YiBo sat beside Zhan, leaning his head against the bed, staring at him without blinking. He was unusually quiet, almost like a different person. He had never felt as angry at himself as he did today. He knew Zhan would never trust him again because he had broken the promise he made to him. YiBo couldn't even explain what had come over him; he hadn't been gentle with him, and all of this weighed heavily on his heart.
Every time Zhan moved, YiBo's eyes were fixed on him. Even in his sleep, Zhan didn't seem alright; it was clear he was only sleeping out of sheer exhaustion. His entire body had grown weak from the strain. YiBo felt a deep sense of pity for him, wondering once again who was responsible for the release of the video that exposed Zhan. He was determined to find out, no matter what.
Zhan slept restlessly, clearly in severe pain. YiBo wished he could help him more than he already had, but there was nothing else he could do....there weren't even any painkillers in the house. He wished he could somehow transfer Zhan's pain into his own body. All he could think about was morning coming so he could give Zhan the full care he needed.
YiBo gently took Zhan's hand, noticing that he couldn't stay still, constantly tossing and turning. He had been sitting there for almost an hour now, and he didn't mind staying there until morning, just to keep an eye on him. He touched Zhan's forehead and realized his temperature was rising quickly. That made Zhan open his swollen eyes in panic as he tried to sit up. YiBo gently laid him back down, his voice soft and full of concern as he said, "I'm just checking your temperature."
Zhan refused to meet his eyes, turning his head away and taking slow, deep breaths, his eyes closing again. YiBo leaned in close to his ear and whispered in a voice filled with remorse, "I'm sorry, Zhan. I never meant to hurt you like this... Please forgive me... I was just..." He trailed off, unable to continue, feeling terrible for causing Zhan so much pain. He buried his face into the bed, at a loss for words.
Zhan kept his eyes closed, tears silently streaming down his cheeks. After a few minutes, YiBo lifted his head, looking at Zhan with his reddened eyes. He noticed that Zhan had fallen back asleep. He glanced at the clock, which read 2:15 AM, then back at Zhan, who was still asleep. Gently, he wiped the tears from his face, got up, and left the room.
He barely had the strength to walk as he headed to the door, feeling like a fever was starting to overwhelm him. YiBo returned to Zhan's room to gather his clothes and place them on the bed before quietly locking the door and heading back to his own room. He went to the bathroom, ran some warm water, and took a shower. Afterward, he dried himself off, put on some clothes, and lay down under the duvet, feeling feverish and chilled at the same time. He wanted to get up and check on Zhan, but he couldn't find the strength to move.
Suddenly, YiBo's fever spiked, and as he lay there wrapped in the duvet, he thought he heard the sound of cars outside. He uncovered his face to confirm what he had heard. In a rush, he got up and went to the window, quickly pulling back the curtains. His heart dropped when he heard someone trying to open the gate. He hurried into his living room and opened the door to the balcony, the only place where he could clearly see the front gate. He stood there, watching the cars he could see outside the house.
His heart raced with anxiety. He rushed back to his bedroom, grabbed his phone, and saw nearly fifteen missed calls from his mom and several from Aunty Bella just a few minutes ago. Panic set in. He rushed to Zhan's room, unsure of what to do, leaning against the wall, his heart pounding.
YiBo can flew and vanished into darkness if weren't for Zhan. If they entered, all they would find was his photo hanging in the living room wall, but he wasn't about to let that happen. He would find a way to escape in no time, but right now, he couldn't think about leaving Zhan behind. His legs felt too weak to hold him as he slowly sat on the edge of the bed, holding his heavy head in his hands, unable to think straight. He could hear them struggling to open the gate, and it left him feeling completely helpless.
Summoning all his willpower, YiBo went to his room, grabbed a duvet, and returned to Zhan's room. He gently covered Zhan with the duvet, making sure he was warm. Zhan opened his red, swollen eyes, startled as he looked at him. YiBo kissed his forehead, feeling how hot he was. He closed his eyes for a moment, kissed him softly on the lips, and whispered, "I don't want you to be cold... I'm sorry I made you sick, Zhan." (Looks like YiBo forgot everything now, 😅 Zhan need a cool shower or something like that to reduce his temperature.)
