After laying A-Muan, who was fast asleep, on the bed, Yibo turned to look at Min, who was holding A-Yuan, also asleep in her arms. His voice was low but firm.
"If you keep dragging these kids up and down like this, I'm warning you, Min....we'll take them from you. You clearly have no sense of responsibility."
Min lifted her head sharply, glaring at him. "Excuse me? I don't have a conscience? When exactly have I been dragging them around? We only went to Tianjin for a wedding, and we stayed at my aunt's place...the bride's home. I was in the same house too. What's the crime in that? And when I came to Guangzhou, I told you it was for a job interview. What else would bring me all the way here? Or is it that just because I have twins, I'm not allowed to find a way to support myself?"
"The allowance you send every month barely covers the babies. You calculate it strictly for them, not for me, their mother. So yes, I need to work. And since my aunt was unwell after the wedding, I couldn't leave the twins behind. I even came with her housemaid so she could help me care for them."
Yibo frowned. "So, you're saying that 250,000 yuan is only for the babies?"
"Of course it is," Min shot back. "Do you even know how long a tin of Cerelac lasts? And diapers....I change them more than five times a day. They eat noodles, eggs, even biscuits. What's 250,000 compared to all that?"
Yibo said nothing. He grabbed his car keys.
Min's voice softened. "Where do you expect me to leave them while I go to the interview? I thought you'd stay with them until I got back."
Yibo didn't look at her. "Take them to Mama's house."
She just stared at him, speechless. Then he added coldly, "So, that phone you said you borrowed at the park....it's still with you, huh?"
Min sighed. "It belongs to my course mate. We applied for the same job and were both invited for the interview. It's a small phone, not even a good one." She stood up, grabbing her bag. "Please, I'm just stepping out to buy noodles and eggs for the twins. I'll cook when they wake up."
She slipped on her jacket and left. Yibo stayed where he was, watching the sleeping twins. Outside, Min glanced around the gate, making sure Yibo hadn't followed her.
About fifteen minutes later, she returned with a small bag of groceries. Without a word, Yibo headed for the door. She called after him, "I'll lock the gate."
He didn't respond. He just walked out of the compound.
It was almost nine in the morning when Yibo got home. The sky over the city was heavy with clouds, and thunder rumbled in the distance. As he parked the car, his phone rang. Seeing Lan Yi's name flash on the screen, he sighed and answered.
"Good morning, Mama," he greeted softly.
She didn't respond to the greeting. Her voice came through, sharp and angry, scolding nonstop. Yibo walked slowly toward the entrance, listening patiently, his face tight with exhaustion.
When he finally stepped into the living room, he sank onto the sofa and exhaled deeply.
"Mama, please," he said gently. "Don't be angry. It's not as serious as you're making it sound. You know how Barrister is....once you say you don't want something, he'll drop it completely, no matter how much he cares. You know that better than anyone. Please, calm down."
He kept trying to soothe her, but she refused to listen. Eventually, she hung up on him.
For a few minutes, Yibo sat silently, lost in thought. Lan Yi had taken Hai Kuan's interest in Linyue too personally again, and now the house was tense.
After a while, he stood and went to Zhan's room.
When he opened the door, Zhan was stepping out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, water still dripping from his hair. He glanced once at Yibo, then turned to the mirror without a word.
Yibo closed the door and walked closer, lowering his voice as he leaned in. "Good morning, better half."
"Morning, my man," Zhan replied casually, still drying himself.
"Did you just wake up, baby man?" Yibo asked with a grin.
"Yeah."
"Had breakfast yet?"
Zhan shook his head. "Not yet, I will soon." His answers were short and dry. He began rubbing lotion onto his skin.
Yibo smiled faintly. "Okay. I'll go shower. I'm not going to work today anyway....we've got the whole day to ourselves." He bent and kissed Zhan's neck. "Unless, of course, we get interrupted again…"
Their eyes met briefly in the mirror. Zhan smiled faintly....one that didn't quite reach his eyes....and went back to what he was doing.
