Zong glanced at Yibo, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed with an oxygen mask over his face. Without sparing a glance at Zhan, who stood beside him, he said, "His father needs to know, son. This is his only child lying here. The only reason I didn't bring them with me is because, when you called, you begged me to come alone. But they're waiting for an update, and honestly, I would've called you myself if you hadn't called me first. Yibo is missing back home. They've been looking for him, and it turns out he was here with you all along."
He sighed in relief, realizing things weren't as bad as Zhan had made it seem over the phone. The frantic call, the sobs...it had sounded like Yibo was at death's door. Now, seeing that Yibo was stable, he turned to his son and asked, "You said you had something important to tell me, something urgent enough for me to bring a pastor. Is Yibo possessed?"
Zhan let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "It's a long story, Papa. Let's go to my office...I'll explain everything."
Once inside Zhan's office, they sat down, and Zhan began to recount everything. From Yibo's 18th birthday, the secret wedding at the temple, all the events that followed, and finally, what had happened today. He held nothing back.
Zong sat in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the revelations. He had always suspected there was something romantic between their sons, but when Yibo brought home Sen Wen and announced he wanted to marry him, Zong had dismissed his suspicions.
Now, hearing all this, he felt nothing but happiness. With a knowing smile, he looked at his son. "So, you mean to tell me that for almost a year now, you two have been married? Meanwhile, your mother was trying to arrange another wedding for you, and Yibo was planning to marry someone else?"
Zhan hesitated before nodding.
Zong scoffed. "Son, behave maturely. Even if you didn't tell anyone else, you could have told me. I would've been happy for you both. If I had known, I would have handled things better, despite the fact that your mother and Yibo's mother wouldn't approve. And don't even get me started on mother...your grandmother is going to cause a scene." He chuckled, then added, "But leave her to me. Aside from me, who else knows about this marriage?"
Zhan rubbed the bridge of his nose before answering. "Yibo's mother. She found out and made me promise to stay away from him... and not to touch him."
At that, Zhan lowered his head in embarrassment.
Zong raised an eyebrow. "And? Did you touch him?"
Zhan quickly shook his head, then hesitated and nodded slightly, refusing to meet his father's gaze.
Zong folded his arms across his chest. "I don't understand. You're shaking your head and nodding at the same time. What is that supposed to mean?"
Zhan exhaled deeply, then muttered, "Papa… He drugged me and… made love to me. He planned everything so he could get pregnant, knowing I wouldn't leave him if he was carrying my child. And now, he is pregnant. I just found out today after they ran some tests. But the pregnancy is at risk. He hasn't been resting properly these past few days, and even before he fainted, he was desperate to marry me. That's why I called you, Papa. I know today was supposed to be his wedding to Sen Wen..."
Zong snorted. "That wedding is no longer happening. Sen Wen called it off earlier. And honestly, what wedding? He's already married to you."
Then his gaze sharpened. "Where are the divorce papers you signed and gave him?"
Zhan reached into his pocket, pulled out the envelope he had taken from Yibo's belongings, and handed it to Zong. Without a second thought, Zong tore the papers into pieces and tossed them into the trash.
He then pulled out another set of documents and handed them to Zhan.
"I had already planned to officiate your marriage properly. I arranged everything. Let me call Gege, and since the pastor is already here, as soon as Yibo wakes up, you two will have a proper wedding. Then, we'll go home and deal with the storm your mother, Yibo's mother, and your grandmother are about to unleash."
He laughed at the thought, and Zhan couldn't help but laugh too. There was no doubt....chaos awaited them at home. But for once, Zhan didn't care.
And that's exactly how it happened.
Forty minutes later, Yibo woke up, screaming his Gege's name. In his panic, he ripped off his oxygen mask and tried to sit up, frantically calling for Zhan. The nurses rushed to call Dr. Xiao Zhan, and within moments, Zhan, Zong, and the rest of the medical team stormed into the room.
Even with Zong present, Yibo didn't stop his hysterics. He clung to Zhan, repeating over and over that Zhan must never leave him and that they had to get married immediately.
