The next morning at seven o'clock, Zhan heard Yibo leave with the car. She got up and came out, wondering where he was going so early. He opened his bedroom door and saw Roulan lying there asleep. He closed the door and returned to his room. After bathing and putting on a long, light pant, he went downstairs to clean the house. By half past eight, he had finished everything.
As he was trying to light the incense burner, the living room door opened. He quickly turned, saw him, and looked away. Yibo came in, set down his bag and their breakfast, and looked at Zhan, but Zhan refused to turn around. Yibo didn't say anything to him and went upstairs. Only then did Zhan stand up, reach the bag, and open it. Inside were Roulan's clothes. He closed it gently, returned to his room, and got his phone.
He stared at the phone for two minutes before pouting and dialing Xixue's number. Xixue picked up.
"I hope you woke up well, son."
Zhan said, "Mommy, so you weren't going to call?"
Xixue smiled. "Well, didn't you just call now? How is my grandson?"
Zhan said, "He is fine."
Xixue lowered her voice. "Please forgive what you saw and heard, Zhan. That alone is the secret of your protection. And I am sorry for hiding that from you. I didn't know how you would take it, which is why..."
Zhan felt tears come to his eyes and didn't know what to say.
Xixue continued, "Soon you will understand the wisdom behind what we did for you. I know you are stubborn, Zhan. Please put down your weapons and embrace your husband. Forget everything. In my role as a mother to you, I am advising you to stop holding on. It is useless, Zhan. I swear, the love that Yibo has for you is unparalleled. I realized that long ago. You don't necessarily have to see it because you have made yourself hate him because of the fate that happened between you.
Let me ask you... have you ever seen anyone who committed such a crime against someone care as much as Yibo has cared? If there is any, it is very rare in today's world, Zhan. Sure, from the beginning, Attorney Yang-Yang brought you light in your life. He brightened your life. What you also don't know is that even Yibo marrying you and the Attorney stepping aside was all to brighten your life because Yibo is the best husband for you, given the world we live in today. He is the only one you can marry to find peace and tranquility, to live safely with your son.
That's why the Attorney gave up and left him to you, not because he doesn't love you. And he was sure that Yibo would continue from where he left off. The Attorney is worthy of respect and honor in your eyes, Zhan. You see, there is nothing he hasn't done for you to ensure light in your life. And Dr. Luo, I know you will never forget him because he did for you what your own father didn't do while he was alive. Even I wanted to do that but didn't have the chance. I also don't know where to begin. So those two people, there is nothing you can do to repay them except to always pray for them to finish their lives safely. May God grant you peace, my son..."
Softly, Zhan said, "Amen, my Mommy. Thank you."
Xixue said, "God is great. My regards to both father and son."
Zhan gave a small, forced smile and then hung up, just as Yibo entered the room. He hadn't looked in his direction. Yibo looked at him. "We are going out soon. Get ready. And I hope you saw the breakfast downstairs..."
Only then did Zhan look at him, his face hard. "Go where?"
He said, "When we leave, you will see." Then he turned and left.
Zhan went back and lay down on the bed, his whole body cold from what Xixue had said to him. He lay there for nearly thirty minutes until Roulan came into the room, Zhan watched him until he came close to the bed, sniffing and smiling. "Momy, how did you sleep?"
"How was your night?"
"I'm fine."
"Who bathed you?"
"Daddy. Momy, we are going out. He said when you are ready, come out. We are waiting for you."
Zhan frowned. "Did you eat breakfast?"
He said, "Yes, we ate."
He sat up. "So, you guy's have already ate, but I haven't eaten breakfast, and your saying you are waiting for me?"
Roulan stood still, looking at him.
Yibo opened the bedroom door. He was wearing a milk-colored outfit. His scent filled every corner of the room. He looked at him. "Meilin, I'm waiting for you."
H looked at him. "You both ate breakfast, and I should just leave like that?"
Yibo shrugged. "Nobody stopped you from eating breakfast."
