Author :
As a Muslim, Juma'at Mubarak to you all ❤️, here is another update, Friday gift. 😀
Granny Fang Yu entered Lan Yi's bedroom, gasping in shock and bursting into tears. She sank to the carpet, overwhelmed. "We've really been tested this time," she cried. Granny Ai, who had already thrown off her scarf in frustration, exclaimed, "Have you ever heard of a wedding being called off without any reason? They should be brought here and made to tell us exactly what happened. Or better yet, take them to the authorities so we can get justice. How are we supposed to face all the guests we invited?"
"Or is it that the boy and his parents are just irresponsible?" Granny Ai continued. "Call Zhan here...maybe he got into a fight with the groom or something. Or take me to their house, let me hear their reason for canceling this wedding!"
Lan Yi was completely lost in thought. She had cried so much already, even though she still didn't know the reason behind the canceled wedding. What if she did? Aunt Marquis hadn't followed Granny Fang Yu and Granny Ai into the room....seeing her sister already overwhelmed with tears would have broken her even more. What she really wanted was to see Qiren and beg him not to tell Lan Yi the real reason, for the sake of her emotional well-being.
She headed to the parking area where Yibo was sitting. He looked heartbroken, his face hollow with sadness. Aunt Marquis stood nearby for a couple of minutes, unsure what to say....just as he said nothing, his head bowed. In the end, she went to the sitting room, her steps heavy. When she greeted them and entered, she found Qiren still seated. Even he looked deeply troubled. Aunt Marquis sat down slowly, tears already filling her eyes. "Brother-in-law, I think it's better we don't tell Lan Yi the reason the wedding was canceled. It's for her own good. Please."
Qiren didn't respond. He just looked at her silently. A few minutes later, he finally asked, "Where is Zhan?"
Aunt Marquis's eyes widened. Amidst everything going on, no one had even checked on the boy to see how he was doing. Trying to stay composed, she said, "Hopefully Dr. Kexing hasn't told him anything. I think he's in his room with some of his friends."
Softly, Qiren said, "Please go and check on him."
Yibo stood up and called out to Ji Li as he approached the parking area. Before he reached him, he asked, "Where is he?"
Ji Li replied, "I checked the whole upstairs...he's not there. Even the downstairs guest room, he's not in."
Yibo's eyes widened. "What?" He left where he stood and rushed into the house, anxiety surging through him.
Yibo began searching the entire house in a panic, calling Zhan's phone only to find it switched off. Aunt Marquis came in around that time, looking shaken after Ji Li told her Zhan wasn't in the house. Ji Li, meanwhile, was visibly confused....he still had no idea what was happening.
Then the front door opened. Hai Kuan entered, not making eye contact with anyone, heading straight upstairs.
Yibo followed him quickly. "Wait! We can't find him...he's not anywhere in the house…"
Hai Kuan didn't even register what Yibo was saying. He walked directly to Lan Yi's room. Before Yibo could stop him, he had opened the door and entered. Lan Yi looked up as he walked in. Hai Kuan, gathering his courage, asked, "Who are our real parents?"
Just then, Yibo entered the room and pulled Hai Kuan out by the arm. Lan Yi watched them leave, trying to make sense of what Hai Kuan had just said. Then she turned to Granny Fang Yu, who also looked just as confused.
Granny Ai muttered, "What does he mean, 'who are thier real parents'? Did they drug him in the court or something?"
Lan Yi didn't even realize when she stood up and left the room. She saw them standing in the corridor....Hai Kuan with his head pressed to the wall, and Yibo beside him, equally confused. She said nothing to either of them, and they said nothing back. She went downstairs.
Yibo watched her descend. Aunt Marquis quickly wiped her tears and asked, "Where are you going, Jie?"
Lan Yi didn't reply. She walked straight to the sitting room where Qiren was. Upon entering, she stood at the doorway, staring at him. "So you were going to hide the reason Zhan's wedding was called off from me?"
Qiren looked at her and sighed deeply. He knew this moment would come. When Aunt Marquis had begged him earlier not to tell Lan Yi, he'd stayed quiet because he already knew the truth was spreading fast. He feared the entire neighborhood already knew by now. He stood, took her hand, and gently made her sit down, noticing how much she was trembling.
