Zhan slowly closed his eyes, turning his head slightly to the side as he weakly held Yibo's hand, gently shaking his head to indicate he could manage on his own. Without protest, Yibo handed him the shirt, stepping back and sitting on the chair, folding his arms as he shifted his gaze to his vibrating phone. The name "Hannah" appeared on the screen, catching his attention.
Zhan's eyes briefly landed on the phone, noticing the name of the caller. He looked away and quietly slipped the shirt over his body, his movements sluggish and strained. Once dressed, he slid back onto the bed, closing his eyes tightly, his body consumed by the fever's relentless grip.
Yibo stood after Zhan lay down, pulling the blanket over him. He locked the door, then returned to sit at the edge of the bed, pressing his palm against his aching head, the strain evident on his face.
Hours passed, and Zhan's fever worsened. It was late, and Yibo didn't want to disturb Dr. Kuo. Deciding on another approach, he removed his shoes, climbed into the bed beside Zhan, and pulled him into his arms. He stripped off his shirt and carefully removed Zhan's as well, ensuring maximum body contact to help regulate Zhan's temperature.
Closing his tired eyes, Yibo held Zhan close, his warm breath fanning against Zhan's damp skin. Slowly, Zhan's trembling hands found their way around Yibo's torso, clinging to him instinctively. His feverish breath, hot and uneven, brushed against Yibo's chest, stirring emotions he couldn't suppress.
Yibo gazed down at Zhan's flushed face nestled against him, his heart heavy with emotions he rarely allowed himself to feel. The soft rise and fall of Zhan's chest, the rhythmic beat of his heart, and the sound of his breath seemed to echo through Yibo's soul.
As the night deepened, Zhan's fever finally broke, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His breathing steadied, and his body relaxed against Yibo's.
Half-awake, Yibo opened his eyes and looked at Zhan, whose features had softened in peaceful slumber. Gently, Yibo placed his hand on Zhan's abdomen, where the faint signs of life were beginning to show. He let out a deep sigh, his heart swelling with a mixture of relief and quiet joy. For the first time, he felt the warmth of their unborn child beneath his hand, a bond forming between him and the little one.
Leaning down, Yibo pressed a soft kiss to Zhan's forehead, his eyes closing as he savored the moment. The warmth of Yibo's kiss roused Zhan slightly. He opened his eyes slowly, his gaze meeting Yibo's serene face. Not wanting to disrupt the moment, Zhan remained still, his heart racing as he felt Yibo's hand resting protectively on his abdomen.
Pretending to be asleep, Zhan closed his eyes again, trying to calm his racing heart. Yibo noticed the subtle change in Zhan's breathing and realized he was awake. However, he didn't speak, choosing to let the moment pass without acknowledgment.
Instead, Yibo adjusted Zhan gently, pulling away to sit up. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand, noting the late hour. Hearing Zhan quietly slip off the bed and put on a shirt, Yibo put on his shoes and stood, his tired expression revealing the strain of the sleepless night.
Turning to Zhan, he asked softly, "Are you feeling better now? Is there anything else you need?"
Without looking at him, Zhan nodded lightly, replying in a faint voice, "I'm fine."
Yibo exhaled, studying him for a moment before saying, "Get some rest. Bei will bring you something to eat. Take care."
With that, he turned and left the room, dialing Bei as he walked. She answered after several rings, her voice heavy with sleep. "Please prepare something for Zhan-ge to eat," Yibo instructed. "He needs to eat and rest properly."
After ending the call, Yibo headed to his suite. Entering his sitting room, he walked straight to his bedroom. Tossing his phone aside, he collapsed onto the bed, pulling the blanket over himself as he closed his eyes, seeking the sleep that had eluded him all night.
After Yibo left the room, Zhan stared at the door, surprised by how Yibo always seemed to understand what he needed—this time, hunger.
Why did he understand so much about him, despite not offering him genuine care? Yibo was already preparing to leave him for Hannah, showing the world Zhan's place by marrying the woman he loved. Meanwhile, Zhan would be left with nothing—no job, no husband, and no marriage. On top of that, his mother and Uncle Wen were angry with him.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized he had no one to share his pain with. Only Bei and Dai Jie knew about his troubles. But Bei, being Yibo's sibling, wasn't someone Zhan could confide in completely, and Dai Jie would only offer shallow platitudes.
Bei entered the room, carrying a plate of ramen with a boiled egg. Zhan quickly wiped away his tears and looked up, his face softening slightly at the sight of the food.
