It was almost ten o'clock when Qiren arrived at the hospital to check on Zhan.
Zhan was sitting on the bed with a plate of fruit in front of him, a drip attached to his arm to replace the one that had just finished. He looked up as Qiren entered.
"How are you feeling?" Qiren asked.
"Better," Zhan replied.
"Are you sure?"
Zhan nodded.
Granny Ai, sitting nearby, added with a smile, "Just yesterday, he managed to have some watermelon. He's definitely getting better, Qiren."
"That's true," Qiren agreed. "Why don't you head home, take a shower, and get some rest, Aunt Ai? Xuxui can stay with him until later."
Granny Ai quickly shook her head. "No, no. I'm not saying I'm tired of taking care of him. Xuxui can just bring food later, that's enough."
"You've been here for days. Go home and rest," Qiren insisted.
"I told you not to worry about me," Granny Ai replied. "I'm used to hospital stays. If Xuxui brings food later and we eat together, then you can take me home for a shower. If Zhan isn't discharged by evening, I'll come back to stay with him."
"Alright," Qiren said.
Xuxui smiled warmly at Zhan. "Take care, dear. I'll come back later."
Zhan simply nodded, and she and Qiren left. Granny Ai pulled over the warmer with food Zhan had refused to eat earlier and began eating.
By around half past twelve, Zhan glanced at Granny Ai, who was sipping an orange drink.
"Granny Ai, did Gege come by while I was asleep?"
"Who's Gege? Yibo or Hai Kuan?"
Zhan nodded.
Granny Ai snorted. "You know, I've been thinking about that. Don't they know you've been in the hospital since yesterday? Yibo didn't even bother to check on you when you went missing yesterday until Qiren called him. If he cared, he would have come last night. But nothing. No Yibo, no Hai Kuan and that pale Lee, not even your mother. Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if Lan Yi even knows what's going on....or cares. It feels like she's not part of us anymore. Imagine, it's only that stranger who helped bring you here who keeps visiting us, while your own family behaves like we're nobodies. Last night, I had to chase that young man out past midnight, and here he was again early this morning. Aside from him, it's only Qiren and his new wife who come. People in this hospital will start thinking we don't have any relatives."
Before she could continue, the ward door opened. Granny Ai looked up quickly. It was Dr. Kexing, carrying a basket of food.
Granny Ai straightened her posture, set down her drink, and smiled. "Welcome."
He placed the basket down and greeted her politely.
"And your name is?" she asked.
"Kexing.....though everyone calls me Dr. Wen Kexing."
"Oh, so that's it," Granny Ai said with a relieved smile. "I'm so grateful you've been looking out for my grandson since the day you helped him. Thank you."
Dr. Kexing smiled faintly. "Of course."
Granny Ai rose, adjusting her shawl. "Now that you're here, I can stretch my legs for a while. I've been in this spot since yesterday like a statue." She walked out, leaving the two alone.
Dr. Kexing stepped closer to Zhan. "How are you feeling now?"
Zhan only nodded.
"No pain anywhere?"
Another small nod.
"My mother sent food. She wanted to come herself, but I told her not to."
"Thank you," Zhan murmured, his head lowered.
Dr. Kexing reached out to touch his forehead, but Zhan quickly shifted away.
"I just wanted to check your temperature," he said softly.
"Don't worry. I checked it myself a few minutes ago."
He didn't press further and sat down in the chair. "Your mama's not here? Haven't seen her at all today."
Zhan gave another silent nod and turned away, not wanting to talk about it.
"You have your internal defense on Thursday," Dr. Kexing continued gently. "But don't stress over it. I'll make sure your external defense goes smoothly too. Right now, you need proper rest."
"Thank you," Zhan whispered.
Minutes later, Granny Ai returned. "Well, I've done my rounds and I'm back."
"Welcome back," Dr. Kexing said.
"Yes, but it's getting late," Granny Ai replied.
Dr. Kexing stood. "I'll head out now."
"Go on, then," Granny Ai said. After he left, she opened the food basket.
"My, my… this looks like something from a royal kitchen," she said, smiling at Zhan. "Will you eat?"
"I'm full."
Granny Ai didn't push. She took a plate, piled it with food, and began to eat.
The rest of the day, only Granny Ai, Xuxui, and occasionally Dr. Kexing stayed with Zhan. Around 3 PM, three of his lecturers arrived with Dr. Anshi, bringing a bag of fruit. Granny Ai greeted them warmly after Zhan explained they were from his university. Once they left, Zhan lay back on the bed, his mind drifting. It was a relief to think he didn't have to worry about his project or defense for now...he could pretend it was all done.
