That morning, even Siya and the others had already left for school, but Lihua hadn't come downstairs as she usually did. Ever since she had sent Diwa away, she had made it a habit to appear early in the morning, but today she remained quiet.
Zhan helped Mrs. Wang prepare breakfast, then went on to wash the dishes...even though it wasn't his turn. That was normally Baby's responsibility, but seeing that she was still asleep, he handled it without complaint.
Mrs. Wang returned to her room.
By now, Zhan had become careful and efficient with housework, finishing without making a mess. After washing all the plates, he arranged them neatly in the kitchen cabinets. As he worked, a wave of dizziness passed through him. His stomach had been hurting since the night before, but the pain was strange...unfamiliar and difficult to describe.
Yibo entered, already dressed for work.
Zhan straightened immediately.
"What's wrong?" Yibo asked.
Zhan gave a small smile. "Good morning."
"I asked what's wrong."
"It's nothing… just a mild stomach ache."
"Since when?"
"Since early this morning," Zhan replied, continuing to put things away.
Yibo studied him briefly. "Alright. I'll leave some medicine in the bedroom. Take it after you've eaten."
"Okay, thank you. Should I make you coffee?"
"That would be good."
Zhan prepared the coffee and brought it out. Yibo took it, glancing at him.
"Thank you."
Zhan nodded and returned quietly to the kitchen.
Later, Zhan lay alone in the room, restless, turning from side to side.
Baby entered to grab something and immediately noticed.
"Zhan, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Zhan sat up quickly, his heart racing. Without answering, he rushed to the bathroom...but nothing came out.
Alarmed, Baby hurried out. Since Mrs. Wang wasn't home, she went straight to Lihua, who was in the living room with Shao, eating.
Without hesitation, Baby picked up Lihua's phone and dialed Yibo.
He answered, surprised. "Hello?"
"Gege, it's me. Zhan is sick...he's been trying to throw up, and Mum isn't home. It's just aunt Lihua here."
"I'm coming," he said immediately.
Baby quickly deleted the call and returned to the room.
Yibo arrived within minutes.
Zhan was in tears by then, clutching his stomach as Yibo asked where it hurt.
Lihua saw him enter and quietly went upstairs with Shao, pretending to be occupied.
Yibo called Mrs. Wang to inform her, then took Zhan to the hospital.
At the hospital, another doctor handled the examination. Tests were run, and Zhan was given an injection along with medication.
He cried when the needle went in.
Yibo pointed to a nearby bed. "Lie down."
Zhan obeyed, wiping his tears as he lay there. Exhaustion soon took over, and he fell asleep.
It was nearly afternoon when Yibo woke him.
"How do you feel now?"
Zhan didn't answer, just sat up slowly.
"Alright. Let's go."
Yibo took him to a restaurant, made sure he ate, then brought him back home.
⏭ ⏭
Two days later, Yibo stood in the kitchen, frowning slightly.
Something wasn't right.
The coffee powder didn't look the way he had left it.
Still, he made his coffee and drank it.
Not long after, he returned to his room, feeling unusually dizzy, and lay down.
Mrs. Wang came in before leaving for work and found him resting.
"Yibo, are you alright?"
He opened his eyes. "Just a headache. It'll go away later."
"Take something for it," she said, then left.
Lihua, sitting in the living room, casually spoke to her as she left, then fell silent again.
The moment the house emptied, Lihua went straight to the kitchen.
She placed a teapot on the stove and began preparing tea.
Then she locked the door.
From inside her clothing, she pulled out a small packet, opened it, and poured its contents into the teapot.
She waited until it boiled thoroughly, the smell of tea masking everything else.
Then she strained it carefully into a small flask.
After washing the teapot and clearing every trace, she poured out the tea from the main flask into the sink, replaced it, and left the kitchen as though nothing had happened.
Around noon, Lihua told Baby and Shao to get ready...they were going out.
