Once Xuxui ended her phone call, she set the phone beside her. Granny Ai turned to her and asked, "Is everything alright? What happened?"
Aunty Marquis glanced at her, curious, since they had all heard bits of the conversation. Xuxui looked at Granny Ai and said quietly, "It was Linxia's aunt. She said they've both been sick since morning."
Granny Ai frowned. "I thought I heard you say one of them fainted?"
Xuxui nodded. "Yes, that's right."
Granny Ai sank onto the edge of the couch, her face full of concern. "So they weren't feeling well before?"
Xuxui shook her head. "They were perfectly fine when they left Beijing."
Aunty Marquis murmured, "I hope they recover soon." Lan Yi and Zhe's mother both echoed her wish for quick recovery, and Xuxui softly replied, "I hope so too, thank you."
Granny Ai said, "But really, their aunt should have handled things first before calling to worry you.... unless she's young. Otherwise, she should've just taken care of them since she's like a mother to them too."
Xuxui sighed. "It happened in the morning, but she only told me now."
Granny Ai asked, "They're at the hospital, right?"
"Yes, they are."
Granny Ai shook her head. "Still, she shouldn't have upset you with such news while you're already dealing with so much here. Are both of them sick?"
Xuxui nodded again. "Yes, Linyue was the first. They're always like that.... if one falls ill, the other soon follows."
Granny Ai asked, "But they don't usually faint, do they?"
Lan Yi turned her face away silently, while Aunty Marquis propped her chin in her hand, listening with frustration. The way Granny Ai kept asking questions, one after another, made her seem like a retired journalist.
Xuxui replied, "No, never before.... that's exactly why she called me."
Granny Ai said, "Try not to worry. It's probably just a change in water or weather. Maybe the tap water there is different. I remember when I first came to Tianjin.....I kept getting mild fevers until I adjusted. But now I'm fine, no headaches, nothing. How long are they staying in Xiamen?"
Xuxui wasn't even hearing her anymore; her mind was far away. Her thoughts were completely on her twin girls. It was so rare for them to fall sick, and the idea that they had fainted....something that had never happened before.... terrified her. Granny Ai's voice snapped her back. "How many days have they been in Xiamen?"
"Two days," Xuxui replied.
Granny Ai nodded. "Then don't worry, they'll be fine by tomorrow. It's just adjustment."
Xuxui managed a weak smile. "I hope so."
Granny Ai sighed. "It's no small thing. I noticed when you came in that your energy was low. No wonder....your twins are unwell, and you feel it in your body. May they recover soon. We already lost our own twins forever because of cruelty....may they rest in peace." Her eyes filled with tears as she said it.
Xuxui whispered softly, "Amen."
Then Granny Ai began telling her about how A-Yuan and his twin had passed away.
Not long after, Lan Yi went out to see off a visitor, and Aunty Marquis got up to help Bing in the kitchen with dinner. Granny Ai watched her go, then muttered, "Let me check what's cooking. It's getting late, and I haven't smelled anything on the stove yet."
She stood and went to the kitchen. Stepping inside, she passed Aunty Marquis and saw Zhan cooking beside them, smiling. "Well, let me look at that," she teased, "two dinners tonight?"
Aunty Marquis chuckled. "No, ours is right here. That one...he's cooking for his husband."
Granny Ai looked between the two pots, shaking her head. "So you won't let your husband to eat the food we non-special eat, hm? Let me at least help you chop the green peppers so I can have one plate here."
Aunty Marquis just shook her head and stirred her soup, smiling.
After Granny Ai left the sitting room, Lan Yi returned from seeing her guest off. She told Xuxui to come upstairs with her, then went up first. Xuxui quickly called Linyue's aunt again.
"Can I speak to them?" she asked when the call connected.
"The girls are asleep now," the aunt replied.
"Wake Linyue, please," Xuxui said. "Let me talk to her."
The woman did as asked. Hearing her daughter's voice over the line only made Xuxui more anxious. Something about it didn't feel right....it was so unlike them. Since the day they were born, they had never fainted. The unease had followed her since she left Beijing and only deepened now that she was in Guangzhou.
