Zhan was in the kitchen, washing the plates he and Yibo had used for dinner earlier that night. They had just started eating when Yibo received a phone call and had to leave. Since then, Zhan had stayed in the sitting room, staring absently at the unfinished food before him.
Nearly three hours passed; the plate still sat there, cold. Finally, when it was almost midnight, Zhan picked it up, dumped the food, and began to wash the dishes quietly.
He heard the sound of Yibo's car pulling into the driveway. Quickly, he rinsed the last plate, turned off the kitchen light, and went straight to his room.
After locking the door behind him, he checked the time....ten minutes to twelve....turned off the light, and lay down on the bed, covering himself completely with the duvet.
A few minutes later, the door opened softly. Zhan froze under the covers, heart racing. Yibo stepped inside, turned on the light, and sat down beside him. Gently pulling the duvet away, he said quietly, "Baby."
Zhan kept his eyes closed, pretending to sleep. Yibo leaned closer, watching him in silence for a few seconds before sighing. He replaced the duvet carefully, kissed Zhan's forehead, turned off the light again, and left the room, locking the door behind him.
Zhan buried his face in the pillow, tears burning his eyes. He couldn't sleep....every heartbeat hurt. By the time the clock struck one, he was still awake, wiping away tears that refused to stop.
At around two-thirty, he sat up slowly, his eyes swollen. After a few minutes in the bathroom, he returned, leaning against the bedframe, eyes half-closed.
The sound of the door opening startled him. He didn't move. Yibo entered quietly and knelt in front of him. "Baby," he said softly.
Zhan turned his head but said nothing.
Yibo sat beside him. "When i got back. You're already asleep," he said gently, trying to keep his voice steady.
Zhan whispered, "Hmm."
Yibo took his hand and held it. Even in the dim light, Yibo could see how tired his eyes looked.
"We had to take the babies to the hospital," Yibo explained quietly. "But they're fine now."
Zhan nodded. "That's good."
Yibo gave a faint smile. "Are you going to sleep now?"
Without meeting his eyes, Zhan said, "Yes."
Yibo hesitated, then asked softly, "Are you angry?"
Zhan stayed silent.
"If you are, please forgive me," Yibo continued in a low voice. "It's just… it's only a matter of time. I know things will...."
Zhan interrupted coldly. "Angry about what, exactly?"
Yibo dropped his gaze.
Zhan sat up, facing him. "Angry because of your new babies?"
His eyes widened. "No! That's not what I meant at all...."
Zhan cut him off again. "Oh, but that's exactly what you meant. You think I'm jealous because someone gave birth to your twins, don't you?"
Yibo looked at him in disbelief. "No, Baby, that's not it. The babies are innocent. Please, try to see that…"
But Zhan's voice broke. "Of course you'd say that. You weren't the one who was poisoned! You think I care about her or her children? She try to take my life, Yibo. What she did to me....I'll never forget it. Maybe everyone else can move on, but I can't. I don't even know what the long-term effects of that poison will be. Yet because she had your children, you're ready to forgive and pretend everything is fine."
Yibo was speechless. He hadn't expected that level of pain in Zhan's voice. Before he could say anything, Zhan pulled away and stormed toward the door. Yibo sat frozen, running a hand through his hair, his chest tight with guilt and confusion.
After several minutes, he stood up and followed quietly.
He opened the door to the next room....Zhan's guest room....and saw him sitting on the bed, head buried in his knees, crying silently. The sight tore at him.
Yibo approached slowly and sat beside him. His voice was low, trembling.
"What you're thinking isn't true, Baby. I could never forget what Min did to you. There's nothing between us....not now, not ever. Even if there were marriage between us, which there isn't, I'd still feel the same. The only reason I accepted this fate is because of those children. But if you want me to stay away from them, I will. I swear, I won't go near them again, if that's what it takes."
Zhan couldn't stop crying. After a while, he tried to get off the bed, but Yibo gently pulled him close and whispered, "Hey, hubby, please calm down. I already said I'm sorry. Min shouldn't be our problem anymore. Let's focus on our beautiful future, okay? You're my one and only person in this world. I want have your babies not hers."
