No one was more distressed by Shu's sudden disappearance than Lan Yi. Yibo didn't seem overly concerned... He got ready and left for work around 9 a.m. Zhan also left for his lectures. Seeing how worried Lan Yi was had clearly affected him too, but she couldn't bring herself to tell their father what had happened. By the time he left the house around 10, she quietly followed him out and went straight to her mother's house.
Fang Yu gave her a long look as she came in and sat down before saying, "You really don't have anything else to occupy your mind except worrying about this girl unnecessarily? Everyone knows what Shu is like. She's pulled this stunt with me before too. I'd wake up early and she'd just be gone from the house without a word."
Lan Yi replied with concern, "But I called Yantai and they said she never showed up. Her phone's still off. Of course, I'm going to be worried."
Fang Yu waved a hand dismissively. "She's probably with those friends of hers... the ones who never tell her the truth. I'm sure she'll make her way to Yantai by evening. That's just how she is. Unless you've forgotten."
Lan Yi didn't leave Fang Yu's place until nearly 4 p.m. All the while, she kept trying Shu's number....still off. Altogether, she must have called more than fifty times that day.
"You should go home now," Fang Yu finally said. "It's already late."
"Should I cook something for you before I leave Maa?" Lan Yi asked.
"There's still plenty left from what you made earlier. It's more than enough... I'll even share some with someone in need," Fang Yu replied.
Before she could finish speaking, her phone started ringing. She picked it up and showed the screen to Lan Yi.
"Guess who?"
Lan Yi let out a huge sigh of relief. "It's her."
"Ahh, finally decided to turn on her phone," Fang Yu muttered. "Let's hope she's come to her senses."
She answered the call on speaker. "Hello, Shu?"
"Good afternoon, Grandma," came Shu's voice.
"Where on earth have you been? You had everyone worried sick."
"I just came to Yantai. I'll be staying here for a week or ten days before coming back."
Fang Yu frowned. "What about school? Weren't you in your final semester? Who's going to take your exams for you?"
"It's just ten days," Shu replied. "I'll be back in time."
"So why did you leave without telling anyone? Everyone is panicking. Even your aunt.... she's so worried."
"I just couldn't stay in that house anymore," Shu said, her voice strained. "They treat me differently because my parents are gone. Yibo keeps scolding me like he's my father, and he barely even looks at me. It's obvious he doesn't want me there. And Zhan… ever since I came, he's stopped sleeping in his own room. He moved everything out. He doesn't even speak to me. It's clear no one is happy I'm back. So I came here to clear my head. Once I'm rested, I'll return. You better send someone to pick up the rest of my things and keep them at your house."
Fang Yu sighed deeply. "Alright then. Just come back safely. Greet everyone there for me."
"They'll hear," Shu said before hanging up.
Ms. Ai, who had been stirring millet porridge nearby, said, "You see? That's exactly the kind of chaos that threw my sister into such distress."
Shu didn't respond. She simply let out a sigh, set her phone down, and leaned against the iron bedframe, watching Ms. Ai quietly.
"You look… different," Ai remarked. Shu didn't answer. But anyone who saw her would know... she looked lost.
Lan Yi sat silently, staring at Fang Yu after ending the call, words stuck in her throat. Shu's accusations kept echoing in her mind.
Fang Yu pursed her lips and said, "You should go home now. May whatever's heavy on your heart be lifted. But what Zhan did to her.. it wasn't right. He was cruel. Your sons, frankly, I never believed they truly accepted Shu. Remember what Hai Kuan did the other day? Like she was some street beggar. It's like they reduced her to a burden. That's not right. If they want nothing to do with her, then at least you should stand by her."
Tears welled up in Lan Yi's eyes. Her body slumped. Fang Yu added, "I don't want tears. Go home. But warn Zhan...what he did was wrong."
Lan Yi nodded slowly, tears sliding down her cheeks. "I know I can't change your mind about how things have been lately, but I swear I've never once favored Zhan over Shu...not for a single second. Heaven knows that's true..."
