A beautiful young woman sat at the edge of the wooden bed, dressed in plain, handwoven clothes. Zhan instantly recognized her delicate face....the same face he had praised countless times in his heart, imagining how much she had grown. There was no doubt...it was Chao, his fairy. No amount of time could ever change her face enough to make him forget one of his siblings, especially Chao, the one he had dreamed about seeing again every single day.
Zhan didn't even realize he'd called her name aloud until he noticed everyone inside the small hut turning to stare at him....even Chao, who had been looking at the ground moments ago. Suddenly, her wide eyes shot up, recognizing him.
"Zhan Gege!" she exclaimed, dashing toward him with such speed she almost stumbled. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms. The moment they embraced, both of them burst into tears, the sound drawing the attention of everyone nearby. People gathered around, forming a curious circle, all eyes fixed on them.
Right at that moment, Aunt Anu herself was approaching. She had gotten nervous when Zhan took too long, especially since they were supposed to be leaving. On top of that, Zhan had left his phone in the car, so she decided to come check on him.
She paused, joining the crowd of spectators, unsure of what had happened. Hearing the unfamiliar mountain dialect being exchanged between the crowd, she frowned and stepped forward.
"Hey, Zhan what's all this? You said you were just going to buy some milk, and now you've disappeared here?"
Zhan lifted his tear-streaked face, holding tightly onto Chao's hand as she clung to him like she was afraid he might disappear.
"Aunt, it's Chao… my fairy… my little sister," Zhan explained softly, his voice cracking slightly.
The moment he said that, understanding dawned on Aunt Anu's face. Just then, Chao turned to speak briefly with the elderly woman who had come out of the hut with her. Zhan faintly heard her mention his name and their father's....Xiao Yun.
The old woman smiled warmly at them.
"Ah, so that's it! No wonder we didn't recognize you. Xi, bring something for them to sit on," she instructed the young woman Zhan had met earlier. She quickly disappeared back into the hut.
A FEW MINUTES LATER
Chao sat beside Zhan so closely, she practically climbed into his lap. She poured her heart out, telling him how much she missed them, the hardships she faced before ending up here.... though she admitted she'd been treated well here, better even than back home. Their grandmother, the one who had raised them after their mother remarried, had taken Chao and her younger sister under her care, along with her new husband, a local cattle herder. They now had five children together, including the girl called Xi.
"I missed you all so much, Gege… especially you," Chao whispered. "I've been counting the days, waiting for you to come back and keep your promise to help me with school. But suddenly, they just whisked me away after some heated argument with Baba. And now, they're talking about marrying me off to Lin Zaiye… but I don't want that, Gege. I still want to study." Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face again.
The mention of marriage made both Zhan and Aunt Anu tense. Zhan shook his head firmly.
"No, that's not happening. Stop crying, my fairy. No one's forcing you into marriage. Not unless you want it.... and I know you don't. Marriage isn't something to be forced. Don't worry; we brought the kids with us, but I'll come back tomorrow. I'll speak to everyone I need to. You'll come home with your siblings, and I promise you, you'll study as much as you want."
A weak smile finally crept onto Chao's tear-stained face.
"You… you really mean it, Gege? You can take care of me? Even though… you've changed so much… you've become so stylish. You look nothing like the old Zhan Gege… you look like a foreigner now!"
Zhan chuckled, thinking of how much he now earned.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of you… even Xi, if you want me to."
Chao's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really, Gege?"
"I mean it, my fairy," Zhan assured her, brushing a hand through her hair.
She grew quiet for a moment, then sighed.
"But I don't think Granny will let you take me back. Not after what happened with Baba… and the way they've been holding onto me so tightly ever since. I doubt they'll hand over Xi too. But I know she has the same dream as me.... she wants to study too."
"Don't worry," Zhan said with quiet confidence as he stood, taking the baby Aunt Anu was holding. "By tomorrow night, they'll understand."
He turned to the old woman and politely informed her that he would return the next day to speak with them.
Chao and Xi walked them all the way to the main road. Chao held tightly onto Jianghu and Jiangji's hands as if she never wanted to let go. She adored these little ones like they were her own, just as their father cherished her. She kept admiring their faces, quietly wishing they wouldn't have to part again.
Even inside the car, Zhan and Aunt Anu kept chatting about Chao. That entire night, Zhan's mind was consumed with everything that had happened. The next day, he took Niu and Jianghu along and headed to Chao's settlement, timing it perfectly for when they would be returning from grazing the cattle.
It hadn't been easy for Zhan to convince them to let Chao go with him. He had almost given up hope before they finally agreed to cancel her arranged marriage and let him take her with him....but only under strict conditions. They would be allowed to visit her whenever they wished, and Chao would visit them whenever needed. However, they flatly refused to let him take Xi. Zhan didn't argue. He knew this wasn't the time to push further. For now, he had won an important battle, and he had a plan to eventually win their trust enough to take Xi too.
