It was Thursday, and Yibo had just returned from school. After taking a shower and eating, he walked into the sitting room and sat beside Yuting, who was already seated. Tilting his head slightly, he said, "Mu Qin, I want to go to the Mall to buy some cologne."
Yuting glanced at him and asked, "All the cologne you bought recently is finished already, Yibo?"
Yibo chuckled. "Not all of it, but it's halfway gone."
Yuting sighed. "Then you should call your father. I don't have extra money to give you for more cologne."
Yibo widened his eyes in surprise. "But he transferred ¥300,000 to me before he left!"
Yuting shook her head. "Huh!? ¥300,000! It's a lot of money. Indeed you're your fathers Son."
Yibo laughed, got up, and headed to his room. After dressing, he grabbed his small bag, slipped his ATM card inside, sprayed himself with cologne, and returned to the sitting room. Kneeling beside Yuting, he said, "Alright, Mu Qin, give me some money for transport, please."
Yuting said, "Check the drawer by the mirror in my room."
Yibo went to fetch the money and returned to the sitting room. "By the way, Mu Qin," he began, "I want to stop by Mian-Mian's house. She hasn't been to school since Tuesday because she's not feeling well."
Yuting looked puzzled. "Who's Mian-Mian?"
Yibo smiled. "The girl who comes to check on me when I'm sick."
Yuting narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying you're actually going to her house, not the Mall?"
Yibo quickly clarified, "No, Mu Qin, I'm going to both. Honestly, I'm not even sure I'll recognize her house since I've only been there once with Meiling. If I can't find it, I'll just come back home."
"Well, you better find it. It's nice of you to check on her since she's always there for you," Yuting replied.
"Okay, Mu Qin," Yibo said, making his goodbyes before leaving the house.
As he approached the first duplex, that's his Uncle Zong's part, in the compound, he noticed Yichen sitting outside with a friend on white chairs. Despite making eye contact with Yichen, Yibo averted his gaze and walked straight towards the gate.
The friend, Ms. Sang, looked at Yichen and asked, "Who's that bold one?"
Yichen chuckled. "That's Yuting's son."
Ms. Sang raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really? He's so grown now?"
Yichen smiled and said nothing, but Ms. Sang continued. "And Yuting didn't teach him to greet his elders when passing by?"
Yichen laughed lightly. "It's obvious, isn't it? Even if our eyes meet, that rascal won't greet me. His mother must have forbidden it."
Ms. Sang frowned. "So he's one of those defiant kids?"
Yichen's expression turned serious. "Not just that. Since I returned to this house, I've noticed how Zhan treats him. Zhan doesn't even understand himself, let alone me...his mother. He's practically turned Yuting into his goddess. That boy is fragile, sickly even. One day he's fine, the next he's not—he's a sickler. And if you see how Zhan pampers him, not even his own siblings like Xinyi receive the same treatment. To cut it short, Yuting has completely wrapped him around her finger, just like she did with her husband. It's almost as if he worships her."
Ms. Sang sighed. "Unbelievable."
Yichen nodded firmly. "I've taken a stand. With the help of my friend, I've reclaim my son with determination and strength. Now, neither Yibo nor his mother dares to come near us. Even Zhan rarely visits their side of the compound. I can't take that risk. Who doesn't know that Yuting is manipulative? She's even stopped her husband from marrying another woman who could bear him children. Instead, she's forced him to raise a sickly boy who drains their resources with constant hospital trips. But as long as I'm alive, this child will destroy their family. One way or another, he'll bring them nothing but misery until they're left penniless."
Ms. Sang clicked her tongue. "I see. Don't hold back, Yichen. Do to her far worse than she's done to you."
Yichen nodded, her expression resolute. "Tomorrow, I'm going somewhere with my friend to deal with this issue head-on. You should come with us. I've noticed something off about Zhan recently, and I need to put a stop to it before it's too late."
Ms. Sang asked, "What now?"
Yichen smirked. "They've started sending Zhan to take Yibo to the hospital and spend loads of money on him. What nonsense! Is it Zhan's fault that he's sick? If they want to spend money, they should do it themselves. Why burden Zhan? It's not like his money is easy to come by. They should handle their mess themselves."
Ms. Sang agreed. "You're right. Let me know when you're ready tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Yibo noticed Seth sitting with the new driver and the gatekeeper, chatting. Seth smiled at him and asked, "Where are you off to, Yibo?"