Fang Yu cut her off gently. "You know that's not how I think. May peace be upon us. I want only good in my heart. Every child deserves love. If you carry guilt in your heart, let it go. Nothing is stopping your peace but your own thoughts. I'm not a child. Now go. And may all the children be blessed....they're all equal in my eyes. I make no distinctions, truly."
Lan Yi left Fang Yu's house with a heavy heart. Why is everything falling apart so suddenly? She hadn't felt at peace in days. It all seemed to trace back to when the bride price for Zhan's wedding was brought in.
Even when she got home, instead of scolding Zhan over what Shu said about him, she found herself drawing him closer, loving him even more deeply...
During that week, Zhan and Lan Yi's two closest friends accompanied him on shopping trips. They bought expensive, high-quality wedding items for him. Meanwhile, Dr. Kexing transferred another three million. Lan Yi scolded Zhan for it, asking why he'd accept more money...It's like you're being ungrateful to the heavens, she said.
By Sunday, they had completed all the preparations regarding the wedding gifts.
✨✨✨
Zhan came downstairs and found Lan Yi sitting in the living room with Hai Kuan. He walked over and knelt beside her. "Mama, he's waiting for me outside."
Lan Yi looked at him and said, "Alright, but don't stay out too long, you know everyone is so protective of you."
"Yes, Mama," Zhan replied. He glanced at Hai Kuan, who was already watching him, then stood up. Hai Kuan said, "Why can't Dr. Kexing come to see you face to face in daytime?"
Zhan didn't respond. Lan Yi gave Hai Kuan a sharp look and said, "He doesn't usually come late at night anyway."
Zhan turned toward the door, ignoring the jab. Hai Kuan muttered behind him, "It's almost 8 PM and you're heading out?" Zhan glanced back at him. Lan Yi hissed, "Just go, ignore him. As if someone banned him from dating too…"
Zhan gave a small smile and exited the room.
He walked slowly until he reached the gate, leaning on Dr. Kexing's car as he waited. The window rolled down, releasing a wave of expensive cologne. Dr. Kexing looked at him and said, "I'm not staying long. Get in, we need to talk."
Zhan opened the door and slipped inside. As he leaned his head back against the seat, he murmured, "Good evening, sir."
Dr. Kexing looked at him. "Why didn't you go to class today?"
Zhan was quiet for a moment before finally answering, "I had a headache."
Dr. Kexing stared at him, then lowered his voice. "Zhan."
Zhan turned and met his eyes. The moment their eyes locked, his heart skipped a beat. Dr. Kexing looked away. "Tell me… What's wrong? You've been distant for nearly a week. What's going on, future hubby?"
Zhan blinked at him with wide eyes. "Nothing's wrong sir."
Dr. Kexing shook his head. "Your test scores were poor…"
Zhan looked down, trying to remember what test he meant. "Dr. Gu's?"
"How many tests did you take last week?"
"Three," Zhan replied quietly.
"You didn't do well in any of them."
Zhan stayed silent, looking both disturbed and sad. Sensing this, Dr. Kexing asked, "Did you not study?"
"I did," Zhan replied, lowering his head.
"This is your final semester, Zhan. You need to push harder. If something's bothering you, just tell me. You can be honest with me, baby."
In a soft voice, Zhan asked, "Please… can we delay the wedding until after my final exams?"
Dr. Kexing was silent for about forty seconds, just staring at him. When Zhan finally met his eyes, he reached for Zhan's hand, but Zhan pulled back, lips slightly pursed.
"Why do you want to delay it until after finals?" he asked.
"So I can concentrate," Zhan answered quietly.
"No, Zhan. We're getting married in two weeks. I know it's your final semester, and I promise I won't stress you out. I want nothing more than for you to graduate with first-class honors. I won't pressure you. But I've noticed your grades slipping. You're heading toward a 2.1."
Zhan didn't raise his head. Dr. Kexing added, "If you'd prefer to stay at your family's house after the wedding until exams are over, I'm fine with that."
Zhan looked up and said, "Then let me stay home until after my exams."
"Consider it done," Dr. Kexing replied.
"Thank you so much," Zhan said softly.
With a gentle smile, Dr. Kexing whispered, "My pleasure."
Zhan asked, "When are we having your test?"
