"๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ time ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐." .... ๐๐๐๐
Zhan adjusted his posture, holding the phone to his ear. On the other end, Aunty Shui's voice came through.
"๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐. ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
Zhan smiled faintly.
"๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ house ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐..."
Zhan smiled again.
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
They both laughed before Aunty Shui asked,
"๐บ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ?"
Zhan didn't even realize he had shaken his head, but he answered calmly,
"๐๐๐, ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
Aunty Shui sounded unconvinced but simply responded, then reminded him about the gold wristwatch she planned to buy for him with his dowry money. Their call ended shortly after.
After hanging up, Zhan placed the phone beside him on the couch and sank into thought. What should he do now? He had called Aunty Shui hoping to confirm they had arrived so he could ask Bai to come deliver his inner wear that had suddenly become urgent after they left. But now that they were heading home, how could he ask Bai to turn back?
He searched through his belongings thoroughly, but to his surprise, he couldn't find even one. Now all he had were some oversize boxer's, which he disliked using.
He closed his eyes, thinking. Where could he possibly go to buy tight boxer right now? He usually bought them at the supermarket during shopping trips, enough to last for a while. Sometimes it took four or five months before he even thought of buying more. He knew he had some at home; he just hadn't packed them in his luggage. And with all the wedding chaos, this was the last thing on his mind.
There was only one solution now: he had to call Yibo...the very person whose calls he had been avoiding.
But he didn't even know how to ask. Just thinking about what to say made his tongue feel heavy. Especially now, when he was still waiting to see where they both stood.
He sat there calculating his options when he suddenly heard the sound of the gate opening. Surprise shot through him.
๐๐ข๐๐จ?
Why would he be back now? He usually returned after 7 p.m., especially when he knew there were guests at home.
Zhan stood up quickly and went to the window, lifting the curtain slightly. It was him. Yibo drove into the compound at an unusually fast speed, which made Zhan's heart drop. It felt ominous, like something was about to happen.
He stayed frozen, watching as Yibo opened the car door and stepped out with his phone pressed to his ear.
He was dressed in white, a soft, well-tailored outfit. He wasn't wearing a cap today, yet he still looked striking...almost as if the light outside was different from the light that usually illuminated him inside the house.
Zhan's chest felt heavy as he thought about their situation and what might follow. He was about to drop the curtain and turn away when he suddenly heard Yibo's voice through the phone.
"๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ซ๐๐๐? ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐? ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐?!"
Zhan's legs locked in place. A chilling numbness spread through his body.
๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ค.
๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐.
โตโต
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ.
At around two in the morning, the phone lying beside the mattress in the room began to ring, the sound echoing until the call ended unanswered. Barely two seconds passed before another call came in, and it too rang until it disconnected.
The caller didn't give up. A third call came in, and this time, the owner of the phone stretched out a hand from the mattress, pulled the phone toward himself, and answered without even opening his eyes.
"๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ... ๐๐๐๐๐... ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐?"
A deep voice asked from the other end.
Nungui immediately recognized the voice....it was Mulan, his cousin who sold night tea by the bypass road. Night work was Mulan's specialty; he often didn't start until late at night, serving travelers passing through town. People joked that even spirits visited his stall, since he stayed awake brewing tea until morning.
Nungui clicked his tongue lightly before replying,
"๐๐๐, ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
Before Mulan could respond, it sounded like he handed the phone to someone beside him. A moment later, Peng's voice replaced his.
"๐ต๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐'๐ ๐๐... ๐ท๐๐๐."
His voice was hoarse and dry.
Nungui sat up immediately, eyes wide in shock.
"๐ท๐๐๐? ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐? ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ?"
"๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐... ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
Nungui nodded as if Peng could see him.
"๐ถ๐๐๐, ๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
Then Peng added,
"๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐."
Nungui agreed and hung up, his mind racing.
What was Peng doing at Mulan's place at this hour? He knew that about three years ago, He, Peng and his friends had stopped by Mulan's stall after returning from a trip. That was how Peng found out Mulan was his cousin...the tea they drank had been free.
But when had Peng returned to the country? How did he end up at Mulan's stall tonight?
At the same time, he remembered the conversation he'd had with the man who had come asking about Peng. He had told the man that he would be among the first to know when Peng returned. The man had studied him closely, as if trying to tell whether he was lying, then seemed satisfied and even gave him his number, asking to be informed if Nungui learned anything.
So it wasn't just talk?
If Peng was calling him for help tonight, then he truly was among the first to know of his return.
He got up quickly, pulled on the T-shirt lying on the mattress, grabbed his phone and keys, and stepped out of his room. He headed to the room of his friend Saxi, who lived in the same rental building. Luckily, Saxis door was open, and he found him with two friends watching a football match on TV.
Saxi worked at a water depot, delivering large water containers to shops and markets, so he usually had access to the company vehicle.
After much persuasion, Nungui managed to convince Saxi to lend him the car keys, though Saxi warned him sternly that he would be responsible for any damage.
