Zhan opened the car door and stepped out after Yibo parked. Zhan turned to him and said, "Maybe you should just stay, dear."
Yibo shook his head. "No, let me get it. I'll be right back. The flight isn't until six, so there's still time."
"It's just an hour and a half left," Zhan reminded him.
"Don't worry, I won't take long, hubby," Yibo replied.
Zhan smiled faintly. "Alright then, take care."
Yibo smiled back. "Always, my love."
Zhan headed for the gate, entered the house, while Yibo reversed the car and drove off.
As soon as Zhan stepped into the sitting room, he caught sight of Shenyi, who looked up from his seat. Zhan smiled at him and walked further in. "Good afternoon, Uncle," he greeted warmly.
"Afternoon," Shenyi replied, returning the smile. "How are you doing?"
"I'm well. How's Granny Wu?"
"They're doing fine. Where's Yibo?"
"He just stepped out; he'll be back soon. When did you arrive, Uncle?"
"Not too long ago. We've actually been waiting for you."
Just then, Granny Ai came down the stairs, smiling broadly, a small bowl of roasted peanuts in her hand. "Welcome, MD," she said cheerfully. "Ryu told me you both came together."
Shenyi raised his head to look at her. Zhan lowered his gaze, hiding a smile. Granny Ai sat down across from Shenyi and added, "So you're the one accompanying them abroad."
"How are you, Aunt Ai?" Shenyi greeted politely.
"I'm fine, MD. How's work?"
He smiled lightly. "It's going well."
"Good to hear."
Zhan greeted Granny Ai as well, and she asked, "Where's your husband?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned toward the staircase and called out for Linxia.
Moments later, Linyue came downstairs and stopped beside her. "I'm here, Granny Ai."
Zhan looked at her, slightly surprised at how healthy and radiant she appeared. It had only been ten days since they returned from Xiamen, but she and her twin already seemed so much better.
Granny Ai squinted at her and asked, "You're Linxia, right? Or am I calling you?"
Linyue smiled. "No, Granny, she's in the sitting room with Mama. I came instead."
"Ah, not you then," Granny Ai said dismissively, munching on her peanuts. "Go tell her I'm calling her."
Linyue glanced toward Shenyi, who was watching her, and gave him a small nod. "Good afternoon," she said politely.
He returned the gesture. "Good afternoon."
She turned to Zhan next, who answered her greeting with a soft smile. Then she headed back upstairs.
Granny Ai looked at Shenyi again. "Let me have someone bring you some water, MD."
He smiled slightly. "Aunt, my name's Shenyi."
Zhan burst out laughing unexpectedly. Granny Ai waved a hand. "I know, I know! It's just that Ryu and the others keep calling you 'MD' more than your real name!"
Shenyi leaned back in his seat and exhaled quietly, deciding not to argue further.
Granny Ai held out the bowl of peanuts. "Would you like some salted peanuts? Jin gave me these."
He shook his head politely. "No, thank you."
Zhan couldn't stop smiling. He wanted to go upstairs to greet Lan Yi, Granny Wu, and Aunt Jin, but curiosity kept him in his seat....he wanted to see what would happen once Linxia came down.
Sure enough, not long after, Linxia descended the stairs and walked toward Granny Ai. She turned to Zhan with a gentle smile. "Good afternoon, Gege."
"Good afternoon," he replied with a fond smile.
Then she turned to Shenyi, who looked slightly confused. "Good afternoon," she said simply.
Granny Ai chuckled, clearly amused. "You look puzzled, MD. They're twins, you know."
Shenyi smiled. "Ah, I thought as much."
Granny Ai nodded, still smiling. "Go bring him a drink from the kitchen, Linxia. He's Zhan uncle on his biological father's side."
Linxia turned and walked toward the kitchen. Shenyi followed her with his eyes before glancing back at Granny Ai. "No need, Aunt. I had some water before coming in. We were just waiting for Zhan so we could head to the airport."
