Xuxui stepped into the living room and found Granny Ai seated. She didn't sit on the couch, but respectfully settled on the carpet instead, greeting her politely, "Good morning, Ma."
Granny Ai gave her a long look from head to toe, then turned to Aunty Marquis, who was seated on the couch, her face expressionless as she tapped away on her phone.
Granny Ai asked, "And who is this that you opened the door for, Marquis?"
Xuxui gave a small smile and said, "My name is Xuxui, Ma."
Granny Ai scrunched her face in confusion. "Xuxui? What kind of name is that? Where are you from? Did you lose your way? Or maybe they fired Sabeera and brought in a new house help for Lan Yi?"
Xuxui turned to Aunty Marquis and greeted her, "Good morning."
Only then did Aunty Marquis look up briefly and reply, "Good morning."
Granny Ai continued, "Do you even know her, Marquis? Or was she just wandering in from a neighbor's place? Has Sabeera been replaced?"
Aunty Marquis pretended to be getting a phone call, stood up, and quickly retreated into a room, locking the door behind her.
At that moment, the door to the living room opened, and Hai Kuan entered. He came in and sat on the couch, glancing at Xuxui. "Good morning," he greeted.
Xuxui returned the greeting, "Good morning, Barrister."
Then she turned to Granny Ai, who was still staring at her like she was something unpleasant. Xuxui stood up and said, "Ma, I'll excuse myself now," and walked out without waiting for a response.
Hai Kuan looked from the door to Granny Ai, stunned. "Good morning, Granny Ai?" he said, attempting to ease the mood.
Granny Ai redirected her focus to him, then suddenly burst into tears, holding her head in frustration. "Hai Kuan, you, of all people....you whom I believed had sense...stood by and watched your father take a second wife, and you said nothing? How could you not stop him? What does he even need another woman for when there are grown, eligible young men all over this house? This is pure selfishness on his part. Forty years with your mother, and he never married another woman....until now! And you all agreed to it like it was nothing. And to make it worse, this woman just barged in like she owns the place, not even a minute after we arrived. What business does she have coming in here unless she was sent to provoke us? How can Lan Yi possibly compete with someone like her? She looks like she came straight from the street. Didn't you see how she was acting?"
Hai Kuan stood up to leave, but Granny Ai quickly stood too and said, "Go and call your father for me. Tell him Ai from Yantai sends her regards."
Despite all Aunty Marquis's efforts to calm Lan Yi down, offering comforting words and trying to rationalize things, Lan Yi wasn't listening. In fact, she seemed to be getting even more upset. She was packing up her belongings, tears streaming down her face. At one point, she warned Aunty Marquis that if she said another word, she would slap her. That shut Aunty Marquis up immediately. She stepped aside, helpless, watching Lan Yi cry while hurriedly gathering the rest of her things.
Granny Ai was sitting in the living room, anxiously tapping her foot, waiting to see how Qiren would respond to her summons. Moments later, he arrived at the chalet, stepped inside the living room, and politely greeted her before sitting on the couch.
Granny Ai immediately broke into tears again, holding her head. "Qiren, after 40 years with Lan Yi, never once fighting or causing trouble, you repay her with this betrayal? A second wife? And not just any woman, but one who looks like she came from a brothel! Have you forgotten how she stood by you when you had nothing? When you couldn't even afford a single yuan to your name? Rich men came to propose to her, and she turned them all down for you! She starved for days just to keep you afloat, and now this is how you reward her?"
Qiren, still calm, his eyes on the TV, gave a small smile and shook his head. "Aunt Ai, I didn't remarry to hurt her. I did it because I had no choice. It was the only solution for me and the children. With everything that's happened… if we're being honest, even you know I tried to turn a blind eye, to forgive, to act like nothing was wrong."
Granny Ai wiped her tears and said, "I know, I know. Yes they were turning you around like they'd caught a prize. One minute it's this plan, then the next. And you just kept following them without question....I almost started resenting you."
