Granny Ai snorted and looked at the children's bodies again. "It's hard to believe she wouldn't repeatedly apply something hot to their bodies since she's untrustworthy; we all know that. So what wouldn't she do, since she's even capable of putting poison in someone's food for them to eat? I swear, Min is not to be trusted; she's a viper in human form."
With that, Granny Ai left the room and went to the dining area. Min, who was in the bathroom, heard everything Granny Ai said because she wasn't speaking quietly. Her stomach sank upon hearing Granny Ai's final words. Thinking about what she would do, she lingered in the bathroom. Yibo just kept looking at Lan Yi. Lan Yi examined the babies' bodies again...
After a short while, Min came out of the bathroom holding her stomach. She crouched on the carpet, bowed her head, and wiped her hands; tears were streaming from her eyes. Lan Yi, who was sitting and waiting for her to come out, said, "Are you okay?"
Barely audibly, she said, "My stomach hurts so much." With that, Min managed to distract them from the marks on the babies' bodies topic because she kept crying as if her heart would break, crouching in the room. Yibo simply left the room, leaving Lan Yi to quietly attend to her. Granny Ai, seeing him come out, motioned for him to come over. He went to where she was and sat down.
She said in a low voice, "Now, for goodness sake, Yibo, shouldn't that girl go stay with her own family? Doesn't she have a family? We are not irresponsible people, Yibo. And a leopard cannot change its spots. The amount of effort that has been made for her in this house... ever since she was allowed to give birth here, well, then she should go back to her family so they can deal with her. It's not like their hands are tied and they can't manage their own daughter. And if she goes back to her family, that doesn't mean you and your mother should stop providing for her there. So, honestly, I don't support her staying in this house. And if you didn't care for Zhan that you all allowed his killer back in the house, then just let me know. Because based on what she did to Zhan...attempted murder...she shouldn't even be allowed to set foot in this house again."
Yibo, who had been listening to Granny Ai, sighed and said, "Well, Mama said she would only stay for forty days before going back to her parents."
Granny Ai said, "So she has to stay for forty days before she can cause us more trouble? If Lan Yi herself had been the one to take the poison that Zhan took, she wouldn't have let Min stay in this house for a single day, let alone forty days. You've made Zhan look like a fool. That boy is deeply hurt, shattered into pieces. If his grandfather, Mr. Xiao, hears about what you have done, he will curse you, I swear. You've shown you don't care about him. Any person who can attempt to kill someone... there's nothing they wouldn't do in this world. I keep talking, and you seem not to understand, it's no use."
Yibo leaned back in his chair and said, "She won't be staying in this house, Granny Ai. In about a week, she will go back to the house where she was previously kept. She will complete the forty days there."
Granny Ai said, "Well then, I don't care. Whatever will be, will be. I wash my hands of it..." Yibo glanced at the clock showing it was past two and then remembered the lunch he said he would buy for him and Zhan. He nodded, left the sitting room, and Granny Ai pursed her lips, got up, and went to her room.
As Lan Yi was about to come out of the room where Min was, Yibo opened the door, made way for her after she exited, and entered the room. Min was lying down with her eyes closed as if asleep, but she wasn't sleeping. He stood by the bed, looking at the sleeping infants. Secretly, Min was watching him, making sure he wouldn't realize she wasn't asleep. He spent over three minutes looking at the children, and she could see the love for them in his eyes. Finally, he stood up after adjusting the soft blankets on them, then headed for the door, exited, and closed it. Min smiled slightly, adding more hope for herself.
---
At around three o'clock, Yibo arrived home. As soon as he entered the sitting room, his stomach sank because he didn't even know what he would say to Zhan. He knew that even as a joke, he wouldn't tell him he was coming from that house. He slowly set down the takeaway food in his hand. Walking slowly, he reached Zhan's room door, but then he couldn't bring himself to open it. After standing for a while at the door, he slowly opened it, looking inside. He scanned the room with his eyes and saw it was empty. He came out and checked the room next to his; it was also empty. He was filled with confusion. He went back to the sitting room, then to the kitchen and checked there; it was also empty. Even though he knew Zhan wouldn't enter his room, he still went to his own room and found it empty too. He became confused at once. He went out and quickly headed to the guard. Looking at him, he said, "How long has he been out of the house?"
