Zhan didn't wait to hear what Dr. Kexing had to say. Despite the fear twisting in his chest, he grabbed his hand and led him toward the bedroom. "I'll run a warm bath for you. You'll feel better after that."
Dr. Kexing simply followed him, silently watching him without blinking. When they reached the bathroom, Zhan turned to him and said, "Wait for me here."
Without protest, Kexing leaned against the bathroom door, still watching him. Zhan's heart pounded as he moved deeper inside, stealing glances at Kexing as he began to fill the bathtub with warm water. Once the tub was ready, he turned back and saw Kexing's eyes closed as he rested against the door.
He approached quietly and spoke in a low voice. "Go ahead, take your bath."
Dr. Kexing opened his eyes without saying a word. Zhan stepped out of the bathroom and gently closed the door behind him. He let out a long breath, feeling just a bit lighter now, though his thoughts were racing.
He quickly headed to the sitting room, scanning around for the key he had seen Kexing pocket earlier when they entered the house...but it was nowhere to be found. His body tensed with panic. He sat on the floor, tears filling his eyes as he thought of ways to keep distracting Dr. Kexing from whatever he was planning.
Quietly, Zhan stood up and walked toward a door he hadn't checked yet. It turned out to be the kitchen. He glanced around briefly, then opened the fridge...and froze.
It was packed with alcoholic wines, the same kind he'd seen earlier in the sitting room, mixed with a few bottles of orange juice. His heart sank. Slowly, he began taking out the wine bottles and setting them in the sink, tears silently streaming down his face. One by one, he opened each bottle and poured the contents down the drain. When he was done, he left the empty bottles in the sink and walked out of the kitchen, numb and heavy-hearted.
As he returned to the hallway, his eyes landed on the pile of documents Dr. Kexing had brought out earlier. His heart sank again. The words Kexing had told him about those papers came rushing back. That their marriage had been called off because of what was written in them.
But why would Kexing's family believe such lies? Everyone knew who his parents were. How could someone forge such lies and have them accepted?
Zhan stood frozen for over a minute, staring at the papers, tears sliding down his cheeks. Finally, he knelt and picked them all up again. He reread each one, and then...unable to hold it in any longer...he threw them aside and broke down in tears.
How could someone fabricate such lies and make people believe them?
Zhan held his head in his hands and wept quietly. His heart ached deeply. From the bathroom, he could hear the sounds of Kexing trying to vomit. Zhan lifted his head but didn't move. Even after another thirty minutes of silence, he hesitated. Eventually, he stood and peeked into the room.
Dr. Kexing was lying on the bedroom floor, face down, eyes closed.
Zhan crept back out and sat down again in the corridor, his heart thudding in his chest. What would he do if Dr. Kexing came after him again?
He couldn't believe anyone would say that Dr. Kexing was an alcoholic. He had never seemed the type...so calm, so gentle, someone who hardly even spoke much. How could someone like him fall into drinking?
Zhan began to cry again, this time silently. Everything was overwhelming him, spiraling out of control. Instead of feeling anger or resentment toward Dr. Kexing, what he felt was even worse....a deeper love burning inside him, intensifying with each passing moment. He had known he loved Kexing, but not like this....not so completely, not so painfully.
He curled up in the corridor, pressing into a corner despite the cold tiles beneath him. Somehow, despite everything, sleep took over.
In his restless sleep, he felt a warm hand brush against his face. He startled awake, sitting up quickly.
Right in front of him, crouched down, was Dr. Kexing....watching him closely.
Startled, Zhan began to retreat, trembling. Dr. Kexing lifted a hand gently, motioning for him to stay calm. Zhan pressed against the wall, avoiding his gaze.
In a soft voice, Dr. Kexing said, "I'm sorry, Zhan."
Only then did Zhan lift his head and look at him. Dr. Kexing lowered his own gaze and continued, "For six years, I haven't touched a drop of alcohol. That was a past I left behind after returning from America. I don't know what happened last night. I just… I felt like I was losing my mind."
He trailed off, unable to say more.
Zhan just looked at him, silent.
After a moment, Dr. Kexing raised his head again. His bloodshot eyes locked with Zhan's. "The pressure got too much for me," he said, voice trembling. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
Softly, Zhan asked, "Your foregone habit?"
Dr. Kexing looked at him for a moment before replying, "You saw the bottles in the fridge, didn't you? They belong to my friends, not me. Didn't you see their rooms locked? We usually spend weekends here together. I haven't even been here in a long time...it's theirs, not mine."
Zhan didn't respond, just stayed quiet. After a pause, Dr. Kexing said, "Come on, let's go inside. You should get some rest too."
Zhan's heart pounded, but he kept a calm face. He replied firmly, "And then what? Where are you taking me after this?"
In a quiet voice, Dr. Kexing answered, "To Shanghai. We'll have the marriage ceremony there. After that… we'll leave the country."
