It was just past 7 o'clock when Zhan returned home with takeaway foods. Despite the weight on his chest, not a trace of worry showed on his face. He headed straight upstairs, unlocked the door to his room where Yibo's staying, and stepped inside.
Yibo was sprawled on one of the sofas in the room. Zhan placed a bag of food beside him and said, "You didn't take your meds earlier. Why?"
Yibo stayed silent.
"Yibo," Zhan called again.
Yibo turned his head away. "I'm not sick, it's just pregnant kit...a vitamins that's all" he muttered.
Zhan stared at him for a few seconds, then turned and left the room.
Yibo quickly got up and pressed his ear to the door. He heard Zhan open the door to Ning Li's room and walk in. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Yibo walked back and sat on the edge of the bed, his face tense.
Zhan found Ning Li sitting on the floor with her back resting against the bed, her phone lying beside her. One look and it was clear she'd cried herself to exhaustion. He set the food down and moved to sit beside her on the bed.
"You're still upset?" he asked quietly.
She didn't look at him, let alone answer.
"Let's talk, Ning Li…"
She still said nothing, but tears began to roll down her cheeks again.
In a softer tone, he asked, "So, what do you want me to do, Ning Li?"
She finally looked up at him, her voice trembling. "I'm serious, Zhan. I can't live in the same house as that boy."
Zhan paused for a moment, then corrected her. "His name is Yibo...not 'that boy.'"
Furious, she jumped to her feet. "Whatever."
Zhan looked away. "If you can't live with Yibo… then maybe you can't live with me either."
She stared at him in disbelief, fresh tears falling. He stood up and gently took her hand.
"I've decided to give you two separate living spaces. You'll stay here… and he'll...."
She pulled her hand back, eyes wide. "Separate houses? You're doing this just to make it easier to hurt me? It's not going to happen!"
He let out a small smile before saying, "Alright, then I won't separate anything... just so you don't feel hurt. But please, not for me...for yourself, try to stay calm. Let's all live in peace under one roof. I'll never let Yibo take your place in my heart, ever. Please, Ning Li, just try… This isn't just about me or you...it's about all of us. None of us saw this coming. Aren't you proud to be my woman? Everyone who steps into this house knows you're the one standing by my side. So why torture yourself?"
He gave her a soft look. "And however you want things done, that's how we'll do them. So please… try, future Mrs..."
She broke into sobs again and hugged him tightly. "I'm jealous, Zhan. The thought of sharing you with someone else… it's killing me inside."
He gently placed a finger over her lips. "You'll never have to share me."
And just like that, Zhan managed to calm Ning Li down. She finally agreed to eat the food he brought. Afterward, he quietly left the room. For the first time that day, he felt like he might get a moment's peace. He hated it when women cried.
Later when Zhan got home, he found Ning Li sitting silently in the living room, lost in thought. He knew she was hurting deeply....after all, nothing stings more than an unexpected rival, especially one she had never gotten along with from the beginning.
He walked over and sat beside her on the couch.
"How are you feeling?" he asked gently.
She didn't answer. Her face was blank, her expression drained.
Zhan glanced at the movie playing on TV, then picked up the remote. "Let me put on that series you always love watching…"
He switched the channel and carefully pulled her into his arms. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes.
"I don't like seeing you cry like this," he murmured. "Ning Li… can't you let this go for the sake of the love you have for me?"
Her voice trembled as she whispered, "I told you already… I've let it go."
He kissed her forehead softly. "Then don't cry like this again, please."
She simply nodded and melted into his arms. They sat like that until nearly ten o'clock.
Then the sound of footsteps on the stairs made Zhan lift his head quickly. His eyes met Yibo's.
Yibo looked away immediately. Feeling his presence, Ning Li instinctively held Zhan tighter.
Without glancing back, Yibo walked to the kitchen, holding the takeaway Zhan had brought for him earlier. He set the bag down on the counter, leaning against the cabinet, his heart pounding. He stayed there for over five minutes before he rushed back upstairs without sparing them a second glance.
Zhan watched him from the corner of his eye.
A few minutes before eleven, Zhan went upstairs with Ning Li after they finished watching the series. He opened the door to her room and looked at her. "Good night," he said.
She didn't respond. She walked in, headed straight to the bed, and collapsed face-down. Zhan stared at her for a moment, then gently closed the door behind him.
The moment she was alone, Ning Li slid off the bed and began to cry, her chest heaving as though her heart might burst. So… Zhan was going to sleep in Yibo's room tonight. The very thought made her want to scream...anything to ease the burning pain in her chest.