Baby didn't want to go, but she obeyed anyway.
Before leaving, she turned to Zhan, who was quietly folding clothes.
"Don't worry," Baby said lightly. "Following Aunt Lihua is always trouble. At least you get to stay here...Gege is home, so you won't be alone."
Zhan gave a faint smile. "Alright."
As they prepared to leave, Lihua stepped into Yibo's room.
He had just opened his eyes.
Their gazes met briefly.
She ignored him, walked to his dresser, picked up his perfumes, sprayed them carelessly, then walked out again pretend that was what bring her there.
Sh handed her bag and keys to Baby. "Go wait in the car with Shao and don't start your usual argument."
Then she went to say goodbye to Yibo before heading downstairs.
On her way out, Lihua stopped by Baby's room and looked at Zhan.
"If you're done, take food to Yibo. He hasn't eaten. His tea is in the small flask....the large one is empty."
"Okay, aunt" Zhan replied.
Lihua's eyes hardened. "Don't call me that again."
She turned and left.
Zhan listened as the car drove away.
He finished folding his clothes, then went to the kitchen to prepare Yibo's meal.
As he reached into the cabinet, something fell.
A small packet.
He froze.
Dark powder had spilled slightly from it.
Zhan stared at it for a moment, his expression changing.
Slowly, he went to the sink and washed his hands. Then he returned, wiped the surface carefully with a cloth, cleaned everything, and left no trace behind.
After that, he arranged the food neatly on a tray, placing the small flask beside it.
With steady hands, he carried the tray and walked toward Yibo's room.
He found him lying on the bed, eyes closed. Quietly, Zhan knelt and placed the tray beside him.
"Gege, your breakfast is here. Should I make your tea?"
Yibo shook his head slightly. "No… I'll do it myself. Didn't you go with them?"
Zhan shook his head. "No."
There was a brief silence.
"Alright," Yibo said after a moment. "Ask San to take you to the salon. Go fix your hair."
Zhan made a small face, shrugging. "It's not even messy. Your Mum already took us on Sunday."
Yibo exhaled faintly. "Then why aren't you in lesson?"
Zhan blinked, a small smile forming. "Did you forget? It's Thursday."
Yibo closed his eyes, then opened them again. "Fine. Go on."
Zhan nodded and left.
About ten minutes later, Yibo slowly pushed himself up. His head felt heavy, his thoughts scattered. Still, he forced himself to move.
He poured tea from the small flask into a cup, added milk and sugar, stirred it slowly, and left it to cool. After taking a quick shower, he dressed halfway, then sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the cup.
He drank it.
All of it.
Then he set it down.
For a moment, nothing happened.
But soon, something felt… wrong.
He stared at the empty cup, frowning slightly.
The taste.
Something about it wasn't right.
He lay back down.
A few minutes passed.
Then suddenly....his chest tightened.
His breathing shifted.
A strange desire heat rushed through him, sharp and overwhelming.
He shut his eyes tightly, gripping the sheets. "No… Not Zhan…"
He tried to get up, to leave, to get away from whatever was happening....but his body refused to cooperate. His pulse pounded violently in his ears.
Cold one moment.
Burning the next.
He dragged the duvet over himself, as if that would steady him.
The door opened.
Zhan stepped in, holding a small bag.
"Gege, San said I should give you this....he said it's medicine. Are you sick?"
Yibo didn't respond. He shut his eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Zhan walked closer and knelt beside him. "Here… you should take it."
He took out the medicine, one after the other, poured water into a glass, and gently tried again. "Please, sit up and take it Gege."
Yibo's eyes snapped open...bloodshot, unfocused.
"Put it down… and leave....NOW"
Zhan hesitated, his voice soft, almost pleading. "Please, you should...."
"I said leave! go...Run for your life"
The sharpness in his voice startled Zhan.
Zhan's eyes filled with tears. "…Okay."
He began putting the medicine back into the bag.
But before he could stand....
