Lan Yi watched as Yibo walked into the ward from the pediatrician's office, where the twins had just been admitted.
"What kind of tests did the doctor order for them, Yibo?" she asked.
Still watching the sleeping twins, Yibo replied calmly, "Nothing serious. They're just having a bit of congestion after feeding, so the doctor wants to run an X-ray to check for any airway issues."
Lan Yi frowned. "And what about their fever? Plus, every time they eat, they throw up."
"Throw up?" Yibo asked, surprised.
"Yes," Lan Yi said. "Even in front of the doctor, they did the same thing."
Yibo nodded thoughtfully. "We'll just keep giving them their medication until the test results are ready."
Lan Yi said nothing more, and Yibo looked toward Zhan, who was sitting quietly beside the babies.
- - -
By 4 p.m., Yibo had brought the twins home from the hospital. Lan Yi carried little A-Muan upstairs, while Zhan followed behind with A-Yuan in his arms. Yibo stayed in the living room, exchanging brief greetings with Bing before sitting down.
Lan Yi began bathing the babies, then prepared their formula. She handed A-Muan to Zhan while she fed A-Yuan herself. But after a few sips, both babies refused to drink any more, turning their faces away in protest.
Lan Yi sighed. "They haven't wanted milk all day. Even at the hospital, they vomited right after feeding. Since then, they've refused to drink at all."
Before she could finish, A-Muan suddenly started vomiting. Zhan's eyes widened...he had never seen such a tiny baby throw up before.
"Give him here," Lan Yi said quickly. Zhan handed A-Muan over, but before she could settle him, A-Yuan, who was lying beside her, also began vomiting.
Lan Yi switched quickly, handing A-Muan back to Zhan and lifting A-Yuan.
Looking worried, Zhan said softly, "Mama, I think they might have lactose intolerance."
Lan Yi frowned. "What's that?"
Before Zhan could answer, Yibo walked into the living room. Lan Yi didn't say anything at first, but he noticed the tense atmosphere immediately.
"What happened?" he asked.
Lan Yi replied, "They keep vomiting right after drinking milk. What does that even mean?"
Yibo crouched beside her and examined A-Yuan carefully, lifting the baby's shirt and feeling his belly. He stayed silent for a long half-minute, then stood up.
Lan Yi looked at him expectantly. "Well?"
"I think their system can't digest the milk," Yibo said at last. "They're intolerant to the formula...it's causing an allergic reaction. Look, there's a rash starting, and their bellies are slightly bloated."
Lan Yi nodded slowly. "That's what I suspected too. The doctor even asked what brand of formula we use. Maybe he'll explain more tomorrow. But what do we do now? What can they eat if they can't take this milk?"
"We'll have to change the formula," Yibo replied.
"To which one?"
"That'll be up to the pediatrician to recommend," he said. "I can't decide that myself."
Lan Yi sighed. "So they'll go all night without food until tomorrow?"
"Not exactly," Yibo answered. "You can still give them the same milk, but make it lighter...thinner. Tomorrow morning, when you go back to the hospital, he'll definitely prescribe something new."
Lan Yi nodded quietly.
After eight o'clock, Zhan was still in the living room, holding A-Muan close. The baby's body felt even warmer than A-Yuan's. When Yibo entered, he glanced at the sleeping A-Yuan and then at Zhan.
"Is Mama in her room?" he asked.
Zhan shook his head. "She went to take food to Baba."
"Oh, okay," Yibo said. "Get ready... we should head home. It's late already, and I've got work early tomorrow."
Zhan looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Gege, please let me stay here tonight. You can go home. The twins are still sick, and Mama needs help looking after them."
Yibo crossed his arms and gave him a teasing look. "And who's going to take care of me if I go home alone?"
Zhan chuckled. "You talk like a baby yourself."
Leaning closer, Yibo lowered his voice. "Please, Baby, just come home with me. Bing will help Mama with the twins."
Zhan pouted and didn't reply. Yibo watched him for a moment, then said, "Fine, but on one condition... I'll let you stay here if you give me a kiss first."
Zhan blinked in surprise. "What kind of condition is that?"
"Then never mind," Yibo said, pretending to stand. "Let's just go."