At 3:30, Xuxui went home to cook dinner for them. As soon as she left, Granny Ai muttered under her breath, "Honestly, I think Lan Yi has forbidden your Gege's from coming. She's acting like she's above us. And to think Qiren married a woman like that.....what a shame."
Zhan just smiled faintly.
Granny Ai took out her phone, held together with a rubber band, and handed it to him. "Call Yibo for me."
"What will you say to him, Granny Ai?" Zhan asked cautiously.
"That's none of your business. Just call him."
Zhan dialed Yibo's number and handed her the phone, putting it on speaker. Yibo answered just before it rang out, but Granny Ai didn't greet him.
"Do you even know your younger brother has been in the hospital for three days now?" she demanded.
Yibo paused for a moment before saying, "I'm not in town."
Granny Ai asked, "Not in town? So Hai Kuan isn't in town either, with that pale young man who came back yesterday?"
Yibo replied, "Honestly, I don't know."
Granny Ai said, "Even if you're not here, you could at least call and ask about Zhan's condition. That boy was brought to the hospital barely breathing, and only today has he started to breathe normally. Yet among you and your family, no one came to see him?"
Quietly, Yibo answered, "I was away for work, Granny Ai."
"Well, fine," she replied. Then she handed her phone to Zhan and said, "Hang it up for me."
Zhan ended the call and handed the phone back to her.
- - - - -
By a quarter to six, the Dr came into the room to discharge Zhan. But Granny Ai quickly said, "Doctor, I'm worried his condition might get worse if we go home now. I think it's better to wait until tomorrow."
Smiling, the doctor replied, "His BP is back to normal. He just needs to keep taking his medicine and focus on his nutrition. I've already explained everything to his father."
Granny Ai said, "Alright then. But his father doesn't even know he's being discharged today. There's food at home already being brought here for us."
The doctor replied, "We just spoke to him a short while ago. He said he'll come after six to take you both home."
"Alright, no problem," Granny Ai said. He turned to Zhan and added, "Take care of yourself, young man."
Zhan quietly replied, "Thank you."
Once the doctor left, Granny Ai muttered, "If we go now and that teacher of yours brings food, it'll go to waste. Best we stay until after eight." Zhan barely heard her....his thoughts were elsewhere.
The door opened and Dr. Kexing walked in. Granny Ai said, "Speak of the devil...I was just saying you might come and find us gone since the doctor's ready to discharge us."
Dr. Kexing smiled. "I've been here at the hospital this whole time."
Granny Ai replied, "That's kind of you."
He walked over and placed Zhan's school backbag beside him. "Feeling much better now?" Zhan nodded. Lowering his voice so Granny Ai couldn't hear, Dr. Kexing asked, "Can I come to see you at home?"
Only then did Zhan look up. They locked eyes briefly before Zhan looked away and added, "Tomorrow."
Dr Kexing nodded slightly.
Dr. Kexing continued, "Your father's on his way now to take you home, so I'll leave. But I need one favor....please unblock me."
Zhan said nothing at first. "Please," Dr. Kexing repeated.
Zhan opened his bag, pulled out his phone, and unblocked his number. "Also WhatsApp and WeChat," Dr. Kexing said quietly. Zhan did so.
Dr. Kexing smiled warmly. "Thanks." Then he turned to say goodbye to Granny Ai.
She said, "Oh, you're leaving too? Thank you for everything."
He replied, "It's nothing. I hope he recovers quickly."
"If you'd like," Granny Ai said, "you can come check on him at home tomorrow."
"I'll come," he said.
"Alright, we'll be expecting you," she replied.
When he left, Granny Ai sat next to Zhan and said, "I think he likes you. The way he's looking after you isn't just for nothing."
Zhan shook his head. "It's not like that."
"Well, what do you know?" Granny Ai said. "I'll find out tomorrow....I don't like all this mystery."
Zhan stayed quiet.
At six o'clock, Qiren arrived to take them home. After he parked, Zhan got out of the car. Granny Ai said quietly, "We need to talk, Qiren."
"Alright," he said.
As she stepped out, she told Zhan, "Go on inside and rest, I'll bring your things in. Where do you think you're getting the strength to carry them?"
Zhan walked inside, and Granny Ai turned to Qiren and lowered her voice. "Do you know that after refusing to come herself, Lan Yi even stopped her children from visiting that boy in the hospital? What kind of life is this?"
Qiren gave a small smile. "I know, Aunt Ai. She's the reason Hai Kuan and Lee have left the house and the city.....they're not here now."
Granny Ai waved her hand in frustration.
"But I'll take action soon," Qiren continued. "I'll deal with all of them, including Yibo."