Yibo grabbed him.
Zhan stumbled forward, falling against him, panic flashing across his face.
"Gege?"
Yibo held him tightly, his body trembling.
"I don't want this…" he whispered, his voice breaking. "I don't… I'm sorry."
But whatever control he had was slipping....fast.
Zhan tried to pull away, fear rising in his chest, his voice shaking as he struggled.
But Yibo wasn't listening.
Not fully.
Something had taken over...something overwhelming, confusing, and completely out of character.
And in that moment...
Everything went wrong.
Struggling..
Panic..
Fear..
Pain..
Crying...
***
When Zhan opened his eyes again, the world felt distant.
He was lying in Baby's room, covered with a duvet.
For a few seconds, he didn't understand anything.
Then...
It all came rushing back.
His breath hitched sharply.
Pain spread through his body, heavy and unfamiliar. His head throbbed. His chest felt like it had been hollowed out.
A broken sound escaped him.
The door opened.
Zhan reacted instantly, panic overtaking him. Ignoring the pain, he pushed himself up, backing away.
"Please… don't come near me… I'm begging you… please…"
Yibo stepped inside.
He looked nothing like himself.
His eyes were red. His face pale. His entire presence… shaken.
Zhan tried to move away, but Yibo caught his arm gently and made him sit.
Then he sat too...keeping a small distance, unable to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry…" His voice trembled. "I know I hurt you, but…"
He couldn't continue.
His hands fell to his head as if it weighed too much.
Tears slipped down his face.
Zhan was crying too, weakly, trying to pull away but lacking the strength.
Then suddenly, Yibo slid off the bed and dropped to his knees.
His shoulders shook.
"I didn't mean for this to happen… I don't know what came over me… This isn't who I am… Please… forgive me…"
Zhan's body trembled harder. He pulled back, his voice breaking.
"I hear you… but please… go… please just go…"
Yibo stayed there, kneeling, for several long minutes.
But nothing he said could undo what had already happened.
Finally, he forced himself to stand...and walked out.
The moment he left, Zhan collapsed onto the bed.
Tears came without restraint.
Since losing his father, he had endured so much.
But this....
This broke something deep inside him.
For the first time, he felt like he didn't want to exist anymore
.
Like everything had been taken from him.
Exhaustion eventually dragged him into a heavy sleep.
He didn't wake until evening.
Baby's voice pulled him back. "Zhan… hey, wake up…"
He opened his eyes slowly.
Her expression changed instantly when she saw his swollen face.
"Zhan… have you been crying?"
She reached out and touched him...then froze.
"You're burning!"
Panic set in.
She ran out immediately.
Downstairs, she found Mrs. Wang.
"Mum, I think Zhan is really sick!"
Mrs. Wang stood up at once and hurried upstairs.
Lihua followed behind, silent but alert.
Watching.
Observing.
Mrs. Wang pulled back the duvet...and froze.
Zhan's body was burning, trembling uncontrollably, his face pale and eyes swollen.
"What happened to you?" she asked softly.
Zhan couldn't answer.
He only trembled.
Behind her, Lihua's expression shifted briefly....something unreadable passing through her eyes....before she masked it with concern.
She turned and quietly slipped away, heading toward Yibo's room.
It was empty.
She checked carefully...under the bed, around the corners.
Nothing.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Back in the room, Mrs. Wang turned to Baby. "Bring me my phone."
Baby rushed out and returned quickly.
Mrs. Wang called Yibo.
At that moment, Yibo was in his own house, lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His phone rang.
He saw the caller.
Mum.
For a second, he couldn't move.
Then he declined it.
It rang again.
Slowly, painfully, he sat up, his body weak, his mind heavier than ever. He answered.
"Hello…"
"Yibo, where are you?" Mrs. Wang's voice was tight with worry. "Zhan is very sick. Come home now. If needed, take him to the hospital."
Yibo said nothing.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Hello? Are you there?"