Bei placed the plate gently on the table and said, "How are you feeling?"
Zhan nodded, sat down on the bed, and began eating. "Thank you, Bei."
Bei settled onto the long sofa in the room, visibly tired. She yawned, barely able to keep her eyes open, and mumbled, "I threw in a boiled egg. That's all we had left in the fridge."
Zhan smiled faintly, eating a little of the ramen before taking a sip of water. He stood up, went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and freshen up, and then returned to bed, where sleep soon overtook him.
🔹▪️🔸
At 8 a.m., Zhan managed to get up and dragged himself to the bathroom. After freshening up, he lay back down, unable to sleep again, as he overheard Mom Ella and Hannah's voices in the sitting room. He could swear he heard them mention the word "wedding."
By 10 a.m., Hannah and Mom Ella were still in the house, chatting with Granny. Zhan hadn't left his room. He eventually showered and dressed in a plain, coffee-colored Turkish shirt before settling down to answer a call from Sarah, who said she was on her way.
Bei came into the room. "Zhan, it's 10:30. Aren't you coming out for breakfast? Or should Fang bring your food here? Is everything okay?"
Zhan stood up and replied calmly, "I'm fine. I thought there were guests in the sitting room."
Bei smiled. "Hannah and her Aunty are here, visiting Granny. You know how these things go—now that Hannah may officially part of the family, there'll be endless pleasantries."
Zhan didn't respond, offering only a faint smile before heading toward the sitting room.
Mom Ella was sitting comfortably, chatting away with Granny, something she rarely did. Usually, she stuck to brief greetings and stayed in her quarters, but now she seemed intent on making an impression. Hannah sat beside her, dressed neatly in a blouse and skirt, chiming in occasionally to add to their efforts to win Granny over.
Zhan walked in quietly and sat beside Granny. "Good morning, Granny," he said gently. "How are you feeling?"
Granny looked at him with concern. "I'm fine, my dear. But how are you? Don't go and shower with cold water again, Zhan. You worried Yibo unnecessarily last night. He didn't sleep, and now he's woken up with a terrible headache. I don't think he's even had breakfast yet. Have you eaten?"
Zhan shook his head.
Granny turned to Bei. "Help him prepare something and take it to Yibo's quarters. Both of you should eat there—this place is too noisy today."
Mom Ella and Hannah watched in frustration and disbelief. Trying to maintain composure, Mom Ella quickly said, "Oh no, Granny, we're not guests here. Zhan can stay here and eat his meal since he's not feeling well. With the pregnancy, he needs to rest. As for Yibo, Hannah can take his food to him; it's all the same, after all."
At that moment, Zhan looked up and directly addressed Mom Ella. "Good morning, Mom Ella."
With a forced smile, Mom Ella replied, "Good morning, Zhan. How are you feeling? I didn't realize you had a fever last night. If I had known, I would have come to take care of my son-in-law myself. Pregnant people shouldn't be walking around too much or overexerting themselves. Sit and eat here; it's better for your health."
Granny remained silent, her expression neutral, as though Mom Ella's words had no impact on her. Bei, too, stayed quiet, though she was clearly surprised by Mom Ella's audacity. Without shame, she prevented Zhan from going to Yibo, yet she eagerly sent her niece, Hannah, to Yibo's side. Bei knew better than to interfere—this was Zhan's battle to fight. If he didn't stand his ground and claim his place as Yibo's husband, Hannah and her family were ready to take it for themselves.
Zhan also stayed silent, waiting to see if Granny or Bei would respond. But no one did. Instead, Hannah, smug and confident, got up, adjusted her outfit, and headed to the kitchen, calling out to Fang with a commanding tone to help her prepare breakfast.
Zhan's chest tightened as her steps echoed through the hall. Taking a deep breath, he composed himself and started to rise from his seat, determined to leave the room.
Mom Ella's voice stopped him. "Let's go to the dining room, Zhan. I'll personally serve your meal. You shouldn't play around with your food—it's not good for your health."
Zhan, maintaining his calm, said evenly, "No, thank you, Mom Ella. I'm not hungry. Tea will be enough for me."
He turned to leave just as Dai Jie entered, carrying a large basket of food. Cheerfully, she greeted, "Mom Ella, you're still here today? Good morning! How are you, Hannah? Wishing you good health."
"Thank you," Mom Ella replied with a broad smile.
Dai Jie moved to Granny and greeted her warmly, "Good morning, Granny. Did you sleep well?"