Just as she ended the call and started dialing again, Hai Kuan walked into the sitting room. He came over, greeted her, and sat down.
She smiled faintly. "I thought you were still in Tianjin."
He shook his head. "No, I'm here."
She asked gently, "How's your work?"
"Better," he said.
After a pause, she looked up and asked, "Hai Kuan, do you think I can still get a flight to Beijing tonight?"
He blinked. "You're going back to Beijing, Aunty?"
She nodded slowly. "I just got a call....Linxia and Linyue are both sick and in the hospital. It's not like them at all..."
Hai Kuan asked, "What happened to them?"
Xuxui replied, "They went out early in the morning to visit a salon, and on the way, Linyue fainted. Before they even reached the hospital, Linxia passed out too. I just got the call a few minutes ago."
Hai Kuan was silent for a moment, then said gently, "They'll be fine, Aunty. But maybe you should wait and take the morning flight."
"Please just check if there's any flight tonight," she said quickly.
Without another word, Hai Kuan pulled out his phone and began searching for available flights to Beijing. Xuxui stood up and said, "Before that, let me call your father."
"Alright," he replied.
She stepped out into the compound, dialed Qiren's number, and hoped he was still home. When he answered, she greeted him and explained that she was planning to return to Beijing and why.
Qiren listened quietly before responding, "They're in Xiamen, right? Even if you go back to Beijing tonight, it won't make much difference. Better to wait until tomorrow and take the morning flight."
She didn't answer right away, so Qiren added, "But if going back tonight will help you feel calmer, that's fine. Let me know if you get a seat."
"Alright, thank you," she said softly.
When she returned to the living room, she looked at Hai Kuan. "Did you find one?"
"Yes," he replied. "But the plane leaves in thirty minutes. It's not even full yet....they're boarding soon."
"Then I'll go tell your mother," she said and went upstairs to Lan Yi's room.
After explaining everything, Lan Yi said, "I hope the twins recover soon."
Xuxui nodded. "I hope so."
Lan Yi asked, "You managed to get a flight tonight?"
"Yes, Hai Kuan said it's about to take off."
Lan Yi sighed in relief. "Good. Let him take you to the airport right away. But you won't reach Xiamen tonight.... once you land in Beijing it'll be too late to travel further."
"I'll wait until morning," Xuxui said quietly.
"Alright. Safe journey then," Lan Yi replied.
Xuxui smiled faintly. "I just hope you're not upset I'm missing the memorial gathering."
Lan Yi shook her head. "Of course not.... you have a valid reason. I just hope the girls recover soon."
Xuxui nodded. "Thank you."
As she came downstairs with Lan Yi, Granny Ai was coming out of the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw Xuxui with a small travel bag in her hand. "Where are you off to, Xuxui? Don't tell me you're heading back to Beijing tonight?"
Xuxui smiled. "There's a flight."
Granny Ai frowned. "You won't have peace of mind until you see those girls yourself, will you? I understand....after all, we lost our own twins to cruelty, and they're gone forever. I hope your daughters recover quickly. Please give them my love, and if I can, I'll come visit them in Beijing myself."
Xuxui only smiled at her words. Zhan came forward to take her bag. Everyone followed her out to the compound where Hai Kuan was already waiting with the car engine running.
Xuxui turned to Granny Ai. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer for the gathering."
Granny Ai waved her hand. "It's alright. We understand. Just have a safe trip, and may the twins recover soon."
Xuxui said her goodbyes to Lan Yi and Aunty Marquis, then turned to Zhan, who still held her bag.
"Take care, Aunty," Zhan said softly.
"Thank you, Zhan," Xuxui replied, patting his shoulder. "Please stay calm and live peacefully, alright? I know Yibo isn't a difficult man. Be good to each other, and may your marriage be blessed with children."
Zhan lowered his eyes shyly. Xuxui smiled again, then got into the car.
Hai Kuan drove her to the airport. When they arrived, she told him not to bother coming inside since he wanted to escort her all the way in. Holding her small handbag, she said, "You've sent me the ticket on WhatsApp, right?"