Zhan stood up and headed for the door as if he would shove him. Yibo watched him from the corner of his eye before smiling. Roulan said, "Daddy, should we bring him food to his room?"
Yibo came closer, smiling, and sat on the edge of the bed. He patted the boy's shoulder. "Even if we bring it to him, he would say 'Who sent us?'"
Roulan laughed. "Daddy, but why is he even angry? Doesn't he like this house, or doesn't he want you to leave with us?"
Yibo just smiled and gently rubbed his chin. "I don't know either. But you can ask him."
Roulan widened his eyes and laughed a little. "He will beat me."
Yibo hugged him gently. "Not when I'm around, darling."
They sat in the room until Zhan returned. He didn't expect to find them inside. Without closing the door, he said, "Can you both excuse me?"
Yibo looked at Roulan. "Go downstairs. I'll be there soon."
The boy left the room. Zhan widened his eyes. "I said both..."
Yibo smiled. "Aren't I your husband? Should I excuse you?"
Zhan hardened his face. "Just leave so I can change clothes."
He said, "But I'm not stopping you, Meilin." He looked at his wristwatch. "You are wasting our time, and we have a long way to go."
He said, "Then leave, or I won't go."
Yibo looked at him as if counting each word. "I... am... going... nowhere!"
Zhan glared at him. Suddenly, he went to the far end of the bed, lay down, and turned his back to him. Yibo smiled and got on the bed. Seeing that he was moving close to him, Zhan tried to get up, but he quickly caught him.
As if about to cry, he said, "Please, Yibo, let me go. I don't want this. I told you to leave so I could change, and you refused to leave. What should I do?"
His heart was pounding as he looked at him. Yibo gently pulled him into his body, brought his lips to his neck, and said in a low voice, "Why should I leave? What is it that you are hiding?"
Zhan pushed him hard. "Stop it, Yibo."
He pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Really?"
Hearing how his voice had changed, Zhan swallowed hard. "Alright, since you're not leaving, I'll change like this. Let me go."
Slowly, Yibo released him, still watching him. Zhan got off the bed. Seeing where he was heading with his speed, Yibo quickly stood and reached the door before him, locking it and looking at him.
Zhan turned as if about to cry. "Why are you doing this to me, please?"
Seeing the way Yibo was looking at him with half-closed eyes, he went to his clothes and pulled out what he wanted to wear, on the verge of tears. He headed to the bathroom. Yibo followed him. Zhan stopped at the door, pleading. "For God's sake, let me change, Yibo. You said I was wasting your time..."
Yibo entered the bathroom, pulled Zhan in as he was about to scream, locked the door, and said, "Change here, since you're shy to change in the room."
Zhan grimaced. "I swear, I don't like what you're doing to me..."
Yibo took the clothes, placed them on the washing machine, and said, "Let me help you." Without waiting for his response, he pulled him and immediately removed the long shirt from his body. His eyes fell on the C-section scar on Zhan body. Zhan became more flustered, crouching, his body trembling.
Yibo lifted him and looked at him gently without blinking. Zhan kept whimpering, saying, "For God's sake, let me go, Yibo. I swear, I am embarrassed."
Slowly, he let him go. "Then put your clothes on."
Zhan body trembling, he quickly put on the pant, then the top. Yibo pulled him to him and gently zipped up his pant. Zhan couldn't look at him. Yibo lifted his head gently, and Zhan quickly closed his eyes. Yibo smiled and gave him a light French kiss. Confused, Zhan opened his eyes. Yibo released him, opened the door, and left the bathroom.
Zhan finally came out with difficulty, his whole body numb. He didn't apply anything to his face, just put on perfume, then went downstairs. Yibo was sitting in the living room. Roulan was lying across him. Zhan refused to lift his head until he reached them and stopped behind a chair.
Yibo just watched him, seeing that he couldn't lift his head. He smiled. "You didn't even put on any makeup."
He pouted. "I didn't."
He sat Roulan up. "Then let's go so I can tell you why you should."
Zhan quickly looked up at him. "No, I don't want to."
"Then go and fix your face."