Lowering his voice, he said, "Please try to calm down, Lan Yi. Everything will be okay."
Lan Yi shook her head slowly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Tell me what's going on. I want to hear it from you. Why was Zhan's wedding canceled?"
Qiren gathered himself and began, "We did what we did with pure intentions. We never meant to hurt anyone. We only wanted what was best for Zhan. We didn't want to deceive anyone…"
He couldn't continue. He just looked at her with deep sympathy. He wished a day like this would never have come. The secret they had hidden for almost 23 years was no longer a secret.
He reached for her again, seeing how shaken she was. "Our main concern now should be Zhan. We can't let him fall into despair....it could harm him. Imagine waking up one day to find out the people you've always known as your parents… aren't. He needs us now more than ever. And we will continue to be the ones he can rely on."
Lan Yi stood up, tears slowly falling from her eyes. She said in a trembling voice, "So by now… everyone knows we're not Zhan's biological parents?" She didn't wait for Qiren to respond...she turned to leave the sitting room. But before she could reach the door, it seemed like the entire room spun before her. Qiren quickly moved to stop her from falling....
***
Meanwhile, Zhan kept glancing nervously at Dr. Kexing as he turned off the car engine and stepped out. Zhan had never felt fear like this before. Dr. Kexing circled the car and opened the door on Zhan's side. Despite how hard Zhan's heart was pounding, he asked in a shaken voice, "But I don't understand what this means, sir. Where are we? Please, just tell me. It's almost 8 p.m. I know they must be looking for me at home."
Tears welled in his eyes as he finished. Dr. Kexing looked at him and replied, "You think the love I have for you is just words? Has anyone ever told you I've loved someone this deeply other than my own mother? You think I have the strength to lose you just like that? You think I wouldn't do anything to keep you with me?"
Zhan was shaken by the way Dr. Kexing spoke....it terrified him. This wasn't the calm, kind doctor he knew. He didn't say anything, just stared at him with wide eyes. Dr. Kexing took his hand and gently pulled him out of the car, locking it behind them. Zhan's heartbeat quickened in fear. Dr. Kexing didn't look well.
Zhan followed him quietly, still holding his hand. Once they reached the front of the house, Dr. Kexing turned on the lights and led them to the entrance. He unlocked the door, and once they were inside, locked it again.
Zhan couldn't hold it in anymore. He collapsed to the floor in front of Dr. Kexing, sobbing uncontrollably. "This is too much… please, sir, just tell me what's happening. Tomorrow is supposed to be our wedding day. Why did you bring me here, just the two of us, in the middle of the night?"
Dr. Kexing shook his head slowly and replied, "They're not going to allow our wedding tomorrow." Then he walked toward the hallway leading to the other rooms.
Zhan, completely confused and panicked, sat down and buried his head in his knees. He cried silently, heart pounding, trying to make sense of everything. Had Dr. Kexing never really loved him? Was this all just a trick?
It was almost 8:30 p.m. when Dr. Kexing returned. By now, Zhan's fear had deepened into something more primal. He stared at the man with apprehension.
"Get up and go inside," Dr. Kexing said.
Zhan didn't move. He couldn't even look at him.
"I said get up."
Zhan stood slowly, heart still racing, and walked to the room Dr. Kexing pointed to. He didn't say a word and avoided eye contact. Once inside, tears continued to fall down his face. He curled up on one side of the carpet, trembling. What will I tell Mama and my brothers? Where will I say I've been since 5 p.m.? He realized that if Dr. Kexing decided to take him home, they wouldn't get back until maybe 10:30 or even 11 p.m. Would he even take him back at all? That terrifying thought made him cry harder.
The door opened. Zhan froze and swallowed his sobs, shrinking away, unwilling to look up. Dr. Kexing entered the room and approached him, placing a cup of warm milk beside him. He just stood there, watching him for a full minute. Then, in a weak voice, he said, "I did this because I love you, Zhan. I can't imagine my life without you. I don't even understand the kind of love I have for you. Please forgive me. This was the only option I had…"
Zhan finally looked up, his eyes red and swollen. When Dr. Kexing tried to take his hand, Zhan pulled away quickly, accidentally knocking over the cup of milk. It spilled all over the floor and soaked his long-sleeved shirt. Dr. Kexing softly said, "I'm sorry."