Qiren replied, "Exactly, Auntie. I went along with what they said for peace. I did everything they asked. But with their final demands, I realized I could no longer support injustice. I told Lan Yi that clearly. She packed her things and left without a single argument. Of everyone in the world, who does Zhan know besides us?"
Granny Ai adjusted her sitting position and said, "Now tell me...this child Zhan, whose origin you yourselves don't even know...let alone him, who only recently found out you're not his real parents"
Qiren responded, "Listen, at first, Lan Yi obeyed Mother Fang Yu Jie and said she would no longer take care of Zhan. I suppressed my emotions and told myself it was fine, that she was just being loyal to her mother. I decided to let Zhan move to my cousin's house....my late father's nephew. His family also lives here in Beijing, just in a different district. But Yibo said the house was too far from Zhan's school, so he decided the boy should stay at his own place instead. Everyone agreed...just so Lan Yi could find peace at her mother's side. But that wasn't enough. Now, out of nowhere, they've come up with another story: that Zhan can't stay at Yibo's place either, and that Lan Yi won't take him back...just because of their selfish desires and refusal to understand the full story."
"So where exactly do they want Zhan to go, especially now with his final exams around the corner? Tell me, Auntie, who else but me would tolerate such treatment and still try to keep peace in this house? This boy has been with us since he was a baby, and now that he's grown, they want to throw this in his face. Just because he's strong mentally doesn't mean he deserves this. So where exactly should I send him?"
Granny Ai lowered her voice and said, "Honestly, Qiren, you've done well. Not every man would tolerate this level of nonsense. You've shown incredible patience going along with everything they said in the beginning, even when it clearly pained you…"
Qiren replied, "And as for the marriage I just had....it wasn't because I wanted to, but because I had no choice. You know very well how impossible it is to live with a woman without any insults or peace, and then she suddenly packs her things and moves out. And her mother watches her go and says nothing...lets her stay away and doesn't insist she returns to her home."
Granny Ai shook her head. "As for Fang Yu Jie, you need to stop involving her in this matter. I swear, I've been planning to take her to the hospital tomorrow for a mental check-up. All that aging has really scrambled her thinking. It's just not right anymore."
Qiren let out a long sigh. "I remarried because I couldn't leave Zhan in this house without a mature woman to look after him. His brothers are never around. And even when they are, now they all have their own homes. So you see, I simply did what had to be done."
Granny Ai raised her voice a bit. "Careful! Don't you dare say you remarried because of Zhan...you're just putting more dirt on his name and dragging him into mess he didn't create. Why would you say something like that? Just admit you remarried because you can't live without a woman. And don't even try to convince me this was all because of that boy's minor issues. I'm telling you, Qiren, this whole marriage stunt? You had that woman on the side for a while. You were just waiting for the right moment. Don't insult my intelligence."
Qiren gave a small smile. "Not at all. I was set up with her."
Granny Ai blinked rapidly and muttered, "Well then, curse whoever set you up with her."
Qiren didn't respond.
Granny Ai continued, "Now stand up...we're going to see Lan Yi and you're going to tell her yourself that you've taken another wife. There's no dignity in hiding this from her. Even if you want to marry a hundred women, none of them will ever replace Lan Yi. I'm telling you...go apologize and figure out where to keep this new wife. Because they cannot live under the same roof. Imagine her brushing shoulders with the woman you brought home after forty years of loyalty...like some silent wrestler waiting for a fight."
Qiren just stared at her. She stood up, adjusting her scarf, and said, "I said get up, let's go."
He gave her a small smile...he didn't want to argue with her, but he had no intention of doing exactly what she said. Still, he stood and followed her as they made their way back to the main house toward Lan Yi's section.
When Granny Ai opened the door, she saw Lan Yi's suitcases had been brought out into the living room again.
Granny Ai held her chin and muttered, "What a silly woman…"
Qiren quietly took a seat without saying a word. Aunty Marquis peeked out of the room upon hearing Granny Ai's voice. The moment she saw Qiren, she frowned and went back into Lan Yi's room. Granny Ai entered the room, watching Lan Yi fasten the last box, and said sharply, "Come on, come on, those boxes aren't yours to pack." With that, she walked out.