Yibo glanced down. "Wait, is your period over?"
Zhan chuckled softly. "Not yet."
"Alright," Yibo said with a sigh, heading for the door.
Zhan followed him with his gaze through the mirror, his eyes cold. When Yibo closed the door behind him, Zhan felt his chest tighten painfully. He blinked hard, refusing to cry.
He finished dressing, sat on the edge of the bed, and stared blankly into space for a long while. Then he heard the rain start outside....the gentle tapping against the windows.
He stood, closed the slightly open window, and left the room, heading quietly to the living room.
Zhan went into the kitchen to get the breakfast he had prepared for himself. Just as he was stepping out into the sitting room, Yibo appeared from his room.
Zhan gave him a brief glance and then sat on the carpet with his breakfast. Yibo walked over and sat directly in front of him, looking at him.
"So, where's mine?" he asked.
Zhan lifted his eyes lazily. "I thought you'd already eaten before coming back. I wasn't expecting you. I figured you'd go straight to the hospital and not return until evening."
Yibo's tone softened. "So that's why you didn't make breakfast for me?"
Zhan nodded.
Yibo leaned a little closer. "Then what are you going to do with me now that I'm here?"
Zhan lowered his head. "You'll have to wait until lunch. There isn't much here."
Yibo studied his face...Zhan was completely serious. Zhan avoided his gaze and continued eating. When he looked up again, Yibo was still watching him.
"Or," Zhan said quietly, "you can make yourself some tea before I cook lunch."
Yibo gave a small smile. "I'll just wait for lunch."
With that, he stood up and turned on the TV. Zhan quickly finished his fried potatoes and eggs, then took his plate back to the kitchen. Yibo followed him with his eyes the whole time.
When Zhan came out again, he sat beside Yibo and said softly, "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me around two so I can make lunch."
"Okay, dear," Yibo replied gently.
He stood and walked to his room, locking the door behind him. Inside, he felt a surge of frustration and helpless anger towards Yibo that he couldn't explain. He threw himself onto the bed, pulled the duvet over his head, and blinked back the tears that stung his eyes.
- - -
Around four in the afternoon, Lan Yi stepped out of her room when she heard someone calling from the sitting room. To her surprise, it was Granny Ai, drenched from the heavy rain.
Lan Yi gasped. "Auntie! You came through this rain?"
Granny Ai gave her a tired look. "You can see I'm soaked, can't you? I came all the way from Tianjin. Honestly, I'm exhausted...this family's troubles never end. It's always one problem after another, as if we committed some great crime. The Xiao family never behaves like this."
"And if you're tired of living with Qiren, you could at least end things with dignity! I swear, I was about to have my tea with bread and eggs when Qiren called me, fuming, saying you accused him of being ungrateful....that you forgets every good thing he've done. He sounded so angry, I didn't even get to drink my tea before I rushed here like a madwoman."
"And to make matters worse," she went on, shaking her head, "the car broke down halfway through the journey...in the middle of nowhere! We were stuck on the roadside for over three hours, trying to fix that useless vehicle. Thank goodness nothing bad happened to us there. Now I'm cold, soaked, and starving. Honestly, what kind of test is this, Lan Yi? What happened between you and Qiren this time?"
Lan Yi sighed deeply. "He didn't tell you I asked him to pack up and move to his new wife's house?"
Granny Ai's eyes widened. "What? You mean you've decided to hand your husband over to that woman? I can't believe this, Lan Yi. I never thought you, of all people, would give up so easily. Since when did you lose your sense? Are you really doing this because of jealousy? You're acting like a teenager, not a woman with grown children....two already married, and a third one about to be!"
Lan Yi stayed silent, her face tight with frustration.
Granny Ai sighed, shaking her head. "Let me change these wet clothes before I catch a cold. We can keep arguing all you want, but i don't want to fall sick."
