In the living room, they found Niu, Ao, and Aunt Anu's housemaid watching TV. All of them stood up at once, scrambling to greet her. She returned the housemaid's greeting warmly, then handed Han Li over to her.
"Please, go lay him down in their room and bring me the keys to the other rooms."
"Yes, Auntie," the maid replied respectfully, carefully taking Han Li from her shoulder and heading inside.
Aunt Anu turned and looked at Zhan.
"Son… what's wrong? You're home now," she said, noticing how he had been standing still since they entered.
Zhan smiled faintly, then slowly took a seat on one of the couches, his eyes scanning the space. This wasn't the same home he had known before they left...it was newer, better organized, more refined. It seemed they had moved to a new house before returning, and everything inside looked brand new.
Soon, the housemaid returned with the keys. Aunt Anu took them and nodded toward Zhan.
"Come with me," she said. He stood and followed her, still quietly taking in his surroundings.
They walked down a corridor lined with four rooms, two on each side, facing each other, with a large window at the far end. She opened one of the doors and entered; Zhan followed behind her.
It was a spacious bedroom, furnished with a bed, two bedside drawers, a wardrobe, and a mirror. The tiles and bedding matched in color, and there was a closed door inside the room....clearly a bathroom.
Aunt Anu gestured toward the bed. Zhan walked over and gently sat down. She turned back toward the door and called for the maid, who arrived almost immediately.
"Where are the new curtains that were delivered?"
"They're where you asked me to keep them."
"Good. Go bring them, and help me hang them."
"Yes, Auntie," the maid said before heading out. She returned shortly with the curtains in hand.
Aunt Anu took them and pointed to the bathroom.
"Go check it thoroughly and clean it well."
"Yes, Auntie," the maid said again, heading into the bathroom.
Zhan remained seated as Aunt Anu began hanging the curtains herself. He made a move to help her, but she stopped him.
"Don't forget, you just came from the hospital bed. What you need right now is rest."
He sighed and watched her work. She chatted with him as she worked, slowly getting him to open up. He started answering her questions, even smiling a little at some things she said. Still, his younger siblings lingered in his mind, and he kept wondering how they were coping without him.
Within an hour, the room was fully set up. Aunt Anu had the place polished to perfection. She had a spare TV and other entertainment equipment installed....the fittings had already been in place, just unused until now.
She glanced at the clock.
"Now lie down and rest well. I'll come get you when it's time to eat."
Zhan nodded and replied softly, "Thank you, Auntie."
"Shh! Don't thank me," she said, pretending to scold him. "If you do, I might just deal with you. I didn't do this for a thank-you."
A smile slipped across his face. She smiled back, then turned and left the room with a quiet sigh of relief.
Only now did she feel a little more at ease, knowing she'd finally begun to do right by Zhan. Still, she felt she hadn't done nearly enough. She wanted to touch his life in a meaningful way...to erase the pain, the hardship, and the scars he carried. But even she knew that no matter how much you try to clean a wound, the traces often remain....whether in the heart or in the course of one's life.
Zhan wanted to sleep, but he couldn't. His mind was too full...memories, worries, the calculations of life itself. That's how he spent the time Aunt Anu had hoped he'd use to rest: awake, thinking.
When she returned, freshly showered and in new clothes, she covered her mouth in mock horror.
"Don't tell me you didn't sleep!"
Zhan just smiled.
"Sleep didn't come."
"Well, get up and come to the dining room. Lunch is ready."
"Okay," Zhan said, rising to his feet. He slipped into the bathroom while she headed out.
He joined the rest of them at the dining table. It seemed they'd been waiting just for him. He couldn't quite relax, though...not with Papa there. He quietly ate what he could, then stood up. Aunt Anu noticed and gave Hulia a look; she followed Zhan with another plate of the food.
They spent the rest of the day mostly with Zhan, keeping him company and making sure he had no time to isolate himself or get lost in thought. Still, his younger siblings kept creeping back into his mind from time to time.
That night, after showering and getting ready for bed... something Zhan had gotten used to doing since his time in New York...Aunt Anu entered his room with a bag.
"Here are your pajamas, and two extra pairs of clothes for later. Once you're well-rested, maybe the day after tomorrow, we'll go out and shop for more. Write down everything you need...don't even think of holding back. Pretend Yunjun Jie herself told you to write whatever you want."
He just smiled the way he always did, and thanked her...but she immediately stopped him again, pretending to scold him for trying.
