Furiously, Zhan turned around, noticing Yibo following him. He snapped, "Why are you following me?"
Wide-eyed, Yibo responded, "I'm just going to my part, Gege. Isn't that allowed?"
Zhan scoffed, rolling his eyes as he continued on his way. When Yibo reached their section of the house, he entered, laughing softly under his breath.
Around 5 PM, Li Na emerged from Nainai's section, carrying a bag filled with gifts—soaps, detergent, a bottle of milk, and bottled water, all generously packed by Nainai. Nainai walked her to the door, saying, "Make sure you greet your parents for me, okay? May blessings follow you. Thank you for the perfume, even though it's not expensive. And may we live to see the day you marry Zhan."
Li Na smiled but said nothing. She and Meiling, who was carrying the bag, walked to Yuting section.
"Let me check on Yibo before I leave," Li Na said.
They entered the sitting room where Yibo, sprawled on the couch watching TV, he sat up with a grin. "You're leaving already, Li Na Jie?"
"Yes," she replied. "But how are you feeling now?"
"I'm much better," Yibo said, smiling.
"Good. Just make sure to always carry your inhaler," Li Na reminded.
"Thank you," Yibo said.
At that moment, Yuting came out of her room and greeted Li Na warmly. "You're heading out already, Li Na?"
"Yes, Aunty. It's getting late," Li Na replied.
"Well, thank you for stopping by. Please give my regards to your mother and everyone at home," Yuting said kindly.
"They'll hear from me," Li Na replied with a smile.
Before she left, Yuting handed her three body sprays as a token of appreciation. Li Na thanked her profusely. Yibo decided to walk her out.
As they approached the parking space, they found Zhan seated on a white chair, engrossed in his phone. When he noticed them, he stood up and frowned slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Zhan asked Li Na, his tone low.
She raised her brows slightly and replied, "Because I know you don't want Nainai telling me any stories about you. But guess what? I heard everything today."
Meiling and Yibo burst into laughter, but Zhan shot them both a sharp glare. Li Na simply smiled and said, "I just happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to stop by to greet Nainai."
"But we spoke earlier today, and you didn't mention that you were in the area," Zhan said.
"I wasn't," Li Na explained. "I didn't even know I'd end up coming here."
Zhan glanced up and noticed his mother standing on the balcony above, watching them keenly. Li Na followed his gaze, caught sight of Yichen, and quickly lowered her head.
Zhan spoke quietly, "You should go greet her since she's already seen you."
Li Na hesitated but eventually nodded. "Okay."
As she walked away, Yibo called out, "Li Na Jie, next time I'll get your number from Gege, okay?"
Zhan cast Yibo a side-eye glare, while Li Na smiled and replied, "Alright. Take care, Yibo."
Li Na and Meiling made their way to Yichen's sitting room. Yichen sat with her phone in hand when they entered. Li Na bow slightly and greeted her. "Good evening, Aunty."
Yichen responded curtly, "Good evening."
Li Na added, "How's work going, Aunty?"
"Fine," Yichen replied, her tone clipped.
After a moment of awkward silence, Yichen asked, "How's your family?"
"They're all doing well," Li Na replied softly.
"Good," Yichen said, returning her focus to her phone.
After a brief pause, Li Na stood and said, "I'll be leaving now, Aunty. Thank you."
"Send my regards to your family," Yichen replied without looking up.
Li Na left, and Meiling followed. They then stopped by Zihan's room, where Zihan warmly welcomed Li Na and engaged her in cheerful conversation. Before Li Na left, Zihan gave her ¥1,000 for transport, which Meiling accepted on her behalf since Li Na hesitated.
When they reached the parking space again, Zhan was still there. He asked, "You're heading home now?"
"Yes, I am," Li Na replied.
"Alright, I'll drop you off," Zhan said, opening his car door. But just as he was about to start the car, his phone rang. It was his mother.
"I need you in the sitting room now," Yichen's voice commanded on the other end.
"Okay," Zhan replied, ending the call. He looked at Li Na apologetically and said, "I'll just give you some money for transport. I have something to take care of."