He kept comforting Zhan until the sobs faded. Zhan lay on Yibo's chest, breathing shakily as he slowly drifted toward sleep. After about twenty minutes, Yibo realized Zhan had fallen asleep. Carefully, he laid him down, went to Zhan's room to get a duvet, and covered him with it.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Yibo ran a tired hand through his hair. He was exhausted....he hadn't truly rested since yesterday. They had just started dinner together when Lan Yi called, saying the babies weren't doing well. He left in a rush, abandoning his meal with Zhan, and hadn't returned until now.
With a deep sigh, he stood up, left the room, and went back to his own. After a quick shower, he changed into his pajamas and returned to Zhan's room. He lay down beside him, thinking about how to balance his new responsibilities without neglecting Zhan. After a while, he decided the best solution would be to hire a private doctor who could handle any emergency involving the babies.
By dawn, Yibo gently woke Zhan and then stepped out of the room. Zhan went back to his own room afterward.
Around six, Yibo entered and knelt beside him, smiling softly. "Good morning, my love."
Zhan lowered his eyes and replied quietly, "Morning."
"How was your night, hubby?" Yibo asked.
"It was fine," Zhan murmured.
Yibo watched him for a moment. "I think I'll get some rest now. Wake me up by eight."
Zhan nodded. "I'll wake you up before then."
"Alright, dear," Yibo said with a smile.
Zhan assumed he was going back to his room, but Yibo stretched out beside him instead. Zhan tried to relax, but sleep wouldn't come. Eventually, Yibo shifted closer, lying at the edge of the bed.
Just as Zhan began to drift off, he felt Yibo's warmth behind him...then Yibo's breath near his ear as he whispered, "I miss you so much, baby…"
He wrapped his arms tightly around Zhan from behind. Even though Zhan didn't resist, his body tensed; fear and confusion stirred inside him. Yibo quickly noticed his discomfort and stopped, realizing how fragile he was. It had only been five weeks since he'd last touched him, yet Zhan's body felt stiff and tight again.
Not wanting to hurt him, Yibo pulled back and held him instead, murmuring softly, "I'm sorry, hubby. I'll stop."
Zhan trembled in his arms, tears slipping silently down his cheeks. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and he fell asleep. Yibo stayed awake beside him, staring at the ceiling in silence.
At eight, Zhan woke up slowly and turned to find Yibo gone. Getting out of bed carefully....his body sore and uncomfortable....he made his way to the sitting room. He could smell something frying.
Curious, he walked to the kitchen and stopped at the door. Yibo was standing by the stove, wearing an apron (one Zhan had never even seen before). When Yibo noticed him, he grinned, winked, and said, "I made you breakfast today, baby boy. Go wait in the sitting room."
Zhan glanced at the plates....fried potatoes, eggs, a side of ketchup, toasted bread, and a pot of hot tea. He smiled faintly and left the kitchen, sitting down in the sitting room.
A few minutes later, Yibo came in, carefully setting the breakfast tray before him. Zhan couldn't help but watch him in surprise. Yibo even returned to get a hot pot and a cup, pouring him tea before sitting down again.
Zhan crossed his legs, giving him a teasing look. "Well done. I hope you didn't use up all your internet data watching tutorials for this."
Yibo's eyes widened. "What?!"
Zhan burst into laughter. "Come on, Gege, I know you too well. You definitely searched for this on YouTube."
Yibo raised both hands in defeat. "Okay, okay, you caught me."
Still laughing, Zhan poured him a cup of tea and set it down gently. Yibo just stared at him, not even blinking, warmth in his eyes.
They had breakfast together, and to Zhan's surprise, the food was actually good....the seasoning in the eggs was balanced, the potatoes crispy, and the toast perfectly done.
When they finished, Zhan leaned back and said with a grin, "I'll rate your cooking five out of ten."
As Yibo finished his meal, he looked at him with a puppy eyes, as if he were an orphan. Zhan smiled and said, "And from now on, before I wake up, make sure you finish making my breakfast since you know how."
Yibo rolled his eyes and said, "Your wish is my command, baby boy..."