Yibo covered his face shyly. "Shopping, of course."
Seth laughed. "Ah, I see. The rich kid. Should I come with you so you can buy me something too?"
Yibo smiled and said playfully, "Only if you pay for me first!"
Seth chuckled. "Is that how it is? Alright then. Who's taking you there?"
"I'll just take a taxi," Yibo replied.
Seth frowned. "And risk getting covered in dust and triggering your asthma? No way."
Pouting, Yibo asked, "Then what should I do?"
Seth gestured to the driver. "Let him take you and bring you back safely."
Yibo's eyes lit up. "That would be great!"
Seth turned to the driver, who was already smiling. "Alright, Mister, drop him off at the Mall and bring him back."
"Got it," the driver replied, getting up to fetch the car.
It was only then that Yibo noticed Zhan sitting on a white chair at a distance, engrossed in his phone. As their eyes met, Zhan threw him a sharp glare, causing Yibo to pout before turning back to Seth.
"Seth-ge, did Nainai give you the meat I set aside for you yesterday?" Yibo asked.
Seth laughed. "No, she didn't."
Yibo frowned. "She probably waited until I left, then cooked it herself and ate it. I don't even like meat that much!"
Seth grinned. "Well, you missed out. It was delicious. Maybe she was just paying you back for whatever you did to her."
Yibo scowled. "I knew it! She'd never share it with me."
The driver entered the compound and respectfully greeted Yichen, holding the car keys. She didn't respond and instead asked coldly, "Where are you going?"
Lowering his gaze, he replied, "The Young Master asked to be dropped off at the Mall."
Yichen gave him a sharp look and said, "Do you even know who hired you to work in this house?"
He remained silent, staring at her.
She continued, "Let me make it clear to you. That one you're talking about—his father is separate in this house, and he's not the one who employed you. It's the head of this side of the family who pays your salary. So, keep that in mind. Now, step aside. In a few minutes, you'll be dropping off my guest."
Bowing his head further, he said, "I apologize, ma'am. I wasn't aware."
She snapped, "Well, now you know."
He apologized again and quickly left the compound.
Seth, noticing him, asked, "What's going on?"
Keeping his gaze down, the driver replied, "Mrs. Xiao said I have to drop off her guest right now."
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Seth stood up. Zhan, seated nearby, raised his head to look at him.
Seth turned to Yibo and said, "Wait, let me go get the car and drop you off myself."
Quietly, Yibo nodded and said, "Thank you."
Yichen glared at Seth as he exited with his car, knowing full well he was defying her. She clicked her tongue in irritation but did nothing further.
Once outside, Yibo opened the front seat door and got in. Seth left the neighborhood, and as they got onto the main road, he teased, "Don't keep me waiting too long once you start your shopping."
With a soft laugh, Yibo replied, "Seth-ge, just drop me off. I won't be going straight home afterward."
Seth glanced at him and asked, "Where are you headed?"
Yibo replied, "To visit a friend. She's unwell."
Seth raised a brow. "Which neighborhood?"
After Yibo told him, Seth smiled. "So, Yibo is finally learning to be considerate, huh? Going to check on a sick friend."
Yibo laughed as they reached the supermarket. After parking, Seth said, "Don't keep me waiting, Yibo. If you take too long, you won't find me here when you get back. Here, take my ATM card. You know the pin, right?"
Yibo smiled. "Seth-ge, just go home. I told you Fu Qin sent me money for my shopping."
"Are you sure it's just your friend's house you're going to, Yibo?" Seth teased.
Yibo pouted, giving him a mock glare. Seth chuckled and said, "Alright, alright. Sorry. You have your face mask, right?"
"Yes, it's in my bag."
"Good. Just don't stay too long at your friend's place. I can't deal with your aunt scolding me again."
Laughing, Yibo replied, "Then don't get into trouble!"
Seth handed him a small amount of money and said, "Take a cab if you need to. Since Fu Qin already gave you shopping money, you'll be fine."
"Thank you," Yibo said, waving at him before heading toward the Mall entrance.
Seth watched Yibo walk inside, following his every move.
Once Yibo got to the fragrance section, he selected six bottles of perfume before moving to the cosmetics aisle. He was about to choose a lipstick when someone approached him.