"No, please, just be patient," Granny Ai urged. "I know you've been tolerating this for a long time, but keep doing so. I don't support what they're doing, so you have my full backing. Leave Lan Yi to herself.... she'll regret it one day. Same for her sons who are taking her side. Even Yibo, not bothering to come see Zhan in the hospital. But never mind. Zhan has me, you and your sensible wife.... we've been enough for him. Be patient. This will pass."
Qiren stayed silent, looking down. Then he sighed and said, "Alright, Aunt. Thank you."
"That's better," she said. "Patience always pays off in the end."
When Granny Ai entered the house and went to the room where Zhan stayed, she saw Xuxui had already brought food upstairs for him. Granny Ai sat down and said, "Bring mine here too, dear." Xuxui greeted her politely, welcomed her, and left to get her food. After setting it down, she left the room.
- - - - -
Xuxui turned to Qiren after placing his meal in front of him and said, "I have a suggestion, if you don't mind hearing it."
Qiren looked at her. "Go ahead, I'm listening, Xuxui."
She gave a faint smile. "I feel like it's no longer practical for me to stay in this house with the way things are going. Why don't you let me move back to my own place? You could visit me there. And if you don't want to come to my place, you could rent me a small place....just two rooms would do. That way, Zhan could split his time between my place and here, and his adoptive mother wouldn't feel like I'm trying to interfere with her relationship with him. It's not like that at all, but right now, whoever sees me will think I'm here to break them apart. I honestly think this is the simplest solution, because things aren't going to settle down...they'll only get more tangled. You saw it yourself this morning: since I returned here, all your other sons have left the house. It doesn't seem right that they should leave their comfort just because of me."
Qiren shook his head. "You're not going anywhere, Xuxui. You'll stay in this house. Anyone who doesn't want to live here because you're around can pack up and leave. As long as Zhan is comfortable, that's all that matters to me. They have their advantages....he doesn't. My main concern right now is Zhan. Like I've said before, they're all secure; he's not. They can do whatever they like…"
Xuxui went quiet and said nothing more, just watching him. Even now, Lan Yi still refused to allow herself to exchange even the simplest greeting with Xuxui. The most she did was walk into the kitchen, do what she needed to do, and head upstairs without a hint of warmth on her face.
That night, Zhan lay in bed with his phone turned off and his head under the blanket. Even by 1 a.m., his eyes were wide open. He could hear Granny Ai softly snoring on the floor matress that Xuxui had set out for her. Zhan wasn't comfortable having her sleep in his room....he needed privacy at that moment.
At dawn, Zhan was sitting on the flush rug when he heard Granny Ai bathing in the bathroom. When she came out, she opened her suitcase....the one she'd gone to get from Lan Yi's side of the house the night before. Lan Yi hadn't asked how Zhan was doing, nor had she mentioned his injury. She only greeted Granny Ai and Granny Ai then left.
Zhan quietly watched Granny Ai finish dressing and throw on her scarf. She looked at him and said, "Why don't you go downstairs and tell that other woman to bring me breakfast? I have somewhere to be right now."
Zhan nodded. "Alright." He stepped out, and a few minutes later, returned with Xuxui, who set down a tray of breakfast and knelt slightly to greet Granny Ai.
Granny Ai replied warmly, "I'm well, dear. I'm actually heading to my older sister's place to greet her, so I'll eat before I leave. I don't like going out on an empty stomach."
"That's fine," Xuxui said. "Let me make you some tea." She poured the tea and arranged the breakfast before leaving the room.
Granny Ai insisted that she and Zhan eat together, but Zhan only managed a few sips of tea. When she finished, Granny Ai stood, stretched, grabbed her large handbag, and said, "I'll be back by ten. Take your medicine, bring the dishes down to Xuxui in the kitchen, and then get some rest, alright?"
Zhan felt a wave of relief and quietly said, "Okay."
Granny Ai left the room. Once she was gone, Zhan got out of bed and quickly showered. After dressing, he took his bag and began packing. He slipped inside the phone boxes that Hai Kuan and Yibo had bought for him, along with the ATM cards....one from Hai Kuan and one of his own. He scanned the room, then grabbed his toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, and sponge, putting them in a plastic bag inside his small backpack. From the wardrobe, he pulled out three jackets, three long sweaters, and some underwear, adding a few small bottles of perfume. He zipped the bag shut and set it aside.
Quietly, he opened the door, went downstairs, and listened for any movement....there was none in the kitchen. He hurried back up to grab his bag, tossing in his charger, power bank, and lip balm. Then, taking the small backpack, he went downstairs and headed straight for the gate.
Slipping out, he made his way to the main road, glancing around nervously. He spotted a rickshaw and quickly got in. When the driver asked where he was headed, he simply said, "The station."
****
Granny Fang Yu looked at Granny Ai, who refused to sit down. "Who told you about this, Ai?"
