, bringing her dinner. But their attention was drawn to her as she frantically searched for the key to her bathroom. She was sweating, her expression tense, rummaging through everything in the room. Yet, the key was nowhere to be found.
Just then, Beiting stepped out of her room, also looking for something. "Where did you even put the key, AYi?" she asked.
Nainai huffed. "Oh, leave me alone! If I knew where I put it, would I be searching like this? It's all these pests constantly coming in and out! Why should I even bother locking my bathroom like I'm hiding gold inside? Now, the stupid key is missing! I'm done with this! No one should come into my section anymore! I'm not even the one marrying Zhan's off!"
Suyue burst into laughter, making Nainai pause and glare at her.
Just then, someone greeted them from the doorway. Nainai immediately stood to respond. It was A-Ji, her face full of disapproval. Behind her, Mengxi placed a small bag on the table before turning and leaving without a word.
Nainai forced a smile. "A-Ji, welcome! You won't believe it...I lost my bathroom key. Just to keep people from using it, I put it in my robe pocket, and now it's disappeared."
A-Ji shook her head. "Honestly, it's better that it's lost completely. After the engagement, just break the lock and get a new one. Otherwise, someone might sweet-talk you into handing it over, and then you'd regret it. People have no manners anymore. And look at this place! The yard is covered in rice, and the kids are running around like they're from the countryside. Not everyone should be allowed in here. This is supposed to be a classy event, after all."
Nainai sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "This is exhausting. Can you believe the trouble I'm dealing with? People are insufferable! And now you're telling me the whole yard smells bad too?"
A-Ji scoffed. "Well, that's for you to deal with. People don't have much decency left these days."
Nainai groaned. "I'll just go apologize and ask them to be more considerate. We can't afford any issues ruining this engagement. And honestly, there should be a rule...no bringing kids to events like this!"
Beiting peeked into the room, greeted A-Ji with a quick nod, then hurried out of the sitting room.
Yibo rolled his eyes and stood up to leave, but Nainai stopped him. "Did you even greet A-Ji properly?"
From inside the room, A-Ji scoffed. "Greet me? He just stared at me while I stared at him. Kids these days are something else. Anyway, we can only wish them well. May they find good spouses. Even that fragile one sitting next to him didn't bother to greet me."
Yibo greeted A-Ji with a slight pout before standing up and leaving the sitting room. Suyue also stood up, greeted her, and followed him.
Nainai sighed. "It's your parents who raised you like this, not us."
That night, Quentin arrived from Shanghai. After resting for a bit, he had a brief chat with Beiting, who was staying in his section of the house, before heading out to greet Nainai. Yibo quickly followed behind him.
As they stepped onto the balcony, Quentin glanced at Yibo and smiled knowingly. "Do you need something, Yibo?" he asked.
Yibo hesitated for a moment before saying, "Fu Qin, the house is too crowded with guests. Please, can I stay at Wei Po's house until the engagement is over? I'll come back Sunday night."
Quentin looked at him in surprise. "But it's your own brother's wedding, Yibo."
Yibo sighed. "Fu Qin, I'll be very uncomfortable here. I'll leave in the afternoon, not in the morning."
Quentin raised a brow. "What about Suyue? Won't she feel lonely?"
Yibo chuckled. "She's coming with me, Fu Qin. She told me she's already uncomfortable with so many people arriving since yesterday."
Quentin smiled. "Alright, then. Just let your mom know."
Yibo's eyes lit up with excitement. "Thank you so much, Fu Qin! I knew Mu Qin...."
He suddenly fell silent when he spotted Zhan approaching from their section of the house. Quentin followed Yibo's gaze, seeing Zhan walking toward them. When Zhan reached them, he greeted Quentin respectfully.
Quentin returned the greeting with a nod. "How are the preparations going, son?"
Zhan only gave a small smile.
Meanwhile, Yibo had already walked ahead, pouting in annoyance. He entered Nainai's sitting room with a greeting.
A-Ji was sitting on a rug with one leg crossed over the other, with toothpick between her teeths, her expression sharp. Nainai sat on the rug in a similar position, mirroring her unimpressed look.
Yichen was sitting aside, a big robber bowl filled with snacks beside her. She kept stealing glances at A-Ji, who scoffed and said, "Oh please, Shuyi, they're all just a bunch of freeloaders. That's why I don't bother with anyone...I stay in my own lane."
Nainai shook her head. "Well, I already knew they wouldn't contribute anything. It's not my concern. I'm just minding my own business, that's all."
A-Ji turned to look at Yibo before glancing at Nainai. "Did that boy make use of the medicine you gave him?"