He swallowed hard.
"…I'm coming."
He ended the call, dropped the phone, and held his head in his hands as the tears finally fell.
:
:
Yibo sat in the car for over ten minutes after arriving home, completely lost in his thoughts. Nothing around him felt real anymore. The weight of everything had drained the color from his face.
When Mrs. Wang noticed the unusual silence, she stepped outside. Before she even reached the parking area, he forced himself to open the car door and step out. His head was lowered, his movements slow, as if even walking required effort.
She looked at him closely, concern filling her eyes. "Yibo, are you okay? Is it still the headache?"
He nodded faintly. "I took some medicine. I'm a bit better."
Without waiting, he walked past her. She turned and followed him with her gaze.
"So you're resting instead of going to the hospital?" she asked, worry evident in her voice.
"Yes," he replied without turning back.
"You should stay home and rest if you're not well," she continued. "You could have called in and excused yourself. Or better yet, let's just go to the hospital together now."
He stopped at the door, unable to respond immediately. His body felt weak, his mind clouded.
Finally, he said, "I'll take him to the hospital. The doctors will check him there."
She frowned slightly. "Then you should also get yourself checked. What kind of headache lasts like this all day? Let San drive you."
Before he could respond, Lihua appeared at the doorway, watching him carefully.
"What's wrong with you? Are you sick too?" she asked.
He walked past her without meeting her eyes. "I'm fine now."
She turned to Mrs. Wang in mild surprise. "He's been unwell?"
"Since morning," Mrs. Wang replied. "He said it was a headache, but I didn't think it was this serious. I even expected he wouldn't go to work today."
Lihua immediately followed Yibo, quickening her steps as he reached the stairs. Her urgency made Mrs. Wang pause in surprise.
Yibo stopped at baby's bedroom door, unable to enter. He hesitated.
Lihua lingered by the staircase, waiting.
Slowly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
She slipped in right after him.
Inside, Baby sat beside Zhan, who was lying on the bed, clearly distressed.
"Gege, Zhan isn't well," Baby said, her voice trembling with tears. "He's been crying, and his temperature is very high."
At the sound of his name, Zhan opened his eyes quickly and tried to sit up. A weak cry escaped him.
Yibo couldn't even look in his direction.
"Help him get ready," Yibo said quietly. "We're going to the hospital now."
"Okay," Baby replied.
As Yibo turned, his eyes briefly met Lihua's. She scoffed and walked away.
"If it were your own cousin sister, you wouldn't be like this," she muttered as she left.
He said nothing and walked out.
Baby handed Zhan a jacket, but he shook his head weakly, tears falling.
"I don't want to go to the hospital," he said softly. "If I sleep, I'll be fine…"
"Please," Baby begged. "Let's just go."
When Zhan refused again, Baby hurried out and returned with Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang approached gently, placed the jacket on him herself, and helped him up.
"Be patient," she said softly. "Just go and get checked."
Yibo stood in the corridor, leaning against the wall, unable to face them.
"Give the car key to San so he can drive," Mrs. Wang said.
Yibo turned, intending to respond...but froze when he saw Zhan standing beside her, holding her hand.
A deep ache twisted in his chest.
Zhan looked fragile, yet he was standing there through sheer will.
Yibo looked away quickly and began walking down the stairs.
Mrs. Wang followed, holding Zhan's hand, while Baby trailed behind them.
From her doorway, Lihua watched Zhan closely.
Look at him… acting like he's perfectly fine, she thought.
But neither she nor Yibo knew the truth....
Zhan was in pain all over, barely holding himself together.
Mrs. Wang helped Zhan into the back seat, with Baby sitting beside him. San drove, while Yibo leaned back silently, his head resting against the seat.
Baby held Zhan tightly as he cried quietly, eyes closed.
When they arrived, Yibo stepped out first.
"Zhan, come down," Baby said gently.
Slowly, Zhan stepped out, holding her hand.