The guard, looking at him, said, "No, honestly, he hasn't gone out. I think he might be in the back, but I haven't seen him leave."
Yibo sighed in relief and then went to the back of the house. Sitting, he saw Zhan in the garden, pressing his phone. He went over to him and said, "Baby."
Zhan looked up and glanced at him, then continued with what he was doing. Briefly, he said, "Good evening."
Yibo sat down beside him. "You haven't eaten yet until now?" he asked.
Zhan replied, "No, I've eaten."
Yibo opened his eyes a little. "But I bought you food from the eatery."
Zhan said, "You can eat it. I've already eaten."
Yibo fell silent, looking at him. After a few seconds, he said slowly, "Do you even know where we went today?"
Zhan said, "No, how would I know?"
Yibo slowly let out a quiet sigh. "I am so exhausted. Where we went was very far. Now, get up, let's go so you can eat more, then we can get ready to go to that house. Mama has already started calling, asking why we haven't come today." It was then that Zhan looked up and glanced at him. Yibo gave him a smile and pinched his long nose. "Yes. Or, I could stay, you go to the house alone, representing the two of us. I'm just so tired; I want to sleep..."
Zhan didn't say anything. Yibo stood up, pulled him to his feet, and holding his hand, they left the area. He himself went to the kitchen, got plates, and served the food. Zhan just sat watching him...
After 4 o'clock, Yibo came in and said, "Let me order a taxi to take you to that house, Baby, because I want to sleep; I am so tired. When I wake up, maybe around 6, I'll go pick you up, and we can come back home..." Yibo didn't wait for his opinion; he got up and went into his room. After sighing, he picked up his phone to order the taxi, hoping fervently that Granny Ai wouldn't say anything to Zhan about him going to that house in the morning.
Just like that, Zhan went to his room and got ready, not because his heart wanted to. After some minutes, Yibo came into his room to see if he had finished getting ready because the taxi was at the gate. He looked at Zhan in the mirror, not even blinking, because he looked exceptionally stunning in his elegant outfit. He looked so beautiful and stunning, from his earrings to his finger ring. As soon as Zhan glanced at him once, he continued with what he was doing. Yibo went and stood behind him. This made Zhan turn around, but he avoided looking at him. Yibo closed his eyes, hugged his body, and said in a low voice, "You look so cute, hubby." As he says so, he gave him a light kiss on his lips. Zhan gave a slight smile but still didn't let their eyes meet. That smile of his sent a slight shiver through Yibo's body. Just like that, he walked him to the gate, holding his phone listlessly. He opened the car door for him, watching him until he got in, then handed him his phone. He waved at him in a cold voice and said, "Till I come later, Dear."
It was then that Zhan looked up and their eyes met. Still smiling at him, he waved back. Yibo kept looking at him without blinking until the car drove away from the area...
Zhan arrived at the house around a quarter past five. He greeted the security guards at the gate and entered the compound. As he reached the sitting room entrance, he opened the door and entered. Just then, Granny Ai came out of the kitchen holding a kettle of hot water. Granny Ai looked him over from head to toe and said, "Who is this? It looks like Zhan."
Zhan was smiling. He approached her and greeted her. Granny Ai said, "This one... you should let that Yibo cherish you properly and not risk losing such a treasure in his life. A gem like this is like the grandson of a king. Even though what's the difference between Rong and the king? He is also a king in his own palace."
Zhan just smiled and was about to take the kettle from Granny Ai's hand. Granny Ai said, "No, leave it. Let's just go to the room. It's hot water for those infants over there, the children of that troublesome woman. Even though Yibo and his mother blamed me for hurting them when I bathed them this morning, well, thanks to their father's, I won't refuse to bathe them because Yibo is a good man; the whole world can attest to that."
