When Zhan returned, Bei managed to fall back asleep, so he went straight to the bathroom. After finishing, he got ready for bed. Just as he was about to lie down, he decided to visit Granny's room.
When he entered, Granny took one look at him and read his expression with her usual care and immense affection. She gestured for him to come and rest his head on her lap. Zhan moved closer, lay down on the floor, and gently placed his head on her legs. Closing his eyes slowly, he felt a sense of peace he couldn't find with his parents.
He drifted off to sleep in that position until Granny softly called his name, waking him. "Go lie down in my bed," she said gently.
Zhan sat up slowly, stood, and replied, "No, Granny, I'll sleep in Bei's room tonight since she's not feeling well."
"Alright, go ahead. Good night, and don't let any worries weigh on your heart. Sleep well."
"Okay," he whispered, leaving the room.
The next morning, both Zhan and Bei woke up feeling much better. Bei, who had been struggling with neck pain, was back to her cheerful self. She had a habit of recovering quickly from illness. Zhan also woke up feeling lighter, without the burden of anxiety that had shadowed him the previous day. He had already resolved to accept the marriage to Sen, so he made an effort to hide any lingering distress from Granny and Bei.
The family had received news that the wedding date had been set for three weeks later. Dad Wang, who was overseeing all the wedding preparations on Zhan's behalf, had informed Granny after hearing it from Uncle Wen. The Xiao family's respect for Dad Wang as a father figure was evident, as they entrusted him with these significant decisions.
:-*:-*:-*:-*
That day, Zhan didn't even go to work. Granny sat him down for a serious conversation about the marriage. She asked him outright if he was truly willing to marry Sen, reassuring him that if he didn't want to, she would speak to Uncle Wen and cancel everything.
Zhan assured her that he agreed to the marriage willingly and that it wasn't forced upon him. Bei also tried to convince him to reconsider, but he told her to drop the subject and let the wedding proceed. Left with no choice, they relented and began preparing for the wedding in earnest.
Despite the progress, Zhan noticed something odd-Sen hadn't called or sent him a single message. This didn't bother him much; he had expected as much. To cope, Zhan removed every reminder of Sen from his heart. They didn't even cross paths at work, as Zhan rarely visited Sen's office. Sen, on the other hand, seemed entirely unbothered, even enforcing strict rules that prohibited men from entering Zhan's office without prior approval. Sarah, a mutual friend, told Zhan about these changes, which only added to his confusion about Sen's behavior.
As the wedding approached, Zhan decided to take a leave of absence. Preparations for the grand celebration were in full swing, with everyone buzzing about the event. The connection between Zhan and the prestigious Wang family ensured that no expense would be spared. Granny and Uncle Wen, supported by Mr. Wang's generous contributions, organized an elaborate affair. Granny even prepared a special dowry for Zhan, which added to the excitement and pressure of the upcoming wedding.
His Mama took charge of Zhan's personal grooming, as she was known for her expertise in skincare and body treatments. Zhan, initially resistant, found himself subjected to a meticulous routine of massages and scrubs. Though he complained about the process, even he couldn't deny the results...his skin became soft, smooth, and radiant. He even began to enjoy the subtle, pleasant scent that lingered on him, occasionally catching himself smiling at his reflection like someone discovering something new about themselves.
Zhan's closest friends, Sarah, visited often, helping with the wedding arrangements. Bei, ever reliable, took charge of most of the tasks, while Zhan observed quietly, offering only the occasional forced smile.
The excitement wasn't limited to Zhan's home. The Wang household was also bustling, especially with the arrival of Mr. Wang Han, Mom Ella, Mr. Wang second wife, who brought additional staff and even her eldest sisters daughter, Yong.
Yong was an elegant and self-assured young woman who carried herself with an air of sophistication. She had long harbored feelings for Wang Yibo, though their interactions had been sparse over the years. Her parents had always hoped for a match between her and Yibo, but his distant and busy lifestyle left little room for such plans. Now, with Yibo's impending marriage, Yong found herself grappling with the reality of the situation.
The house was lively with preparations as the families came together, setting the stage for what promised to be a grand and memorable wedding.
***
It was late evening when Zhan finally managed to step out of his family home to greet Dad Wang, who had just arrived. As he stepped outside, the people gathered around couldn't help but stare, captivated by his striking appearance and radiance.
Truthfully, anyone who saw him at that moment would say Sen was incredibly fortunate to have such a handsome and graceful partner.
Accompanied by Bei, Zhan went straight to the sitting room where Mom Ella and Dad Wang were.
In the spacious and elegant sitting room, they found Mom Ella seated and engrossed in a phone call. The moment she saw them, she ended the call with a smile and extended her hand warmly. "Oh, our handsome groom is here! Zhan, you look absolutely stunning."