She went to her usual guest room to change, then headed to Qiren's section of the house. The two of them soon came back together into the sitting room. Granny Ai called out to Lan Yi, who came reluctantly and sat stiffly on a single chair.
Granny Ai's voice softened but carried weight. "Lan Yi, you've raised grown children...two married, another nearly there. How could you let yourself behave like this now? After all these years, you've turned yourself into a troublemaker in your own marriage? What happened to your patience and grace?"
Lan Yi looked away. "There's no need to drag this out, Aunty. I just want peace. I told Qiren to move in with his wife and leave me the house. I'm done. If he wants to divorce me, so be it. I've endured enough....being dumb, silenced, disrespected. And for what? Because I told him our son won't marry that woman's daughter? I didn't insult him; I didn't even raise my voice. I just said my piece and left. But he followed me into my room, trying to force his will on me. I'm tired, Aunty. If she makes him happy, let him go live with her."
Granny Ai let out a long sigh and held her head. "Oh heavens, I've finally had enough of all this."
Qiren just sat there, quietly staring at Lan Yi. Granny Ai turned toward her and said, "Lan Yi, if you've lost your mind, at least Qiren hasn't. You two have been married peacefully for nearly forty years without anyone ever hearing of a quarrel, and now...now you've both decided to act like children? Is this really what you want Zhan and Yibo to imitate?"
Lan Yi cut her off, her tone sharp. "Let me tell you, Yibo would never dare take another spouse while I'm alive. Not Yibo, not any of my sons! None of them will ever think of taking a second wife, not while I breathe. I'd rather they learn justice and loyalty, not repeat their father's mistakes. I've done them a favor, really."
Qiren was still silent, just watching her, his jaw tight. Granny Ai shook her head and said, "But what injustice are you even talking about? Qiren doesn't deny you food, or comfort, or respect. He hasn't steal your days with his second wife, and look at this house....you live comfortably, with every luxury. So tell me, what wrong has he done to you? And it's not as if you and Xuxui live under the same roof. There's no favoritism here."
Lan Yi didn't reply. She wiped at the tears forming in her eyes. Granny Ai turned to Qiren and said, "And you, Qiren....your temper is another problem. You insist that Hai Kuan must marry Xuxui's daughter, even though you know your wife can't stand the thought. You know how women are, jealousy runs deep, but even so, she's been trying to hold it in."
Qiren spoke at last. "Then tell me, exactly what has Xuxui done to her that she still refuses to accept her after all this time?"
Granny Ai responded sharply, "She married her husband, of course! Is there any offense greater than that?"
Lan Yi stood abruptly, brushing away her tears. "Aunt Ai, let him just divorce me and leave this house to me. I'm done. I don't want this marriage anymore." She turned and disappeared into her room.
Granny Ai lowered her voice and said softly to Qiren, "Qiren, please be patient. If she truly didn't love you, she wouldn't be reacting this way. You know how we women are....when jealousy takes hold, reason flies out the window. You made her share what she thought was hers alone; she wasn't prepared for that. It's broken her spirit. Be gentle with her, let things go for now. In a year or two, you'll see...she'll come around. You've shared a lifetime together; you know each other's ways. Don't let a second marriage destroy what decades have built."
"I've noticed how you've started snapping at her lately, humiliating her in front of others. You never used to be like that, Qiren. This new marriage has changed you....it's softened you toward Xuxui but hardened you toward Lan Yi. That's why she feels unwanted, like you're only staying with her out of duty to the children. She can feel it, Qiren. And that hurts her more than anything."
Qiren said nothing, quietly listening as Granny Ai spoke.
Finally, she rose from her seat and sighed. "I need to eat something before my stomach turns on me. We'll talk again later, properly."
With that, she walked out of the sitting room. Qiren sat still for a few more minutes, staring blankly into space, before he finally stood and made his way toward Lan Yi's room.
