Zhan said, "It went well."
Hai Kuan nodded. "Just the project left?"
"Yes, I'm submitting on Monday," Zhan replied, then looked at him curiously. "Gege, when did you get back?"
"Not long ago," Hai Kuan answered.
Zhan leaned against the car and smiled faintly. "Yibo-ge told me Lee-ge would be back today. Has he arrived?"
Hai Kuan shook his head. "Tomorrow. Now go inside, pack your things....we're going home."
Zhan froze, his mood shifting immediately as he stared at Hai Kuan without blinking. Hai Kuan just kept looking back at him, reading his unease.
Zhan suddenly wished he could stay in the hostel forever, even if it meant living there for life. Everything happening around him lately was overwhelming. Lan Yi's last words echoed in his mind, bringing a mixture of quiet smiles and sudden tears. Life at the hostel had been simple; though his worries hadn't gone away, at least his mind had some space to breathe. The idea of returning home now...even in a dream....felt wrong.
Seeing the look on Zhan's face, Hai Kuan sighed and said quietly, "What? Is this place your house now that you don't want to leave, Mister?"
Tears welled up in Zhan's eyes and rolled down his cheeks. Hai Kuan softened his voice even more. "Zhan, you're going home. That's still your home; there's no other place for you but there. You don't really know any other place outside of that house. As far as we're concerned, you're our only little brother. Baba told me to pick you up....so I came here directly before even going home myself. Pack just your clothes, leave all the food items with Cho, and let's go."
Wiping his tears with shaky hands, Zhan whispered, "But Gege, my project isn't finished yet. Please… let me stay until I'm done."
"Baba said you can finish it at home," Hai Kuan replied gently but firmly. "Be a good boy, okay? Do as I say."
Slowly, Zhan turned and walked back into the hostel, Hai Kuan watching him quietly. After some time, Zhan returned carrying a backpack while Cho helped bring out two suitcases. Zhan's tears still wouldn't stop. Even Cho looked uncomfortable, expecting Zhan would at least stay another two weeks to finish his internal and external defense.
Hai Kuan opened the car's trunk, and together they loaded the luggage. He smiled politely at Cho. "Thanks for looking after our brother, Cho. I hope your exams go well. Did you two exchange contacts?"
Cho smiled back. "Yes, we did. Thanks."
"Good. Wishing you the best," Hai Kuan said. He then opened the front passenger door for Zhan. Zhan looked up at him, tears still clinging to his lashes. Hai Kuan had never opened the door for him before...not once. Usually, only Yibo did things like that.
Once Zhan got inside, Hai Kuan closed the door and went around to the driver's side. Cho waved at them as they drove off.
When they arrived home, Hai Kuan parked the car and got out, pulling out the luggage. Zhan's heart pounded heavily. He had never imagined there would be a day when entering this house....his comfort zone since childhood....would make him feel like a stranger.
Hai Kuan carried two suitcases while handing Zhan his smaller bag. They walked to the entrance slowly, Zhan's steps hesitant, his chest tight.
When they stepped into the sitting room, Zhan froze. The entire room had been redesigned; nothing looked like before. Fresh paint, new furniture, and a clean, refreshing fragrance filled the air. It smelled pleasant and calming, without any trace of smoke, just pure, cool scent wafting through every corner of the large sitting room.
Hai Kuan paused for a moment in the sitting room, realizing again that Lan Yi still hadn't returned home, and it had been nearly three weeks since he last visited the city. He placed Zhan's boxes on the floor just as his phone rang.
Zhan stood slightly behind one of the couches, feeling awkward, almost like a visitor, as he took in the changes to the sitting room. It hit him suddenly...this didn't feel like his home anymore. He felt like an outsider, a stranger in what once was his safe space. He wiped at the tears threatening to fall as Hai Kuan answered the call.
"It's Baba," Hai Kuan said when he saw the name on the screen.
Qiren's voice came through, "You just arrived?"
"Yes," Hai Kuan replied.
"Alright, come up to my sitting room," Qiren instructed.
"Okay." Hanging up, Hai Kuan looked at Zhan and said, "Why are you standing there like this is your first time entering the house?"