Zhan's voice trembled as he replied, "Don't touch me. We're not even married yet." He turned away, heart thudding in his chest. Dr. Kexing simply looked at him, then left the room without another word.
Zhan rushed into the bathroom, pulled off the soaked shirt, and scrubbed it with detergent he found under the sink. He hung it on a towel rack, then wrapped himself in a towel and returned to the room. Dr. Kexing was wiping up the spilled milk when Zhan reentered. He quietly moved to the other side of the room, sat down on the carpet, and stared at the clock.
Dr. Kexing left without a word. Zhan didn't see him again until nearly midnight. Three times, Zhan had dozed off only to wake up with a start... he couldn't sleep in peace. His thoughts kept drifting to Lan Yi, wondering how she was coping.
Finally, at around 1 a.m., he stood and carefully opened the door. Making sure not to make a sound, he tiptoed down the hallway and entered the sitting room. He froze in horror.
Dr. Kexing was lying in the middle of the room, eyes half-closed, wearing only a singlet and three-quarter pants. Beside him were three empty wine bottles and a half-finished bottle of orange juice. Zhan stared, stunned and disoriented, before slowly stepping closer to confirm what he was seeing.
Zhan knelt down and picked up one of the wine bottles, eyes widening as he read the label. He was so shocked that he dropped the bottle, which shattered across the floor. He gasped, whispering, "This can't be happening…"
Dr. Kexing suddenly sat up from where he had been lying and stared at him with bloodshot eyes. Without thinking, Zhan jumped to his feet and ran back into the room he'd come from, his body trembling. He reached for the door, intending to lock it, only to realize there was no key.
He dropped to the floor, clutching his head in panic. "What have I gotten myself into?"
The door opened and Dr. Kexing stepped inside. Zhan scrambled to the far end of the bed, bursting into tears, too scared to speak. He pressed his hands together and stared at him, trembling.
Even though Dr. Kexing was clearly drunk, he wasn't staggering. He walked with slow, determined steps, and his eyes, though bleary, were calm. Terrified, Zhan slipped behind the curtain in the room, whispering shakily, "Please… please don't do this, sir… I beg you…"
Dr. Kexing pulled back the curtain and found him. Zhan clutched Dr. Kexing arm, crying. "No, please… just let me go… I beg you…"
But Dr. Kexing pulled him into a hug, speaking in a low, trembling voice. "Don't let them take you away from me, Zhan. I don't know who I'll become without you…"
Zhan was shaking uncontrollably as the doctor leaned him gently against the wall, murmuring, "Say something… please, my love…"
Zhan's lips quivered. "I won't let anyone separate us, I promise. Just trust me."
Looking into his eyes, Dr. Kexing asked, "Can I kiss you, please?"
Zhan froze, eyes wide, heart pounding. But gathering all his courage, he forced a tight smile. "Not now. You need to brush your teeth and freshen up first… I mean, I just saw you with bottles of alcohol, didn't I?"
Dr. Kexing rested his forehead against Zhan's. "The last thing I drank was orange juice…"
Zhan could smell the citrus on his breath...he wasn't lying. But before he could react, Dr. Kexing's mouth was on his. Zhan tried to pull away but couldn't break free from his grip. Tears streamed down his cheeks, his whole body trembling. His panic surged as Dr. Kexing's kiss deepened. In desperation, Zhan said, "I....I'm really hungry, please sir… I haven't eaten anything…"
Instantly, Dr. Kexing let him go.
Zhan was still shaking. In that moment, the doctor's demeanor changed completely. Almost robotically, he mumbled, "Should… I… get you… some fresh… milk?"
Zhan nodded eagerly, his lips trembling. "Yes. Yes, please. I need it."
Dr. Kexing turned and left the room. Zhan quickly scanned the space and bolted into the bathroom. It had no lock either. Panic rising, he darted back out and checked the other three rooms along the corridor. All were locked tight.