He handed her ¥5,000, but she shook her head. "It's alright, I have transport fare. Thank you."
Zhan handed the money to Meiling instead. "Please make sure she takes this," he said firmly.
Meiling accepted it with a nod. "Let's go, Li Na Jie," she said.
Zhan gave Li Na a small smile. "We'll talk later, alright?"
Li Na nodded as Zhan walked back inside, leaving them to head out.
Meiling make a face and said "Let's go Li Na Jie."
Zhan slowly opened his mother Yuting's sitting room door and walked in quietly. She stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, pacing slightly. Seeing her stern demeanor, he lowered himself to the floor and bowed his head.
"Zhan," she began, her voice cold, "did I not warn you to stay away from that girl?"
He glanced up at her hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mom, I didn't even know she was coming here today, and besides..." He trailed off, unsure how to continue.
"Besides what?" Yuting demanded, her expression sharp.
"Mom," he said cautiously, "why don't you like Li Na? What's so wrong with her?"
"My Choice," Yuting snapped. "Even after all the warnings I gave you, you're still seeing her? Let me tell you this, Zhan: I won't tolerate this nonsense. Do you hear me? Why would you bring the daughter of some low-class family into our lives? Do you want to ruin my reputation among my friends? Out of all the women in Beijing, you chose her? A girl whose family lives in the ghetto? Are you even thinking straight?"
"But Mom, I don't see anything wrong with that. Wealth comes from heavens and hard work, and besides, her family is doing just fine..."
She cut him off sharply. "Are you giving me a lecture about wealth now? Do you think her family's wealth is comparable to what your hard work has built? Let me tell you something, Zhan. If you want peace in your life, stay away from that girl. Whatever good deeds you've done for her and her family, I hope you be rewarded for them, but that's where it ends.
"I'll find you a girl who's in your league since it's clear you can't choose for yourself. What's next, Zhan? Are you going to bring someone to me from the streets and tell me you're in love? Look at Seth—his choice of women makes me proud. Wealthy, classy, and suitable. But you? You're stuck on some girl from a rundown neighborhood.
"And let's not forget her audacity to come into this house, sneaking past me to meet your grandmother and Yuting, completely bypassing me. She didn't even plan to greet me until I saw her from the balcony! God knows what kind of nonsense your grandmother is filling her head with.
"Zhan, this relationship is over. From this moment on, you are done with Li Na. Permanently. Now get out of my sight, you fool!"
Zhan stood up without a word, his face blank, and left the room. Yuting's glare followed him until he closed the door behind him.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
Sitting in his sleek car parked down the street, Sen Wen leaned back, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. His friend in the passenger seat sighed loudly. "Look, I'm tired of sitting here for so long, Sen. What are we even waiting for?"
Sen ran a hand through his neatly trimmed beard and replied casually, "Relax. My gut tells me he'll come out soon."
The friend rolled his eyes. "I thought you were all about dating and loving foreigners? What's changed?"
Sen smirked and raised an eyebrow. "That hasn't changed. But this one? He's different. That boy can't be more than nineteen."
The friend gawked at him. "Sweet nineteen, huh?"
With a soft chuckle, Sen muttered under his breath, "He's beautiful. Cute and Handsome."
The friend raised an eyebrow. "And why didn't you get his number when you had the chance?"
Sen shot him a sideways glance. "Do I look like you? How on earth would I ask for his number without him asking mine?"
The sound of the gate opening drew their attention. Both men straightened up as Zhan stepped out, walking majestically toward his car parked nearby.
:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*
Yibo sat by the kitchen island, chatting away with his mother, Yuting, who was busy preparing dinner.
"Earlier, Nainai came over," Yuting said. "She said she's been looking for you since you got back from school."
Yibo widened his eyes. "Me? No way! I'm not going. She tells Fu Qin to told me not to visit her again because I supposedly spread her stories around the house. She might as well leave if I go there."
Yuting chuckled softly. "Well, she said she hasn't seen you in days and was worried. Maybe it's because of your health?"
Yibo laughed. "She can say whatever she wants. I'm not going. She'll just accuse me of something again. Let Meiling keep bringing her food instead."