Zhan quickly softened, glancing down at the baby. "Don't you feel sorry for them, Gege?"
"I do," Yibo said with a faint smile, "Not just as much as you do, clearly."
Zhan smiled despite himself.
"Please, Baby," Yibo whispered.
"What if Mama comes back and sees us?" Zhan murmured nervously.
"She won't," Yibo said with a smirk. "Just put the baby down...we'll go to her bedroom for a minute."
Zhan's eyes widened. "Mama's bedroom? Are you serious?"
Yibo stood up casually. "Alright then, I'll just tell her you insisted we go home together. You know I will."
Zhan grabbed his sleeve quickly. "Wait! I didn't say I wouldn't do it…"
Yibo stood and headed towards Lan Yi room.
Zhan followed him with his gaze until he entered the room. Slowly, he settled the baby in his arms next to its sibling, stood up, and headed for the room, walking slowly until he entered. As he entered, he saw Yibo lock the door. He whispered to him, refusing to make eye contact. "I'm just feeling embarrassed."
Yibo said, "Well, let's dim the room lights. If you waste time and Mama comes in, you'll be the one embarrassed, not me." Without waiting for his reply, he switched the room light to a dim setting. Just like that, Zhan felt his stomach drop. He went and sat on the sofa near window; even in his heart, he truly felt embarrassed. Yibo came back and sat beside him, looking at him with half-closed eyes. Zhan avoided his gaze, even though the room wasn't very bright.
Yibo said in a low voice, "You are wasting your time, Baby boy."
Zhan hugged him, full of embarrassment. "Oh, Gege, I'm really so embarrassed." Yibo raised his head and looked at him slowly. "Well, should I close my eyes?" Zhan nodded. Yibo closed his eyes. Zhan kept looking at his lips. He also closed his eyes. Slowly, he brought his lips to Yibo's and started kissing him passionately.
Yibo had never imagined Zhan would initiate a kiss. He just thought that in the end, if he's done wasting their time, he would be the one to do the kissing. He was so surprised... Zhan kissed him for more than 3 minutes before settling his head on his chest, closed his eyes, and slowly calmed his breathing. Yibo had completely stiffened. He never expected Zhan could kiss so perfectly like that. He really turned him on. He whispered to him, barely speaking. "Please, Baby, let's go home. Mama can take care of the boys."
Zhan slowly looked up and glanced at him. "But that wasn't the agreement." He whispered to him again. "I know, but... Please."
Zhan widened his eyes, hearing the sitting room door open. "Look, Mama is back, see?" Without waiting for his reply, he quickly stood up, headed for the room door, opened it, and went out like a hypocrite. He saw Bing came in with the flask of hot water to put it down. Zhan went to the door, left the sitting room, and went to his room. He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. Even then, his heart wouldn't stop pounding. After some minutes, he heard the bedroom door open. He quickly opened his eyes and sat up, seeing Yibo, he pout, but he refused to make eye contact. He heard Yibo lock the room door with a key and then approach him. Zhan whispered to him, "Look, Gege, this wasn't our agreement."
He sat beside him and said in a low voice, "I know, but even if I go, I won't be able to sleep, Baby..." He grabbed his hand, Yibo trying to explain to him the reason why he wouldn't sleep even if he went home without saying a word. Zhan gathered his strength, left the spot, and hugged herself as if she was about to cry. He went to the far end of the bed and sat down. "Please, this isn't how the agreement was. Why not keep to the agreement?"
Yibo kept looking at him. Then he stood up and said, "Alright then, until morning. I hope the babies get well." Just as he reached the door, he heard Zhan behind him grabbing him, leaning his body against his. Slowly, he said, "Well, I'm sorry, please. Let me just say goodbye to Mom, and we can go home."
Yibo turned and looked at him, hugged him, and Zhan relaxed his body and closed his eyes.
At one o'clock in the morning, Yibo woke from the sleep that had taken him. He looked at Zhan, who was asleep on his body. Slowly, he lifted himself off the pillow, being careful not to wake him. He still felt the pain in his stomach. He restrained himself, got down from the bed, and entered Zhan's bathroom. He took a bath and came out. He turned and looked at Zhan. He nodded, went back close to him, sat down, and gently shook him. "Baby."