Lan Yi stepped out with her last box. When she saw Qiren sitting with a grim face, she snapped, "What did you follow me here to say? If you didn't come with the divorce papers, just get out...I don't want to see you. And if you refuse to give them, then we'll settle this in court."
Granny Ai barked at her angrily, "Divorce papers? Do you not understand that a husband's house is your shelter and protection? Instead of being grateful, you want papers to walk out? Let me tell you, packing your bags was a waste of time...because if I have anything to say about it, you're not going anywhere. This is still your room. We are not small or reckless people, and we don't deal in nonsense."
Tears in her eyes, Lan Yi replied, "I swear I'm not staying here, Aunt Ai. I won't spend even five more minutes in this house. It's Yibo who ruined me and broke my spirit. That's the only reason I returned. Otherwise, I swear I would never step foot here again. Now I'm going back to where I came from. He can live with whoever he married. If I've ever done good by him, one day he'll realize it…"
Granny Ai scoffed, "You must be crazy. Even Fang Yu Jie couldn't talk sense into you the way I can. If you think you'll walk out of this house today, think again. You'll deal with me, not Fang Yu Jie. Honestly, if you had listened to me from the start, none of this would've happened. And I told him from the beginning that you wouldn't tolerate another wife. If she stays the house, he should've rented her a place...or better yet, built you another house three times this size. Qiren isn't a fool; he knows what's right."
***
By 1:45 PM, Granny Ai finally came downstairs from Lan Yi's part of the house, drenched in sweat from the hours of trying to mediate. She'd been at it since 11 AM. The only reason she came down now was because it was almost time for Lee to come in, and she didn't want to miss him.
Fanning herself with her scarf in frustration, she muttered, "Since the day I was born, I've never skipped a meal or suffered like this over something that doesn't concern me. I've only had some tea and dry bread since morning. And this Lan Yi woman...may karma find her. Her stubbornness is unreal. Even among the most hard-headed, no one is this impossible. Not even animals act this stubborn anymore. If she dares to leave this house, she'll see what I'll do to her. Even Fang Yu Jie couldn't convince her to stay protected under this roof. Women these days are like demons. If not for Qiren's patience... who the hell does she think she is, refusing to share a home with her co-wife? Her mother caused all this drama in the first place. I don't even support dishonesty, but this second wife...walking around showing off her curves—what's my business with her? I'm done wasting my money on Lan Yi. If she won't listen, let her go back to Fang Yu Jie's house. I'm out."
Xuxui came downstairs too. Granny Ai went quiet, watching her.
"Should I bring you something, Mama?" Xuxui asked gently.
"I haven't eaten anything since morning... only tea and dry bread," Granny Ai snapped.
"I'll prepare you something to eat right now," Xuxui offered kindly.
"Yes please. I'm too hungry....I might not even see properly," Granny Ai replied. Xuxui just smiled and headed to the kitchen.
Granny Ai smiled as she watched the grand feast Xuxui prepared for her...fit for royalty. She touched nearly every dish, eating almost everything. She sipped the hot tea Xuxui brought and headed to freshen up, muttering, "Thank goodness." After she finished, she went back to Lan Yi's room, full and content. Lan Yi was still crying in the sitting room.
Aunty Marquis tried to console her, but Granny Ai just pouted and sprawled on the carpet, chewing on a toothpick. "Marquis, the food's over there...Xuxui cooked something amazing with chunks of chicken. You better go grab a plate before it's finished. I heard Hai Kuan and Lee have just arrived from the airport."
Aunty Marquis didn't reply. She returned to Lan Yi's room, while Lan Yi also got up and went in. Granny Ai continued, "Co-wife behaving like she's royalty. What I like about Xuxui is that she's respectful and obedient. She's been talking to me all time in the sitting room. Did you see the meal she served me? I couldn't even finish it. Honestly, I've had enough of all this."