Zhan asked, "Is Mama upstairs, Granny Ai?"
Granny Ai said, "What upstairs? That woman who acts as if someone will steal her grandchildren if she moves away from them? Come on, just go and open the door for me." Zhan walked slowly until they reached the room where Min was. He opened the door. Granny Ai entered first, then he also entered and closed the door. Min kept looking at him without blinking because, firstly, she didn't even recognize him.
Zhan, as soon as she glanced at her once, he averted his gaze. Lan Yi, seeing Zhan, smiled. Zhan walked over to where she was sitting and greeted her. Lan Yi responded, saying, "How is your home, Baby?"
Zhan said, "All is well, Mama. And the twins?"
Lan Yi picked up one baby and handed it to him. Zhan took it and looked at it. All this time, Min hadn't stopped looking at Zhan; suddenly her whole mood changed, and tears welled up in her eyes. Granny Ai set down the hot water in her hand and, looking at Lan Yi, said, "Well, initially I didn't realize it was Zhan who had entered the sitting room. Truly, Yibo knows how to take good care of him. And I'd hardly be surprised if he isn't newly pregnant, given this extreme beauty he has now. And that Yibo, I see he has gained weight, his complexion glows more...a sign he is at peace. Zhan takes very good care of him as he should. Yibo only realizes now that he is married, but before it's difficult; he doesn't know the joys of marriage."
Min bowed her head, discreetly wiping the tears that had filled her eyes. Lan Yi, hearing Granny Ai's words, felt her strength begin to return. She stood up and went into the bathroom to get the babies' bathtub. Granny Ai looked at Zhan, who had bowed his head, and said, "So, where is Yibo?"
Zhan slowly looked up. "He's at home, sleeping."
Granny Ai said, "Ah, so he managed to sleep peacefully? Hand me the baby, let me take his clothes off." Zhan stood up and handed the infant in his hands to Granny Ai.
****
That evening, Zhan was sitting in the living room with Granny Ai, who was eating, when Yibo entered the house. His eyes were on Zhan until he finished entering the living room and saw Granny Ai. Granny Ai set down the spoon in her hand, looking at him intently, and said, "Since this morning, you and your mother have been accusing me of bathing the children with hot water. Well, I swear, this morning, it was Lan Yi and I who finished bathing them. We Look closely at their bodies.... if it wasn't something hot that their mother schemed to repeatedly rub on their bodies, even Lan Yi's temper is more fiery than mine. The whole thing resulted in red marks, signs of irritation, though their skin is otherwise pale. So, we confronted that wicked mother and made her tell us what she did to the children. Let me tell you, that shameless woman just started crying, saying, 'How could I harm the children I carried in my womb?' So, for someone who intended to kill a person, what wouldn't they do, Yibo?"
"Our intense anger at what she did could lead her to kill these two children, making us lose them. There is no trust regarding her matter. Because of this, I told Lan Yi that since we still have some dignity in her eyes, we should take her back to her parents' house. The children should be left with Lan Yi to give them infant formula. Look, the formula has even been bought; they will get used to it gradually. When they are older, they can be taken and given to Zhan to take care of them for you. This is our only solution. Right now, I'm waiting for Qiren..."
Zhan just kept looking at Yibo, who was looking at Granny Ai. Granny Ai glanced at him and said, "I swear, Zhan, when he came this morning, he and his mother claimed that I bathed the children with hot water. The matter pained me so much that I cried bitterly, which made the food I was eating tasteless."
Yibo looked at the children's bed in the living room and also at the can of formula and feeders. "Where are the children now?"
Granny Ai adjusted her sitting position. "Ah, well, blood is a terrible thing, Yibo. Earlier, Lan Yi went out in a rush with the driver after seeing the marks on their bodies. She went to a big store and bought them this ridiculously expensive formula. We mix the formula with hot water in a feeder and give it to the children, but they refused to drink it. They just kept crying loudly here in the living room. Besides, they have inherited their mother's hypocrisy and wicked character. Since when can newborns distinguish between breast milk and canned formula? Let me tell you, they embarrassed us so much with their fussing, in a way that would make their mother laugh at us. We had to make Bing take them to their mother to breastfeed them. As soon they latched on, you could hear silence. So, from the very beginning, they are capable of hypocrisy and scheming."