***
Around six in the evening, Zhan stepped out of the kitchen after finishing dinner. The rain was still falling, though not as heavily as before, and the cold air filled the house. He felt feverish....his body had been aching since noon, and the chill only made it worse.
When he got to the living room, Yibo wasn't there. He was about to head to his room when a knock came at the front door. Zhan turned toward the sound, frowning. He vaguely remembered Yibo sending the security guard on an errand earlier, but he hadn't paid attention to what it was for.
Zhan walked to the door and opened it....only to freeze.
Standing in the doorway was Min, completely drenched from head to toe. A child clung to her back, wailing, while another sat on her shoulder, crying as well. Both were soaked, their small bodies trembling from the cold.
Min looked straight at Zhan, her tone sharp and full of pride. "Move. We're coming in."
Zhan didn't budge from the doorway. "This isn't your house, so no....you're not coming in."
Min gave a short, mocking laugh and looked him over. "You're right....it's not my house. But it's not yours either. It's their house." She tilted her head toward the crying twins. "And no one....no one....has the right to stop them from entering their father's home."
Zhan's expression hardened. "Then let me show you exactly what I'm capable of, because you're not stepping one foot inside. For your information, this is my house too. The documents have both my name and Yibo's on them. And just so you know, I'm now the sole heir to the Xiao family wealth....meaning I'm richer than your so-called ex-husband, if I want... I can buy multiple houses that."
Min laughed again, still rocking little A-Yuan, who coughed between sobs. A-Muan, on her back, was coughing too. She stared at Zhan with that same mocking smile. "You know, when I saw you in Tianjin, I thought you'd be pregnant by now, carrying Yibo's twins or something. Turns out you're not even capable of giving him a child, and yet you dare to keep him away from the ones I gave him? You really think you can separate a father from his children? Are you out of your mind?"
Zhan folded his arms, his voice calm but sharp. "You should've left your madness behind in Beijing. Because only a fool would drag two toddlers out in the rain, just to make a scene. And for the record, you're not even married to him anymore. You came all the way here for what...sympathy? Pathetic."
Min let out a loud, bitter laugh. "I promise you this, Zhan....if Yibo doesn't take me back as his wife and the mother of his twins, then one of two things will happen: either he dies, or you do, before you ever witness him sending me away for good. I gave him twins, and you....well, you can't even give him one."
Just then, Yibo rushed into the living room, alarmed by the raised voices. He stopped cold when he saw Min and the drenched children. Without hesitation, he hurried over, his face tight with anger and worry.
"What's wrong with you, Min? Are you insane?" he snapped, reaching to take A-Yuan from her arms. "Why would you bring my kids out in this weather?"
Min didn't respond. She simply unstrapped A-Muan from her back and set the boy on her shoulder. Yibo turned quickly and headed toward the living room with A-Yuan in his arms, trying to get the child into dry clothes.
Min smirked, shooting Zhan a taunting look before following behind Yibo.
But Zhan stepped forward, blocking the doorway. His voice was firm and cold. "Take them wherever you want, but they're not stepping into my house."
Yibo froze, staring at him in disbelief. "Are you kidding me right now?"
Zhan met his gaze steadily. "I've never been more serious. And if you insist on letting them in, then you might as well stay with her.... because once she steps through that door, I'm done."
Yibo stood there, stunned, the weight of Zhan's words hanging heavy in the air.
"Zhan…" he finally said, his voice low, caught between anger and disbelief.
Zhan didn't look at him; he was on the verge of slamming the living-room door when Yibo stopped him. "Let me get my car key," Yibo said. He set the crying child he'd been holding down on the balcony floor, walked around Zhan, and re-entered the living room. Min gave Zhan a mocking smile and said, full of scorn, "If you think you know everything, think again. You can try to keep them out of the house, but to Yibo those children matter. I promise you....he values them more than you. We matter to him far more than you do."
