Bei entered the room, carrying a tray with steaming tea in a cup alongside a plate of three donuts and three slices of cake. She approached Zhan and set the tray on the table, pulling it closer to him as she sat down. "Hey, sweetie, here's your tea, and I brought some donuts too," she said warmly.
Zhan glanced at Bei, letting out a deep breath. Slowly, he placed a hand on hers, his voice soft. "Bei, I'm not feeling good… my heart feels heavy."
Bei looked at him with concern, picking up the tea and handing it to him. "Everything will be okay. You need to let go of all the worry and accept this life as it is. It's the path that's been set for you. Yibo is the best choice for you, and no matter how things started, nothing will change that."
She paused, her voice taking on a gentle firmness. "I know you made a mistake—thinking about hiding your pregnancy and even considering… other options. But Zhan, why couldn't you tell me? How did we get so far apart that you kept such a secret from me?"
She shook her head slightly, her tone turning softer. "I understand why it was hard for you. It shocked all of us. No one expected that you and Yibo had that kind of relationship. Even when I noticed the time you spent alone together, I didn't think it had gone that far.
"But despite how it began, we're all happy about this baby. And you should know how much Yibo already loves it. He's always wanted children, even though he hides his feelings behind his reserved nature. I can see how deeply he cares for this child, even if he doesn't show it. You, on the other hand…" She paused, giving Zhan a pointed look. "You tried to push him away and nearly made a decision that would have hurt all of us, especially him."
Zhan closed his eyes as Bei's words sank in, bringing a small sense of relief. Talking to her eased some of the burden weighing on his heart. Slowly, he sipped the tea, glancing at her. "Thank you," he murmured.
Bei smiled warmly. "Anytime, my baby daddy."
Bei stayed in Zhan's room until late, keeping him company with light conversation and making sure he took the medication prescribed by Dr. Kuo. She didn't leave until Zhan finally fell asleep.
When she stepped into the sitting room, Yibo was still there, scrolling through his phone. As she approached, he looked up, his piercing gaze meeting hers. Bei sighed softly, sitting down beside him. "Just like you said, he had a fever earlier, but it's gone down now. He's asleep."
Yibo nodded, standing up and heading for the door. "Goodnight," he said quietly as he left.
Bei let out a deep breath after he was gone. Even without words, she could sense the strong love Yibo held for Zhan. It was frustrating to see Zhan struggle so much, burdening himself with unnecessary pride and doubts.
Shaking her head, she retired to her room, closing the door behind her.
🔸🔹▪️
The next morning, Hannah prepared breakfast for Yibo. By 9:30, she had finished everything and returned to her room to shower and get dressed. She chose a fitted blouse and skirt that accentuated her figure, sprayed some perfume, and headed straight to Yibo's quarters. When she arrived, she didn't bother knocking. Instead, one of his staff, who was coming out with laundry, informed her that Yibo wasn't there and had gone to Granny's sitting room.
Ignoring the staff, Hannah turned and made her way to Granny's quarters, annoyed that Yibo had been there this early morning.
Without knocking, she opened the door and entered. Her eyes immediately fell on Dr. Kuo, who was sitting with Yibo, deep in conversation. Yibo had called the doctor earlier to check on Zhan, who had developed a fever the previous night.
Hannah moved to the dining table, placing the basket she had brought before returning to the sitting area. "Good morning, Yibo," she said with a warm smile.
Without looking up, Yibo replied, "Can't you see I have a guest?"
Hannah turned her attention to Dr. Kuo, faking concern. "Good morning, Doctor. Is someone unwell? I noticed you've been here since early morning."
Just then, Bei arrived, her voice cutting through the tension. "It's his child's father who isn't well."
Bei's comment made Hannah freeze, her expression shifting to confusion and disbelief. "His child's father? He has a child? How come no one told me about this?"
Bei smirked knowingly. "Seriously, Hannah? You're saying you didn't know Yibo's partner is pregnant? You were the first to tell him about it, If I remember correct with the conversation I had with my brother," She tilted her head mockingly. "Congratulations, Hannah. You're going to be an aunt."
Hannah let out an unintentional curse under her breath, earning a sharp look from Bei, who said sarcastically, "You're welcome."