He turned quickly and went back upstairs, wondering if Yibo would follow him. He entered his room and locked the door. He put on light lipstick and dusted powder. In no time, he looked freshly beautiful. She adjusted his clothes, picked up his shoes, and came downstairs.
Yibo just watched him without blinking until he entered the living room. He stood and looked at Roulan. "Go to the room and get my car keys."
Roulan stood and went upstairs. Yibo stood and approached Zhan. Seeing this, he said, "Oh, please let me be. Don't come near me. See, Roulan will..."
He covered his mouth, seeing that he was about to scream at him. He looked into his eyes. "You... are beautiful, Meilin."
Zhan quickly lowered his eyes, his heart pounding. Yibo removed his hand from his mouth. Before Zhan knew it, he felt a kiss. He couldn't move properly until Yibo licked away his lipstick. Seeing that he was about to fall, Yibo quickly held him to regain his balance.
Just then, Roulan opened the door. Yibo released Zhan and quickly left the living room. Roulan came in and looked at his mother, who had gone stiff where he stood. "Momy, what are you looking at?"
He quickly came back to himself and started fidgeting. Then he said, "Take the keys to him."
Roulan went out. Zhan came into the living room with difficulty and sat down. Hearing that Yibo had finished warming up the car, and afraid he would come back for him, he stood and quickly went outside. His heart was still pounding.
He was very happy to see Roulan sitting in the front. He opened the back seat to get in, but Yibo looked at Roulan. "Go to the back, sweetheart. Let Momy sit in the front."
Zhan frowned and looked at Yibo. Roulan got out and went to the back. Zhan gave Yibo a look. "I will also sit in the back."
Yibo turned and fixed him with his eyes. He quickly looked away. He closed the car door, went around, and got into the front seat as if he might cry. He didn't look at him until they left the house.
After they got on the main road, Yibo said, "We are going to Wuhan."
Without looking at him, Zhan said, "To do what?"
He said, "To visit Aunt Lihua. From there, we will go to the family house of Shao, who was there."
Zhan body went very cold. Slowly, Yibo said, "But if you don't want to go in, you can stay in the car. Roulan and I will go inside."
He shook her head. "No, I will go in."
For almost half the journey, only Roulan's chatter was heard in the car. Finally, Zhan had had enough. He turned and gave him a harsh look. "Keep your mouth shut... you're bothering me."
Yibo opened his eyes wide. "He's not talking to you."
Zhan glared at him. "Well, I said enough to my ears, and he should stopped his story just like that."
Yibo smiled gently. "Okay, Momy..."
When they got close to Wuhan, Zhan said, "Aren't we going to bring her anything?"
Yibo glanced at him, then returned his attention to the road. "Like what?"
"Like fruits and things that sick people like."
He just smiled. After they entered Wuhan, he parked by some fruit sellers, bought a lot, put them in the back of the car, and returned to Zhan's side. "I think the fruits are enough."
Zhan said, "And Shao?"
"We will get her something when we come out."
Zhan said nothing. He got into the driver's seat, started the car, and continued driving.
At eleven o'clock, they arrived at the hospital where Aunt Lihua was in Wuhan. As Yibo finished parking, Zhan's heart began to sink with the great fear. Yibo noticed him. After they got out, he came to his side. "You don't need to be afraid of anything, Meilin. Relax your mind. Or you can stay behind. We won't be long."
Zhan shook his head. "No, I will go in." Then he opened the back of the car and took out the fruits. Yibo held Roulan's hand, and they entered the large hospital. They went to the ward where Aunt Lihua was. Yibo opened the door gently with a knocked. He entered first with Roulan, followed by Zhan, who was stuck behind him.
Zhan hadn't been this afraid in a long time. Baby was sitting in the ward, feeding her. On the other side, Attorney Yang-Yang sat on a chair, holding his car keys. It seemed they had also just arrived. Yibo looked at Aunt Lihua, who was lying on the bed.
Yang-Yang stood up, smiling as he saw them. Yibo approached him, also smiling, and they shook hands. Yang-Yang looked down at Roulan. "How are you, son?" Roulan showed his teeth in a grin. "Fine, Uncle."