Yibo coming out made Min fall silent; she rocked the boy on her back while she followed Yibo toward the parking area, still keeping Zhan in her sights. "You'll apologize when you see him," she said. "If you had any sense you'd realize his kids are more important to him. You can stop us entering the house....not him taking us somewhere safe."
Zhan slammed the living-room door and leaned against it, feeling tears prick his eyes as he tried to steady his breathing.
At the car, Yibo opened the back seat and gently laid A-Yuan down. He reached for Min's hand. "Let me take him," he said.
Min carefully unstrapped A-Muan from her back and handed him to Yibo. He placed both boys side by side in the back of the car. Min went to climb in, but Yibo cut her off, speaking tightly: "Don't you dare get in my car."
She stared at him, stunned....she hadn't expected that. Then she heard Yibo calling the security guard at the gate; the guard hurried over. "Open the gate," Yibo ordered. "I'm leaving. Make sure you remove this woman from the property, and never open the gate for her again."
Min stood there speechless, mouth open. She glanced toward the house to see if Zhan was watching; when she saw Zhan wasn't standing at the living-room door, she spun away and ran for the street. She stopped at the gate and called after Yibo, voice pleading, "I don't understand....why won't you let me in, Yibo? Those are my children. They need me. At least hear me out...let me explain why I had to come....."
Yibo's car roared away before she could finish. Shocked and hurt, she followed the car for a moment with her eyes until it turned the corner.
- - - -
Lan Yi jumped up and rushed for the boys when Yibo returned to the living room with A-Muan in his arms. "Where did you get them soaked like this? Where did you find them?" she demanded, taking A-Muan from him immediately.
Granny Ai, aghast, covered her mouth. "They're soaked through.... where did you pick them up?" she cried. The house felt cold; Lan Yi hurried with A-Muan to her room to dry him off, while Granny Ai took A-Yuan. Yibo sat down, lost in thought, and the women immediately stripped the children of their wet clothes and dried them. Thankfully, there were spare outfits at the house....clothes Dr. Jing mother-in-law had brought when the babies were taken to Beijing... so the children were dressed, massaged with oil, and comforted. Their little noses were still blocked by the cold; they were warm now but weak and coughing. Lan Yi and Granny Ai watched them with exhausted, worried eyes.
Granny Ai broke down. "Why would Min bring them out in the rain like that? Why would she risk the babies....especially since they were supposed to be in Beijing?" she demanded. "Did she come out on purpose, to make trouble? How did she even know your house?"
Yibo let out a long breath. "I don't know," he said.
Granny Ai's voice trembled with anger and fear. "Still, you took them into the rain to bring them here? Why didn't you take them inside your house to Zhan, he can helped at once...he's a nurse and could have given them immediate care. But because you went into the rain with them, they're like this. My chest tightens just looking at them....coughing, burning with fever. How can Min be so careless? She could have killed them."
Yibo explained, briefly and calmly, what had happened since last night: Min's arrival in Guangzhou with the twins and the events that followed....except he left out what Zhan had done earlier. He stayed focused on the children, on getting them warm and monitored, while Lan Yi and Granny Ai fussed over them, stabilizing them as best they could.
Lan Yi was completely at a loss for words; she fell silent, standing at her bedroom door. Granny Ai said, "You see, it's no use. You should go out again in the rain and find medicine for their cold and fever. I swear, it's no joke; they are drenched, even their diapers are soaked. Lan Yi, you should rub their bodies with oil." Just then, the living room door opened, and Min came in, drenched. She staggered, leaning against the doorframe, standing like a hypocrite; water was dripping from her body.
Granny Ai rolled her eyes. "You see the wretched one? So, you followed us here? Men, get out! Let me not call the guards to throw this windy woman out for me. Even if you Didn't you give birth to those children? You wouldn't enter the rain with them, let alone give birth to them. I've never seen a mother's wretchedness except in you, since my mother gave birth to me."
Min whispered, "Granny, I swear I wouldn't deliberately enter the rain with my children. I was calling him, but he wouldn't pick up, and all the children are unwell; that's why I came with them to where he is..."