Meanwhile, Zhan entered his room and peeked inside. It was dark. Yibo had already turned off the lights. Zhan flicked the switch back on. Yibo was lying under the duvet, even covering his head with it.
Zhan shut the door quietly, undressed, and went into the bathroom. After taking a quick shower and putting on his pajamas, he turned the lights off again and walked over to the bed. He pulled down the duvet slightly and whispered, "Did you eat before lying down?"
Though Yibo clearly heard him, he said nothing, his eyes still closed.
Zhan reached out and touched his face gently.
Suddenly, Yibo sat up, clearly irritated. "What are you doing? I was asleep, and you just barge in and wake me up...are you serious?"
Zhan scratched the back of his head. "I just came in to say goodnight… and to make sure you took your meds."
Yibo opened his eyes wide and stared at him. "Where are you going?"
"To my wife to-be," Zhan replied flatly. "You came here on vocation, remember? I'm just returning to her. Goodnight, little brother."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked to the door.
Yibo watched him leave, his eyes speaking all the words he couldn't say. He didn't blink, didn't flinch....not even as Zhan closed the door silently behind him.
Once the room was quiet again, Yibo threw off the duvet and climbed out of bed in a rush…
Just as Yibo reached the door, he paused. He crouched down by the doorway, rested his head on his knees, and began to cry quietly. The pain in his chest was unbearable. He stayed like that for over ten minutes before slowly getting up. He walked back to the bed and curled up in one corner, burying his face in a pillow as he sobbed. He couldn't sleep...not even by 1 a.m. Eventually, he got up and went into the bathroom. After a while, he came back out and laid down on the carpet. Sleep finally pulled him in, right there on the floor.
▫️🔹🔸▪️
At dawn, Zhan opened the door gently and stepped inside, locking it behind him. He turned on the light and found Yibo sleeping on the carpet, his hand covering his face. Zhan knelt beside him, moved his hand gently, and saw that he was truly asleep. He smiled and playfully tugged on Yibo's nose. Slowly, Yibo opened his eyes, the scent of Zhan's cologne filling his senses.
Zhan was dressed in casual clothes. He gave Yibo a warm "Good morning" smile. Yibo quickly turned his face away and frowned. Zhan asked, "Why did you sleep on the cold carpet?"
Yibo didn't reply. He sat up and said, "It's time to wake up." Still, he didn't say another word. He turned and walked to the door. Yibo watched him until he quietly stepped out and shut the door behind him.
Yibo sat there, and tears welled up again. He remained seated on the carpet until the morning sun filled the room. Eventually, he got up and climbed back onto the bed, and within minutes, sleep took him again. He didn't wake up until nearly nine. He sat on the edge of the bed for over ten minutes, then sighed, stood up, and started making the bed.
Once he was done, he took off his sleepwear, folded it neatly, grabbed the new towel Zhan had bought him the day before, and went into the bathroom with his toothbrush and toothpaste.
Wrapped in the towel after his shower, he came out, grabbed his boxers, and returned to the bathroom to wash them with detergent. Once finished, he cleaned the bathroom, came out, dried off, applied his body lotion, sprayed some perfume, and dressed in fresh clothes. He sprayed another light mist of cologne and grabbed the bucket with his washed boxers to hang them outside.
As soon as he stepped out of his room, the smell of fried food hit him...strong and mouthwatering. He pressed his lips together in annoyance and headed downstairs.
Zhan was sitting in the living room in a casual outfit. Ning Li was beside him, on the floor, setting the breakfast she had prepared. She was dressed in tight-fitting clothes that hugged her body, her long hair tied up behind her. She was chatting away happily with Zhan, who glanced between her and the TV. Anyone could see the joy radiating from her.
Zhan smiled at something she said and asked, "Then why did you start eating already?"
Ning Li, who had locked eyes with Yibo the moment he came downstairs, pouted playfully and replied, "Because of you, of course. Whatever you love, I have to love too..."
Zhan just nodded at her with a smile. She sat beside him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Did you forget the time you said I shouldn't eat unless you were eating?"
Zhan raised his eyebrows slightly, teasing, "Me?"
Instead of answering, she leaned in and kissed him. He tried to pull away in surprise, but she wouldn't let him. She kissed him the way she knew he liked, and though he resisted at first, he gradually gave in....but didn't kiss her back.
Yibo, witnessing it all, refused to look their way again. He barely lifted his feet as he reached the living room door, opened it slowly, and stepped out, his heart pounding.
Hearing the door, Zhan sat up quickly and looked toward it...but it had already closed. He glanced at Ning Li, who leaned against him. "Who just left?"
She tilted her head, eyes flickering with innocence. "How many of us live here now?"