Meanwhile, Yibo, still speaking with Dr. Kuo, was unaware of the tense exchange between Bei and Hannah. But the sudden sound of Hannah collapsing caught his attention. He turned to see her fainting, falling directly into his arms.
Alarmed, Yibo steadied her and turned to Bei. "What's wrong with her?"
Before Bei could answer, Zhan emerged from his room, stopping abruptly at the scene before him. His gaze lingered on Hannah, unconscious in Yibo's arms, as Yibo called her name in concern.
Bei went to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of cold water, and splashed it on Hannah's face. She gasped, slowly opening her eyes, and immediately started crying when she realized Yibo was holding her. She clung tightly to his arm, sobbing uncontrollably.
At that moment, Mom Ella arrived, having been informed by Fang who Bei send. She hurried in, her face filled with worry. "What's going on? What happened to my baby? Is she okay? Someone, please tell me what's wrong!"
Yibo gently passed Hannah over to Mom Ella, who hugged her as she continued crying hysterically. Yibo watched in silence, confused by Hannah's extreme reaction.
Then his gaze shifted to Zhan, who had been standing quietly in the corner, his eyes shadowed with an emotion Yibo couldn't quite place. Zhan turned abruptly, retreating to his room without a word. Once inside, he shut the door and headed straight to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to calm the burning anger and hurt spreading through his chest.
Zhan stepped out of his room and adjusted the AC to its maximum setting. Feeling hot, he removed some of his clothing to cool down and lay back, letting the cool air envelop him.
Meanwhile, Hannah returned to her quarters with great difficulty. By then, Mom Ella was deeply worried due to Hannah's continuous sobbing, which had turned from mild distress to something far more serious. Unable to calm her niece down, she went straight to Wang Dad. Bursting into tears, she explained the situation: Hannah was devastated over Yibo, especially since he was initially supposed to marry her but was now with Zhan. She pleaded with Wang Dad to take action, suggesting they set an engagement date for Hannah and Yibo, especially since Yibo had mentioned his intention to sign the divorce papers with Zhan. Everyone knew Zhan had never wanted the marriage in the first place.
Wang Dad, calm and composed, replied, "Try to console her. Help her understand that there was no solid promise of marriage. But he'll speak with Yibo and get his perspective. If he agrees, we'll arrange the marriage. If not, then Hannah should move on, and we'll consider the suitors already showing interest in her."
Mom Ella left the conversation feeling more upset. She relayed Wang Dad's response to Hannah, who was consumed by even greater bitterness. The thought of Zhan giving birth to Yibo's child enraged her, and she vowed, "If Yibo doesn't choose to marry me, I won't let Zhan have this baby. I'll make sure it's gone, and I'll hope Zhan meet the same fate with his baby."
🔸🔹🔹▪️
Both Hannah and Mom Ella were filled with anxiety over what might happen next. However, Wang Dad remained silent for weeks, deliberately avoiding the topic to prevent upsetting Zhan, who was still pregnant. He knew the stress could harm both Zhan and the baby. At the same time, Mom Ella constantly complained about Hannah's so-called illness, trying to pressure Wang Dad into action.
Yibo, aware of Hannah's obsessive affection, remained polite toward her, occasionally checking on her health out of courtesy. He didn't want to mistreat someone who professed love for him, even if he didn't reciprocate. However, Zhan was deeply affected. The situation left him restless and miserable, unable to find peace. To make things worse, his mother refused to answer his calls, still upset with him.
Wang Dad, while aware of all this, chose to delay discussing Yibo and Hannah's marriage until after Zhan had delivered his baby.
That evening, they were seated at the dining table. Zhan barely touched his food, as his appetite had completely vanished. Granny glanced over at Yibo, who was quietly sipping his ginger tea, and calmly said, "Yibo, earlier today, your father mentioned the possibility of your marriage to Hannah. What do you think...."
Before she could finish, Zhan suddenly began coughing violently. His body shook as he struggled to breathe, and everyone froze in alarm.
Granny quickly said, "Bei, give him some water! Zhan, are you okay? Was the food too spicy for you?"
Bei hurriedly handed Zhan a glass of water. Zhan sipped a little before pushing the glass away. His eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving with pain. He briefly glanced toward Yibo, who still sat calmly, sipping his tea as though nothing had happened.