Zhan closed his eyes because even speaking was too painful. He had never known such suffering existed in the world until now. YiBo slowly got up and left the room, putting his phone in his pocket as he descended the stairs, despite the dizziness clouding his head. He walked to the living room door, opened it, and stepped outside, heading straight for the gate. He paused for a few seconds, closed his eyes briefly, and then opened the gate, looking at them.
There were about ten soldiers at the gate, and one of them grabbed his arm, staring at him. YiBo frowned and said, "Take it easy, man. Did you catch me, or did I come here on my own?"
Another soldier handed over the handcuffs. YiBo simply watched them, his chest rising and falling with frustration as one of the soldiers struggled to cuff him like he had committed a crime. YiBo resisted, exhaling heavily. "Did someone say I stole something? Is that why you're here to arrest me?"
None of them looked him in the face or said a word. They remained silent until they finally managed to cuff him and led him toward the car. One of the soldiers went back to lock the house, and YiBo just stood there watching. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened to him... it was nothing new. His father had given them orders, and they followed it to the letter. That's why, no matter how much YiBo insulted them, they didn't bother to react or look his way.
His father hadn't even instructed them to rough him up. Their only job was to cuff him and bring him back to the Palace.
By around 4 AM, they arrived at his father's house. They took him directly to the guard room in the compound, pushed him inside, and locked the door with a padlock, leaving him alone. YiBo clutched his aching head. Why hadn't he thought twice before returning to his house? He had completely forgotten who his father was. His biggest concern right now wasn't himself... it was Zhan. He needed care, and he needed him by his side. He knew he wouldn't be able to manage on his own. That thought made his fever surge even more.
As daylight began to break, YiBo still hadn't slept. He was covered in mosquito bites, and there wasn't even a decent place to lie down in the guard room.... it was just a cramped space. He rested his head against the iron bars, and despite his situation, all he could think about was Zhan. He was deeply worried about him. If it weren't for him, he wouldn't have minded being in the guard room for weeks, since he was used to it. His father often left him there and forgot about him for days, only sending food and water.
For Zhan's sake, YiBo felt he would be willing to give back everything that had been taken from him. Despite the heat of the guard room, he felt cold inside.
It wasn't until around 8 AM that he heard someone unlocking the cell door. He looked up as a soldier opened it, and his mother walked in, scanning the tiny guard room. The soldier came closer and unlocked the iron gate.
YiBo was too weak to move due to the fever that had overtaken him. His mother approached, watching him closely. Summoning all his strength, he managed to stand up. As soon as Lily saw his condition, her heart sank. She exclaimed, "What was the point of all this, Ai Bo? You see what I've been trying to warn you about, but you refuse to listen…" Tears suddenly streamed down her face.
YiBo rushed to the bathroom inside the cell, trying to throw up, and she quickly followed him, deeply concerned. Holding his hand, they stepped out of the bathroom, but he still couldn't vomit. He sat down on the floor of the cell, resting his head against the wall, eyes closed, trying to catch his breath.
Lily couldn't stop crying as she felt how hot his body had become. It was rare for YiBo to get sick, which made her even more worried. The thought of calling his father crossed her mind, but she hesitated, knowing that his father would accuse her of enabling YiBo's behavior. She was torn. Kneeling beside him, she said, "This is exactly what I was afraid of. You know who your father is, Ai Bo. You know what he's capable of. I don't understand why you want to provoke him…"
She broke down again, and YiBo gently took her hand, his voice soft as he said, "I'm sorry, Mom…"
She replied, "Tell me what medicine we can get for you. After you eat something, I'll go buy it for you." He shook his head weakly. "You don't look well. Do you want to stay sick here in this cell? Tell me what medicine to buy, and I'll get it right away," she insisted.
In a low voice, he replied, "I'm not sick. I'm just worried. I'm upset...not because I'm in the guard room."
Lily, looking at him, asked, "What's making you worried then?"
He couldn't meet her gaze and lowered his head instead. Concerned, she pressed, "Talk to me, son. What's bothering you? I'm your mother. Don't hide it from me."
His eyes filled with emotion as he gathered the strength to speak. "I wronged you during my time in Beijing," he admitted.
Lily looked at him in confusion and asked, "Wronged me? How?"
YiBo took her hand, his voice trembling, and said, "I got married while I was in Beijing."