Zhan got up, smiling, picked up the plates, and headed to the kitchen. Yibo watched him go, his gaze lingering because Zhan's clothes was so transparent. As Zhan entered the kitchen, Yibo stretched and followed behind him. He stood, seeing him near the sink trying to wash all the utensils he had used. Yibo came up behind him, stopped, leaning against his body while simultaneously rubbing his tummy. He said in a low voice, "You are not putting on underwear, baby...."
Zhan stiffened against the sink, feeling like he might fall forward, but he held firm and said, "Says who...?" Before he could even finish speaking, Yibo had pulled his pants down to his ankles. Zhan let out a small gasp and crouched down, wide-eyed. He felt like sinking into the ground from embarrassment, his face looking as if he was about to cry. He said, "I didn't want this, Gege, this is so indecent." Even as Yibo stood in front of him, looking at him as if wondering what the fuss was about, he said, "And the heavens are watching us, huh?"
Zhan quickly covered his face, pouting his lips at the same time while smiling. Seeing his smile, Yibo also smiled and said, "Well then, get up and continue your washing." Zhan refused to uncover his face from shame and said, "Please, just leave first." Yibo said, "No, we'll wash the plates together."
Unable to get up, Zhan was overwhelmed with embarrassment because of his state of undress, which made him feel uncomfortable. Yibo stretched, picked him up, and was cuddling him. He said, "I'll take your pant off and put them aside, and you can continue your work like that."
Zhan glanced, then stretched and turned his back to him, continuing to wash his plates while Yibo stood behind him. Zhan couldn't relax at all, feeling him behind him. Finally, he washed his hands and said softly, "I think i should stop, I'll continue later."
It was as if Yibo was just waiting. He picked Zhan up, and they left the kitchen. He didn't put him down anywhere except in the master bedroom of the house. It seemed just like the previous times, in the morning and now, Yibo had let Zhan go again without achieving his goal. His coaxing continued as he held him, full of pity for him. Finally, he succeeded in making him stop crying, calming his anxious heart. After a few minutes, Yibo raised his head, looking at him with eyes that had changed color. Zhan lowered his eyes because even then he was still frightened. Yibo closed his eyes, brought his lips to his ear, and said in a very low voice, "I will get us a lubricant, to make it easier. You won't be hurt with the lubricant..."
Zhan covered his face in his chest; his heart was beating very fast. When he remembered his first and second experience with him, he felt his stomach drop unpleasantly. He didn't even want to think about it. And now, seeing the signs that he would inevitably feel the same pain he felt during their first and second times if they were to make love... Yibo's phone started to ring. He turned to look at the phone, picked it up, and saw it was Granny Ai calling. He answered and put it on speakerphone. As for Zhan himself, his eyes were closed in his chest, listening to the beating of Yibo's heart.
They heard Min's voice saying, "Hello Yibo, the babies are developing a serious fever. And mother and Granny Ai have gone to the market; they will be back with more baby's clothes for them...."
Immediately, Zhan opened his eyes after hearing what Min said. Yibo, regretting that he had put the phone on speaker, he will quickly ended the call before Min could say anything else, preventing Zhan from hearing more. Quietly, Min said, "Are you there, please, Yibo? Their temperature is so high."
Yibo spoke, "You should call Mama and tell her... not me..." He then hung up the phone and set it down. Slowly, Zhan slid away from his body without looking at him and said, "I'm going to take a bath." He then grabbed his clothes after covering his body and headed for the door. Yibo watched him until he left the room and locked the door. He grabbed his phone and dialed Granny Ai's number again. While it was ringing, Min answered. He said, "I don't understand how they're developing a fever. Weren't they given the medicine I got for them yesterday?"
Min said in a low voice, "I swear they were given it. It's just that now I feel their bodies are hot. And the other one, after breastfeeding, has been vomiting. You saw how he was doing last night, you saw him in the early morning... he did it three times this morning...."
Briefly, he said, "I'm coming." He then hung up the phone and got down from the bed and entered the bathroom.