Zhan slowly opened his eyes. Their eyes met. He pouted at him, pulled the duvet, and covered his body. He was about to turn his back to him. "Oh, so because I let you go, you're pouting at me?"
As if he was about to cry, he said, "Gege, I'm sleepy." Yibo smiled, looking at him. In his heart, however, he was amazed. So, his self-control was beyond what he had thought. Assuming he didn't use force on him when they made love, and until today they were still there, not moving to the next step... Today, he had just been patient with his feelings and let Zhan go after making sure he had satisfied him. He removed the duvet that was covering his body. "Come on, take a bath before going back to sleep, Baby."
Zhan turned and said, "I'll do it later."
He said, "No, Baby, stop it and just do it..." Zhan fell silent, knowing he wouldn't let him continue sleeping without cleansing himself. He nodded without letting their eyes meet. "Please, get my towel from the bathroom."
Yibo said, "I can't get up." As if he was about to cry, he said, "Please, Gege." Immediately, Yibo body reacted because of the way he said "please." Yibo got up, went to Zhan bathroom, got his towel, and handed it to him, looking at him. He accepted it and said, "So why are you looking at me?"
Yibo smiled and turned his head away. Quickly, Zhan got down from the bed to wrap the towel around himself. He glanced and saw that Yibo had turned back around as soon as he had wrapped it. He immediately looked down as if he was about to cry. Yibo smiled slowly. "Don't you know I have a screenshot of everything you're hiding in my eyes?"
Zhan didn't even look at him; he managed to wrap the towel around him hand and passed through the bathroom. Yibo sighed, stood up, went to the room door, opened it, and went out with the intention of going to the kitchen to make coffee. The crying of the twins made him stop and look towards Lan Yi's part. After a few seconds, he finished there, knocked on the sitting room door, Lan Yi answered, and he entered.
He saw Qiren standing in the sitting room, as was Hai Kuan, sitting on a chair holding A-Yuan, trying to coax him. The sitting room was filled with their crying. Lan Yi looked at Yibo and said, "Their bodies are very hot, Yibo. They refuse to eat, let alone drink water. Should we go back to the hospital?"
Qiren said, "You all should know. Besides, it's typical of women's thinking. How can you insist on forcibly separating children from their mother when the mother isn't dead or insane? You all have turned a blind eye and forgotten about the miracle of bringing forth life from the deceased. There is no thought in what you have done. Now look at the condition you have put these children in since yesterday. Their mother is alive, yet you go to the store, buy canned formula, and force it on them for your own reasons. If you kill them, then your minds will be at rest."
Lan Yi didn't even look at him. Qiren turned and left the sitting room. The children, as if they understood the argument Qiren was making, started crying even louder, wailing in the sitting room. Hai Kuan looked at Lan Yi and said, "Mama, I think the best solution is to take these children to Beijing to their mother. No mother will want to hurt her child intentionally. Even if she harms them, that's between her and her conscience. Besides, I don't expect her to harm her children in any way. We should consider how the absence of their mother will harm them before anything else. Even in the hospital, doctors emphasize the importance of breastfeeding for a newborn..."
Lan Yi cut him off angrily. "Well, they won't be taken, and I don't see anyone fit to take them. If they die, their time is up. Don't you dare upset me."
Hai Kuan nodded, settled A-Yuan, and left the sitting room. As for Yibo, he stood without saying anything. From the beginning, he also knew that separating them from their mother's breast milk might affect them in one way or another, but he didn't want to upset anyone, so he kept quiet no matter what was said. He just said, "Alright," thinking that at least they had gotten breastfeeding for maybe two months before being given formula. Yibo took A-Yuan and sat down, looking at Lan Yi slowly. "In the morning, we should go back to the hospital."
Lan Yi said, "May we get there safely." Until almost three o'clock, Lan Yi and Yibo struggled with the babies. They refused to sleep, refused to drink the formula, only water. Their bodies were hot despite the medicine Yibo gave them again. They weren't even tired from crying.