----
Zhan was lying in bed when he looked up to see Xuxui enter his room. He sat up and looked at her.
"Are you feeling unwell, Zhan?" she asked softly.
Zhan shook his head and rubbed his eyes, not even wanting to look at her. "I was just sleeping," he muttered.
"It's almost 3 PM. Come out and eat something," Xuxui told him gently.
Zhan just nodded. When she didn't leave, he reluctantly got down from the bed, still avoiding eye contact. Xuxui opened the door and left. Zhan followed slowly. Deep down, he knew he wasn't okay...he was just trying to seem fine. Xuxui went to her own room while Zhan made his way downstairs. Since his last confrontation with Lan Yi, he hadn't opened his door again until now.
Just then, the door to the sitting room opened...Hai Kuan walked in, followed by Lee carrying his suitcase. Lee dropped his bag when he saw Zhan, staring at him for a moment before smiling and walking over. Despite all the shock things Hai Kuan and Yibo had said to him, he hugged Zhan tightly and lifted him up as always and said with a grin, "What did you cook for me, baby bro?"
Hai Kuan stood quietly, watching them. Zhan forced a small, brave smile but said nothing to him. Hai Kuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you sick?"
Zhan nodded slightly. "I'm getting better," he replied, but before Hai Kuan could say anything else, Zhan picked up Lee travel bag and said, "Welcome back home, bro." With that, he walked off toward Lee's room downstairs.
Lee watched him go, then turned to Hai Kuan. He sat on the couch, rubbing his temples.
Zhan entered Lee's room, which Xuxui had cleaned and prepared earlier that morning. After dropping his bag, he left again, avoiding eye contact as he headed to the kitchen. Hai Kuan followed him quietly.
Once in the kitchen, Zhan turned and looked at him. Hai Kuan lowered his voice and asked, "Did you go and greet Mama?"
Zhan shook his head. Hai Kuan paused for a moment before asking, "So what are you going to do now?"
"I was going to serve some food for Lee-ge," Zhan answered.
Hai Kuan asked, "Have you eaten?"
Zhan shook his head again. "Then dish some out for yourself and go eat in your room. When you're done, go greet Mama," Hai Kuan instructed.
Zhan nodded and quietly took his food to his room. But once there, he found he couldn't eat. Eventually, he stood up, left his room, and slowly made his way to Lan Yi's part. His heart pounded with anxiety as he reached the sitting room. He hesitated at the door before gently pushing it open.
Granny Ai, who had been dozing off, opened her eyes in surprise and adjusted her sitting position. "Zhan? You're actually in the house?"
Zhan nodded and sat on the floor, his voice low. "Good evening Granny Ai."
Aunty Marquis, who was still trying to calm Lan Yi down, was just as surprised to hear Zhan's voice...she had forgotten to even ask Yibo if he had brought him back.
Lan Yi, sitting on the edge of her bed, still crying, stood up, went and locked the door with key. Aunty Marquis's heart sank as she silently watched her.
Granny Ai looked at the now...locked door and sighed. "Go on, head back if you haven't eaten. Ask Xuxui to give you some food. She cooked a nice, healthy meal. I just finished mine not long ago."
But Zhan kept staring at the locked door. Granny Ai asked again, "Did you eat?"
Not wanting her to see the tears welling up in his eyes, Zhan stood and mumbled, "No, I'll eat now." Then he turned and left, returning to his room where he collapsed on the bed and cried silently, his heart aching deeply.
Aunty Marquis tried her best to talk Lan Yi into opening her door and fixing her part of the house, which had grown dusty and neglected. But Lan Yi refused, eventually snapping and scolding Aunty Marquis, who fell silent after that.
Around six o'clock, Aunty Mariya emerged, holding her handbag and Granny Ai's suitcase. Granny Ai was sitting in the living room watching TV, a bowl of fruit in front of her as she snacked. Seeing Aunty Mariya, she smiled, not even noticing her suitcase in her hand. "Just look, Xuxui brought me this earlier. I'm starting to think she might actually be a kind woman…"
Aunty Marquis frowned and interrupted, "We're moving back to Mother's house."