"Yes, I have," he replied.
"How much was it?"
"I just saw an alert...Baba transferred the money already. But the ticket cost…"
"Oh, alright," she said quickly. "We'll talk later."
"Have a safe trip," he said.
"Thank you."
He waited until she had entered the terminal before driving away.
Inside the airport, the announcement came that the plane was already depart three minutes ago. She sat down for a moment, deep in thought. She knew she wouldn't be able to rest until she saw her girls. In her mind, she was already planning: as soon as she landed in Beijing, she would head straight to Xiamen.
She knew if she told Qiren that, he would insist she stay in Beijing, so she quietly switched her phone to flight mode and slipped it into her handbag.
- - -
By eight o'clock, Yibo returned to the living room after seeing off some colleagues who had come to visit and offer their condolence. Not finding his Baby there, he went upstairs. He hadn't seen Zhan since morning.
He opened the bedroom door and found Zhan lying down, half asleep.
Walking closer, Yibo bent slightly and whispered, "Baby."
Zhan blinked his eyes open, then quickly sat up. "You're back?" he murmured.
"Are you tired?" Yibo asked.
"My head hurts a little," Zhan admitted softly. "But I took some medicine....it's better now."
Yibo pressed his palm gently against Zhan's forehead. "You'll be fine soon. We'll go home tomorrow, alright?"
Zhan smiled faintly. "Should I bring your dinner now?"
"I'll take a shower first," Yibo said, standing.
Zhan rose too. "Do you want to use my bathroom?"
Yibo smirked slightly. "Only if we shower together."
Zhan pouted, pretending to glare at him.
"Fine," Yibo teased. "No shower, no dinner either."
"You're impossible," Zhan said, laughing softly.
"I'll take off your shirt," Yibo whispered playfully, "then you can return the favor."
Zhan gave him a look, blushing slightly, and began unbuttoning Yibo's shirt slowly as Yibo watched him.
- - -
Later that night, around ten, Qiren was sitting in his study when Lan Yi came in carrying a cup of black tea. She set it down beside him and sat.
"I've been calling Xuxui's number," she said, "but I still can't reach her. I just hope she got home safely. Any news about the twins?"
"I tried her line too," Qiren said. "Probably a network issue…"
Lan Yi frowned. "Then call the housekeeper."
She got up to fetch some chilled watermelon from the fridge. While she was gone, Qiren's phone began to ring. Seeing Xuxui's name on the screen, he quickly answered and brought it to his ear....
Qiren carefully set down his mug of black tea and slowly rose to his feet. His phone was still pressed to his ear, the voice on the other end calling, "Hello? Hello?"
He didn't answer. After a few seconds, the line went dead. Qiren stared blankly at the phone screen, unmoving.
A moment later, Lan Yi came into the sitting room carrying a plate of watermelon. She placed it on the table and sat beside him, watching his face before glancing at the phone in his hand. "Is something wrong?" she asked quietly.
Qiren turned to look at her but said nothing. The silence made Lan Yi's heart skip. She forced a nervous smile. "What is it, Qiren? What happened?"
He looked away. Then the phone in his hand rang again. Lan Yi glanced at the caller ID....Xuxui. She looked up at him questioningly. He handed her the phone.
"I don't understand," she said, frowning. "Why are you giving it to me?"
Qiren didn't answer. Instead, he accepted the call himself, switched to speaker, and set the phone gently on the table.
A man's voice came through. He introduced himself briefly, and Lan Yi felt her chest tighten even before he finished.
He explained that the owner of the phone....Xuxui....had been in a road accident. The crash had happened near Tianjin while a public bus was traveling from Guangzhou to Beijing.
Lan Yi's hands trembled. She rose abruptly, her voice shaking as she asked what hospital they had taken her to. The man continued, explaining that Xuxui and two other survivors had been taken to Hospital 44 in Tianjin for treatment.
Qiren sat in silence, his expression unreadable, while Lan Yi stood frozen, struggling to steady her breath. When the call ended, she turned to him anxiously. "We need to go to Tianjin now, don't we?"
He exhaled slowly. "It's already late," he said quietly. "We'll leave tomorrow morning."