Zhan lowered his head and muttered, "Okay… but promise me you won't touch me until morning."
Dr. Kexing stared at him without blinking. Eventually, he said in a low voice, "Even if I do touch you, it's me who's marrying you, not someone else. What's wrong with sharing intimacy before the ceremony?"
Zhan's chest tightened, but he didn't show it. Instead, he said steadily, "Then I'm not going anywhere with you for any marriage ceremony if you can't wait until it's official. Or did you forget our agreement?"
Dr. Kexing's tone softened. "I'm sorry, love. I promise....I won't even touch a finger of yours."
Hearing that, Zhan stood and quietly walked toward the bedroom. Dr. Kexing watched him go, a surge of longing flashing through his eyes. Zhan lay down on the bed, trying to stay strong even though he still wasn't fully convinced the effects of the alcohol had worn off.
Dr. Kexing followed and entered the room too, grabbing a pillow and laying it on the carpeted floor for himself. Zhan let out a quiet breath he didn't know he was holding. After a moment, Dr. Kexing asked, "Can I turn off the light?"
Zhan replied, "No."
Kexing nodded. "Okay."
Zhan turned his back to him, surprised at his own boldness. But even with all his courage, he couldn't sleep. Fear gripped him tightly, and the same was true for Dr. Kexing....he kept turning over, restless.
Around 4 a.m., Zhan turned and saw that Dr. Kexing had finally drifted off. He knew he had to get the key before he woke up. Quietly, he slipped off the bed, eyes locked on Dr. Kexing. Then, to his surprise, he spotted the key placed right beside him.
Zhan began to tiptoe carefully to that side of the bed, trying his best not to make a sound. He hesitated... maybe he should turn off the light first and stretch over the bed to grab it, since moving around would increase the risk of waking Dr. Kexing. He had no idea if Dr. Kexing was a light sleeper.
Eventually, Zhan turned off the light and climbed back onto the bed, moving to Dr. Kexing's side. He stretched out his arm to grab the key, but in his nervousness, he slipped and fell directly onto Dr. Kexing.
Startled, he threw the key onto the bed and accidentally blurted, "Oh no!"
He hoped the noise hadn't alerted Dr. Kexing....but Dr. Kexing sat up, grabbing him. "Baby, are you okay?"
Zhan, his lips trembling, stammered, "I… I had a bad dream."
Dr. Kexing got up to turn on the light, but Zhan quickly grabbed his leg and said, "No....don't turn it on, please. I don't want any light right now."
Dr. Kexing sat down beside him again, pulling him gently. "But are you sure you're okay?"
Zhan swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I'll lie next to you, but please… stick to our deal."
In a gentle voice, Dr. Kexing said, "Okay."
Zhan lay down on his side, heart thudding wildly. If Dr. Kexing turned on the light, he would see the key he had thrown onto the bed. Dr. Kexing asked, "Do you want me to get you a blanket?"
Zhan quickly replied, "No, thank you. Just move over and lie down."
Dr. Kexing nodded. "Alright."
Once Zhan saw he had moved a bit farther away, he exhaled quietly in relief. But neither of them got any sleep until dawn. Zhan was terrified that Dr. Kexing might wake up and turn on the light to go to the bathroom.
And sure enough, when Dr. Kexing sat up, Zhan immediately said, "Please don't turn on the room light."
Surprised....he thought Zhan had been asleep...Dr. Kexing replied softly, "Okay, dear."
Zhan watched him walk toward the bathroom and turn on its light before going in. As soon as the door closed, Zhan let out a heavy breath.
The moment he heard the bathroom door lock, Zhan sprang into action. He turned on the room light, snatched the key from the bed, grabbed the long-sleeved shirt Dr. Kexing had folded for him the night before, and rushed out into the sitting room.
On the center table, he noticed a bundle of cash, though he didn't know the exact amount. With shaking hands, he took 20,000 and headed for the door. Using the key, he unlocked it and slipped outside, his body trembling.
He made his way to the compound gate, trying different keys from the bunch until one finally worked. He opened the gate quietly, slipped out, then locked it again from the outside. He tossed the keys back over the gate.... making sure they didn't get stuck on the barbed wire....until he heard them hit the ground.
Then he took off running, glancing over his shoulder the entire time.
Eventually, he made it to the main road, where cars were already passing by. Breathless and alert, Zhan waved down a rickshaw.
"Where to, mister?" the driver asked.
"The bus terminal," Zhan answered, quickly climbing in.
He said, "Alright." Once they had driven a good distance, Zhan finally asked, "Please, what's the name of this town?"
The driver turned to glance at him and said, "You must be a newcomer, huh?"
"Yes," Zhan replied.
The man nodded. "I figured as much. This is Wuhan."
Zhan's eyes widened. So he'd really ended up in Wuhan. After being dropped off at the terminal, he found a bus to Beijing and boarded it. The vehicle filled up quickly and soon they were on their way to the capital. It was only then that Zhan finally let out a sigh of relief. If he hadn't come up with all those plans and taken action, he knew Dr. Kexing wouldn't have just let him go so easily.