Yibo just remained silent, not saying anything, looking at the formula that Lan Yi had bought for them. After a while, he sighed, glanced briefly at Zhan, who was looking at him, lowered his head, and sat on a chair. Granny Ai looked at Zhan and said, "Get up, go into the room, and bring the children out one after the other." Zhan didn't say anything to her, nor did he get up. Granny Ai clicked her tongue and said, "No doubt." Then she looked at Yibo and said, "So, earlier, I told him to go to the room and check on my phone for me, but that girl Bing was the one who went to check for me. Twice I called his name, but the boy didn't get up; it was as if he didn't hear what I said. It seems since he got married, he has entered the ranks of adults and knows everything. Let him renew his bratty behaviors..."
Slowly, Zhan stood up, his face expressionless. He didn't like Granny Ai ordering him to the room where Min was at all. There was no way he could avoid it. He walked slowly towards the room's path. Granny Ai said, "Just because your grandfather, Mr. Rong, is a good man, and I feel some respect for him...but I swear, if I get fed up with your situation, I will discard it in the trash. I see it seems you want to inherit the old habits of Shu and bring misfortune upon yourself. And that Shu, she has changed and come back to her senses now like you when you are a young man. Shu returned without any fuss, a woman of good character, I even started wanting Hai Kuan for her. I want him to return so I can find him and we can discuss it."
Yibo, before he knew it, turned quickly to look at Granny Ai. A broad smile spread across his face. She, however, continued eating her food.
Zhan entered the room where Min and her twins were. Min gave him a look with her sullen face. Bing was sitting in the room because Lan Yi had instructed her to stay since she brought them in after Min breastfed them. Three times, Min had attempted to send her out of the room, but discreetly. Bing, whenever she noticed, would refuse to leave, remembering what Lan Yi had told her.
Zhan didn't even look at Min. He went to the side where the babies were lying on the bed. As soon as he picked up the one in front of Min, she quickly snatched it away, her face scowling, looking at him contemptuously, and said, "Did you give birth to them for me? Let's see you give birth to your own tomorrow."
Bing clicked her tongue again, watching in astonishment. Min let out a long hiss and pulled the other baby towards herself.
Zhan adjusted his stance, looking at her directly in the eyes, and said, "Well, I see it wasn't from your coming that you gave birth to them too. Why are you in a hurry? In my own case, from me, and the baby Yibo will love and cherish us as his own, unlike you, who is shown favor just because of the babies. A person as unlucky as you...to this day, I haven't seen a single person from your family come to congratulate you. Even if a goat gives birth, it shouldn't be like this....."
Zhan had reached his limit. He hissed at her and threw a sharp retort, "Foolishness!" With that, he turned and headed for the door, leaving Min with her mouth agape, staring at him without blinking.
Granny Ai turned to look at Zhan. "Listen, you... where are the children I told you to bring?"
Zhan said, "She said no one else gave birth to them for her."
Granny Ai quickly moved her food bowl aside; even her body trembled. She stood up and said, "Let's go." Yibo was looking at Zhan, who had a pinched expression on his face. Granny Ai entered the room, snorting, and said to Min, "You wicked girl with a black heart! So, just because you were brought into this house thanks to the blessing of these children, you think you can talk back? Well, I swear you won't even last seven days. I myself will see to it that I tell Qiren to arrange a car for you, you shameful woman, and send you back to your parents' front door since we didn't give birth to you, and there's nothing connecting us. Even your own people have abandoned you, let alone us strangers? And the children, do you hear and see? Zhan will be the one to keep them because we are not irresponsible people who would let you, with your corrupted life, ruin our children's lives, making us lose them. Your breast milk alone is a calamity for these children. Besides, what fate caused the mixing of a seed like Min's? A woman who attempted to kill someone...the whole world has witnessed it. So, your end, I swear, by tomorrow, you will be on your way to Beijing."