Lan Yi shook her head firmly. "Wait until morning? No. Hai Kuan can drive at night. You can go now.... I can come tomorrow."
Qiren didn't respond.
"In case she needs something urgent," Lan Yi insisted, "you should be there tonight."
Without waiting for his answer, she rushed out of the sitting room and went upstairs to Hai Kuan's room. He wasn't there. She hurried back downstairs, nearly colliding with Yibo, who had just stepped out of his room holding a small bag of medicine....something he had bought for Zhan, who was running a fever.
He froze when he saw her pale, frantic face. "What happened?" he asked.
"An accident," Lan Yi said breathlessly. "Xuxui was on a bus to Beijing....it crashed near Tianjin. Where's Hai Kuan?"
Right then, Hai Kuan came out of the kitchen holding a cup of tea. Lan Yi turned toward him and explained everything quickly. He was stunned, speechless for a moment. "An accident?" he managed to whisper.
"Yes," she said. "Qiren just got the call. I told him you can drive at night so you should go now."
Hai Kuan sank into the nearest chair, the shock weighing heavy on him.
Moments later, Qiren came downstairs. Hai Kuan stood immediately, grabbed his car keys and ATM card, and signaled he was ready.
Yibo, pale and shaken, handed Lan Yi the medicine bag. "It's for Zhan....he's still running a temperature. Let me go with them."
Lan Yi took the bag and nodded. "Be careful. I'll come by morning."
Yibo didn't reply, just followed Qiren and Hai Kuan as they left the house. Lan Yi watched them from the courtyard until the car disappeared through the gate. Only then did she turn back inside, feeling weak and cold.
She sat in the sitting room for a long while, staring into nothing. Finally, she rose and went upstairs, still holding the small bag of medicine.
She opened Zhan's door quietly. He was lying under the duvet, even his head covered. Lan Yi sat down beside him and gently pulled the blanket away from his face. His skin was flushed with fever. Slowly, he opened his eyes and, realizing she was there, he clutched the duvet tighter around himself, becouse he was naked under the duvet. "Mama," he murmured hoarsely.
"Here," she said softly, taking the medicine out of the bag. "You need to take this."
She unwrapped the tablets one by one, placed them in his hand, and handed him a bottle of water she'd found on his table.
Zhan swallowed the pills, drained the water, and sank back onto the bed.
"Rest now," Lan Yi whispered, brushing his hair gently from his forehead.
He closed his eyes, already half-asleep. She stayed there watching him until his breathing evened out, then quietly turned off the light and left.
Back in her room, Lan Yi couldn't sleep. She lay awake, restless and uneasy, checking her phone every few minutes. She didn't tell Granny Ai or Aunty Marquis what had happened... they were both asleep in the next room.
Every hour or so, she called Yibo to check on them. Around 1 a.m., he finally texted back:
We just reached Tianjin. We're close to the hospital.
Lan Yi sat back, eyes burning, whispering to herself, "Please… let her be all right."
- - -
When Qiren and the others arrived at the hospital, they weren't allowed into the emergency room where Xuxui was being treated....she was still in a coma. They waited anxiously in the corridor until dawn.
A few minutes before seven, a doctor approached them. Looking at Qiren, he asked, "You're her husband, correct?"
"Yes," Qiren replied quietly.
"Please, come to my office," the doctor said.
Qiren followed him inside. The doctor sat down and spoke gravely. "She suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. It was a hard impact to the head. Aside from that, there are no major external injuries. Once she regains full consciousness, we'll know if she feels pain anywhere else. Unfortunately, the other passengers brought in with her didn't survive. We're scheduling a CT scan now to assess the extent of the brain damage so we can plan the next step."
Qiren swallowed hard. "But she's awake now?"
"Barely," the doctor replied. "Not fully conscious yet. Does she have children?"
"She does," Qiren said softly.
The doctor nodded. "She mentioned a girl's name...Linyue? I recognized it because it's my own daughter's name. If possible, bring her children here later. Familiar voices might help."
Qiren took a deep breath. "Can I see her now, Doctor?"
