Zhan was sitting in Lan Yi's living room when Yibo walked in.
Lan Yi looked at him and asked, "Did Bing call you?"
He replied, "No."
He sat down quietly, and Lan Yi studied him for a moment. He looked distant, withdrawn. She assumed it was because of Min.... Yibo still seemed uneasy about how people were trying to push her back into his life.
Zhan kept his eyes fixed on the TV. Yibo stood up to leave, and Lan Yi asked, "Is something wrong?"
He shook his head. "No, nothing."
As he moved toward the door, she called out, "Do you have a night shift today?"
"Yes," he answered simply before stepping out.
A few minutes after he left, Lan Yi also got up and went downstairs. She found him sitting alone in the living room, his head bowed slightly, lost in thought. She sat across from him and asked gently,
"Why do you insist on carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, Yibo? No one is trying to bring Min back into your life. You're only seeing things that aren't there."
Yibo smiled faintly. "There's nothing between Min and me, Mama. She's not....and will never be....my problem anymore. I know where we stand. I was only distracted earlier because I got an email from work."
Lan Yi tilted her head. "An email? About what?"
Yibo lowered his gaze. "I think I mentioned to you a few weeks ago that our hospital opened a new branch in Shanghai. The grand opening is tomorrow. They've already hired doctors and nurses, but they selected six of the older staff to work there temporarily.... three from Beijing and three from here Guangzhou....just to help oversee and guide the new team."
He paused for a moment, meeting her eyes.
Lan Yi asked, "And you're one of the three from Guangzhou?"
Yibo nodded silently.
She sighed softly. "Well, you'll just have to be patient. That's how work is sometimes. So they're transferring you to Shanghai?"
"Not permanently," he said. "Just for a month."
Lan Yi relaxed a little. "That's good then. A month will pass before you know it. It's for the best."
He nodded.
She asked, "When's your flight?"
"Six-thirty in the evening," he replied.
"So it's today," Lan Yi murmured. "Alright then, may everything go smoothly. Zhan will stay here until you return."
He didn't say anything. His phone rang....it was Bing. After a short conversation, he transferred the money she'd requested. When he hung up, Lan Yi asked, "What about the apartment your father wanted you to rent for Min?"
Yibo stood and replied, "I've already spoken to a few agents. I'm waiting for their feedback later today."
Lan Yi nodded. "Good. It's better she moves out and stays on her own. If she needs anything, Bing can check on her. We're not taking any more chances."
- - - -
Around five in the evening, Yibo returned home after being out since morning. Min was lying on the couch in the living room. She looked up when he entered, but he acted as though he hadn't seen her and went straight upstairs.
He checked Zhan's room first...it was empty....then went to Lan Yi's part. The living room there was quiet, so he walked into her bedroom. Zhan was there, neatly folding and arranging Lan Yi's clothes.
Yibo walked closer. "Working hard, Baby?" he teased softly.
Zhan looked up briefly and nodded. Yibo took the clothes from his hands. "Let me help you."
"It's fine, I can do it," Zhan replied, but Yibo had already started helping him.
They worked together in silence, stacking folded clothes into the wardrobe. From time to time, Zhan glanced at him from the corner of his eye. When Yibo placed the last pile down, he turned and gently held both of Zhan's hands.
"You know what, Baby?" he said quietly.
Zhan didn't lift his head.
Yibo continued, "I've been transferred to Shanghai."
Zhan's head shot up instantly, his eyes searching Yibo's face. Yibo nodded slowly. "Yeah. I got the email this morning."
"Shanghai?" Zhan repeated, almost in disbelief.
Yibo nodded again. Zhan lowered his gaze, silent. Yibo pulled him into a slow, comforting hug. Before either could speak further, they heard the door open in the living room. Yibo immediately let go, and Zhan turned and hurried out of the room.
By six o'clock, Yibo had finished packing his luggage. Lan Yi was in his room helping him organize his things. Since Yibo told Zhan about his trip, Zhan had grown unusually quiet, avoiding conversation altogether.
He sat downstairs in the living room, restless...something he rarely was. Every few minutes, he glanced toward Yibo's door, waiting for Lan Yi to come out, but she didn't.
Then Bing entered the living room with Min. They'd just come from the guest house, where she had helped Min pack her own things. At that moment, Lan Yi stepped out of Yibo's room, carrying one of his boxes.