At four in the morning, Zhan entered the sitting room because of the babies' crying he heard. He himself came down and go near Lan Yi, sitting down. "Mama, have they been up long?"
Lan Yi said, "Since twelve o'clock, for both of us, Baby."
Zhan widened his eyes. "Twelve?" he moved his hand on A-Muan. Feeling his temperature was high, he looked at Yibo. "Gege, have they been given medicine?"
He nodded to him. "They have."
He said, "Mama, can I carry him on my back?"
Lan Yi said, "You can try."
Zhan said, "I can. Just put him on my back for me."
Lan Yi said, "Well, go and get the big shawl from the room." Zhan gave A-Muan to Lan Yi, then stood up and went to Lan Yi's room to get the shawl. Quickly, Lan Yi tied the little infant to his back. Yibo just kept looking at him, as Zhan looked so cute and funny with the baby on his back. Not even ten minutes passed before A-Muan fell asleep on his back.
Lan Yi took A-Yuan from Yibo's hand. "Go and lie down, Yibo." Yibo let out a hidden sigh, stood up, and left the sitting room, not knowing who can advise Lan Yi to take the children to their mother so they could be alright and well...
In the morning at half past seven, Yibo took them to the hospital because they were still refusing to drink the formula, and their bodies were burning with fever.
***
Lan Yi sat in the pediatrician's office, listening carefully as the doctor explained the importance of breastfeeding for infants. Zhan sat beside her, holding little A-Yuan in his arms, paying close attention to every word.
The pediatrician concluded his explanation gently. "However, if breastfeeding isn't possible due to any personal reason or health concern, I can prescribe a different formula for you to try. Still, I strongly recommend that the babies receive at least a few months of breast milk, since you mentioned their mother is still alive."
Lan Yi nodded. "That's fine, doctor. Please write down the new formula so we can try it."
The doctor nodded. "Alright." He wrote down the prescription and handed it to her. Lan Yi accepted it and added, "What about the rashes on their skin and the bloating in their stomachs?"
"That's likely an allergic reaction to the previous formula," he explained. "The one I'm prescribing now might suit them better, but as I said, it's trial and error. If this doesn't work either, we'll have to change it again."
Lan Yi stood, carefully holding A-Muan. "Alright, thank you, doctor."
Zhan also stood, gave the doctor a polite nod, and followed her out.
Outside, Hai Kuan waited for them at the reception. He hadn't gone in with them to the doctor's office. When he saw them coming, he stood up. Lan Yi handed him the paper the doctor had given her. "Here's the formula he recommended," she said.
Hai Kuan nodded and took it. They left the hospital and headed to the car. The ride was quiet...Hai Kuan didn't ask what the doctor had said, and Lan Yi didn't volunteer the information either.
He stopped at a large shopping mall and parked. Glancing at Lan Yi through the mirror, he said, "I'll just run in and get the formula. I'll be right back."
"Alright," she replied.
He got out of the car. Zhan, sitting quietly beside Lan Yi, hesitated before saying softly, "Mama… maybe the babies prefer breast milk."
Lan Yi sighed lightly. "You grew up on formula, and you're perfectly fine. They'll be fine too. If formula was harmful, I would've known from you long ago."
Zhan didn't argue. Moments later, Hai Kuan returned with two cans of formula in a shopping bag. When they got home, Lan Yi prepared the milk and tried feeding the twins...but just like before, they refused it and spat it out.
She added a little glucose water and gave them their medicine before handing one to Zhan and carrying the other herself.
- - -
By 4:30 p.m., Yibo came home from work. Lan Yi didn't tell him what the doctor had said at the hospital, and he didn't ask. After a short while, he got up and went to his room.
About fifteen minutes later, Lan Yi glanced at Zhan, who was still sitting quietly in the living room, lost in thought. It was clear his mind was on Yibo, but he seemed too shy to go to him with Lan Yi there. Finally, she took A-Yuan from him and said, "Go to him, Baby. He might want something to eat."
Zhan said nothing. After a few moments, he stood, and left the living room.
He went downstairs and quietly pushed open Yibo's door. Yibo had just come out of the shower when Zhan entered.
Zhan lowered his gaze and sat on the edge of the bed. "Welcome back," he murmured.