Linxia paused at the kitchen doorway when she heard that, though she didn't turn back. Zhan smiled softly, watching the small exchange unfold.
"Oh, nonsense," Granny Ai said. "Just have a little more. Linxia, go get the water."
Shenyi chuckled lightly. "You can actually let the first one fetch the water. I can see she's more cheerful."
Linxia turned around slightly, meeting his eyes for a brief moment.
Granny Ai laughed loudly. "You're something else, MD. You're not exactly cheerful yourself....that's why I asked this one to bring the water!"
Shenyi blinked, caught off guard by her teasing tone.
Linxia soon returned with a tray of water and a drink, setting them gently in front of him before kneeling briefly. Shenyi couldn't help but watch her closely; her face was calm and serious, no trace of a smile on it.
Granny Ai sat watching them from the corner of her eye, chewing roasted peanuts with a mischievous little smile on her face. Zhan, on the other hand, found her hilarious.... the way she kept sneaking glances at them, smirking while crunching her peanuts like some bossy overseer. He couldn't help laughing so hard that he slid off the couch and sat cross-legged on the carpet.
Granny Ai shot him a mock glare. "Look at this silly boy," she scolded half-heartedly.
Just then, Linxia stood up to leave. Shenyi followed her with his eyes, saying nothing.
"Hey, come back here!" Granny Ai said quickly. "Pour it into a glass properly! Is this how you do things in Xiamen? You can't just dump the drink in front of a guest and walk away!"
Zhan laughed as he got up and headed for the stairs, not wanting to meet the sharp look Granny Ai threw at him. Linxia came back, knelt slightly in front of Shenyi, poured the drink into a glass, and lifted her gaze....only to find him still watching her. She rose quietly and left the living room, heading upstairs.
Granny Ai looked absolutely delighted. She smiled so broadly it seemed her face might split in two. Once Linxia had gone upstairs, she turned back to Shenyi and began proudly,
"She never meddles in anything that's not her business, that one. Always composed....not like her sister, who's all smiles and chatter, no restraint at all. You see this house? Every night before bed, Linxia makes sure every corner is spotless. The girl's obsessed with cleanliness, I tell you. The housemaid barely does anything anymore....Linxia handles it all herself. Her sister, that one who's always grinning like a fool? She's hopeless! Sleeps like a log, only cares about herself. If not for Lan Yi scolding her, she'd still be in bed by eleven every morning.
"Did you see how Linxia washed that glass before bringing it to you? If it were Linyue, she'd just hand it to you while smiling like a doll."
Shenyi listened with a patient smile, saying nothing. When she finally paused, he lifted his head slightly. "So… they're here on a break?"
Granny Ai went quiet for a moment, then her eyes softened. "A break?" she repeated quietly. "No, MD… they're the late Qiren's wife children. Qiren's stepdaughters. Orphans now....no mother, no father, and only those awful relatives from Xiamen who stole everything left to them. Their only support in this world now is Lan Yi, Qiren, and me. Their mother was a good woman.... every time we met, she'd press money into my hand, even that last day before she passed. We were sitting right here in this living room when someone called to tell her the children weren't feeling well. She left in a hurry... never to return."
Her voice broke, and she wiped away a tear. Shenyi felt a weight settle in his chest. He didn't know what to say at first, then finally murmured, "May their parents rest in peace."
Granny Ai sniffed and continued, her voice trembling. "And after all that, those vile relatives took Qiren to court....can you imagine? They want him completely cut off from the girls' affairs. They panicked, thinking he'd sue them over the inheritance they stole, so they got ahead of him and filed first. I told him he should fight back. Even Hai Kuan hired top lawyers to drag those crooks through the mud and force them to return what belongs to the children!"
Shenyi shook his head slowly. "Unbelievable."
"I'm telling you," Granny Ai said, leaning forward. "Just the day before yesterday, Qiren was served another court summons. I'm honestly terrified of those people from Xiamen. I wouldn't even set foot in that city for all the money in the world."