"Well, today you'll take it to her," Yuting said firmly. "Drop it off, greet her, and leave. That's all."
Yibo scrunched his face like a child about to cry. "Mu Qin, I made a vow never to step into her part of the house again!"
Yuting didn't reply, but her look said she wasn't changing her mind either.
Later that evening, Yuting insisted Yibo take food to Nainai. With a sour expression and an exaggerated sigh, he carried the food and headed to her section of the house. Pushing the door open, he found Seth in the sitting room, chatting with Nainai.
Nainai's face lit up when she saw him. "Ah, Yibo! It's you!"
Yibo placed the food on the table without looking at her. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, but I haven't seen you in days!" Nainai said, sounding concerned. "I even stopped by your mother's place earlier, but Yuting said you were at school."
"I'm perfectly fine," Yibo replied. "I'm just following Fu Qin's orders."
"Orders?" Nainai asked, puzzled. "What kind of orders?"
Yibo widened his eyes dramatically. "Didn't you tell him not to let me visit you anymore? That you don't want to see me?"
Nainai looked at Seth in disbelief. "Oh, heavens, Seth, did you hear that? Since when did I tell Quentin such a thing? Just because I told him off once, now I've supposedly banned Yibo from visiting me? What nonsense! If Yibo doesn't visit, who else will? Certainly not Quentin. He barely comes to see me."
Seth smiled. "Well, at least Yibo's here now."
Nainai turned to Yibo. "I never said such a thing to Quentin. Oh, by the way, there's some fried beef in the back I saved for you. It's yours and Zhan's. I haven't seen him in a while either. Take your share and leave the rest for him."
Yibo pouted but went into the room to get the beef. Opening the bowl, he saw perfectly fried pieces of beef emitting an irresistible aroma. He sat down, counted 18 pieces, and smiled mischievously.
Heading back to the kitchen, he grabbed two plastic bags, hid one in his pocket, and returned to the room. He divided the meat equally into two piles but sneakily took four pieces from Zhan's share and threw them out the window. Carrying his bagged portion, he walked back to Nainai.
"Did you take your share?" Nainai asked suspiciously.
"Look for yourself," Yibo replied, showing her the bag. "There were 18 pieces. I took nine and left nine for Zhan."
"Good. At least you've done something right today," Nainai said.
Seth, observing Yibo, smiled. "Are you sure that's all you took, Yibo?"
Yibo looked offended. "What? I don't even like eating meat!"
Seth chuckled knowingly, while Nainai tsked in annoyance.
Moments later, Xinyi walked into the sitting room, carrying food for Nainai. She opened the container, looked at it, and shook her head. "Take it back," Nainai said. "Tell them I'm not eating rice anymore. Two days in a row, rice! Yesterday, the same thing, and today, green rice? No, thank you!"
"But this is fried rice," Seth said, trying to reason with her.
"I don't care," Nainai snapped. "Do they think rice is all I'll eat until the end of my days? Where's Zong? Doesn't he leave any other food in his house?"
She pulled the warmer Yibo had brought closer, opened it, and muttered, "More rice. I knew it."
Both Yibo and Seth burst out laughing, but Nainai wasn't amused. "I hope heaven saves us," she said dramatically.
Turning to Xinyi, she asked, "By the way, has Zhan returned yet, or is he still out selling nonsense on the streets?"
Xinyi said, "He's back. We came together, but he stopped outside to take a call."
Before she could finish, Zhan walked in, greeting everyone. He wore a white three-quarter pant and a black shirt.
Nainai pushed a bowl toward him. "Zhan, please buy me the type of tofu you got for me last time."
He stepped into the sitting room, setting down a bag of fruits. "They've stopped selling it."
"Stopped? How can that be?" Nainai asked, exasperated. "Men have to go out to eat because their wives can't cook, and now the tofu sellers are disappearing too!"
He smiled. "Ask Seth. They leave at six."
He opened the warmer of food placed near her. "What about this?"
Nainai frowned. "Rice again? Rice yesterday, rice today. Do you want me to get sick? And who will take care of me if I do? I'm not eating this again."