***
Zhan had been in the house for five days without stepping outside. Aunt Anu was doing everything she could to foster a renewed bond between them. She wanted Zhan to relax and reconnect not just with her, but with the kids as well. During these days, Zhan experienced genuine care and attention. Aunt Anu was always by his side, watching over him, asking where he placed things, or reminding him to rest. Since arriving in the country, she had only gone from the airport to Xiao Yun's house and then back home. Though she had other errands, she canceled them all, determined to get everything settled for Zhan first.
On the evening of the sixth day, she asked him to get dressed. Together with the kids, they got into her car...she drove while Zhan sat in the front seat, Han Li wanted to sit on his lap, the boy now visibly more comfortable around him. Han Li Ao and Niu sat in the back.
After a while on the road, Aunt Anu glanced over and asked,
"What do you think we should do for your siblings?"
Zhan turned to her, caught off guard by the question. He hadn't expected it so soon. In his heart, he wished they could all return to their respective mothers, be cared for by them. But realistically, that wasn't a solid solution. Their mothers might have remarried long ago, and there was no guarantee that their new partners would take responsibility for someone else's children. The only alternative would be their grandparents, and even then, many of them had their own challenges and couldn't be expected to raise grandchildren.
Aunt Anu interrupted his thoughts.
"In my opinion," she continued, "the most important thing is to focus on their education. Let's make sure they attend a quality school, dress well, eat good meals and are comfortable and happy at home. That's what they need most."
Zhan nodded, feeling a gentle warmth in his chest. Yes, she had spoken the truth...these were the essentials. If those were secured, the rest would come more easily.
He thanked her sincerely, though she brushed it off as usual. But then came the second piece of news that lit up his entire face:
"The next thing I'm planning is to take you to Chongqing. That's where our family is from. Your roots are there."
Zhan released a deep breath. This would be his first time stepping into his maternal family's world...relatives he barely remembered or never knew at all. He couldn't hide his happiness, which in turn warmed Aunt Anu's heart even more.
They stopped at one of the largest malls in the city, heading straight to the clothing section. Aunt Anu didn't hold back...loading up outfits for Zhan like she couldn't see the price tags. It was as if she had no concern about the money at all. She even picked out colognes, lotions, shoes, and underwear. Only once she was personally satisfied with her selections did she check out and pay. She didn't buy anything for her own kids...this trip was all about restoring Zhan to his full self.
Within a few short weeks, Zhan began to stabilize. In just a month, his transformation was striking. He looked much better than Aunt Anu had even imagined. Anyone who saw him would be surprised. They all attributed his improvement to the peace of mind he'd started to find. Aunt Anu had already begun preparing for him to return to school and sit for his final exams now that the exam period was around again. At the same time, she was preparing a lawsuit against the Royal family in Tianjin and Xiao Yun.
It took Papa quite a bit of convincing. One evening after dinner, once she had cleared the table and tidied up, she returned to him.
"Papa," she said gently. "If there's nothing else, I want to go work on something important."
He looked at her, surprised.
"What kind of work would make Niu's Mom to leave me here alone?"
She straightened up slightly, hoping he'd understand.
"I've started preparing the case against the Royal family and Xiao Yun. I'd like everything finalized this week so the legal process can begin. I don't want any more delays."
He set down the papers he'd been reading and shifted in his seat. Then he motioned beside him.
"Come, sit. We need to talk."
She walked over slowly and sat where he indicated. The way he said her name told her this was serious.
"If you'll hear my advice, Anu," he began, "I'd suggest you let go of the idea of a lawsuit...at least for now. There are a few reasons why I think success is unlikely, even if it goes to court. First, everything that happened to Zhan was not the result of the Royal family acting on their own. They approached his father...the one who legally had the right to arrange his marriage. And his father agreed, received a dowry, and signed off on the marriage. Zhan also consented and signed the documents. That alone weakens any legal claim. It wasn't a kidnapping. The marriage was official and approved."
"Second, this kind of case would reopen wounds for Zhan. He wasn't even aware of half the details. He's a private person, and once this story becomes public, it won't just be him involved. His photos with the prince will be everywhere...on the news, in magazines, on TV. That might make it difficult for him to find peace in future relationships or even within his own family."
"Third, Xiao Yun is his father. That title doesn't change no matter how much he's failed or how many mistakes he's made. He will always be Zhan's father. And if he ends up being punished by the court, Zhan might feel conflicted, which could disturb the calm and balance you've worked so hard to give him."