He pulled her away without replying.
Smiling, she slid to the floor and said sweetly, "Should I make your coffee now?"
Briefly, he answered, "No."
Without even looking at him, she began preparing his coffee in a mug.
Despite how much Yibo tried to hold back the tears burning inside him, he couldn't stop them. After hanging the washed boxer shorts outside, he sat down on the bench, buried his head in his knees, and broke into heavy sobs. His chest ached, and he couldn't even understand why he felt that way. After a few minutes, he stood up slowly, wiping his eyes. The crying had left his heart feeling cold and empty. He picked up the bucket and walked back quietly toward the entrance of the house.
As he got closer, his heart started pounding again...he couldn't bear to witness what he had seen earlier for a second time. He wouldn't be able to take it.
Carefully, he pushed the door open, just enough to alert them, then walked into the sitting room. But he didn't even glance in their direction. His heart was still racing as he climbed the stairs, as if counting each step.
Zhan, who was filled with guilt, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Ning Li, busy preparing her tea, silently stole a glance at Yibo too.
About seven minutes later, Zhan got up. Ning Li asked, "Where are you going? I already set your breakfast, darling."
Without even looking at her, Zhan started walking and said, "Are we the only ones having breakfast?"
She quickly rushed over and blocked his path, grabbing his hand. "Come on, dear. You could go call him yourself. I haven't even greeted him today. But you know what, baby? I heard everything you told me last night. And I'll try my best to get along with him. I accept this as fate, and there's no escaping destiny. I'll treat Yibo like a younger brother, just like you said. So please, let me start now. I'll go greet him and invite him down. Maybe that'll help us begin to understand each other?"
She smiled sweetly, gently twisting his hand in hers as she spoke. Zhan just stared at her, knowing full well that every single word she said was a lie. But he couldn't show it. He had to keep playing along, letting her believe everything was going according to her plan.
Without waiting for his response, she smiled and walked upstairs.
She opened Yibo's door without knocking. Yibo was lying in bed, his face buried in a pillow, quietly sobbing. He heard the door open but didn't look up....he assumed it was Zhan.
Ning Li laughed softly as her eyes scanned him from head to toe. Yibo quickly opened his eyes when he heard her laugh, his heart racing, but he still didn't lift his head.
Full of arrogance, Ning Li said, "Now you see the consequence of marrying someone else's man, don't you?"
Yibo didn't respond or look at her.
Ning Li laughed louder. "I've never seen a man ignore his partner like yours does. He literally left you to spend the night in my room, to make me happy....while you were here, in your husband's house. Isn't that embarrassing?"
She scoffed. "Well, what else would you expect? Everyone knows he was forced to marry you. Zhan has always been obedient...he only married you because he had no other choice. But here's what you don't know: a borrowed man always returns to the owner. The way you barged into my husband's life, that's how you'll be thrown out. Even a fool can see he doesn't care about you....not even for a second. If he did, he wouldn't have abandoned your room to sleep in mine, on your first night here. So get it straight, little boy. Know your place in this house."
She paused, gave him a smirk, then added, "Anyway, I came to tell you breakfast is ready. He sent me to get you because he didn't want to come up himself."
Yibo wiped his eyes with the pillow, sat up, and gave her a slight smile. "I'll show you that it's you who wants someone else's husband, not me. And as for borrowing...believe me, I won't lend him to you, not even for a second. Soon, you'll realize no one forced Zhan-ge to marry me. In fact, he's the one who forced himself into my life. You'll also find out that he didn't 'obey' to marry me, he chose me. Maybe that's why your engagement to him got canceled, and you're still bitter about it. You'll see."
Ning Li let out a bitter laugh before her expression hardened, her breathing quick and angry.
"You're lying," she snapped. "You're the one who married someone else's man...a borrowed husband. Zhan is way out of your league. There's nothing about you that matches him. It was just a twist of fate that brought you two together. But he was never truly yours."
Despite her effort to stay composed, her eyes welled up with tears. She shook her head slowly, her voice cracking.
"He's not your husband, Yibo. You're just a lonely man obsessed with worldly things. Someone like you should be with someone like Sen Wen...someone who can handle your health condition. You were never meant to be with Zhan. The same fate that stopped Mr. Wen Yo Lee's son from marrying you will soon make Zhan leave you too. Sen Wen will take you in, and you both can go and live your fairytale elsewhere. You'll leave my house and my husband. Heck, don't even wait for Wen Yo Lee's son.....just go marry Mr. Wen Yo Lee himself if you can. Useless… just a walking sickness."
Yibo chuckled quietly.