Zhan responded with a charming smile. "Thank you, Mom Ella. Did you arrive safely? How was the trip?"
"Safe and smooth, thank you," Mom Ella replied, her voice warm.
Turning to Bei, who had been by Dad Wang's side since their arrival, Mom Ella added, "Bei, I'm so happy for Zhan. Hope this marriage bring endless blessings."
"Amen, Mom Ella," Bei replied with a smile.
"Congratulations, Zhan," Mom Ella said with genuine affection.
"Thank you, Mom Ella," Zhan replied graciously.
Just then, Yong entered, dressed in an elegant long gown with short sleeves, her hair tied with a simple yet stylish scarf, and her expensive phone in hand. She looked up from her screen, spotted them, and approached with a bright smile. Sitting next to Bei, she greeted her warmly. "Sister-in-law Bei, welcome! I've been looking for you. Granny said you were at Zhan's place earlier."
Bei smiled back. "I came by earlier, but you were inside taking a shower. How have you been?"
"All good, Sis Bei," Yong replied cheerfully.
Yong then turned her attention to Zhan, who was scrolling through a message from Sarah about Sen dismissing her from work. She studied Zhan's striking features, his glowing skin, and delicate hands that seemed untouched by hard labor, looking pristine and polished. Yong had always admired Zhan's elegance and grace, qualities that set him apart. Smiling appreciatively, she said, "Zhan, your fiancé is incredibly lucky to have you. Congratulations again, and may you have a happy life together."
Zhan smiled at her, his voice warm as he replied, "Thank you, Yong."
They proceeded to Dad Wang's sitting room, where they found him seated and on the phone, coordinating plans for the wedding, which was set to be a grand event. When he saw them, he smiled warmly, his gaze resting on Zhan, who wore a warm smile despite the message from Sarah unsettling him. Zhan had already decided to call Sen later to ask why he had dismissed Sarah.
They all sat down, except Zhan, who knelt respectfully before Dad Wang, his face glowing with happiness. "Dad Wang, welcome. How was your trip?"
"Smooth, Zhan. How are the preparations? I hope there aren't any issues?"
"None at all," Zhan assured him.
"Good. May this marriage be blessed, and may everything proceed smoothly," Dad Wang said warmly.
"Amen," Bei replied with a smile, and they continued discussing Yibo's arrival and other wedding plans. However, midway through the conversation, Zhan excused himself. "I need to make a quick call," he said and left the room.
Zhan immediately dialed Sen's number, and the phone rang a few times before it was finally answered. "Hello," Sen's cold voice greeted.
In a calm yet firm tone, Zhan spoke, "I want to talk to you about Sarah. Can you tell me why you dismissed her?"
Sen felt a surge of irritation. He had deliberately dismissed Sarah to provoke Zhan into calling him, knowing that otherwise, Zhan wouldn't bother to contact him before the wedding. But now that Zhan had called, the fact that it wasn't even a personal greeting but about Sarah's dismissal annoyed him further. His voice clipped, he replied, "This isn't a conversation for the phone. We'll discuss it at the office."
Without waiting for a response, Sen ended the call, exhaling deeply as anger bubbled inside him. Tossing his phone aside, he grabbed his car keys and stormed out of his father's sitting room, ignoring the bustling household filled with wedding guests.
Zhan, on the other hand, felt equally frustrated. For the first time, he decided he wouldn't tolerate Sen's arrogance. Annoyed, he resolved not to call him again. Instead, he returned to his family's home, his mood slightly unsettled.
The next day, Zhan woke up feeling out of sorts. He had no idea what Sen might have told Uncle Wen, but late the previous night, Uncle Wen had called both Zhan and his mother for a humiliating scolding. Despite his mother's excitement about the wedding preparations, she had spent the night wrestling with frustration and anger.
***
The next morning, when Zhan woke up, he noticed five missed calls and a message from Dr. Kuo on his phone. The message read that he would be visiting later that day and wished him well. Zhan didn't respond, deciding to wait until Dr. Kuo arrived.
Zhan hadn't visited his family today; instead, he spent the day with Bei, who had woken up with leg pain. By evening, he finally stepped out, putting on a face mask before heading to his family's home. Once there, he freshened up, changed into a casual outfit...a brown shirt and pants...and prepared to meet Dr. Kuo. Just as he stepped out, he received a call from Sen but chose not to answer, instead switching off his phone as he walked directly into the house.
Granny was sitting in the living room, conversing with Dr. Kuo about Bei's condition. Zhan approached with a polite smile and said, "Dr. Kuo, welcome."
Dr. Kuo looked like he wanted to give him a hawk look but held back, likely because Granny was present. Instead, he replied, "Thank you, Zhan. How's everything going?"
Zhan only smiled, avoiding prolonged conversation, and headed straight to his room. As he entered, he spotted Bei on the bed, busy with his phone. Without sitting, he called out her name, trying to grab her attention.