"Of course," the doctor said, standing. "They'll be moving her soon for the CT scan, but you can see her briefly."
Qiren followed him down the corridor to the emergency room. Two nurses were still working beside the bed. He moved closer, his heart twisting. Despite what the doctor had said, there was almost no visible injury on her body....no bruises, no bandages, nothing that showed what she'd been through.
He leaned over her and called her name softly. Her eyelids fluttered as though she was trying to open them, but the effort seemed to exhaust her. Her hand moved weakly until it found his, gripping tightly.
With a trembling voice, she whispered, "Qiren… my daughters… They lost their father when they were still little. I'm all they have. There's no one else for them."
"Stay strong, Xuxui," Qiren said, forcing steadiness into his voice. "You'll be fine. Just hold on."
She smiled faintly. "I will," she murmured. "For them. I'll stay strong for the girls."
The doctor glanced at Qiren and spoke gently. "She needs to rest now. Please, step outside for a while."
Without protest, Qiren turned and walked out. He sat down in the corridor, elbows on his knees, hands covering his face. His thoughts swirled painfully. He couldn't stop hearing her words.... my daughters… they have no one else.
He thought about all she had told him before. After her first husband's death, his relatives had taken everything.... his property, his business.... leaving her with almost nothing but her two daughters. She had fought hard to raise them alone, relying only on her late mother's sister, who had passed away a few years later.
Xuxui had survived through determination alone, working endlessly to give her girls a decent life. Even though her late husband's family had treated her unfairly, she never kept the children away from them. She would send them to visit occasionally, even knowing they weren't welcomed warmly. She used to say, "They need to know where they come from," even if it hurt her.
Sitting there in the sterile hospital corridor, Qiren felt his chest tighten. His mind drifted back to how they'd met....through a mutual friend at his workplace. She had been supplying goods to the company, quiet and reserved, never one to talk much. At first, she'd refused his proposal, saying marriage wasn't on her mind....she just wanted to focus on her daughters in boarding school. But fate had its way, and within a week of meeting, they were married.
In all the months they'd been together, Qiren couldn't think of a single moment she had wronged him. Xuxui was the kind of woman any man would hope to have as a partner....calm, warm, endlessly patient. Even when she was upset, she never raised her voice, never showed resentment. Sometimes, he'd find himself amazed by her gentle strength. It reminded him of how life with Lan Yi used to be, before everything between them quietly changed. The only difference was that Lan Yi would express her anger when hurt, while Xuxui would swallow it and smile instead.
Lost in thought, Qiren sat motionless, praying silently in his heart for her to pull through. He thought the doctors were too slow, too calm. If it came to it, he told himself, he'd take her abroad for treatment...even if it cost him everything. As long as she lived, nothing else mattered.
He was still deep in thought when the same doctor emerged from the room. Qiren stood up quickly, searching the doctor's face for a sign. But the doctor's expression said it all.
"We did everything we could," the doctor said softly. "But we lost her."
The words hit him like a physical blow. The doctor gave a brief nod and walked away, leaving Qiren standing there, motionless, as though the world around him had stopped.
He stared at the floor, unblinking, trying to understand what he had just heard. Another doctor paused beside him and murmured gently, "I'm very sorry for your loss, sir." Then he, too, walked away.
Qiren finally moved, one slow step at a time, until he reached the room. The nurses had already covered her body with a white sheet. He approached the bed, his legs trembling, and pulled the sheet back just enough to see her face.
Her skin was pale, peaceful....almost as if she were only sleeping. He bent closer, voice shaking.
"Xuxui…" he whispered. "You didn't deserve this. You were light....to them, to all of us.... "
Qiren couldn't hold back his tears any longer. They fell silently down his face.
***
Xuxui's death shook everyone who had known her....anyone who had ever spoken to her or shared a moment in her presence. It was hard to believe she was truly gone. Her burial took place in Tianjin, the city where her life had suddenly ended.