Zhan still hadn't lifted his head; his heart kept sinking. Yang-Yang looked at him. "Good morning, Meiqin."
Only then did Zhan look at him and smile gently. "Morning, Attorney?"
He said, "Well, fine. How is the household?"
Zhan said softly, "All fine."
For the first time, Zhan looked toward where Aunt Lihua was lying. She was just watching them. Her face was pale, and her stomach protruded. Zhan didn't recognize her at first; he kept looking at her without blinking. Aunt Lihua had changed completely-she was no longer the Aunty he had known, full of energy and youth.
Yibo approached her and looked at her gently. "Hello, Aunt. How is your body?"
Instead of answering, she burst into intense crying and held her head. He stooped close to her. "Oh, Aunt, crying again? There's no need for that. God willing, you will get well soon. Please be patient..."
Yang-Yang just watched her from where he stood. In his heart, he was thinking that if she truly was Yibo's mother's sister-it wasn't just that. He didn't even see a resemblance. Zhan bowed his head, and the tears that had gathered in his eyes seeing Aunt Lihua's condition fell.
Aunt Lihua shook her head, crying. "Oh my... oh my... Please keep my secret and forgive me, Yibo. Forgive me so I can find relief from what I feel every day. Forgive me so I don't..."
Yibo cut her off quickly. "Aunt, you haven't done anything to me. I have always told you that. Even if you did, I swear I have forgiven you in this world and the next. May God forgive us all. Please stop saying this. God will give you health."
She was crying heavily. "Yibo, I know that if you knew the forgiveness I am seeking from you, you wouldn't forgive me. You don't have to forgive me because I don't deserve it. I am evil. I hurt you both. I betrayed my sister. I swear it was the devil's evil, with my own doing. And now the punishment has come in this world. God has rewarded you. Truly, evils returns to its owner..."
Yibo stood up and didn't say anything more to her because he felt his heart break. So she was aware she was doing evil all along.
Through tears and sobs, she said, "Yibo, for God's sake, for the sake of the bond between me and your mother, forgive what I did to you and Zhan..."
Yibo looked at her, even though he knew the rest. "What did you do to me and him, Aunt?"
She was gasping, her face covered in tears. "I swear, I am the one who secretly put something in your tea that Zhan brought to you that day, you drank it. And I took the children and left the house. I left you and him. I am the cause of what happened between you. I am the reason he was ruined by you."
Yibo said nothing, but his heart shattered even though he had already finished hearing that day over the phone. Zhan and Yang-Yang were left in shock from her words. Baby stood up, took Roulan's hand-he had been staring at Aunt Lihua-and left the ward.
Aunt Lihua broke down further, crying. "I swear, it was the accursed devil. He made me hate Zhan. He planted dislike for him in my heart because all the time in the house, he never did anything to me beyond obedience and respect. What made me do what I did was my fear that you might say you loved him and wanted to marry him because I saw how much you pitied him and cared about his affairs. And I saw how much sister also loved him. That's why I did all this... I haven't forgotten the day they returned after he left the house with this attorney, carrying your child. I refused to listen to them; I told them to leave, and they left. I ruined his life; he left and faced all kinds of challenges, which instead became blessings for him. And now, after many years, you have married him. And look at how my life has turned out. My daughter is at death's door. Now I see and feel that I will reap what I have sown."
Yang-Yang did not feel any pity for her; rather, his feeling toward her hardened. Indeed, there are such people in life. The wickedness is just too harsh. Zhan stood there like someone planted on the spot. He felt everything Aunt Lihua was saying as if in a dream. Suddenly, the day he had gone to give Yibo tea in the room came back to him. The way Yibo had kept telling him to leave, with his condition at the time, returned fresh in his memory.
Zhan hadn't forgotten that he even shouted at him telling to leave driver would take him to hairdresser, but out of pity for the state he saw Yibo in, he had refused to leave. It had all been Aunt Lihua plot.