After a short silence, Shenyi said thoughtfully, "I have a lawyer friend who's currently working here in China. I'll speak to him about the case. He's very capable."
Granny Ai's face brightened instantly. "You're too kind, MD! May you always be blessed! Once the case is over, we should marry the girls off properly so they can focus on their studies in their husbands' homes."
Shenyi raised an eyebrow. "So… this talk about marriage has already started?"
Granny Ai lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Not exactly. It's just that I think it's the safest path for them. They're young women... marriage might be their best protection from their father's troublesome relatives. You see that cheerful one, Linyue? Hai Kuan has been fond of her for a long time. You'll often find them chatting in the living room, her showing off her English.
"As for the calm, well-mannered Linxia, I wish she'd find someone as neat and disciplined as she is. They don't go out much, and the schools have already closed admissions for this year. But there's a son of Lan Yi's friend.....a nice young man.... who seems to like her. He's intelligent, composed… a good match, I think."
Though Granny Ai's tone was deadly serious, it was clear she was embellishing most of it. Shenyi stayed quiet, just watching her with an amused half-smile while she pretended every word was the absolute truth.
***
By nine in the morning the next day, Zhan's flight finally landed in the U.S. after nearly fifteen to sixteen hours of travel from Guangzhou. His father, Shan, was already waiting for them at the airport. After greeting MD with a firm handshake, Shan pulled his mother, Granny Ryu, into a side hug, smiling warmly as he said softly, "I missed you so much, Mom."
Granny Ryu frowned playfully. "What's this? You're acting like a little boy again?"
Aunty Jin, who had been laughing nearby, added teasingly, "You're about to start acting spoiled, and look....your son Zhan is watching you."
Only then did Shan turn toward Zhan. Zhan smiled faintly and greeted him politely. Shan released his mother and stepped closer, wrapping Zhan in a hug. "How are you, son?" he asked with a kind smile.
"I'm fine," Zhan replied quietly.
They all got into Shan's car, with MD sitting in the front passenger seat. As they drove toward Shan's mansion in Los Angeles, he chatted with MD while Zhan gazed out the window, taking in the view. When they arrived, Shan led them into the house, and Zhan's face lit up the moment he saw his mother.
He was so happy that he didn't even notice CEO Anna, who was sitting in the living room. He rushed straight to his mother, Aaria, and pulled her into a tight hug. Aaria was shocked....and overjoyed.... since she hadn't been told that Zhan would be coming to the U.S. too.
When Zhan finally noticed the CEO watching them from the sofa, he quickly composed himself, stepped closer, and greeted her with a shy smile. "Good afternoon, Aunt."
The CEO smiled. "Welcome, Sean."
Zhan blushed slightly, realizing how long it had been since he last spoke with her....not even a message or call. He bowed his head, embarrassed. Aaria watched him fondly, smiling. She picked up one of the twin babies lying on the bed and handed the child to him. Zhan took the baby carefully, his eyes softening as he looked down....the twins were exactly one month old today, and they looked so much like him.
Just then, Aunty Jin walked into the room, full of excitement, congratulating Aaria warmly. Aaria stood and hugged her, all smiles, asking, "Where's Mother?"
"She's downstairs," Aunty Jin replied, still beaming. She greeted the CEO politely before walking over to lift the other twin from the bed.
- - -
Granny Ryu only stayed for two days in her son's U.S. home. Despite Aaria's many attempts to make her extend her stay, she refused. She and MD soon flew back to China, leaving Aunty Jin and Zhan behind.
From that moment on, Zhan was constantly with his baby siblings, caring for them tenderly. He adored them deeply.... they were calm, peaceful babies. One had been named after Lan Yi, the other after Granny Ryu, and they were fondly called Shuya and Shuran. Qiren had sent two full boxes of baby clothes, and Lan Yi had done plenty of shopping for them as well.
Two days after Granny Ryu and MD's departure, the CEO announced that she too would be traveling to Canada. The news dampened Aaria's spirits....even though she had already been in the U.S. for over a month, she still didn't want her sister to leave.