Zhan lowered his head, not saying a word.
"Come on, Baba's waiting upstairs," Hai Kuan said, and Zhan quietly followed. He glanced at the corridor as they walked; the walls had fresh paint, and the same cool fragrance from earlier lingered upstairs too, giving the place a new and polished feel.
They entered Qiren's sitting room. Hai Kuan greeted politely, and Qiren responded, gesturing for them to come in. He sat with a cup of tea in hand.
Zhan crouched beside him, smiling shyly. "Good evening, Baba."
Qiren patted his head gently. "Welcome home, son. I hope your exams went well?"
Zhan nodded. "Yes, Baba. I'm done."
"Good," Qiren said warmly. "I hope you'll get excellent results and secure work in a top hospital soon."
A shy smile spread across Zhan's face. The simple praise warmed him more than he expected.
Turning to Hai Kuan, Qiren said, "How was the journey, Barrister?"
"Good," Hai Kuan replied, running a hand over his head.
"I told you not to drive at night, but you didn't listen."
"We left Tianjin around five. There was some traffic on the way," Hai Kuan explained.
"Still, be careful. Night travel is risky," Qiren said firmly.
"Alright," Hai Kuan responded.
Qiren made another quick call. "They've arrived," he said into the phone and hung up.
Soon the door opened. Both Hai Kuan and Zhan looked up as a woman, likely in her mid-forties, stepped into the room with a bright smile.
"Welcome," she greeted.
"Good evening," Hai Kuan replied politely, looking between her and Qiren.
"You must be the barrister," she said, smiling warmly.
"Yes," he confirmed.
Zhan, however, froze, simply staring at her, unsure what to say. The woman turned to him with a smile that never left her face. "Zhan, I hope your exams went well?"
Lowering his gaze in confusion, Zhan muttered, "Good evening."
"Good evening, dear," she replied cheerfully. "I hope you get wonderful results."
Zhan nodded slightly, unable to speak further.
Hai Kuan remained quiet, exchanging glances between the woman and Qiren. Finally, he stood, intending to leave, but Qiren stopped him. "Sit back down. I haven't introduced her yet."
Hai Kuan sat again, looking at Qiren expectantly.
Pointing toward the woman, Qiren said, "Her name is Xuxui. She's your new aunt."
Hai Kuan blinked, stunned, while Zhan leaned back, eyes wide, unable to stop staring at Xuxui's smiling face.
"We married yesterday....Friday," Qiren explained. "She moved in just a few hours ago. She'll take care of the house and everyone in it, the same way things used to be. For more than a month, this house has lacked proper care, and she's here to fix that. Even tonight, after your long drive, there's food waiting in the kitchen, Hai Kuan. And Zhan will no longer be staying in the hostel; now, someone will always keep an eye on him when I'm away, or when you and Yibo aren't around. You understand, right?"
Hai Kuan gave a short nod. "I wish you both well… I'll go take a shower now." He stood, gave Xuxui a polite bow, and said, "You're welcome, Ma."
"Thank you so much, dear," she replied kindly.
Hai Kuan left, pulling out his phone and dialing Yibo's number as he stepped out.
Qiren turned to Zhan with a calm smile. "Come on, let me show you your new room, son."
Zhan felt heavy-hearted as he stood, deliberately avoiding looking at Xuxui again. They walked together until Qiren stopped at what had once been Yibo's room.
"This will be your room now," Qiren said, showing him inside.
Zhan quietly stepped in, and Qiren left, closing the door behind him.
Zhan leaned against the door, his eyes filling with tears before he broke down completely. He still couldn't believe it... Baba had taken another wife? A co-wife for Mama? Did this happen because of him too?
Since Mama left this house, she had never come back?. He had always believed she returned. But now he realized that everything happening around them was somehow linked to him. That thought broke him even more, and he slid down to the floor, sobbing quietly. Why is all of this happening because of me? Why?
He sat by the door until nearly ten at night, too shaken to move. A knock finally came. He quickly wiped his face and opened the door to find Xuxui standing there. She gave him a warm, concerned look.
"Have you eaten anything?" she asked softly.
He didn't meet her eyes. "Yes, I have," he muttered.
