Zhan stood frozen, paralyzed by the weight of shame and guilt that clung to him like chains. His tears streamed down his flushed face, which was red with embarrassment. He couldn't summon the courage to lift his head and meet Granny's gaze.
Grandma rose to her feet, her expression still clouded with shock and disbelief. Unable to keep silent, she stepped closer to Zhan, glaring at him with bitter disappointment. "So, after all the tantrums and complaints about not wanting to marry your friend's younger brother, you've already settled things between yourselves? I've spent all this time trying to console you, indulging your every whim, just to ensure you'd accept the marriage. And here you are, taken us like a fools while secretly doing as you please. And now, the result of your secret deeds has shown itself, hasn't it?"
Grandma turned to Granny, her voice sharp. "Did you know about this shameless behavior? Or has he been fooling you too?"
Uncle Wen, his face flushed with fury, sat up straighter, his hands trembling slightly as he fought to contain his anger. "So this is how he repays all the efforts to reason with him and guide him? He has been mocking us all along, hasn't he? A bold-faced child with no sense of shame!"
Granny, distressed by Grandma's and Uncle Wen's harsh words, stepped in front of Zhan, shielding him from their anger. She turned to Uncle Wen, her voice calm yet firm. "Wen, enough. This is not the way to handle this matter. Let's leave it for now, so emotions can settle."
Even as Granny spoke, Zhan remained huddled, his head bowed, unable to look at anyone. His shame was a heavy weight, amplified by Grandma's loud accusations, which had drawn the attention of everyone in the household.
Aunty Lin arrived, her face puzzled as she looked at Grandma, who was still ranting about Zhan's pregnancy. Stunned, Aunty Lin exclaimed, "Zhan? Pregnant? Well, I suppose the marriage has borne fruit then, hasn't it?"
Grandma shot her a withering glare. "Get out! You never have anything useful to say."
Unbothered, Aunty Lin shrugged and left, muttering, "Well, I just hope everything goes smoothly. The baby seems recent, after all."
Granny gently took Zhan's hand and led him outside. "Good night, everyone," she said curtly as they exited.
Once outside, Granny released Zhan's hand but walked ahead, while Zhan followed slowly, his legs heavy and his heart heavier.
As they approached the gate, a car pulled up. Inside was Wang Dad and Mum Ella, her face stern as she stepped out. Granny turned to Zhan, whose head was still bowed, and said softly, "Zhan, go home first. I'm coming too."
Reluctantly, Zhan shuffled through the gates, the security guards opening them without a word. He walked through the inner courtyard, his vision blurred by the tears welling up in his eyes.
He stopped briefly to wipe his face, taking a shaky breath. Just as he was about to continue, a familiar cologne wafted through the air. His heart clenched. Turning slightly, he saw Yibo approaching, having just stepped out of his car.
Yibo's expression was composed and distant, his strides purposeful. He didn't even glance in Zhan's direction, as if he were oblivious to his presence.
Moments later, Hannah emerged from their part and hurried over to Yibo. She wore a sleek, form-fitting dress, her figure accentuated by the fabric. Her perfume filled the air as she approached him, her voice soft and overly sweet.
"I've been worried about you all day," she said, her tone dripping with concern. "I've been calling you, but you didn't pick up. I even went to the hospital to check on Bei, but you weren't there. I was so anxious. How are you?"
Yibo walked past Hannah, who trailed beside him. In a calm but firm tone, he muttered, "Hannah, I have a headache. I don't need anything that will make it worse, okay?"
Zhan, who had turned his gaze away from them, took slow steps forward, passing them without paying attention to their conversation. He headed straight for Granny's quarters and disappeared inside.
Yibo, on the other hand, made his way to his own section, leaving Hannah standing there, watching him walk away with a satisfied smile. She whispered to herself, "Whatever the case may be, you're mine. Now that everyone knows about Zhan's pregnancy, I'll wait until tomorrow to find out exactly how this happened." With that, she turned and left.