Lan Yi looked at Bing and asked, "Are you sure you packed everything she'll need?"
Bing nodded. "Yes, Madam. Nothing was left out. There are two suitcases....I left them in the parking area."
Min slowly walked in, struggling a bit as she sat down on the couch, breathing heavily. Yibo's eyes, however, were fixed on Zhan, who was deeply engrossed with his phone.
Lan Yi picked up a sealed envelope and handed it to Yibo. "These are the hospital papers....I think they're her scans."
Yibo said flatly, "She can keep them herself. I have nothing to do with that."
Lan Yi said nothing, just placed the envelope on the chair beside her, then turned to Bing. "Go wait in the car."
"Yes, Madam," Bing replied and walked toward the door. Min stood up slowly and followed her out.
Yibo's attention remained on Zhan. Lan Yi glanced at him and asked, "Baby, did you say goodbye to your brother?"
Zhan smiled faintly. "Yes, Mama."
Zhan stood up, picked up Yibo hand luggage, and left the room. When he got to the parking area, he stood beside the car, avoiding eye contact with Min, who sat quietly in the back seat. Bing stood outside by the car door.
When Yibo and Lan Yi arrived, Zhan placed Yibo's luggage in the trunk. "Safe travels," he said softly.
Yibo nodded. "Thank you."
Lan Yi turned to Bing. "Get in the back seat as well. He'll drop you both at the house before heading to the airport."
"Yes, Madam," Bing replied, opening the door and sitting beside Min.
Zhan turned and walked back inside. Yibo's eyes followed him until he disappeared into the house. He started to open the front door of the car but stopped, frowning. "I think I left my phone inside," he said, before heading back quickly toward the house.
He went straight upstairs to Zhan's room. Zhan was sitting on the edge of the bed, his face buried in a pillow. When Yibo opened the door, Zhan quickly lifted his head, wiping his tears away.
Yibo approached quietly and sat beside him, concern written all over his face. "Baby…" he said softly.
Zhan lowered his head again as more tears rolled down his cheeks. Yibo wrapped his arms around him gently. The moment he did, Zhan's quiet sobs broke free.
Yibo didn't say anything for a while, just held him close, feeling every tremor of his cry. Then, in a calm voice, he whispered, "I'm only spending four weeks in Shanghai, Baby. Four weeks....it'll pass before you know it."
Zhan nodded, tears still falling.
Yibo smiled faintly and brushed his thumbs across Zhan's wet cheeks. "I'll miss you so much," he murmured.
Zhan looked at him in silence, and Yibo lowered his voice even more. "Or maybe… should we just go together, Baby?"
Zhan closed his eyes, leaned forward, and kissed him deeply.
***
After Yibo left, Zhan began counting down the days he'd promised to spend in Shanghai. Even Zhan himself couldn't understand how much he missed him... despite calling three times a day, the distance still felt unbearable. To Zhan, the days seemed to move painfully slow.
Though Lan Yi had sworn she wouldn't visit Min's house, her sense of compassion didn't let her stay away for long. Every three days or so, she would follow Bing to check on Min.
Zhan never joined them, and Lan Yi never asked him to. Eventually, she told Bing to move in with Min full-time...Min's pregnancy had reached the point where she could hardly move around. Lan Yi bought everything they might need for the baby, including all the delivery supplies.
One evening around eight, Zhan was sitting in Lan Yi's living room watching TV while she was over at Qiren's room. Around nine, Lan Yi returned and noticed the untouched bowl of fruit she'd left for Zhan.
"Why didn't you eat your fruits, Baby?" she asked.
Zhan smiled faintly. "I wasn't hungry, Mama."
She sat beside him. "Earlier, what were you and Hai Kuan talking about in the sitting room? You both went quiet seeing me."
Zhan chuckled lightly. "That's a secret between us."
Lan Yi smiled. "Well, if you and he won't tell me, your father already did."
Zhan laughed. "What did Baba say?"
Lan Yi raised a brow teasingly. "Hmm, you'll find out."
Zhan just smiled, refusing to tell her what he and Hai Kuan had discussed.
The next morning, Bing called Lan Yi, her voice tense. "Madam, Min hasn't been feeling well since yesterday."