"Tomorrow," he replied.
Zhan sat up quickly, surprised. He had assumed Dr. Kexing would reschedule it. "I thought you'd move it…"
"I know you can do it, dear."
"Please, sir… could you move it to Wednesday?"
"I don't come in on Wednesdays," he said. "And I'll be in Shenzhen that day."
Zhan sighed. Dr. Kexing stroked his face. "I'll send you the AOC file. You can share it with your group chat. Let them benefit too."
Zhan smiled slightly. "Thank you, sir."
Dr. Kexing teased, "So when will you stop calling me 'sir'? After the wedding?"
Zhan gave him a quick glance but said nothing.
"You know we're exchanging wedding gifts on Friday, right?"
Zhan's heart dropped. He didn't reply.
"And Sunday, I'll take you to visit my mom and her sisters. They're all in town."
Zhan remained silent.
"We only have this week. Next week I won't have time to escort you." When Zhan still didn't respond, Dr. Kexing pressed, "Say something, hubby."
Softly, Zhan replied, "Okay sir."
Dr. Kexing checked his watch. "It's time. I have to go."
****
The next day, Zhan sat in class with his coursemates, everyone with their test papers in front of them. He twirled his pen nervously. Despite studying until nearly 1 AM, he felt like he hadn't touched the material at all. His head throbbed.
He looked up at Dr. Kexing, who stood at the front of the classroom in a sparkling white shirt and black glasses. It was hard to tell where exactly he was looking.
Zhan scanned the hall and spotted Shu sitting with her clique, blatantly copying from her neighbor with the corner of her eye. She hadn't been to class in a week.
Thirty minutes in, Zhan stood up and closed his booklet. Ji Li, sitting nearby, looked at him in shock.... he hadn't written a thing. He gestured for Zhan to sit back down, but it was too late. Zhan walked up to Dr. Kexing.
"Where can I submit, sir?"
Dr. Kexing took the paper from him, but as Zhan turned to leave, he said quietly, "Wait."
Zhan paused without turning around. Dr. Kexing opened the booklet...Zhan had written only his name and the course code.
He looked up at him and said, "Go back and sit down, my friend."
Zhan took the paper back and walked quietly to his seat.
Shu, watching them, scoffed and went right back to cheating off her friend.
One by one, students submitted their scripts and left the hall, including Shu and her clique. Only a few remained, including Zhan.
Suddenly, something clicked in his mind. He remembered the solution to question two and wrote it down quickly. When Dr. Kexing announced five minutes left, Zhan dove into question one and wrote at lightning speed. He answered two questions in total.
Only four students were left when he stood up again and submitted his paper. Dr. Kexing took it and watched Zhan as he left the room.
Zhan walked toward Ji Li, who stood up when he saw him.
"What happened? Didn't you study? I kept waving my script for you to peek at and copy something, but you didn't even glance."
Zhan sighed. "You know I couldn't do that. But I managed to answer two questions."
Ji Li nodded. "I hope we all have good results."
Just then, another coursemate, Niu, approached. "Zhan, Dr. Mu Yue is calling you."
Zhan blinked. "Me?"
"Yes," Niu said.
He turned to Ji Li. "What did I do?"
Ji Li laughed. "Go and see. We had his test last week.... maybe he was impressed with your score."
Zhan's stomach dropped. Everyone in the department feared Dr. Mu Yue; no one liked being called into his office. Ji Li agreed to walk him upstairs to the office.
As soon as they reached the office door, Ji Li walked ahead, leaving Zhan behind before he could even catch up. Zhan exhaled deeply, his heart racing, and knocked softly on the office door. He knocked again until a voice finally called out, granting him permission to enter. He opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. Inside sat Dr. Mu Yue along with another professor....Prof. Hanba...who was also one of their lecturers. Instantly, Zhan felt his anxiety spike. He dreaded being confronted by both department staff at once.
He bowed slightly and greeted them. Dr. Mu Yue spoke sternly, "You...what's going on with you this semester? Poor performances everywhere. Is something bothering you?"
Zhan swallowed hard, struggling to respond, before shaking his head. "No, sir."