Yibo sat beside him. "What did the doctor say about the babies?"
Zhan said quietly, "He just emphasized why the babies should be breastfed…"
Yibo glanced at him. "What did Mama say about that?"
"She said the doctor should prescribe a different formula," Zhan replied. "He did, and we already bought the new one."
Yibo nodded. "Alright. Get ready, we're going home."
Zhan lifted his head to look at him. Yibo smiled faintly. "Are you babysitting again tonight?"
Zhan pouted slightly, making Yibo chuckle. "Alright, alright," he said with a sigh. "I'll just head home."
Zhan fell silent, saying nothing more. When Yibo finished dressing, he turned and Zhan asked, "Do you want me to bring you some food?"
"I'm okay," Yibo replied softly.
Yibo picked up his car keys. Zhan frowned a little. "Where are you going, Gege?"
"Home," Yibo said simply. "I need to rest."
Zhan's voice dropped. "Isn't this home too?"
Yibo didn't answer. He start walking out of the room, leaving Zhan watching him quietly. After a few moments, Zhan stood and followed him, he hug him from back and said "Alright Gege I will come with you, let me tell Mama and said good night to her"
He then go upstairs to Lan Yi's part.
He sat on the couch, still unsure how to tell Lan Yi that they had decided to leave. Lan Yi looked at him. "Did you take him his food?"
Zhan shook his head. "He said he already ate."
Lan Yi nodded slowly. "Are you both heading home?"
Zhan lowered his eyes. "That's what he said."
"Alright," Lan Yi replied. "Go and get ready, then."
Zhan didn't respond, but after a few minutes, he stood, went to his room to pack his bag, and returned to the sitting room.
There, he saw Yibo standing and speaking with Lan Yi.
Lan Yi smiled slightly. "The medicine made them sleep soundly. Babies are known for that anyway."
Yibo gave a faint smile but said nothing.
Lan Yi added, "Hopefully, this new formula will suit them."
Yibo exhaled quietly, then bid her goodbye and left.
Zhan also said goodbye softly. Lan Yi asked, "Aren't you taking some food with you?"
Zhan shook his head. "I'll cook, Mama."
"Alright then," she said.
Zhan walked out of the sitting room and went downstairs, where Yibo was waiting near the door. He pouted slightly before following Yibo out.
When they got home, Zhan prepared a fruit salad in the kitchen and brought it into the sitting room. He looked around but didn't see Yibo there. Setting the bowl on the center table, he noticed Yibo's phone buzzing on the couch.
Before he could reach it, the vibration stopped. He hesitated, then unlocked the phone out of habit. It was an unsaved number. Just as he was about to put it down, a message came in.
Zhan froze. There were nearly twenty unread texts from the same number. His heart sank. He didn't even read the contents yet, but something in him already felt uneasy.
He scrolled to the top and opened the first message.
It was from Min.
She was pleading with Yibo... begging him not to let his family take her children away. She wanted to breastfeed them for a while, promising she'd let them go later.
Most of the messages were the same... apologies, pleas, explanations. She wanted one last chance to feed her babies herself.
Yibo hadn't replied to any of them. From the look of it, Min had been contacting him from another number. Zhan opened the call log... dozens of missed calls, none answered.
Even so, a sting of jealousy tightened his chest. He closed the phone, sighing, and placed it back down.
Then he quietly went to the master bedroom. Yibo was sitting on the edge of the bed, focused on something on his laptop.
Leaning against the doorway, Zhan spoke softly. "The fruit salad's in the sitting room."
Yibo looked up at him, then set the laptop aside. "Did I do something wrong again, baby?"
Zhan pouted and turned his head away, refusing to say anything. Yibo, just from the way he spoke, knew something was wrong. He stood up, came close to him, and gently took his hand. "Tell me what it is."
He fidgeted a little and said, "I just finished making the fruit salad. It's in the sitting room; I left it for you." Holding his hand, Yibo led him to the edge of the bedroom bed, sat him down, and sat beside him, looking at him. "Then why the change of mood all of a sudden?"
Yibo pinched his face a little. "I'm sleepy." Zhan said then fell silent, not saying anything. Yibo said, "Well, lie down and sleep."