Feeling a heavy gaze, Yibo looked up and froze. His heart pounded as their eyes met. The man slowly walked toward him, wearing dark sunglasses. Flustered, Yibo quickly put the lipstick back and grabbed two bottles of disinfectant instead.
When the man finally reached him, he said, "Excuse me."
Without looking directly at him, Yibo muttered, "Go ahead."
"Good evening," the man greeted.
"Same to you," Yibo replied curtly.
"Do you recognize me?" the man asked.
Yibo briefly glanced at him before lowering his gaze and focusing on arranging his items.
The man smiled. "Yesterday at the airport, you couldn't stop staring at me because you were with your brother. Now, you can't even look at me."
Yibo turned to leave, but the man stopped him. He bent down, picked up the lipstick Yibo had discarded, and placed it back in his basket.
Stunned, Yibo stood still as the man walked away toward the checkout counter. Yibo pouted, watching him from the corner of his eye.
When it was his turn to pay, he deliberately chose a different counter to avoid him. He reached into his bag for his ATM card, only to realize that the man had already handed his card to the cashier, paying for both their purchases.
Speechless, Yibo stared as the man entered his pin and walked away.
Grabbing his shopping bag, Yibo left the mall, hoping not to encounter him again outside. Yet, there he was, leaning casually against his car.
Flustered, Yibo avoided his gaze and flagged down a cab.
The man caught up with him and teased, "Didn't your Gege let you come shopping on foot today?"
Yibo ignored him, frowning.
He chuckled. "Let me drop you off at your home."
"No," Yibo snapped, climbing into the cab.
As the cab driver asked where to go, Yibo muttered, "Just drive forward."
The man stood there, smiling as he watched the cab disappear into the distance. Meanwhile, Yibo sat in the back seat, his heart racing, silently praying not to see him again.
After they had driven a while, Yibo finally told the taxi driver the name of the neighborhood he was heading to. However, upon arrival, he couldn't recognize the house. The taxi driver asked, "Why don't you ask someone?" Hesitantly, Yibo replied, "I don't even know who to ask. I think it's somewhere on that street."
The driver turned to look at him and said, "I've been driving around this area because of you." Yibo stayed silent, scanning the quiet, upscale street. The only sounds were distant barking dogs. The taxi driver sighed, "I've wasted all this fuel," and got out to ask for directions. The street was deserted except for one car slowly approaching. The driver flagged it down.
When the car stopped, the driver lowered the window, and the taxi driver turned to Yibo, asking, "What's the name of the street again?"
Yibo, frustrated, got out of the taxi to repeat the name. Mid-sentence, he glanced at the driver of that car and froze. The man gave a slight smile. "Oh, so you're visiting our neighborhood?"
Yibo didn't reply, instead tightening his lips. The man asked, "Whose house are you looking for?"
He lowered his gaze. "Mian Mian's."
The man pointed toward a gate. "I think it's that one."
Finally recognizing the place, Yibo gave a reluctant, "Thank you." He handed a thousand-yuan note to the taxi driver, waited for change, and headed toward the gate.
🔹🔸▪️▫️
Mian Mian was thrilled to see Yibo. She hugged him tightly, exclaiming, "Yibo in our house! This is such a surprise! How did you find this place?"
Yibo smiled faintly. "I just came to check on you after leaving the shopping mall."
"I'm feeling much better now," Mian Mian replied enthusiastically. "I'll be back to school tomorrow."
"That's good to hear. I wish you a speedy recovery," Yibo said with a polite smile.
Mian Mian offered to grab him a drink from the fridge, but Yibo shook his head. "No, I don't drink anything cold."
"There's something not cold; let me get that for you," she insisted.
Yibo simply smiled as she went to fetch it. Mian Mian was always fond of Yibo, but he wasn't one to get too close to people. Though her father was well-known and wealthy, Yibo didn't like associating with people simply for their status. Mian Mian often visited Yibo's house, especially when he missed school, but this was the first time he'd come to hers since their earlier school days.
Despite wanting to leave soon, Yibo found himself stuck, as Mian Mian insisted he wait for her mother to return so they could greet each other. When her mother finally arrived, Mian Mian brought Yibo to the sitting room. He greeted her respectfully, bowing slightly.
Mian Mian's mother, a kind woman, welcomed him warmly and asked about his family. Yibo smiled softly and replied, "Everyone is fine."