Zhan reached the sitting room but didn't stop. He went straight to his bedroom, shut the door behind him, and collapsed onto the couch. That was when the tears came again, silent and heavy, as he clutched his chest, his heart aching painfully.
He cried until he felt completely drained, wiping his tears as he slowly got up and headed to the bathroom. After undressing, he took a long shower, letting the water soothe his tense body. Feeling slightly better, he put on a thick pajama set and a warm cap before stepping out.
Fang entered shortly after, carrying a tray of food that included orange juice—Zhan's recent obsession. It was only now, with the news of his pregnancy, that the reason for his craving became clear. Fang set the tray down and greeted him before quietly leaving.
The intense hunger gnawing at Zhan's stomach forced him to eat, even though he had no real appetite. He finished the meal, drank the orange juice, and got into bed. Exhausted, he lay down, pulling the blanket over himself. Though he wanted to leave the room, he couldn't bear to face Granny yet. Closing his eyes, he tried to sleep.
A while later, Fang knocked on the door before entering to clean up the dishes and tidy the room. She switched off the lights and left quietly.
🔸🔹▪️
The next morning, Zhan woke early and sat on the edge of his bed, thinking about how to step into the sitting room and head to the kitchen for food. His stomach growled loudly, but the thought of facing Granny made his chest tighten.
Summoning some courage, he decided to stay in his room a bit longer. He grabbed a pack of shortbread biscuits from his bag and nibbled on them. Despite the small snack, sleep overtook him again, and he drifted off until hunger woke him once more—this time at nine o'clock.
Groaning, Zhan got up, brushed his teeth, and finally resolved to leave the room. He stepped into the sitting room, hoping Granny was at the hospital visiting Bei.
Making his way to the dining table, Zhan sat down and served himself some food. The house was quiet, and no one else seemed to be around, which only made him feel more uneasy. As he ate, he considered calling Bei to check on him, but shame and guilt held him back.
Suddenly, the door to Granny's room opened. Zhan's heart pounded as his body froze. Slowly, he turned his head to see Yibo emerging from the room, his sharp features illuminated by the morning light. Yibo didn't spare him a glance, walking straight toward the door. His presence left a faint trace of his cologne, which seemed to linger in the air.
Feeling overwhelmed, Zhan put down his fork and stood up. Just as he moved to leave the dining area, Granny appeared, her face calm and devoid of anger. She looked at him kindly and asked, "Zhan, have you eaten?"
Without looking up, Zhan sighed softly before speaking. "Yes," he replied.
"Good. Go to your room and rest. You're not allowed to leave for now—that's an order from your husband, and I fully support it. All you need to do is focus on resting," Granny said firmly.
Zhan said nothing in response, only nodding slightly before heading to his room. Embarrassment weighed heavily on him as he walked away, thinking about how everyone believed he had decided to terminate the pregnancy. He didn't know how to tell them that he had already changed his mind and decided to keep the baby before anything had even happened.
What Zhan truly wanted was for Yibo to understand his decision. But he doubted he could explain it to him now, especially since Yibo didn't seem interested in listening to anything he had to say.
Zhan spent the entire day in his room, unable to bring himself to step into the sitting room. Fang frequently brought him meals and fruit at Granny's request, knowing Zhan wouldn't leave the room. Granny was aware of the overwhelming shame Zhan felt, which made her wonder how he and Yibo had even reached the point of intimacy. She couldn't quite fathom how they'd ended up expecting a child, but now, they were just waiting for Zhan to come to terms with it.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Zhan and Yibo had their own understanding, their private moment that no one else saw. Even Granny had think that the pregnancy must have happened in her quarters. While she spent her nights praying for their bond to grow stronger through this marriage.