Zhan stood abruptly and left the dining room, barely seeing where he was going as the burning in his chest grew more intense. He entered his room and went straight to the bathroom, stepping into the shower and letting cold water pour over him. Tears filled his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
Back at the table, Yibo placed his cup down and stood without addressing Granny's question. His mind raced as he thought about Zhan's reaction. Did this mean Zhan still resented him and the situation they were in? Did he still reject the idea of building a life with him, even with the baby on the way?
Granny, observing both Zhan's and Yibo's exits, simply shook her head and resumed her meal. She had deliberately brought up the topic to gauge their reactions, but now she was more convinced than ever that the tension between the two needed to be resolved.
After Yibo left, Bei couldn't calm herself, deeply concerned about Zhan's state. Still, she refrained from saying anything, understanding Granny's reasons for her actions. Living in this household, Bei knew well how Mom Ella's influence over Wang Dad could potentially lead to Yibo and Hannah's marriage being arranged. Although she and Granny didn't hate the idea outright, they both hoped to keep Yibo and Zhan together. Neither wanted Yibo to leave Zhan, not for Hannah or anyone else.
Once Bei finished her meal, she stood to leave. Granny, who had risen earlier, said with concern, "Go check on Zhan for us. Is he doing okay?"
Bei headed to Zhan's room, opened the door, and stepped inside, closing it behind her. Scanning the room, she noticed he wasn't there but heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Realizing he was in the shower, she approached the bed, intending to sit down. However, she stopped herself, recalling the day Zhan had forbidden her from sitting on the bed.
Taking a step back, her mind replayed the events of that day—the day Fang had revealed the truth. Could it be? Was that the night Yibo had stayed in Zhan's room? Could it really have happened here?
Shaking her head, Bei dismissed the thought, refusing to dwell on it. Instead, she returned to the sofa, sitting down with a faint, hidden smile. The thought of Zhan being pregnant had shocked everyone, including herself. It was something no one had ever imagined would happen. She remembered the day Yibo had taken Zhan from the office—an incident she had thought was just a punishment for something Zhan had done wrong. Never had she guessed it would lead to this.
The prolonged silence pulled Bei from her thoughts. Turning toward the bathroom door with concern, she stood up and approached it. "Zhan, you've been in there too long," she called out. "You know the cold isn't good for you, especially with the baby. If you get sick, it could harm the baby. Please, stop and come out, or I'll come in and turn off the water myself."
When there was no response, Bei grew more worried. She opened the door just as Zhan finished tying his bathrobe, his hands trembling from the chill of the cold water he had let pour over himself.
Bei stared at him in shock, noticing water dripping from his soaked hair and the shivers racking his entire body. Grabbing a towel, she quickly placed it over his head, treating him like a child as she guided him out of the bathroom. His shivering had worsened, and she sat him down on the edge of the bed. Gently drying his hair, she spoke with a mix of concern and scolding.
"Zhan, what were you thinking, doing this to yourself? You know it could make you sick. Please, think of the baby before doing something like this. Look at you—you're freezing! I need to call Yibo to contact Dr. Kuo. You're clearly not well."
Bei set down the towel in her hand and hurried out to fetch her phone, alarmed by Zhan's violent shivering. He couldn't even speak; his eyes, brimming with tears, only added to her distress.
Rushing to her room, she grabbed her phone and quickly returned to the sitting room, where Granny was heading toward her own room. Bei dialed Yibo's number, though she wasn't sure he'd pick up—he hadn't been speaking to anyone lately, preoccupied with his own thoughts and the situation at hand.
To her surprise, Yibo answered, though he said nothing. Without waiting for pleasantries, Bei, deeply worried, blurted out, "Zhan is shaking uncontrollably, almost as if the cold has already overtaken him. He poured cold water over himself and stayed in it too long. I don't even know how to explain it. Could you call Dr. Kuo to—"
Bei abruptly ended the call, her words trailing off as Yibo entered the sitting room. He carried himself with composed authority, wearing an ash-gray shirt, white three-quarter pants, and Channel slippers. His calm expression belied any concern, though his eyes were sharp and focused.
"Where is he?" he asked directly, ignoring Bei's worried gaze.