No matter how hard he tried to stay composed, Qiren couldn't stop crying. Even Yibo and Hai Kuan, both usually strong and steady, were completely broken. Hai Kuan, especially....a man rarely seen in tears.... couldn't control himself. Every time he thought about the twins, Linyue and Linxia, and how they would take the news of losing their mother....the only family they truly had in the world....his chest tightened until tears returned again.
It was said that the moment they fell ill in Guangzhou was the very moment their mother passed away, as if they had felt her leaving this world.
The entire family of Xuxui's late husband was deeply shaken. None of them could recall a single wrong she had ever done. She had always been patient, calm, kind....someone who turned every hardship into quiet acceptance.
Lan Yi cried until she felt physically sick. Her blood pressure rose dangerously. She kept replaying the last time Xuxui had visited her living room, apologizing softly for not being able to stay long enough to attend the third-day memorial for Yibo's twins. That memory wouldn't leave her mind.
Granny Ai was beyond words. You could tell from her face alone that Xuxui's death had crushed her. She didn't speak....she just sat, staring at everyone in silence, eyes glassy with grief.
Zhan stayed close beside Aunty Marquis, his head down. He couldn't stop crying either. Aunty Marquis, tears streaming down her face, whispered quiet words of comfort for Xuxui's soul, her voice trembling as she spoke about what a good woman she had been.
The twins.... Linxia and Linyue.... hadn't yet been told about their mother's death. The family decided to bring them to Guangzhou first, just as Qiren had instructed, before breaking the news gently.
On the third day after Xuxui's passing, her late husband's relatives returned to Xiamen, leaving the twins behind in Guangzhou. That same day, Yisue and Granny Fang Yu also went back to Tianjin, along with Zhan's grandmother and Aunty Jin, who had come to attend the mourning.
By evening, Lan Yi was sitting quietly in the living room. Beside her, Linxia lay weakly on the couch while Yibo tried to fix the IV line in her arm....he had to move it because the first arm had swollen. Since arriving in Guangzhou and learning of their mother's passing, the twins had both fallen critically ill.
They were a heartbreaking sight. Linxia tried to be strong, but she cried softly at night when she thought no one could hear. Linyue was worse....she barely spoke, barely ate. Her silence scared everyone.
Lan Yi had finally advised Qiren to send the twins abroad for a while.... maybe the change of environment, the distance, would help them heal. Qiren agreed. He began arranging travel documents for the twins, for Lan Yi, and for Zhan to accompany them to the United States.
Lan Yi glanced at Yibo, who was still tending to Linxia's IV. "Maybe let her rest," she said gently. "You can try again later."
Yibo nodded, moved the medical line aside, and sat down. Linxia turned and rested her head on Lan Yi's lap, her breathing faint. Yibo felt an ache deep inside...seeing the girls like this broke him completely. His phone rang just then. When he looked, it was MD. He excused himself and stepped out of the living room to take the call.
Zhan watched quietly from across the room, his eyes fixed on Linxia. Just looking at the two teenage girls was enough to break anyone's heart. They were too young for such a loss, too innocent for this kind of pain. He couldn't imagine how long it would take for them to recover from their mother's death... maybe never.
Lan Yi turned to him. "Linyue's with Aunt Ai, right?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes. They're downstairs in the living room."
Lan Yi stood up and left the room, going downstairs.
Hai Kuan was sitting in the downstairs living room, gently holding Linyue in his arms as she cried quietly against his chest. Her eyes were red and swollen from days without rest. He spoke softly, trying to soothe her, patting her back in a slow, steady rhythm. She didn't respond, just nodded occasionally as tears streamed down her face.
Lan Yi stood silently by the doorway, watching them. Hai Kuan hadn't noticed her yet. On the small table beside them sat a tray of untouched food that Granny Ai had tried to feed the girl earlier. Linyue hadn't eaten anything all day.
Hai Kuan picked up the spoon and held it out gently. "Please, just a little," he said. Linyue opened her mouth weakly, letting him feed her.
Just then, Granny Ai came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl. "If she can't eat the rice," she said softly, "I made her some congee. It's light and cool now....easier for her to swallow."
Hai Kuan looked up as Granny Ai approached. She handed him the bowl, and he nodded gratefully before turning back to the fragile girl in his arms.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