Seeing this, Zong stepped out to make a few calls. He contacted Quentin, Uncle Zhuge, and Uncle Hanba, then brought the pastor into the room. Even then, it took a lot of effort to calm Yibo down long enough to proceed.
In the end, Zhan had to sit beside him, letting Yibo clutch his hand as if it were his lifeline.
When Quentin and the uncles arrived, Yibo refused to make eye contact with anyone...even his father...until the vows were spoken. With their fathers, uncles, and nearly the entire hospital staff, including some patients, as witnesses, Zhan and Yibo exchanged rings and signed their marriage certificate.
It was official. They were married... again.
▫️🔸▪️🔹
On the way home, Quentin glanced at Zong, who was driving, and said, "Barrister, I don't think what you did was the right way out. What do you expect Zhan to do about Ning Li? You just forced him into a marriage he wasn't prepared for."
Zong remained silent, focused on driving. Uncle Hanba, sitting in the car with them, added, "He's right. You can't fix one mistake by making another. Besides, you didn't consult anyone, Zong."
"I did what I believed was best, brother," Zong finally replied. "Rather than let my nephew be humiliated, I took action. Whatever comes next, we will sort it out later."
The rest of the drive home was silent.
At home, Yichen was helping with lunch preparations, but she was too distracted to focus. She kept glancing toward the door, anxiously awaiting Zong's return and hoping to hear that the wedding had been called off.
Meanwhile, Ning Li, busy assembling a massive salad, chewed gum impatiently, equally eager for news. Her excitement made it seem like she was the bride. She had arrived early that morning and had been kept busy with tasks, though she had left Zhan suffering from a headache the night before, not even knowing if he had attended the wedding.
As soon as Zong entered, Yichen rushed to his side, greeting him warmly. "Welcome back! May this marriage bring blessings and peace. May it be a successful union," she said with a bright smile.
Zong simply responded with "Mn."
"I'll bring you all lunch in the sitting room," she added, noticing the tense mood surrounding Zong, Quentin, Uncle Zhuge and Uncle Hanba. Their expressions hinted at trouble, making her want to jump with joy... this had to mean she had won.
Quentin, who was about to head to his part of the house, was stopped by Zong. "Ge," Zong called.
Quentin turned back.
"Let's have lunch in my sitting room," Zong suggested.
Without protest, Quentin changed direction, following Zong.
Meanwhile, Yuting was in the compound, and the moment she saw them arrive, her heart pounded. One look at Uncle Hanba and Quentin, and she knew something had gone wrong. Their expressions made it clear that trouble was brewing... only Zong maintained his usual calm demeanor.
In the sitting room, Yichen continued setting the table with various dishes. "May we all live to see future generations, and may this marriage bring peace and happiness," she prayed aloud.
No one responded.
She exited the room with a small smile, but inside, she was uneasy. Their silence was unsettling. Worse, she had prevented her relatives from attending the wedding, so she couldn't even call anyone to ask what had happened.
She stepped into the courtyard, scanning for Seth or any of his friends who were arriving, hoping to get some information.
Back in Zong's sitting room, the silence lingered. Quentin leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.
Breaking the silence, Zong asked, "Gege, you don't seem fully at ease with this marriage, do you?"
Quentin sighed and looked at him. "Not at all. I'm just trying to process everything. I really hope this isn't a huge mistake. You know Yibo's condition… I can't bear for anything to happen to him."
Zong rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. The real challenge now was figuring out how to break this news to the rest of the family.
▫️🔹▪️🔸
Beiting sat in Zong's sitting room with her siblings, her face etched with worry after receiving a call from Uncle Hanba. The distress on her face was undeniable. She kept muttering under her breath, her hands trembling slightly.
Quentin leaned back in his chair, silent, while Zong shook his head and said, "This is what happened, Beiting. It caught us off guard just as much as it did you."
Tears welled up in Beiting's eyes as she looked at Quentin, her heart aching for him. This wasn't something his only child deserved. And what about Yuting? How would she even process this? Let alone Yibo himself? Her voice shook as she sobbed, "He has wronged himself, not us. Fate will deal with him… but Yibo…"
Zong let out a small sigh and pulled out his phone, dialing Zhan's number. He was sure they hadn't returned home yet. It took two calls before Zhan finally answered.