Before Nainai could respond, Quentin entered with Zhan following behind.
Nainai sighed. "May you be rewarded for everything you're doing for Zhan. Even today, the money you spent on the flight ticket...he just sat back while you handled it all. I only hope he looks after you in the future and does something meaningful for Yibo on his wedding day."
Quentin smiled as he took a seat, greeting Nainai and then A-Ji.
Yichen gave him a quick, half-hearted greeting, which he acknowledged with a nod before asking how the preparations were going.
A-Ji leaned back, resting her chin on her palm. "Oh, Quentin, it's been a long time! The last time I saw you was when you came for Yao's wedding."
Quentin nodded. "Yes, I've been around, but I'm mostly in Shanghai these days."
A-Ji nodded. "May you be blessed, and may you be protected from those with ill intentions. May your wives be obedient and respectful as they should be."
Quentin chuckled. "Ameen."
Zhan greeted A-Ji, and she studied him before asking, "So, how's the groom? You've lost some weight. Haven't been eating properly?"
Nainai scoffed. "Oh please, A-Ji, do you think eating is his priority? He's too busy thinking about me! You think it's easy for him to let me go?"
Quentin laughed as he glanced at Zhan, who simply gave Nainai a side-eye without responding.
Yichen, on the other hand, tightened her lips in irritation, throwing a glare at Nainai.
A-Ji smiled. "Well, don't worry, Zhan. Just hold on a little longer. A week after the wedding, you can come and take her to your house completely. That'll solve everything—problem solved!"
Nainai sighed dramatically. "I've already tried explaining that to him, but he refuses to calm down. I suppose I'll have to move in with him completely, and Yibo will just have to visit me every weekend."
Quentin just kept smiling, while Yibo quickly stole a glance at Zhan—only to find Zhan already looking at him. The moment their eyes met, Yibo quickly looked away.
Nainai sighed and turned to A-Ji. "Well, since Quentin is here today, explain everything to him properly about that strange man beyond the hills. I couldn't make him understand, and even Zong thinks he might be some kind of sorcerer. But why would I, someone who fears heaven, go seeking a sorcerer?"
A-Ji's expression turned serious. "Quentin, you need to pay close attention to Yibo's situation. He has real enemies—this isn't a joke. And as for his constant unexplained illnesses, people say they aren't natural. There's interference involved. You have to be vigilant, or things will spiral out of control."
She paused before continuing. "As for his marriage, it's said that he will marry someone who deeply loves him. Some will be happy for him, others will be filled with jealousy and resentment, while some won't even be able to fake a smile. There will be serious challenges in the marriage—problems not easy to overcome."
She sighed heavily. "I'm not trying to be negative, but the truth isn't always pleasant. And then there's the part where Yibo is expected to fill this house with grandchildren." She narrowed her eyes at Quentin. "Now, what I don't understand is... are you hesitant to spend money to secure your only son's well-being, or is it that you just don't have the money, Quentin?"
Nainai scoffed. "Oh, it's just pure carelessness, but he does have money. Just wait—after the engagement, he and his brother will come to me, telling me to cut ties with you because they think you're leading me down the wrong path. But hasn't the universe told us to rise and help ourselves?"
Quentin couldn't lift his head. A-Ji gasped dramatically, clapping her hands together. "They're going to tell you to cut ties with me?"
Nainai nodded. "I swear, they'll pressure me relentlessly, insisting that I distance myself from you. And yet, he's sitting right there, alive and well. I've never lie to him. Every time I bring it up, they snap at me and say I'm making things up. So tell me, what am I supposed to do with them?"
Zhan lowered his head, trying to hide his amused smile. Meanwhile, Yibo covered his face behind the chair, laughing quietly. Quentin, however, remained silent, embarrassed, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
A-Ji sighed, shaking her head. "Look at me, Quentin. If you don't take a stand with this son of yours, we're all going to suffer. If you need to spend money to find him a cure, then do it—make sure he becomes a proper man. Since you and Zong have already dismissed my words as nonsense, I suppose you'll dismiss Shuyi's as well."
Nainai sighed. "What more can I say? They've already ignored me. I can only pray they find guidance. I've forgiven them."
Quentin still didn't look up.
A-Ji continued, "After the engagement, you should give Shuyi a hundred thousand. And if needed, we can all go together with Yibo."
Nainai gasped. "Oh no, you're not dragging me into this. You can go alone, I trust you."
Quentin finally spoke. "Alright, if that's what needs to be done, then it will be done."
He stood up. "I've greeted everyone. I'll go rest now."
In unison, they all said, "May you be blessed."
He nodded. "thank you."