He placed both hands on his head, whispering, "This is bad… this is so bad…"
Just then, Dr. Kexing returned, holding a cup of milk. Zhan lowered his hands and quickly wiped his face, trying to compose himself even as his chest rose and fell with each anxious breath.
Dr. Kexing handed him the cup. Zhan accepted it with a shaky smile and asked, "Thanks… Is there any bread or cake?"
Leaning against the wall, clearly struggling to stay upright, Dr. Kexing muttered, "No…"
Zhan swallowed hard. "Okay… I'll just sip this slowly so it can keep me going for a while."
Dr. Kexing looked at him with soft, unfocused eyes, his voice a low murmur. "Okay…"
Zhan sat on the floor and started drinking. The milk tasted strange in his tongue, almost medicinal, but he forced it down, feeling his heart pound in his chest. He kept stealing glances at Dr. Kexing, who had also sat on the floor, facing him directly.
The way he stared at Zhan...intense and consuming....made it feel like he could be swallowe him raw and whole. He did look heartbreakingly attractive when drunk, but Zhan was too frightened to focus on that.
Tonight, even Dr. Kexing's cologne, which once enchanted him, felt suffocating.
Zhan shifted uneasily. He knew no amount of tears or pleading would change whatever was on the doctor's mind. If he was going to get out of this, he had to outthink him.
He had to use his brain.
Dr. Kexing didn't stop staring at him. After another sip of the milk, a sudden idea came to Zhan. He forced a small smile and asked, "But tell me, sir, why do you think someone would try to separate us? You know I love you deeply… and you love me too, don't you?"
Dr. Kexing adjusted his position as if about to whisper a secret. He spoke slowly, deliberately, "They don't want us to get married, Zhan. They said Mr. and Mrs. Wang aren't your real parents… they claimed they're not your biological parents."
Zhan slowly lowered the cup from his lips and sat perfectly still, staring at him without even blinking at the weight of that statement. Dr. Kexing watched him and added, "Do you want me to bring you the letters that kept arriving at our house about you?"
Zhan set the cup down beside him and nodded. "Bring them."
Dr. Kexing stood and walked toward the living room. This time, he was clearly staggering....proof that the alcohol had started to take its toll. Zhan followed him with his eyes, still processing the revelation that kept repeating in his mind like a broken record.
A few minutes later, Dr. Kexing returned and dropped four envelopes in front of him before sitting down again, eyes fixed on Zhan. Zhan picked one up, tore it open, and began to read. He spent over a minute scanning the contents over and over as if trying to understand what it truly meant. Then he grabbed another letter and read that one too....repeating it at least four times.
One by one, Zhan read through every letter in the envelopes. Anyone looking at him could see how utterly confused he was.
Dr. Kexing gently took his hand and rubbed it, saying softly, "Your dad didn't deny it. He said it's true....they didn't give birth to you. That's why my father's family is against our marriage. They say you have no roots, no origin. They don't understand. Even if you were born under unusual circumstances, even if you don't fit their definition of normal....I, Kexing, will never leave you. No matter who you are or what anyone says, I love you just the way you are. Nothing can change that."
"Please, baby, don't let anyone pull us apart. Let's run away together...just the two of us. We could go to Shanghai, get married, and then move to the Maldives. We'll start a life there. You'll give me little babies that look like you. I know my mom won't oppose it…"
Zhan gently slipped his hand out of Kexing's grasp. Everything the doctor was saying barely registered. His mind was consumed with the words he'd read....the letters swirling in his head like a storm. Without realizing it, he had moved further away and now shook his head, whispering, "No… They just want to break us up. But Baba. and Mama are my parents. They raised me. They love me. It's all a lie…"
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Suddenly, Dr. Kexing pulled him into a tight, desperate hug and said, "Yes, my love, they're lying. They just want to tear us apart. Please don't let them. Let me show you how much I love you...today, tomorrow, and forever, please permit me…"
Zhan's fear reignited. Dr. Kexing was acting erratic again, like someone no longer in control of himself. Seeing what he was trying to do, Zhan quickly nodded, trying to stay calm. "Okay, okay. But please… let me take a shower first. You should too. You reek of alcohol."
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