Only then did Granny Ai notice her suitcase in her hand. She paused, setting down the slice of melon she was holding. "Did you put anything in my suitcase that your holding it?"
Aunty Marquis said, "You should get up, we're leaving. It's getting late."
Granny Ai moved the bowl of fruit in front of her, looking like she was about to cry. "So, is this your mother's house that you're now telling me to leave, Marquis? What business of yours is it if I stay or not? Unless you're just looking for trouble."
Aunty Marquis responded, "Now Aunt Ai, even if someone asked you to stay here, would you really sleep over, knowing what's going on?"
Granny Ai flared up. "No, I don't know anything! Did something new happen that I haven't heard about? Don't treat me like a child, Marquis. Don't insult me...I swear I'll deal with you right here. Even Qiren asked me if I planned to stay a few days before going back, and I told him yes. So why are you bringing this nonsense and disrespect? Is this your mother's house or your husband's?"
Aunty Marquis dropped her bag and stormed out of the sitting room, leaving the house.
Granny Ai, fuming, said, "I've seen all sorts of troublemakers in my life. You expect me to just leave and abandon Lan Yi in this state of distress? I'm the one keeping her calm, and yet I'm supposed to go now? I have so many things to tell her...especially about that wicked in-law of hers, Min. I'll take Fang Yu Jie with me first thing in the morning and go straight to Yibo's house. After I lie to Fang Yu Jie that Min is seriously ill and may not make it, I'll push Min to confess her own evil deeds with her own mouth. In fact, I even brought my traditional incense burner and my metal ladle in my bag... let's see who stops me now. I have every right to deal with this once and for all. I don't rely on tricks... I deal with shaman who know what they're doing."
She ended with a huff and went back to eating her slice watermelon.
~**~
That whole day passed until late in the evening before Yibo returned home. Since he left the house with Min and Shu. The only reason he came back was because Lan Yi had called him more than three times, saying she wanted to see him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered.
When he entered the sitting room, he found Granny Ai and Xuxui sitting there. There was food in front of Granny Ai...a steaming vegetable stew with rice and sides dishes. Yibo greeted them. Xuxui replied. Granny Ai asked, "If you didn't eat she can serve you too?"
Yibo replied, "No, I just came from home." He then headed upstairs, directly toward Lan Yi's quarters.
He found her in the sitting room there, with Hai Kuan and Lee. It was obvious they'd all been waiting for him.
He sat down, already aware of the situation...he had spoken with Lee earlier at his own house. Hai Kuan had even brought Lee over and explained everything that had happened before they returned together.
Quietly, Yibo greeted Lan Yi while studying her. Anyone could tell she had been crying for real...her face was proof of it.
Instead of responding to his greeting, Lan Yi asked, "Do you know why I called you all here?"
They all went silent, watching her. Hai Kuan looked down.
Lan Yi then asked, "Did you seen Zhan?"
Only then did Hai Kuan raise his head to look at her. She shook her head slowly, as if weighing her words, and said:
"None of you should ever associate with him again. If any of you even speak to Zhan again, I will never forgive you. The three of you should act as if you never knew him. Like you never lived under the same roof."
They all stared at her in shock, motionless. Lee, with a stunned expression, finally said, "How, Mama? It's not his fault all this happened…"
Lan Yi snapped at him, "Are you questioning me?"
He replied, "No. But you shouldn't say that. Honestly, I still don't believe you're not the one who gave birth to Zhan."
Lan Yi stood up and stared at him seriously. "Well, I'm telling you myself now...I'm not his mother. I have nothing to do with him. So I'll repeat myself: if he ever tries to speak with any of you again, and you respond, I'll never forgive you.
And one more thing: I'm still standing by what I said... I'm not staying in your father's house. It's better if you people find me my own place. I'm not even going to Mother's house."
With that, she turned and went into her bedroom.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