As he left the sitting room, he shook his head slightly.
Yichen, who had been sweating nervously the entire time, forced a strained smile. "Alright, mother, this is the snacks, it is not much let me go and handle my guests."
Nainai sighed. "Well, it's better than nothing. I wish everything work out for the best."
She smiled slightly. "hmmm."
Then, she quickly left the sitting room, wiping the sweat from her forehead, silently relieved that today she finally saw A-Ji... And she had exposed the truth of what they're doing.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
The next day, all the girls in the household were busy preparing to go to the salon.
Yibo, however, sat there sulking the entire time…
Zhan was seated at the dining table when Suyue came downstairs with Meiling. He glanced at her and said, "Suyue."
She turned toward him and walked over. "You're only having breakfast now?"
"Yeah… Sit down."
Without hesitation, she pulled out a chair and sat. Zhan set down his coffee cup and asked, "When did he tell you his birthday is?"
Suyue tilted her head slightly. "He hasn't mentioned it again since that day. He hasn't said a word about it."
Zhan studied her intently. "You're lying, Suyue."
Her eyes widened. "Lying? Zhan-ge, I haven't even thought about his birthday because he hasn't brought it up. And with all the engagement preparations going on, he might have forgotten about it himself—if it's even coming up soon."
Zhan said firmly, "Make me a promise, Suyue."
"What promise?" she asked.
"Keep an eye on him."
She chuckled. "Alright, but honestly, where would he even go in the middle of all this chaos?"
"Just do what I say."
"Fine, I got it," she replied.
"Good. Now go."
She got up and left the dining area while Zhan picked up his coffee and continued sipping it slowly.
In the bedroom, Suyue found Yibo getting ready at a sluggish pace, as if he was stalling to be left behind.
"I can tell you're not excited about this salon trip, Yibo," she remarked.
Looking as though he might cry, Yibo muttered, "That's just it. My scalp already hurts, and now they'll be pulling at my hair. My head's going to ache even more. Just tell them you didn't see me."
Suyue laughed. "Come on, Yibo. If I had hair like yours, I'd be at the salon every week."
Yibo didn't say anything, but his mind drifted to Sen Wen. He suddenly remembered a late-night phone call when Sen Wen had casually mentioned how much he liked long hair. That random thought alone made Yibo reconsider skipping the salon.
Suyue sighed. "Alright then, I'll tell them I didn't see you."
Yibo hesitated before saying, "Actually… maybe I should just go. And afterward, we can stop by the shopping mall and pick up a few things. Sound good?"
Suyue's eyes widened as if she wasn't going to say anything, but then she nodded. "Yeah, that's true."
Yibo added, "You know tomorrow is his birthday, right? I have to give him the gift tonight."
Suyue blinked. "Wait, seriously? Same day as Zhan-ge's engagement?"
Yibo nodded. "Yep."
Suyue let out a sigh. "Wow. So what's your plan now? An engagement and a birthday on the same day?"
Yibo chuckled. "The engagement isn't my problem. I already told Fu Qin that I'm going to Wei Po's house tomorrow morning."
Suyue pouted. "So you're leaving me behind?"
"Of course not. You're coming with me."
She tilted her head. "So we're really going to miss Zhan-ge's engagement? And there's a get-together later tonight too."
Yibo shrugged. "If you want to stay, stay. But I'm not changing my plans."
Suyue smiled. "No, let's go to Grandma's house instead."
"Much better."
They left the room together.
In the sitting room, Yuting pointed at a pile of clothes on the couch and said, "Here are your outfits. Take them inside. They just arrived."
Yibo picked them up, took them to his room, and came back out.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw Zhan standing near the parking area. Zhan glanced at him once before returning his attention to his phone. Yibo quickly looked away and walked toward the car that was supposed to take them to salon, eyeing Meiling. Meanwhile, Suyue went straight to Zhan, smiling.
"Our handsome groom…" she teased.
Yibo rolled his eyes and turned to Meiling. "Where's the driver taking us to the salon?"
Meiling replied, "Zhan-ge said he'd drop us off himself. He's heading out now anyway."
Yibo's eyes widened. He stared at her, clearly displeased, but said nothing.
Just then, Mengxi stepped out of the house and turned to Zhan. "Xinyi will be coming later. She's heading out with Mom first."
Zhan opened the driver's seat door, got in, and glanced at Suyue. "You're going to the salon too?"
She widened her eyes. "Of course!"
He smiled. "Alright, sit in the front."
Yibo huffed and got into the backseat behind Meiling, sulking the whole time. Mengxi joined them, and the car pulled out of the driveway.