"Go back with San," Yibo told Baby.
Her eyes widened. "But Mum said I should stay with him! He's very sick...who will stay with him if he's admitted?"
Yibo gave her a look she hadn't seen in a long time.
She froze.
Without another word, she got back into the car, tears filling her eyes.
"Please don't leave me…" Zhan whispered weakly.
"I have to," Baby said softly, wiping her tears. "He said I should go…"
Yibo turned and walked inside without looking back.
A nurse quickly approached and guided Zhan into the hospital.
San drove away, offering quiet words of comfort.
The nurse led Zhan toward Yibo's office, but he wasn't there. She took him into another office nearby where Yibo was seated.
Seeing his condition, she immediately took him to the bathroom to freshen up, then administered medication and injections.
After that, Yibo left the hospital.
The nurse stayed with Zhan, taking care of him with quiet compassion. He soon fell into a deep sleep.
At his own house, Yibo had finally fallen asleep when his phone rang.
He forced his eyes open...it was Mrs. Wang.
He hesitated… then answered.
"How is Zhan?" she asked anxiously. "Should I come over?"
"He's better," he replied quietly. "San will bring him home later."
"Where are you?"
"…At my place. I need rest."
Her voice sharpened slightly. "You left him alone at the hospital? And you didn't let Baby stay with him?"
"The nurses will take care of him."
She paused, then said, "Alright… but go and bring him home yourself. It's not right to leave him like that."
"I'll go now," he said softly.
Later that evening, Yibo returned to the hospital.
He called the nurse and asked her to administer the final dose, then bring Zhan outside.
When they came out, Zhan looked weak, barely able to walk.
"Did you follow all my instructions?" Yibo asked.
"Yes," the nurse replied. "But he's having trouble walking… and he complained about chest pain earlier. He was given medication."
Yibo nodded. "Thank you, Mary."
The nurse smiled and helped Zhan into the car.
The ride home was silent.
Zhan kept wiping his tears with his jacket, his head lowered the entire time.
Yibo said nothing.
When they arrived, Zhan stepped out slowly and walked inside.
Yibo watched him carefully… only moving after Zhan disappeared through the door.
Inside, Mrs. Wang stood up immediately.
"How are you feeling?" she asked gently.
"I'm better," Zhan replied softly, unable to lift his head.
Lihua watched him intently, her expression unreadable.
Yibo walked past them and went upstairs.
Mrs. Wang took Zhan to her room and made him eat some soup, though he struggled to swallow.
Soon, exhaustion took over, and he fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, his fever returned.
Mrs. Wang went to Yibo's room and found him sitting quietly.
"His fever is back," she said.
Yibo looked up. "Again?"
"Yes."
"Give him his medication again…"
She didn't respond immediately. Then she nodded and left.
After taking the medicine, Zhan finally fell into a deep sleep just before dawn.
In the morning, Zhan reluctantly drank the tea Mrs. Wang had practically forced on him. When he mentioned the remaining injections to Yibo, he was told the driver would take him later, around ten, since Yibo wouldn't be leaving for work until then.
San drove him to the hospital and brought him back.
By evening, Zhan felt much better physically. However, there was a strange pain in his chest he couldn't understand. It came whenever he remembered what had happened that day...a sudden tightness, like his heart was dropping violently inside him.
Since then, Yibo had avoided him completely.
He wouldn't look at him, wouldn't speak to him. If Zhan was in a room, Yibo wouldn't stay. It was as if his presence alone was unbearable.
Meanwhile, Lihua had noticed everything.
And strangely… she seemed pleased.
There was a certain lightness about her now, a quiet satisfaction that hadn't been there before. Even Mrs. Wang began to wonder at the sudden change in her behavior. The constant insults and tension had reduced. She no longer lashed out the way she used to...not even at Zhan.
But in her mind, Lihua was already planning her next move.
She was only thinking about what excuse she would give before leaving again… to wherever she had gone before.