Even Dr. Mu Yue's tone alone was enough to unnerve him. Prof. Hanba looked at him and said, "Mister, you're playing games in your final semester? Are you alright? Are there any personal issues you're dealing with?"
Dr. Mu Yue cut in, voice rising, "If not for the fact that you've always been one of our best students, I wouldn't even bother calling you in here. What do we care if a student decides to become unserious? You know these students think once they enter the final semester, they're done with school. They start doing whatever they like. Tell me...what's going on with you? Or is Dr. Kexing distracting you so much that you can't focus anymore?"
Zhan remained silent, head down.
Prof. Hanba glanced at Mu Yue, slightly surprised. "Which Kexing?"
Dr. Mu Yue replied bluntly, "The Dr. Kexing you know. He's his fiancé, didn't you get the invitation from the office?"
Prof. Hanba looked at Zhan again, realization dawning. "Oh, so he's the one getting married to him? I heard some rumors he was from our department, turns out it's true."
Dr. Mu Yue continued, "Honestly, it seems like Kexing is becoming a distraction for this boy. He's going to cause problems for him. Listen to me, if you don't pull yourself together, you'll be dropping to a 2.1 soon, the way your grades are going."
Prof. Hanba added, "Call Kexing in now."
Dr. Mu Yue said, "I already spoke with him last Friday after I marked this student's script....I even showed it to him."
Prof. Hanba sighed. "We've been expecting this boy to graduate with a first class. We were even hoping he'd break the department's 15-year record."
"That's exactly my concern," Dr. Mu Yue agreed. "He's held that first-class standing since year one, and now in level five, he's slipping."
Turning to Zhan, he added, "Mister, leave my office. It's better you start focusing before it's too late."
Zhan struggled to thank them, turned, and quietly walked toward the door.
Tears stung his eyes. Even he didn't know what was wrong this semester. Kexing hardly visited in two weeks, nor had he taken him out or called for a proper outing. They only saw each other at school or over the phone. As Zhan left the office and closed the door, he found himself face to face with Dr. Kexing. Avoiding eye contact, he quickly walked away. Dr. Kexing silently watched him leave.
That Thursday, Zhan returned from school to find that wedding gifts had already been delivered for Min. Twelve boxes, all beautifully arranged...Yibo had really gone all out for her. Zhan hadn't even bothered to look at what was packed inside. Preparations for the wedding had begun in earnest at home...there was no playing around. Mr. Wang had already stocked everything they'd need for the event in the storage room.
But none of that worried Zhan as much as Sunday....the day Dr Kexing said he'd take him to visit his mother. Every time he remembered, his heart sank. And tomorrow, his own wedding items were scheduled to arrive...
✨✨✨
In the sitting room, Wu, Dr Kexing mother was seated with her two sisters, Aunty Fuye and Aunty Baby, and nearby were Aunty Jin and Ruma. Altogether, about five of them were unpacking the Twenty four wedding boxes....two sets, each with seven trunks. Two older women were also present...one was Kexing's father's elder sister, the other his grandmother's younger sister. A friend of his mother Wu's stood watching from nearby.
Aunt Jin gave a half-smile and said, "Honestly, I don't think we need to unpack all of these today. Repacking them will be a hassle. Evening is already here and the drivers are waiting for us outside."
She then looked around at everyone in the room and added, "Seriously, what kind of golden boy is Kexing marrying to justify all these extravagant gifts? Shouldn't he be saving for a good future instead of splurging on luxury items for a boy? Honestly, has he added more plots to his properties to justify this spending spree? And no one is bold enough to stop him either. If it were me, I would have warned him by now."
Aunt Jin continued, "I bet all this costs at least ten or fifteen millions. But his mother encourages all of it... always trying to outdo everyone. Otherwise, she should have been the one to talk sense into him. Kexing doesn't listen to anyone. No one has any influence over him. And it's not like we all support these lavish habits... it's just his mother. She's spoiled him to the core. Now he looks down on everyone as if we don't matter. A boy who supposedly came from humble beginnings is now being showered with all of this?"
"Is this the kind of local boy who deserves this level of luxury? Seriously, people, let's be honest here!" Aunty Jin snapped, clearly upset.