Later that evening, Zhan gently pushed open the door to the CEO's room. She ended a phone call and looked up. "Come in, Sean," she said.
Zhan stepped in quietly and sat down.
"How's your husband?" she asked.
Zhan toyed with his fingers and replied softly, "He's doing fine."
After a brief pause, the CEO's tone shifted slightly. "You're not taking any contraceptives, are you, Sean?"
Zhan blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. After a few seconds, he shook his head, avoiding her eyes. "No, I'm not taking anything," he said quietly.
"Good," she replied, satisfied. "You'll be staying here for another week before flying back to China, right?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes."
"Alright then," she continued. "I'll get you some supplements and their instructions before I leave. Start taking them today. And from now on, you'll begin attending hospital meetings when needed.... you now own your mother's thirty percent share. When you're ready, you can return to school and continue your studies. Eventually, I plan to transfer my own shares to you too. That would make you a seventy percent owner of Guangzhou Hospital."
Zhan stared at her, stunned, unable to say a word.
- - -
Days passed quickly. After fifteen days in the U.S., Zhan and Aunty Jin began preparing to return to China. Aaria sat quietly on the edge of her bed, watching them pack with a heavy heart. Shan helped carry their luggage to the car, loading the trunk for the airport trip.
Zhan felt an ache in his chest as he hugged his mother tightly. She smiled softly and said, "Take care of yourself, dear. Send my greetings to Lan Yi and Qiren....and to your husband too."
Zhan nodded, forcing a smile. "They'll all hear, Mom."
He leaned over to kiss his adorable baby siblings goodbye, then turned and followed Shan out of the room. Aaria walked behind them to see them off.
The next day, Zhan's flight landed safely at Guangzhou Airport.
***
Lan Yi walked into the room where Granny Ai was sitting.
Granny Ai looked up and said, "Ah, I thought you'd gone to your husband's part. You left me all alone in your living room like some forgotten old woman, so I came back here instead."
Lan Yi smiled and took a seat beside her. "Have you finished your meal, Aunty?"
Granny Ai replied, "Ages ago."
Lan Yi chuckled. "Qiren just told me something, and I thought I should come share it with you."
Granny Ai raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Lan Yi said, "Mr. Xiao called him earlier today…"
Granny Ai instantly straightened up. "What? What did you say?"
Still smiling, Lan Yi continued, "They're planning to go and ask for Linxia's hand in marriage."
Granny Ai's eyes widened, and she clutched her chest. "You must be joking!"
"I'm serious," Lan Yi said. "She actually told me she's been talking to him on the phone lately."
The cheerful look on Granny Ai's face disappeared immediately. "So that's it, huh? The ungrateful girl! I'm the one who connected her to him in the first place, and now she couldn't even tell me about this? I practically pushed her in his direction....no one worked harder for her than I did!"
Lan Yi laughed softly. "Oh, Aunty, you know she's not the talkative type, unlike her sister. Linyue, if you just smile at her, she'll instantly warm up to you....she's easy to bond with. But Linxia is more reserved. You never quite know what's on her mind. That's why I tend to be closer to her. She told me about it while she was helping me tidy the room the other day."
Granny Ai snorted. "Well, let her keep it to herself. I don't like people who pretend or keep secrets. I only ever got involved with her because of the late Xuxui. Otherwise, she's no match for MD. He's far above her....a man living comfortably in Canada."
Lan Yi burst into laughter. "Aunty, when did you become so good at saying 'Canada' so perfectly?"
Granny Ai gave a small smirk. "When you live in Mr. Xiao's house, you have to learn the names of foreign countries. Haven't you noticed that Zhan's father lives in America? Their family is always traveling abroad. Anyway, that's not the point... what exactly did Qiren tell Rong when he called him?"
Lan Yi replied, "He told him that their father's relatives are there in Xiamen."
Granny Ai frowned. "Sometimes I really wonder about Qiren. Why would he even bring that up? What business do we have with their father's side of the family in Xiamen?"