"Please, Anu. I'm not saying this because we can't afford the legal fees...we absolutely can. But sometimes we must choose to turn the page, to move on as if some things never happened. You've taken the right steps toward improving Zhan's life. Now continue from there. Let go of everything else, so it doesn't stop you from doing what truly matters."
She fell silent, turning over his words in her mind. He made valid points. It felt like the lawsuit would be her only form of release...but maybe it wasn't the right way after all. Slowly, she let go of the thoughts she had once held so tightly and began to focus on what lay ahead instead.
✨✨✨
He slowly undressed after returning from the special imperial court session held that day. Exhausted and emotionally drained, he peeled off his layers of clothing. His face, as always, was expressionless and devoid of joy. Nothing seemed to excite or please him anymore. It felt as though a heavy weight had been shackled around his life, dragging him down.
Once he was fully undressed, he headed for the bathroom. Cold water streamed over him, flowing down his body, while his eyes remained shut. Yet his mind wandered to the same thoughts that haunted him daily...thoughts that had become a constant companion from the moment he woke up to the moment he drifted off again. Thoughts that tormented him deeply and stripped away every trace of his former vitality. Thoughts of ZHAN.
In his room, he towel-dried himself while walking toward the mirror. Staring at his reflection, he continued wiping down his body. He didn't understand why Zhan remained so embedded in his thoughts. Why had his presence become like blood in his veins, running through every part of him, refusing to let him rest? Why was this memory so relentless? Why couldn't his mind and heart find peace? As far as he was concerned, everything between them had ended. The bond that once tied them had long unraveled. He believed their time together was always meant to be brief. So why did everything feel so fresh, as if it were still happening now?
Prince Yibo let out a frustrated sigh and stepped back from the mirror. He picked up his scented oil, sat on the edge of the bed, and began applying it to his skin.....fighting, as always, to push the thoughts away. But it was nearly always in vain.
His phone buzzed nearby. He glanced at it. The Queen was calling. He answered, placing it on speaker mode.
"Are you in your quarters?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Good. Meet me in my section, third lounge. We'll have dinner together later."
"Alright, Mom," he replied and ended the call.
By 8 PM, he was dressed in simple but flattering clothes. His looks and figure stood out even more. He picked up his phones and left his quarters.
His attendants moved to escort him, but he waved them off... he didn't need the company. Alone, he walked calmly through their grand estate, lit so brightly it could've been mistaken for daytime. The crisp air stirred something unfamiliar in him as he made his way to his mother's section.
From a distance, Prince Yibo spotted Chu and her boyfriend walking together in his direction. He averted his gaze as though he hadn't seen them. But the commanding aura of the Prince unnerved Chu's boyfriend even from afar. The young man approached, greeted Yibo, and extended a hand.
Yibo responded with a nod and a handshake, acknowledging the greeting while glancing at Chu. Her face was twisted in frustration and bitterness. He gave her a sharp, warning look, then turned and walked away without another word.
She fumed quietly, but her boyfriend chuckled.
"No way... once you see him, you just freeze. Even you go soft every time you're near him, and I'm supposed to be his future brother-in-law."
She knew he was right, but still pouted.
"No matter how impressive he is, he's still my younger brother. He should greet you first."
He laughed and shook his head. He knew she didn't mean it... there was no way that would happen. He gently calmed her down and they continued walking.
By the time dinner was served, silence filled the room. No one said a word until the maid had placed everything and left. The Queen began eating without waiting. But instead of picking up his utensils, Prince Yibo reached for the tall decanter filled with chilled grape juice and poured himself a large glass, sipping in silence.
She didn't comment until she was halfway through her meal.
"Tired of everything already?"
He nodded.
"I'm not really hungry."
She didn't press further, though she was clearly observing him. When she finished, she asked quietly,
"You still haven't picked a university?"
At this point, he had no desire to go abroad anymore. Every goal and dream tied to his studies had dimmed. It was as if all ambition had been drained from him. But he knew saying that aloud to the Queen would be a serious challenge.... she was the last person who'd want to hear it.
He let out a quiet sigh and clasped his hands together.
"I'll look into it, Mom."
"So you haven't even started?"
"Maybe later," he replied. He wasn't someone who gave in easily, and she knew him well enough to recognize that. So she just nodded, her eyes scanning him closely, reading every subtle shift in his demeanor.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