Lan Yi, startled by Granny Ai's loud voice, stopped near the stairs without fully entering the room, hearing everything Granny Ai was saying. Granny Ai gestured to Zhan and said, "Man, come and take the children so their father can see them."
Zhan entered the room, took one child, and came out. Granny Ai took the other child, saying, "You are just troublesome woman, and devil. Did you think you could belittle Zhan in vain now? So, you knew you were dealing with him in vain, but now his fortune is firmed? Go and ask your father who Mr. Xiao Rong is in all of China. Well, Zhan is his grandson. He gave birth to his father, Shan. Originally, if Mr. Xiao Rong had found out about you poison his grandson's food and he nearly died, you would have been sentenced to death abroad... How could we allow these children to grow up with your character? For goodness sake, I'd rather their death be better than them inheriting your character."
Min lower her head, hearing everything Granny Ai was saying. Zhan returned to the living room and approached Yibo, his face stern, handing him the baby in his arms. Yibo just looked at him and simultaneously looked at the baby in his hand. Deep down, he wished Zhan had been the one to give birth to these cute babies for him. He closed his eyes and opened them again, still looking at him and the baby. Seeing that he refused to take the baby, Zhan looked up and glanced at him, his face still stern. Clearly, Yibo knew the reason for his stern expression. He glanced briefly in the direction where Lan Yi was standing and saw she was just watching them. He bowed his head and took the infant that Zhan was handing to him. Lan Yi, meanwhile, had already gone upstairs.
---
Qiren entered the house with Hai Kuan. They met Yibo at the gate and entered the living room together. As soon as Qiren sat down, he greeted Granny Ai, who was holding one infant in the living room. Lan Yi was also sitting, holding the other twin, and greeted him upon his arrival. Qiren said, "Oh, you've off the AC? Isn't it too hot?"
Granny Ai stood up and handed the child in her hands to Qiren. She said, "Haven't you seen these children? If we turn on the AC for them, they might die from the cold, and we'd lose them. Actually, since this morning, because of you, I've been sitting in this living room. You know, since I ate, I've been feeling drowsy; I need to lie down."
Qiren looked at her and said, "Well, may you feel better, Aunty."
Granny Ai said, "No, if you go to the living room and finish whatever you need to do, I'll come find you so we can talk in private."
Qiren said, "Well, no problem." Lan Yi nodded, handed the baby in her hands to Hai Kuan, and went upstairs. Qiren looked at Yibo and said, "Where is Baby?"
Granny Ai said sharply, "He's in the kitchen preparing food for his husband. He's been in this house since after 4 pm today."
Hai Kuan smiled. He stood and handed the baby in his hands to Granny Ai. She took it and settled it on its bed. Qiren said, "So why they've been brought here again?" Granny Ai let out a deep sigh and said, "For a big reason, Qiren. They weren't just brought back without cause. Please, when you are free, send Lan Yi to inform me. But before that, please come and see the children's bodies."
Qiren nodded and went to where they were lying. Hai Kuan just looked at the children. Granny Ai uncovered the children's bodies. Qiren examined them carefully, and so did Hai Kuan. Granny Ai said, "What do you see?"
Hai Kuan said, "What is this?"
Granny Ai said, "Look closely." He even took out his phone's flashlight and shone it on the babies' bodies. Qiren said, "Are they burned?"
Granny Ai clapped her hands. "Thank goodness! So let me tell you, Qiren. After we went to the market with Lan Yi and returned, we found the children's bodies like this, crying pitifully. And we had left their mother alone with them in this house because that girl Bing was cooking; we left her in the kitchen. Until now, we haven't figured out how Min inflicted this torture on their bodies like this. Lan Yi and I were so angry we almost kick out."