She pointed toward Zhan's room. "He's in his room."
Before she could say anything further, Yibo turned and walked toward the room, brushing past Granny, who had been waiting for Bei to finish the call. Granny, now seeing Yibo take charge, turned back toward her own room.
"Bei, ask Fang to prepare some hot tea for Zhan and bring it to him. He doesn't need a doctor—warm tea will do," Granny said before retreating into her room.
Once inside, Granny sighed, feeling the weight of everything that had transpired since Zhan's pregnancy became known. She still struggled to accept that all of this was unfolding under her roof. It was better for her to distance herself from the situation than to witness things beyond her endurance, especially since Yibo remained unbothered, acting as though everything was normal.
Zhan, on the other hand, bore the brunt of the shame and discomfort, while Yibo seemed more focused on asserting his authority as the father of the unborn child. Granny decided it was best to let them handle things on their own—it was their problem to resolve, not hers.
Bei turned to the kitchen, deciding to prepare the tea herself. She carefully brewed it, adding a small amount of ginger to help warm Zhan.
Meanwhile, Zhan sat on the edge of his bed, still wrapped in a towel, trembling uncontrollably from the cold. His eyes were tightly shut, the chill sinking into his very core. Outside, the weather was frigid, and the icy water he'd poured over himself earlier only made things worse.
The door creaked open, and Yibo stepped inside, quietly closing it behind him. He stood near the door, his piercing gaze fixed on Zhan. It was the same look he had given him days ago, unreadable and intense.
Slowly, Zhan caught the scent of Yibo's cologne as it mingled with the cold air in the room. Stirring slightly, he opened his reddened eyes and glanced toward the door. Seeing Yibo standing there sent a wave of emotion rushing through him, overwhelming his chest. He felt a sudden, desperate urge to cry. Their eyes met and locked, neither of them looking away.
Tears welled up in Zhan's eyes, threatening to spill over. He quickly shut them, his trembling worsening as the cold seemed to burrow deeper into him.
Yibo exhaled softly, averting his gaze for a moment as he slipped his hands out of the pockets of his three-quarter pants. Walking forward slowly, he stopped in front of Zhan. Without saying a word, he crouched down, preparing to lift him. Zhan, weakly, raised his head, their faces now mere inches apart. Their breaths intertwined, and Zhan's heart pounded furiously, his chest rising and falling erratically.
Yibo's sharp eyes flicked briefly to Zhan's chest, exposed slightly due to the loosely tied bathrobe. His gaze lingered only for a moment before he turned his head away, composing himself. Without a word, he scooped Zhan into his arms and carried him to the chair in front of the mirror. Gently, he set him down, grabbed a hairdryer, and began to examine it.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Bei's voice, "I've brought the tea for Zhan."
Setting down the dryer, Yibo walked back to the sofa and called out, "Come in."
Bei entered, avoiding looking directly at Zhan to spare him any embarrassment. She placed the tray with the steaming cup of tea on the table and said, "This will help warm him up and ease the cold."
Turning to leave, she added, "I'll make a quick call." She left, closing the door behind her.
Yibo returned to Zhan with the tea, handing it to him. Finally, he broke his silence. "Drink."
Zhan's trembling hands reached for the cup. Without protest, he brought it to his lips and took a small sip, but the warmth unsettled his stomach, making him feel queasy. He set the cup aside, shutting his eyes tightly again.
Yibo didn't comment further. Instead, he turned back to the hairdryer, fiddling with it briefly before realizing it would take too long to dry Zhan's hair properly. Frustrated, he set it down and pulled out his phone. Calling Bei, he instructed, "Come back and dry his hair. The cold is getting worse, and I don't want to make things worse by trying myself."
Moments later, Bei returned, still on the phone with her husband. She dried Zhan's hair, her movements rushed. By the time she finished, Zhan's body was trembling so violently that he could barely sit upright. With a brief glance at Yibo, she exited the room.
Yibo turned back to Zhan, helping him to his feet. Realizing Zhan was too weak to stand, he lifted him again, carrying him to the bed. Gently, he laid him down and adjusted the bathrobe before heading to the wardrobe. Selecting a warm shirt, he returned to Zhan's side.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he prepared to help Zhan change out of the damp bathrope and into something more comfortable.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