"I haven't seen you back yet. Why? Did his condition worsen?" Zong asked.
"We're on our way now," Zhan replied. "Yibo refused to stay at the hospital any longer after the IV finished. He insisted on coming home."
Zong simply responded, "Alright. We're waiting for you. I want to see you home now."
Zihan was the first to enter the sitting room, followed by Yuting, who had been called by Zong. As she stepped in, her eyes darted around the room, her expression unreadable. Beiting kept her head down, quietly weeping, while Yuting looked from one person to the next, her heart pounding. She felt a strange heaviness settle over her as she slowly lowered herself onto the floor, her legs too weak to support her.
Zihan, trying to remain composed, finally asked, "Is everything alright?"
Zong simply responded, "Everything is fine."
Uncle Hanba added, "As fine as it can be, Zihan…"
Just then, the door opened, and Yichen entered, having also been summoned by Zong. The sight of Beiting, Yuting, and Zihan all gathered in the sitting room sent a jolt of realization through her. The rumors she had heard were true. She sat down, a look of disbelief on her face, and asked, "Zong… what's going on?"
Before Zong could answer, the door opened again, and Seth walked in, followed closely by Nainai, who was dressed immaculately, her perfume filling the room. She smiled widely and said, "Well, let's hope this was done under good circumstances. May nothing but happiness fill this house, and may peace reign."
Uncle Hanba responded with a quiet nod, his head slightly lowered. Quentin remained silent, his head still resting against the chair. Nainai found a seat and asked, "So, what happen that we're summoned here? I left guests waiting outside."
Zong forced a small smile and said, "We're waiting for Zhan."
Nainai sighed. "Of course. He's the one closest to Yibo in all of this…"
Just then, the door opened once more, and Zhan stepped in. All eyes turned to him as he quietly walked over to sit beside Seth, who kept his head lowered. With respectful politeness, Zhan greeted everyone, and they all acknowledged him.
Zong didn't waste any time. "Where is Yibo?" he asked. Then, turning to Zihan, he added, "Go and get Yibo immediately."
Zihan stood up and left the room, her heart pounding. She had a sinking feeling that whatever was happening here would not bring good news.
A moment later, she returned, holding Yibo's hand as they entered the sitting room. He had gone straight to his room earlier, feeling unwell, and now that he was here, he couldn't even lift his head to look at the people around him. His heart pounded as he sat beside Zihan, his body tense with unease.
Yichen had already started calculating how much she would gift the spiritualist as a token of her happiness. She could barely contain her joy, despite trying to maintain her composure. The moment Yibo entered the sitting room with Zihan, Zhan's gaze locked onto him without blinking, as if he hadn't seen him in ages....even though it had only been ten minutes since they last parted. Only heaven's knew how much he loved Yibo.
Zong cleared his throat and spoke firmly. "There's no point in prolonging discussions or hiding the truth. I want everyone here to accept what happened today as fate. We may not have wanted it this way, and no one would have wished for this outcome, but we must be grateful because only destiny knows best. To put it simply, the wedding between Yibo and that boy, Sen Wen, is no longer happening."
The room fell into stunned silence before an uproar of disbelief. Even Yichen, who had been sitting quietly, gasped in fake shock, her eyes widening. "What do you mean the wedding is off? We've already gathered everyone, and the arrangements are in place! What's going on?"
Nainai bolted upright, her entire body trembling. "I don't understand the wedding is not happening, Did Sen Wen die, Zong?"
Yibo clung to Zihan, breaking down into sobs, his heart pounding in terror. The thought of being separated from Zhan was unbearable.
Yuting, who had remained quiet, couldn't even lift her head. Silent tears streamed down her face. Zihan, wiping her own eyes, whispered, "What is happening, Zong-ge?"
Seth, sitting in the corner, couldn't bring himself to look at anyone. A heavy weight settled in his chest.
Zhan, however, couldn't tear his eyes away from Zong, his heart hammering wildly. Fear crept in...what if Papa yielded to pressure and decided to separate them after all?