Granny Ai replied, "Yibo himself called me last night. I thought you should go see her too.... then you can leave me there and come home if you want. Nobody will say you didn't visit. He said only her relatives have been checking in on her, and it's not right. Come on, let's go. I haven't even paid the rickshaw driver; he's waiting."
Granny Fang Yu asked, "So we're going to the hospital where she's staying?"
Granny Ai shook her head. "No, he said she's at home with an IV. I didn't even know where the place was before, but I remember you once said you've been to his house. Time is passing....we shouldn't make it look like I don't care after he called me last night to tell me."
Granny Fang Yu said, "Alright, let me get up. Is Min pregnant?"
Granny Ai replied, "Honestly, I'm starting to think so too."
With that, Granny Ai took Granny Fang Yu and they headed to Yibo's house in a rickshaw. As they rode, Granny Ai kept shaking her foot impatiently. There were two reasons she had brought Granny Fang Yu along. First, she wanted any accusations or confrontations against Min....along with the incense she planned to burn....to happen right in front of Granny Fang Yu, so she could hear and see everything herself. Second, she didn't actually know the way to the house, so she needed someone to take her there. To make that happen, she'd lied to Granny Fang Yu, saying Min wasn't feeling well and that Yibo wanted her to come.
Granny Fang Yu turned to Granny Ai. "I already heard about what Qiren did. And you....without any self-respect....went and sat in his house again? Once I'm done here, we're going straight back to my house. You're not going back to Qiren's place again. And as for Lan Yi, she's only staying there because of me. If it weren't for my intervention yesterday, she wouldn't have spent the night there at all. Qiren used this problem as an excuse for marriage from the start. Well, never mind. Soon enough, Lan Yi will see the consequences of what Qiren has done to her. And as for Zhan....if we wronged him, life will repay him kindly. But if he's the one who wronged us, who disturbed our family and ruined our ties, he'll see the consequences soon enough. If Lan Yi had known Zhan was the reason Qiren would humiliate her like this, she'd never have taken him in."
Granny Ai didn't bother to look at her, let alone respond. She just wanted to get to Yibo's house as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Min burst out of her room like a storm, pounding on Shu's door. Shu, who had been sleeping, jumped up and opened it in surprise.
"What's going on?" Shu asked.
Breathing hard, Min said, "Shu, don't play dumb with me. Before a third party hears this, go get me my seven gown sets, three lace dresses, one material set, plus two matching bags and shoes you took from my room. It's just the two of us here, and you know I'm more aware of your habits than anyone else. Did you think I wouldn't notice you stole my things? If you don't hand them over right now, I swear you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Shu gave her a slow, scornful look from head to toe. "You're an idiot. What would I even do with your cheap clothes? And you accuse me.... in my own cousin's house....of stealing from you?"
Hearing the commotion, Yibo came out of his room, phone in hand, and stood at the door watching. Min turned to him, still furious.
"Yibo, tell your little thief of a sister to give me back my things. If she's used to stealing from others and sleeping peacefully afterward, fine....but not with me. Not tonight."
Before Min could finish, Shu slapped her hard across the face. "How dare you call me a thief?"
Min held her cheek, shocked, staring at Shu. Shu stepped closer. "At least everyone knows I don't go running to shady fortune-tellers and spirituals in Wuhan.....unlike you. That man you....."
But Min didn't let her finish. She lunged at Shu, and the two of them began fighting, hitting each other with all their strength. Yibo just stood there watching, not moving an inch, then turned back into his room and locked the door.
At that moment, the front door to the sitting room opened. Granny Fang Yu and Granny Ai stepped inside, stopping when they heard the noise filling the house. Granny Ai spotted them first and widened her eyes.
"What on earth is going on here?" she gasped, rushing toward them. Granny Fang Yu followed, trembling as she saw Min pinning Shu in a headlock, pounding her like she meant to kill her.
Shu screamed, "I'm going to expose you! I'll tell everyone here all the dirty things you've been doing! Granny Ai, she goes to see a man in Wuhan for… let's just say questionable purposes. She even tried to get him to do something against her mother-in-law.... No she already did, she put some charm in Aunt Lan Yi bedroom to make her hate Zhan and kick him out. And she made me steal gold from Zhan's trunk for her. She still hasn't paid me back, and she hasn't returned it either!"
Min froze, stunned by Shu's words. Her hesitation gave Shu the upper hand. Shu slammed Min's head against the wall repeatedly with frightening force.
Within moments, blood was pouring down the corridor.
Min collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Shu stared wide-eyed, certain she'd seen part of Min's skull. The shouts of Granny Fang Yu and Granny Ai finally brought Yibo out of his room...but by then Shu had already grabbed her phone and handbag and fled the house at full speed.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