Granny smiled kindly. "I'm well, Dai. How's Yi and the rest of the family?"
"All doing well, Granny," Dai Jie replied.
Handing the basket to Bei, she added, "Here's the breakfast Marshal requested. He insisted Mama prepare it specially for him, and he wouldn't take no for an answer, so I had to bring it myself."
Everyone turned their attention to the elegant basket, which contained three neatly packed and pristine containers. Zhan exhaled softly, his gaze fixed on Dai Jie as he quietly greeted, "Good morning, Dai Jie."
Hearing his subdued voice and noticing his weary demeanor, the room fell silent for a moment, filled with unspoken sympathy.
Unable to hide her concern, Dai Jie looked at Zhan and gently asked, "How are you feeling, Zhan?"
He nodded slightly but didn't say anything. Wanting to ask about his mother but hesitant because of Mom Ella's presence, he moved toward the dining area.
Dai Jie, having pieced together the situation, overheard Hannah in the kitchen, instructing Fang to prepare Yibo's meal. She turned back to Zhan and softly said, "Why don't you take Yibo's breakfast to him, Zhan? I'm sure he'd rather have you deliver it. After all, he specifically asked Mama to prepare it."
Hannah came out carrying plates and a small flask of hot tea, infused with honey, spices, and a hint of lemon. Dai Jie looked at her with a raised brow and said, "Hannah, you're not well, yet here you are running around doing chores? This is something Zhan should be doing—he's Yibo's husband. But instead, he's letting you exhaust yourself when you're still recovering. Zhan, take this and deliver it yourself! Why are you just standing there, watching someone else do what's clearly your responsibility? You've been spoiled by Granny and Bei for too long."
She finished her reprimand with a pointed glance at Bei, who dismissed her irritation with a hidden smile, casually saying, "It's Granny who doesn't let Zhan do any work around here."
Granny ignored the comment, turning her attention to Mom Ella as she said, "What do you think, Ella, about the fabric Ms. Nie brought? I was thinking of asking her to prepare two sets for the wedding trunk..."
Even though Mom Ella was preoccupied with Dai Jie's outburst, she perked up at the mention of Ms. Nie. With a delighted expression, she said, "Oh yes, Ms. Nie is back from the UK! Her collection has arrived, and everything is ready—clothes, accessories, all the latest wedding essentials."
Meanwhile, Bei noticed how tense Zhan had become. She stood, gently took the items from Hannah, placed them in the food basket, and grabbed Zhan's hand. Without a word, she led him to his room, with Dai Jie following closely behind. Once inside, Bei locked the door.
Turning to Zhan, Dai Jie noticed the redness in his eyes. She glanced at Bei, who was trying to calm Zhan, and asked with concern, "Is this about Yibo? Are you jealous?"
She sighed and added, "Hannah loves him, and she's probably going to take care of him better than anyone else could. So, what's there to be jealous of? Especially when you..."
Zhan couldn't hold back any longer. Tears streamed down his face as he clenched his fists and tried to suppress his sobs.
Bei, worried, said softly, "Please, Zhan, don't cry. I know you're dealing with a lot right now, but you need to calm down and focus. Accept your marriage for what it is. I don't understand why you're so upset about the idea of Yibo marrying Hannah. But honestly, if things continue like this, it might really happen. Even Granny seems open to it."
Through his tears, Zhan managed to say, "I don't care if he marries her. If that's what he wants, then he should just leave me alone."
Bei's eyes widened in shock, but before she could respond, Dai Jie interjected. "Well, if that's the case, go and tell him that directly. Take his food to him, sit down, and have a proper conversation. Resolve things once and for all. If you're serious about this, I'll wait for you here. Once he signs the divorce papers, i'll help you pack up and leave together."
To Bei's surprise, Zhan stood up, wiping his face with determination. Dai Jie picked up a bottle of perfume and sprayed it lightly on him, saying, "You let the smell of this food go on you; let me freshen you up a bit."
Bei adjusted Zhan's shirt and his winter hat, which hadn't fully covered his hair, then picked up the basket for him. They walked out together, leaving Granny pretending not to notice their departure as she continued her conversation with Mom Ella, whose attention was clearly elsewhere. Mom Ella's eyes followed Zhan and Bei as they left, and she muttered, "That Bei is such a sly and cunning person."
Hannah, unable to resist, got up and followed them, deciding she'd also check on Marshal Yibo since he wasn't feeling well.