Aunty Fu, visibly angry, shot back, "Look, Jin, none of this stuff is coming from your pockets, so there's nothing to reduce. And if any part of it is funded, I'm sure it's either from his mother or his older brother. We're taking these gifts exactly as they are."
Aunty Jin stood up sharply, pointing a finger. "Don't talk to me like that! You think you people have control over Dr. Kexing? We have even more say in this matter than you. Just because you've done some running around doesn't make the rest of us irrelevant. Let me be clear....this is a wedding, not a school play. Our family...his father's side....will be the ones making the final decisions here, whether anyone likes it or not. And I, Jin, say these gifts are not leaving this sitting room until they're scaled down. Dr. Kexing is not a prince, he's not robbing a bank!"
Wu, who had been trying to stay calm, asked, "What exactly do you gain from this, Jin? Example, if the gifts are taken to Teng, wouldn't you receive them with open arms anyway?"
Jin let out a mocking laugh. "Of course I would. Teng deserves them. But that boy? He's just an ordinary nobody. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't even know their worth.... he'll either mistreat or waste them before a year passes. I'm not afraid to speak the truth, no matter the consequences. If brother were still alive, he would never have allowed his son to waste this kind of money in the name of a wedding....especially not on someone from a low background!"
As she spoke, Jin began pulling out the most expensive items from the gift boxes and tossing them angrily onto a nearby couch. Aunty Baby could only clutch her jaw, shocked at what she was witnessing. Mama Hari, Dr. Kexing's paternal aunt, added coldly, "You made a big mistake, Wu. Letting that boy spend so much on a wedding set...this is the kind of splendor fit for royalty! And we didn't even know all this was going on. If we had, we wouldn't have let it get this far. Those gifts must be reduced. And even if you deliver them untouched, I doubt they'll be properly received. I heard the boy is from the ghetto. What kind of thinking is this from Kexing? Where is his class? Meanwhile, his cousin Teng....everyone admires her...but he rejected her. It's clear the boy's home lacked substance. And now you're allowing him to chase outside love like this? You're the one to blame, Wu. You never guided him."
Without another word, Wu stood and left the sitting room, heading upstairs. Jin and Ruma glared after her. One of the older women, Mama Karen, murmured, "This whole thing is a mess. We've been disrespected. Clearly, our input means nothing. Just remove whatever you feel needs to go. That boy isn't made of gold."
Wu's friends sat in stunned silence, watching as Jin and Ruma ruthlessly unpacked and sorted the gifts with no shame or hesitation. Aunty Fu eventually stood and followed Wu upstairs. She found her in her private sitting room, on the phone. Arms crossed and leaning on the doorframe, Fu looked furious too.
Wu, still on the phone, said sharply, "I told you not to call them, Daddy. But if I lose my temper now, I won't hold back. I'm tired of what your family keeps doing to me. After all these years, they still won't let me rest? Always chasing me down, always full of accusations?"
On the other end, her elder Son Daddy replied, "Please, just calm down. Don't say anything to them. Even if they remove all the gifts, I'll send more money to replace them—by tomorrow if I have to. And please, don't tell Kexing. You know how he is."
Wu sighed bitterly. "I've had enough. This is pure humiliation. And right in front of my friends too."
Daddy let out a sigh. "Please, just let it go Mom. Everything will be fine."
Meanwhile, Dr. Kexing had just parked his car. As he got out, he noticed a motorbike speeding away, leaving behind the security guard standing with an envelope in his hand.
Kexing approached and asked, "What's that?"
The guard replied, "Someone on a bike just dropped this off. Said it's for Madam."
"Alright," Kexing said, accepting the envelope. He walked into the compound as he unsealed it, pulling out a folded sheet of paper. Turning it over, he was surprised to see handwriting on it.
Without delay, he began reading. But not even thirty seconds in, his knees weakened, and he sat down quickly on a white plastic chair near the guard's quarters. Sweat formed instantly on his forehead. He finished reading, sat frozen, and then slowly tried to process what he had just read.
After a few more seconds, he quietly crushed the paper in his hand and shoved it into his pocket.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