Lan Yi shook her head. "Aunty, whether we like it or not, they're still family. Qiren only said what's true, and it's right for him to be honest. They actually have more authority over those kids than we do."
Granny Ai pursed her lips. "Well, maybe you're right. Perhaps if they see Mr. Xiao's furtune, they'll agree to the marriage easily. I can tell already that family is full of confidence people....powerful and proud. Even a government official would probably back off after meeting them. Honestly, what Qiren should do now is also arrange for Hai Kuan to marry Linyue. I'm telling you, they'd agree right away."
Lan Yi went quiet for a moment, then said, "Hai Kuan's wedding arrangements will be finalized in three weeks."
Granny Ai turned sharply. "Wait... what? So he's not in love with Linyue? After all that closeness I noticed between them?"
Lan Yi sighed and shook her head. "I talked to him about it. His father talked to him. Even Yibo spoke to him. But he refused. He said he only sees Linyue as a little sister... someone who comes to him with her troubles whenever something bothers her."
Granny Ai stared at her, mouth slightly open. "Unbelievable! He really wanted to marry her when her mother was still alive. What's wrong with that boy? Is he out of his mind?"
Lan Yi exhaled softly. "There's nothing we can do. He refused, and his father said to let him be."
Granny Ai frowned deeply. "I don't like this one bit. I was already happy seeing how close they'd become, and she's always speaking English with him! Now Linxia will get married and leave her twin sister behind? When has that ever happened? Twins are supposed to marry the same day....just like they came into the world together!"
Lan Yi smiled gently. "Oh, Aunty, it happens. Maybe you've just never seen it before. Don't worry....Linyue will find her own match soon enough."
Granny Ai scoffed. "Hai Kuan is a strange one....impossible to read, always hiding what's on his mind." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Now how am I supposed to find a husband for Linyue? It doesn't feel right....one twin married and the other left behind. If not for the timing, I would have asked MD to wait until Linyue also found someone, so they could marry together."
Lan Yi shook her head. "No, Aunty, there's no need to delay."
Granny Ai muttered, "Still, waiting too long might make everything fall apart. Maybe it's better to go ahead with one marriage first, then focus on finding a good husband for the other. I'll make it my mission. Anyway, when did Rong say they're traveling to Xiamen?"
Lan Yi said, "Honestly, I didn't ask Qiren about it."
Granny Ai sighed. "Well, with the kind heart their mother had, those children will never be lost in this world. Even a widowed man who marries into that family is bound to find good fortune."
Lan Yi just smiled quietly without replying.
Granny Ai adjusted her pillow and lay back comfortably. "Ah, how long has it been since Yibo last came to this house? That boy has become completely wrapped around Zhan's little finger. If he weren't your son, I'd have said Zhan must've bewitched him or done something to keep him away from you entirely. Hmph! And look at his grandmother....she's busy living her own life alone in Rong's grand mansion, acting like no one else exists. She's been that way since her youth, never letting anyone else in.
"Rong actually wants to take another wife, you know....but that woman won't let him. She's too controlling. Even at her age, I doubt she'd allow anyone else near her husband. The whole family's like that. You know, Shan himself refused to remarry after Zhan's mother....he waited more than twenty years before he found her and married again. And as for MD's mother, she only had two children with Ryu's younger brother. Even before her husband died, she never let him take another wife. Jealousy runs deep in that bloodline.
"So now we have Yibo in Zhan's hands, and we'll just have to see where that leads."
Lan Yi said nothing, letting Granny Ai's words fade into the air.
Just as Granny Ai predicted, Qiren's worries about the twins' paternal relatives proved true. When Mr. Xiao and his delegation arrived, they accepted the bride price for Linxia's marriage without hesitation or inquiry. Right there, they set the wedding date for two months later.
Qiren was too stunned to speak when Mr. Xiao later called to inform him that Linxia's bride price had already been paid. Lan Yi, however, wasn't surprised....Granny Ai had already told her it would happen.