When Zhan and Bei reached Yibo's quarters, Bei confidently opened the door to the sitting room. A wave of cool air from the AC, mixed with the scent of rose-scented room freshener and Yibo's cologne, greeted them. The atmosphere felt heavy, almost overwhelming. Zhan's heart began to race as she guided him inside.
Bei walked straight to the dining table, placed the basket down, and then turned to leave, closing the door behind her.
Left alone, Zhan's heartbeat quickened as he stood in the middle of the sitting room, inhaling the lingering scent of Yibo's cologne. It filled his senses, making it hard to focus. For a moment, he doubted he could go through with what he'd come to do. Turning to leave, Zhan accidentally bumped into the flower vase. Losing his balance, he nearly fell—but suddenly, strong hands caught him.
Startled, Zhan looked up and found himself pressed against Yibo, who was fresh out of the shower. The coolness of his damp skin contrasted with the warmth of Zhan's flushed cheeks. Yibo was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, and his firm grip kept Zhan steady against him.
Before either of them could speak, Hannah's voice rang out from outside, accompanied by a knock on the door. "Yibo!" she called, her tone playful and teasing.
Zhan, startled, instinctively clung tighter to Yibo without realizing it, his breath hitching as the tension in the room thickened.
Slowly, Yibo let his eyes rest on Zhan, his gaze piercing as he felt Zhan's palms press against his bare back. Zhan closed his eyes, refusing to meet his gaze, even though he could feel Yibo's intense eyes tracing over him. All the warmth from his hands seemed to seep into Yibo's cool skin, creating a tension neither could ignore.
Hannah knocked on the door again, her voice dripping with playful affection as she called Yibo's name. Yibo glanced at the door briefly before turning his focus back to Zhan, who was still leaning against him, unmoving. For the first time, Zhan didn't pull away from his embrace.
As Yibo shifted slightly, Zhan's body leaned into his completely, giving in to the moment. The faint scent of Yibo's Tom Ford Neroli Portofino shower gel filled Zhan's senses, calming him in ways he couldn't explain.
Just as Hannah tried to open the door, Zhan opened his eyes, catching sight of Yibo's bare chest and towel-clad figure. Embarrassed, he quickly lowered his gaze, trying to mask the heat rising to his cheeks, though his hands still rested against Yibo's skin.
Yibo noticed everything—the change in Zhan's demeanor, the subtle shyness, and the unspoken emotions in his every move. A small, knowing smile played on his lips as he bent down and scooped Zhan into his arms effortlessly.
Hannah finally managed to push the door slightly ajar, catching a glimpse of Yibo carrying Zhan. Without waiting to understand, she stepped back, overwhelmed by the sight. Her jealousy flared as she sat on the living room couch, her mind racing with frustration.
"What could Zhan possibly want in Yibo's room in the middle of the day? And why would Yibo carry him like that?" she fumed silently, trying to make sense of the situation.
Meanwhile, in Yibo's bedroom, he kicked the door shut with his foot, carried Zhan to the large, luxurious bed, and gently laid him down. Zhan kept his eyes closed, unable to meet Yibo's gaze, his heart pounding wildly.
Yibo leaned over, his face mere inches from Zhan's, their breaths mingling as the tension thickened. Zhan's heartbeat quickened as Yibo's cool fingers brushed against his stomach, trailing upwards. Zhan's hands instinctively gripped Yibo's shoulders, but he couldn't bring himself to push him away.
"Do you need your husband?" Yibo murmured, his voice low and teasing, the scent of mint lingering on his breath.
Zhan's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration at Yibo's words. He attempted to sit up, their faces brushing against each other in the process. Yibo didn't give him a chance to pull away; he closed the distance between them, capturing Zhan's lips in a soft yet consuming kiss.
The kiss deepened, and Yibo's hands roamed across Zhan's back, neck, and stomach, igniting sensations Zhan hadn't felt before. The overwhelming closeness made Zhan cling tighter to Yibo, unable to resist the moment.
As the atmosphere grew more intense, Zhan's fears crept in. He thought about Granny and how everyone would notice his exhaustion when he returned. His anxiety built as he considered the judgment he might face.
Finally, Zhan placed his hand over Yibo's, halting his movements. Opening his eyes slightly, he avoided Yibo's gaze, unable to confront the vulnerability he felt. Slowly, he pulled away, creating a small distance between them.
Yibo exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he closed his reddened eyes momentarily. Standing, he turned without a word and headed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
Left alone on the bed, Zhan lay motionless, his eyes welling with tears as a mix of emotions overwhelmed him.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