Uncle Hanba spoke softly, his voice filled with remorse. "Please, everyone, calm down. None of us saw this coming, and we must face it together. Everything that happens in this world is already written, and no one can escape their destiny. Sen Wen himself came to us earlier and declared that he no longer wished to marry Yibo. We have already returned all the gifts and payments. By this evening, everything will be officially settled. Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, this is for the best."
Nainai suddenly let out a wail so piercing that it startled everyone in the room. "Then I'll go straight to their house and make them pay! May misfortune befall them! How dare they disgrace us like this? We've gathered guests from all over, and now they want to humiliate us? They won't get away with it. I swear, I'll take them to court! The courts of Shanghai will settle this before we even reach the afterlife!"
Zong raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "Please, AYi, listen to me. Was this marriage ever a matter of force? We have no business dragging them to court. Instead, we should trust that this turn of events is for the best. They have not shamed us, because I made sure to uphold our family's honor. I would never allow my brother to be disgraced, nor would I let my nephew be abandoned without a future."
At once, everyone in the room turned to stare at Zong, stunned into silence. It was so quiet that the drop of a pin would have echoed.
Yibo felt as if his breath had caught in his throat. His heart pounded harder than ever before.
Yichen swallowed hard, stealing a glance at Seth, whose head remained bowed. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead.... This was completely unexpected. Was Zong about to do what she feared most, did he marry Yibo off to Seth?
Zhan, on the other hand, could only stare at Zong, his pulse racing as an overwhelming tension filled the room.
Zong straighten, his gaze steady as he looked at Nainai, who had removed her scarf in shock, blinking rapidly. In a quiet yet resolute voice, he announced, "I have arranged for Yibo to marry Zhan today. Because I am certain that Zhan will protect and cherish Yibo far better than Sen Wen ever could."
Both Yuting and Yichen stood up simultaneously in the sitting room, staring at Zong in shock. Yuting turned to Quentin, her heart pounding as tears streamed down her face. She shook her head in disbelief. Meanwhile, Yichen rushed to stand before Zong, trembling, her lips quivering as she spoke.
"I don't understand, Zong. What did you just say? Which Zhan are you talking about? My son? Please explain this to me!"
Zihan sat frozen in her seat, her mouth slightly open, unable to move. Beiting clasped her hands together, glancing at Nainai, whose mouth had fallen open in shock as she stared at Zong. The words Yichen had spoken sent chills down Yibo's spine. He stepped back slowly, feeling an unsettling numbness spread through his body. His breathing became erratic, and when he turned, he saw Zhan sitting on his knees, his face buried in his hands.
A loud cry broke through the tension, making everyone in the room turn toward Yibo as he let out a sharp, anguished scream before bolting out of the sitting room like a man possessed. Yichen collapsed onto her knees, trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.
"Zong, explain this to me. Is there another Zhan in this house that I don't know about? Because as far as I am aware, there is only one Zhan, and he is my son. And he already had someone he was supposed to marry. Which Zhan did you arrange for Yibo?"
Yuting, unable to control herself any longer, broke into loud sobs. Her voice trembled with anguish as she cried, "Quentin, I do not approve of this marriage. I refuse to accept it! This marriage must be annulled. I will not allow it!" With that, she rushed out of the sitting room, weeping.
Nainai's voice rang out loudly as she began pacing the room in distress. "Oh, heavens! What kind of disaster is this? Who is Zhan? What is happening to this family? What madness has taken over Zong and Quentin? Someone help me understand!"
Yichen remained on her knees, shaking her head in disbelief as she watched Nainai pacing in agitation. She was so overwhelmed that she wasn't even aware of how hard she was trembling.
Zihan wiped away her tears and quietly slipped out of the room, unable to bear the tension. Zong and Quentin, along with Uncle Hanba and the others, simply watched as Nainai continued her distressed pacing. Finally, she stopped abruptly, turned to them, and pointed an accusing finger.
"You have all betrayed me!" she wailed. "Who is Zhan? I swear, if this marriage is not called off within minutes, I will bring this house down. My grandson didn't lack suitors. You have deceived me, broken my trust, and brought ruin upon this family. This is the worst disgrace I have ever witnessed!"