When they arrived at the salon, Zhan parked the car and glanced at Meiling through the rearview mirror. "Since the salon isn't too crowded, I'll wait for you to finish."
Meiling grinned. "Oh, thank you, Zhan-ge!"
Yibo, clearly irritated, stormed out of the car, leaving the door wide open.
"Hey!" Zhan's sharp voice rang out.
Yibo turned around quickly, startled.
With a stern expression, Zhan ordered, "Come back and close the door before I have to get out and deal with you myself."
Seeing that Zhan wasn't joking, Yibo sulked but did as he was told, closing the door before heading into the salon.
Suyue chuckled and said, "Zhan-ge, you might as well just leave. We can take one of those three-wheeled motorcycle home."
Zhan shot her a glare. "Get out and do what you came here for."
She let out a small laugh and stepped out of the car. Even she wasn't thrilled about him waiting, knowing it would ruin their plan.
Inside the salon, as Yibo was getting his hair done, his mind was elsewhere... constantly sneaking glances outside to check if Zhan had changed his mind and left. But every time he looked, Zhan was still there. It made him want to scream in frustration.
Once their hair was done, Meiling was the first to step outside. Mengxi followed soon after.
Suyue leaned toward Yibo and whispered, "See? He totally ruined our plan. Now how are we supposed to get the gift?"
Yibo had no answer. He was too frustrated to think.
After a moment, Suyue said, "You know what? Let's just go home first. I actually told Mom I'd pick up a few things from the store. Once we're home, I'll grab her card, and we can head out again. I'll pick up my things, and you can get the gift."
Yibo finally felt relieved and smiled a little. "That actually works. Sounds good."
With that, they left the salon. Meiling had already paid, so they just walked straight to the car.
Zhan, who had been watching them through the rearview mirror, kept his eyes on them as they approached. Seeing Mengxi already seated in the front, Suyue and Yibo slid into the backseat.
Without a word, Zhan started the car and drove them home.
🔸▫️🔹
When they arrived home, Zhan parked the car and turned off the engine. Yibo stepped out immediately, heading toward their apartment. Zhan shook his head slightly, watching him through the rearview mirror.
"Thanks, Zhan-ge," Suyue said with a smile as she got out, but he didn't respond. She just chuckled and walked away.
When Suyue told Beiting that she planned to go shopping, she was immediately shut down—her mother insisted that they wait until after the engagement. There was nothing she could do, so she returned to Yibo's room, looking disappointed as she relayed the news.
Yibo was at a loss for what to do.
Suyue suggested, "How about we wait until tomorrow morning? When we go to your grandma's house, we can stop and buy the gift on the way."
Yibo shook his head. "No, I need to give it to him today. I want to do it tonight."
Suyue fell silent, thinking for a moment. Then she said, "We'll skip the engagement party. Let's just wait until the venue fills up, and then I'll sneak away with Seth-ge's car keys. We can go quickly and come back before anyone notices."
Yibo's eyes widened. "I wasn't planning on going to that engagement party at all."
"Well, you better start planning now," Suyue said. "Because that's the only way this is going to work."
Yibo sighed. "Fine."
▫️🔹🔸
The next day, after everyone had gotten ready for the engagement party, Zhan kept a close eye on Yibo. He noticed their every move but didn't say anything. Even when his friends tried to drag him along because the bride had already arrived, he refused to leave.
Meanwhile, Suyue pestered Seth to let her borrow his car keys. After a lot of persistence, he finally gave in and handed them over.
Yibo, on the other hand, reluctantly put on the matching outfit that Quentin had chosen for everyone in the house. He looked stunning, but he still sulked, clearly unenthusiastic about attending.
Suyue drove them to the venue, which was packed with wealthy guests.
Yichen was beaming, her joy radiating throughout the hall.
At one of the tables, Nainai sat beside A-Ji, both elegantly dressed, their expressions serious as they watched everything unfold.
As Yibo entered with Suyue, he immediately spotted Nainai and A-Ji. Unable to help himself, he clapped a hand over his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter.
They found seats, and Yibo's gaze drifted toward the couple at the center of attention.
Ning Li looked almost ethereal, dazzling under the lights, her entire figure adorned with shimmering diamonds. Her outfit was beyond words—pure luxury.
And then, there was Zhan. Dressed in a pristine white suit, he practically glowed, exuding effortless elegance.
Their eyes met for a brief moment before Yibo quickly looked away, heart pounding, an unfamiliar weight settling in his chest.
Turning to Suyue, he whispered, "I'll go sit with Nainai before we leave."
Not waiting for her response, he got up and walked toward them, completely unaware that Zhan's eyes were following his every step.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