By 6:30 AM, they were already entering the city limits of Beijing…
***
No one in Qiren's house got any sleep that night. Lan Yi's blood pressure had spiked and she was receiving treatment at home, even getting fluids via IV. By then, everyone knew the wedding had been called off....and that Zhan was not the biological child of Qiren and Lan Yi.
By 8:30 AM, the sitting room was full. Neighbors, relatives from afar, and close friends had all gathered. Everyone sat in uneasy silence. Though Lan Yi wasn't asleep, her eyes remained closed, as though she were retreating inward. She alone knew the storm of emotions churning inside her. It felt like she might never see Zhan again.
Granny Ai sniffled and said in a trembling voice, "I know exactly who set off the explosion that sent this house into chaos…"
Granny Fang Yu, seated quietly, turned to look at her sharply. She snapped, "I've told you before, Ai....watch your mouth. What kind of life are you living that you spend all your time stirring up trouble? You barged in here in the middle of the night talking nonsense about who's to blame. How can you possibly know that? Are you even based in Beijing? For heaven's sake, stop making things worse. This is not a trivial matter. You heard Qiren...he's taking legal action against whoever caused this."
Granny Ai stood up. "I've kept quiet long enough, Fang Yu Jie. But everyone here knows...I'm not a hypocrite, never have been. I don't meddle in lies. Did I ever mention Shu stayed with me in Yantai for five whole days?"
The entire room went silent. Even Granny Fang Yu stared in disbelief. Aunt Marquis finally spoke up, confused. "Stayed with you? For what?"
Granny Ai continued, "I was minding my own business when that little brat Shu showed up at my door like someone tossed her there. She started ranting, claiming everyone was treating her differently because she had no parents. Said people hated her, that even the man who was supposed to marry her was told to forget about her and propose to Zhan instead. She said he agreed, and now his wedding date was set with Zhan."
"And every time you called, you Marquis, it was always for Zhan, you never ask for Shu. That day, something snapped in me. I asked, 'Who even is Zhan?' We have no blood ties with him. No relation from Qiren's side or Lan Yi's. Maybe Lan Yi and Fang Yu have forgotten that."
"I told Shu everything....exactly how Zhan came into this family. I didn't sugarcoat it. I didn't know I was talking to a two-faced manipulator."
Granny Ai broke into tears. "It was Shu! She ruined this wedding after I told her everything in good faith."
Lan Yi opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, staring at Granny Ai without blinking. Even Granny Fang Yu was too shocked to move. Aunt Marquis burst into tears.
"Why would you do this to us, Aunt Ai?"
The sitting room door opened suddenly.
Zhan stepped inside.
He stood silently at the entrance, scanning everyone in the room. All eyes turned to him in stunned silence. Zhan ran to Lan Yi in a panic when he saw the IV in her hand.
"Mama… is it because of me that you're unwell?"
Granny Ai broke down crying. "Who else would it be? Because of you, we're all barely holding it together. Some of us might end up on drips next. I told them...you'd come back to us eventually, even if we aren't your real family. After everything we've done for you, you had to come back. Haven't you ever wondered, not even once, that Qiren and Lan Yi aren't your biological parents?"
"Did anyone here ever say that to you? No. Because they never treated you any differently from the children they actually gave birth to. Their love for you was so deep they hid the truth from the world. And the rest of us kept their secret."
"But look at everything you've had here. More than most people get from their real parents. Even Yibo, their own child, didn't get the kind of affection you did. So why did you throw all of that away and run? Why did you leave us all in fear and confusion last night? Do you know how long that night felt? Where did you even plan to go, you who have no known family at all?"
Zhan hadn't even made it all the way to Lan Yi. He just stood there, listening, motionless. The entire sitting room seemed to spin around him. Granny Ai's face doubled in his vision.
Lan Yi couldn't bear it any longer. She collapsed forward onto the couch, weeping, her chest tight with pain. Aunt Marquis was crying as well. They had all assumed Zhan already knew the truth, maybe from Dr. Kexing....that's why he had run away.
Granny Ai wiped her nose and added, "You were found abandoned near a community center in Henan. Not even your name was known. Qiren was struggling back then, out early to find work when he saw you...wrapped in a dirty cloth, tossed away like nothing."
Granny Fang Yu shouted at her, rising in fury. "What's wrong with you, Ai?! Pack your filthy trunk and go back to Yantai before I completely lose my temper...!"
She hadn't even finished speaking when Zhan collapsed to the floor.
Hai Kuan had just walked into the sitting room and rushed over, catching Zhan before he hit the ground. In a panic, Lan Yi forgot about the IV in her arm and bolted to Zhan's side. The rest of the room rushed toward him as well.
Granny Ai stood frozen in place, eyes wide, not saying a word.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