Granny decided to hold back her thoughts about the situation for now. She didn't want to overwhelm Zhan with additional stress, especially since he was carrying a child. For now, she resolved to let things unfold naturally, but she made a mental note to find out exactly when and how everything had happened.
Meanwhile, Yibo had completely retreated into himself. He was back to being the reserved, stoic Marshal he was known to be, shutting everyone out and making it clear he didn't want to hear anything about the matter.
Zhan spent the day in isolation, moving only between his bed and the bathroom. He couldn't even bring himself to call the hospital to check on Bei. His shame and guilt held him back. In the end, he called Sarah and asked her to visit the hospital on his behalf to check on Bei's condition.
At the hospital, everyone immediately recognized Sarah as someone Zhan had sent. Nobody commented on it, except for Bei, who looked at her kindly and asked, "Sarah, how is your friend doing?"
Sarah smiled, sneaking a glance at where Yibo sat. He was next to Hannah, who seemed to be trying too hard to act nonchalant, her presence obviously calculated. She had managed to convince Yibo to accompany him, claiming her car had broken down.
She glanced at the handsome face on his phone, then shifted her gaze to Hannah sitting beside him as if she were his new bride. Turning away with a pang of jealousy, she briefly glanced at Bei, who was getting up with a forced smile.
"He's at home. I assume he's fine since I haven't visited yet. Maybe I'll check on him tomorrow. I'll take my leave now. Take care and get well soon," Sarah said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
"Thank you," Dai Jie replied warmly, adding, "Send my regards to your mother."
"She'll hear them," Sarah replied, leaving without sparing another glance in Yibo's direction, though deep down, she felt Zhan's jealousy over Hannah and her closeness to his husband.
Later that evening, Bei was discharged, and they all returned home to allow her to fully recover before resuming her normal routine. Although Kai Xu was preparing for another trip, he promised to arrange for Bei to join him overseas once he returned.
Zhan heard the commotion of their arrival from his room, including his Mama, Dai Jie, Bei, and Kai Xu, who left after helping them settle in.
Bracing himself, Zhan stepped out of his room, his pale face drawing everyone's attention. Now that the news of the pregnancy had spread, all its signs were visible. Zhan's heart burned with overwhelming embarrassment, but he held his composure and walked into the sitting room. He quietly made his way to Bei's side and sat down, stealing a glance at his Mama, who rose and announced she was heading to her home.
Dai Jie turned to Zhan after their Mama left and teased, "Well, 'Father of Two,' have you finished crying your dramatic tears? Everyone's done entertaining your theatrics now that the truth is out. We know your tears and complaints don't match the situation at hand."
Bei stifled a quiet laugh and nudged Dai Jie gently. "Please, don't make him storm off to his room again. Let's keep the peace."
Turning to Zhan with a kind expression, she asked softly, "How are you feeling, Daddy-to-be? Any better?"
Zhan ignored them, steeling himself to stay seated and not retreat to his room. Granny intervened to change the subject, her tone firm but understanding.
"No one's allowed to bother him with anything he doesn't want to hear. Let him rest and deal with things in his own time."
Zhan remained silent, avoiding eye contact, and instead turned to Bei, asking softly, "How are you feeling?"
They spent the rest of the day chattring among themselves, listening quietly as the others chatted. Zhan kept to himself, his usual lively spirit subdued. When Grandma arrived, Zhan discreetly slipped away to his room, knowing full well that Grandma wouldn't hesitate to expose more of his secrets if given the chance.
Later that evening, Zhan ate dinner alone with Bei, as Yibo didn't join them. Despite the pain of her own loss, Bei ensured that everything Zhan liked was brought to the table. She took comfort in her friend's presence, even if her heart ached for what she had lost.
The next day passed similarly, with Zhan trying to shake off the weight of his guilt and embarrassment. Granny had made it clear that the topic of his earlier plans was off-limits, forbidding anyone from bringing it up again. Despite her leniency, Zhan still felt hesitant about visiting Wang Dad. Eventually, he worked up the courage and went to pay his respects, doing so with a heavy heart.