Lan Yi asked, "You think it might be labor?"
"I think so," Bing replied.
Lan Yi exhaled deeply. "Alright, I'll come over now. If it's labor, we'll take her to the hospital."
Without wasting time, she asked the driver to take her to Min's house. When she arrived, it turned out Min wasn't in active labor yet, but seeing her condition, Lan Yi decided to bring her back to the family mansion.
That Sunday evening, Lan Yi and Zhan were in the kitchen preparing dinner for Qiren. Zhan was helping Lan Yi when Bing rushed in, looking alarmed.
"Madam," she said breathlessly, "I think Min is in labor."
Lan Yi quickly stepped out of the kitchen and saw Min doubled over in the living room, clutching her belly in pain. Lan Yi hurried to her side, steadying her. "Call the driver....we're going to the hospital," she told Bing.
Zhan stood frozen by the kitchen door, watching in concern. Min's pain grew sharper, and she screamed, gripping Lan Yi tightly. Bing ran to her room to grab her phone and call the driver.
Lan Yi kept comforting Min as best as she could. Just then, Yibo walked in through the living room entrance. His eyes briefly met Zhan's before he rushed toward Lan Yi and Min.
Lan Yi turned to him. "Get your car keys. We're going to the hospital... she's in labor."
Yibo nodded and ran upstairs. Zhan watched him for a moment before he came back down with the keys, heading outside to start the car.
Lan Yi and Bing helped Min to the car, and Lan Yi instructed Bing, "Bring the delivery bag."
Bing quickly ran inside, grabbed the bag, and joined them.
Within thirty minutes of reaching the hospital, Min gave birth.
***
Yibo stood quietly, gazing at the newborns lying in their bassinets in the maternity ward. It had taken a while before the babies finally cried after birth. He watched them closely, one after the other, his expression unreadable. A nurse entered, followed by Lan Yi, who walked gently toward the row of infants. She spent a moment looking at them, her heart heavy with worry.... it had been nearly an hour since the delivery, and she had only just been allowed to see them after the doctors confirmed they were fine. For a moment, she had feared the worst because of how quiet things had been.
Lan Yi glanced at Yibo, then back at the babies. She leaned forward and picked up one of them, adjusting the soft baby blanket wrapped around his tiny body. Smiling warmly, she said, "You're both so beautiful. May you grow strong and healthy."
She handed one of the babies to Yibo, her smile still gentle. He lowered his eyes and carefully took the child into his arms. Lan Yi then lifted the second baby, her expression filled with affection.
Meanwhile, Min lay in her hospital bed, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. She had only recently been moved to the recovery ward after falling unconscious right after giving birth. When she regained awareness, she realized no one had brought her baby to her. Lan Yi sat by her side, comforting her softly but avoiding mention of the newborn. That silence made Min's heart sink....she feared that perhaps her baby hadn't survived. When Lan Yi eventually left the room without a word, Min broke down, crying helplessly.
The sound of the door opening made her turn quickly. Lan Yi walked in holding one of the babies. She went straight to Min's bedside, laid the infant gently beside her, and said with a calm, kind tone, "Rest now, Min. The baby's fine. You just need to recover."
Min wiped her tears as she gazed at the tiny, peaceful face next to her. A moment later, Yibo entered the ward, holding the second baby. He set the infant carefully beside the first one. The twins were almost identical....soft, fragile, and utterly perfect. Min looked between the two babies and then up at Yibo, who stood silent beside the bed.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.
"I'm okay," she whispered, nodding.
Just then, Qiren entered the ward with Hai Kuan. Each of them picked up one of the babies briefly, smiling and offering soft words of congratulations before leaving the room.
About fifteen minutes after they left, Bing entered, carrying a basket with food supplies. She placed it on a table, her face bright with excitement as she admired the twins. "They're beautiful! They'll bring so much joy," she said warmly.
Lan Yi sighed and said, "I've been calling you to bring the food earlier, but you didn't pick up."
Bing chuckled. "My phone was in the other room... I was boiling water when the driver came, so I just grabbed everything and left."
Lan Yi asked, "What about Zhan?"
"I went upstairs to tell him the babies were born," Bing replied, "but I think he was asleep."
Lan Yi prepared a cup of strong tea for Min and handed it to her before standing up to leave. She turned to Yibo. "Are you staying here tonight?"