Nungui drove off toward Mulan's stall. The city was silent, wrapped in deep darkness, with only the chirping of insects and the distant barking of dogs breaking the stillness. By the time he reached the bypass road, only one car had passed him.
As usual, Mulan's stall was full of people whose origins no one ever seemed to know. A bright fire burned as tea boiled vigorously.
He parked a short distance away and walked over. From afar, he spotted Peng sitting on one of the benches. His heart twisted at the sight...Peng looked pale, thinner, and one of his hands was swollen and wrapped in bandages.
He walked into the stall, eyes fixed on him, just as laughter erupted from a group nearby. When Peng saw him, he stood up and limped toward him.
"๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐. ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฆ,"
he said, stopping in front of him.
"๐โ๐๐๐'๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐?"
"๐ผ๐ก'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐."
Nangui replied, still studying him as if confirming it was really him.
Then Peng placed a hand on Nungui's shoulder.
"๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ผ ๐๐ก๐, ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐... ๐๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐."
Nungui looked at his injured hand and nodded. He went to Mulan, who was giving instructions to one of his assistants. After greeting him, he asked how much Peng's food had cost, but Mulan refused to take any money.
So he turned back, and together with Peng, who was still limping, they headed toward the car.
After they set off, Nungui began asking Peng questions, but Peng only raised his hand, telling him to take him to the hospital first.
Once they entered the city, Nungui took him straight to a good private hospital. Peng insisted that Nungui pay for everything for now and promised to repay him double later.
From night until dawn, that hospital nearly drained all of Nungui's savings. His only comfort was the thought that Peng would honor his promise and repay him for the help he had given.
Around seven in the morning, after Peng woke up from the sedative injection, he asked Nungui to call Malo on his phone.
Nungui agreed and stepped out of the room. But just as he found Malo's number and was about to call, another name crossed his mind....Fuyue, and the promise he had made to him. He hesitated, then changed his mind. He exited Malo's contact and searched for Fuyue's number instead. He dialed and put the phone to his ear.
Peng flexed the fingers of his injured left hand, watching how the swelling had already begun to subside between yesterday and today. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the hospital bed.
God knew the hardship and pain he had endured during his journey from Ghana to China...something he felt words could never fully describe. Even the people who traveled with him, despite their roughness, had begun to pity him because of the suffering he endured through endless days and nights on terrible roads, hunger from lack of money, and relying on leftover food from others like a beggar. At first, he was shocked by the situation he had fallen into, but eventually he stopped questioning it and simply accepted his fate.
After much struggle, they finally reached the country. From the town where they stopped, the driver...who was related to the woman who had helped him...arranged another vehicle to bring him to this city. That journey was another chapter of suffering. Exhaustion had already weakened him, and they arrived in the city in a battered state. Without a second thought, they dropped him by the bypass road and drove away.
From there, he made his way to the tea seller he remembered was Nungui's cousin. After begging and explaining, he convinced the tea seller to call Nungui, even though the man didn't fully believe his story.
His life only began to stabilize after Nungui arrived.
He opened his eyes slowly, seeing the many plans and responsibilities ahead of him...things he felt he could not breathe freely again unless he carried them out.
At that moment, the door opened. To his shock, instead of Malo, Fuyue walked in.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐.
His mind repeated the name as he stared at him.
What was Fuyue doing here? How did he know I was here?
Of all the people he expected to see, Fuyue was the last on the list.
"๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐, ๐น๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐? ๐ป๐๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐? ๐โ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐๐?"
he asked, firing off questions as Fuyue stepped closer to the bed.
To his surprise, Fuyue only smiled and came nearer.
"๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐. ๐ผ'๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐...๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ."
Peng frowned, confused.
"๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐? ๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก?"
Fuyue smiled again...almost like a laugh...and within that smile, he began revealing everything he had prepared before coming. By the time Fuyue finished, his plan had already taken root in Peng's mind, and he realized that his trusted man Malo had found himself another master.
****
When Malo told Yibo about Peng's return, several seconds passed before the words fully registered in his mind. At the same time, something tightened in his chest. He lifted a hand to his neck and exhaled deeply.
Peng is back?
Why now? Why return at this moment, just when things were starting to spiral out of control? Why choose this timing?
"๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?"
Malo's voice came through the phone, reminding him he hadn't replied.
Yibo swallowed and opened his eyes fully.
"๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
"๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
Yibo nodded and ran a hand through his hair.
"๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?" he asked.
There was a brief pause on the line before Malo spoke again.
"๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ณ๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐...๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐.
๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ he ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ... ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
Yibo nodded, gripping his phone.
"๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐?"
"๐ฐ'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
Yibo shook his head.
"๐ป๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ณ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
Malo agreed.
"๐ญ๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฐ'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐...๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐พ๐ ๐ ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
He hung up, released a heavy breath, and slipped his phone into his pocket, turning back toward the hospital.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ....
Like thunder striking from the sky, his heart slammed against his chest when he turned around and saw who was standing behind him.
๐๐๐ง๐ .
๐๐๐ฉ๐.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โค๐