***
Zhan was asleep in his room that afternoon around three when he heard a knock at the door. Sitting up groggily, he wondered who it could be. He got out of bed, went to the living room, and peered through the window....it was Granny Ai with the twins, Linyue and Linxia.
He opened the door with a smile. "Good afternoon, Granny Ai."
She held her chin proudly and said, "Well, I thought we should stop by and greet you all. It's been a while since you've come by to Qiren's house."
Zhan chuckled as he welcomed them in. The twins greeted him politely, and Granny Ai found a chair and sat down, scanning the room with a sharp eye. "So, where's Yibo?" she asked.
"He's still at work," Zhan replied.
Granny Ai clicked her tongue. "Oh, my! Well, I came to let you know that Linxia's wedding with MD has been scheduled....just two months from now."
Zhan smiled. "Mama told Gege yesterday when he called. He said we should all come over later this evening."
"I thought you'd traveled out of town," Granny Ai muttered.
Still smiling, Zhan went to the kitchen to bring them drinks. It had been two days since he last cooked, but lately, he hadn't had any appetite....nor could he explain why. He was tense, uneasy, yet perfectly healthy. The day before, Yibo had checked his blood pressure and found it unusually low. Concerned, Yibo had gone out that night to buy him fresh fruits, filling the fridge with them.
Zhan brought out trays of juice and fruit for everyone and went back to the kitchen, trying to think of something light to cook. But before he even started, he felt too drained to continue. Remembering the cupcakes he had ordered the previous day, he took them out and served those instead.
By the time it was past five, Granny Ai and the twins were still around. When Yibo finally returned from work carrying takeaway food, Granny Ai gathered the leftover cupcakes and a large bottle of soda, stuffing them into her bag.
"I've been waiting for you," she said dramatically. "Please take me home....my stomach is growling! Zhan fed us fruits like we were sick people."
Zhan blinked in surprise, staring at her, but Yibo only laughed. "There's real food here, don't worry. The gas ran out while he was cooking."
Granny Ai accepted the bag of food, removed one pack, and tucked it into her purse. "Let's go, take me where I belong. I'm too wise to spend the night here....no gas, no comfort! I don't do sleepovers in people's houses. Take me to my daughter's place instead. If the twins want to stay, fine....it's their brother's house anyway."
And so Yibo drove Granny Ai to Lan Yi's home, leaving the twins behind with Zhan.
The next evening around five, Zhan came into the living room, helping Linxia and Linyue get ready. Yibo was going to drive them to visit Dr. Jin's wife, who had just given birth.
He was glad the twins had stayed over.... it had been a quiet, restful night. He had slept almost all day while they handled the housework and even cooked. The only thing he'd eaten was an apple before falling back asleep.
Around 7:30 p.m., Yibo dropped them off. Zhan turned to him before getting out of the car.
"Are you coming in, dear?" he asked.
Yibo shook his head. "No, you go ahead. Call me when you're done."
"Where are you going?"
"Gas station."
"Alright, dear," Zhan said softly.
He got out, followed by Linxia and Linyue, who each carried gift bags filled with baby items Zhan had bought for Zhe's newborn. In Zhan's bag was an envelope of money.... Yibo had asked him to hand it to Zhe personally.
They entered the compound and found the living room door open. Inside sat MD, Dr. Han, and Dr. Jin himself.
From the moment they walked in, MD's eyes were fixed on Linxia, who avoided everyone's gaze. Dr. Han, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off Linyue, who greeted them cheerfully.
Zhan felt uneasy.....his stomach churned as the smell of food filled the air. A wave of nausea hit him so suddenly that he covered his mouth and rushed toward the bathroom connected to the living room.
MD and Dr. Jin both stood up in alarm, watching him go.
Zhe's cousin, who had just stepped out of the kitchen, followed him to the bathroom, concerned. Zhan could barely stand, pale and dizzy, and she quickly supported him as they stepped back out, murmuring words of comfort.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