Min quickly put down her cell phone, stretched, and picked up the flask of warm water that had been left for her in the room. She opened the flask, then took a towel. She dipped the towel into the mouth of the flask of warm water until the towel absorbed the moisture thoroughly. Then she removed it and began wiping the towel over the bodies of the twins, who were sleeping on the bed. The heat of the towel startled them from their sleep, and they began to stir. Min continued like this; the children even cried, but she didn't stop. She was determined that their bodies must be warm before Yibo arrived.
Zhan was tidying his bedroom after his bath when Yibo entered the room. He looked him over from head to toe as he continued with what he was doing. Slowly, he said, "Baby, I want to go get something. I'll be right back." Without looking at him, he said, "Okay."
Yibo bowed his head and said, "What are you cooking for us this afternoon?"
Briefly, Zhan said, "I am not in the mood."
Yibo remained silent, watching him. Zhan was just fixing his bed without looking at him. After a few seconds, he said, "Okay, should I get takeaway for us while coming back?"
Still not looking at him, Zhan said, "Okay." He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Only then did Zhan sit on the edge of the bed, his eyes filled with tears. He heard the sound of his car leaving the house, and it felt like the ground was slowly giving way beneath him. Tears streamed down his face one after another; his heart ached for him. Before he knew it, he broke down sobbing, hugging his knees.
- - -
Yibo arrived home and entered the room where Min was with the children. She was sitting by the bed, holding one baby in her lap, rocking him gently, while holding the other against her shoulder, gently patting his back. The children were still crying. She had already moved the flask to where it was stored in the room, and the small towel too, she had taken it and put it where Granny Ai had left it in the bedroom after bathing them that morning. But her mind was very troubled; seeing that everywhere she had placed the towel on their bodies had become very red, while their skin was otherwise pale. Perhaps because their skin was too delicate, that's why it had become so red, oh...
Yibo finished entering the room and looked at the children. She raised her head and looked at him with worry. In a worry voice, she said, "They've been crying since morning. I don't know what's wrong with them. Their bodies are still warm. I tried to breastfeed them, but they refused." He took the baby from her shoulder and looked at it. She said in a low voice, "Should we take them to the hospital?"
Her stomach dropped completely when she saw him lift the baby's clothes. Then he also checked the baby's body. Quickly, she said, "The other one is like that too, his body is the same. Come and see." She then turned with the infant in her arms, lifted his clothes, and showed him. Yibo was a bit confused and kept looking at the babies' bodies. Min stomach was sinking because if she had known their skin will be like that, she wouldn't have started applying a hot towel to their bodies. He raised his head and looked at her. "When did you notice this on their bodies?"
She adjusted her sitting position slowly and said, "Not long ago. That's why I called you."
He said, "Who bathed them today?"
Her stomach sank. "It was Granny Ai. But she bathed them properly; I didn't see this on their bodies because I was in the room while she bathed them. But I think the bath water was too hot for them because while she was bathing them, they kept screaming and crying loudly."
Yibo didn't say anything else, just kept looking at the children's bodies. Min watched him, as it seemed he believed what she said. Even in her heart, she felt a little pleased with the conversation Yibo had with her. After a few minutes, in a low voice, she said, "Should we just take them to the hospital?"
He looked up and said, "Weren't they given their medicine?"
She said, "They were given it in the morning after their bath, but they haven't been given it again since."
He said, "When did they leave?"
"They went to the market around nine."
He nodded, went to get the medicine from where it was stored, holding one baby in his hand. Min just followed him with her eyes, not even blinking. She had never felt hopeful that Yibo would forgive her until today. Look, Yibo was talking to her in a calm way. Definitely, these babies might be the only reason he would forgive her, and maybe even let them return to live together as husband and wife for the sake of the babies. Because she saw signs that in his heart, he loved these children. After he finished giving the medicine to the baby in his hands and settled him on his bed, she handed him the other one, looking at him. He took it and applied the medicine to him too. Her eyes were fixed on him; she couldn't stop looking at him. She picked up the baby he had put down and held him against her shoulder, just as she had done with the other one. After a few minutes, the children all fell back asleep.
Around one o'clock, Lan Yi and Granny Ai returned from the market. Yibo was still at home and hadn't left. In the sitting room, Granny Ai threw down her bag and sprawled out, looking at Bing. She said, "Go and serve me food, even if it's not fully cooked."