Then, breaking into heart-wrenching sobs, she cried, "Never in my life have I seen such a thing!"
Yichen broke into heartbreaking sobs, her voice trembling as she cried, "Oh no, this can't be happening! I had no idea it was my Zhan they were talking about! My son...he's the one they arranged to marry Yibo? This is a nightmare!" She clutched her head as if she had just received the most devastating news of her life, wailing as though mourning a great loss.
Not only Zong, but even Quentin was stunned by everyone's reactions in the sitting room. Zong lowered his head, completely at a loss for words.
Nainai collapsed onto the couch, bursting into fresh tears. "If this marriage isn't annulled immediately, I will leave this house for good, Zong and Quentin! Hanba and Zhuge, you can all do whatever you want, but I will not stay here and watch this happen!"
Hearing Nainai's words, Yichen abruptly stopped crying. Her body trembled as she turned to Zong, waiting to hear what he would say.
Slowly, Zhan lowered his hands from his face, revealing his tear-filled eyes as he stared at his mother. Without hesitation, Zong stood up and walked to his bedroom without a second thought. Zhan watched him go before suddenly rising from his seat and slipping out of the sitting room, unnoticed by everyone except Beiting. She caught his gaze for a brief moment, nodding slightly before watching him leave.
Moments later, Zong emerged from his room, holding a document and a pen. In all her years, Yichen had never felt such a sense of relief...at that moment, she understood what true liberation felt like. No matter what kind of document it was, she knew nothing could bring her more comfort than what she was witnessing now.
Zong glanced at the spot where Zhan had been sitting before going to his room. "Where is Zhan?" he asked.
Yichen quickly turned in the direction where he had been, exclaiming, "He was just here, Zong!" Her eyes widened in shock when she realized he was gone. In a panic, she gasped, "Oh no... where did he go?" Then, without thinking, she rushed out of the sitting room.
Nainai wept bitterly, pointing to the door as she cried, "Why did he leave? You brought out the documents, the pen...everything is ready for the divorce to be written, printed, and signed! What is he planning by running off with another person's marriage in his hands? No, Zong, you must go after him! Someone, go find him immediately!"
Zong, still holding the document and pen, remained silent, staring at the doorway in disbelief. Then, after a moment, he let out a small chuckle and muttered to himself, "These boys..."
As soon as Zhan stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and quickly typed a short text message to Beiting:
"Aunt, please take care of Yibo for me. He's expecting and at risk. Make sure he eats well. If you need further explanation, talk to Papa—he knows everything. But for now, keep whatever you know a secret."
Ning Li was sitting in the courtyard, preparing a salad, smiling to herself. Ever since she had seen Yibo rush out of the sitting room and head straight to his apartment as if he were being chased, she had been curious. His face had been hidden, so she hadn't caught his expression. Then, a little later, Yuting had also walked out and gone in the same direction, moving quickly, her face barely visible. Soon after, Zihan followed, looking troubled as she made her way toward Yibo's apartment as well.
Lastly, Zhan appeared, his head down as he walked toward the gate. Sensing something was wrong, Ning Li stood up and quickly followed him, her face filled with concern.
"Dear, what's going on? I've been hearing whispers that Yibo's wedding has been called off. Is it true?" she asked.
Zhan didn't respond; he just kept walking.
She hurried to keep up with him, glancing into his eyes with surprise. "Wait… did you cry, Zhan?"
For the first time, he gave her a beautiful smile...one she had never seen before. "Not at all. Go back to your work," he said softly.
Ning Li felt a strange sense of warmth at seeing that rare smile. In all the months she had known him, she could count the times she had seen him smile. Returning his smile, she asked, "Alright, but is the wedding still happening? I keep hearing rumors that Sen Wen has called it off."
Still walking, Zhan replied, "The wedding is still on. Now go back to what you were doing."
Without waiting for her response, he exited through the gate as if someone were waiting for him outside. He climbed into his car, sped off onto the main road, and disappeared from sight.
Ning Li watched his car go, still smiling, then turned and headed back into the house.