"Yes," he said simply. "I'll keep an eye on the babies."
"Alright," Lan Yi nodded. "I'll come back in the morning." She then turned to Bing. "Let's go."
Once they left, Min slowly looked up at Yibo, her voice trembling. "Please, Yibo… I'm sorry for everything. For the sake of these babies, please forgive me."
Yibo's tone was calm but distant. "Don't start this now," he said. "Focus on your health. I'm not interested in reopening old wounds."
Min fell silent, tears glistening in her eyes.
When Lan Yi returned home, she knocked on Zhan's door and peeked in. He was asleep, lying peacefully on his bed. She quietly closed the door and left him to rest.
Around half past ten, Yibo stepped out of Min's ward after she and the twins had fallen asleep. He went to the hospital reception, sat down, and dialed Zhan's number. The phone rang, but there was no answer. He tried again, and still, nothing. With a soft sigh, he put the phone away, stood up, and returned silently to the ward.
Early the next morning, Zhan was sitting in Lan Yi's room after greeting her when she told him that Min had given birth.
Zhan smiled slightly. "That's wonderful news. I hope the babies grow strong and healthy, and that Min recovers quickly."
Lan Yi nodded. "Yes. Two boys," she said with a faint smile.
Zhan looked down, then murmured, "That's really good news. I'm happy for them."
Lan Yi stood up. "I'll go check if Bing has finished in the kitchen. We'll take breakfast to the hospital around seven. You should get ready by then."
"Alright," Zhan said softly. As soon as Lan Yi left, he stood and returned to his own room.
Just as Lan Yi had said, by seven o'clock she was ready, and breakfast for Min had been prepared. When she entered Zhan's room, she found him still lying on the bed.
"You're not ready yet, Baby?" she asked gently.
Zhan shook his head slowly. "My stomach hurts, Mama."
Lan Yi frowned with concern. "Since when?"
"Since last night," he said quietly. "But it's not too bad."
"Did you take any medicine?" she asked.
"No. I'll take it after breakfast," Zhan replied.
"Alright then, come downstairs and eat something first," Lan Yi said. "Then take your medicine and rest."
He nodded, got up, and followed her downstairs. After breakfast, Lan Yi and Bing left for the hospital, leaving Zhan alone in the sitting room around seven fifteen.
Around one-thirty in the afternoon, Granny Ai arrived at the mansion after being informed of Min's delivery. She went upstairs with her new travel box, but the house was unusually quiet. She peeked into Lan Yi's room... empty. She frowned and muttered, "So the whole family went to the hospital, and I came all this way for nothing. I didn't even have a proper breakfast!"
She dropped her suitcase in her usual guest room, came back out, and said to herself, "Well, I'll need something to eat then." She walked to Zhan's room and opened the door.
Zhan, who was sitting on the bed, looked up and smiled faintly. "Welcome, Granny Ai."
"Oh, so you heard me but didn't bother to answer, hmm?" she teased.
Zhan shook his head. "I didn't hear you come in, Granny."
"Where's everyone?" she asked.
"They went to the hospital," Zhan replied.
"Tch!" Granny Ai clicked her tongue. "They all went just because Min had twins? Honestly, this family has such kind hearts...too kind sometimes. If it were another family, no one would bother going. And to think, she's not even married to Yibo, yet look how they're treating her. Anyway, I just hope those twins are really his."
Zhan didn't respond; he simply listened silently.
"Well, I'm not going to the hospital," Granny Ai continued. "That place smells awful. I'll stay here until they come back. Go and make me something to eat."
"Okay," Zhan said softly and stood up.
As he turned, she added sharply, "And don't you let any sly woman get near Yibo. He's your man, not hers. Remember that."
Zhan kept his head down and quietly left the room, heading downstairs. He still felt weak and heavy from the night before, but oddly enough, Granny Ai's blunt words gave him a strange sense of comfort....though he didn't quite know why.
Granny Ai followed him downstairs. Just as they reached the sitting room, Bing came in, holding a food basket and a few items. Seeing her, Zhan slipped into the kitchen without a word.
Granny Ai looked at Bing. "Back from the hospital already?"
"Yes," Bing said with a smile. "We've been discharged. Min and the babies are fine."