"Alright then, goodnight," she said gently before walking away.
Zhan frowned and closed the door, retreating back inside where he sat quietly, tears still slipping down his face.
****
The next morning, Aunty Marquis got permission from her husband to travel urgently to Beijing. By 9:30 a.m., she arrived at Granny Fang Yu's house and stepped into the sitting room.
Granny Fang Yu froze, looking her up and down. "Is everything alright?"
Aunty Marquis forced a small smile as she came closer and sat down. Even Lan Yi looked uneasy, sensing something was wrong.
"I asked if everything's alright," Granny Fang Yu repeated.
"Oh, nothing serious," Aunty Marquis replied quickly. "I came for my husband family wedding. I was already in Beijing since yesterday, so I thought I'd surprise you all, that's why I didn't mention it."
Granny Fang Yu sighed in relief. "Then you came at the perfect time. You can escort your sister back to her home. Yibo is on his way to pick her up, and frankly, for the sake of those kids, it's better she returns to her own house rather than letting Qiren's situation hold her back. Even Lee is only arriving today."
Aunty Marquis smiled. "That's wonderful news. Honestly, that's exactly what I hoped for. Mother, she shouldn't refuse to go back just because of Qiren. For the sake of her children, she needs to move forward."
"Yes, exactly," Granny Fang Yu agreed. "I don't want Lee to come back home and find her missing....it would be uncomfortable for everyone."
Yibo walked in at that moment, greeting politely. He looked exhausted, clearly still affected by the late-night call from Hai Kuan, which had kept him awake all night. He'd never expected something like this from his own father and felt terrible for his mother.
Seeing Aunty Marquis, he blinked in surprise. "Aunty, you're here? From where?"
"From upstairs," she teased lightly.
He gave a small laugh. "Wow, no one told me you were coming."
"No one knew," she replied, smiling faintly.
Granny Fang Yu pointed to Lan Yi's luggage. "Take those to the car."
Yibo nodded, picked up the box, and carried it outside. As he closed the trunk, a rickshaw pulled up. He watched as Granny Ai stepped out with her old, battered suitcase, talking to the driver.
"I only have fifty yuan; I came to Beijing with that much. Can you manage with it?" she said.
The driver frowned slightly. "I don't quite understand what you mean, Lao Shi…"
Meanwhile, Min was staring at Shu, who was eating Irish and eggs carelessly. "Seriously, Shu?"
Shu chewed and waved her hand. "I'm telling you, I even followed him to find out where he's been coming for his exams. I went all the way to his hostel with a face mask on. And guess what? Yibo visits him almost five times a day! That's where he's been going at night... to see Zhan. And you just sit there like it's nothing while he comes back late at night."
Min gave her a blank look. Shu was notorious for being crafty and manipulative, always turning stories into her advantage. Today was no different....today Shu wake up asking for her gold or the gold money, that's why Min convinced her even make breakfast for her, and now she was spinning this gossip over breakfast, paired with tea.
"Does Lan Yi know about this?" Min asked, frowning.
"I only found out yesterday," Shu said smugly. "I haven't told them yet. I'm planning to go over later. Actually, Aunt Lan Yi is returning to her home today."
"What? Really?" Min exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"Of course. That's why Yibo went to pick her up from Granny Fang Yu's place....he's bringing her home today."
Min scratched her head nervously and then stood abruptly. "In that case, I'm going over there now. I'll help clean up since, honestly, the house is probably going to be dusty."
Shu gave her a sharp look, then laughed. "You just want to get in good with them, don't you? Did someone say they needed extra hands in that house?"
Min ignored her, rushing to her room to grab her handbag. Shu blinked. "Where are you going?"
"To help them clean, of course. Lan Yi is like a mother to me, and she'll appreciate seeing me there first thing," Min said earnestly.
Shu smirked and stood up. "Wait for me. I'm coming too since I have nothing else to do today."
"Fine, but hurry up!" Min urged.
A few minutes later, Shu emerged with a scarf wrapped around her neck, and the two of them headed off in a rickshaw, Min secretly hoping to arrive before Lan Yi so she could take away whatever charm she put in Lan Yi bedroom before anyone sees it.
NB
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