They agreed that in three days, when Zhan and the others were set to leave Xiamen for Beijing, they would pass by to pick up Chao and head out together. With that, they parted ways.
****
The Queen never imagined life could taste so bitter, that the world could grow so colorless. She never believed a day would come when the happiness of being His Majesty's wife would turn into a painful struggle. She never thought she would reach a point where nothing brought her joy, where even food seemed tasteless, and the spark in her eyes faded.
Since the day His Majesty had that private talk with Yibo, everything changed. The warmth, the love, the closeness they shared vanished. What unsettled her most was his silence. Since that day, he hadn't spoken to her.... not a word, not even to mention what happened. It was as if nothing had occurred, as if the entire incident never existed. When she went to his chambers under the guise of spending the night, she sat there like an unwelcome guest. Their conversations were reduced to the bare minimum, only speaking if it was absolutely necessary.
The Queen had reached her breaking point. His Majesty's silence was suffocating her while she remained alive. She wished he would yell at her, punish her, take any action at all.... anything but this unbearable, crushing silence.
YIBO
From Yibo's side, the situation wasn't much better. He constantly watched, waited, hoping His Majesty would call for him, say something, anything. But the silence remained. Days passed without even a glance in his direction, no indication that His Majesty intended to speak to him.
It was driving Yibo mad. His entire plan, his future, his hopes for forgiveness and a path forward depended on His Majesty. But it was clear now.... things weren't going according to plan. His hope was slipping away, failure creeping closer, and he wasn't prepared for that.
The longing for his children was tearing him apart. He needed to lay eyes on Zhan, even if Zhan scolded him.... at least then, he would feel something, some form of relief. But he was afraid to go see Zhan without knowing where he stood with His Majesty. He didn't want to make matters worse, to ruin any remaining chances he had by acting impulsively. Yet, his patience was wearing thin.
Eventually, the longing, the fear, and the uncertainty overwhelmed him. He decided he had no choice...he was going to Xiamen to see them.
When Yibo looked for the Queen to say goodbye, she was nowhere to be found. He hadn't seen her since the day he confessed everything to His Majesty. Without another thought, Yibo left for Xiamen, leaving a message with Nalan, who had been observing everything quietly. Nalan wasn't about to let Zhan's life fall apart again....not this time. Even if the Queen hated her for it, Nalan was ready to get involved.
By the time Yibo arrived in Xiamen, dusk had fallen. The city was calm, heavy clouds looming with the promise of rain.
Meanwhile, Zhan sat with Grandma in the sitting room, chatting casually. They were leaving for Beijing the next day, and Grandma was sharing stories of how marriages used to be in her time.... how women respected their husbands, how the men provided for and cared for their families. Zhan listened, intrigued but skeptical. Outside the sitting room, Jianghu and Jiangji rode their bikes around, laughing and playing.
A knock came from the entrance to Grandma's quarters, pulling their attention.
"Come in," Grandma called, stretching her aching legs. The house staff entered respectfully.
"Grandma, the twins' father has a visitor," he announced, smiling broadly.
Grandma chuckled. "You're grinning like that.... Is something the matter?"
Grandma was known for her teasing nature, always lighthearted.
The staff laughed softly. "It's not just any guest....it's a good one."
Grandma smiled warmly. "That's what I like to hear. Get the guest room ready. I'll send someone with refreshments."
"Yes, Grandma," he replied and hurried off.
Zhan frowned, confused. "Grandma, I don't know anyone here. Who could possibly be visiting me?"
Grandma waved him off dismissively. "A guest is a guest. As long as they're not here to cause trouble, it's nothing to worry about. So what if you don't know them yet? You can't chase them away just because of that. It's not very gracious, is it, Zhan?"
Zhan lowered his gaze, falling silent. Deep down, anxiety twisted in his chest. Who could possibly be visiting him here, in a city where he barely left the house? He wasn't exactly socializing, wasn't exploring the city. And if someone had recognized him… when? Where? It was one of the reasons he had hesitated about coming back to China. The admirers here were relentless.... prying into every part of his life. He feared this visit would only add fuel to the fire, especially regarding marriage talk, something he was absolutely not ready to face yet.
Zhan watched as Grandma instructed the housemaid to prepare water, drinks, and some grilled chicken to be served to the guest. Right then, Grandma added, "Get up, go check who it is."
Without arguing, Zhan stood up, sluggishly walked to his room, grabbed a thick jacket, threw it over himself, and stepped out.
As he came out, the maid was hurrying back to Grandma's quarters, her face now lit with an even wider smile than before. Zhan didn't say a word to her as he passed. She too quickened her steps and disappeared.