Yibo, with his temper rising, kept looking at her, trying to control himself. Lan Yi turned and entered her bedroom. Granny Ai went to the door and said in a sharp voice, "Get out, you windy woman! Who do you think you're explaining to as if you were asked? You and these children, you'll never have them again. Get out before I call the guards to throw you out."
Min just shuffled her feet, looking at Granny Ai. Yibo nodded quickly, hearing Lan Yi calling for him, and headed to the room. Granny Ai also rolled her eyes, turned, and quickly followed him. Min's stomach sank completely upon hearing how Lan Yi had called for Yibo...it wasn't good. Before she knew it, she also hurried to the room. She widened her eyes and clutched her chest, seeing A-Muan in a convulsive state; Yibo was holding him, trying to give him first aid. She let out a scream, rushed into the room in a panic, put her hand to her mouth, crouched in front of them, and said, "My life is ruined! For goodness sake, Yibo, nothing should go wrong with my son!"
No one noticed her presence because all of Lan Yi and Granny Ai's attention was terribly shaken. Granny Ai just paced the room, reciting prayers. After some minutes, the child came to, but he was still listless, just like A-Yuan, who was in Lan Yi's arms, was also listless. It was then that Granny Ai's attention returned to Min, who was crouched near Yibo, her whole body trembling. She opened her mouth and said, "Who brought her in here? When did she come in here...?"
Quickly, Granny Ai grabbed Lan Yi's clothes from the bed and started hitting Min with all her strength, saying, "You wicked girl, get up and get out! Who brought you in? Get out, you windy woman!" Min stood up, shuffling her feet, headed for the door, and left the room, still calling for A-Muan. Lan Yi, whose mind was still agitated, said, "Yibo, should we go to the hospital?"
Slowly, Yibo said, "I'll go out and buy medicine for them now. If we go, they will be still given medicine." He headed for the door, and left the room. Min, who was standing in the living room, had tears streaming down her face. She quickly crouched in front of him and said, "Please, Yibo, don't let anything happen to my children, please!" Yibo didn't even look at her; he left the living room, trying to control his temper...
It didn't take long for Yibo to return home after going to the pharmacy to buy medicine for them. Even then, Min was crouched in the living room; her eyes were swollen from crying. She looked at him, her voice trembling. "Please, Yibo, let me stay close to my children; they are unwell. Let them feel my warmth, please."
Yibo didn't even look at her. He finished entering the room, set down the bag of medicine in his hand, Cerelac and milk he had bought for them. He went to the children and looked at them...
Lan Yi turned and looked at Yibo. He crouched, his head at the edge of the bed on his knees, hugged A-Muan's body, and closed his eyes. Lan Yi stare at them just as Granny Ai also came in. Lan Yi went to Yibo. When he opened his eyes, he shook his head strongly. Lan Yi come closer to him. Slowly, he sat on the carpet, still hugging the child body, looking at him. Barely, Lan Yi could say, "Did you give them the medicine?"
He shook his head at her with great emotion. "He's gone."
The sharp sound reached Granny Ai's ears; she dropped what was in her hand and let out a loud scream. "To God we belong and to Him we shall return! He's dead? You say, Yibo?"
In a panic, Min entered the room upon hearing Granny Ai uttering the word 'death'. She put her hand to her mouth, let out a loud scream, her body trembling. She rushed to Yibo, crouched in front of him, and tried to take A-Muan from his arms. He pushed her away from him, looking at her with red eyes. Slowly, Lan Yi sat on the edge of the bed; tears fell from her eyes as she looked at A-Muan, who was in Yibo's arms; he was still hugging him.
Despite the cries Granny Ai was wailing, it didn't stop her from driving Min out of Lan Yi's room like a dog; she picked up Lan Yi's phone charger and started stabbing her with it, saying, "Get out! Give us space! You've killed one; your mind should be at rest now!"
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