As Zhan left Wang Dad's sitting room, he bumped into Hannah, who had just come from Yibo's wing with him. Yibo's appearance was striking—his face looked refreshed, his skin glowing from the rest he'd been taking over the past two days. He wore crisp white clothing, paired with Chanel slippers, his relaxed demeanor making him look even more attractive.
Upon seeing Zhan, Hannah moved closer to Yibo, her tone soft and sweet as she said, "Marshal, please, let me come with you. I have a program to attend in the same city. You'll only be gone for two or three weeks, and I really want to go with you."
Zhan briefly glanced at Yibo's face, holding his gaze for only a few seconds before looking away and walking past them. Without another word, he headed into Granny's sitting room. Once inside, he walked straight to his room, ignoring Bei, who was sitting nearby.
As Zhan entered his room, he felt his breath tighten. He hurried to the windows that had never been opened, pulling back the curtains and unlocking them. He took deep gulps of the fresh air, trying to calm himself, though it felt as if he might collapse at any moment.
The cool breeze filled the room, carrying a chill that made him shiver slightly. For a moment, he stood still, lost in deep thought about how much his life had changed, leaving him in this current state. Slowly, his hand moved to his stomach, his heartbeat quickening with an overwhelming sense of love and attachment to the child growing inside him.
He closed his eyes, tears welling up as he allowed himself to feel the bond forming between him and his baby. The faint scent of Yibo's cologne lingered in the air, pulling him out of his thoughts. Opening his eyes, Zhan saw Yibo walking past the wide windows of his room, his handsome face captivating as always. Yibo looked effortlessly fresh and well-rested, with Hannah still by his side.
Zhan quickly averted his gaze, closing the windows and heading toward the sofa. However, he stopped short of sitting down and instead went to the bathroom to wash his face, trying to soothe his burning eyes.
That evening, despite a fever that had crept up on him, Zhan forced himself to join the others for dinner. His resolve was fueled by the fact that the dish prepared was one he had specifically requested.
Granny noticed his pale face and asked with concern, "Zhan, are you feeling alright? I don't like seeing you like this. Is something wrong?"
Zhan managed a faint smile, deliberately avoiding looking at Yibo, who sat across the table, seemingly uninterested in the conversation. With a small shake of his head, he replied softly, "I'm fine, Granny."
Bei served him a plate of food and asked gently, "Orange juice or tea?"
"Just cold water, thank you," Zhan said, his voice barely audible as he battled the emotions weighing on him.
Bei reached for the cold water to pour, but Yibo's sharp voice interrupted her. "No more cold drinks for him, even when I'm not here. Understood?"
Granny didn't comment, as she knew Yibo was right. As the father of the child Zhan was carrying, it was his responsibility to ensure their well-being.
Zhan froze, his hand hesitating as he reached for the cup. A heavy feeling settled in his chest—everything was changing, and he felt powerless to stop it. Slowly, he withdrew his hand and continued picking at his food, his heart racing as he sensed Yibo's gaze on him.
Eventually, Zhan placed his spoon down, grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth, and stood up. Bei glanced at him, about to ask if something was wrong, but Granny spoke first. "Zhan, are you alright? Are you full? Should I have Fang prepare something else if you didn't like this?"
"I'm full. I'll have some tea later before bed so I don't overfill my stomach," Zhan replied softly.
"I'll make the tea myself," Bei said, her tone warm. "A special blend just for you." She looked at Zhan with concern, noting his unease, which had grown since Yibo returned to dining with them after two days of absence.
Back in his room, Zhan considered taking a bath but decided against it as the chill in the air was too much. Instead, he changed into fresh clothes and sat on his bed. Reaching for his phone, he attempted to distract himself, but frustration overcame him. With a sigh, he tossed the phone aside and closed his eyes, trying to calm his restless mind.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