Zhan shrugged. "Then just drink tea and rest."
She glared at him. "You're telling me what to do now?"
Seth stood up. "Let me find the tofu for you if they're still selling it."
Nainai's face softened immediately. "Oh, Seth, may blessings follow you everywhere. You're truly a good boy!"
Zhan watched her out of the corner of his eye as he moved toward the door. "Your beef is in the room," she called after him. "I'm not giving up on you."
He turned back. "What beef?"
Yibo quickly slipped out of the sitting room without saying a word. Nainai watched him leave, her mouth slightly open. "If not for divine intervention, he must've stolen your share," she murmured. "Xinyi, go to the room and fetch the beef for me."
Xinyi retrieved the bowl and handed it to Nainai. She opened it, gasped, and set it down while holding her cheek.
Zhan took the bowl and examined it. Only a few pieces of meat remained.
"I knew it," Nainai said with a sigh. "Yibo took it. Quentin's child has no manners! He's completely selfish. Zhan, you should follow him to his mother and get back my beef. I'm not letting this go."
Zhan set the bowl back on the table without a word.
"If you won't, I'll go myself!" Nainai declared. "How can Yibo take all the meat after I specifically explained the portions? It's not like we're drowning in food here. I only saved it because I thought it was meant for sharing, and now it's all gone!"
Zhan said, "Goodnight," and walked out of the sitting room.
As he passed Yuting's section of the house, he heard a noise and stopped. He spotted Yibo crouched on the balcony, gathering shoes. Stepping closer, Zhan watched silently as Yibo stood and went to the backyard, he began picking up hung socks.
Just as Yibo turned to head inside, Zhan approached quickly. Startled, Yibo dropped the shoes and socks and tried to run back inside, but Zhan caught him.
Eyes wide, Yibo stammered, "Gege, what did I do?"
Zhan frowned. "Where's the beef you took?"
"What beef? I only took nine pieces!" Yibo protested.
"Go get them."
"But that's my share!"
Zhan's glare made Yibo falter.
"I wasn't joking about this," Zhan said, his voice cold.
Looking like he might cry, Yibo mumbled, "Why does she even care? She knows I wouldn't give it back. And I'm not going back to her sitting room anymore!"
"Bring the beef," Zhan ordered firmly.
Yibo bent down to pick up the shoes and socks he had dropped. "Fine, come inside, and I'll give it to you."
"I'm not coming in. Bring it here."
"Then I won't give it to you!" Yibo shot back defiantly.
Zhan narrowed his eyes. "When did you start thinking you're my equal in this house?"
"Say please, Gege," Yibo teased with a small grin.
With a sharp tug, Zhan pulled him closer, glaring intensely. "Go get it."
"Fine," Yibo muttered, walking toward the balcony.
Zhan followed, watching as Yibo entered their sitting room. Turning back at the doorway, Yibo gave him a mischievous smile. "Goodnight, Gege!"
Then he slammed the door shut and locked it.
Zhan stood there for a moment, scratching his head before walking away with a small smile.
***
Later, Yibo emerged from his room, hearing Yuting calling for him.
"Mu Qin, where are you going now?" he asked.
Holding her flat shoes, Yuting replied, "Have you forgotten? Today, someone's coming to propose to Siya."
"Oh, I forgot," Yibo admitted. "But aren't I not going to see them."
"What about the food I left cooking?" she asked.
Yibo hesitated, then sighed.
"Well, when the rice is done, you can come over," Yuting instructed.
"Okay!" Yibo said with a grin before heading to the kitchen to watch over the rice.
When it was almost done, he turn off the stove and rushed to Meiling's section of the house.
Yichen's sister, Ming, commented with a teasing smile, "Yibo has grown up to become a handsome man."
Yibo chuckled softly and bowed his head. "How are you, Aunty?"
Yichen glanced at her sister with a slightly disapproving expression. Ming, unfazed, continued, "I'm fine, Yibo. How's school? Have you finished high school yet?"
Yibo shook his head. "No, Aunty. We're in our final year."