Zhan said, "I'll go to my room to sleep." Yibo said, "No, sleep here so I can make sure you actually sleep."
"What about the fruit salad?"
"I'll go get it." Slowly, Zhan placed his fair feet on the bed, moved to the middle of the bed, lay down, and turned his back to Yibo. He had already changed out of his day clothes into his long sleepwear. Yibo smiled slightly, then continued with what he was doing on his laptop. After a while, he turned off the laptop, set it aside, and left the room.
He sat in the sitting room, eating the fruit salad. His phone vibrated, indicating an incoming message. He turned to look, saw the number that sent the message, and continued eating his fruit. Around nine o'clock, Yibo returned to the master bedroom.
Zhan still hadn't fallen asleep. The messages he saw Min sending to Yibo were stuck in his mind. Zhan thought that as long as these babies were between Min and Yibo, there was no way they would cut communication forever. No matter what, she remains the mother of his boys, and there must be times when it becomes necessary for them to communicate for one reason or another regarding the two babies. Zhan heard Yibo enter and quickly closed his eyes as if asleep, even though he was facing his back. Yibo went into the bathroom, took a bath, and came out.
Zhan heard him leave the room and sit uo. Just like that, he felt his heart couldn't relax. He got down from the bed, walked slowly, left the area completely, and ended up in the main sitting room. He leaned against wall peaking at Yibo. Zhan saw Yibo phone pressed to his ear. After a few seconds, he heard him say, "Look, Min, if you continue to bother me with calls and text messages, I will block this line too. Have I separated you from your children that you should keep bothering me like this?"
Zhan heard silence, indicating he was listening to Min. Then he heard him say, "You have Mama's number. You have Baba's number, so why disturb me, I didn't told them to separate the children from you? Please, I don't want you to cause issues between me and my husband if he sees you calling me and sending me text messages. Kindly avoid calling me, please. I haven't separated you from your children. If you continue to bother me, I will block you, I promise."
With that, he hung up the phone. Zhan, seeing that, quickly turned around and went back to the master bedroom, got on the bed, and lay down. In the sitting room, Yibo plugged his phone then entered the bedroom. He went to the edge of the bed and sat near Zhan, looking intently at his face. In a very low voice, he said, "I know you're not asleep."
Even as a joke, Zhan refused to open his eyes. Yibo started tickling him. Zhan quickly moved away from him as if she was about to cry. "Gege, I'm really sleepy."
Yibo lay behind him and pulled him close. "Well, I'm sorry." Zhan made a sound and refused to say anything to him. He turned off the room light. They were like that for 5 minutes, Yibo inhaling his scent. Zhan tensed up, feeling what he was doing to him. He was slowly removing his hand from his body. "Gege, I'm really sleepy."
Yibo said, "Well, good night." He turned his back to him and moved away from him. Zhan didn't say anything; he closed her eyes. After about ten minutes, he slowly turned and moved closer to Yibo. In a very low voice, he said, "I'm sorry, Gege."
Yibo turned to look at him. "Really?" He nodded to him. Zhan relaxed his body against Yibo's. After few minutes Zhan know he made a mistake by moving closer to Yibo and he apologized, because if he knew the difficulty he would face, he won't even started, given what Yibo had been doing to him these past few days. Yibo would let him go if he say that it hurt.
But this time, Yibo made sure to release all his urges that night; he didn't even remember the topic of lubricant.
It wasn't the kind of persuasion he had used on Zhan before he regained his senses, but Zhan refused to endure it and started crying heavily. Around one o'clock, Yibo let him go, and he went into the bathroom to bathe. Even when he came out, he didn't see Zhan in the room. He smiled, put on his pajamas, and then left the area. He went to Zhan's room, gently pushed the door open, and heard it lock. He returned to his room, lay down feeling very refreshed, and soon sleep overtook him...
At down, Yibo woke up, went to the sitting room, and took his phone from the side table. He saw four missed calls from Lan Yi. His stomach sank completely. He kept looking at the phone and then checked the time she had called; he saw she had called since four o'clock. He called her back. Fear gripped him; had something happened to the babies? His heart filled with dread...
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