That night, Baby entered Yibo's room and sat beside him.
"Gege… I want to ask you something, please," she said softly.
He glanced at her. "What is it?"
She tilted her head slightly, hesitant. "Did Zhan do something wrong? I've noticed you don't talk to him anymore. Even when he greets you, sometimes you pretend not to hear…"
She swallowed.
"He's always sad now. I've caught him crying at night several times…"
Yibo cut her off sharply. "Have I started joking with you too much?"
She shook her head quickly.
"Then go to your room," he said coldly.
She stood up immediately and left, while he returned to working on his laptop as if nothing had happened.
****
Early the next morning, Lihua dressed up carefully, even putting on makeup. She told Mrs. Wang she had to travel, because she'd been called...her son Yue was supposedly sick and hospitalized.
Mrs. Wang grew worried and even gave her some money before she left.
Not long after, Mrs. Wang also left for work.
The house became quiet.
Only Zhan, Baby, and Shao remained downstairs, while Yibo stayed in his room upstairs.
Since the incident, Zhan had withdrawn into himself. He no longer moved freely around the house. Whenever Mrs. Wang wasn't around, he kept to himself, always sitting alone, lost in thought.
That morning was no different.
He sat quietly, completely absorbed in his thoughts...until he suddenly felt a presence.
He turned.
Yibo was standing a short distance away.
Zhan quickly stood up, startled, instinctively stepping back.
Yibo looked away from him.
"Zhan," he called.
Tears filled Zhan's eyes, but he couldn't respond.
Yibo walked closer. Zhan kept stepping back slowly.
"Do you know how to find your stepmother's house?" Yibo asked.
Zhan stared at him, his heart pounding violently.
"I'm asking you," Yibo said, his tone firmer.
"…I think I can," Zhan replied quietly.
Yibo nodded slightly. "Alright. Wait here."
He turned and walked inside.
A few minutes later, he returned holding an envelope.
He extended it toward Zhan.
Zhan hesitated, his chest tightening.
"Take it," Yibo said.
With trembling hands, Zhan accepted it.
Yibo nodded once.
"Go, Zhan. Go back to your stepmother."
Zhan froze.
"I can't continue living the way I want while you're under the same roof," Yibo continued, his voice low but firm. "You've become a barrier to my peace. Just go… anywhere. Leave this house."
Zhan's tears fell silently.
"I don't want to see you and be reminded of myself," Yibo added. "No one is above mistakes… so just go."
Slowly, Zhan turned away.
"…Okay. I'll go," he said, his voice breaking. "Thank you for everything you've done for me since I came here."
He paused.
"But… can I at least say goodbye to your Mum before I leave? I don't want to disappear without telling her."
"No," Yibo said immediately. "Just go."
Zhan broke down completely.
"…Okay. Thank you."
Yibo turned and started walking away.
Then suddenly, he stopped and looked back at him.
"And one more thing…"
Zhan turned, tears streaming down his face.
"…Please forgive me."
Zhan's voice trembled. "I already have."
Yibo nodded faintly. "Thank you."
Then he walked inside and closed the door.
Zhan wiped his tears, but they wouldn't stop.
With nothing but the clothes he was wearing, he walked out of the house.
Step by step… he left.
When he reached the roadside, he stopped a taxi.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"…The motor park," Zhan replied softly.
He got in.
Throughout the ride, he remained lost in thought, barely aware of his surroundings.
When they arrived, the driver called his attention.
Only then did Zhan remember he needed to pay.
He quickly opened the envelope Yibo had given him.
It was full of money.
His hands trembled as he pulled out some cash and paid the fare.
Tears rolled down his cheeks again.
Inside the park, he heard someone calling out for a trip to Shanghai.
He walked toward it.
There was only one seat left.
He got in.
As soon as he settled, the vehicle started moving.
And just like that...
Zhan left everything behind.
💚💙❤🖤