"That's wonderful. May you all succeed," Ming said kindly.
Yichen, still wearing her stern expression, turned to Ming. "I don't see why you're still sitting here. You might as well leave."
Ming only smiled and stood, not bothering to argue.
Yuting, who had been silent, looked at Zihan. "Zihan, let me go back to the kitchen. I have to finish cooking."
Zihan nodded. "Alright, Yuting. I'll check in with you later."
Yibo stood as well, ready to follow Yuting, when Zihan teased, "Oh, you're running off already? All for gossip, huh?"
Yibo just smiled and quietly left. Both Yichen and her friends watched them leave, shaking their heads with disapproval.
Walking, as they neared their section of the house, Yibo asked, "Mu Qin, when's the wedding?"
"Why didn't you ask them back there?" Yuting replied, giving him a curious look.
Yibo didn't respond and followed her inside without another word.
That evening, Yibo went to deliver food to Nainai and noticed several packages arranged in her sitting room.
Nainai, noticing his curious look, said, "These are the wedding gifts for your cousin, you know?"
Yibo shook his head. "I haven't seen what's inside."
Nainai got up and began arranging the items. "Come here and take a look. I can't help but feel that this is just a marriage of convenience," she muttered under her breath.
Yibo tried to stifle a laugh, but Nainai caught him and sighed dramatically, sitting back down. "I mean, look at this. The young man pulls up here every time with some oversized car, parking it right at our gate like he owns the place. And now, all this? Gifts that seem like they were borrowed from relatives. It's embarrassing. I even saw an old bottle of oil that must've been made when Zhan was born."
At this, Yibo couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter. Nainai glared at him, though her expression softened slightly.
"From the moment I saw those earrings that look like something meant for villages, I had my doubts," Nainai added, rummaging through the items.
At that moment, Seth entered the sitting room with Zhan in tow. Nainai turned to them. "Have you seen your cousin's wedding gifts yet?"
Seth nodded. "I've seen them, though I'm not sure about Zhan."
Nainai stood up, looking at Seth. "Well, I hope you noticed how over-the-top they are. That car he keeps bringing around? It's all for show."
Seth stared at Nainai in disbelief, his mouth slightly open. She clicked her tongue, crossed her arms, and sat down. "Well, I don't care. You'd think they were marrying a divorcee with these kinds of gifts."
Seth shook his head. "Oh, come on, Nainai. What's wrong with them? Everything here is expensive."
Nainai, visibly frustrated, shot back, "You're just as foolish as that boy, Seth. Do you honestly believe your in-laws will accept these? These people are drowning in wealth—cars, mansions, everything you can think of. If we take this nonsense to them, don't be surprised if they throw it back in our faces. Mark my words!"
Yibo burst into uncontrollable laughter, even leaning back as if to steady himself. Nainai, now exasperated, pulled out a long dress from the pile and flung it in their direction. "Look at this! Doesn't it remind you of the ones I used to sew back when I carried your father on my back in the village?"
Yibo couldn't stop laughing, and Zhan turned to him with a frown. "Why laughing here, huh? What's so funny?"
Nainai, still pacing and clearly annoyed, interjected, "Let him laugh! This is indeed a joke! They even included an ancient bottle of lotion, the kind you'd find at a roadside stall, along with some petroleum jelly. Go on, let him laugh it all out!"
Zhan rolled his eyes and muttered, "Well, let's just hope he manages to get something like this to his future wife."
Nainai gasped and stood abruptly. "Heaven forbid! Zhan, don't curse him like that! It's the other way around...If Yibo find someone who dares to deliver these scraps, I'd have no choice but to disown him. Mark my words—whoever marries Yibo must be ready with luxury and nothing less."
Zhan, smirking slightly, replied, "Then you can babysit him forever, Nainai. You can make kimchi out of him and enjoy it yourself." With that, he turned and walked out of the sitting room.
Seth shook his head and followed him.
Nainai, still fuming, waved them off and grumbled, "Lazy boys. Jealous troublemakers who don't want to see me happy. You'll keep wasting your time while I move forward. Gossipers without ambition!"
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