"And how's school?" she asked.
"It's going well," Yibo replied politely.
"Good to hear. Keep working hard, and I wish you success," she said kindly.
Just then, the door opened, and everyone turned to see who it was. Yibo's heart skipped a beat as Sen Wen walked in. He gave Yibo a brief glance before turning to Mian Mian's mother.
"You're back already, Sen Wen?" she asked.
"Yes, I just got in. Good evening," he replied politely.
"Good evening," she responded with a smile.
Mian Mian chimed in, "Good evening, Sen gege!"
"Evening," he replied casually before looking at Yibo. "A visitor?"
"Yes," Mian Mian said with a smile. "This is my classmate, Yibo."
"Oh, I see. Welcome, Yibo," Sen Wen said with a small nod.
"Good evening," Yibo managed to reply, keeping his gaze low.
Without further conversation, Sen Wen turned and left the room.
Yibo turned to Mian Mian. "I think it's time for me to leave now."
Yibo entered Mian Mian's bedroom to grab his bag and shopping bags. After picking them up, he turned to Mian Mian and asked, "Who was that man who just came in, Mian Mian?"
"Oh, Sen ge? That's my brother," Mian Mian replied casually.
Yibo's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Mian Mian nodded. "Do you know him?"
Quickly shaking his head, Yibo replied, "No, I was just curious."
"He's my stepbrother. His side of the house is over there—you'll see his section of the compound when you first come in," she explained.
Yibo nodded, shifting the conversation. "I should get going before my mom starts calling me."
He left the room, with Mian Mian following behind. When they reached the sitting room, they found Mian Mian's mother chatting with Sen. She turned to Sen and said, "Since you're heading out, you might as well drop Yibo off. You don't have to take him all the way home, just close enough."
Yibo smiled politely. "Aunty, it's okay. I'll just take a taxi."
Mian Mian burst out laughing, and her mother chuckled. "You hear that, Sen? Don't leave her behind. She's so used to fooling around with her friends."
Yibo glanced at Mian Mian, who pouted teasingly, and Sen stood up, saying, "Alright, I'll drop him off."
Yibo blinked in surprise but didn't argue with Mian Mian's mother. Mian Mian's mother packed a large bag of chocolates for Yibo. After thanking her, he and Mian Mian left the house. Mian Mian mother called out, "Send my regards to your family!"
They followed Sen out, with Mian Mian carrying Yibo's bags. As they reached the front door, her mother walked with them, saying, "Make sure to send my regards to your mom."
They got to the car, and Sen was already in the driver's seat. Mian Mian opened the front door for Yibo, who lowered his head and got in reluctantly.
"Bye, friend! See you at school tomorrow," Mian Mian said cheerfully. "Thanks so much for coming!"
Yibo forced a small smile but didn't say anything. As she stepped back, Mian Mian leaned toward Sen and joked, "Drive my friend carefully, okay?"
Sen gave her a look but said nothing. Instead, he honked the horn lightly before driving off, leaving Mian Mian laughing as she walked back inside.
The ride was silent as they got onto the main road. After a while, Sen finally broke the silence. "Which neighborhood are you going to?"
Yibo, fidgeting with his fingers, told him.
Sen didn't respond immediately. After another fifteen minutes, he asked, "Which street?"
Yibo gave him directions and pointed the way when they got closer. When they reached the gate of his house, he told Sen to stop.
Sen parked and turned to look at him, but Yibo avoided his gaze as he reached for his bags. "Thanks," he muttered.
"You're welcome," Sen replied calmly.
Yibo got out of the car, closed the door, and walked toward the gate.
Standing at the gate, Zhan was about to leave, holding his car keys. He looked at Yibo, then at the car, and back at Yibo with a questioning expression.
Yibo stiffened but tried to maintain a composed face, even though his heart was racing. The memory of what Zhan had done to Meiling when she was dropped off at home flashed through his mind, making him tense.
Annoyed by Zhan's lingering gaze, Yibo pushed past him, brushing his shoulder as he made his way inside.
Zhan turned, watching him go. Noticing this, Yibo broke into a sprint toward their part.
When Yibo reached the entrance, he stopped and turned back to see if Zhan was still watching. Sure enough, Zhan's eyes were still on him. With a pout, Yibo quickly opened the door, slipped inside, and locked it behind him.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