Only then did Zhan burst into heavy crying, turn, and leave the ward. Aunt Lihua kept crying. "Yibo, I know he may not forgive me, even if you forgive me... I know it's hard because I wronged him greatly."
Yibo couldn't say anything. Yang-Yang left the ward, following Zhan. He found him outside, trying to stop crying. Baby was also at a distance but didn't have the courage to go near him.
Yang-Yang looked at Zhan gently. "Meiqin."
Zhan turned and looked at him, tears following one another. Yang-Yang said, "Please be patient. Everything she said has been done and is now in the past. This is your new life. Don't let your past spoil your happiness. You have heard with your own ears and confirmed that it was not Yibo's doing. It was not his fault. It is not his nature. No one asked her, and no one pressured her, but knowing that your karma was pursuing her is why she exposed herself. So just forgive him, and life moves on.
Look, she is reaping what she sowed. Just as you had children out of wedlock, she too will give birth that way. But yours are blessed children. As for her, she may not even know the father of the child inside her. And besides, both her legs are broken. It is hard, and she may never walk properly again-there is no hope for that. That is why, when a person digs a pit of evil, they should know the size of the pit they are digging. Let bygones be bygones, Meiqin. Go back now and tell her you have forgiven her, if you can. That might bring her some relief."
Zhan just kept nodding, tears streaming, his whole body cold. Yang-Yang said, "Let's go."
Without argument, Zhan followed him back into the ward, but he couldn't reach the bed. From where he stood, in a trembling voice, he said, "Aunty, I have forgiven you. May God give you health and forgive us all."
Aunt Lihua just looked at him, tears falling. Only then did Zhan feel pity for her. Tears also continue to fall from his eyes. He reached the bedside and held her hand. In a trembling voice, he said, "I have forgiven you. You also forgive me for making you go the wrong way, because I know that if I hadn't come to the house, you wouldn't have destroyed yourself. May God give you health and raise you up on your feet, Aunty."
In a trembling voice, Aunt Lihua said, "Thank you. May God grant you peace and good, blessed offspring. May He remove all strife between you. I wish God would let me live to witness that, but I feel like I am about to die. Thank God, I am relieved that I have removed this burden from my head. I slept and woke with it every day. I didn't know where to begin. May God forgive us all and guide those with hearts like mine."
Zhan couldn't answer her; he just cried. Yibo said, "Amen. You won't die until your time comes, Aunt."
She didn't say anything more, just cried with regret and resignation. Seeing how Zhan was crying, Aunt Lihua said, "Go, Yibo, so I don't spoil your mood. May God bless you and ordain that we meet again."
Yibo said, "Amen, thank you. I will return in two days."
She said, "Thank you."
Yibo went to the Attorney, looking at him. "We are going back, Attorney. May God reward you."
The Attorney smiled. "Safe travel."
Yibo returned and took Zhan's hand-Zhan, who was still crying as if waiting for an excuse to do so. They left the room after Zhan waved to the Attorney, who was smiling.
Baby couldn't say anything to them; her whole body was cold. Yibo took Roulan's hand-he had been watching his mother worriedly, seeing that Zhan was crying....Yibo opened the back seat, put him inside, and opened the front seat for Zhan. Zhan got in, wiping the tears that were falling. Yibo closed the car door and looked at Baby.
Softly, she said, "May God protect you on the road, my brother."
He said, "Did you come with the Attorney?"
She smiled slightly and didn't say anything. He laughed. "I know he was just escorting you, right?"
She laughed and didn't say anything. Smiling, he got into the driver's seat, started the car, and they left the hospital.
Roulan was looking at Zhan as if about to cry. "Daddy, why is Momy crying?"
Yibo looked at him and smiled. "He got an injection."
Roulan burst into tears. "Why, Daddy?"
Yibo parked the car, seeing how the boy was crying. He looked at Zhan. "You see, if you weren't looking for an excuse to cry, this is enough for you, Meilin."
Zhan shot him a glare. "What does it have to do with you? I was looking for an excuse, after all."
Yibo smiled and lowered his voice. "Alright."
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