Just then, she spotted Yichen rushing toward her, visibly shaken. "Ning Li! Did he leave the house? Did you see him?" she asked urgently.
Ning Li looked at her with surprise. "Is everything okay? Who left?"
Yichen's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Ning Li, feeling a wave of panic wash over her.
"What is going on?" Ning Li pressed.
Summoning her composure, Yichen shook her head. "Oh, I just had a message to give him…"
"He left in his car just now," Ning Li informed her.
Without realizing it, Yichen let out a distressed gasp and rushed toward the gate. Ning Li watched her go in confusion.
Yichen ran barefoot all the way to the main road, desperately searching for any sign of Zhan. But he was long gone.
Tears streamed down her face as she whispered in anguish, "Where did he go? He didn't even stay to sign the papers…"
Wiping her tears, she quickly turned back toward the house. Meanwhile, Ning Li, still in the courtyard, Yichen took Ning Li phone and dialed Zhan's number she walked toward the back of the house, answering in a hurry.
Watching her go, Ning Li frowned in thought. What is going on? Why is Yichen so distressed? Could it be that the wedding actually took place despite the assurance that it wouldn't?
Yet, even with all the confusion, what lingered in her mind the most was Zhan's smile. That unexpected, unfamiliar smile. She chuckled to herself, already wondering what to cook for him when he returned.
Yichen paced back and forth, her hands trembling as she dialed Zhan's number.
Meanwhile, Zhan was driving, his vision blurred by the happy tears streaming down his face. He glanced at his ringing phone and, seeing Ning Li's name on the screen, smiled faintly. Without answering, he declined the call, then turned off his phone completely and set it aside.
When Yichen tried calling again and found the phone switched off, she gasped in distress and broke down into tears. "What does this mean? Is his phone out of charge?" she sobbed, her hands shaking as she redialed, only to hear the same response.
Dropping to the floor in despair, she whispered to herself, "Maybe it really is just a dead battery. But if he had known Zong went to get the divorce papers, he wouldn't have left without signing… He must not have known."
Her voice trembling, she frantically dialed Xulin's number, one she had memorized by heart.
As soon as Xulin picked up, Yichen let out a wail, "Xulin, I'm ruined! It's all falling apart! If I had known things would turn out like this, I would have let Sen Wen marry that cursed boy! We have to go back to that man and make him undo everything. Sen Wen has to come to his senses and go through with the wedding! Xulin, do you know what happened? When Sen Wen said he wouldn't marry, so Zong went ahead and had the marriage registered with my son...Zhan! My Zhan! They married him off to that remaining sickness...To my biggest enemy Yuting's son, Xulin…!"
Xulin's panic mirrored Yichen's. "Zhan?! Did you just say Zhan?! Oh my God, Yichen! Your Zhan?! No, this can't be happening…"
Yichen sobbed uncontrollably. "I swear, Xulin, I haven't even told Ning Li. I don't know how she will handle this, and honestly, this news is worse than death for me! If I had to choose between dying and seeing my son forced into this marriage, I would have chosen death! He is my only son, my pride, my joy, and now they've married him to the son of our enemy! How could Zong do this?! Xulin, I'm leaving now... we have to go to that man and undo everything. I don't care about this world or the next. Even if Mr. Wen Yo Lee himself wanted to marry Yibo, I would let it happen. I just want my son free!"
Without waiting for Xulin's response, Yichen ended the call and continued sobbing, clutching her head in despair. She thought of Ning Li, and her heart clenched painfully. This was too much... too cruel.
Her son, her beloved Zhan, forced into marriage with the son of her greatest enemy…
Burying her face in her hands, she wept. "Please, let this be a nightmare. Let me wake up and find none of this is real. God, undo this marriage before it kills me…"
Then, as if possessed, she abruptly stood up, ran into the house, and rushed into the kitchen door. With her head down, she sprinted upstairs, grabbed her handbag and a face mask, then stormed back out, barely stopping as she passed through the kitchen again.
As she reached the main road, she picked up speed, nearly breaking into a full sprint, muttering desperately to herself, "This will be undone. It has to be undone. Even if Yibo has to marry Sen Wen's father, I don't care anymore."
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