Lily's expression was one of disbelief as she tried to process what he had just said. "I don't understand. What do you mean, 'got married'?"
He still couldn't bring himself to look at her, his voice shaky. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't plan for it."
Lily pulled her hand away from his grip, standing up and staring at him with a mixture of shock and confusion. "Is the fever making you talk nonsense, Ai Bo? Do you even know what you're saying?"
When she saw the tears in his eyes, he mustered his strength and said, "Mom, I'm in my right mind. I'm telling you the truth. He's at my house right now."
Lily's eyes widened in disbelief. "Who is?" she asked.
"Zhan," he whispered. "The soldiers have locked the house, and he's inside."
For over a minute, Lily stood there in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the situation. YiBo couldn't bear to look at her. His only wish was to get to Zhan and take care of him as he deserved.
Slowly, his mother turned and headed for the cell door. From her posture, it was clear that the news had hit her hard, leaving her speechless. YiBo watched her leave, his heart pounding, until she disappeared from sight.
Lily hurried back to her side of the house and entered her bedroom. Tin, who was in the living room, noticed her odd behavior and quickly followed her. When she got to the bedroom, she found Lily sitting on the edge of the bed, looking as if she had just heard something terrible. She looked shocked. Tin rushed over and asked, "Mom, are you alright?"
Lily didn't say anything, only stared at her, lost in thought. Concerned, Tin said, "Please, Mom, calm down. Don't get yourself worked up. Everything will be alright, I promise. Don't let this stress you out."
Still, Lily couldn't speak. YiBo's last words kept replaying in her mind. She was trying her best to process them. Tin sat beside her, realizing that her mother seemed too overwhelmed to respond. The last thing she wanted was to see their mom in distress. Gently holding her hand, Tin said softly, "Please, Mom, take it easy. Everything will be okay."
Finally, Lily mustered some strength and looked at her. "Get my phone and call Bella for me," she said. Tin got up, took the phone from the dresser, and dialed Aunty Bella's number. When it started ringing, she handed the phone to Lily.
Lily took it and said, "You can go, Tin. I'll handle this call."
Tin nodded and left the room. When Aunty Bella answered, she said, "What's going on, sister? I've been calling, but you didn't pick up. Is everything alright?"
Lily, trying her best to hold it together, said, "Bella, I wish you were here with me…" Aunty Bella, sensing something was wrong, asked, "What's wrong, sister? Is everything okay?"
Lily couldn't bring herself to say anything. Aunty Bella's voice became more urgent. "Hello? Talk to me. What's happened, sister?"
Lily's head began to pound, and she pressed her hand against her forehead. "I'll call you back, Bella," she said abruptly, ending the call before Aunty Bella could respond. She stood up and quickly left the room.
After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Lily, Aunty Bella decided to call Tin. When Tin answered, Aunty Bella immediately asked, "Tin, what's happening? Where's your mom?"
"I don't know exactly," Tin replied. "She just told me she was going to see my brother in the guardroom. But when she came back, she seemed really off."
"Did she get to see him?" Aunty Bella asked.
"I'm not sure. She didn't tell me anything. I asked what was wrong, but she wouldn't say."
"Is your dad home?" Aunty Bella asked next.
"No, he's been away since yesterday," Tin replied. Aunty Bella's worry deepened. "Where is your mom now?"
"She just left a moment ago," Tin answered.
"Call her immediately," Aunty Bella urged, her voice tense.
Tin quickly left the room and went to the main living room, but her mother wasn't there. Only Aunty Yu was sitting on the couch, loudly chewing gum. Tin stepped outside and saw her mom in the car with three soldiers, getting ready to leave. She stood there, watching as the car drove out of the compound.
Tin, feeling uneasy herself, called Aunty Bella back. "Aunty, she's gone now. She left in the car just a minute ago."
Aunty Bella's worry spiked. She wished she could fly straight to China at that moment. "Are you sure I Bo is still in the guardroom?"
"Yes, the soldiers brought him home early this morning. I'm sure he's still there. I asked one of them earlier, and they confirmed it."
Aunty Bella hung up, distressed by the fact that her sister had left without speaking to her. Where could she have gone? Was it to Mia's house?