"If you had even ten percent of the love Zhan ge has for me, your life would be very different. But you didn't. And mark my words... you'll be the one people pity in this house, not me. Useless, ignorant, crazy woman."
Ning Li's eyes widened in rage, her body trembling.
"Did you just insult me?"
Yibo calmly lowered his feet from the bed, just as Zhan appeared at the doorway, having followed Ning Li after failing to stop her from going to call Yibo. Standing, Yibo looked her directly in the eyes.
"Damn right I did. Do whatever you want. Am I lying? Aren't you ignorant, stupid, foolish and crazy woman? Have you ever seen one man marry two people at once? This isn't a royal palace or an ancient time older woman"
Zhan stood there silently, stunned by the scene before him. Ning Li turned to him and burst into intense tears.
"Did you hear that, dear? He called me a crazy, ignorant woman. All I did was greet him and ask him to come down for breakfast. What did I do wrong, Zhan? Why am I the bad one?"
She sobbed harder, eyes locked on Zhan, pleading.
Yibo scoffed loudly.
"Liar," he muttered, and turned toward the bathroom like he was heading to sky. He slammed the door behind him with a loud bang.
Zhan, still stunned, stared at the door before shifting his gaze back to Ning Li, who was crying uncontrollably. Slowly, he walked to her and gently pulled her into his arms.
"I'm glad you didn't respond to him," he said softly. "He's just a child. He doesn't know what he's doing. But I'll teach him discipline."
With that, he led her out of the room with an earie smile tugged on his face, her quiet sobs echoing in the hallway.
🔸▪️🔹▫️
Zong stood in Nainai's sitting room along with Beiting, who had her arms crossed. Nainai, visibly upset, snapped,
"If I'm not going with my luggage, then forget it...nobody's going. We'll all just stay home. How can I travel all the way to Tianjin without even three changes of clothes? I'm not going for just a few hours like some aimless wanderer. Every traveler should carry extra clothes, especially with unpredictable weather. Do you all think you know better than me? I've never gone anywhere without a bag, even if I'm just stepping out for an hour."
"So just because I'm not rich, I should walk around Tianjin in only the clothes on my body, like a homeless beggar…"
Zong tried to reason with her. "But AYi, it's a round trip... you're going and coming back the same day. What's the point of carrying a suitcase? You're going with a driver."
Nainai threw her hands in the air.
"This is madness. What's it to you, Zong? Are you the one traveling, or am I? What if I get nauseous in the car and vomit everywhere.... am I supposed to change into Yibo's clothes or Ning Li's when we get there?"
Beiting added, "We're going to Tianjin, not Hong Kong or Shanghai, AYi."
Now furious, Nainai shot back, "Even if we were going just outside the city, that's none of your business. You worry about yourself. No one will force me to step out of this house wearing just the clothes on my skin, like poverty is hanging off my shoulders!"
At that moment, Quentin walked into the sitting room, ready for his own trip back to Shanghai. "You haven't left yet, AYi?"
"I'm not leaving, Quentin," she said firmly. "This trip feels wrong to me. I'm not traveling without clothes....absolutely not. Even if I don't throw up, I know I'll be drenched in sweat by the time we reach Tianjin. What kind of woman would I be sitting there in wet clothes, smelling awful? No thank you."
Quentin sighed. "Oh come on, AYi. It's not like Tianjin is on the other side of the world. The car has air conditioning. You'll be back in a few hours. If you're not planning to stay over, what's the point of packing bag? Unless you secretly plan to extend your stay. How many times have you visited Shenzhen and didn't pack anything? And look....it's already noon and you haven't even left. This isn't ideal."
Nainai didn't reply...she just glared silently, her eyes narrowing. Quentin turned and left the room.
Beiting picked up the food warmer filled with roasted meat that Nainai had prepared for Yibo and followed him out.
"We're waiting for you in the car," she called over her shoulder.
Zong glanced at Nainai, who had lowered her head. Gently, he said,
"They'll only be in Tianjin for three weeks before coming back to Beijing. If you want, you can...."
But Nainai cut him off, her voice sharp.
"Don't talk to me, Zong. Why should I care how long they'll be gone? Did I say I'm going there to keep them company like some clueless old woman? What could Zhan or Yibo possibly offer me that I don't already have? Children forced into a marriage neither of them wanted...who even knows what kind of mess they're in now? And if it's because of Quentin, then count me out. That man has no decency. If it was for his son, I wouldn't even consider going. But let me be clear....I'm going only for Zhan, not for Yibo. I don't care what his father thinks. He's heartless."
With that, she stormed out of the sitting room, leaving behind her travel bag packed with nearly six sets of clothes.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