Qiren turned to look at Yibo. Granny Ai said, "Why are you looking at Yibo? I'm talking to you about a serious matter. This son of yours, what do you think he can do? I haven't even talk to him. I'm just waiting for you to see the results of what you make Hai Kuan did to her in court."
Qiren fell silent, just looking at the children's bodies, and so did Hai Kuan. Granny Ai said, "Please, go and rest. See you later."
Qiren sighed and said, "Well, may it be resolved." With that, he turned and went upstairs. Hai Kuan said, "And you confirmed that she did this to their bodies?"
Granny Ai said, "No, Lan Yi and I lied to her." Hai Kuan turned and left the living room for his room. Yibo, who was watching Granny Ai, said, "And you didn't mention Shu matter to him?"
Quickly, Granny Ai looked at him and said in a low voice, "And you, you don't know how to joke."
Qiren remained silent, listening attentively to Granny Ai, who was sitting in his sitting room, until she finished a point. Then she added, "Therefore, tomorrow morning, we must go with Hai Kuan to arrange a car. She will be in the back; I'll be in the front because I cannot even sit in the same space with her. We will reach Tianjin city, stop to pick up Marquis, and then continue to Beijing. If her parents are patient and understanding, good. If they are not patient, also good. We will have taken her and shown them we are important people. If they want, after we leave, they can disown her and cast her out into the world...it's none of our business."
Qiren sighed and said, "It's a good plan, Aunty. But what doesn't sit right with me in all your explanation is that you said the children would be left with Lan Yi. How can these infants be separated from their mother? They are not even a week old. In my opinion, this is not right. It seems like we are infringing on her rights and the rights of the children."
Granny Ai quickly interrupted, "Haven't you seen the condition of the children's skin that I showed you earlier, Qiren? Is it a good mother who would do that to her children? I believe she repeatedly applying something hot to their bodies, like rubbing a hot towel on them. Honestly, Qiren, if you say Min should continue to stay in this house, whatever will be, will be; I don't care. Nothing will change my mind, I swear. And today, if this matter were to fall on your head and it involved your son's, it wouldn't involve Lan Yi, i would definitely not speak up. I won't even involve Zhan because his grandfather, Mr. Rong, would not agree. Wait, Qiren, have you forgotten the poison she put in Zhan's food for him to eat, which nearly cost him his life? I'm speaking the fact for goodness sake, Qiren."
Qiren gave a slight smile and spoke calmly, "Aunty, I'm saying she is already detained in a house. It's not necessary for her to stay in this house. There is that other house where she is detained; we can find her a house help there. I feel pity for the children; it wouldn't be fair to separate them from their mother..."
Granny Ai said, "So, for an infant whose mother died and left him, should we dig a hole next to the mother's grave and bury him out of pity?"
Qiren sighed and said, "Alright then. Tomorrow, a flight ticket to Beijing will be booked for you."
Granny Ai bared her teeth in a smile and said, "A flight too? Well, thank goodness. What I wanted you to understand, Qiren, is that many infants, whose parents died and left them after birth, also grew up in safety. It is not our wish to separate a worthless woman from her infant just because she is wicked. You see, she didn't even spare her own children. Let their grandmother take them, keep them, and care for them until they are older."
Qiren said, "Well, may it be the perfect solution."
Granny Ai said, "Amen. See that before our flight takes off, Marquis should informed to go to the moto pack, get in the car, and we will meet directly in Beijing."
Qiren said, "But what will her parents feel when they see she is prevented from breastfeeding her children?" Granny Ai stood up and said, "Qiren, stop trying to turn back the hands of time. I am tired of talking, I swear. What do we care about her parents? They themselves have given her up to the world. Now, it's only because of the elderly and to show her parents that we are from a respectable family that we are taking her to them. Besides, the terrible thing Min did to us should not make us continue to bother with her matters. If I were to speak to her parents, I would say, 'We have patiently taken back our children because Min does not have the good character to raise them for us.' Then I will tell them what she did to the children when we went to the market. They should probably direct her to a mental hospital to have her memory examined." With that, Granny Ai left and left Qiren in his sitting room.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