Lily's mind was elsewhere the entire ride to YiBo's house. As soon as they arrived, she opened the car door and stepped out, her eyes fixed on the locked gate. One of the soldiers approached, unlocked it, and they escorted her to the entrance of the house. Gathering her strength, she looked at them and said, "Wait here for me."
They stood by the door as she entered, taking in the sight of the living room. Suddenly, she felt weak, her legs heavy beneath her. Her heart pounded, and her chest tightened. Moving slowly, she headed toward the staircase, climbing it as if she were counting each step. She paused at the second floor, glancing at each of the bedroom doors. Her first stop was YiBo's master bedroom. She entered to find no one inside, just his pajamas lying on the bed. She stood there for a minute before slowly turning and exiting the room.
With trembling hands, she gently opened another door. Her heart sank. Everything froze when she saw someone lying curled up in bed, wrapped in a duvet. Only the person's hair was visible, their face covered.
Lily felt as though she could no longer stand. Her heart raced uncontrollably. Was this really happening, or was she dreaming? Could YiBo's words have been true after all? She quickly turned and left the room, leaning against the wall in the corridor. She broke down in tears. Was it possible that YiBo had secretly gotten married without them knowing?
Did he marry without informing his parents? What could have come over him? Did he really think so little of them? Despite all she had done to care for him, especially after what his father had done, was this how he repaid her? If she didn't know her son so well, she would have dismissed this as a random woman he'd brought into the house. But she knew him... she knew what he would and wouldn't do. If he said this was his wife, then it was true. But where had he married her?
Her thoughts quickly shifted to Mia. How was she even going to face her? Lily continued to cry, unsure of what to think. What kind of trial was this? What had happened to Ai Bo? How would everyone take the news... especially his father? Even she herself couldn't accept the marriage, and she never would. She had never felt so disappointed in her son until today. For the first time, she was truly angry with him. He had let her down in a way she had never expected. She would make it clear to him that she was his mother and not the other way around. And just as he hadn't consulted them before getting married, she would ensure he ended the marriage without their consultation, whether he liked it or not. If he refused, he would have to find another mother, because it wouldn't be her.
This time, she would show him that he couldn't control her. She wasn't going to let this slide. If she hadn't known that the girl couldn't leave on her own, she would have simply walked out and told the soldiers to take her back home. But she didn't think it appropriate to send the soldiers in to wake the girl. If anyone was going to do it, it would be her, Lily thought. Wiping away her tears, she returned to the room and looked at Zhan, who remained still on the bed. She was too frustrated to approach or wake her. She just couldn't do it. With tears in her eyes, Lily turned and left the room, shaking her head.
(Is Lily mistakely thought Yibo's partner is a She? 😅 I think so.)
She went downstairs, wiping her face as she headed outside. The soldiers were still standing by the balcony. She took one of their phones and returned to the living room, dialing Tin's number.
As soon as it rang, Tin picked up. Summoning all her strength, Lily said, "Get the driver and come to Ai Bo's house now."
Worried, Tin asked, "Mom, is everything alright?"
"Just do as I say. I'm waiting for you," Lily replied, cutting the call. She sat down on the couch in the living room, her mind in turmoil. Her frustration prevented her from waking the girl herself, so she would wait for Tin to do it when she arrived.
As Lily sat there, tears occasionally fell from her eyes. She had never expected this from YiBo. After about thirty minutes, Tin arrived at the house. She rushed to Lily's side, her heart pounding with worry. "Mom, what's going on?" she asked urgently.
Lily replied, "Go upstairs and wake the girl who's sleeping in the room."
Tin's eyes widened. "A girl? What's she doing here?"
Seeing that her mother wasn't responding, Tin's heart sank as she hurried upstairs. Her mind raced as she opened the door to Zhan's room. There, she saw someone lying in bed. Standing frozen at the door, her heart pounded as she slowly approached the bed, her eyes fixed on the figure lying there. She tapped the side of the bed.
Zhan opened his eyes slightly but didn't lower the duvet covering his face. Every part of his body ached, and he didn't want to move an inch. He assumed it was YiBo.
Tin knocked on the bed again, but Zhan didn't move. Mustering her courage, Tin pulled back the duvet and stared at the face underneath. Startled, she jumped back, clutching her chest and wide-eyed.
"You...Yo...You???" she stammered.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