Suddenly, Zhan stopped. The air in the room was heavy with the warm, rich scent of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. He didn't need to look up to know that Yibo was either in the room or had recently been there. The luxury of the fragrance alone left no doubt in his mind. Slowly, he turned, and for the first time that day, their eyes met unexpectedly.
Yibo was sitting casually on the sofa beside Bei. His presence seemed to radiate authority, and his composed demeanor only emphasized it. Bei, evidently delighted by Yibo's presence, seemed to have forgotten all about her earlier discomfort.
Zhan quickly broke eye contact and forced himself to smile faintly. "Welcome, Yibo," he said, his voice steady. He immediately regretted being the one to initiate the greeting. Yibo was younger than him; shouldn't it have been the other way around? But that wasn't what bothered him most. Today, Yibo exuded a sense of quiet intimidation that caught Zhan off guard. His physique, accentuated by the snug fit of his short-sleeved shirt, only added to his commanding aura.
Yibo, meanwhile, looked away indifferently and responded in his straightforward tone, "How's everything? I hope all is well."
"Hmm...," Zhan replied curtly, before turning to Bei. "I need to speak with Dr. Kuo. I'll be back soon."
Zhan left the room and found Dr. Kuo finishing his discussion with Granny in the living room. Together, they moved to the courtyard to continue their conversation for a few more minutes before heading out. As they talked, Zhan noticed Dr. Kuo's gaze shift behind him. Curious, he turned slowly.
Yibo was walking toward his wing. His skin seemed to glow under the evening light, and his strong, athletic frame moved with grace. Despite his reserved demeanor and aloofness, Yibo's presence was magnetic. Even Dr. Kuo, who was at least six years older, seemed to respect his commanding aura. It was as if Yibo carried the weight of someone far beyond his years...a mixture of mystery and self-assuredness that demanded attention wherever he went.
Zhan averted his gaze as they approached the gate and walked out together. He followed Dr. Kuo all the way to his car, thanking him as he drove away. Turning to go back inside, Zhan suddenly saw Sen's car pull up and block his path. Without giving him a second glance, Zhan moved aside and entered his family's house.
The street was busy, especially with the increased security personnel hired by Yibo. Tomorrow was the wedding, and Zhan wanted no unnecessary drama. He knew Sen could easily cause a scene and draw attention, something he was determined to avoid.
As Zhan stepped into the courtyard, Sen stormed toward him, visibly angry. Grabbing his arm forcefully, Sen hissed, "What was that doctor doing here, the night before your wedding? Is this why you've been ignoring my calls? Cutting me off? Turning off your phone? Or is there more going on that I'm unaware of? Are you still playing games with me, thinking you can get away with it? You've mastered deception, haven't you, with this facade of innocence! Don't tell me some excuse like someone was sick again-like you always do to cover your lies."
Zhan, who had been holding back his frustration for far too long, raised his voice slightly, his fiery gaze meeting Sen's. "Sen, do you even hear yourself? I've tried to overlook your ignorance, to excuse your outbursts as momentary lapses, but enough is enough. You're crossing every boundary! Leave now, or I swear, if your behavior is exposed here, even my parents-whom you so proudly flaunt as your supporters-will see you for what you truly are. Trust me, they won't be so quick to force this marriage upon me. Just leave!"
As Zhan turned to walk away, Sen grabbed him with such force that Zhan's shirt tore, exposing his fresh and smooth chest. The humiliation was immediate, and before he could react further, Zhan slapped Sen hard across the face, his eyes brimming with tears of frustration and anger.
Bei, who had arrived with Yibo moments earlier, witnessed the scene unfold. She had brought Yibo to the courtyard to meet Zhan's mother after they'd called her to come outside. Bei's eyes welled with tears of rage as she stepped forward and delivered her own slap to Sen's face.
At that moment, Zhan's mother arrived just in time to see her son's torn shirt and the confrontation. Overcome with emotion, she struck Sen across the face as well, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Yibo, standing nearby, averted his eyes out of respect, not wanting to stare at Zhan in his disheveled state. Meanwhile, his security team swiftly restrained Sen, dragging him away as he struggled and protested.
As the chaos unfolded, Uncle Wen entered the scene. His face darkened as he took in the tense atmosphere and the obvious evidence of a conflict. Although he said nothing immediately, his anger was palpable. After a moment of heavy silence, he turned to Zhan's mother, his voice low but firm, "I won't say much, but let me make this clear: if tomorrow comes and this marriage to Sen called off, I will personally find someone else to marry Zhan. Mark my words."
With that, Uncle Wen stormed off, too angry to say more, his steps heavy with frustration. Yibo quietly left as well, knowing that the situation was bound to escalate further and unwilling to add to the commotion...
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