Bing went to the kitchen to get her food.
Lan Yi entered the room where Min was with the infants.
Granny Ai said in a low voice, "Tch, that wicked, troublesome girl wants to play tricks on me, in this miserable Guangzhou weather, as if I have no sense. Look how I'm drenched, as if I've never seen sunshine in my life. What for? Is Min a good woman? The things bought for her from the beginning are enough; it's not like we need to spend more money on another set of things for her. Besides, we all know she is a shameless, brazen woman without any scruples. If I ever go to the market with anyone again, may I be struck, I swear. But let's go; if she dares to do that to me, I'm telling you, I'll leave for Tianjin. Just because she gave birth to twins, we should turn a blind eye and overlook the terrible things she did to the family? I said they shouldn't let her breastfeed them, that we should buy formula, but they ignored me and made me look like a fool. So they are now relying on her impure breasts? What if the children caught her bad character? Well, I don't care. Zhan is the one to be pitied. Because of her connection with their father, she will keep feeling resentful."
Granny Ai quickly adjusted her sitting position, seeing Bing coming with a large plate of food and a bottle of orange juice...
Lan Yi kept examining the twins' bodies that Yibo had shown her. Min herself was sitting on the bed. Lan Yi looked at Min and said, "When did their bodies become like this?"
Min slowly raised her head and said, "Ever since Granny Ai bathed and prepared them." Yibo was just watching Lan Yi. Min got up from the bed, picked up a pad, and went to the bathroom. Lan Yi sighed and said, "I will talk to her now. The bath water was too hot for them." Yibo didn't say anything. Lan Yi settled the baby on the bed, then got up and headed for the door. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back and looked at Yibo. "Where is Zhan?"
He said, "He's at home." Lan Yi said, "Okay." She then went out to the sitting room and approached Granny Ai, who was eating the food brought to her. Lan Yi sat on a chair, looking at her, and said, "The driver hasn't brought in the shopping yet."
Granny Ai just eating the food in front of her, not raising her head, let alone looking at Lan Yi. In a calm voice, Lan Yi said, "Aunty, I think the water you used to bathe these children was too hot for them."
Granny Ai raised her head and looked at her. She said, "Did the children open their mouths and tell you that?"
Lan Yi smiled slightly and said, "The marks show on their bodies. Their whole bodies are covered in red marks."
Granny Ai said, "Is that so?"
Lan Yi said, "Finish your meal first, then you can see, Aunty." Granny Ai pushed the food aside and stood up. "No, let's go and see right now. Are you saying that just because I'm not used to bathing infants, you'll claim the water was too hot for them? In short, you want to say I burned them? I'm saying, even their own father, whom I bathed, I didn't burn, let alone them."
Lan Yi didn't say anything. She knew Granny Ai would inevitably twist the conversation. Seeing Granny Ai heading to the room where Min was, Lan Yi sighed, stood up, and followed her. Granny Ai entered the room, went to the bed, lifted the infants' clothes, and looked at their bodies. She said, "Goodness! And the bath water, just for the sake of argument, caused these patterned marks on their bodies instead of their entire bodies being uniformly red? Even Marquis, who has never given birth, wouldn't say the bath water caused these marks on the children's bodies, let alone you. You have three children, and Zhan makes four. So, am I, Ai, a useless fool who doesn't know what she's doing? I swear, you are attributing their mother's schemes to me alone. Who is trying to disgrace me? Should I just pack my new suitcase and return to Tianjin? She Isn't the sister of my late mother who gave birth? Aside from the humanity in my heart, why should I care about what Min gave birth to, that I should even be invited to Guangzhou? The woman who destroyed our family, who tried to poison Zhan through his food, you have even let her give birth in your presence? Is her mother dead? Even if her mother is dead, does she have no maternal or paternal relatives in the world? A girl who brought us such devastating ruin, because you all forgot, you keep her around just because she gave birth to two boys?"
"Even though you all may have forgotten, I haven't forgotten what she did in this family, I swear. And from today, I will not bathe the children again. You bathe them yourself since they are your flesh and blood. They are all your responsibility."
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