Moments later, Lan Yi walked into the sitting room, carrying one of the babies. Min followed behind her, looking pale but calm, and then Yibo came in last, holding the second twin.
Granny Ai hurried over to Lan Yi, peering eagerly at the baby in her arms. "Oh, what wonderful news! I was just thinking of heading to the hospital, and here you all are. Perfect timing!"
Lan Yi smiled and handed her the baby.
Granny Ai cradled him carefully and gasped. "Goodness gracious, he looks just like his father! You see it too, right, Lan Yi?"
Lan Yi simply smiled and let her hold the baby. Granny Ai turned toward Yibo and the second infant and said in amazement, "Look at that! Identical....there's no need for any DNA. Even a blind man could see these are Yibo's sons!"
She laughed proudly before adding in her usual blunt way, "Let's just hope Min doesn't insist on nursing them herself. We all know how that goes. Yibo should start preparing baby formula....we'll raise these boys ourselves if we have to."
Lan Yi directed Bing to the guest room that had been freshly arranged for Min. Quietly, Min followed, her expression subdued as she disappeared into the room with her twins.
Zhan, who had overheard everything from the kitchen, finished plating Granny Ai's meal and came out to the sitting room. Yibo had gone upstairs earlier to check his room but found Zhan wasn't there. When he came back down, Zhan didn't even glance in his direction; he simply carried the tray for Granny to Min's room, set the food down, and softly offered Min his congratulations....without meeting her eyes.
Granny Ai handed him one of the twins and said, "Here, hold him. Feel his warmth and let him feel yours, start getting used to it now."
Zhan gently took the adorable baby....a perfect little replica of his father. He stared at the child quietly, barely blinking. Smiling widely, Granny Ai laid that baby down and picked up the second twin, handing him to Zhan as well. Zhan accepted him too, studying his face....they were nearly identical, the only difference being the hospital tag used to tell them apart.
Granny Ai said, "It's better for you to get used to them early, and for them to get used to your touch too. You might as well start now, since you'll probably be the one helping Yibo take care of them....there's no marriage between him and their mother, after all."
Min, who had been quiet, looked up at Granny Ai in shock at her words. Then her gaze shifted to Zhan. She still didn't know about Yibo's marriage to Zhan. The day she was released from prison, she had spent just one night at Qiren's place before they arranged a separate home for her the next morning.
No matter how much Min tried to get Bing to talk about what was going on with the family, Bing refused to say a word. It was obvious that Lan Yi had told her to stay silent. Min even asked about Shu....who had once been close to her....but Bing had said she didn't know. So Min knew nothing about what had been happening....not even that Yibo had been away. She'd been sending him messages of apology every day, but he never replied, and he had blocked her number completely.
Zhan didn't respond to Granny Ai's comment. After a few minutes, he handed the baby back to her and said quietly, "I'll go finish up what I was doing, Granny Ai." With that, he stepped out of the room.
He found Yibo sitting in the sitting room. As soon as Yibo saw him, he stood up and said softly, "Baby."
But Zhan didn't even glance his way....he just walked past him and headed upstairs. Yibo watched him in confusion and followed him up, entering the bedroom after him.
Lowering his voice, Yibo asked, "Baby, what's wrong? Please talk to me."
Zhan snapped, his tone sharp. "Please, I just want to be left alone."
Yibo went silent, just looking at him. When he took a step closer, Zhan repeated firmly, "I said I want to be left alone. Please leave."
Yibo stared at him for a few seconds, then turned quietly and walked out of the room.
- - - -
Later in the evening, around five o'clock, Zhan was sitting in Lan Yi's sitting room, helping her sort out the pile of baby clothes she had bought weeks before Min gave birth.
Yibo walked in. Lan Yi looked up and asked, "Did you even eat anything?"
He replied, "Yes, I did. We'll be heading home now."
Lan Yi turned to Zhan and said, "Alright then, Baby, go get ready. Bing will help me here."
Zhan's mood changed instantly. He carefully set the clothes down but didn't move. Yibo, still watching him, said quietly, "I'll wait for you downstairs," and left.
Lan Yi looked at him and added, "Go on. And don't forget the package Marquis sent you."