Just as Zhan was about to pass by Jianghu, he heard the little boy crying. He stopped immediately and walked over to him, asking what had happened. Turns out, Jianghu had scraped his hand after falling off his bike. Zhan inspected the wound.....thankfully, it was just a minor scratch typical for kids like Jianghu. Zhan washed the wound with water and told him to go find Grandma so she could apply some ointment. He left them there and continued on his way.
The moment Zhan reached the sitting room door, a chill crept through his chest. The air carried a familiar scent.....a very specific cologne, one that he knew all too well. His heart told him it couldn't possibly be happening, that there was no way the owner of that scent could be here… and yet, the unmistakable fragrance lingered.
Zhan took a breath, pushed down the nerves tightening in his chest, and walked inside.
His eyes scanned the room but found no one. But his sense of smell told him otherwise...the scent was stronger now, almost like the person was right beside him.
Not seeing anyone, Zhan turned to leave. But just as he did, he bumped into a broad chest, making him stumble back slightly, his breath nearly catching in his throat. He quickly steadied himself and looked up.
Standing there, arms crossed, eyes pinned on him with unashamed boldness, was Yibo. He stared at Zhan like he was watching his favorite show. The intensity of it annoyed Zhan instantly. He clicked his tongue in irritation, which seemed to snap Yibo out of his trance. Zhan turned sharply, intending to leave.
But he wasn't fast enough. Yibo had anticipated him.
Before Zhan could take another step, Yibo reached out and grabbed him...gently but firmly....pulling him into his chest, enveloping him in a tight embrace.
Yibo exhaled deeply, one breath after another, as if releasing years of built-up tension. He didn't care about Zhan's weak struggles, the fists pounding lightly against his chest. The more he held him, the lighter his heart felt. The realization that Zhan was finally in his arms again made every problem seem smaller.
But the hug wasn't enough.
Yibo slid one hand behind Zhan's head, his other arm still holding him close. Without hesitation, he tilted Zhan's face upward and pressed his lips to his.
Zhan froze, caught off guard by the sudden kiss, his protests forgotten momentarily.
Yibo kissed him with all the desperation, frustration, and longing he'd bottled up. Only when he felt satisfied, like he'd reclaimed a piece of his soul, did he ease back, locking eyes with Zhan.
"How much longer, my Prince?" Yibo whispered, his voice low, hoarse, full of longing. "How long will you keep shutting me out? I just need one chance. One… That's all I'm asking. Let me fix this."
Zhan, still slightly breathless, scowled, glaring at him with fury and stubbornness. "You don't have that right," he snapped, pushing at Yibo's chest. "And you won't get it. Let me go, I said let me go!"
But Yibo only tightened his hold, stronger than before, as if Zhan had just given him permission to never let go. Zhan realized quickly that this wasn't a bluff...Yibo wasn't going to let him slip away easily.
"Aren't you only came to see your kids?" Zhan shot back, voice sharp with anger. "Then let me go and I'll bring them to you."
Yibo chuckled softly, the kind of laugh that could melt any woman's defenses in seconds. His eyes softened as he shook his head.
"It's not just the kids," Yibo admitted. "I need to see you. I need to be with you. I need… us. And before all that, I need to talk to you. We need to figure out our future....for them, for us."
"Our future?" Zhan scoffed. His anger boiled over, coloring his cheeks and sharpening his eyes. "Where was all this talk about 'our future' before? Where was all this concern for me, for the kids, when you were making your choices? What happens to me then, huh? What happens to them? You never thought about that! You only care when it's convenient. Let me go!"
His face flushed with rage, Zhan tried to pull away again.
Yibo held him tighter, shaking his head slightly. "I get it, Zhan. I get it now. You're angry. You should be. You have every right to be. But at least look at me....face me first."
Zhan wanted to face him. A part of him longed to. But another part knew if he did, he might break completely.
Tears burned at the back of Zhan's eyes as old memories and buried emotions resurfaced with brutal force. Without saying another word, he slipped from Yibo's grasp, lowered his head, and stormed off.
As Zhan exited the room, he bumped into Grandma's maid.
"Twins' father… Grandma says the guest should come say hello," she informed him, not knowing he already knew exactly who the visitor was.
Zhan ignored her, brushing past with tense steps. She watched him go, wondering if he had heard her or not. Shrugging it off, she turned back towards the sitting room to inform Yibo.
Yibo stood there, eyes closed, head tilted towards the ceiling, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, and every one of them hurt.
The maid's voice pulled him back to reality. He opened his eyes slowly, fixing them on her. The sheer presence he carried was enough to make anyone nervous.
"Grandma says you should come inside," she said softly, bowing slightly in respect.
Yibo nodded once, relief flickering across his face. For the first time in a long while, he felt the door cracking open.... not wide, but enough.
Without a word, he followed her inside.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