Zhan nodded and stood up, leaving the room. When he went to his room to pack, he picked up the bag Bing had given him four days earlier....she had said it was from Aunty Marquis in Tianjin, delivered by a driver at the station. In truth, Lan Yi had bought it herself before Yibo's return.
Lan Yi came into the room just as Zhan was holding the bag. "I knew you'd forget," she said lightly.
Zhan smiled faintly. "I didn't forget, Mama."
They both went downstairs, where Yibo was waiting in the sitting room. Before leaving, Zhan stopped by the room where Min and Granny Ai were.
"Still going?" Granny Ai said with a half-smile. "I thought you'd stay till the babies' naming. Is Yibo the one insisting you go home now?"
Min looked up quickly at that, glancing between Granny Ai and Zhan, who said nothing. Lan Yi entered the room and replied calmly, "Who said there's going to be a baby naming, Aunty? There won't be any such event."
Granny Ai's mouth dropped slightly. "There won't?" she asked slowly.
Lan Yi nodded. "No, there won't."
Zhan turned to leave just as Yibo appeared in the doorway. They nearly bumped into each other. Zhan's face tightened; he stepped aside stiffly and walked out without looking at him.
Yibo greeted Granny Ai politely. She sighed and said, "So you're both going home now? You should've stayed until at least they changed their minds about that naming. And look at Zhan....he's so pale and slow these days, no energy at all. Hopefully, he's not expecting next. Or you'll be doom from too much responsibilities running around caring for everyone at your young age."
Min felt her chest tighten as she stared at Granny Ai, trying to make sense of her words. What exactly did she mean by that?
Lan Yi quietly turned and left the room...Granny Ai's sharp remarks were more than she wanted to handle. Yibo didn't respond either; he only glanced at the twins peacefully asleep on their new bed before walking out.
Min couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She turned away, grabbed her scarf, and pressed it to her face, her body shaking as silent sobs escaped. The doubt she'd been fighting for weeks was now painfully confirmed.
At Yibo's house, he parked in the driveway, and Zhan stepped out of the car without a word. Yibo followed after turning off the engine.
Zhan folded his arms, standing slightly apart, his expression unreadable. Yibo opened the door to the sitting room and went inside. After a moment, Zhan followed.
Yibo gently reached for him, but Zhan struggled, trying to pull away. When he couldn't, tears broke free instead. Yibo quickly locked the door, his voice soft but desperate.
"Come on, Baby… tell me what I did wrong. Please."
Zhan didn't answer. He only cried harder, trembling in his arms. Yibo's chest tightened painfully....he had tried to ignore the distance Zhan had been putting between them, but his heart simply wouldn't allow it anymore.
Ever since Zhan started shutting him out, peace had vanished from his days. He hadn't even planned to come home that day...he still had things to take care of at the house for Min and the babies. But the weight of Zhan's silence had become unbearable; being near him, even in tension, felt better than being apart.
Speaking softly, he said, "If I've done anything wrong, please forgive me, my soulmate. Please."
Zhan's tears continued to fall quietly against his chest. Yibo led him gently to the couch, still holding him, and knelt down in front of him. "Please, forgive me, Baby."
Zhan leaned back against the seat, not saying a word. Yibo sat beside him and lifted his face gently, brushing away the tears that streaked his cheeks.
He drew him into his arms again, whispering against his hair, "I'm sorry, hubby."
Zhan melted into his embrace, releasing a slow, shaky breath.
Yibo closed his eyes for a moment, whispering, almost to himself, "I missed you so much, Hubby."
For a second, he wasn't sure if he had actually heard Zhan whisper back, "I missed you too." But when he looked up, Zhan met his eyes.... something he hadn't done in days.
Yibo felt his strength falter at that look. "You mean it?" he asked softly.
Zhan nodded slowly, eyes glistening.
Yibo pulled him closer, holding him tightly against his chest. Zhan closed his eyes, breathing in the familiar scent that always made him feel safe.
After a long, quiet moment, Yibo leaned close to his ear and whispered teasingly, "You want to start our own little family tonight?"
Zhan didn't speak....only lowered his gaze shyly.
Yibo smiled faintly. "Then we will have our babies tonight," he murmured.
Just then, Zhan's phone began to vibrate. Yibo reached into his bag, checked the screen, and saw Aunty Marquis calling. He handed the phone to Zhan gently.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